380 



its interaction with the terrestrial ecosystem, a healthy ocean may well 

 have critical importance for the survival of the human species. 



Distino-nished marine biologists are warning that unless we act, the 

 current accelerating pace of ocean ]>ollution could destroy significant 

 life in the sea in 50 years or less. This would be catastrophic. 



To halt this devastation, Congress wall have to act immediately to 

 legislate major new policies backed by a massive aid and action 

 program. 



If wo are to legislate effectively to save our oceans, we need a bill 

 which — at a minimum — includes the following four provisions : 



1, The broadest definition of the waters to be covered under the act. 



2, The strongest prohibitions against the dumping or discharge of 

 ecologically harmful wastes made in conjunction with the establish- 

 ment of strong standards before permission to dump is granted. 



3. Stringent enforcement of those standards with all necessary 

 authority provided. 



4. Strong penalties — including fines and jail sentences for those who 

 fail to comply with those standards. 



I am testifying before you today in support of a bill which I believe 

 contains the provisions which I have outlined. H.R. 805, 807, 808, 1329, 

 and 2581 (all identical) will, if enacted, go a long way toward keeping 

 our oceans clean. I am gratified by the fact that more than 65 of my 

 colleagues have joined me in cosponsoring this legislation. 



The committee is also considering legislation introduced by Con- 

 gressman Garmatz, H.R. 4723. 1 endorse the basic concept of Chairman 

 Garmatz' bill, but there are several changes w^hich I would like to see 

 incor}X)i'ated in the bill before I could fully support it. I believe the 

 changes are essential, and I urge the committee to enact them. 



In some respects, my bill is similar or identical to Mr. Garmatz' 

 bill. In other areas, we differ greatly. I would like to take the four 

 requirements I believe are essential and compare my bill with that of 

 Chairman Garmatz in those areas. 



1. DEFixmox or the avaters to be covered 



Dumping of harmful substances should be prohibited not only in 

 what we normally think of as ocean, but in all coastal waters. Salt 

 marshes and other such "inland" tidal features, because they nourish 

 and shelter many marine organisms, are as important to the marine 

 ecosystem as oj^jen water areas. 



Section 5B (a) of my bill defines : 



Oceans, coastal and othe rwaters as "'oceans, gulf, bays, saltwater lagoons; 

 saltwater harbors, other coastal waters where the tide ebbs and flows, the 

 Great Lakes, and all waters in a zone contiguous to the United States extending 

 to a line 12 nautical miles seaward from the baseline of the territorial sea as 

 provided in article 24 of the Convention on the Territorial Sea and the Con- 

 tiguoTis Zone." I 



This wording is identical to that found in Congressman Garmatz' | 

 bill. ! 



2. STANDARDS AND PROHIBITIONS \ 



Section 5B(b) of my bill would require the Administrator of the 

 Environmental Protection Administration acting through the Fish 



