387 



5. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LOCAL SHORT-TERM USE OF MAN'S ENVIRONMENT AND THE 

 MAINTENANCE AND ENHANCEMENT OF LONG-TERM PRODUCTIVITY 



Studies have shown that oil in water is not only harmful biologically to marine 

 organisms but to all organisms that interact with marine organisms and eco- 

 systems. The short-term effects of oil such as coastal fouling and damage to bird 

 p'opulatioiis has been documented on numerous occasions. In fact, fouling on 

 the high seas is becoming more frequent than ever before with tar at the sea 

 surface now exceeding the amount of surface plant life.' Hydrocarbons, which 

 include petroleum and all petroleum based products, have been found to cause 

 death in a wide variety of lower marine animals at low concentrations. Certain 

 forms of hydrocarbons, specifically the higher boiling saturated hydrocarbons, 

 though not directly toxic, may interfere with nutrition of many marine organisms. 

 Aromatic hydrocarbons, which are abundant in petroleum, represent its most 

 dangerous fraction and are acute poisons for man is well as other organisms. High 

 boiling aromatic hydrocarbons are susijected as being long term poisons. Certain 

 other aromatic hydrocarbons are carcinogenic and can act as tumor initiators. 



Though there is much more work to be done concerning the long-term effects 

 of oil pollution, there is a distinct possibility that these effects may be far more 

 serious and longer lasting than the more obvious short-term effects.^ Hydrocar- 

 bons, once incorporated into a particular marine organism, may pass through 

 many members of the marine food chain without alteration. Not only may they 

 be retained, but they can become concentrated as they pass through the food 

 chain. One serious threat is the ix>tential accumulation in human food of poisons 

 derived from crude oil such as carcinogenic comijounds. 



Studies done by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

 (NOAA) indicate pollution by oil in the Atlantic is more widely distributed 

 than has previously been suspected in that oil extends its massive proportions 

 from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to the Caribbean Sea. Considering the present 

 extent of oil pollution and the possible consequences, it is obvious that reducing 

 the quantity of oil being di-scharged into the oceans is unquestionably beneficial 

 to both tlie short-term uses and long-term productivity of the marine environ- 

 ment. 



6. IRREVERSIBLE AND IRRETRIEVABLE COMMITMENT OF RESOURCES 



Enactment of this bill will place a demand on certain natural resources, de- 

 pending on the extent to which the alternative methods to meet the bill's stand- 

 ards are used. By alternative, the resource commitment can lie li.sted as follows : 



a. Retention of dirty ballast and tank washings — This alternative will place 

 a greater demand on the need for oil residue reception facilities. Where present 

 capability is not sufficient to meet the demand, facilities will have to be con- 

 structed, requiring the commitment of land and various building materials nec- 

 essary for facility construction. 



b. LOT procedure — A minimal commitment of natural resources is involved in 

 the modification of existing vessels to permit LOT operations. Tlie same commit- 

 ment of these materials is involved in new vessel construction when this system 

 is installed. 



c. Segregated ballast — Practice of this procedure will require either an in- 

 crease in vessel voyages or number of vessels needed to c^irry a quantity of oil 

 equal to that carried by a ves.sel not using this .system. This will involve com- 

 mitment of the resources used in vessel con.struction where an increased number 

 of vessels is needed. The additional energy required to overcome the cargo carry- 

 ing capacity loss would involve another irretrievable loss. 



The resources that have already been committed to vessels that will be con- 

 structed in conflict with the provisions of the law as amended by this bill will 

 be lost. Because of the specific implementation dates indicated in the Conven- 

 tion amendments and this bill, and the fact that they are retroactive, any delay 

 in imp'ementation of this bill will result in further commitment and resulting 

 losses of resources. 



1 Dr. Max Bl'inder, "OH Pollution of the Orpan," selection from "Man's Impact on 

 Environment", McGraw-Hill Book Company, New Yorl?, 1971. 



2 Ibid. 



