388 
hangs over the Federal Government’s commitment to navigation 
channels. 
To say that this uncertainty is playing hob with the operations 
and planning at our seaports is an understatement. What must not 
be understated or underestimated are the dimensions of this prob- 
lem in terms of affecting the best interests of our Nation. 
As we face these problems, Mr. Chairman, we are thankful for 
your leadership and the active involvement of this committee in 
addressing the issues which affect the U.S. seaport industry in 
many vital ways. 
Thank you. 
Mr. Brinson. With that I would like to turn our testimony over 
to Colonel Haar. 
Mr. Breaux. Colonel Haar, good to see you and good to have 
your testimony. 
STATEMENT OF HERBERT R. HAAR, JR. 
Mr. Haar. Mr. Chairman, and members of the subcommittee, my 
name is Herbert Haar, Jr., Associate Port Director of the Port of 
New Orleans and I serve as chairman of the Special Dredging Com- 
mittee, Environmental Planning and Engineering Task Force of 
the American Association of Port Authorities. 
I would like to express again the appreciation of the AAPA and 
the Special Dredging Committee which I chair for the opportunity 
to appear before your group here today to express the views of the 
AAPA upon amendments which have been proposed to the Marine 
Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 and to bring to 
the attention of the subcommittee much needed changes which 
AAPA member ports feel should be made in this act. 
The AAPA has submitted for the record a prepared statement 
which describes the specific AAPA concerns with the amendments 
being proposed and suggests alternative changes in the act which 
would satisfy these concerns. In this testimony I will simply high- 
light the matters covered in our prepared statement. 
AAPA ports are faced with a continuing need to dispose of 
dredged material. This need arises from periodic maintenance 
dredging operations and from needed harbor and channel improve- 
ments which are essential to the continued operation of our ports. 
Most of our coastal ports rely to some extent on ocean disposal of 
dredged material. For many ports, such as the Port of New York, 
‘such disposal is crucial to operational survival. 
These dredging needs can also be expected to increase—especial- 
ly in view of the many current proposals for the deepening of 
major channels to 55 feet to accommodate the deep draft vessels 
which will handle the expanding coal export trade which is expect- 
ed during the rest of this century. 
The past experience of AAPA ports with the ocean dumping pro- 
gram for dredged material has been fraught with difficulty. It has 
been characterized by inconsistent policies among Federal agencies, 
unnecessary and unreasonable testing requirements and permit 
conditions, and the ever-present spectre of permit denial on the 
basis of narrow, and often unsupported, environmental concerns 
which take no account of competing “‘public interests.” 
