676 



90 days of a Joint congressional resolution to approve ar\y recom. 

 mendatlon by EPA for Issuance of a specific permit. These require- 

 ments substantially reduce the viability of ocean disposal as a 

 practical, near-term alternative for FUSRAP waste. 



With sufficient data on ocean disposal already in hand for current 

 project planning purposes, we are phasing out our study activity 

 at this time. Although we believe the University of Rhode Island 

 experiment is an excellent one for the purposes of EPA standards 

 development and for basic research such as radioactivity uptake 

 and pathway analyses, we cannot Justify continued DOE support of 

 It for near-term FUSRAP project needs. Our understanding is that 

 the EPA Is planning to continue their work In this area. 



DOE will continue to have a longer term Interest In the possibility 

 of ocean disposal for FUSRAP waste should future Institutional 

 conditions favor It as a viable option. 



