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deadly bacterial disease believed to be directly linked to pollution 
has been discovered in fish caught between Fire Island, N.Y., and 
Atlantic City, N.J. This disease has been named “the Middle Atlantic 
fin rot disease.” It has been discovered in 19 species of fish and is a 
prime suspect in the marked decline of the fish catch off New Jersey 
waters in the past 2 years. 
On February 25 of this year, our distinguished colleague, Mr. How- 
ard, chaired hearings of the Subcommittee on Rivers and Harbors of 
the Committee on Public Works at the Sandy Hook Laboratory on 
H.R. 15915, a bill relating to the termination of licenses and permits 
for dumping sewage sludge, refinery wastes, and other materials in the 
waters of New York Harbor. That hearing record is available and sets 
forth in some detail the history of such dumping. I see no reason to 
repeat here that information except to point out that it is carried out 
under the provisions of the act of Congress of June 29, 1888, which 
is now section 443 of title 33 of the U.S. Code. The act establishes 
six separate dumping grounds in the Atlantic Ocean off New York 
Harbor. These include a mud dumping ground for dredging spoil; a 
cellar dirt dumping ground into which is poured materials excavated 
from construction projects; a sewage sludge dumping ground; a 
wreck dumping ground for deposit of salvaged vessels; a waste acid 
dumping ground; and a waste chemical dumping ground. 
The testimony adduced at the February hearings was to the effect 
that approximately 11 million cubic yards of sewage sludge and 
dredge spoil is being dumped off New York Harbor annually. Sam- 
ples taken from the bottom indicate that marine life has been largely 
wiped out in the area of the sludge dumping ground. Detailed infor- 
mation as to the findings of this sampling, as carried out by the Sandy 
Hook Marine Laboratory, is set forth in the February 23 hearing 
record. 
The immediate reaction of the publication of the Marine Labora- 
tory’s interim report was introduction of H.R. 15829 and related bills. 
These would amend the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 
to require the Secretary of the Army to terminate within 30 days of 
enactment of the title all licenses or permits authorizing the dumping 
of any sewage sludge, spoil or other waste materials within 25 miles 
of Ambrose Lighthouse. The bills also direct the Secretary of the 
Army, through the Corps of Engineers, to make a complete investiga- 
tion of methods by which the waters of these dumping grounds might 
be restored to their original natural condition. ‘ 
I cosponsored H.R. 15827, as did a number of our colleagues, in a 
sense of outrage at the damage being brought to our coastal waters 
and the marine life therein: however, upon reflection, it is apparent 
that, absent immediately available alternative methods of waste dis- 
posal, more time will be needed to resolve the problem. Thus, it was 
that I joined with the distineuished gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Murphy) on H.R. 17603, a bill which amends the Fish and Wildlife 
Coordination Act. It directs the Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Fish and Wildlife Service, to designate offshore disposal 
areas for certain waste materials and provides that no such designa- 
tion be made pending a 2-year study by the Secretary, in coopera- 
