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Additional Questions of Mr. Studds and Answered by EPA 



1. It is my understanding that the DOE unilaterally decided to 

 terminate a joint DOE/EPA project at the University of Rhode Island, 

 designed to study the effects of Middlesex, N.J., contaminated soils on 

 a functioning ecosystem. The EPA planned to use the results of the 

 experiment to help develop a methodology for evaluating ocean dumping 

 permit applications. If DOE withdraws funding of the URI study, is the 

 Radiation Program in a position to supplement the funding so that the 

 year long experiment may commence? 



ANSWER 



EPA would like to see this evaluation proceed. However, the 

 Office of Radiation Programs is not in a position to supplement funding 

 for the MERL study, as previously planned, for this Fiscal Year. 

 Alternative study designs and time frames may need to be examined. 



2. In the absence of the URI study, does the EPA have adequate data to 

 develop a methodology for ocean dumping of low-level radioactive wastes? 



ANSWER 



Extensive data does exist on the fate of radionuclides in the 

 marine environment, but generally, estimates made with this data are 

 probably higher than additional research may show are realistic for 

 specific wastes. The planned work might permit testing before disposal, 

 of how good our assumptions of biological, physical and chemical deter-' 

 rainants of transport, and biological uptake are for particular wastes, 

 and thereby permit better assessments. 



3. What other low-level radioactive wastes are candidates for ocean 

 disposal? Would the URI studies contribute to the understanding of the 

 behavior of these wastes in the ocean environment? 



ANSWER 



The Navy is currently studying disposal alternatives for 

 decommissioned, defueled submarine reactor plants, and has prepared a 

 draft environmental impact statement (DEIS) to compare environmental 

 impact considerations for both land and ocean disposal. The EPA has 

 carefully reviewed the DEIS and submitted extensive comments during the 

 summer of 1983. At this time, to the best of our knowledge, the Navy 

 nas made no decision regarding disposal of submarine reactors. The 

 Navy has been sponsoring similar stuaies m aquaria at the marine 

 laboratory at Sequim, Washington, over the last several years, to 

 examine tne particular factors involved with the radionuclides of 

 interest in that instance. Several reports on this work were published. 



