'^9 



proceed with your questions. It so happens that I have to leave shortly, 

 and I appreciate your courtesy in giving me a chance to say a word. 



The distinguished Senator from South Carolina, with whom 1 have 

 been associated for so long, is naturally fair and considerate. 



Mr. Secretary, I would like to commend you on your statement. 

 I would also like to connnend you on the fact that under your leader- 

 ship, the Depai-tment of the Interior is for the first time moving aggres- 

 sively to deal with the problems of our coastal zones. You haA'e very 

 pleasantly surprised many of your potential critics and many of the 

 people who would not have expected you to be as sympathetic toward 

 conservation as you have proven to be. 



I wish I could remain to hear the discussion of pollution problems 

 that will undoubtedly ensue. I realize that many of the actions which 

 you must take are extremely politically controversial. They effect the 

 establishment of industries along sections of our coastline and in 

 States which seek to lure industry and thereby increase both the num- 

 ber of jobs available to their residents and their State and local tax 

 base. 



I hope that you will continue to show the courage which you have 

 demonstrated so in these areas. 



Your statement and your activities since taking office indicate that 

 you and your Department are thoroughly alert to the situation now 

 existing in our estuaries. It is my hope that you will receive the au- 

 thority that you and your Department are requesting in that regard. 



I wanted to make this brief statement, Mr. Secretary, because I 

 believe you deserve our commendation, I don't intend to ask you any 

 specific questions at this time. 



I have known the Senator who is chairman of this subcommittee for 

 many years. I have great confidence in his ability, his sincerity, and his 

 impartiality. Once again, let me thank you for your courtesy, Mr. 

 Chairman. I will stay as long as I can. 



Senator Hollings. Thank you very much. 



Mr. Secretary, I wanted to ask some questions relativ^e to where we 

 are, and in that light, where we are headed. 



Specifically, I want to refer to the estuarine areas and navigable 

 streams emptying into the coastal waters and thereupon into the 

 oceans — I do this to try to clarify an apparent misunderstanding in 

 South Carolina and the coastal estuarine area there. You will remember 

 in our last meeting we were emphasizing the situation with respect 

 to enforcement. 



Since that time, I think on April 22, on the Today Show, I saw 

 Secretarv Udall and he categorically stated on the Today Show that 

 the}^ had not l>een enforcing pollution laws. The Department of Inte- 

 rior just had not been doing it. That was his comment. 



I noticed since that time that you verv* promptly got down to the 

 gulf area and the Chevron oilspill, and are in the process now of 

 actually asking for an indictment for various violations. I took a 

 minority viewpoint ; the majority of my constituency and the Gov- 

 ernor particularly have been very much moved by the notice you gave 

 them in the BASF case. 



I think that was very timely, because Avhat we want to do is put the 

 industries on notice ahead of time, so we can avoid the spillage, the 

 civil suits, and indictments. Along that line, what is vour authority 



