ronmental threats to the united states and the arctic resulting from past soviet activities hearing

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8. lino. 102-iose
RADIOACTIVE AND OTHER ENVI
RONMENTAL THREATS TO THE
UNITED STATES AND THE ARCTIC
RESULTING FROM PAST SOVIET
ACTIVITIES
HEARING
BEFORE THE
SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
OP THE
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SECOND CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ON
RADIOACTIVE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS TO THE UNITED
STATES AND THE ARCTIC RESULTING FROM PAST SOVD3T ACTIVITIES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1992
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SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE
[Establiabad by a RM. 400, Mth Coof., Sd Bern.)
DAVID L. BOREN, Oklahoma, Chairman
FRANK H. MURKOWSKI, Alaska, Wot Chairman
ERNEST F. ROLLINGS, Sooth Carolina JOHN W. WARNER, Virginia
BILL BRADLEY, N«w Jarsay ALFONBB M. DTAMATO, Naw York
ALAN CRANSTON, California JOHN C. DANFORTH, Miaaoari
DENNIS DsCONCINI, Aricona WARREN RUDMAN, Nsw Hampihira
HOWARD M. METZENBAUM, Ohio 8LADE GORTON, Waihington
JOHN GLENN, Ohio JOHN H. CHAFES, Rhoda Wand
J. ROBERT KERREY, Nabraaka
GEORGE MITCHELL, Main*, Ex Officio
ROBERT DOLE, Kansas, Sx Officio
GEOROB J. TKMxr, 8ta/f Dinctor
JOHN H. MOBSMAN, Minority 8iaff Dinctor
KATHLSZN P. MCGBB, ChitfCUrk
(ID
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CONTENTS
Hearing held in Fairbanks, Alaska: Par*
August 15,1992 1
MORNING SESSION
Testimony of UJ3. Government Panel:
.- Bohlen, Hon. Curtis, Assistant Secretary for Oceans, International Envi
ronmental and Scientific Affairs 104
Gates, Hon. Robert M., Director of Central Intelligence 139
Guimond, Admiral Richard A., Deputy Assistant Administrator for Solid
Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA), and Assistant Surgeon General U.S. Public Health Service 184
Murkcmski, Hon. Frank R, a U.S. Senator from the State of Alaaka 103
ODowd, Hon. Donald D., Chairman, Arctic Research Commission 161
Ostenso, Dr. Ned A., Assistant Administrator Oceanic and Atmospheric
Research National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 172
AFTERNOON SESSION
Testimony of Scientific Panel:
- Aarkrog, Dr. Aasker, Chief, Ecology Section, Department of Environ
mental Science and Technology, Kiao National Laboratory, Roskilde,
Denmark 210
Alexander, Dr. Vera, Director, Institute of Marine Sciences, University
of Alaska 630
Bolshov, Dr. Leonid, Director, Institute of Nuclear Safety, Russian Acad
emy of Science 624
Hollister, Dr. Charles, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute 191
Rogue, Dr. Odd, Executive Secretary, International Arctic Science Com
mittee, Oslo, Norwav „ 229
Shaw, Dr. Glen, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska 241
White, Dr. Robert, Institute of Arctic Biology, University of Alaska, Fair
banks 217
Testimony of Health Panel:
Ebbeeon, Dr. Sven, Institute of Marine Science, University of Alaska,
Fairbanks, and Co-Director, Alaskan-Siberian Medical Research Pro
gram 314
Middaugh, Dr. John, State of Alaska Epidemologist 386
Tedford, Charles, Radiation Health Specialist, Department of Environ
mental Conservation, and Department of Health and Social Services,
State of Alaska 3!)6
Trufakin, Dr. Valerie, President, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of
Medical Science, and Co-Director, Alaskan-Siberian Medical Research
Program 315
Testimony from non-governmental organizations:
Handler, Joshua, Research Coordinator, Greenpeace Nuclear Free Seas
Program 425
Hajost, Scott A., Esq., International Counsel, Environmental Defense
Fund 423
Johnson, Charlie, Inuit Circumpolar Conference 398
Pfirman, Dr. Stephanie L., Senior Scientist, Environmental Defense
Fund ;:.;. 421
Testimony of Local and Arctic Resources:
Albert, Dr. Thomas F., Senior Scientist, Department of Wildlife Manage
ment, North Slope Borough 502
(in)
rv
Teitimony of Local and Arctic Resources—Continued
Simeon, Calvin^ Director of Natural Resources, Aaaodation of Village
Council Presidents 605
Preientation of t Concept for Action: .
Alexander, Dr. Vera, Director, Institute of Marine Science, University-
of Alaska, Fairbanks 526
Bolshov, Dr. Leonid, Director, Institute of Nuclear Safety, Russian Acad
emy of Science .* 520
Gorsuch, Dr. Edward L., Dean, School of Public Affairs and Director,
Institute for Economic and Social Research, University of Alaska, An
chorage 534
Proenza, Dr. Luis, Acting Vice President, Academic Affairs and Research,
University of Alaska 513
Shipp, Dr. William, Manager, Reactor Technology Center, Pacific North
west Laboratory. Battelle Memorial Institute 516
Written Statements submitted for the Record:
Statement of the Government of Canada 45
Statement of the Government of Iceland 71
Statement of the Department of Energy 76
Statement of the Government of Finland 63
Statement of the Arctic Marine Resource Commission 87
Statement of the International Union for Circumpolar Health 89
Statement of the Alaska Health Project 99
Reports:
The Finnish Assisted Joint Environmental Projects in Eastern Europe
1991-1992 submitted by the Ministry of the Environment of Finland,
East Europe Project 56
An Overview of Radiation Safety Problems for the Population on the
Territory of the Yakutskaya-Sakha S.S.R., translated by Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress 328
The SUte of Public Health in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), B-A.
Yegorov, Minister — 344
A Commitment to Alaskans, draft article 17
Appendix:
Report from the President of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 1993;
Facts and Problems Related to Radioactive Waste Disposal in Seas
Adjacent to the Territory of the .Russian Federation (Materials for
a Report by the Government Commission on Matters Related to Radio
active Waste Disposal at Sea, Created by Decree No. 613 of the Russian
Federation President, October 24,1992) 543
RADIOACTIVE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL
THREATS TO THE UNITED STATES AND THE
ARCTIC RESULTING FROM PAST SOVIET AC
TIVITIES
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1992
U.S. SENATE,
SELECT COMMITTEE ON INTELLIGENCE,
Fairbanks, AK.
The select committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10 o'clock a.m.,
in the Fine Arts Theater, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fair
banks, AK, the Honorable Frank Murkowski, vice chairman of the
committee, presiding.
Present: Senator Murkowski.
Also Present: John Moseman, minority staff director, and David
Gannan, select committee staff.
PROCEEDINGS
Senator MURKOWSKI. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. Those
of you who are in the back, you might want to come down and be
seated.
Let me take this opportunity to welcome you to this field hearing
of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Let me introduce
on my left John Moseman, Chief of Staff for the Minority, and
David Garman on my right of the Senate Intelligence Committee
Staff. Mary Johnson on the far right is acting as our Committee
Reporter. Well introduce Buff Bohlen in just a tew minutes.
Let me give you some idea of what to expect. First of all, we have
at last count some 25 ladies and gentlemen from government, the
scientific community, and the indigenous community to testify
today. As we get into the panel groups I will probably limit the wit
nesses to about six minutes each, but realistically allow them about
10.
I might add for the benefit of the groups that are testifying, I'm
told this stage is self-leveling, so if you see startled faces occasion
ally from those up here I'm told irs not an earthquake but a so
phisticated technology. I did want you to be aware of that.
I would also like to indicate that the Chairman of this Commit
tee, Senator Boren, extends his regrets. He's from Oklahoma and
as you know, there are few direct flights .to Fairbanks, Alaska from
Oklahoma, but nevertheless he asked to be remembered. I want to
thank him for his efforts on behalf of this hearing today, recogniz
ing the importance and significance of it.
(l)
The fall of the Soviet regime has resulted in an outpouring of in
formation about the practices and activities of the ibrmer Soviet
Union. WeVe also see Congressional action on a Russian Aid Bill.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which I'm a member,
adopted my amendment authorizing funds to map, monitor and
contain environmental threats,to.the United States or.the. Arctic/
SubArctic ecosystem. The accompanying Senate report makes it
clear that the Senate Foreign Relations' Committee intends that
these activities be undertaken in collaboration with scientists from
the former Soviet Union. The report also specified that the research
plan should be developed in collaboration with the National Science
Foundation, the Interagency Arctic Research Policy, and the Arctic
Research Commission, and the State of Alaska.
The full Senate adopted the bill on July 2nd. Clearly, we have
a Congressional dictate. And while it has not yet passed the House,
I'm confident that it will.
Earlier this year the Senate Intelligence Committee began to re
ceive reports from environmental and nuclear scientists m Russia
detailing the reckless nuclear waste disposal practices, nuclear ac
cidents and the use of nuclear detonations. We found that informa
tion disturbing to say the least. Also troubling is the fact that 15
Chernobyl style RBMK nuclear power reactors continue to operate
in the former Soviet Union today. These reactors lack a contain
ment structure and they're designed in such a way that nuclear re
action can actually increase when the reactor overheats. As. sci
entists here at the University of Alaska have documented, polar air
masses and prevailing weather patterns provide a pathway for ra
dioactive contaminants from Eastern Europe and Western Russia,
where many of these reactors are located. The threats presented by
those potential radioactive risks are just a part of a larger Arctic
pollution problem. Every day, industrial activities of the former So
viet Union continue to create pollutants. I think we should face up
to the reality that in a country struggling for economic" survival, en
vironment protection isn't necessarily the highest priority. And
that could be verv troubling news for the Arctic in the future.
The Arctic is the principal food source for many Alaskans. Small
amounts of heavy metals possible from industrial pollution or Arc
tic haze are already making their way as we know into the walrus
and other marine mammals that feed many Arctic residents. Will
radionuclides follow? We don't know. Do we have the monitoring
mechanism in place to warn us should this occur? Can we address
through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms the need to halt the
spread and promote the cleanup of these pollutants? Who has the
talent and capability to do this kind of work? These are all impor
tant questions which we hope to explore here today.
At today's hearing, which is the first ever field hearing of the Se
lect Committee on&telligence, well hear from a remarkable group
of witnesses in an effort to explore these issues from several dif
ferent perspectives. Because this is an international problem, we've
asked the Assistant Secretary of State, Curtis Bohlen, to give us
the State Department's perspective. As a senior member of the
Interagency Arctic Research Policy Committee, Secretary Bohlen
can also tell us what can and should be done to scientifically assess
the threats facing the Arctic from these various pollutants. We also
3
have the Director of Central Intelligence, Robert Gates, to provide
us with an assessment of both the nuclear activities of the former
Soviet Union and the role that .the CIA can and should play in the
environmental arena. Not only in this area, but in the realm of
global change and other environmental concerns. The CIA of the
post-cold war era is forging new ground in the area of environ
mental intelligence under the leadership of Mr. Gates. And we're
pleased that he has chosen this occasion here in Alaska to outline
some of these new initiatives.
Because many, including myself, have suggested that the sci
entific and environmental monitoring in the Artie should be under
taken in collaboration with Russian scientists, we have asked Dr.
Donald CDowd, the former president of this University and Chair
man of the Arctic Research Commission, to provide us with some
thoughts about the opportunities and problems involved in sci
entific cooperation with our Russian neighbor. The Commission re
cently returned from a series of meetings with their counterparts
in the Russian Academy of Sciences, so Dr. CDowd is uniquely
qualified to address thiB question.
The nation's top official for oceanic and atmospheric research, Dr.
Ned Ostenso, will outline the program that NOAA can bring to
bear on these problems. One of the Environmental Protection Agen
cy's top radiation and mixed waste experts, Admiral Richard
Guimond, will provide the EPA's perspective on these problems.
We'll also hear from a number of scientists and health experts, in
cluding some who have come from Russia, from Denmark, Norway
and elsewhere, to provide information based on their experience,
their research and their monitoring. We have representatives from
the environmental community, one to specifically address issues in
volving the dumping of nuclear materials in the ocean, another to
present information gathered about a broader range of pollutants
and the mechanisms and that transport them around the Arctic.
We've invited representatives of the North Slope Borough, the Inuit
Circumpolar Conference and other representatives of the Native
community to provide their thoughts. And at the end of the day we
will hear from a panel representing an alliance between the Uni
versity of Alaska and a national laboratory to set forth some con
crete ideas about the course of action that should be undertaken
to address some of these problems. \
A number of other agencies, governments and organizations, in
cluding Russia, Finland, Iceland, the U.S. Department of Energy,
the Arctic Marine Resource Commission, the International Union of
Circumpolar Health, the American Society of Circumpolar Health,
the Alaska Health Project, and many others have also submitted
written testimony. I invite people in the audience to submit written
testimony, if they're inclined to do so. The hearing record will be
kept open for two weeks for the acceptance of additional public tes
timony.
(The documents referred to follow:]
4
c? n crp WALTER J. NICKEL, GOVERNOR
»EPT. «F ENVIRONMENTAL Ce)NSEKVATlf)N
OFFTCE OF THE COMMISSIONER Phone:[phone]O0
410 W1LLOUQHBY AVENUE, SUITE 105 Fax: [phone]
JUNEAU, AK 88601-1795
August 28,1992
The Honorable Frank H. MurkowskJ, Co-chairman
Senate Select Committee on InteSgence
United States Senate
ATTENTION DAVID QARMAN
Rm. 211 Hart Senate BuMng
Washington, DC 20510
Dear Senator Murkowski:
Thank you tor hoksng the Select Committee on InteBgence open hearing on radtatkxi
and environmental threats to the Arctic from the former Soviet Union on August 15.
This was truly an extraoroTnary hearing and the State of Alaska appreciated the
opportunity to testify.
With this letter, we wish to fctow up on our suggestions for an action plan to further
Identify and respond to the threats dbcussed at the hearing. The Alaska Department
of Environmental Conservation la one of several State agencies wfth responslbity for
health and the environment; we work closely with the Alaska Department of Health and
Soda! Services and with the Alaska Division of Emergency Services In the Department
of Mitary and Veterans Affairs. The Alaska Department of Fish and Game also carries
responsbtttes in this arena. Al of our Departments partidpata In the Northern Forum,
an association of state, provincial and regional governors from Northern regions which
is chaired by Governor Walter J. Hlckelwitha secretariat in Anchorage. As we*, each
of our agencies deal wUh counterpart federal agencies through a variety of cooperative
agreements.
The key points of action we suggest in fbtow-up to what we've learned at the hearing,
in coorcfmtod federal and state action, are as fdowi:
The United States needs to estabfsh a real-time radation rnontoring
• system In Alaska and, through btatsral or muMateral agreements,
Russian territory which neighbors Alaska. The State of Alaska is anxious
to cooperate in this program. Our letter to the Environmental Protection
Agency's (EPA) Rear Admiral Richard J. Quimond, describing this