© a need to increase capability to perform the Coast Guard oil spill or 
discharge prevention responsibility in connection with vessel and facil- 
ity transfer operations; and 
e. the need to meet Coast Guard surveillance and enforcement responsi- 
bilities in connection with ocean dumping and the inspection of the 
transportation and the handling of hazardous material. 
We have also observed that: 
@ The number of oily discharge civil penalty cases continues to grow 
along with the number of reported violations of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act. This is no doubt due to increased public aware- 
ness of the law itself; however, there is a need for more widespread 
communication with the general public and particularly with the 
marine industry regarding the need for pollution prevention require- 
ments, techniques, and equipment to reduce and minimize discharges. 
e A National Strike Force has been organized to insure the rapid cleanup 
of oil spills or discharges. Unfortunately, the Coast Guard currently 
does not have adequate funds to allow development and acquisition 
of the techniques and equipment to remove polluting discharges under 
all reasonable conditions and in all waters. We urge that Coast Guard 
appropriations in this area be augmented. This monetary support must 
be sufficient to allow purchase of on-the-shelf techniques, equipment, 
and research and development to fill existing gaps. 
e An almost universal concern among the officers responsible for enforc- 
ing the environmental legislation is that the laws are too rigid and do 
not allow for the application of “common sense” judgement as to 
whether or not a penalty shall be assessed for each and every violation, 
no matter what the circumstances. There is no provision for the issu- 
ance of warnings in case of minor and accidental violations where 
there is no negligence involved. We would hope that the Congress 
would amend the laws to permit the enforcement officers to use judge- 
ment in such cases. 
We can see some important demands whose impact on the Coast Guard 
resource requirements cannot be determined precisely but which are none- 
theless imminent. Typical of these problems are anticipated Coast Guard 
responsibilities as a result of sharply increased exploration for petroleum 
and minerals on the Continental Shelf, the exploitation and shipment of 
Arctic oil reserves, the development of deepwater ports and offshore-sited 
power plants, and the ever-increasing size and numbers of both crude oil 
and liquified gas carriers. 
Is Coast Guard growth commensurate with these anticipated require- 
ments? We have not found it to be so. Apparently the Coast Guard begins 
to get increased resources only after the jobs are levied upon it, which 
results in a significant lag while adjustments are made to accommodate 
38 
