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Of course such a ban would have to be accompanied by vigorus efforts to per- 
suade other nations to impose similar bans on their nationals and vessels of 
their registry. Otherwise, we would be imposing an intolerable commercial disad- 
vantage on U.S. citizens and shipowners and on ships of U.S. registry. We could, 
and should, take the initiative in pushing for international agreements which 
will regulate dumping into the oceans by all persons and ships of whatever na- 
tionality, ownership or registry. A start on this effort could be made through the 
70-nation International Oceanographic Commission set up by UNESCO in 1961. 
That organization is now sponsoring a cooperative program of research on the 
Mediterranean Sea involving some 20 nations, including U.S.S.R., Israel, Syria, 
and our own government. I suggest that if nations as diverse as these can agree 
on the importance of oceanographic research in the Mediterranean, then perhaps 
we can also agree on the importance of an international ban on the dumping of 
potentially deleterious substances into the oceans. 
Mr. Chairman, the proposals before you are far-reaching. I submit to you that 
if we had had a policy of placing the burden on the polluter to justify his actions 
in this country ten years ago, we could have avoided many of the problems which 
are most worrisome to our population today. Someday we must begin to look 
ahead far enough to spare ourselves—and more important, our children—the pains 
which we have experienced from lack of foresight. A global ban, international- 
ly enforced, on dumping of deleterious substances in the oceans will not be an 
absolute ban on all dumping. It will merely put the burden for justifying any 
dumping where it belongs—on dumpers. It will force those who are now using the 
oceans—which belong to all nations and to all men—to \justify making this in- 
valuable international resource their private garbage can. 
As alternatives, I would like to discuss briefly two other bills which are long 
steps in the right direction. 
H.R. 16229, introduced by my distinguished colleague, Mr. Ottinger, would 
amend the National Hnvironment Policy Act of 1969 to allow the Secretary of 
the Army to revoke or terminate any license or permit which he may have al- 
ready issued authorizing the discharge of waste materials into the waters of the 
New York Bight. Can there be any question that this step must be taken? 
Also before this Subcommittee is Mr. Murphy’s bill, H.R. 17848, to amend the 
Fish and Wildlife Coordinating Act to provide additional protection to ecology 
by requiring the designation of certain water and Submerged land areas where 
the depositing of specified waste materials will be permitted. When informed of 
the situation of the New York Bight, Governor Cahill of New Jersey responded 
by suggesting that we move the dumps to one hundred miles offshore in order not 
to endanger the areas so close to our cities. Mr. Murphy’s bill, written I am sure 
in partial response to this proposal (which would endanger outlying areas as 
well as put us in conflict with existing or potential international laws) would al- 
low for extensive research into the best way of disposing of this material. 
Obviously we must stop the destruction of the New York Bight immediately 
and without hesitation. Obviously we must conduct extensive research concern- 
ing ways of disposing of our waste materials so that we will not have a repetition 
of the New York Bight conditions. I am not going to urge you to support these 
bills because I am already confident that you will. What I am going to urge you 
to do is to look beyond the New York Bight to the problems of the future. 
The New York Bight is not a localized problem. It is symptomatic of a much 
larger problem that we must terminate now. Short term solutions, such as limit- 
ing the amount of waste to be dumped in certain areas, must be sought to solve 
extraordinary situations such as the New York Bight. But short term solutions 
must be provided with the knowledge that a more permanent solution must be 
forthcoming. 
This is no longer only a national problem. Thor Heyderdahl underscored the 
extent of the damage to our oceans when he reported, after his 3,300 mile ocean 
trip, that the mid Atlantic is so polluted with oil and other articles that there 
were some days it was not even fit to bathe in. The time has come for all of us 
to work together toward a solution. 
We cannot afford to wait and to decry once again the miserable condition of 
our environment which we have created for ourselves. Rather we must join 
together and offer a solution. No other animal fouls his nest as does man. We 
must learn to stop it. 
Thank you. 
