Importance of Education and Control
in Radioactive Wastes Disposal
ROYAL   E. ROSTENBACH
Senior Engineer
Radiological Engineering Section
Hanford Atomic Products Operation
General Electric Company
Richland, Washington
Prior to the enactment of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 the
disposal of radioactive wastes in the United States was limited, in
general, to activities associated with the government's atomic energy
program. Now the situation is entirely different. The era of the peacetime use of atomic energy throughout the world is here; many new
developments are in progress. Problems in the handling, treatment and
disposal of radioactive wastes will accompany the growth of this new
industry and we must be prepared to meet them.
It is appropriate to consider education in relation to the problem
of the treatment and disposal of radioactive wastes. Prior to the Atomic
Energy Act of 1954 only limited information could be made available
to the general public on most subjects of atomic energy. This is not
to say that the problem of radioactive waste disposal had not been
brought to public attention. In fact there were many articles on the
general subject. The Atomic Energy Commission has supported many
research and development projects on radioactive wastes in colleges,
universities, institutes and in its own installations. These projects have
advanced our knowledge in this specialized field. They have resulted in
solutions to pressing problems. Perhaps of equal or greater importance,
many engineers, scientists and others have been trained in various phases
related to the handling, treatment and diposal of radioactive wastes.
Because the peace-time use of atomic energy is still in its infancy,
we still have time to advance the educational programs needed to train
personnel to do the jobs in the field of radioactive waste disposal. The
colleges and universities can carry their share of the program in the
training of students in the basic and applied sciences, and principles of
waste treatment and disposal. Many of them are doing so already. The
officers and faculties must be alert to recognize the trends in this new
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