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The President, on April 15 of this year, sent a message to the Con- 
gress announcing proposed legislation which would stop the dumping 
of polluted dredge spoil into the Great Lakes and authorize the Sec- 
retary of the Army, acting through the Chief of Eengineers, to extend 
ot all navigable and allied waters a program of research, study, and 
experimentation related to dredge spoil. In his message the President 
noted that while this legislation represented a major step forward in 
cleaning up the Great Lakes, it also underlined the need to begin the 
task of dealing with the broader problem of dumping in the oceans. 
To accomplish this, the President has directed the Chairman of the 
Council on Environmental Quality to work with the Departments of 
the Interior, the Army, other Federal agencies, and State and local 
governments on a comprehensive study of ocean dumping to be sub- 
mitted to him by September 1, 1970. That study will recommend fur- 
ther research needs and appropriate legislation and administrative 
action, and will include: 
Effects of ocean dumping on the environment, including rates of 
spread and decomposition of the waste materials, effects on animal 
and plant life, and long-term ecological impacts. 
Adequacy of all existing legislative authorities to control ocean 
dumping, with recommendations for changes where needed. 
Amounts and areas of dumping of toxic wastes and their effects 
on the marine environment. 
Availability of suitable sites for disposal on land. 
Alternative methods of disposal such as incineration and reuse. 
Ideas such as creation of artificial islands, incineration at sea, 
transporting material to fill in strip mines or to create artificial moun- 
tains, and baling wastes for possible safe disposal in the oceans. 
The institutional problems in controlling ocean dumping. 
The corps participation in this study includes studies related to 
the adequacy of exsiting legislative authorities to control ocean dump- 
ing, the extent of dumping and its impacts, and locations where dump- 
ing is taking place. 
We expect our studies of the New York Bight, which I have men- 
tioned, to facilitate our participation in the comprehensive study. And, 
of course, the comprehensive study will consider the New York Bight 
and will complement and augment our studies of that area. 
In view of this interdepartmental comprehensive study which is 
now in process, and the recognizing the fact that it will include recom- 
mendations for legislation, where needed, to control ocean dumping, 
Wwe recommend that consideration of the bills now before you be de- 
ferred pending completion of the study. 
This completes my statement, Mr. Chairman. We will be pleased 
to answer any questions you may have. 
Mr. Dincetu. General, the committee wishes to thank you for a 
most helpful statement. 
The Chair recognizes counsel, Mr. Everett. 
Mr. Evererr. General Groves, I wonder if you could indicate for 
the record the part the Corps of Engineers plays with respect to 
dumping in navigable waters. 
General Groves. We have specific responsibility as they relate to 
Hampton Roads, New York, and Boston Harbors. There the district 
