115 
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
Mr. Drince.t. Mr. Everett ? 
Mr. Everett. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
Dr. Sincer. I was wondering if you could indicate how the Federal 
Water Quality Improvement Act or the Federal Water Pollution Con- 
trol Act would compare with the legislation we are considering today 
with respect to overlap and also with respect to areas that would be 
covered by the legislation, but may be included in the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act? 
Dr. Sincer. The intention, and the proposed amendments to the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act are as follows: It is to extend 
the authority of the U.S. Government to various bodies of water which 
are not now covered by this act. This includes boundary waters, ground 
waters, and of course certain parts of the ocean. It includes, specifically, 
the contiguous zone, that is the zone from beyond the territorial sea, 
that is from 3 to 12 miles, where pollution of that contiguous zone 
might affect and would affect the territorial sea. 
It also includes on the high seas beyond the contiguous zone, any 
pollution produced by materials which originate within the United 
tates. i 
You recognize of course that the high seas do not belong to us. Our 
jurisdiction there is limited. However, we would through this act 
extend our jurisdiction to keep adverse effects from occurring there, 
but we can only do this for wastes or pollutants which originate within 
the United States. It is a very broad authority. It does not specify 
where dumping may be carried on, it does not mention anything 
concerning dumping specifically. 
Mr. Everett. This is with respect to the legislation you referred to? 
Dr. Srncer. I am speaking now about the legislation introduced last 
February to amend the Water Pollution Control] Act. 
Mr. Everett. What action has been taken in the House or Senate 
on that legislation, if any ? 
Dr. Srncer. I am not familiar with the situation as it is right now. 
Mr. Everett. Can any of you gentlemen indicate whether any action 
is contemplated at this time on either side with respect to this 
legislation ? . 
Dr. Guascow. I do not know. 
Dr. Jounson. If that is H.R. 15095, my latest information is that 
it is still pending in the House and I have no knowledge of exactly 
at what point it may be. 
Mr. Everert. Does existing law cover the dedication of areas where 
dumping can take place ? 
Dr..S1ncer. Existing law does not say anything about specific areas 
for dumping. In fact, we have no legislative authorities concerning 
the region beyond the territorial sea at all. This is the purpose for the 
amendment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. 
Mr. Keriru. What is the State’s area of responsibility and what 
action has it taken ? 
Dr. Glasgow should comment on that. In Massachusetts there are 
some towns that have an outfall of sewage. I think the Department of 
Public Health feels that the towns have the authority to permit or to 
deny such practices. 
