525 
Mr. Ricci. Mercury we are attacking. We have found the major 
discharge of mercury and have them on a schedule to cease that 
and get it down to an acceptable level. 
Mr. HuGues. That has to be an important part of any strategy? 
Mr. Ricci. Yes. 
Mr. Hucues. The New York Bight is characterized as the most 
severely distressed part of our waters, in fact any waters in the 
world. You have had occasion to do research in the bight. Would 
you agree with that characterization? 
Mr. GoLpBERG. No. 
Mr. HuGues. Where would you say in our waters are there more 
distressed areas? 
Mr. GoLpBERG. Our waters, I can’t give an example. The Bospo- 
rus is far dirtier than the New York Bight. 
Mr. Hucues. Are there any other waters around the continental 
United States, that are any more severely distressed than the 
bight? 
Mr. GOLDBERG. I can’t make good judgment on that, sir. 
Mr. HuGues. But you would agree, from your studies, it is severe- 
ly distressed? 
Mr. GoLpBurG. Yes. 
Mr. Huaues. I think you suggested that cadmium was not pre- 
senting much of a problem, and yet as I understand it, in your 
Crystal Mountain study indicates that cadmium, the assimulative 
capacity of the bight relative to cadmium was approaching, if it 
had not reached serious proportions. 
Mr. GoLpBERG. That was a worst possible case study. We looked 
at it most pessimistically. For the highest cadmium levels in 
sewage sludge, if oysters living on the sewage sludge accumulaged 
cadmium at the highest possible levels and were eaten by the high- 
est oyster consumers in that part of the area, they could in princi- 
ple be subjected to nausea. 
Mr. Hucues. Let me read the conclusion. It is your conclusion, 
not mine: “Finally, the panel concluded that cadmium levels in 
bight sediments could currently be approaching or exceeding safe 
levels or limits for shellfish in parts of the bight.” 
Mr. GoLpBERG. My statement is is not in conflict with that. They 
are approaching levels where the greatest consumers of oysters 
eating oysters from dredged spoils could in principle come down 
with nausea. 
Mr. HuGues. You have probably been the leading proponent of a 
assimulative capacity. 
Mr. GOLDBERG. Yes, sir. 
Mr. Huaues. Have we reached the assimulative capacity in the 
New York Bight now? 
Mr. GoLpBERG. My colleagues of the Crystal Mountain Workshop 
examined four substances and found that the assimulative capacity 
in their judgments has not been exceeded. 
Mr. Huaues. Are we going to reach the assimulative capacity 
someday and then recognize that we have reached it? 
Mr. GoLpBERG. I don’t want to sidestep the question. 
Mr. HuGues. Do you want to take the 5th amendment? 
Mr. GoLpBERG. No; I don’t. 
