The New York Bight, with its adjacent population of about 20 mil- 

 lion persons, is one of the more conspicuous examples of a section of 

 coast plagued by its waste loads. 



The Baltic Sea and the Mediterranean are also experiencing similar 

 problems. 



Wastes going into our waters include heat, primarily from electrical 

 powerplants. These heated waters, discharged into bays and estuaries, 

 such as Biscayne Bay in Florida or Massachusetts Bay, can cause 

 noticeable change in the plants and animals that live there. 



NOAA scientists and university researchers working under NOAA's 

 sea grant program in several States have been investigating the effects 

 of waste heat disposal. Studies are also underway to determine possible 

 beneficial uses of this waste heat for aquaculture. 



In many nations, effluent discharges continue unabated, and may be 

 expected to increase with increasing industrial development. 



However, in the United States, we can be optimistic that these dis- 

 charges will be brought under much better control through implemen- 

 tation of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 

 1972. 



OCEAN DUMPING 



As this committee Avell knows, the practice of barging wastes to sea 

 constitutes another major source of ocean pollution. NOAA is working 

 with the EPA. the Corps of Engineers, and the Coast Guard in imple- 

 menting the requirements of the Marine Protection, Research, and 

 Sanctuaries Act of 1972. The regulatory agencies have begun to im- 

 plement the permit provisions of tlie legislation. We are working with 

 them to devise a scientific information program to assist their regula- 

 tory decisions. 



NOAA's work in response to the act is initially focused in the New 

 York Bight, where our most serious ocean dumping problems occur. 

 As part of our marine ecosystems analysis program which will be dis- 

 cussed tomorrow, we are undertaking very comprehensive investiga- 

 tions of dump sites in the apex of New York Bight. 



Senators Hollings. Isn't that the research grant that you and I were 

 discussing at the Appropriations Subcommittee hearing the other day 

 with regard to the research program ? Hasn't there been a cutoff there 

 of research money under the administration's requests and programs ? 



Dr. White. The amount of money which has been requested in the 

 President's budget is not nearly the amount of money authorized 

 for the program, but there is an increase in our work along these lines. 



Senator Hollings. To refresh my memory, what was authorized 

 and what was requested? Wliat is authorized? Wliat do you have 

 presently ongoing, and what is in the 1974 budget, so we can bring 

 it in perspective? 



Dr. White. We have asked for no increase over a base in 1974 — • 

 approximately $2.5 million — for the work that we will be doing in 

 support of ocean dumping research. 



Senator Hollings. How about New York by itself? 



Dr. White. Most of this money will be directed toward investiga- 

 tions in the New York Bight. 



Senator Hollings. Are you saying there is no cutback? My recol- 

 lection was that there was a material reduction. 



