157 



of the establishment of marine sanctuaries within U.S. territorial 

 waters. So I am personally favorable to this concept; yes, sir. 



Mr. Keith. I think before we permit further exploitation of the 

 inshore resources — and I mean by that those in the territorial waters 

 and perhaps to some extent in Continental Shelf areas where corpora- 

 tions are spending vast sums to discover whether or not there are 

 mineral resources of value, which, once they find them, they will feel 

 by reason of their expenditures they have every right to exploit — that 

 we ought to set aside some areas where they would be restricted. 



There are plenty of other areas that could be explored without 

 danger to fishing and marine life. Otherwise, we will run into the 

 same kind of problem you had in the Far West with other mineral 

 resources, both on land and in the sea. 



I am glad you personally support this concept. 



Dr. Cain. I would favor extending the concept which is involved 

 in the Wilderness Act from the land to the sea. 



Mr. Keith. Thank you. 



Mr. Rogers. Just a few questions. 



What coordination does the Department have with the AEC on 

 waste disposal ? 



Dr. Cain. There is a relationship between that and the Federal 

 Water Pollution Control Administration. I believe that is the only 

 connection Interior has with it. 



Mr. Rogers. Do you keep on top of that in the pollution agency or 

 is that pretty much AEC ? 



Dr. Cain. As you know, the FWPCA is recently in Interior, and I 

 regret I cannot answer the question specifically. 



Mr. Rogers. If you would let us know for the record. 



Dr. Cain. All right. 



Mr. Rogers. I am very much concerned about this and the waste 

 disposal and its effect on the marine resources. 



Dr. Cain. We will submit for your record information on this. 



(The information follows :) 



Disposing of Radioactive Wastes 



Disposing of radioactive vpastes is controlled by the Atomic Energy Commis- 

 sion through a system of licensing. Regulatory responsibility rests w^ith AEC. 



In addition, the Fish and Wildlife Service, through an arrangement between 

 the Secretary of the Interior and AEC, reviews all permit applications for 

 atomic power plant installations and advises AEC on safeguards to protect the 

 natural environment. The Federal Water Pollution Control Administration and 

 FWS also review applications for Department of the Army permits which are 

 required to dispose of wastes in our navigable waters. The Bureau of Com- 

 mercial Fisheries Radiobiological Laboratory, in cooperation with AEC, con- 

 ducts research to determine the effects of radiation on marine organisms. 



A task group made up of representatives from Interior agencies has studied! 

 the problem of waste disposal and recommended that toxic liquid wastes (in- 

 cluding radioactive wastes) not be disposed of at sea vmtil a more adequate basis 

 for control has resulted from research. 



The practice of disposing of large amounts of low-level radioactive wastes, in 

 containers, in the deep ocean has been discontinued essentially because the 

 capacity of the oceans to receive such wastes is not weU known and the danger 

 of uptake of these materials by marine organisms is real. 



Mr. Rogers. Are ;^ou doing significant work on actual fish farming ? 



Dr. Cain. There is a great deal of fish farming work going on m 



fresh waters, pond farming. There is research with respect to brackish 



