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PaRT_OF QUESTION 4 AND QUESTION 5 ADDRESSED THE ABILITY oF EPA To 
RESPOND TO A POTENTIAL INCREASE IN APPLICATIONS GIVEN THE CURRENT 
INCREASED INTEREST FOR OCEAN DUMPING AND POSSIBLE MECHANISMS TO 
RECAPTURE COSTS- 
IT SHOULD BE CLEAR FROM TODAY’S DISCUSSION THAT ANY EXPANDED USE 
OF THE OCEAN FOR WASTE DISPOSAL WILL BE DONE PRUDENTLY BY THIS AGENCY- 
WHEREAS PAST OCEAN DISPOSAL OCCURRED AT HISTORICAL SITES, FUTURE 
EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO FIND NEW SITES THAT ARE BEST SUITED FOR 
PARTICULAR WASTES: [HE USE OF FIELD MONITORING WILL ALSO PLAY A 
SIGNIFICANT ROLE TO ASSURE THAT DISPOSAL PRACTICES ARE NOT CAUSING 
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS- WHILE IT IS DIFFICULT TO ESTIMATE THE 
POTENTIAL GROWTH OF OCEAN DUMPING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THE AGENCY HAS 
EVALUATED USER FEE SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES TO HELP FINANCE THE EXPANDED 
PROGRAM OF SITE DESIGNATION, RESEARCH, AND MONITORING THAT MAY BE 
NEEDED FOR MUNICIPAL AND INDUSTRIAL DISPOSAL: 
THE BEST ALTERNATIVE APPEARS TO BE A TWO PART FEE SYSTEM- ONE FEE 
WOULD RECOUP PERMIT PROCESSING COSTS- JHE SECOND FEE WOULD RECOVER THE 
COSTS OF RESEARCH, SITE DESIGNATION, MAINTENANCE AND MONITORING: WE 
ARE CURRENTLY EXPLORING THE POSSIBILITY OF MAKING THE FEES PAYABLE 
DIRECTLY TO THE EPA’S ACCOUNT FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROGRAM- 
ADOPTION OF SUCH A SYSTEM WOULD REQUIRE AMENDING THE STATUTE> 
THE AGENCY WOULD CHARGE ALL PERMIT APPLICANTS A UNIFORM FEE 
COVERING THE COSTS OF PERMIT PROCESSING- THIS UNIFORM FEE WOULD 
REFLECT THE AVERAGE COST OF PROCESSING A PERMIT ($8,000 IS THE CURRENT 
AVERAGE COST FOR PROCESSING A PERMIT)- THIS SYSTEM WOULD ALSO ALLOW 
THE AGENCY TO WAIVE OR REDUCE THE FEE IF, FOR EXAMPLE, THE APPLICATION 
IS FOR RENEWAL OR DE MINIMUS DUMPING REQUIRING MINIMAL PROCESSING 
WORK « 
