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The goals of the SWG are: 



To provide a forum for assessing progress and planning 



for future Research and Development efforts; 

 To coordinate research vessel cruises and experiments; 

 To share facilities and test equipment and, 

 To maintain awareness of international policy issues. 



As previously mentioned, in June 1983, the SWG approved a 

 five-year research and development plan. The purpose of this 

 plan is to coordinate individually-funded national programs 

 assessing the feasibility of seabed disposal concepts and to 

 plan joint experiments. This Five-Year Research and 

 Development Plan can be divided into four tasks: 



(1) Develop the computational tools and collect the 

 necessary data to make possible an accurate 

 prediction of the feasibility of seabed disposal; 



(2) Locate sites in the deep ocean suitable for a 

 high-level waste repository; 



(3) Develop the equipment and techniques necessary to 

 transport and emplace wastes within the ocean floor; 

 and, 



(4) Promote an institutional regime that will adequately 

 regulate seabed emplacement and protect the 

 environment . 



