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the beaches. In fact, we are using the old standard, the previous 

 standard because what we really extensively test are oyster beds. 

 Because of the lack of concentration on our public beaches and be- 

 cause of the lack of combined storm sewer outlets and because we 

 perceive our beach problem to be more of a toxic waste exposure 

 problem. We have tested the fecal coliform standard; but we have 

 never closed a beach — I think once, 10 years ago. It is just not a big 

 problem right now for us. 



Congressman Hughes, you weren't here, but I testified in favor of 

 your bill because I would like the certainty that we don't have a 

 problem. But as I have pointed out, this is a problem that we need 

 to educate people in Texas about and move forward. Most people in 

 Texas haven't thought about this problem, and it is something that 

 we need to do. If we are worried about oysters and we are not wor- 

 ried about our children, I think maybe something iswrong. 



Mr. Ortiz. Anybody else? 



Ms. Chasis. I would just like to comment. A number of States 

 and counties have used both fecal and total coliform for many 

 years and they are comfortable with it and very hesitant to change. 

 What we recommended in our report is that they not necessarily 

 abandon what they have been using if they feel it is better or good, 

 but that they add enterococcus and test, too, for that; because the 

 studies to date have shown that it has the highest correlation with 

 disease-causing organisms. 



Mr. Ortiz. Thank you very much. 



Before I go to another question, I would like to give an opportu- 

 nity to the Members of the panel here. Mr. Hughes, or my good 

 friend and colleague, Mr. Laughlin. 



Mr. Hughes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman; thank you for recogniz- 

 ing me. I want to welcome the members of the panel. 



I apologize, Mr. Mauro. We had a vote, as you know, and appar- 

 ently you testified while I was on my way back from that vote; but 

 I do like what you had to say. I appreciate your comments and I 

 can tell you that your priorities are right and your suggestion is a 

 good one. 



We, too, have an oyster industry that is in big trouble, and we 

 are very worried about it; but we also have a lot of bathing beach- 

 es. We have long been worried about the impact of polluted waters 

 on our bathers, and that is the right priority. 



I also want to recognize Marlin Dooley from our DEPE and 

 thank her for her testimony. We are proud of what DEPE does to 

 make our beaches safer. We went through a very traumatic period 

 of time where a lot of my constituents — businessmen and women, 

 in particular — were very concerned about the fact that attention 

 was being focused upon our polluted waters. We lost close to a bil- 

 lion dollars in tourism revenue; but we benefited in the long run 

 because, as Ms. Dooley has indicated, we have corrected some of 

 the problems. We have had fewer beach closings, and our water 

 quality has never been better. 



Our testing assures the bathers that they are safe, and we think 

 the result is good tourism, good politics, and good health standards. 



I want to also thank the other panelists for their contributions to 

 this hearing. In particular, I would like to thank the Natural Re- 



