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to control ocean pollution. You will recall that I said then: “Without 
doubt, we have reached that point where effective action to control 
such pollution is absolutely necessary.” Within this short period, we 
have been faced with additional examples of serious environmental 
hazards to human health and fish and wildlife resources from a vari- 
ety of sources. 
In short, we are even more acutely aware today of the increasing 
volume of wastes being dumped into the ocean; and that without ap- 
propriate action, the volume of wastes entering the ocean will in- 
crease by many orders of magnitude. This will occur as communities 
and industry look to the sea as an alternative to land-based waste 
disposal operations. 
Let me touch briefly upon another facet of this problem which I 
believe warrants consideration. I am referring to H.R. 15905, for- 
warded by the Secretary of the Interior to the Congress on February 
10 of this year. This proposal provides a clear policy for the regula- 
tion and control of discharges into the ocean waters and is a part of the 
administration’s comprehensive environmental protection proposal. 
We recognize that this bill is not before this distinguished committee. 
Me au that the House of Representatives will take early action on 
this bill. 
Specifically, H.R. 15905 would authorize the Secretary of the Inte- 
rior to establish water quality standards for the contiguous zone. 
These standards would complement the standards already established 
by the States and approved by the Secretary of the Interior for the 
adjacent waters of the territorial sea. These standards would be en- 
forceable by the Secretary and violations would subject one to fines 
of un to $10,000 per violation. 
The bill would also abate the pollution of the open ocean beyond the 
contiguous zone by prohibiting discharges of polluting material trans- 
ported from points within the United States to the high seas. Control 
of ocean pollution in the contiguous zone would build upon the exist- 
ing structure of Federal-State water quality standards and pollution 
control programs. It would be a part of a consistent and significantly _ 
strengthened water pollution abatement authority including expedi- 
tious and equitable enforcement, investigatory authority, fines for 
violations and immediate injunctive relief to deal with emergency 
situations. 
I would now like to comment. briefly on the new bills which are 
to be discussed today. : 
We are in general support of H.R. 18913, which would prohibit the 
discharge of military material without certification by the CEQ. Our 
one suggestion would be for a definition of what is meant by “military 
material.” With respect to the propriety of certification by a non- 
operating agency, we must defer to CEQ. Despite our opposition to 
all forms of ocean dumping, we believe that as long as there is no al- 
ternative to ocean disposal of military material, such activity should be 
strictly regulated to minimize degradation of the marine environment. 
We anticipate that the recommendations of the Council will be ad- 
dressed to this question, which must be considered as part of, and 
contributing to the solution of the ocean pollution problem. 
H.R. 18914 would require CEQ to make an investigation and study 
of national policy with respect to the discharge of all materials into 
