155 



For too long we have ignored this question. It is now essential that 

 we act as quickly as possible to gain some of the valuable time we 

 have lost. 



Mr. Lennon. That was an excellent statement, Mr. Kemp. We cer- 

 tainly appreciate your efforts. 



Now I would like to call the gentleman from Massachusetts, the. 

 very able Silvio Conte. 



STATEMENT OF HON. SILVIO 0. CONTE, A ESPEESENTATIVE IN 

 CONGEESS EROM THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS 



Mr. CoNTE. I wish to thank the Committee on Merchant Marine 

 and Fisheries for the opportunity to express my support for H.E. 

 805 and H.E. 3662, two bills which I cosponsored, that deal witli the 

 serious problems of dumping waste materials into the oceans. 



The dangers of indiscriminate dumping are very grave as I am sure 

 this committee is aware. Tliousands of square miles of ocean have been 

 reduced to lifelessness, with a resulting threat not only to the economy 

 of the fishing industry, but to health and even life itself. 



We know now that the depositing of waste materials in certain of 

 the Great Lakes was responsible for their present lifelessness and, 

 indeed, poisonous condition. If we continue to pollute our oceans at the 

 present rate, it is only a matter of time before they, too, cease to support 

 life. 



Scientists may disagree about the extent to which the oceans are 

 now polluted, and they may disagree as to how long the oceans can 

 absorb an increasing quantity of waste without serious and perhaps 

 permanent harm. There is substantial agreement, however, on two 

 facts. First, there is a limit to the amount of waste that the oceans 

 can absorb over a given period of time. Second, even the waste now 

 being dumped in the oceans is producing effects which are not evident 

 and visible, but which are real, nonetheless, and will have consequences 

 which cannot now be foreseen. 



Mr. Chairman, your committee has a number of bills before it deal- 

 ing with this matter, and eventually you will draw the conclusions as 

 to which of these bills will best serve the interest of our Nation. 



I wish at this time to urge you to support a strong bill that will 

 reflect what I feel is a newer and tougher sentiment in Congress 

 regarding pollution. I assure you that there exists in this country a 

 vast constituency which would not only support, but which whole- 

 heartedly desires, such legislation. 



I believe that both H.E. 805 and H.E. 3662 are strong, responsible 

 bills. There are differences between them which I shall not discuss 

 at this time. These differences are matters of degree since both bills 

 have substantially the same thrust. 



Both H.E. 805 and H.E. 3662 would have the Federal Government 

 set standards with regard to dumping, require permits or licenses 

 to be obtained before dumping is allowed, and provide for penalties 

 should violations occur. 



These two bills deserve your careful consideration. I recommend 

 them to you and urge you to either give one of them your approval, 

 or else to devise a measure which in your view embodies the best ele- 

 ments of both of these proposals. 



