ee we oi 8) oe, , 
200 
or landfill garbage disposal sites, will force our city officials to seek 
this method unless action is taken now to enact these needed guidelines. 
Mr. Chairman, on behalf of the people of my district and my State, 
I again commend you and my colleagues for prompt consideration 
of our bill. I know you share our concern for protection of our environ- 
ment and our great natural resources, and it 1s my hope that the mem- 
bers of this important committee will act favorably on this legislation. 
We cannot delay too long in moving to protect our estuarine areas, 
and I believe that our bill, H.R. 17603, presents a solid basis for rem- 
edy of this most complex and difficult problem. 
Mr. Dincexx. Thank you for a very informative statement. 
I would now like to call our colleague from the Empire State, the 
very able gentleman, Hon. Lester Wolff. 
STATEMENT OF HON. LESTER L. WOLFF, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
Mr. Wotrr. Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to have this opportunity to 
appear before this distinguished subcommittee concerned with the ex- 
tremely grave situation that is currently developing at this moment in 
the New York Bight section of New York Harbor. The ecological catas- 
trophe that encompasses this 20-square-mile area stems from the de- 
cision to allow the dumping of dredge and sewage spoil under permit 
authority of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 
It is through the efforts of my distinguished colleague, Mr. Ottinger, 
that this grave threat to our lives has come to the attention of this sub- 
committee. I find myself here today to attest to the fact that this dump- 
ing has had and will continue to have detrimental ecological effects not 
only on the New York Harbor area but the entire North Atlantic sea- 
board. It is because of my colleague’s inquiry concerning the means the 
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers effects to dispose of this waste that we 
may find some cause as to why New York Bight has become virtual- 
ly a “dead sea.” 
Although the evidence regarding the Bight area situation is not yet 
complete, I find it conclusive enough to assume that an ecological catas- 
trophe emanating from New York may trigger a destructive ecological 
chain reaction on the entire North Atlantic coastline. No amount of 
foresight can predict the consequences. 
The Sandy Hook report, a 15-month study of this area conducted 
by the Sandy Hook Laboratory reveals the existence of a 20-square- 
mile area south of the Ambrose Light which is devoid of significant 
marine life. I think that in all sincerity this can be called a dead sea. 
Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, death here breeds life. It breeds life for 
bacterial disease, viruses, fin-rot disease in the marine life in these areas. 
Most of all it breeds danger. It breeds a severe threat to the public who 
unknowingly may consume contaminated or diseased fish. 
We are just barely realizmg how contaminated these fish may be. 
Conclusive evidence from a variety of sources all concerned with this _ 
problem, the Sandy Hook Laboratories, the Smithsonian Institution, 
