b'C H A P T E R 20A Q U E S T I O N O F M I SS I O NChurch discovered that the AEC had in location. They suggested that the AEC Senator Church demanded that the AE C1966 requested a National Academy of start over and put its waste-generating release what he called the suppressedSciences (NAS) committee to survey plants in areas selected for geological report. When he obtained a copy, heradioactive waste research and develop- suitability. Although the NAS commit- published it in the C o n g re s s i o n a lment at the AECs four major plants tee had visited neither Hanford nor R e c o rd. Glenn Seaborg, AEC chairman,storing such waste. The resulting report NRTS before making its report, it chal- said the report had gone beyond its pur-pointed out that each facility had differ- lenged the NRTS judgment that haz- pose and delved unbidden into opera-ent standards and used different defini- ardous amounts of radioactivity would tional issues. This explanation, whichtions for low-, intermediate-, and not reach the aquifer. Later, the com- could have been interpreted as a politehigh-level wastes. The AECs 1948 mittee examined both sites and way of saying its authors were ill-decision to let each lab handle waste its informed the AEC that neither was cre- informed, seemed suspect to the public.own way had become a chicken come ating a hazard. The AEC had not pub- After all, it appeared to them that thehome to roost. The NAS authors felt lished the report. 27 NRTS had secretly been burying plu-that each site was in a poor geological tonium-laced waste. Part of the Idahopublic began to think that the AEC andthe IDO were not to be trusted. These doubts planted the seeds of a new citizencoalition, and it would evolve as aprotest network, not a support group. 28 At their October meeting, GovernorSamuelsons task force staff faced apredicament. The staff had no meansno funds or qualified analyststo makean independent assessment of NRTSwaste management practices. The onlyavailable information was in the handsof the people who said there was noproblemthe AEC and the USGS. Ifthere were a hazard, the staff presumedthe AEC would not release any infor-mation to substantiate it. Nevertheless,they accepted Ginkels invitation tovisit the Site. They would collect whatinformation they could and letSamuelson know if the problem wasserious or not. Gene Rutledge requestedthat the IDO articulate and make publiclong-term plans for wastemanagement. 29Damaged waste barrels retrieved in the 1970s weresometimes placed in overpack barrels.INEEL 75-35131 9 9'