OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 319 



I would like to point out to the chaimian that particularly in my 

 own area, in one of these booklets they have a study with a general 

 statement as to the tides and currents, and in those instances in my 

 own area oif the coast of Texas it is quite obvious that you have very 

 little current, lots of sedimentation, and all these things which would 

 lead you to be afraid to use that particular area for any disposal pur- 

 poses, particularly of materials such as this. 



T hope that this committee will in the first place allay the fears of 

 my people that these specific sites as pointed out in this most recent 

 publication will not be used as recommended here, and that the public 

 will be protected by proper studies to gain the knowledge that is 

 needed to meet this problem. 



I will not say that I do not want any materials dumped in the 

 waters off the coast of Texas, because I think that would be foolish. 

 We are living in a changing world. I know that, and I think the 

 people I represent are intelligent enough to know that, but if we are 

 going to rely on people whom we presume have the knowledge to 

 deal with this problem I certainly think they should be cautioned 

 not to presume that we know so much about it, and that their language 

 should be carefully studied before they release a publication of this 

 sort, somewhat as is referred to in the legal profession — the big words 

 give it to you and the little ones take it away. 



First they say, "These sites would be fine." Then they say, "If 

 studies are made and are found to be acceptable." 



We have quite a public relations job to do between the scientific 

 mind and the layman's mind in understanding this tremendous prob- 

 lem. 



I do not want any activities, scientific or otherwise, which will be 

 beneficial to my community to be discouraged from coming into my 

 community. 



I know the field of radioactive materials in use in peacetime is 

 growing day by day, and I want my community to share in those 

 growths and in those developments, so I want a healthy climate and 

 I want an understanding with my people. 



By the same token, I do not want them subjected to something 

 which on its very face shows that it would be dangerous or a wild- 

 eyed experiment or presumptuous on someone's part to just pick out a 

 spot and use it for dumping something. It is perhaps used to dump 

 trash, but not used to dump material such as this which can be washed 

 back on to the beaches or can settle into the bottom of this shallow 

 water where our marine life will pick it up. 



I, too, read the article Mr. Pelly referred to. It was a matter of 

 just about a w^eek ago where tlie people were out on the beaches swim- 

 ming and up floats a barrel with big yellow letters on it — "Dangerous, 

 Radioactive." 



Whether or not there was anything in it, I don't know. As I un- 

 derstand it, one of our agents picked up the barrel for examination, 

 but I have heard no report on what was in it, and I don't know whether 

 or not anyone else has. That was out on the Pacific coast. 



If there is anything I can do to be of assistance to this committee, 

 Mr. Chairman, I certainly hope you will call on me. 



Mr. Miller. I want to thank you for a very comprehensive and 

 well thought out statement, and to congratulate you on the research 

 work you have done on this. 



