107 



Department of Health, Edxtcation, and Welfare, 



May 10, 1971. 

 Hon. Edward A. Garmatz, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Chairman : This letter is in resix>nse to your request of February 

 26, 1971. for reports on H.R. 4247 and H.R. 4723, bills "To regulate the dumping 

 of material in the oceans, coastal, and other waters and for other purposes." 



These identical bills embody an Administration proposal transmitted to the 

 Congress by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on Fel»- 

 ruary 10, 1971. They would prohibit, except as authorized by the Administrator 

 of the Environmental Protection Agency, the transportation of material from the 

 United States for the purpose of dumping it into the "oceans, coastal, and othor 

 waters," and the dumping of material into the "oceans, coastal, and other watera" 

 of the United States. Nevertheless, the proposal would authorize the Adminis- 

 trator of the Environmental Protection Agency to issue permits for such pur- 

 poses where, in his judgment, such transportation or dumping will not unreason- 

 ably degrade or endanger human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine 

 environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities. It would require the 

 Administrator to develop criteria for reviewing and evaluating the issuance of 

 such permits, after consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce, Interior, 

 State, Defense, Agriculture, Health, Education, and Welfare, and Transportation, 

 the Atomic Energy Commission, and other appropriate Federal, State, and local 

 oflBcials. 



In addition, the proposal would authorize the Administrator to designate 

 recommended sites for the dumping of specified materials. Provision would be 

 made for penalties for violation of the Act. The proposal would also direct the 

 Secretary of State, in consultation with the Administrator of the Environmental 

 Protection Agency, to seek effective international action and cooperation to en- 

 sure protection of the marine environment and would authorize him to formu- 

 late, present, or support specific proposals in the United Nations and other com- 

 petent international organizations for such purposes. 



The need for this new program is made clear in the President's message of 

 February 8, 1971, "Program for a Better Environment". We urge its enactment. 



We are advised by the Office of Management and Budget that enactment of 

 this proposal would be in accord with the Administration's program. 

 Sincerely, 



( S ) Elliot L. Richardson, 



Secretary. 



U.S. Department of the Interior, 



Office of the Secretary, 

 Washington, D.C, April 5, 1911. 

 Hon. Edward A. Garmatz, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Chairman : We respond to vour recent requests for comment on H.R. 

 285. H.R. 805, H.R. 983. H.R. 1095. H.R. 1383. H.R. 1661, H.R. 3662, H.R. 

 4359. and H.R. 5050, bills which have as their common objective the regulation 

 of ocean dumping to retard degradation of the marine environment. 



While these bills are similar in terms of the problem addressed, they can be 

 distinguished with resnect to the mechanism or procedure proposed as a solu- 

 tion to that problem. H,R. 285. H.R. 983. and H.R. 1095 would amend the Fish 

 and Wildlife Coordination Act to vest in the Secretary of the Interior and the 

 Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency responsibility for the 

 designation of ocean sites into and onto which waste material cou'd be safely 

 dumped. H.R. 1095 would require, further, that the Secretary establish environ- 

 mental standards for waste disposal in areas not so designated, and would estab- 

 lish a schedule for minimum treatment of sewage and industrial waste dis- 

 charged into areas subject to such standards. Each of these bills also provides 

 for the State acceptance of disposal standards comparable to those promulgated 

 by Federal authority. 



