260 



For these reasons, I believe the Congress must acquire suflBcient information 

 upon which to judge Interior Department assertions concerning both the need 

 for and the danger of Atlantic Coast offshore drilling. 



Therefore, I am offering this amendment and urge its adoption. 



College of Charleston, 

 Gbice Marine Biological Laboratory, 



Charleston, S.C, Fehruary 10, 1972. 

 Senator Edward M. Kennedy, 

 U.S. Senate, 

 Washington, B.C. 



Dear Senator Kennedy: This is in reference to your letter of January 14, 

 1972, concerning the leasing of oil-drilling rights on the Atlantic continental 

 shelf. I applaud your concern for the welfare of the marine environment and 

 hope that similar interest will be generated among other members of Congress. 

 The varied habitats of the continental shelf support large populations of 

 commercially important organisms. Large numbers of Americans are dependent 

 upon these organisms either directly or indirectly for their subsistence. Any 

 drastic upset, such as an oil spill, of the delicate balances and interdependencies 

 of this marine ecosystem would endanger the biological productivity of an ex- 

 tensive area and could possibly wreak havoc on coastal property. Due to the 

 nature of the currents, the results of an oil spill in the western Atlantic would 

 be shared by many nations. Ocean pollution in any form is a world-wide problem. 

 I feel that offshore drilling is potentially dangerous to the marine environ- 

 ment. We should have learned from the Santa Barbara and tanker disasters that 

 we must find ways to protect the marine environment. Protection, not com- 

 pensation for damage done, should be the policy. Alternate sources of oil with 

 fewer dangers of environmental degradation are available and should be uti- 

 lized, even if more expensive. One may put a monetary value on a single year's 

 shrimp harvest, but no one can do more than estimate the dollar value of the 

 entire western Atlantic marine environment. I urge caution and restraint in 

 any offshore oil leasing. The good of the nation, and indeed that of all nations, 

 must not be sacrificed for the gain of a few. 



Once again, I applaud your concern, and I hope that I shall be able to com- 

 mend your actions on this and similar problems in the future. 

 Yours very truly, 



William D. Anderson, Jr., 



Associate Professor. 



State of Maryland, 

 Executive Department, 

 Annapolis, Md., December H, 1971. 

 Hon. Edward M. Kennedy, 

 U.S. Senate, 

 Washington, D.G. 



Dear Senator Kennedy : Thank you for your letter of November 22, 1971 ex- 

 pressing your concern about the possibility of offshore oil drilling in the Atlantic 

 Ocean. 



On that same date, I addressed a letter to Secretary of the Interior, Rogers 

 C. B. Morton, in response to the telegram you mentioned. I advised Secretary 

 Morton that the State of Maryland is vitally concerned about the plans for the 

 outer continental shelf and informed him that I would be glad to meet at a mu- 

 tually convenient time for the purpose of exchanging information leading to an 

 appropriate course of action. 



When I meet with the Secretary, I will try to impress upon him the need for 

 competent and independent environmental studies as you suggest. 

 Sincerely, 



Marvin Mandel, Governor. 



