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bay systems, averaging 550 square miles, which are the spawning 
grounds for our vast seafood resources—and the drainage pits for our 
waterborne pollution. 
And yet—in spite of its tremendous importance—how little we know 
about the Gulf of Mexico, and how little is being done to protect it. 
True, there are studies underway which will be invaluable as a 
basis for action in years to come. Indeed, I have been privileged to 
help at the Federal level on two major studies now underway—one, 
primarily State financed with Federal assistance on Galveston Bay; 
the second, a massive decade-long study of the gulf environment by 
the Gulf Universities Research Corp., a consortium of 17 major uni- 
versities in our five coastal States, and including the University of 
Mexico, and a number of major industries. It is estimated that the 
cost of this latter study over the decade will be about $150 million. A 
month ago, the National Science Foundation announced a $100,000 
6-month grant to GURC for development of a comprehensive plan 
for implementing the massive gulf environmental program, which 
holds such exciting long-range promise. This is the only proposed 
study focused on a single oceanic system adjacent to our coastline, 
and on the common problems of marine preservation, conservation, 
and development, utilizing the tremendous scientific talent of 1,400 
of our Nation’s top scientists at these institutions. 
But as my colleague pointed out, we cannot wait for the answers 
to come from these studies. Indeed, some of our scientists state the 
gulf is a prime candidate to be the next Lake Erie unless immediate 
action is taken to protect it from pollution. Our bill, in my judgment, 
would give that protection. 
Many of you are familiar with my home area of Houston and Harris 
County. You know that although we are 50 miles inland, we alternate 
between being the second- or third-ranking port in our Nation. To 
reach our port facilities, oceangoing vessels must travel up the Hous- 
ton ship channel, a 40-foot-depth channel dredged the length of 
Butfalo Bayou, often termed the most polluted body of water in our 
Nation. Along its banks are lined the great petroleum and chemical 
industries, and other industrial complexes which have brought dy- 
namic growth and prosperity to our area. They also brought the 
problems of pollution, by air and water. Much is being done at the 
local and State level to control it, and indeed, inost of these major 
industries are fully cooperating in a responsible manner. But the ship 
channel is the main drainage system for a highly developed urban 
area of nearly 2 million people and it empties into Galveston Bay 
all of the accumulated wastes from sewage treatment plants and our 
industrial complex, as well as the residential runoff from heavy trop- 
ical rainstorms. Adding to this are the spills from tankers, from 
chemical plants, or from those obtuse industrialists who view any body 
of water as their own private industrial sewer. 
Unlike New York, Texas has not—as yet—viewed the Gulf of 
Mexico as a site for disposal of solid wastes from our urban areas. 
But all of us know that it is but a matter of time, unless action is 
taken now, that this will be seized upon as an easier and cheaper 
solution to the urban problem of garbage disposal. The cost of land, 
and the vigorous objections from those who live nearby to incineration 
