317 



Dr. Ketchum. x'hank you. 



I would like to emphasize, in speaking on the three bills that I have 

 had the opportunity to read, some of the scientific problems which 

 must be considered, in evaluating any proposed disposal of waste ma- 

 terial at sea. 



I am speaking mainly concerning H.R. 4723, which was introduced 

 by Mr. Garmatz, and appears to be more comprehensive than either 

 of the other two bills I have studied, which are, H.R. 2581 and H.R. 

 3662. 



The former bill proposes a separate act, to be cited as the Marine 

 Protection Act of 1971, whereas the latter two propose amendment of 

 the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. I am not qualified to express 

 a preference concerning the two proposed mechanisms. 



It is a pleasure to endorse heartly the objective of the three bills, 

 each of which would require regulation of the disposal of any waste 

 material at sea. The Administrator of the Environmental Protection 

 Agency would be given the authority to issue permits of the disposal 

 of waste materials at sea or for the transportation of waste which is 

 to be dumped at sea beyond the area of U.S. jurisdiction. 



The administrator is instructed to take into consideration the likely 

 impact of the proposed dumping, not only on human health, welfare 

 and amenities, but also on the marine environment and ecological 

 systems. 



The Administrator could deny a permit in cases where ecological or 

 environmental damage would be produced. Protection of the marine 

 environment is certainly essential but unfortunately in only a few 

 cases do we have the information which will be needed to make a wise 

 judgment concerning the possible impact of dumping operations. 



In my testimony, I would like to emphasize the scientific prob- 

 lems which have to be approached in order to evaluate and decide 

 wisely how how we should operate. 



. 1 would like to emphasize that in m^^ opinion, sea disposal of waste 

 materials should be considered an interim or temporary solution to 

 our waste disposal problems. 



Mankind has been changing his environment for hundreds of years, 

 but it is only during recent generations that we have been faced with 

 one pollution disaster after another. 



In large part, this is due to the rapid growth of the human popula- 

 tion, which reached a billion people in 1830, increased to 2 billion peo- 

 ple in the next century, and to 3 billion people in the next 30 years. 



Each individual in this expanding population is demanding more 

 and more material things. Ovir average daily per capita production of 

 solid wastes today is now about 5 pounds, and tliis is expected to in- 

 crease to about 714 pounds per capita ]:ter day in the next decade. 



The problems are greatly magnified by the concentration of people 

 in metropolitan areas whex'e tremendous tonnages of v;aste materials 

 are continuously produced. 



The technology which has satisfied the increasing demands for ma- 

 terial things must produce a solution to the question of what to do with 

 them once they are discarded. 



More than half of the U.S. population lives close to the seacoast 

 and it appears inevitable that pressures will increase for the use of 



