10 



thority for the Judge to reward a citizen who is helpful in the pros- 

 ecution in one of these cases is only applicable where there is a 

 conviction — a plea of guilty of a finding by the Judge, and that 

 seems to imply a criminal proceeding, not a civil proceeding. So 

 that if the law had processed only a civil action, as Al has pointed 

 out, a Judge may not have had that discretion so it was important 

 in this case that it be a criminal matter if, in fact, the Judge had 

 this discretion. I thank the gentleman for yielding. 



Mr. Coble. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And finally in conclusion, 

 Al, and to assuage any pain if you may have any, I am not imply- 

 ing at all that I resent the fact that you and your wife may become 

 beneficiaries of this money. That doesn't bother me at all. I think it 

 may well alert other citizens who find themselves on cruise ships 

 to be more vigilant, to be more alert, and perhaps some of this 

 reckless and imprudent dumping may cease and desist. Thank you, 

 sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Tauzin. Thank you, Mr. Coble. Mr. Hastings from Florida. 



Mr. Hastings. I have no questions of this witness. 



Mr. Tauzin. Mr. Pombo from California. 



Mr. Pombo. I have no questions, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Tauzin. Mr. Laughlin from Texas. 



Mr. Laughlin. Al, how long were you on this Princess cruise 

 ship? 



Mr. Levett. This was a one-week cruise of the western Caribbe- 

 an. 



Mr. Laughlin. And the videotaping you did, was that — which 

 night of your cruise? 



Mr. Levett. That was on Friday evening which was the last 

 night of the cruise. 



Mr. Laughlin. You didn't observe this sequence of events on any 

 other occasion? 



Mr. Levett. No, we did not. 



Mr. Laughlin. In the time since then, have you, through your 

 efforts or listening to other people talk about cruise ships, run into 

 any comment from people you have talked to that this is a practice 

 of cruise ships, to dump their garbage in our waters? 



Mr. Levett. Yes, it is my experience in discussing it with several 

 travel agents and other people who cruise frequently that they all 

 do it. 



Mr. Laughlin. That is my opinion also because I represent a 

 very large beach area where a lot of this washes up. I just wanted 

 to see if you had heard it too. Thank you very much for the service 

 you have rendered. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Tauzin. Mr. Laughlin, thank you, sir. Mr. Castle, questions? 



Mr. Castle. A comment first if I may, Mr. Chairman, just to con- 

 gratulate you. It sort of amuses me that those of us in Congress on 

 high here and the powers that be and the Coast Guard and every- 

 body else seem to have failed to enforce this law, and by your 

 action that night and willingness to share it, I imagine you made 

 every captain on every cruise ship anyplace very well aware of 

 what their responsibilities are, and I congratulate you far beyond 

 the single act that you did. I think it is ironic and wonderful that it 

 worked out that way. 



