408 
Some 48 percent of the Nation’s total grain exports are going out 
the lower river. And there is now a tremendous development of ap- 
proximately $1 billion worth of new coal terminal expansions or 
new coal terminals being built that will have a capability of export- 
ing over 100 million tons of coal in the mideighties, so the Nation 
has a vital economic stake in the continued viability of this lower 
Mississippi River, and it is very essential that nothing be done to 
impede or delay the movement of that waterborne commerce which 
is so much in the national interest and our balance of payments. 
Mr. Breaux. Mr. Forsythe? 
Mr. ForsyTHE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I thank the panel 
for its testimony. 
I think I will only ask one question. 
Mr. Brinson, you may have to get this information for us, but I 
think it is important. Which ports would be affected by an immedi- 
ate ban on the use of dump sites which have not received final des- 
ignation? 
Mr. Brinson. We would have to provide that for you. I would 
think that the lower Mississippi River would be No. 1. Perhaps 
New York would be impacted to some extent. 
Mr. ForsyTHE. I think it would be important to have information 
because, as has been pointed out during our hearings, the alterna- 
tives just aren’t available in some cases. 
Mr. Brinson. I might just elaborate on that. We know that a 
number of our ports now depend on ocean dumping as a principal 
means of disposal of dredged spoils. I think as time goes on, 
though, that ocean dumping is going to be more and more the al- 
ternative. 
Land site filling is, of course, problematic under any conditions. 
We are going to have to continue dredging our navigation system 
in this country, and we simply have no choice. And so as time goes 
on the land available sites will become fewer and fewer and more 
of our ports will be looking at ocean dumping as the alternative. 
Mr. ForsyTHE. I would also point out, as the chairman did, that 
the filling of wetlands is a major problem when it comes to the 
whole marine environment. The production of so much of our 
marine resources comes from coastal wetlands and we have lost a 
number of acres already. An issue about which we should be very, 
very severe is any further incursion into the wetlands of this 
Nation. 
Thank you all very much for your testimony. 
Mr. Haar. Mr. Chairman, could I add one or two small points? 
Mr. BREAUx. Certainly. 
Mr. Haar. I alluded to the paper we had prepared by Dr. Pe- 
queqnat from Texas A&M University, a noted world oceanographer 
for the London Dumping Convention, which was well received by 
that convention and which we are elaborating on. 
I have a copy here which I would be happy to submit for the 
record that shows how special care methods can be used to dispose 
of problem dredge materials in the ocean and to do it safely. 
Mr. BrEAux. We would like to have a copy of it. It would be help- 
ful for the staff and the members. 
[The document follows:] 
