247 



In summary, we urge the following action be taken and we stand ready to 

 cooperate fully to implement these recommendations. 



1. Begin immediately to further assess the effects of ocean disposal on the 

 marine environment undertaking the needed research activities mandated in 

 the "Marine Protection Research and Sanctuaries Act." 



2. Begin immediatel yto assess the environmental effects of alternatives to 

 ocean disposal for a large scale operation such as Philadelphia, such alternatives 

 would include land disposal and/or incineration. In fact, the act requires the 

 administrators to consider "appropriate locations and method of disposal or 

 recycling, including land-based alternatives and the probable impact of requiring 

 ixse of such alternate locations or methods upon considering affecting the pub- 

 lic interest." 



Matter can neither be created nor destroyed. The disposal of sewage sludge 

 must recognize this premise, and consideration must be given to the total 

 environmental effects, including a priority approach which includes human needs, 

 before a decision can be made. Do not foreclose the use of the ocean ifor pur- 

 poses to which it is well suited. 



Statement of James G. AVenzel. Vice President — Oceian Systems, 

 Lockheed Missiles & Space Co. 



Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, I appreciate the opportunity 

 to describe a recent survey of Deep Water Dump Sites off Southern California. 

 During .June 1972, three dives utilizing the Lockheed research submersible DEEP 

 QUEST were conducted to directly observe the environmental effects of some 

 25-30 years of waste disposal. 



The study was undertaken by the Plessey Environmental Systems Co., San 

 Diego, Calif., for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

 Manned Undersea Science and Technology Office, under Contract No. 2-3453.5. 

 Lockheed Ocean Laboratory scientists participated in the dives and supported 

 Plessey's effects by subsequent analysis of sediment samples collected by DEEP 

 QUEST. The areas investigated included a radioactive dump site in the Santa 

 Cruz Basin, an industrial chemical dumping site in the San Pedro Basin, and 

 a garbage and trash dispo.sal site off Santa Catalina Island. These dives represent 

 the first such attempt to observe the effects of various types of wastes that have 

 been disposed of in the Pacific Ocean over the last 25 years. 



The dives were made utilizing DEEP QUEST and its support ship TRANS- 

 QUEST. DEEP QUEST, a 50-ton, 40-foot long submersible, is owned by Lockheed 

 Missiles & Space Co., Inc., Sunnyvale, California, and is operated by the Lock- 

 heed Ocean Laboratory in San Diego. For the purpose of the ocean dump-site 

 investigation. DEEP QUEST was equipped with a 6-barrel piston corer for 

 obtaining bottom samples, a Plessey Salinity/Temperature/Depth profiling sys- 

 tem, a Rosette Multi-Sampler supplied by General Oceanics, Inc., and Lockheed's 

 vane shear strength probe. Both TOmm and 35mm cameras were utilized to pro- 

 vide photographic documentation of the dives. 



The Santa Cruz Basin disix»sal area had been used as a site for low-level con- 

 tainerized radioactive waste disposal from 1953 until 1961. During the 9-hour 

 dive to 1915 meters, ten 55 gallon drums were located along with a number of 

 ammunition pieces and metal pallets, some with munitions .still strapped on. 

 Although the investigation was primarily of a reconnaissance nature, the 

 abundant and active marine life and bottom characteristics observed and photo- 

 graphed abroad the DEEP QUEST in the disposal area were what had been 

 expected on the basis of the results of a shipboard environmental survey con- 

 ducted by the AEC in 1960. The loss of biQlogical samples upon surfacing in heavy 

 seas and the malfunctioning of the water sampling bottles precluded any radio- 

 metric analyses. However, in terms of future investigations of this disposal site, 

 perhaps one of the most significant aspects of the dive was the positive identi- 

 fication of pair of radioactive disposal drums which are known to be part of an 

 experimental operation involving the dumping of 164 drums and concrete boxes 

 by the AEC in 1961. Those barrels will serve as an excellent reference point in 

 locating tlie rest of the containers for the purpose of conducting more detailed 

 studies of the disposal site at a later date to assist in formulating U.S. National 

 and International policy regarding ocean disposal of ow-level radioactive wastes. 



A chemical and industrial waste disposal site in the San Pedro Basin was the 

 location for the second dive to 890 meters. Here a variety of toxic industrial 

 chemicals prohibited from disposal in municipal sewers, are dumped regularly. 



26-282—74 17 



