73 
G Rev 0 Dum R N 
FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS DISCUSSED EARLIER, INCLUDING OUR IMPROVED 
SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE, THE New York CITY DECISION, AND THE LONDON 
DumMPING CONVENTION RESOLUTIONS ON LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTES, WE ARE 
REVISING THE OCEAN DUMPING REGULATIONS- I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A FEW 
MOMENTS TO DISCUSS SOME OF THE ISSUES BEING RAISED AS WE WORK ON THE 
REGULATIONS: MANY DIFFICULT SCIENTIFIC, LEGAL, AND POLITICAL ISSUES 
MUST BE ADDRESSED- SOME OF THESE ISSUES INCLUDE: THE TRADEOFFS OF 
DISPOSAL ALTERNATIVES GIVEN RELATIVE RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES OF EACH; 
ASSESSING THE VALUES OF DIFFERENT POTENTIALLY AFFECTED RESOURCES ON 
LAND AND IN THE OCEAN; TECHNIQUES FOR EVALUATING IMPACTS; AND SELECTING 
THE BEST ALTERNATIVES FOR THE DISPOSAL OF TOXIC SLUDGES AND LOW LEVEL 
RADIOACTIVE WASTES - THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS WILL NOT ONLY ADDRESS 
THESE ISSUES AND VARIOUS OPTIONS, BUT ALSO PROVIDE A FORUM =OR PUBLIC 
AND CONGRESSIONAL DISCUSSION- 
REAUTHORIZATION OF THE AcT 
REGARDING THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE MARINE PROTECTION, RESEARCH, 
AND SANCTUARIES AcT, THE AGENCY FEELS THAT THE PRESENT STATUTE PROVIDES 
A FLEXIBLE AND WORKABLE APPROACH FOR CONSIDERING OCEAN DISPOSAL 
ACTIVITIES ALONG WITH OTHER WASTE DISPOSAL OPTIONS, WHILE AT THE SAME 
TIME PROTECTING OUR MARINE RESOURCES FROM UNREASONABLE DEGRADATION- WE 
SUPPORT REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ACT AND SEE NO NEED TO SUBSTANTIVELY 
AMEND THE CURRENT STATUTE BEYOND PROVIDING THE ADMINISTRATOR DISCRETION 
IN ADOPTING A FINANCIAL MANAGMENT SYSTEM TO RECOVER THE PROGRAM COSTS 
FOR OCEAN DISPOSAL, WHICH I WILL BE DISCUSSING WITH YOU IN OUR RESPONSE 
TO THE COMMITTEE'S QUESTIONS- 
11-267 O—82——6 
