86. 



highly permeable layer, and are below any possible productive 

 zone of oil or potable water. 



A similar "granite wash" at Amarillo Ridge is below all 

 potable water and drains northward. It is uncertain whether or 

 not the fresh water farther to the north might be affected if ra- 

 dioactive wastes were introduced into this particular "granite 



wash" . 



"Granite wash" or analogous permeable basal layers may 

 well exist in grabens of the Great Basin region. 



6. Mr. Gorman reminded the group of the immediately urgent prob- 

 lems at the existing AEC installations. 



It was recognized that the existing AEC installations-, as 

 well as the first series of proposed power reactors, present 

 special problems since these seem to have been located without 

 much regard for the waste-disposal problem. In each instance 

 a competent geological review will have to be made to find the 

 least inconvenient waste -disposal site available. In all future 

 installations the accessibility to a safe disposal site should be a 

 major consideration in determining the plant location. 



7 . The motion was made 



That waste be disposed of without concern for its recovery, 



Seconded and passed. 



8. Mr. John G. Ferris described some conditions obtaining in the 

 Michigan Basin and elsewhere, and posed several questions, 

 summarized as follows: 



Experience with two permeable zones between confining beds 

 shows that long-term withdrawal of brine can draw water from 

 confining beds , as evidenced by changes in salinity, hardness, 

 and other data in industrial records. 



In a submarine aquifer the contact between fresh and salt 

 water may be far off shore, as shown by fresh water wells and 

 springs; might radioactive wastes escape to ocean from leaks 

 in the aquifer ? 



