58 



last finding tliemselves in a position upstream rather than downstream 

 from polhitants coming from California 



Resentment frequently is heard voiced in Mexico, and was heard 

 again at this meetnig, concerning the quality of water now flowing in 

 the Colorado River as it crosses the border. 



Our present radiological conditions near California are satisfactory. 

 Along our southwestern coast we hav^e enjoyed a relatively low back- 

 ground of radioactivity. We have much open coast. Several of the past 

 radioactive inputs have simply been stopped. At Hanford, plutonium 

 production was stopf)ed finally in 1971. Dumping of packaged radio 

 wastes stopped in 1966 ; this waste now all goes over the mountains to 

 Nevada deserts. This costs the University of California, for example, 

 about $4.50 per cubic foot; and finally, we now have no nuclear fuel 

 processing plants on the coast of the type Dr. Volchok mentioned. 



Our radioactive backgrounds now are so low that at some distance 

 from an outfall or from a reactor the small changes that still take i^lace 

 because of occasional French and Chinese weapons testing can be de- 

 tected in the marine biosphere. 



These traces have to be accounted for in evaluating samples collected 

 near sewers and nuclear j^lants. For example, even the effects of the 1 

 kilogram of plutonium-238 which burned up in the stratosphere in 1964 

 in a space vehicle also must be accounted for in any thorough study 

 of plutonium nuclides in the local environments. 



This condition, of course, cannot last. The expected increases in 

 populations and the expanding use of nuclear fuels will someday add 

 some all-too-easily measurable, if not entirely acceptable, radioactive 

 burdens to our coastal marine environments. 



It has not been well enough stressed, however, that all coastal com- 

 munities south of Point Conception, which lies somewhat north of 

 Santa Barbara, to points 100 miles or so below the border have inter- 

 connected marine environments and that the transfer of pollutants 

 northward by inshore currents can be quite effective. 



Also there is now some reason to anticipate that substantial north- 

 ward flowing waste from nuclear fuel usage below the border may ap- 

 pear at some time in the future. This is because Baja, Calif., badly 

 needs power and because uranium is available. 



Baja California has an attractive climate and a beautiful coastline 

 immediately adjacent to us. Near the border, population growth is 

 rapid, and industrial growth also is exi^ected. However, Mexico has a 

 small fuel reserve. It has recently discovered some new oil but its coal 

 resource is poor. The hoi>e for geothermal power has been somewhat 

 disappointing. 



However, the same important uranium deposits that are now being 

 strip-mined in Texas extend across the internatiomil border and ex- 

 ploitation of these uranium sources in Baja California is reported to 

 be under serious consideration. Geological surveys have already been 

 made along the west coast of Baja California seeking fa\orable nuclear 

 powerplant sites. 



Now, Mexican attitudes and actions concerning radioactivity dis- 

 posal are not likely to develop along lines we have chosen. They may 

 be guided by international recommendations, of cours(\ but they also 

 may follow a liberal interpretation, for example, the United King- 

 dom's methods of disposing relatively large quantities of low level 

 radioactive wastes close to shore and into surface water. The United 

 Kingdom has had the longest record of sea surface disposal. 



