178 
ignore a legislatively mandated ocean-dumping deadline and there- 
by reverse years of EPA policy. 
But beyond all of this, it is the task of the peoples’ representa- 
tives in Congress to set the policy on this matter, not the bureau- 
crats at EPA. If the present law is ambiguous, then it is up to those 
who originally wrote that law to clarify those ambiguities. 
It should be clearly stated that we of the subcommittees do not 
propose that all ocean dumping be terminated. We recognize that 
some degradation of the ocean environment is inevitable and even 
occurs naturally. We are aware that the oceans have a very great 
assimilative capacity. All we propose is that whatever degradation 
modern society must impose on our ocean environment be under- 
taken in the absence of reasonable alternatives and in the most 
careful and responsible manner practicably possible. 
We must measure the ocean dumping alternative against the re- 
ality that the ocean is the cheapest and the most politically con- 
venient place for coastal areas to dump their toxic wastes. There is 
not in this situation of ocean dumping the inhibiting effect of a 
nearby affected group of concerned citizens to protest the resulting 
hazards that might be created. As someone recently remarked, 
“Fish don’t vote.” It is up to the members of these subcommittees 
and of the full Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries to act 
responsibly as the constituents of a sound ocean policy. It is we 
who are specifically charged with the mandate of protecting our 
citizens and our future generations from the tragedy that we will 
surely allow if we do not insure them a healthy and unpolluted 
ocean environment. 
Our first witness today is Capt. Jacques-Yves Cousteau, whom 
this committee is very honored to entertain as a witness and to 
whom we are particularly grateful. Captain Cousteau has absolute- 
ly nothing to gain in this issue, except as a world citizen, which he 
truly is. He has traveled at great length to be with us today, start- 
ing off in Martinique, arriving just this morning, and he has to be 
in Paris by this evening. 
That being the case, I am going to advise members of the sub- 
committee, as I have privately, that we would like very much to 
terminate the Captain’s testimony and all questions to Captain 
Cousteau by 11:25 so that he can make it to the airport, catch a 
shuttle to New York, and then with good luck and Godspeed and 
good weather, the Concorde to Paris. 
Captain Cousteau, we are very grateful for the trouble you have 
taken to demonstrate your interest in this issue and for the pres- 
tige you bring to our efforts. With that, we happily anticipate hear- 
ing your testimony. 
STATEMENT OF CAPTAIN JACQUES-YVES COUSTEAU, CHAIRMAN, 
THE COUSTEAU SOCIETY AND THE FOUNDATION COUSTEAU 
Captain CousTEAu. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
Mr. Chairman and subcommittee members, I apologize for giving 
you a few details about myself, because I would not like you to con- 
sider me only for my television films. 
I am chairman of the Cousteau Society and of the Foundation 
Cousteau, the European organization of the same kind. They are 
