100 
We should, in fact, look as Ms. Hurd said at the hazard assess- 
mou alternatives of land-base disposal, incineration, and ocean dis- 
posal. 
Mr. BreEAux. Well, I think this committee could benefit a great 
deal from looking at these impartial studies done by some very re- 
spected universities in this country with regard to the ocean. Their 
recommendation is that we should not legislatively close the door 
to at least considering whether the ocean is a viable alternative for 
waste disposal. 
It is not saying that we dump it all in the ocean, but it is saying 
that we should study it. We should have at least the option to con- 
sider and balance it against the effects of other alternatives, such 
as land-based disposal. 
That is something which I support. I am glad to see that appar- 
ently it is the position of EPA also. 
Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Forsythe. 
Mr. D’Amours. The gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. Studds. 
Mr. Stupps. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have some questions on 
the general subject of ocean dumping. First of all, I was not here at 
the very beginning. May I clarify for the record and for myself 
whom we have here? I get confused by what is left of EPA bureauc- 
racy. 
Ms. Hurp. I am Merna Hurd. I am the Associate Assistant Ad- 
ministrator in the Office of Water. 
Mr. Stupps. What is an Associate Assistant Administrator? 
Where do you fit? 
Ms. Hurp. I act as a deputy to the Assistant Administrator. 
Mr. Stupps. Oh. 
Ms. Hurp. I have a special project right now to coordinate the 
sludge activities in the Agency. 
Mr. Stupps. Does that make you the senior person at the table? 
Ms. Hurp. Yes. 
Mr. Stupps. May I ask, are you a professional EPA career person 
or are you a political appointment? 
Ms. Hurp. I am professional. 
Mr. Stupps. You are. Is everybody at the table in that category? 
Ms. Hurp. Yes. 
Mr. Stupps. Therefore, we cannot get angry at you about policy 
matters? [Laughter. | 
Ms. Hurp. You certainly can. 
Mr. Stupps. But it would do us little good. [Laughter. ] 
I would like to ask a question based on a recent issue of Science 
magazine—and I guess I will start with you, Ms. Hurd, since you 
are the senior person. There is reference to EPA’s being in the 
throes of drafting new regulations governing all ocean dumping ac- 
tivities, including the marine disposal of radioactive wastes, and 
that EPA is expected to publish its proposals in the next few 
weeks. Is that true? 
Ms. Hurp. No. We have been working on the regulations. We 
have had several drafts. We have identified a number of different 
issues. Particularly, as we get into looking at other options, as well, 
we need to do some revisions in land and air. 
What we are currently doing is thinking about putting out a con- 
cept paper immediately on these various issues, and in the interim, 
