ML20043H867
| ML20043H867 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 06/20/1990 |
| From: | Taylor J NRC OFFICE OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR OPERATIONS (EDO) |
| To: | Cranston A SENATE |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20043H868 | List: |
| References | |
| REF-WM-3 CCS, NUDOCS 9006260534 | |
| Download: ML20043H867 (11) | |
Text
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'00/AsCRANS70N/6/12-.-
- The Honorable Alan Cranston S
~ ynited, States Senate-Washington, D.C.
20510 June 20, 1990
Dear Senator Cranston:
I am responding to your inquiry of May 24, 1990, on behalf of Ms. Nancy F.
Scotton, concerning ocean disposal of nuclear waste off the coast of California.
Ms. Scotton's information that 47,500 steel drums of nuclear waste lay off the coast of San Francisco, California, is correct. Our available information indicates that an estimated 47,500 containers were deposited at a depth of 490 fathoms or more at the Farallon Islands, about 50 miles west of San Francisco from 1946 to 1970. These disposal activities were performed under the authority of the Atomic Energy Commission, the predecessor agency to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
However, the NRC has never licensed any such disposals and has no authority to permit such disposal in the future.
Under existing law, the responsibility for the ocean disposal of wastes, including nuclear wastes, is vested in the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Moreover, the National Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring Planning Act of 1978 designated the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the lead agency for monitoring programs and for research and development into ocean pollution.
I have enclosed the EPA Fact Sheet, " Radioactive Waste Dumping Off the Coast of California," of August 14, 1980.
Should you desire more current information, please consult with Mr. Richard A. Guiirond at EPA or Mr. Charles N. Ehler at NOAA.
I trust this information is helpful.
Sincerely 6tiginal Signed Bys James M. M o Executive Director i
for Operations
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cc:
R. Guimond, EPA /0RP l
C. Ehler, NOAA N/0MA J. Kohlenberger, SH0B-112 Distribution:(ED0 5525) Central File 410.6 NMSS r/f ED0 5525 RBangart-JGreeves JAustin JSurmeier PLohaus DMorris,EDO Dir. r/f EDO r/f CJenkins t/f LLWM t/f HThompson JTaylor SECY MFliegel GGnugnoli RFonner,0GC DRathbun,GPA JMartin,R-V JScinto,0GC JWolf,0GC PDR YES X
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- See Previous Concurrence 3c SUBJECT AB3 TRACT: LTEFRM. NANCY SCOTTON RE NUCLEAR WASTE IN STEEL DRINS OFF o
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RADIDACTIVE WASTE DUMPING.
0FF THE COAST OF CALIFORNI A 2
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FACT SHEET u
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AUGUST ~14, 1980
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I This fact sheet is intended to provide information in response to 1-public concerns about the dumping of radioactive wastes in' the Pacific 1
' I' Ocean of,f the coast of California, j
In addition, answers a-e given to specific questions that have been raised recently to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
t Part I:
Background Information
- 1. RESPONSIBILITY FOR DUMPING o.From 1946, when ocean dumping started, until to 1972 'all sea.
i disposal of nuclear waste was conducted under the direction and licensing authority of The Atomic Energy Commissio.n ( AEC).
o Dumping operations were conducted between 1946-1970.
In 1960, however, the AEC declared a moratorium on the issuance of new licenses i
and between 1962 and 1970 only 350 containers were disposed of.
I o In 1970 all ocean dumping of radioactive wastes by the United States. was terminated.
o In 1972, PL 92-532, THE MARINE PROTECTIGH, RESEARCH AND SANCTUARIES ACT gave ER the. responsibility for developing regulations
~
and. issuing. permits for the future ocean ~ disposal of all waste, including
. low-level radioactive waste.
EPA has not issued permits for-dumping any radioactive waste.
o PL 92-532 prohibits ccean disposal of high-level radioactive waste and radiological warf are agenu o-On January 11, 1977 EPA issued regulations and criteria for ocean dumping.
These regulations specify that:
1 1.
Radioactive materials must be contained to prevent their
,. dispersion into ocean waters, and 2.
The containment system must remain intact until the 1
radioactive materials decay 'to innocuous levels.
- 2. MONITORING RESPONSIBILITY o PL 95-273, The National Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring Planning Act of 1978, designated the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the lead agency for monitoring programs and for research and development into ocean pollution.
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- o-EPA-and NOAA~are currently preparing an interagency agreement to coordinate; oceanographic activities for evaluating ocean dumping' as an option. for future disposal ~of low-level radioactive waste.
3.- DUMPING OPERATIONS o Oumping operations were conducted under AEC licensing authority
.from 1946-1970.
Over 35 sites were designated in the Atlantic and i
Pacific Oceanc,.but about 90 percent of the low-level waste containers were dumped in 4 sites:
Major Sites
- Containers **
Curtes**
At lantic 9
Atlantic 2,800 meter (9,190 ft.)
14,300 41,400 site at 38030'N 72006'W approximately 114 miles off the coast of Delaware; Atlantic 3,800-meter (12,470 ft.)
14,500 2,1 00 site at 37050'N 70035'W approximately 192 miles off the coast of Maryland;'
Pacific
'Farallon Island 900 meter 3,500 1,1 00 (2,950 ft.) At site 37038'N 1230 8'W, 0
about 50 miles from San Francisco Farallon Island 1,700 meter 44,000 13,400 I
(5,575 ft.) site at 37037'N
-123017'W about 50 miles
~
from san Francisco L'
' Unofficial listing developed by EPA.
Dumping sites were designated i.
and licensed by.the Atomic Energy Commission and data on sites.
L
. containers and radioactivity would now be with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, if the records still exist.
- Mostly 55 gallon steel drums containing track contamination on paper towels, rags, clothing, glassware and laboratory equipment.
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- Radioactivity at time of dumping Much of this would"be gone now by normal radioactive decay.
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o From 1946-1970 a total of approximately 86,750-containers were dumped
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by the United States with an estimated total activity of.94,670 curits (Ci).
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Most of-these containers were dumped prior to 1962..
L o From 1962 to 1970 only 350 containers were dumped with estimated activity of 230Ci.
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o The Farallon sites were used from 1946-1965; 47,500 containers were dumped with a total estimated activity of 14,500Ci; 44,000 of these containers-were dumped at the 1700 m site.
4.
EPA SURVEY.0PER ATIONS From August 1974 to July 1978 EPA' conducted six survey operations.
o o Survey sites were selected en the basis of the number of containers dumped during period of use.
o Operations were conducted as part of a program for development of regulations pursuant to PL 92-532.
Ot o The survey program was conducted to:
1 1.
Examine the condition of representative containers at each site; e
2.
Examine the abundance and types of biological organisms; 3.
Evaluate releases of radioactivity.~fr.om containers;
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4 Measure current flow through the sites; an'd, W
5.
Recover a container for detailed analysis oflits condition.
o Three surveys were conducted at-the Farallon Islands sites:
1.-
August 1974 at the 900 m site using the unmanned CURY III (Cable-Controlled Under-water Recovery Vehicle) equipped ~with cameras, sonar and manipulator arms to collect sediment samples, 4
observe biological activity and condition of containers.
2.
August 1975 at the 1700 m site using CURV III to collect sedirent' W
. samples, deploy current meters, examine condition of drums, and collect biological samples.
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September-October 1977 at the 900 m and 1700 m sites using-PISCES (a
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N-manned submersible) to collect sediment, water and biological
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samples, make current measurements and recover a container from the 900 m site.
o In addition to the Farallon Island sites, three surveys were conducted e
at'the two primary Atlantic dumpsites (2800 m and 3800 m sites).
1 q
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.I Part II:
Questions Most Frequently Asked About Radioactive
.1 Waste Dumpsites Off the California Coast l
How Many ocean dumosites exist off the California Coast?
i The Atomic Energy Commission designated six sites acceptable for radioactive wastes off the coast of California.
90-99 percent of the i
radioactive wastes were dumped at two locations near the Farallon Islands,
about 50 miles west of San Francisco.
4 Sites off-California Coast
- Containers
- Curies **
Farallon Island 900 meter 3,500 1.100 (2,950ft.). site at 37038'N 123008'W, about'50 miles from San Francisen Farallon Island 1,700 meter 44,000 13,400 (5,575 ft.) site at 37037'N 123017'W. about 50 miles j
from San Francisco i
2,210 m '(7,240 ft.) site 4,400 34 at 32000'N 121030'W about 130 miles SW of Point Arguello or about 215 miles West of
. San Diego, Calif.
Santa Cruz Basin'1,940 m.
3,100 108-
. (6,360 f t. )- at 33039'N 119028'W about 33 miles 1
southwest of Port Hueneme,
' Calif.
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5 1,990 m (6,540 ft.) site at 29 No Data 40007'N 135024'W about 500 miles west-off Cape Mendocino, California 4,570 m-(15,000 ft.) site No Data No Data-N at 300 3'N 139 06'W 4
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about 850 miles west of Los' Angeles
- Unofficial listing developed by EPA.
Dumping sites were designated and licensed by the Atomic Energy Comission and data on sites, containers and radioactivity would now be with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, if the records sti11' exist.
- Mostly 55 gallon steel drums containing trace contamination on paper towels, rags, clothing, glassware.and laboratory equipment.
- Radioactivity at time of dumping.
Much of this would be gone now by normal radioactive decay.
What.was the purpose-of EPA's surveys.near the Farallon Islands?
EPA's surveys were to evaluate the condition of a few repvesentative-drums containing radioactive wastes which had been' dumped about 10-30 years before.
These evaluations were to provide data for. EPA regulations to control any future ocean dumping operations.
The data on drum conditions, existence of edible fish, current' flows and sediment transport, will help EPA develop criteria for selecting possible future dumpsites, as an option for low-level radioactive waste dispossal, and regulations for use of such sites.
EPA has studied only the-Farallon Island sites in the Pacific because these sites, having received most of the wastes, gave EPA the best opportunity for locating and evaluating a few representative waste drums.
What reports.has EPA published.about. surveys near the Farallon Islands?
"A survey of the Farallon Islands 500 Fathom Radioactive Waste Disposal Sites - Operations report," U.S.E.P.A. Report No. ORP-75-1, Washington, D. C. (1975). Available from the National' Technical Information Service.
Order No. P3-286143/AS A05, price $8.00, phone: 703-557-4650.
" Environmental Surveys of two deepsea radioactive waste disposal sites using submersibles."
Dyer, R.S. in Management of Radioactive Waste from the-Nuclear Fuel Cycle, Vol.II, IAEA, Vienna, Austria 1976.
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',1 b' hat.is the. status of.the unoublished Farallon Islands reportst.
(.,I, EPA has 16 reports on the Farallon Islands in various stages of completion.
Reports are being published in the order in which studies were conducted and analyses completed.
These reports are undergoing review by experts outside EPA.
Beginning in April 1981 this Agency will issue a series documenting the 1977 surveys.
1s there any danger f. rom cast cumoing operationst j
Our evaluation of the scientific information that has been obtained from.
t these low-level nuclear waste dumpsite surveys at the Farallon Islands l
indicates no evidence of any harm to either man or the marine environment. '
Who-is resconsible for existing ocean dumosites?
The use of existing ocean dumpsites was controlled by the Atomic Energy--
Commission.
EPA has responsibility for assessing public health significance of all sources of radiation in the environment.
Is ocean dumoing of. radioactive wastes. legal newt Yes, the Marine Protection Research and. Sanctuaries Act of 1972 allows
. ocean dumping of low-level racioactive wastes under. regulation by EPA.
EPA has not issued any permits for such dumping. This agency has.a program for-detemining whether such _ dumping should be allowed and where.
Our current schedule calls for completing necessary studies by late 1985.
This nrogram will provide the technical data base to. allow _.
for a comparison of various waste disposal options and selection of the best disposal method.
EPA will'not issue any permits until the necessary
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studies 4.re done.
Are. fish caught near.the Farallon dumosites safe to. eat?.
Yes, EPA radiation measurements of fish at these sites indicate no I
measurable activity in edible parts.
Only trace amounts of cesium-137 were found in the stomach and skin.
These amounts are comparable to those found in fish from other areas due to worldwide radioactive fallout
-from nuclear weapons testing, h'h.y not. recover.r.adioactiv.e waste.dr.ums?
EPA has no evidence that any hazard exists from previously dumped drums of radioactive wastes..These drums on the ocean floor are a long way from any contact with people.
On the other hand; if drums are recovered and brought back to land there could be some risk, especially to workers handling and transporting drums in various stages of corrosion.
Furthermore, locating and recovering thousands of drums in the deep ocean would be inordinately expensive, and technically infeasible.
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7 What kind of matetial was dumped at these si.tes?
o.
Typical low-level wastes disposed of.at set are paper l towels, rags, broken glassware, clothing,-and other laboratory paraphernalia 1
contaminated with-trace amounts of radioactive materials.
These wastes were typically compacted in 55 gallon steel drums with concrete caps.
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i 0FFICE OF THE SECRETARY CORRESPONDENCE CONTROL TICKET PAPER NUMBER CRC-90-0603 IOGGING DATE: Jun 6 90
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ACTION OFFICE EDO 1
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AUIHOR Alan Cranston--Const Ref AFFILIATION:
UNITED STATES SENATE I
LETTER DATE!
May 24 90 FILE CODE: M-20 q
SUBJECT:
Nuclear waste in steel drums off San Franciso's
[
coast ACTION:
DirebtReply DISTRIBUTION:
OCA to Ack SPECIAL HANDLINGt None NOTES:
Nancy Scotton DATE DUE:
Jun 20 90 SIGNATURE:
DATE SIGNED:
AFFILIATION:
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