ML20045A280

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Summarizes OGC Response to Technical Assistance Request Re Disposal of Liquid Waste Into Arctic Ocean.Nrc Does Not Have Jurisdiction Over Proposed Discharges of Radioactive Matl Into Intl Waters
ML20045A280
Person / Time
Issue date: 06/25/1991
From: Glenn J
NRC OFFICE OF NUCLEAR MATERIAL SAFETY & SAFEGUARDS (NMSS)
To: Ronald Bellamy
NRC OFFICE OF INSPECTION & ENFORCEMENT (IE REGION I)
Shared Package
ML20044B495 List:
References
HPPOS-271, NUDOCS 9306100054
Download: ML20045A280 (2)


Text

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. y JDW t 5 1991 l

MEMORANDUM FOR:

Ronald R. Bellamy, Chief Nuclear Materials Safety Branch, RI FROM:

John E. Glenn, Chief Medical, Academic, and Commercial Use Safety Branch Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS

SUBJECT:

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REQUEST:

DISPOSAL 0F LIQUID WASTE INTO ARCTIC OCEAN This is in reference to the May 28, 1991, letter (Enclosure 1) from Richard F.

Rivkin, The University of Maryland System, Center for Environmental and Estuarine Studies, which John Kinneman of your staff sent to us via telecopy.

As indicated in Mr. Rivkin's letter to Mr. Kinneman, the National Science Foundation is sponsoring a research project involving use of carbon-14 (C-14) and tritium (H-3).

This project will take place during a research cruise on a Soviet icebreaker in the Arctic Ocean from July 27 to August 16, 1991.

M r. Rivkir; is seeking permission to dispose of about 10 millicuries of H-3 and 40 millicuries of C-14 in the Arctic Ocean.

By memorandum dated June 5,1991 (Enclosure 2), we asked the Office of the General Counsel (0GC) for guidance in responding to Mr. Rivkin.

OGC's June 20, 1991, memorandum is Enclosure 3 and was sent to Mr. Kinneman via telecopy on June 21, 1991.

In summary, 0GC indicates:

1.

The Soviet icebreaker is a nuclear-powered ship, cannot debark at Nome, Alaska, and cannot enter the territorial waters of the United States.

2.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission does not have jurisdiction over the proposed discharges of radioactive material into international waters.

0GC suggests that Mr. Rivkin contact the State Department to learn if there are applicable international agreements or conventions governing such discharges.

0GC also suggests that Mr. Rivkin discuss the proposed discharges with his Soviet colleagues.

9306100054 910625 PDR ORG NRRB

M 8 f Leg-Ronald R. Bellamy 2-If you have any questions on these matters, please contact Patricia Vacca at FTS 492 0615.

k w sLeoedn:

r John E. Glenn, Chief Medical, Academic, and Commercial Use Safety Branch Division of Industrial and Medical Nuclear Safety, NMSS

Enclosures:

1.

Ltr dtd 5/28/91 2.

NMSS memo dtd 6/5/91 3.

OGC memo dtd 6/20/91 cc w/ encl: J.

sinneman, RI W/eMe losures)

DISTRIBUTION IMAB-446 Region NRC File Center TAR r/f JEGlenn RECunningham E j^b h-J 5r c e WS IMNS Central File PCVacca RRBellamy, RI WECline, RII JGrobe, RIII RJPate, RV MShanbacky, RI JKinneman, RI PSwetland, RI CHosey, RII GMMcCanr., RIII BRiedlinger, RV SLBaggett, IMAB MLamastra RFonner, 0GC EMcAlpine, Ril ABBeach, RIV VLMiller, GPA/SP WFisher, RIV JRicci, AE0D/TTC CCain, RIV LWCamper, IMAB IMAB r/f JPiccone, IMAB LFranklin, RII JJohansen, RI NMSS r/f r

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