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it, they may be there for a very long time. We are already familiar with the 

 tragic story of DDT, the first recognized and best understood of a gro\\ing list 

 of materials we have come to call "environmentally hazardous substances." It is 

 probable that other chemicals will prove to be as long-lived and as harmful, for 

 instance the heavy metals, other chlorinated hydrocarbons, the petrochemicals 

 lost in oil spills, and radioactive plutonium. 



When we commit environmental injustice on land, it is often within our power 

 to undo the damage, given enough time and money. If we do further harm to the 

 seas, it will be beyond our power to undo that harm. 



There are three broad, interrelated areas of marine conservation. First, water 

 quality. Second, conservation of marine organisms, including fisheries and other 

 wildlife. Third, shore conservation and planning. Some of our fisheries have al- 

 ready declined. In some cases, it is very difficult to determine the reasons for 

 the declines, whether poor management of the fishery or the result of coastal 

 contamination. In some ways, the use of our shoreline is dictated by the degree 

 of water pollution. So, maintain water quality is a key factor in marine 

 conservation. 



Obviously, the answer is that we must stop all pollution of the sea. The sea is 

 just as insufficient an answer to the problem of waste disposal as food from the 

 sea is the solution to the problem of hunger and over-population. 



Moreover, we cannot allow the deep sea to be the ultimate carpet under which 

 to sweep our trash. We know less about the life of the deep sea than any other 

 area of our planet. Recent work at Woods Hole has begun to show that the crea- 

 tures of the deep sea are more diverse and abundant than we had previously 

 supposed. We have no more right to contaminate and kill the organisms of the 

 deep sea than those of shallow water simply because they are less well known 

 and more distant from us. 



We must move now to extract ourselves from this potential dangerous situa- 

 tion by establishing two basic goals. First, we must set in motion the machinery 

 which will enable us to find out what is hapi>ening to the sea and what we can 

 do about it. Then, we must take action now where we can. 



To an extent, the necessary studies have already been initiated by the Environ- 

 mental Protection Agency, by the National Science Foundation, and by the Sea 

 Grant Program, now under the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- 

 tion. What is required is the proper funding of these programs, an overall, clear 

 set of goals, and coordination among these granting programs. 



These research goals must be (1) to established baselines for the existing 

 levels of contamination or natural levels for as many substances as possible over 

 as wide an area as possible, (2) to establish water quality criteria based on 

 extensive testing of a wide array of substances on a wide array of marine 

 organisms. We must look not only for immediate toxicity of the substances but 

 their subtle effects on the health and reproductive ability of marine organisms 

 for more tham one generation. We need to have this information about as many 

 organisms as possible, but certainly about the most important ones both com- 

 mercially and ecologically. Until we have such exhaustive information, we can- 

 not possibly set water quality standards. In this regard, the Environmental Pro- 

 tection Agency has a very long way to go. (3) Finally, we need to put as much 

 money as possible into finding ways to reclaim and recycle so-called wastes. It 

 will only be after we have extensive information in all of these three fields that 

 we can deal adequately and knowledgeably with the problem of dumping. 



Needless to say, it will be a considerable time before we have most of the 

 required answers. We must act now upon the most serious problems and give 

 ourselves deadlines for eliminating marine pollution. 



The legislation which should be enacted this Congress should, at a minimum, 

 do the following things : 



(1) Establish a national policy and goal of eliminating environmentally harm- 

 ful dumping. 



(2) Establish a permit system under the Environmental Protection Agency 

 for all forms of ocean dumping, including sewage discharge. 



(3) Place the burden of proof on the parties wishing to dump materials into 

 the sea oir Great Lakes to prove that no environmental harm would be done. 



(4) Establish broad criteria for the use of the Environmental Protection 

 Agency in evaluating dumping permit applications. 



(5) Allow public hearings when a dumping permit is contested. 



(6) Completely prevent dumping into the sea of environmentally hazardous 

 substances, being defined as substances which persist in the marine environment 



