204 
In 1776 Lavoisier presented one of the first modern chemical de- 
scriptions of the sea—salts of sodium chloride, sulfates of sodium, cal- 
cium and magnesium, calcium carbonates and magnesium chloride. 
Early American sailing ships encountered an ocean which was the 
rinse water of a relatively unindustrialized world. There were areas 
clean and barren on the high seas, areas of plentiful fishing and coastal 
plant life over the Continental Shelf and the noticeably rich estuaries 
with tremendous varieties of life, all for the taking. 
Today within the lifetime of this legislative body known as the 
Congress of the United States our impact as a species is so great that 
the barren high seas exhibit long-lived plastic containers, tarballs 
and immiscible hydrocarbon liquids rinsed as has been nature’s way 
from the mountains and plains of the continents of the world. Our 
continent has taken the strong lead in the mobilization of materials to 
the sea. We have also put a cruel twist in the forms that we offer 
up as wastes. 
If we let nature take its course some elements would be carried into 
the sea at rates appreciably slower—on the order of 10 to 40 times 
slower. . 
This means that not even considering the diverse and monstrous 
forms of waste we have speeded the process of the transfer of resources 
from the land to the sea by 10 to 40 times. In the 200 years since we 
began to function as a nation we have concentrated and discarded ma- 
terials at rates which we are just beginning to appreciate. The rates at 
which we are discharging metallic elements is alarming but the con- 
sequences of our more complex organic wastes may be more far-reach- 
ing and devastating. 
Life at sea contributes greatly to our oxygen supply. It is diverse 
and little understood. Seventy years ago the sea was delivering vast 
quantities of fine fish products to our doorstep. Today we understand 
but a few of the reasons for the threat to marine resources. We are 
able with science to quickly learn more. Now we need time to under- 
stand better the evolutionary relations that still exist in the sea. We 
need time to learn to live in harmony. We need time to allow the 
fullest objective evaluation of actions like the dumping of nerve gas. 
The DDT, radioactivity, the gas releases from world war scuttlings, 
the New York Bight dumping, the Santa Barbara and Miami oil 
spills are but brief indicators that local actions have global conse- 
quences. 
This legislation will affirm the intent of the Congress that competent 
evaluation of the impact of future sea disposal activities be made. 
Mr. Dinceiu. Thank you Congressman, that was a very provocative 
statement. 
Our good friend, Seymour Halpern, would like to address the sub- 
committee at this time. 
STATEMENT BY HON. SEYMOUR HALPERN, A REPRESENTATIVE 
IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
Mr. Hatrrrn. It is a privilege to appear before your subcommittee 
this morning to offer my statement in support of H.R. 17603. 
