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Title: Hazards of past low-level radioactive waste ocean dumping have been overemphasized

Abstract

From 1946 to 1970, the United States disposed of low-level radioactive waste by dumping it into the ocean. Today, more than a decade after all dumping stopped, concerns over the potential environmental and public health consequences of past ocean dumping persist. In an evaluation of the adequacy of federal efforts to deal with this issue, GAO found that: the Federal Government has no complete and accurate catalogue of information on how much, what kind, and where low-level nuclear waste was dumped because detailed records were not required; the overwhelming body of scientific research and opinion shows that concerns over the potential public health and environmental consequences posed by past ocean dumping activity are unwarranted and overemphasized; and although the Environmental Protection Agency has been slow in developing low-level radioactive waste ocean dumping regulations, its current approach is sound. Nonetheless, improvements are needed in developing specific dumpsite monitoring requirements. Accordingly, GAO makes specific recommendations to improve the effectiveness of federal efforts in the area.

Publication Date:
Research Org.:
General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5703655
Report Number(s):
EMD-82-9
ON: DE82902234; TRN: 82-004110
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; 11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS; 29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY AND ECONOMY; RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL; LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES; RADIATION HAZARDS; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; LEGAL ASPECTS; MARINE DISPOSAL; MONITORING; RECOMMENDATIONS; HAZARDS; HEALTH HAZARDS; MANAGEMENT; MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS; RADIOACTIVE WASTES; WASTE DISPOSAL; WASTE MANAGEMENT; WASTES; 052002* - Nuclear Fuels- Waste Disposal & Storage; 054000 - Nuclear Fuels- Health & Safety; 290600 - Energy Planning & Policy- Nuclear Energy; 290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment, Health, & Safety

Citation Formats

. Hazards of past low-level radioactive waste ocean dumping have been overemphasized. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
. Hazards of past low-level radioactive waste ocean dumping have been overemphasized. United States.
. 1981. "Hazards of past low-level radioactive waste ocean dumping have been overemphasized". United States.
@article{osti_5703655,
title = {Hazards of past low-level radioactive waste ocean dumping have been overemphasized},
author = {},
abstractNote = {From 1946 to 1970, the United States disposed of low-level radioactive waste by dumping it into the ocean. Today, more than a decade after all dumping stopped, concerns over the potential environmental and public health consequences of past ocean dumping persist. In an evaluation of the adequacy of federal efforts to deal with this issue, GAO found that: the Federal Government has no complete and accurate catalogue of information on how much, what kind, and where low-level nuclear waste was dumped because detailed records were not required; the overwhelming body of scientific research and opinion shows that concerns over the potential public health and environmental consequences posed by past ocean dumping activity are unwarranted and overemphasized; and although the Environmental Protection Agency has been slow in developing low-level radioactive waste ocean dumping regulations, its current approach is sound. Nonetheless, improvements are needed in developing specific dumpsite monitoring requirements. Accordingly, GAO makes specific recommendations to improve the effectiveness of federal efforts in the area.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5703655}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 1981},
month = {Wed Oct 21 00:00:00 EDT 1981}
}

Technical Report:
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