These disposal operations can be divided into three broad sub- 
divisions, using the immediate source of the wastes as a criterion. 
They are: 
1. Low level wastes generated within AEC facilities. 
These constitute, by far, the largest quantities of radioactive 
materials that have been deposited in the Atlantic disposal areas. Since 
1951, 5870 curies of a variety of isotopes contained in 8432 fifty-five 
gallon drums have been disposed of. A rather insignificant fraction of 
this total was deposited in the designated area approximately 200 miles 
due east of Cape Cod, area a, figure 1. Most of it has been added to the 
disposal area approximately 200 miles east of Cape May (Delaware Bay), 
area b, figure l. 
The AEC has described the general nature of these wastes as 
follows (1): 
"AEC wastes which are dumped at sea are heterogeneous 
in character and as a rule contain quantities of activity 
normally associated with laboratory experimentation and 
with decontamination operations. For the most part, they 
consist of solid materials such as paper wipes, rags, mops, 
ashes, animal carcasses and contaminated laboratory para- 
phernalia. Some liquids containing radioactivity in the con- 
centration range of microcuries per liter have been incor- 
porated in cement mixtures or with chemical gelling mate- 
rials prior to packaging and dumping. Because the wastes 
and their contaminating radioisotopes are heterogeneous in 
character, it is difficult to determine accurately the total 
quantities of radioactivity involved." 
Most of these wastes have been packaged in fifty-five gallon drums 
with added concrete to insure proper bulk density. The AEC has set 
specifications (1) (2) for the packaging and handling of contaminated 
scrap. 
2. Low level wastes generated within government operations other than 
AEC. 
Four agencies (the National Bureau of Standards, the Naval 
Ordinance Laboratory, the Naval Research Laboratory, and the National 
Institutes of Health) all in the Washington, D.C. area, have since 1955 
generated approximately four curies of heterogeneous wastes that have 
been deposited in a designated disposal area, approximately 75 miles 
east southeast of Cape Henry (Cheasapeake Bay), by the U.S. Coast 
Guard. This is areac, figure 1. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Beaufort, N.C., has disposed of less than 0.2 of a curie of heterogeneous 
wastes, in area d, figure 1, approximately 8 miles off-shore from 
Beaufort, North Carolina. 
