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Law of the Sea publication
feared that serious losses might occur during the imminent migration through the Straits. In fact, the main movement appears to have occurred between September 4 and October 2, when the surface waters of the Straits were clean, and many thousands of penguins have reached their breeding stations unharmed. Very large numbers of cormorants are also already in residence. During the same period careful beach counts indicated a total of some 500 to 1,000 penguin and cormorant casualties, and a few birds of other common kinds. It is therefore unlikely that the penguin and cormorant populations have suffered any significant loss. Further spillage from the virtually empty Metula is highly improbable so the situation is relatively satisfactory. This oil spill (one of the largest in the world to date and from what is certainly the largest tanker to have been wrecked so far) was in many respects extraordinarily fortunate. The prevailing wind prevented the oil from passing through the Second Narrow where there are important fisheries for King Crab, which is canned and exported, and other fish, which are locally consumed. The penguin population was fortunately low as a result of the season; the total ecological damage, was therefore, very slight. The salvage arrangements, despite the adverse conditions, have proved highly successful, and the loss of oil, though very large, is less than a third of the total. It is perhaps intersting to note that in the area of the grounding on both sides of the straits is the Magallaneas oil field, and next year wells will be drilled in the water of the Straits itself. As soon as the spill was reported in the U.K., John Butt of Shell International Marine Co. Ltd, and J. Wardley-Smith of International Tankers Owners Pollution Federation Ltd went to Chile. They were later joined by Dr Jennifer Baker, Director of the Orielton Oil Pollution Research Unit; all three advised the Chilean Government on the measures to be taken to minimize environmental damage. The United States, Canada and Sweden also sent advisors and observers.
ment procedures. The booklet may be obtained from lIED, Suite 300, 1717 Mass. Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036, U.S.A. ($1 -50) or 27 Mortimer Street, London Wt (£0.65).
National Radiological Protection Board
The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has recently published the first complete review of their activities during the first three years of their existence (The Work of the NRPB 1970/73), HMSO, £1.00). The Board undertakes research and development and provides advice and information to other specialists in radiological protection, to industry, hospitals, universities, government departments and international organizations. The report includes a description of work on the metabolism and biochemistry of plutonium, a substance of growing importance in the production of energy. Human pathological hazards of such actinides may have some bearing on the animal toxicology resulting from radioactivity waste. Also relevant is an assessment of the effects of radioactive waste on public health. Apart from the concern expressed from time to time about the possible consequences of a large accidental release of radioactivity from a nuclear reactor, the matters of most concern are connected with the management of radioactive wastes. which arise in gaseous, liquid and solid forms. After treatment, these may be stored or released into the environment. (See also Mat'. Pollut. Bull., 5 (5): 66). The Board's work on the environmental effects of nuclear power has been concentrated on releases of radioactive wastes from this industry, particularly during the reprocessing of irradiated fuel. The UK contribution to the United Nations Scientific Committee oil the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) study on the environmental consequences of radioactive waste disposal was prepared by the NRPB in the tbrm of a report on UK practice in 1969. J. WARDLEY-SMITH Liquid wastes are so radioactive that they are unacceptable for direct discharge into the environment: permanent storage is necessary. During the processing The recent industrial disputes in Glasgow, Scotland have of these wastes prior to storage, large volumes of liquids resulted in a considerable quantity of the city's sewage containing only a very small fraction of the total radiobeing discharged, untreated, into the River Clyde. The level activity are produced In this country these liquids are of dissolved oxygen has decreased markedly and scientists discharged into the sea through long pipelines. The carrying out daily checks on water purity fear that the Board has been working with other interesting bodies and government departments to assess methods of river's fauna is in serious danger. storage and also the quantities for safe discharge. Solid waste material, ranging from building rubble and obsolete equipment to rubber gloves and paper Toward an Environmentally Sound Law of the Sea by towels, arises from all nuclear energy activities and, in Robert M. Hallman, with an introduction by Barbara some cases, can be disposed of after treatment either by Ward, has been published by the lIED. This 83 page burial on land or, in drums, into the oceans' depths. booklet and special summary supplement are aimed at This latter method has been the subject of a comproviding the basic guidelines for an environmentally prehensive study by the Board. This study was later sound Law of the Sea treaty. The report was issued as a used as the basis for a report to the International contribution to the work of the Conference but non- Atomic Energy Agency (UN), as a contribution to their governmental observers and international officials should work of defining wastes considered as unsuitable for find useful the concrete treaty proposals on pollution dumping at sea under the terms of the London Conprinciples, state and international protection of the marine vention of 1972 on the Prevention of Marine Pollution environment, rights of coastal states, and dispute settle- by the Dumping of Waste and Other Matter.
Clyde Soup
Law of the Sea Publication
164
ment procedures. The booklet may be obtained from lIED, Suite 300, 1717 Mass. Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036, U.S.A. ($1 -50) or 27 Mortimer Street, London Wt (£0.65).
National Radiological Protection Board
The National Radiological Protection Board (NRPB) has recently published the first complete review of their activities during the first three years of their existence (The Work of the NRPB 1970/73), HMSO, £1.00). The Board undertakes research and development and provides advice and information to other specialists in radiological protection, to industry, hospitals, universities, government departments and international organizations. The report includes a description of work on the metabolism and biochemistry of plutonium, a substance of growing importance in the production of energy. Human pathological hazards of such actinides may have some bearing on the animal toxicology resulting from radioactivity waste. Also relevant is an assessment of the effects of radioactive waste on public health. Apart from the concern expressed from time to time about the possible consequences of a large accidental release of radioactivity from a nuclear reactor, the matters of most concern are connected with the management of radioactive wastes. which arise in gaseous, liquid and solid forms. After treatment, these may be stored or released into the environment. (See also Mat'. Pollut. Bull., 5 (5): 66). The Board's work on the environmental effects of nuclear power has been concentrated on releases of radioactive wastes from this industry, particularly during the reprocessing of irradiated fuel. The UK contribution to the United Nations Scientific Committee oil the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR) study on the environmental consequences of radioactive waste disposal was prepared by the NRPB in the tbrm of a report on UK practice in 1969. J. WARDLEY-SMITH Liquid wastes are so radioactive that they are unacceptable for direct discharge into the environment: permanent storage is necessary. During the processing The recent industrial disputes in Glasgow, Scotland have of these wastes prior to storage, large volumes of liquids resulted in a considerable quantity of the city's sewage containing only a very small fraction of the total radiobeing discharged, untreated, into the River Clyde. The level activity are produced In this country these liquids are of dissolved oxygen has decreased markedly and scientists discharged into the sea through long pipelines. The carrying out daily checks on water purity fear that the Board has been working with other interesting bodies and government departments to assess methods of river's fauna is in serious danger. storage and also the quantities for safe discharge. Solid waste material, ranging from building rubble and obsolete equipment to rubber gloves and paper Toward an Environmentally Sound Law of the Sea by towels, arises from all nuclear energy activities and, in Robert M. Hallman, with an introduction by Barbara some cases, can be disposed of after treatment either by Ward, has been published by the lIED. This 83 page burial on land or, in drums, into the oceans' depths. booklet and special summary supplement are aimed at This latter method has been the subject of a comproviding the basic guidelines for an environmentally prehensive study by the Board. This study was later sound Law of the Sea treaty. The report was issued as a used as the basis for a report to the International contribution to the work of the Conference but non- Atomic Energy Agency (UN), as a contribution to their governmental observers and international officials should work of defining wastes considered as unsuitable for find useful the concrete treaty proposals on pollution dumping at sea under the terms of the London Conprinciples, state and international protection of the marine vention of 1972 on the Prevention of Marine Pollution environment, rights of coastal states, and dispute settle- by the Dumping of Waste and Other Matter.
Clyde Soup
Law of the Sea Publication
164