Radioactive Waste Disposal at Sea: Public Ideas ... - IMO

Key Events
1958 UN Conference on the Law of the Sea adopts resolution to control
ocean dumping of radioactive waste.
1967 Nuclear Energy Agency of OECD begins oversight of ocean dumping
of radioactive waste by European countries.
1969 UN surveys member states on desires for international regulation
and reduction of ocean dumping.
1971 Intergovernmental Working Group on Marine Pollution meets for
the first time.
1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment is held in Stockholm.
London Convention is adopted.
1975 London Convention enters into force.
1979 Greenpeace begins campaign against ocean dumping of low-level
radioactive waste in Atlantic.
1980 Japan announces intention to dump low-level waste in Pacific.
United States considers resuming ocean dumping of low-level waste.
1983 London Convention adopts non-binding resolution calling for
moratorium on ocean dumping of low-level radioactive waste pending
completion of two-year expert review of technical and scientific
aspects of such dumping.
1985 Results of the two-year scientific review are presented to London
Convention contracting parties. Contracting parties adopt resolution
calling for suspension of all ocean dumping of low-level radioactive
wastes pending (1) a study of the political, legal, economic, and
social aspects of dumping at sea, (2) an assessment of land-based
options, and (3) an assessment of whether it can be proved that
ocean dumping will not have negative impacts on human health
and/or cause significant damage to marine environment.