540 



oil drilling its effect upon the marine environment" conducted by California 

 Department of Fish and Game, January 31, 1962, shows conclusively that de- 

 positing washed drill cuttings on ocean bottom not deleterious to marine life 

 in adjacent area. 



If such ocean depositing i>rohibited by strict construction of section 3(c) 

 decision would add approximately 7-9 percent to cost of offshore drilling opera- 

 tions. Request opportunity to discuss matter with appropriate committee person- 

 nel and staff in greater detail. Copy of report cited earlier in mail to you for 

 attachment to this wire. 



Appreciate your consideration of tfhese belated remarks. 



Henry W. Weight, 

 Manager, Land and Water Department. 



[Telegram] 



Port of New Orleans, 

 JVeio Orleans, La., April 5, 1971. 

 Hon. Edward A. Garmatz, 



Chairman, House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee 

 House of Representatives, Washington, B.C.: 



Please accept this as the position of board of commissioners of the Port of 

 New Orleans an agency of the State of Louisiana with respect to H.R. 4723 en- 

 titled Marine Protection Act of 1971 and on which bill joint hearings are being 

 currently held. This board administers the second largest port in the United 

 States and is charged with the legal duty to develop and improve the port and 

 harbor in the interest of maritime activities and the development of the Foreign 

 Commerce of the Port and of the United States. 



While this Board supports the objectives of H.R. 4723, it is its firm and con- 

 sidered opinion that the provisions of this bill which wouM reMeve the Army 

 Corps of Engineers of its authority to issue permits for the disposition of dredge 

 spoil and p^ace such authority with the Administrator of the new Environmental 

 Protecction Agency (EPA), will be seriously detrimental to the day-to-day 

 operations and to the long-range development and improvement of ports and 

 harbors and navigation channels by reason of the fact that the Corps of Engi- 

 neers is eminently qualified and experienced by virtue of its vast professional 

 knowledge and long established familiarity with and understanding of the 

 engineering requirements in connection with dredging and other related activi- 

 ties required for the successful development, maintenance, and operation of 

 ports, harbors, and navigation channels, and the like, and historically is quali- 

 fied and experienced in the economic and environmental aspects and. therefore, 

 to transfer such authority to another agency or Federal Government such as 

 the EPA, is unnecessary, and will, in our said firm opinion, result only in delaying 

 urgently needed projects, and further in discouraging future developments of 

 kind in the public interests, particularly since no other Federal agency is as 

 qualified as the Corps of Engineers to weigh the balance between economic 

 and national defense necessities and the environmental quality considerations. 



It must be remembered that the Corps of Engineers is controlled not only by 

 the congressional processes, but itself must seek the comments and approval of 

 environmental agencies. 



Edward S. Reed, 

 Executive Director, Board of Commissioners. 



Sierra Club, New England Chapter, 



Somerville, Mass., April 29, 1911. 

 Chairman Edward A. Garmatz, 

 Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 Longworth Building, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Chairman Garmatz: The Sierra Club, New England Chapter, strongly 

 supports certain environmental policies of H.R. 895 as a significant first step in 

 protecting the oceans against the reckless and excessive dumping of industrial 

 wastes. In your consideration of this and other bills on ocean dumping, we hope 

 you will adopt the sound policies that Mr. Harrington's bill stresses. 



