323 



Mr. Pelly. In other words, the three that are spelled out in the bill 

 that you referred to as the Roger's bill ? 



Dr. Ketciium. Yes. These are the ones that I consider the most 

 hazardous and generally in not tremendous quantities. Some of the 

 nontoxic wastes are in large weights at this time but the toxic wastes 

 are in comparably small quantities. 



The things that I noticed that I thought needed phasing out are 

 problems such as the sluge disposal of the city of New York. It is 

 simple to say, let us stop this immediately but this will cover Man- 

 hattan Island to a depth of 6 inches in a year and something must 

 be done about it. 



So that here I believe that alternative methods must be vigorously 

 pursued and as soon as these are developed, phase out this type of 

 activity which is damaging. 



Mr. Pelly. I think the administration has indicated that they do 

 not understand exactly what the proper definition of toxic waste is. 

 Do you have a clear understanding of what it is ? Would you be willing 

 to submit it for the record? If they have any doubt I think maybe 

 you could clear it up. 



Dr. Ketchu3i. The problem is this, there are all grades of toxicities 

 from a few parts per million to much higher concentrations. So that 

 you have a very wide spectrum. In terms of being toxic in the environ- 

 ment, it depends on the concentration that it reaches in the environ- 

 ment. I can see that there are difficulties. 



However, there are wastes that I think all scientists agree are toxic, 

 the mercury compounds that are being disposed of in various industrial 

 operations and have liad already an impact on the environment, the 

 chromium wMch results from chrome plating operations, a highly 

 toxic chemical. Silver in the fresh water environment more than the 

 marine because it preciptates a silver cliloride in the marine environ- 

 ment, is a toxic chemical and should be removed from the waste before 

 it is introduced into the environment or even into a waste disposal 

 system. 



Mr. Pelly. I would assume that if we were to abandon the toxic 

 materials there might be some lesser strength of toxity or whatever 

 the word is which might be permitted, is that correct ? 



Dr. Ketchum. That is correct. 



Mr. Pelly. On page five of your testimony you indicated that 

 sewage should not be covered in this legislation. What specific reasons 

 do you have for eliminating sewage ? 



Dr. Ketchum. I think because it opens a pandora's box, that it 

 extends into every city and town in this Nation. Here I am talking 

 about the sewer effluents. 



Mr. Pelly. In other words, that is the effluent that comes from a 

 sewage treatment plant ? 



Dr. Ketchum. I would be glad to make a few observations. 



Of coui-se in brief testimony one tries to use examples which seem 

 the most pertinent to the question at hand. 



In terms of domestic waste, if they do not include toxic industrial 

 wastes they do inevitably include vertilizing elements wliich can be 

 beneficial if they are not added to natural waters in excess. 



Just as one fertilizes his garden to make it grow, one can fertilize the 

 sea with these materials and make it more fertile. 



