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Alan Houseman 



Clilton E Curtis 

 ■ J Davtti McAteer 

 Barbara M. Milstetn 

 Paula Roberts 



December 5, 1983 



The Honorable Norman D'Amours 

 Chairman, House Subcommittee on 



Oceanography 

 Committee on Merchant Marine and 



Fisheries 

 House Annex 2, Room H2-541 

 Washington, D.C. 20515 



Re: 



November 2, 1983 Oversight Hearing on Ocean 

 Disposal of Radioactive Wastes 



Dear Chairman D'Amours: 



During the November 2, 

 address domestic and intern 

 radioactive wastes, you ask 

 testimony which I presented 

 testimony, I expressed the 

 taking advantage of the cur 

 disposal permits to complet 

 monitoring with respect to 

 of radioactive waste dispos 

 which the U.S. government s 

 research needs that are not 

 gave an overview response i 

 approval to provide a more 



1983 hearing which you convened to 

 ational aspects of ocean disposal of 

 ed me a question in relation to the 



In both my written and oral 

 view that federal officials are not 

 rent moratorium on radioactive waste 

 e more detailed research and 

 the uncertainties and possible impacts 

 al. You asked me to suggest ways in 

 hould be proceeding to implement our 



now being done. At the hearing, I 

 n which I requested, and received your 

 detailed response in writing. 



In my written testimony I referenced a critique of the 

 adequacy of United States' research and monitoring in relation to 

 radioactive waste dumping that was published by the Center for 

 Law and Social Policy in August, 1982. The four principal 

 conclusions of that critique were enumerated, reflecting the view 

 of the environmental organizations that there exists a need 

 for: (1) more complete and accurate information on past dumping 

 practices; (2) hard evidence addressing the hazards of past U.S. 

 dumping practices; (3) a monitoring program of previously used 

 sites off U.S. coasts; and (4) a good monitoring program of test 

 sites off our coasts that have not been modified by prior dumping 

 activities. As I indicated in my testimony, those conclusions 

 still serve as constructive guidelines for further targeted 

 research. 



