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The enactment of the bills under consideration here would not act immediately 
to stop the pollution of our ocean water and submerged land areas but it would 
be an important first step toward the control of ocean pollution. 
- It was thought in the past that the oceans could handle all of the sewage, 
sludge, spoil and other wastes we could generate, but we were recently shocked 
into reality by hearing of dead spots in the ocean waters outside some of our 
bigger cities. If we do not act now it may soon be too late and the oceans which 
surround us may turn into one big cesspool. 
We therefore think it imperative that Congress act as quickly as possible to 
enact legislation which would set standards and provide a means of effective 
control over the dumping of wastes into the navigable waters of the U.S. and 
the waters above the Outer Continental Shelf. 
It will be appreciated if you will include this letter in support of H.R. 15827, 
H.R. 15828, H.R. 17603, and H.R. 18454 in the Record of Public Hearings. Thank 
you. 
Sincerely, 
THOMAS L. KIMBALL, 
Lecutive Director. 
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, 
Washington, D.C., August 21, 1970. 
Hon. JoHN D. DINGELL, 
House of Representatives, 
Washington, D.C. 
DEAR Mr. DincetL: Thank you for your letter of April 14 regarding waste 
disposal in the New York Bight. I appreciate this opportunity to comment on 
the use of the National Hnyironmental Policy Act of 1969 (PL 91-190) to 
regulate ocean disposal and prevent further despoliation of marine resources. 
I will review what actions the Department of the Interior has taken and will 
take to meet the requirements of the Act. 
As you know, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 requires all 
Federal agencies to administer policies, programs, regulations and public laws 
in a manner to prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and to encourage 
productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment. The 
detailed environmental statement required for every recommendation or report 
on proposals for legislation and other major Federal actions significantly affect- 
ing the quality of the human environment will do much to define the issues and 
to promote adoption of appropriate action alternatives that have a more bene- 
ficial environmental impact. 
Each agency head is responsible for implementing the purposes of the Act 
for his agency only, and no Federal agency is given enforcement authority 
over another. At present, no Federal agency has authority to develop water 
quality standards beyond the limit of our territorial seas, namely three miles. 
Because of these facts, it is my opinion that this Act does not give this Agency 
full authority to control the ocean disposal of wastes. 
The Corps of Engineers has established six dumping areas off New York 
Harbor outside the three-mile limit. These areas are: (1) The Mud Dumping 
Ground, located seven miles from Sandy Hook Light, used for disposal of material 
dredged from channels, anchorages, and vessel berths; (2) the Cellar Dirt 
Dumping Ground, located nine miles from Sandy Hook Light, used primarily 
for earth and rock from cellar excavation but also for broken concrete, rubble, 
and other non-floatable debris; (3) the Sewer Sludge Dumping Ground, located 
11 miles from Sandy Hook Light, used for sewage wastes either in raw or treated 
state; (4) the Wreck Dumping Ground, located 13 miles from Sandy Hook 
Light, used for deposit of wrecks of vessels; (5) the Waste Acid Dumping 
Ground, located 16 miles from Sandy Hook Light, a depository for weak and 
dilute acid material; and (6) the Chemical Dumping Ground, located approx- 
imately 120 miles off the New York coast, used for highly toxic material. These 
areas were designated many years ago. 
We ean find no record of any agency within this Department being asked to 
participate in their selection. However, it is recalled that there were some in- 
formal discussions between the Corps of Engineers and the Fish and Wildlife 
Service in 1948 relative to the location of the waste-acid dumping ground. 
