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Mr. Stupps. How about the Navy’s plans to dispose of all or part 
of their nuclear submarines and the reactors therein in the ocean? 
Mr. JANES. We have had some informal conversations with the 
Navy as well but we have certainly not gotten and do not antici- 
pate receiving any form of permit request from the Navy until they 
complete their evaluation. It will be announced in the Federal Reg- 
ister to do an environmental impact statement to let them look at 
their options. 
Mr. Stupps. Who is doing the EIS, you or the Navy? 
Mr. JANES. The Navy. 
Mr. Stupps. Is EPA doing any of its own studies with respect to 
the potential hazards of dumping either nuclear submarine reac- 
tors or contaminated DOE soils in the ocean? 
Mr. JANES. Yes, we are trying to align ourselves to be in a posi- 
tion to technically evaluate either proposal should the Agency re- 
ceive one. 
Mr. Stupps. Thank you. 
Mr. D’Amours. Thank you. 
We thank the panel for staying with us and for your testimony. 
We will look forward to seeing you again in the not too far distant 
future. 
Our next panel is composed of Dr. Byrne, Administrator of the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Brig. Gen. 
Forrest Gay III, Deputy Director of Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers. 
Gentlemen, would you approach the bench. 
Mr. Huaues. Mr. Chairman, while they are getting settled down, 
if I can make a part of the record this memorandum of April 7, 
1981, which I think is extremely pertinent. 
Mr. D’Amours. Without objection, it is so ordered. 
[Memorandum of April 7, 1981, follows:] 
[Memorandum] 
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, 
Washington, D.C., April 7, 1981. 
Subject: Directive to Seek Resolution of Disputes Over Ocean Dumping of Municipal 
Wastes in the New York Bight. 
From: Walter C. Barber, Acting Administrator (A-100). 
To: Richard T. Dewling, Acting Regional Administrator, Region II. Steven Schatzow, 
Deputy Assistant Administrator, for Water Regulations and Standards (WH-551). 
President Reagan recently directed this Agency to explore possible resolutions to 
disputes with New York City over disposal of municipal waste in the New York 
Bight. In response to the President’s directive I have reviewed this situation and 
have determined that, because of the environmental and legal complexities of this 
matter, the interests of all concerned would best be served by securing a period of 
time in which to assess whether the ocean dumping of some or all of their wastes is 
a permissible alternative to land-based disposal. It is important that during this 
period of review any disposal of wastes be done in a manner which is both environ- 
mentally sound and which does not foreclose future alternatives. 
Consequently, I am directing you to attempt immediately to arrange a meeting 
with representatives of New York City and other affected municipalities to explain 
that the Agency’s position is as follows: The Agency believes that it does not have 
the authority to authorize dumping of sewage sludge after December 31, 1981, the 
statutory deadline for cessation of ocean dumping of sewage sludge contained in the 
“Ocean Dumping Act” and that there is no satisfactory administrative action which 
EPA can take which will provide relief before the 1981 deadline; ocean dumping of 
sewage sludge at the current “12 mile” site must be ended as soon as possible, but 
no later than December 31, 1981. Available data indicated that environmental and 
navigational conditions at this site make it unacceptable for use for the ocean dis- 
