635 



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Convention. As we all are aware, the Law of the Sea Convention 

 does address EEZ matters in great detail. While the Reagan 

 Administration has chosen not to sign that Convention, the EEZ 

 Proclamation parallels the Convention in many respects. While 

 ocean dumping is not mentioned specifically in the EEZ Proclama- 

 tion, a U.S. decision to further regulate dumping in that zone 

 would appear to be an example of the President's March 10th 

 statement that the establishment of an EEZ "will also enable the 

 United States to take limited additional steps to protect the 

 marine environment." 



From a narrow perspective, the extension of sovereign rights 

 over dumping out to the edge of our 200-mile zone is a positive 

 step. While all U.S. dumping already is regulated, such action 

 would ensure that foreign governments and non-U. S. dumpers comply 

 with our more stringent domestic requirements. From a broader 

 perspective, however, we question the appropriateness of piece- 

 meal application of the Law of the Sea Convention's EEZ-related 

 provisions. 



On balance, we favor the creation of a National Ocean Policy 

 Commission of the type envisioned in H.R. 2853 as a prelude to 

 further unilateral EEZ measures. Passage of H.R. 2853 by the 

 full House on 31 October 1983 is a significant step towards the 

 establishment of such a Commission. If the Senate were to follow 

 suit in a timely fashion, the Commission would be constituted and 

 would develop recommendations on a comprehensive oceans policy, 

 including U.S. policies, laws, regulations and practices "to 

 develop efficient long-range programs for research on, and the 



