236 
ardous chemical wastes, and ST their a in the 
marine environment. 
Investigation of the ocean dumping operation permitted by the 
Corps of Engineers quickly revealed that hazardous chemical wastes 
were being produced by Massachusetts industry, hospitals, schools 
and laboratories. Large quantities were being stored on premises, 
trucked over the highways of the Commonwealth, stored by a dis- 
posal company and dumped off-shore—all without any inspection, 
licensing or control by any official of the Commonwealth. Few 
state officials had any knowledge of the scope of the operation, 
and most. lacked the benefit of advice from a qualified chemist. 
Your Commission felt that this situation could not be permitted 
to continue. We were joined in this conclusion by Governor Francis 
W. Sargent, Attorney General Robert H. Quinn, Commissioner. | 
J ohn P. King of the Department of Public Works, and Commis- 
sioners Arthur Brownell and Stephen Ells of the Department of 
Natural Resources, all of whom are members of or have appointees 
on this Commission on Marine Boundaries and Resources. 
There was quick agreement that legislation is needed, and with — 
the help of these leaders and their staffs we reached this agree- 
ment in the form of the legislation contained in Appendix A of 
this report. ; 
Your Commission was impressed with the careful control of land 
dumping by the Department of Public Health under Commissioner 
Alfred L. Frechette and the skillful supervision of explosive and 
inflammables under State Fire Marshal Ralph L. Garrett. It here- | 
by expresses its appreciation to these officials for their assistance 
in formulating the accompanying legislation and: their willingness © 
to accept the additional PESBOnS Hae imposed upon them by the 
bill. sale 
CATEGORIES OF HAZARDOUS WASTES: 
A layman can only be appalled ‘at the length and the complexity 
of any lists of hazardous wastes being produced within ae -Com- 
monwealth. 
‘Only .a very few hichieassaed Hae eels Lae are familiar 
with the characteristics of many of; these wastes, and even fewer . 
know the answers to. highly-technical. questions relating to the 
impact of these wastes upon the environment. 
