166 



area can be disastrous, as studies of the New York Bight and the 

 areas off Rehoboth Beach indicate. 



The problem that faces us is not limited to the effects of materials 

 presently being dumped. The volume of waste dumping is growing 

 rapidly, and the future impact of dumping could increase significantly 

 relative to other sources of pollution in the ocean. Because the capacity 

 of land-based disposal sites is becoming exhausted in some coastal 

 cities, some communities are increasingly looking to the ocean for dis- 

 posal. And, higher water-quality standards could lead industries to 

 also look to the ocean for disposal. 



A number of alternatives are presently available for wastes now 

 being dumped at sea. Our report discusses these alternatives in detail 

 and also evaluates present efforts to develop other disposal options, 

 some of which such as land reclamation and recycling can be environ- 

 mentally beneficial. After an evaluation of the effect of specific types 

 of wastes currently being dumped and of the alternatives to dumping 

 available, the Council recommended adopting certain policies respect- 

 ing the ocean disposal of given types of materials. 



Mr. Chairman, the next three pages are essentially summaries from 

 the ocean dumping report. I would just as soon skip over these with 

 the request that they be inserted in the record, or if you would prefer 

 I will be happy to read through them. 



Mr. Lennon. If you have the time, I would like you to read through 

 them ; I think it might be better. 



Mr. Train. All right, sir. I would be happy to do so. 



OOEAN-DUMPING POLICY 



Ocean dumping of undigested sewage sludge should be stopped as 

 soon as possible and no new sources allowed. 



Ocean dumping of digested or other stabilized sludge should be 

 phased out and no new sources allowed. In cases in which substantial 

 facilities, and/or significant commitments exist, continued ocean dump- 

 ing may be necessary until alternatives can be developed and imple- 

 mented. But continued dumping should be considered an interim 

 measure. 



Ocean dumping of existing sources of solid waste, other than sewage 

 sludge, should be stopped as soon as possible. No new sources should 

 be allowed; that is, no dumping by any municipality that currently 

 does not do so, nor any increase in the volume by existing municipal- 

 ities. 



Ocean dumping of polluted dredge spoils should be phased out as 

 soon as alternatives can be employed. In the interim, dumping should 

 minimize ecological damage. The current policy of the Corps of Engi- 

 neers on dredging highly polluted areas only when absolutely nec- 

 essary should be continued, and even then navigational benefits should 

 be weighed carefully against environmental costs. 



The current policy of prohibiting ocean dumping of high-level 

 radioactive wastes should be continued. Low-level liquid discharges to 

 the ocean from vessels and land-based nuclear facilities are, and 

 should continue to be, controlled by Federal regulations and inter- 

 national standards. The adequacy of such standards should be con- 

 tinually reviewed. Ocean dumping of other radioactive wastes should 



