12 
H.R. 18454 differs from H.R. 17603 in that the former would require the 
establishment of standards for dumping in the coastal waters and makes no 
provision for designation of specific discharge areas. The standards established 
pursuant to H.R. 18454 would require, in part, a showing that any proposed 
discharge or deposit would not endanger the natural environment or ecology 
of the waters affected. A civil penalty of not more than $10,000 nor less thaln 
$5,000 would be imposed for each violation of such standards. 
Our recommendation to defer consideration of H.R. 17603 and H.R. 18454 
is prompted by two recent developments which reflect the concern of this 
Administration about the ecological effects of ocean dumping. On February 10, 
we sent to the Congress a legislative proposal which, if enacted, would direct 
the Secretary to establish water quality standards for the waters of the con- 
tiguous zone, That proposal, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act, is pending before the House as H.R. 15905. In addition to its requirement 
of water quality standards, the bill would also make subject to abatement 
water pollution activities in the waters of the contiguous zone which adversely 
affect water quality in the territorial sea, and pollution of the seas resulting 
beyond the contiguous zone from discharge of material transported from United 
States territory. 
In a message to the Congress on April 15, the President urged that we now 
direct our attention to ocean dumping with hope of avoiding “the same eco- 
logical damages that we have inflicted on our lands and inland waters” (H. 
Doe. 91-308). He announced that the Chairman of the Council on Environ- 
mental Quality had been directed to work with this Department, the Army, 
other Federal agencies, and State and local governments on a comprehensive 
study of ocean dumping. That study, to be submitted to the President by 
September 1, will include effects of ocean dumping on the environment, ade- 
quacy of existing control authority, extent and effect of the toxic wastes now 
being discharged, availability of suitable sites for disposal on land, alternative 
methods of disposal, such as incineration and re-use, and innovative techniques 
for disposal at sea._ 
We strongly believe that it would be best to await the results of that study 
and such recommendations as the President may make before proceeding 
further with consideration of H.R. 17603, H.R. 18454, and similar legislation 
on the subject of ocean dumping. 
The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no objection 
to the Presentation of this report from the standpoint of the Administration’s 
program. 
Sincerely yours, 
FRED J. RUSSELL, 
Under Secretary of the Interior. 
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, 
NATIONAL COUNCIL ON MARINE RESOURCES 
AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, 
EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 
Washington, D.C., July 24, 1970. 
Hon. EpwArp A. GARMATZ, . 
Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, U.S. House of Repre- 
sentatives, Washington, D.C. 
DeEAR Mr. GARMATzZ: This is in response to your Committee’s request for our 
comments on H.R. 17608, a bill “To Amend the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
Act to provide additional protection to marine and wildlife ecology by requiring 
the designation of certain water and submerged land areas where the depositing 
of certain waste materials will be permitted, to authorize the establishment of 
standards with respect to such deposits and for other purposes.” 
This is also our response to your request for our comments on H.R. 18454, a 
related bill, which proposes ‘‘To Amend the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 
to provide additional protection to marine and wildlife ecology by providing 
for the orderly regulation of dumping in the coastal waters of the United States.” 
We recommend that the Council on Environmental Quality be the spokesman 
for the Executive Office; and we prefer to defer to their appearance before your 
Committee on these bills, if agreeable to you. 
