633 



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London Dumping Convention's admonition that "Parties with common 

 interests to protect the marine environment in a given 

 geographical area shall endeavor, taking into account 

 characteristic regional features, to enter into regional 

 agreements consistent with this Convention for the prevention of 

 pollution, especially by dumping" (Article VIII). 



We would encourage the United States to support the South 

 Pacific nations in their efforts to address the issue of 

 radioactive waste on a region-wide basis. Given the domestic and 

 international moratoriums that are in effect, a ban on such 

 dumping could be adopted with the understanding that the issue 

 will be further reviewed after adequate scientific risk studies 

 have been completed. Since there are no present plans for the 

 United States to dump radioactive wastes in that region, such a 

 position would not adversely affect our U.S. dumping program. 

 Assuming that the proposal to prohibit radioactive waste dumping 

 receives widespread support from Pacific-based nations, U.S. 

 support for such provisions in the draft Convention and protocol 

 would reflect appropriate deference to the desires of those 

 nations who are affected most directly. Moreover, such a 

 position would contribute to good will vis-a-vis United States' 

 relations with those nations which could serve us well in other 

 areas of mutual interest. 



^ Article 210 of the Law of the Sea Convention, which deals 

 with pollution by dumping, specifically encourages states "to 

 establish global and regional rules, standards and recommended 

 practices and procedures to prevent, reduce and control such 

 pollution" (emphasis added) . 



28-914 O— 84 41 



