362 



The favorable consideration of our views and recommendations vpill be most 

 helpful and appreciated. 



Mr. Reynolds. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 



The association I represent represents some 34 major merchant 

 marine companies owning and operating about 500 oceangoing vessels 

 of all types registered under the U.S. flag. These vessels aggregate 

 approximately 8,300,000 deadweight tons and are engaged in the for- 

 eign and domestic trades of the United States. 



Vv^e are very grateful for the opportunity afforded us of appearing 

 before your subcommittee and presenting this statement of our views 

 and recommendations relative to H.R. 4^23, cited as the "Marine Pro- 

 tection Act of 1971." 



I am privileged, Mr. Chairman, to inform you that the Lake Car- 

 riers Association, which is the association representing U.S. flag- 

 carriers on the Great Lakes, endorses our observation and recommen- 

 dations with respect to this bill today. 



Mr. Chairman, I would find it difficult to contemplate any respon- 

 sible American who would not applaud the basic objectives of this 

 piece of legislation; namely, to lim.it the dumping into the oceans, 

 coastal, and other waters of any material that could adversely affect- 

 human health, welfare, or the amenities, or the marine environment, 

 ecological sj^stems, or economic potentialities. 



The objectives of the bill are superb, we support them completely. 

 Our concern focuses on only one feature of the bill. 



H.R. 4723 would transfer from the Secretary of the Army and Chief 

 of Engineers of the Department of the Army to the Administrator of 

 the Environmental Protection Agency the authority to issue permits 

 for (1) transportation of material from the United States for dumping 

 in he oceans, coastal, and other waters, and (2) dumpmg of material 

 in ocean, coastal, and other waters which are within the territorial 

 jurisdiction of the United States. That is, within the 3-mJle limit 

 except as provided in 33 U.S.C. 441. 



The term "material," we note, is defined as meaning among other 

 things dredged spoil, rock and sand which result from deepening and 

 widening of the Nation's waterways. 



Parenthetically, Mr. Chairman, of course, when we speak of the is- 

 suance of permits, we speak of the authority of the Corps of Engineers 

 to recommend to the Secretary of the Army to issue permits not only 

 to private parties, under contract to the corps or otherwise, but indeed 

 to the Corps of Engineers, itself. 



For some 147 years, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has studied, 

 investigated, and recommended, constructed, et cetera, waterway im- 

 provements authorized by Congress and the President. 



Needless to say, it acquired a great deal of knowledge, understand- 

 ing, and experience during this period of time in respect to determin- 

 ing suitability, economical, and safe areas for the disposal of dredged 

 material resulting from waterway improvement. 



The planning, construction, and maintenance of the extensive and 

 excellent system of waterways serving the transportation requirements 

 of our country is the result of the expert and dedicated work which 

 the corps has performed since 1824. 



Indeed, I think you would agree with me the entire Nation owes a 

 great debt of gratitude for the fine job they have done, and they are 

 still doing. 



