589 
- 31- 
Hopefully that view will not be erased in response to this 
Administration's efforts to reduce EPA's research and monitoring 
budgets, though the GAO correctly notes that EPA monitoring pro- 
grams have been zero-budgeted for the current fiscal ed 
(Similar concern with the reduced availability of such funding 
was voiced in a recent report by the House Committee on Merchant 
Marine and rele: @) Such a shift would be most unfortunate, 
and inconsistent with all the evidence we have cited which parallels 
the concern evinced in EPA's draft monitoring plan. 
Bo Varese Sales 
Concerning the complementary need to monitor "test" sites 
that are unmodified by prior dumping activities, the GAO Report 
appears to endorse such monitoring, but recommends reliance on 
"existing international ocean dumping guidance" as the principal 
84/ 
solution to addressing future U.S. policy concerns. Yet GAO's 
concluding thoughts on this point are difficult to follow, i.e., 
{mJonitorability of the international [Northeast 
Atlantic] dumpsite has been questioned Sata 
Consequently, in developing its site selection 
criteria for future dumpsites, EPA should include 
specific criteria for assuring that site monitor- 
ing is possible as well as specific periodic 
monitoring requirements. 85/ 
82/ GAO Report, supra note 3, at 22. 
83/ BloRos IRD. Wes SOA, ikea Congo, Acl SESso 9 (Mey L7, LYS2). 
84/ GAO Report, supra note 3, at 22. 
85/ tel, aie Det, 
