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The Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act was 

 intended to discourage ocean waste disposal in the long run. Eleven 

 years ago at the time of its enactment, ocean dumping was viewed as 

 a regrettable, temporary means of disposal to be sanctioned only if 

 every other reasonable method was unattainable or potentially more 

 harmful. Wherever possible, wastes were to be recycled to reduce 

 disposal needs. Ocean dumping was never intended to replace other 

 methods solely because it might represent the least expensive 

 alternative to dispose of toxic materials. 



Eleven years later, after numerous hearings in Delaware, 

 southern New Jersey and Maryland at which residents and elected 

 officials expressed vehement opposition to ocean dumping off our 

 coastlines, testimony which was recorded, transcribed, and kept on 

 file with the Federal Government, I and others must come before 

 Federal officials again to reiterate our same concerns, 



I speak for hundreds of thousands of people when I say I find 

 this very frustrating, and I call on you to end the talk about ocean 

 dumping at the 106 mile site. If you agree with our well documented 

 position, we urge you to help us convince the E.P.A. of the harm 

 that will occur if ocean dumping regulations are weakened or if the 

 practice of ocean dumping is allowed to expand. 



Regardless of your position on this matter, the State of 

 Delaware will pursue every legal means of blocking the selection of 

 the 106 mile site. We're tired of talking. 



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