ML20059F803
| ML20059F803 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Issue date: | 08/14/1990 |
| From: | Rathbun D NRC OFFICE OF GOVERNMENTAL & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (GPA) |
| To: | Packard R HOUSE OF REP. |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20059F807 | List: |
| References | |
| FRN-53FR49886, RULE-PR-CHP1 CCS, NUDOCS 9009120016 | |
| Download: ML20059F803 (3) | |
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UNITED STATES 4
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y NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION j
W ASHINGTON, D. C. 20666
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t f
August 14, 1990 i
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The Honorable Ron Packard United States House of Representatives i
l Washington, D.C.
20515
Dear Congressman Packard:
l This is in response to your letter of July 17, 1990, on behalf of ycur f
constituent, Mr. John Hecht, requesting information concerning the disposal j
of low-level radioactive wastes off Catalina Island, California.
j l
By way of background, all ocean disposal of low-level radioactive waste by t
the United States was terminated in 1970.
Prior to that, from 1946 to j
1970. radioactive waste disposal was conducted at sea under the direction l
l and licensing authority of the then United States Atomic Energy Commission l
(AEC).
In 1972, Congress passed the Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act (P.L.92-532) which gave the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the responsibility for developing regulations and issuing a
permits for the future ocean disposal of all waste, including low-level radioactive waste. EPA has not issued permits for ocean disposal of any l
radioactive waste.
Finally, P.L.95-273, the National Pollution Research and Development and Monitoring Planning Act of 1978, designated the 3
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the lead agency for monitoring programs and for research and development into ocean pollution, t
Two factsheets, one prepared by EPA the other by t' he NRC. staff, a copy of i
l each is enclosed, based upon old Atomic Energy Connission records, would Indicate that the disposal area closest to Catalina Island is Site P 4, the Santa Cruz Basin, about 35 nautical miles soutwest of Port Hueneme, California.
The disposal of_an estimated 3114 containers was made at the site in 1000 fathoms or greater in depth between 1946 and 1962 by the Atomic Energy Commission and its licensee Pneumodynamics. The l
radiological activity of the material disposed of was estimated to be about i
108 curies at the time of packaging.
The. exact coordinates of the disposal i
site boundary are listed in the enclosure. Also enclosed is an NRC prepared factsheet, " General Description on Types of 0,' states that the containers were l
isposed Materials Generated or-Licensed by AEC and Their Containers," which i
primarily 55 gallon steel drums or boxes filled with concrete-to assure they reached the ocean floor. Additional, site specific information would have i
to be obtained from former AEC records-in storage at a federal records center and are not readily available, j
9009120016 900814 PDR ORG NGPZ J
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i I hope that this information is helpful in responding to your constituent.
I would also suggest that you or your constituent contact the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for information regarding continued monitoring of these disposals.
i Sincerely, e
i tY<<v.
.21 t
Dennis Rath un, Director Congressional Affairs Office of Governmental and-Public Affairs
Enclosures:
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As stated P
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COMMENTS
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