571 



- 7 - 



The United States is one of eight countries along with the 

 European Community that fund research to assess the feasibility 

 of seabed disposal. The international assessment of seabed 

 disposal is coordinated by the Seabed Working Group under the 

 auspices of the NEA/OECD. International support and shared 

 programs are developed through the Seabed Working Group. The 

 group's present membership includes the European Community, 

 Canada, France, the Federal Republic of Germany, Japan, the 

 Netherlands, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United 

 States. Belgium and Italy participate as observers. 



Under the auspices of the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste 

 Management, the DOE Albuquerque Operations Office has lead 

 responsibility for directing the DOE Subseabed Disposal 

 Program. Sandia National Laboratories is the prime contractor 

 with about 50 percent of the research and development 

 subcontracted to academic and oceanographic institutions, 

 including: Harvard University, University of New Hampshire, 

 Oregon State University, University of Rhode Island, University 

 of Washington, Analytic Sciences Corporation, Lamont-Doherty 

 Geological Observatory, Naval Ocean R&D Activity, Scripps 

 Institution of Oceanography, and Woods Hole Oceanographic 

 Institution. 



