651 



Stuaies at the URl were primarily intended to focus on the effects 

 from ocean disposal of unpackaged soils containing extremely low levels 

 of naturally-occurring radioactivity. Information from other aspects of 

 UEII studies might also be applicable to ocean disposal of submarine 

 reactors, including how partitioning, migration and transport of con- 

 taminants (i.e., trace metals and man-made radionuclides, such as 

 coDait-60) would occur in deep sea sediments. 



4. On page 9 of your testimony, you discuss a research cruise of 

 Massachusetts Bay. Do you know how much and wnat types of wastes were 

 dumped in Massachusetts Bay and have you isolated specific dump loca- 

 tions? During this extensive cruise, how close to identified waste 

 containers were you able to sample? If you were unable to confirm that 

 you were, in fact, sampling in the immediate vicinity of dumped radio- 

 active wastes, of what significance were any of the samples taken? 



ANSWER 



The 1982 EPA radiological monitoring survey in Massachusetts Bay 

 was planned and conducted to adequately describe the radiological 

 environment in four areas designated for low-level waste (LLW) disposal 

 in 1952. Environmental samples were collected to determine whether 

 previous dumping of LLW in these areas was cause for concerns 

 pertaining to public health effects. 



The EPA has reviewed available disposal records and interviewed 

 people who were involved in LLW disposals in the Bay. We have 

 determined that 4,008 containers of LLW were dumped between 1952 and 

 1959. In addition, 940 cubic feet of radioactive waste materials were 

 encased in concrete molds and dumped in the Bay during the same period. 

 The Atomic Energy Commission estimated that the total radioactivity was 

 2,440 curies at the time of disposal. 



The LLW disposed were generally from commercial, academic, and 

 medical sources. Some defense-related nuclear wastes may also have 

 been dumped as early as 1946, however, EPA has not been able to 

 document the amounts or types of the radioactive materials that were 

 dumped prior to 1952. Typical items disposed of included: by-product 

 radionuclides with isotope numbers ranging from 3 to 83; and, 

 laboratory glassware and equipment, clothing, tools, chemicals or other 

 materials tnat may have been contaminated with radionuclides. 



In 1981, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

 (NOAA) conducted a sonar side scan survey of LLW disposal areas in the 

 Bay for EPA. The EPA then designed an environmental sampling survey, 

 based on the data provided by NOAA. A grid sampling pattern was 

 established to acquire sediment and biota specimens that were both near 

 concentrations of bottom objects charted by NOAA, and throughout the 

 entire disposal area. Collection of sediment and biota for detailed 

 post-survey radio- chemical analyses, as well as the measurement of 

 in-situ radioactivity. 



