79 



You say this is the Federal function, you should set the guidelines. 



Can I call at your office this morning and find out the guidelines on 

 pollution and what may be expected ? 



Secretary Hickel. Yes ; in water pollution, I think those guidelines 

 are there, fish and wildlife lilvewise. If it is a chemical plant or thermal 

 heat, or any of those things that might affect marine life. 



Senator Hollings. Under the Water Pollution Control Act or Water 

 Quality Improvement Act of 1970, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordi- 

 nation Act, I could go to those two offices and find out generally what 

 would be required of me. Is that correct ? 



Secretary Hickel. Yes. 



Is Mr. Gottschalk here? 



Mr. GoTTSCiiALK. Yes ; I am here. 



That is correct with respect to the tolerance of fish and wildlife and 

 acquatic organisms to water pollution, those criteria have been devel- 

 oped and are available. 



Senator Hollings. Generally they are higher standards or lower 

 standards than what the States require or practically the same, vis-a- 

 vis the States? Are the States requiring whaJt you require that the 

 States do? 



Mr. Gottschalk. The States have submitted standards, and we 

 are in the process of working with the States to try to achieve the high- 

 est possible standard, and that standard which will most nearly ap- 

 proximate an adherence to the nondegradation policy. That is to say we 

 are trying to make certain the water quality is not impaired beyond 

 that which it is at the present time and hopefully to improve it. 



Senator Hollings. Has there been any upgrading in the last 18 

 months ? 



Mr. Gottschalk. I think we have seen definite indications where 

 standards have been adopted, although the time interval has not been 

 long enough for any broad indication of an improvement. 



Senator Hollings. Has the Department of Interior upgraded its 

 standards or changed them in any way since January of last year? 



Mr. Gottschalk. No, sir. 



Senator Hollings. They have not ? 

 ^ Mr. Gottschalk. ISTot in the sense of these criteria for fish and wild- 

 life, and that is all I am speaking of at the moment. 



Senator Hollings. I see. 



How about the Water Quality Improvement Act ? Is there any move- 

 ment afoot within the Department to upgrade these standards or 

 change them in any way ? 



IMr. Bracken. As I mentioned before, Mr. Chairman, we have a new 

 piece of legislation up on the Hill that will greatly expand our author- 

 ity under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. And it not only 

 gives us the effluent requirement authority, but also extends the defi- 

 nition of the waters that are covered. It includes not only interstate 

 waters, but all navigable waters, which will include the coastal zone 

 areas and out to the 3-mile limit as far as the water quality standards 

 and interstate watei's, and so foith, are concerned. I think our legisla- 

 tion co^-CT-ing water quality will go a long way toward solving some of 

 the problems we are talking about here. It gives us injunctive author- 

 ity; it gives us broader enforcement authority, this sort of thing. 



Senator Hollings. Now, Mr. Secretaiy, back to the three bills. 



