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phragm, and deep bed filters, scrubbers, sonic agglomerators, and electrostatic precipitators.

The Sanitary Engineering Departments of The Johns Hopkins and New York Universities have contracts with the Atomic Energy Commission for the study of the effect of radioactive isotopes on the biologic slimes commonly found in sewers and of significance in sewage treatment. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Department of Sanitary Engineering, has a contract to investigate the effectiveness of standard methods of water purification in removing radioactivity from water. A similar research contract is being developed for work at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in cooperation with the Department of Defense and the Public Health Service.

The Geological Survey has for over a year carried out research at the Hanford Works in cooperation with the Atomic Energy Commission and the General Electric Company to determine the effect of the disposal of radioactive wastes by cribbing on the ground waters in the area. That agency is conducting similar studies in the canyons at Los Alamos and is cooperating with the Department of Geology, University of Tennessee, in an investigation of the extent of underground pollution, if any, from the waste storage tanks and waste disposal basins at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The University of Washington is conducting extensive research on the effect of discharge of radioactive cooling water from the reactors at the Hanford Works on the algae, diatoms, and other biological growth in waters of the Columbia River and on the river bed.

The Weather Bureau has conducted special surveys of meteorologic conditions at and in the vicinity of production areas

and national laboratories as related to the spread of radioactive contaminants from stacks and hoods should unusual conditions develop in the release and control of gaseous effluents from industry operations.

CONCLUSIONS

The problems which arise in the disposal wastes of this new industry require careful appraisal within and outside the industry from the standpoint of personal and public health, economics of treatment, and reclamation of product where practical. Within the industry they are being given a great deal of consideration, and much money has been and is being spent providing facilities for handling these Wastes properly, and also for developing facts on which to develop better methods of resolving the waste disposal complex. Outside the areas of the industry's operation these problems are of special interest and concern to public officials responsible for the quality and safety of surface and ground water resources and the purity of the air we breathe and the food we eat. Although disposal of wastes from this new industry is but one of the many of its fascinating facets of activity, it is an important one and one which holds out a challenge to the chemical engineer, the sanitary engineer, the biochemist, and the biologist. Their respective interests and opportunities are manifold, and through good teamwork current and future problems of waste disposal can be partly or completely solved. Indeed, the future growth of this new industry from, the developmental stage to that of applied use of its products may well hinge on its ability to find increasingly effective and reasonably economical methods of disposal of its hazardous waste products.

REFERENCES

1. GREGG, ALAN, in "Atomic Energy and the Life Sciences," U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, July, 1949.

2. COGAN, DAVID G., MARTIN, S. FORREST, and KIMURA, SAMUEL J., "Atom Bomb Cataracts," Science, 110, 654 (1949).

3. ABELSON, P. H., and KRUGER, P. G., “Cyclotron Induced Radiation Cataracts," Science, 110, 655 (1949).

4.

WESTERN, FORREST, "Problems of Radioactive Waste Disposal," Nucleonics, 3, 43 (1948).

5. MONIER-WILLIAMS, G. W., Trace Elements in Food, John Wiley, N. Y., 1949.

6. WOLF, BERNARD S., "Medical Aspects of Radiation Safety," Nucleonics, 3, 25 (1948).

7. LAPP, R. E., and ANDREWS, H. L., "Health Physics," Nucleonics, 3, 60 (1948),

8. WARREN, SHIELDS, "Waste Disposal Symposium," Nucleonics, 4, 13 (1949).

9. Fourth Semi-Annual Report of the Atomic Energy Commission; January, 1949. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

10. Sixth Semi-Annual Report of the Atomic Energy Commission, July, 1949. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

11. “Atomic Energy Development-1947-48," U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

12. "Handling Radioactive Wastes in the Atomic Energy Program," U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, October, 1949. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C. 13. Morgan, K. Z., “Radioactive Contamination and Control," Atomic Energy Commission Seminar on Waste Disposal, Washington, D. C., January 24-25, 1949.

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Industrial and Safety Problems of Nuclear Technology

14. Digest of Proceedings, Seminar on the Disposal of Radioactive Wastes, Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D. C., January 24-25, 1949.

15. Interim Recommendations for the Disposal of Radioactive Wastes by Off-Commission Users, Isotopes Division Circular B-6, Atomic Energy Commission, Isotopes Division, Box E, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

16. MORGAN, K. Z., "Hazards Presented by Radioactive Materials and How to Cope with Them," U. S. Naval Bull., Supplement, pp. 142-160, March-April, 1948.

17. Morgan, K. Z., "Protection Against Radiation Hazards and Maximum Allowable Exposure Values," J. Ind. Hyg. Toxicol., 30, 286 (1948).

18. PARKER, H. M., "Health Physics, Instrumentation and Radiation Protection," MCC-783. Technical Information Division, Atomic Energy Commission, P.O. Box E, Oak Ridge, Tennessee,

19. Levy, A. A., "Some Aspects of the Design of Radiochemical Laboratories," Chem. Eng. News, 24, 3168 (1946).

20. SULLIVAN, W. H., "Control of Radioactive Hazards," Chem. Eng. News, 25, 1862 (1947).

21. COHN, W. E., "Toxicity of Inhaled or Ingested Radioactive Products," Nucleonics, 3, 21 (1948).

22. Symposium on Radiochemistry Laboratories, Ind. Eng. Chem., 41, 228 (1948).

23. Glossary of Scientific Terms Relating to Atomic Energy, U. S. Atomic Energy Commission, Washington, D. C.

24. Eighth Semi-Annual Report of the Atomic Energy Commission, July, 1950. U. S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D. C.

MANUEL LUJAN, JR. 1ST DISTRICT, NEW MEXICO

Congress of the United States
House of Representatives

Washington, D.C. 20515

June 8, 1978

1323 LONGWORTH HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING

The Honorable Clarence Brown
2242 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Clarence,

Enclosed are copies of letters I have received from Dr. George Goldstein who is the New Mexico State Secretary for Health and the Environment, concerning H. R. 11698, the bill dealing with the restoration of abandoned uranium mill sites.

I understand that hearings have been scheduled on this issue by the Energy and Power Subcommittee for June 19 and 20 and I would appreciate it if these two letters would be inserted in the hearing record.

Thank you.

Best regards,

ML/pap

Manuel Lujan, Jr.

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