345 



impede future port development and therefore adversely affect the entire mari- 

 time industry and, indeed, the nation. 



iWe join vs^holeheartedly in the Chairman's recognition of the Corps role in 

 environmental protection, and, even further, VFould suggest that the nation's 

 environmental interests would be better served in retaining spoil disposal per- 

 mitting authority with the Corps of Engineers. Our statement presented here 

 points to the complexity of spoil disposal as an engineering and planning fimc- 

 tion requiring careful coordination at Federal and local levels. 



The Congress has recognized that complexity as recently as December 31, 1970 

 in Public Law 91-611, River and Harbor Act of 1970, which states (Sec. 123 (i)) : 



"The Chief of Engineers, under the direction of the Secretary of the Army, 

 is hereby authorized to extend to all navigable waters, connecting channels, 

 tributary streams, other waters of the United States and waters contiguous to 

 the United States, a comprehensive program of research, study, and experi- 

 mentation relating to dredged spoil. This program shall be carried out in coopera- 

 tion with other Federal and State agencies, and shall include, but not be limited 

 to investigations on the characteristics of dredged spoil, and alternative methods 

 of its disposal. To the extent that such study shall include the effects of such 

 dredge spoil on water quality, the facilities and personnel of the Environmental 

 Protection Agency shall be utilized." 



We greatly appreciate the Chairman's call for balance and wish to express 

 our thanks to the Chairman and members of the respective Subcommittees for 

 this opportunity to present our views. 



Mr. DiisTGELL. Gentlemen, if there are no further questions, thank 

 jou very much for your presence and your A^ery helpful testimony. The 

 Chair notes that we have a vote on the floor. Probably if the members 

 ; leave to go to vote, we will be back here within a matter of 20 minutes, 

 at which time our next witnesses are Mr. James M. Beggs, Under 

 Secretarj^ of the Department of Transportation, accompanied by an 

 old friend of this connnittee, Eear Adm. Robert Hammond, Chief, 

 Office of Operations, Coast Guard. 



Mr. Secretary, are those conditions unduly onerous ? 



Mr. Beggs. K'o, sir. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Is that all right ? 



Mr. Beggs. Yes, sir ; that will be fine. 



Mr. DiNGELL. We will be back, then, within just a matter of minutes. 

 After that we will hear another old friend of this committee, Mr. 

 James J. Eeynolds, assistant secretary of the American Institute of 

 Merchant Shipping. 



If there is no further business to come before this committee at this 

 particular time, the subcommittee will stand in recess. 



(Recess.) 



Mr. DiNGELL. The subcommittee will come to order. This is con- 

 tinuation of the hearings on ocean dumping and legislation relating 

 to that matter. 



Our next witness is Hon. James M. Beggs, Under Secretary of the 

 Department of Transportation, accompanied by Rear Adm. Robert 

 Hammond, Chief, Office of Operations, Coast Guard. 



You are most welcome, gentlemen. You may give whatever state- 

 ment you wish to give. 



STATEMENT OF HON. JAMES M. BEGGS, TJNDEE SECRETARY, DE- 

 PARTMENT OE TRANSPORTATION; ACCOMPANIED BY REAR ADM. 

 ROBERT HAMMOND, CHIEF, OFFICE OF OPERATIONS, COAST 

 GUARD 



Mr. Beggs. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the 

 committee. 



62-513 — 71 23 



