We are continuing ocean dumping even though great strides 

 have been made in feasible and economically attractive land-based 

 alternatives. Furthermore, there seems to be an overwhelming 

 drive to move this dumping further to sea, out of financial reach of 

 our monitoring and environmental protection agencies and beyond 

 the Coast Guard's meager surveillance capabilities. 



We have a tendency to rely on blind faith with respect to envi- 

 ronmental protection and then to have to pick up the pieces when 

 we have made a shambles of things. Unfortunately, once we have 

 made the mistakes in the deep ocean, we will not be able to pick up 

 the pieces. 



In spite of these risks, responsible people will urge us to move 

 forward with site designations, knowing that Federal oversight will 

 be a token effort. These points should cause us to pause and reflect 

 on the ocean dumping policy. 



The fundamental question should not be whether we can ocean- 

 dump more safely at ore place than another, but whether we 

 should be ocean-dumping at all. 



Thank you. 



Mr. D' Amours. I thank the gentleman. 



I would like to assure the gentleman from Delaware, Mr. Carper, 

 that everything is open for question at this hearing. We have not 

 precluded ourselves from taking some action that might result in 

 total abolition of sewage sludge dumping in our oceans, contrary to 

 what the gentleman has implied. 



That question is open, wide open. The failure to appeal the deci- 

 sion by EPA has made those options more difficult to pursue than 

 they should have been, but that is fair game in these hearings. 



The gentlelady from California. 



Mrs. Boxer. Very briefly, Mr. Chairman, I am pleased you have 

 scheduled these hearings. Ocean dumping is a serious issue. On the 

 west coast, the Navy wants to dump used reactors from submarines 

 into our oceans. It is very controversial. 



We have put a ban on that. I think what will come out of this 

 hearing will help us on both coasts. I am very pleased you are 

 having these hearings today. 



Mr. D' Amours. Thank you. 



Mr. Ortiz. 



Mr. Ortiz. I don't have any opening statement, thank you, Mr. 

 Chairman. 



Mr. D'Amours. We will now recognize the ranking full commit- 

 tee minority member for his opening statement, which I was just 

 about to ask unanimous consent that it be admitted to the record. 

 The gentleman is recognized. 



Mr. FoRSYTHE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I ask unanimous con- 

 sent that my full statement be entered in the record. 



Mr. D'Amours. Without objection, so ordered. 



[The statement of Mr. Forsythe follows:] 



Statement of Hon. Edwin B. Forsythe, a Representative in Congress From the 



State of New Jersey 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I must commend you, Mr. Chairman, for scheduling 

 this separate hearing to fully consider the ocean disposal of municipal sewage 

 sludge in the New York Bight. The disposal of sewage sludge by dumping in the 



