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from pollution by the indiscriminate and uncontrolled dumping of 

 harmful waste material into America's coastal and offshore waters. 



I scheduled hearings on this issue because I think this is a critical 

 problem. On March 16, 1971, when I announced these hearings, I said 

 they would probably comprise the most important consideration of 

 environmental legislation to be held in this session of Congress. And 

 I explained that statement by saying there is an urgent need to estab- 

 lish a national policy on ocean dumping now — before this Nation 

 resorts to an irreversible pattern of wholesale dumping into the 

 oceans. 



I might add to that by saying that I think the legislation which 

 ultimately evolves from these hearings will become landmark legis- 

 lation. 



But I want to emphasize at this point that, even though I intro- 

 duced H.E. 4723, I am concerned over some of the proposals it 

 contains. 



Approximately 40 other ocean-dumping bills have been referred to 

 this committee, and some of them also contain disturbing proposals. 

 Original bills, of course, are not expected to be perfect, they merely 

 provide a vehicle for formulating a more effective approach to any 

 problem. That is the reason for these hearings. 



My concern can best be explained, I think, by pointing to the broad 

 scope of responsibility of the full House Committee on Merchant Ma- 

 rine and Fisheries. Among its many other functions, the full commit- 

 tee plays a rather unique dual role. The Subcommittee on Merchant 

 Marine is responsible for the protection and promotion of a healthy 

 maritime industry, including shipping and port facilities and port 

 development. On the other hand, the Subcommittee on Fisheries and 

 Wildlife Conservation is responsible, as its title implies, for the con- 

 servation of our fish and wildlife resources and for the protection 

 and enhancement of our environment, including our estuaries, our 

 fresh waters, and our oceans, and all the precious living resources in 

 those waters. The Subcommittee of Oceanography is also concerned 

 over any activity which might adversely affect the ecology of the 

 oceans and of America's coastal waters. 



Because of the joint concern of the latter two subcommittees, I de- 

 cided hearings on these ocean-dimiping bills should be held jointly, 

 with both subcommittees participating. I might add that Congress- 

 man John Dingell, chairman of our Subcommittee on Fisheries and 

 Wildlife Conservation, and Congressman Alton Lennon, chairman 

 of our Subcommittee on Oceanography, both held extensive hearings 

 on ocean dumping in the last session of Congress. Both of these dis- 

 tinguished chairmen are equally concerned over this serious problem, 

 and I think it appropriate that they share the responsibilities of the 

 chair during these proceedings. 



I am here today to speak both as ch^.irman of the full House Com- 

 mittee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and as chairman of the Sub- 

 committee on Merchant Marine. In the latter capacity, I want to 

 reiterate my concern over certain proposals contained in many of the 

 bills we will be considering during these hearings. 



My primary concern is that some of these bills, if enacted as now 

 drafted, could seriously impede future port development and, there- 

 fore, adversely affect the entire maritime industry. 



