The present practices, trends, and conditions in the shallow land burial of "low-level" radioactive wastes have a potential impact on the hydrogeologic environment and on environmental safety. New data are available from recently conducted inventories and surveys of operating conditions at the 6 commercial radioactive waste burial facilities in the United States.

"Low-level" radioactive wastes (as defined by the AEC) are being buried under widely differing conditions caused by local variations in geology, hydrology, weather, and operating procedures. The wastes themselves vary greatly in character from relatively harmless (due to decay or dilute concentration) to extremely hazardous (due to chemical or radioactive toxicity). Other new data include: (1) the potential environmental impact which present trends in "low-level" waste character and quantities pose to the hydrogeologic

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environment and environmental safety; (2) specific areas where better knowledge of waste--hydrogeologic interrelations may be needed; and (3) recommendations concerning present practices, or as necessary, for acquiring the information required to evaluate present practices.

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