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opposition to the 1994 EPA permit; two, a complete cessation of 

 KPC's discharge of toxic materials to the waters of Southeast Alas- 

 ka; three, the timely completion and implementation of a site reme- 

 diation plan for Ward Cove; and four, an immediate initiation of 

 the refitting of the facility to allow the company to operate in com- 

 pliance with all State and Federal pollution laws. 



Thank you for this opportunity. 



[Statement of Gershon Cohen may be found at end of hearing.] 



The Chairman. Would you — ^you are the one that first offered a 

 suggestion on how to solve the problem. If we met all those require- 

 ments, then you would support it? 



Mr. Cohen. Well, I would consider supporting, sir. I would have 

 to see. 



The Chairman. You know, that is sort of like, you know, kind of 

 walking to the door. The truth of the matter is you would have no 

 problem with the allegation if we met all those requirements. You 

 shouldn't have. 



Mr. Cohen. Well, sir, that is true. If they were ready to meet all 

 water quality standards. State and Federal, at the end of pipe 



The Chairman. So what if we wrote into this law all the stand- 

 ards and gave them 15 years so they could borrow the money to 

 doit? 



Mr. Cohen. Well, unfortunately, sir, what I have heard so far is 

 that 



The Chairman. I am not saying what you have heard. I am say- 

 ing we have the authority to do that. We have the capability of 

 doing that. 



Mr. Cohen. Sir, would they be meeting these standards imme- 

 diately or would they be meeting these standards three years down 

 the line, five years down the line, ten years down the line? Would 

 they be able to get consent decrees that would allow them to 



The Chairman. I would grant them three years. You can't do it 

 overnight. It would take a tremendous amount of money. It would 

 take a tremendous amount of time. You just don't do it all over- 

 night. You know, it took them awhile to get that plant 



Mr. Cohen. Yes. 



The Chairman, [continuing] — if you check the record. So I am 

 just curious. You would support it, then, if we had met your re- 

 quirements for the extension of the contract? I am going to ask the 

 rest of them the same question, you know, because that solves the 

 environmental problem, does it not? 



Mr. Cohen. Well, yes, sir. Please keep in mind that my — that 

 number two is a complete cessation of KPC's discharge of toxic ma- 

 terials to the waters of Southeast Alaska. And we don't mean three 

 years in the future or we don't mean with consent decrees that will 

 allow it to continue. 



The Chairman. Oh, I understand. 



Mr. Cohen. OK. 



The Chairman. OK. 



Mr. Cohen. If they stop polluting the water, we would — ^you 

 know, that is our concern, sir, is pollution of the waters of the 

 State. 



The Chairman. Mary, you are up. 



