70 



Mr. Ehler. I would agree with you, Mr. Forsythe, that in fact 

 the integrated strategy would be a desirable goal. I would clarify 

 that by saying, I think as Mr. Schatzow said in his testimony, that 

 in fact the basic components of that strategy do exist within exist- 

 ing laws and regulations. We could obviously do a better job of put- 

 ting them together. 



Mr. Forsythe. There are a few major problems that will be diffi- 

 cult to solve, such as contamination input from surface runoff and 

 combined storm and sewage systems. The latter situation alone 

 would be a massive problem to resolve. 



If we stopped dumping at the 12-mile site I believe there will be 

 a change there. How significant it is, in terms of the total bight, is 

 debatable. My main thrust is that I think we have wasted a lot of 

 time around here on maybe 10 percent of the problem and perhaps 

 we want the other 90 percent to be addressed too. 



Before my time runs out, Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask you. 

 Dr. Anderson, as to the status of my request to EPA to hold a hear- 

 ing in Toms River, N.J., concerning site designations once tentative 

 determinations have been made. Can you respond to that request? 



Mr. Anderson. I have been authorized by my regional adminis- 

 trator to grant that request, that we will schedule a hearing in 

 Toms River with your assistance after the agency does publish its 

 decisions with regard to the 12/60 issue. 



Mr. Forsythe. Thank you. 



I guess we will have to break. 



Mr. D'Amours. We will break pending the vote. 



I would request that members come back immediately after 

 having voted and I intend to resume the questioning immediately 

 upon my return. 



[Brief recess.] 



Mr. D'Amours. The hearing will be in order. 



Mr. Forsythe's questioning is terminated on this round. The 

 questioning now turns to the gentleman from New Jersey, Mr. 

 Hughes. 



Mr. Hughes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I, too, want to welcome the members of the panel to the hear- 

 ings. As I understand the bottom line for the testimony of both 

 EPA and NOAA, is that at least the preliminary recommendation 

 is that we close down the 12-mile site and move the site out to the 

 106-mile limit? Is that the bottom line basically? 



Mr. Schatzow. Well, Mr. Hughes, I think the bottom line is that 

 we believe from an environmental point of view that the 106-mile 

 site is an environmentally preferred site. 



Mr. Hughes. The statute you would concede has a built-in bias 

 for the deepwater site. 



Mr. Forsythe. Certainly, Congressman, as we noted in our testi- 

 mony, the statute shows a preference for sites beyond the Conti- 

 nental Shelf. 



Mr. Hughes. From the scientific standpoint, you concur with 

 that bias, everything else being equal? 



Mr. Schatzow. I will turn to the scientists, but I think it is true 

 in this case. 



Mr. Ehler. Yes. 



