Sea dumping

Wills, J. (2000) Muddied Waters a Survey of Offshore Oil Field Drilling Wastes and Disposal Techniques to Reduce The ecological Impacts of Sea Dumping Sakhalin Environment Watch, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia, pp. 139. 

Before the geological disposal concept was chosen there was a systematic analysis of potential options like sea dumping, sub-seabed disposal, in thick ice sheet, into space, transmutation etc. That analysis has shown that geological disposal is the most suitable solution for Sweden. There is also an international consensus on the acceptability in principle of deep geological repositories for disposal of SNF and high level waste. 

According to Article I of [3] the aim of the convention is to prevent the pollution of the sea by dumping of waste and other matter that are liable to create hazards to hmnan health, to harm hving resources and marine life, to damage amenities or to interfere with other legitimate uses of the sea . Dumping is in Article III defined as (i) any deliberate disposal at sea of wastes or other matter from vessels, aircraft, platform or other man-made structures at sea and (ii) any deliberate disposal at sea of vessels, aircraft, platforms or man-made structures at sea . Article IV states that the dumping of wastes or other material listed in Aimex I is prohibited , and Annex I includes Radioactive wastes or other radioactive matter . From these Articles it seems obvious that the Convention applies to nuclear submarines. 

The obvious intent of the NAS study was to avoid sea dumping in the future by providing readily available, ecologically safe means of destroying lethal chemical munitions by current or developed techniques. Prior to 19 9 the methods for disposing of obsolete or unserviceable chemical munitions were those listed on Inclosure 2. However, based on the NAS recommendations, the Army developed a program with two main objectives First, to develop the procedures, construct the facilities/equipment, and... 

Fedorov LA (1996). Pre-convention liquidation of Soviet chemical weapons. In Sea-Dumped Chemical Weapons. Aspects, Problems and Solutions (AV Kaffka, ed.), pp. 17-27. Dordrecht, The Netherlands Kluwer Academic Publishers. 

Wellow starfish site, 119 Deep-level shelters, 232 Deep-sea dumping, 69,135 Defence Communications Network, 252... 

Following the occupation of Germany and Japan, the Allies initiated a sea-dumping and weapons disposal program to eliminate the large stockpiles... 

Fig. 2-55. The disposal at sea of surplus and leaking chemical munitions and radiological wastes generated environmental concerns that eventually brought sea dumping to a halt. Photograph Chemical and Biological Defense Command Historical Research and Response Team, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.

The sea dumps created two major concerns. The first was that the weapons were being shipped from their storage depots by train to the loading docks. Fear of an accident along the way was paramount. Second, sea dumping and its effects on marine life were sources of environmental and commercial concern and protest. 

This facility also served as a shipping point for sea dumping in June 1967, a shipload of rockets and bulk sarin and mustard in June 1968, a shipload of rockets and bulk sarin, VX, and arsenicals in August 1968, a shipload of bulk mustard and in November 1957, a shipload of bulk Lewisite. 

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