315 



We respectfully request that the Committees give due consideration to the 

 above points in their deliberations on H.R. 4723. 

 Sincerely, 



Henky T. Douglas, 



Chief of Planning, 

 Maryland Port Authority. 



Mr. DiNGELL. The Chair notes that we have our good friend and col- 

 league, Mr. Howard W. Eobison. 



STATEMENT OF HON. HOWAED W. EOBISON, CONGEESSMAN FEOM 

 THE STATE OF NEW YOEK 



Mr. RoBisoN. Mr. Chairman, I was privileged to address members 

 of the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee last September on 

 the subject of the dumping of military weapons and refuse, and I 

 thank you for allowing me to present this statement today on the 

 same subject. 



When I last appeared before you, I was able to invoke recent in- 

 stances of the disposal of military equipment in the ocean which were 

 not only shortsighted in terms of environmental effect, but also terri- 

 fyingly dangerous, as in the cases involving nerve and mustard gases. 



Since that time, intense public reaction to these events has abated, 

 and it would be easy to evade the same sense of urgency. Certainly, 

 we must count ourselves fortunate that we are not again meeting in 

 the aftermath of a potential disaster. 



My testimony may lack a bit of the dramatic quality it held last 

 September, yet, Mr. Chairman, I hope it has not lost its note of 

 urgency. Neither this committee nor the House of Representatives, for 

 that matter, can afford a leisurely approach to this problem, at the 

 expense of our citizens and our oceanic resources. 



We are all aware of the recent efforts by the Secretary of Defense 

 to halt the dumping of obsolete weapons into the oceans. There can 

 be no doubt of his sincerity in this matter. He has taken noteworthy 

 steps to protect our ocean environment from the hazards of indiscrimi- 

 nate dumping, and he rightfully deserves the praise of all citizens. 



Yet, at the same time, we must remain aware that it is our duty as 

 members of Congress to provide Americans with legislation which will 

 secure them and our oceanic resources from the dangers of indiscrimi- 

 nate dumping. 



Many of us spent a great deal of time last year answering corre- 

 spondence on this question and making statements on the floor and to 

 this connnittee. Several of us introduced or cosponsored legislation. 



Yet that session has passed. The possibility of new — even fatal — 

 incidents remains, and Congress has no significant statement of policy 

 to show for its efforts. 



Mr. Chairman, we have all been shaken out of our lethargy by 

 the death-dealing potentials of past incidents. We know why we need 

 this legislation. The dangers are evident. The magnitude of the prob- 

 lem is evident. 



Indeed, many of us have seen the oceans shrink before our eyes. 

 Those seemingly infinite bodies which could once swallow all of the 

 refuse from our society like a small pill are now disgorging this trash 



