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the site and so forth, then certainly they are very directly bearing 
that cost, but if they are also bearing the cost of research which is 
broadly applicable to a whole ocean, the Atlantic Ocean coastline 
or the Gulf of Mexico, then they are perhaps bearing a greater 
burden of expense for that kind of activity than really can be logi- 
cally allocated back to them. 
That says to me: Who else can pay? And who else might pay 
would be the beneficiaries, the general public, the taxpayers, who 
are not only that town but also the rest of the Nation, who could 
bear the expense of the kinds of activities that benefit us all. 
Mr. ForsyTHE. What is going to happen in terms of these very 
same costs in terms of the land disposal alternatives? Will they 
also be assessed fees for their operations? 
Mr. ErpsngEss. That is an excellent question and this administra- 
tion is moving forward to develop a fee system for other environ- 
mental media. I know we are asking for clear authority under the 
Clean Water Act this year for a fee system. We are working in 
other areas as well and we need to look clearly at all of these 
media in terms of any kind of a user system, so whatever is insti- 
tuted over time makes some sense, it hangs together. 
Mr. ForsyTHE. Maybe so far as this legislation is concerned, the 
whole idea should be put aside until we can find a more compre- 
hensive plan for assessing user fees. While this committee wouldn’t 
have sole jurisdiction over all of the various types of fees which is 
certainly one of our problems, at least we could through joint refer- 
ral, look at the same package. This could have a lot of merit in 
view of where we stand now. 
Mr. Erpsness. I think that does, Congressman. 
Mr. ForsytHe. Are you moving somewhere where a proposal 
might be forthcoming? 
Mr. Expsness. I don’t think there is a comprehensive effort un- 
derway within EPA right now. I can’t speak for the administration 
wholly on this issue to develop a package for fee systems for all en- 
vironmental media at this time. 
Mr. ForsyTHE. It would certainly start with EPA, wouldn’t it? 
Aren’t you involved in all areas of disposal? 
Mr. Erpsness. Yes, we would be involved in it but you know 
there is an example where other agencies have a direct involve- 
ment in the program. It is not just EPA. I should also point out 
that many States are now instituting permit fee systems for the 
NPDES discharge system under the Clean Water Act. For example, 
Colorado has one and they have wrestled with the same kind of 
issues where you are on this one. 
Mr. ForsyTHE. I have a note that my 5 minutes have expired. 
Thank you. 
Mr. D’Amours. Mr. Scheuer, have you any questions? 
Mr. ScHEUER. Let me say I appreciate very much the invitation 
to join you today and appreciate your many past courtesies. 
I have a statement which I will offer for the record. 
Mr. D’Amours. Without objection, it will be included in the 
record at this point. 
[The statement of Mr. Scheuer follows:] 
