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latroductory Tlote 



The practice of dumping high volume low activity nuclear 

 waste in the ocean was established in the late 1940' s primarily 

 by Britain, and to a lesser extent several other western European 

 states, as well as the USA. The practice became controversial 

 in the mid 1960's, particularly for the French, who had to abandon 

 plans for dumping in the Mediterranean following international 

 as well as domestic opposition. During this decade the USA, West 

 Germany, Sweden and most other European states . ceased to use 

 this route, with the exception of Belgium, Holland and Switzerland. 

 Thj U.K., however, increased its disposals and in the 1970's 

 they accounted for 95% or more of the total activity dumped. 



The waste has always been characterised as 'low-level', 

 and consisting of such material as contaminated clothing and 

 containers, a' great deal arising from research and medical practices. 

 At the time of the London Convention in 1972, when international 

 rules were laid down to prevent the pollution of seas by waste 

 dumping, considerable opposition was evident to programmes of 

 nuclear waste disposal, and it was agreed that only 'low-level' 

 wastes could be dumped. However, the body of experts who discussed 

 this matter were divided, there being some who argued for a complete 

 ban on radioactive materials. 



It is generally agreed that t-jjo factors affected the decision 

 to allow 'low-level' waste dumping: firstly, it had been argued 

 that the amounts would be so small compared to the oceans' natural 

 levels that they would have no health effects; and secondly, 

 that virtually all states benefitted from the research and medical 

 uses which gave rise to much of the waste. The Convention expressly 

 ruled out the dumping of 'high-level' waste on the grounds of 

 the amount of radioactivity involved, and also on the fact that 

 this waste arose from reprocessing activities, which were linked 

 not only to civil nuclear power production but also nuclear weapons 

 programmes. 



The London Dumpir.g Convention (LDC), through the Intergovern- 

 mental Maritime Consultancy Organisation (IMCO), charged the 

 International Atomic Energy Agency with the task of defining 

 nuclear waste which was unsuitable for dumping. The Nuclear Energy 

 Agency (NEA) of the OECD countries was given responsibility for 

 monitoring and overseeing the dumping operations. The chief function 

 of these organisations is the promotion of nuclear energy programmes, 

 and although they have regulatory functions these are advisory 

 only. Industrial interests are -.veil represented within the NEA 

 and the IAEA. 



The industrial proponents of nuclear energy programmes have 

 long felt that the 'high' and 'low' level criteria for suitable 

 wastes was arbitrary and that the criteria for liir.iting amounts 

 to be dumped was not based upon scientific asHessr.snt cf -he 

 envir onmen"cal imcac t . 



