208 
tion with the Corps of Engineers, to determine those areas most suit- 
able for disposal purposes. . 
In determining designation of these disposal areas, the Secretary is 
directed to establish standards to insure that there be no damage or 
loss of any wildlife resources or pollution of navigable waters which 
will result from any such dumping activity. Such standards shall be 
applicable to all instrumentalities of the Federal Government, unless 
there be in effect State standards which are at least as stringent as the 
Federal standards. Violations of these standards would be made subject 
to civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each violation. 
Mr. Chairman, I think H.R. 17848 offers a reasonable approach to 
the offshore dumping problem. Obviously, provision must be made for 
disposal of the wastes from the metropolitan area. Nevertheless, the 
people and industries of the area must be made to realize that they 
must bear the additional cost incident to development of new and safe 
disposal areas. I think the gentleman from New York should be com- 
mended for taking the initiative of developing this bill. I am hopeful, 
too, that the hearings held today and those held by the distinguished 
gentleman from New Jersey on February 23 will give rise to a new 
appreciation in the Congress as to the need for more substantial fund- 
ing for our marine laboratories and the work that they are carrying 
out. On April 9 of this year, I pointed out in a public statement that 
the marine research program of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries 
had been reduced by $1,659,000 in fiscal 1970 and that this reduction 
would require closure of the marine biology laboratory at New Mil- 
ford, Conn. In view of the findings of Dr. Walford and his 
colleagues at the Sandy Hook Marine Laboratory as to the ecological 
damage being wrought by man upon our coastal waters and fisheries, 
we should be expanding the level of marine research, not reducing it. 
Mr. Drncetu. That was indeed a very fine statement Congressman. 
ah behalf of the subcommittee, I wish to thank you for your time and 
efforts. 
Congressman Minish, we would appreciate any remarks you would 
like to make before the subcommittee at this time. 
STATEMENT OF HON. JOSEPH G. MINISH, A REPRESENTATIVE IN 
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY 
Mr. Mrnisu. Mr. Chairman, I am grateful for this opportunity to 
comment on my bill, H.R. 15829, which was introduced on February 10, 
1970. The legislation would terminate licenses and permits to dis- 
pose of waste materials in the waters off the New York and New 
Jersey coasts near New York Bay. It would also require the Corps of 
Engineers to make a complete investigation of the methods by which 
the restoration of these waters may be accomplished. i 
Presently, the Corps of Engineers allows 5 million cubic yards of 
sewage sludge and more than 6 million tons of highly contaminated 
dredging spoil to be dumped annually in the ocean at a point about 
7 miles from the New Jersey and New York beaches. The beaches 
of New Jersey are one of our State’s most valuable natural and eco- 
nomic resources. They provide millions of citizens from New Jersey — 
eae 
