176 
ing communities in the construction of sewage systems. At the present 
time our programs are geared to assist in up to 55 percent of the 
sewage plant. From my experience further out on Long Island, the 
great cost to the homeowner is the hook-up, the tie in and the cost of 
paying off the bonds on these sewer lines and their outflow. I think 
this has had a retardant effect on the construction of sewers. 
Mr. Orrrnerr. Absolutely. Every municipality, large and small, is 
at the point of bankruptcy. The property tax has been strained as far 
as it can possibly be strained. When we in the Federal Government 
and in the State Government continually mandate programs on 
matching fund basis requiring the local government to put up 30 or 
40 percent of multi-million dollar projects we are asking them to do 
something they simply can’t do. They can’t at the present time support 
decent schools and pick up their garbage and support adequate police 
forces. It is just unrealistic to mandate further costs on them. I think 
if this job is going to be done, the Federal Government is going to 
have to undertake the lion’s share of the financing, be it by way of 
funding or by way of having the Corps of Engineers undertake a part 
of this problem. 
Mr. Grover. Thank you. 
Mr. Drncetu. Mr. Rogers. 
Mr. Rocrrs. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 
I have found your testimony very interesting and helpful. I know 
of your concern and your work im this area, and I commend you for it. 
I too agree we have got to start putting some deadlines, because I 
think if we don’t, then we will never get to the problem. For instance, 
one that we have had to put some pressure on just recently is mercury. 
Finally we got the Secretary to begin to move, and now we are taking 
some action, but I think this is the same type of problem that has got 
to be handled in that way, and I am hopeful that the committee can 
take action and will begin to bring about some solutions to the matters 
that you have pointed out. Thank you. 
Mr. Orrrncrr. Thank you very much. 
Mr. Drncetu. Mr. Ottinger, the committee wishes to thank you for 
some very helpful testimony. Would you be able to stand by so that 
when Dr. Pearce is heard we may also have the benefit of your further 
testimony. 
Mr. Orrincer. I will be glad to. 
Mr. Dincetz. We do have two of our colleagues that the committee 
hopes to hear, and as soon as we have done so, we would like to have 
Dr. Pearce back. 
Mr. Orrinerr. Very good. Thank you. 
Mr. Dincetu. Our next witness is our good friend and colleague, 
the Honorable James J. Howard from New Jersey, a distinguished 
member of the Committee on Public Works, a very able Member of 
this body, long interested in environmental and conservation matters. 
The Chair wishes to note that he is the author of a similar piece of 
legislation pending before another committee, H.R. 15915. We cer- 
tainly are privileged to have you with us, Mr. Howard. The com- 
mittee is always pleased to see you and note the distinguished work 
you have done in the field of conservation and environment. 
