424 



For ariotlier community, there miay be incredible problems try^ing to 

 find an alternative site. It seems to me we, as an agency, through the 

 Solfcl Waste Office, have to cooperate with them in attempting to find 

 an alternative way to get rid of the sludge, and^set a deadline in a 

 reasonable way so they can develop this alternative site. And at the 

 same time we can phase out their ocean dumping. 



Mr. Karth. On page 11 you talk about "Toxic industrial waste 

 should be stopped inmiediately upon effective date of this act." Is that 

 direct toxic waste disposal into the waterways of the comitry that 

 would be affected by the bill, or is that also toxic waste that would 

 go through chamiels of municipal disposal ? 



Mr. RucKELSHAUs. No ; this has to do with dumping. Tliis doesn't 

 have to do with continuous outfall. We have under Federal-State 

 standards preseaitly in existence regulations against discharge of 

 toxics. 



Mr. Karth. Would it make any difference if they dump it by pipe- 

 lijie in the ocean ? 



Mr. Ruckelshaus. No ; it doesn't make any difference. 

 Mr. Karth. Wliat about offshore oil, what do you think is a reason- 

 able time to eliminate any pollution from that particular source? 

 ilaybe you don't call that dumping, but I do. , 



Mr. RucKELSHAUS. That is also covered under regulations issued 

 by the Interior Department and under Section 11 of the Federal Water 

 Pollution Control Act for the control of oil as a pollutant. 



Mr. Karth. Every one of the oft'shore oils, I assume, has some toxic 

 materials that every minute goes into the water. I^^iat are your 

 regulations with respect to offshore oil ? 



Mr. RucKEi.sHAUS. With respect to the dumping of oil from 



Mr. Karth. No; I am talking about offshore oil wells, the actual 

 drilling operations, and the leaks once the oil wells have been 

 established. 



Mr. RucKELSHAUS. The regulations deal in terms of a visible sheen 

 as being a violation of the regulations anj^ time a dumping or discharge 

 occurs. 



Mr. Karth. Subject to the penalties of this act for a $50,000 fine? 

 Mr. RucKELSHAUS. No; they would be subject to penalties under 

 Federal Water Pollution Control Act. 

 Mr. Karth. What are those penalties ? 



Mr. RucKELSHAUS. Mr. Dominick might be able to give you an 

 answer, 



Mr. Karth. Mr. Dominick said $5,000. Is that sufficient, in your 

 judgment, Mr. Administrator? 



Mr. RucKELSHAUS. I don't believe it is. That is an act we inlierited. 

 Mr. Dominick. That is, for failure to report, I believe it is up to 

 $50,000. 



Mr. Karth. How many of these oil rigs or drilling companies 

 have been fined under that act? Do you know? What is their track 

 record ? 



Mr. Dominick. There are none under the act passed last spring. 

 We are in the process of developing regulations under section ll(j) 

 to impose equipment requirements on the offshore facilities in the 

 territorial waters. 



