[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 24, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 24, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
               OCEAN RADIOACTIVE DUMPING BAN ACT OF 1994

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                               speech of

                         HON. NORMAN Y. MINETA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 23, 1994

  Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3982, the Ocean 
Radioactive Dumping Ban Act of 1994. This bill amends the so-called 
Ocean Dumping Act by extending the current dumping ban on radioactive 
waste to cover all, not just high-level radioactive waste. The ban was 
established by the November 1993 amendments to the Annex of the 
Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Waste 
and Other Matter of 1972, commonly known as the London Convention. 
Additionally, this important legislation will demonstrate to the world 
our commitment to protect our seas from radioactive contamination.
  In the interest of time, the Committee on Public Works and 
Transportation did not seek sequential referral of the bill. Through an 
exchange of letters in the Committee Report with my good friend, 
Chairman Gerry Studds, the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee 
acknowledged our committee's jurisdiction over the subject matter of 
the bill.
  I would like to address the amendment offered by Mr. Weldon and 
adopted by voice vote by the Committee on Merchant Marine and 
Fisheries. Mr. Weldon's amendment makes two improvements to the 
reported bill. His amendment clarifies that the ban on dumping 
radioactive waste does not affect the permitting of dredge material 
disposal under section 103 of the Ocean Dumping Act and it brings the 
United States in line with the London Convention on this issue. 
Secondly and, again consistent with the convention, the amendment 
clarifies that dredge material containing de minimis levels of 
radioactivity is acceptable as long as it is regulated through the 
permitting process established under section 103 of the Ocean Dumping 
Act.
  Mr. Speaker, it is important that we pass this legislation so we may 
be able to bring moral pressure on the Russian Federation in an effort 
to stop the practice of the former Soviet Union of disposing of 
millions of curies of low- and high-level radioactive wastes in the Sea 
of Japan and the Arctic Ocean. Currently, the Russian Federation 
reserves its right not to comply with the ban. With ships holding 10 
million curies of low- and high-level radioactive waste in Murmansk 
Harbor, it is incumbent upon the United States to use our moral 
authority to pressure the Russian Federation to stop this dangerous 
activity.
  I want to commend Chairman Studds, Mr. Ortiz, and Mr. Weldon for 
their leadership on this legislation and I urge its adoption.

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