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sources; trying to solve the problem of the sewage overflow which 
exists in some of the older sewage systems; that kind of thing. 
Given the amount of funds one has to solve pollution problems in 
this country today, I would think those would be of higher priority. 
Mr. D’Amours. I appreciate that answer. Your “insofar as possi- 
ble,” though, perplexes me because it is possible to do something 
about the PCB’s and mercury in cleaning the bight by stopping fur- 
ther sewage sludge dumping. We seem to be wanting to do what- 
ever is possible, but refusing to do what is clearly possible. That 
leaves me a little bit perplexed. 
I have another question, but I do not want to stop you from com- 
menting about that, if you wish to do so. 
Dr. Knauss. That is all right. 
Mr. D’Amours. You have noted in your testimony that more 
needs to be done on research and monitoring of ocean dumping. 
You have supported the imposition of user fees to assure fundings 
for these activities. Which research and monitoring functions 
would you like to see specified in amendments to the act, if you can 
think of any? 
Dr. Knauss. I am not sure how you specify monitoring functions 
within the act; maybe you can. One of my concerns with monitor- 
ing functions, as has happened a number of times before, is that a 
message is brought down from Congress to an agency, which says 
“Thou shalt monitor these kinds of things.” Contracts are let, and 
all kinds of money is spent counting this and that. When we are 
through we do not really know very much more about the subject. 
It is important that monitoring programs are done with a certain 
amount of imagination and scientific care, so that during the proc- 
ess we obtain the kind of evidence that all of us as scientists and 
concerned citizens want to have, so that we can be reasonably as- 
sured of what is going on. 
The kind of monitoring programs, for example, that I have seen 
in southern California which Los Angeles City and Los Angeles 
County have established impresses me as the kind one would hope 
to have on a routine basis around the country where you are going 
to have dumping. 
Mr. D’Amours. I have one other question, and then I am going to 
have to leave. I will submit some questions for the record. 
You stated in your testimony that you think NOAA will not be 
able to provide research results in a timely fashion. If EPA and 
NOAA were adequately funded do you think we could get the kinds 
of results we need in a timely fashion? 
Dr. Knauss. I notice when you asked Captain Cousteau, or some- 
body asked Captain Cousteau, that question that he said he 
thought a decade. I was wondering where he picked that number 
up. The more I thought about it, however, the more it seemed like 
a not unreasonable figure. 
I do not know how you answer that question in any detailed, 
quantitative way. However, when I look back upon what we know 
a1Ov or at least what we think we know now, over what we 
ew—— 
Mr. D’Amours. Excuse me, John. What do you consider an ade- 
quate time? You are the one who said that in your testimony. 
What do you consider an adequate time? 
