the public response that evening-the owner realized that he was in trouble, and thus offered it for sale for about $15,000.

Senator RIBICOFF. In other words, here you go down to Greenwich and Dr. De Santo comes to Groton across the river, two completely different types of communities, and yet you made your point. Public opinion was of such a nature that you were successful in stopping the encroachment, both in Groton and in Greenwich.

PEOPLE ARE BECOMING CONCERNED

So you have a concerned population; you have more aware public officials realizing the nature of this threat and the absolute necessity of preserving as much of our environment as possible. So we are starting to make progress in turning public thinking.

Dr. NIERING. I think we are.

Senator RIBICOFF. So to that extent you would be encouraged? Dr. NIERING. I am not a doomsdayer. But I really feel unless we develop an ecological conscience in many more people than we have up to this point, I do not think that we have really started to touch people on the whole problem; in other words, they see water pollution, and the other problems as separate entities.

The Federal Government has to give us more money to match our town governments so we can put in sewage disposal plants. But that really isn't the whole problem; that is just one facet of a multiplicity of environmental impacts that are hitting us.

Senator RIBICOFF. In other words, the individual is going to have to understand his relationship to billions of people all over the world, not only in this city, State or Nation-the interdependence of one to the other?

Dr. NIERING. That's right.

And even Long Island Sound. One basic ecological principle is what is the carrying capacity of Long Island Sound.

Senator RIBICOFF. Its unlimited

Dr. NIERING. In numbers of people. And there may have to be a limit just as in our national parks. You can ruin the national parks by permitting too many people in them, and the situation also applies to Long Island Sound.

Senator RIBICOFF. Senator Mathias.

Senator MATHIAS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I think there is an interesting dichotomy which has appeared as a result of Dr. Niering's testimony. Up to this point we have been saying that many aspects of pollution could be mitigated, if not cured, simply by spending more money, devoting more care and more time to the problems, establishing better sewerage treatment plants and cleaner industrial processes-all of which would cost more but would be passed along to the consumer in a higher price for the product.

THE ROLE OF RESTRAINT

Dr. Niering, however, says that there is, as I understand him, a dichotomy: that we reach a point where the only answer is simply restraint where restraint becomes the only answer for society in protecting the environment.

Am I right on that?

Dr. NIERING. I think you are absolutely correct, because you are merely following one of the basic ecological principles that has operated in all natural eco-systems over time: that there is a limited carrying capacity. Once you have passed that point, then the system starts to go downhill.

Senator MATHIAS. Even though you have the optimum system for reducing pollution, there will still be a point at which restraint will be the only answer?

Dr. NIERING. The cost may become so phenomenal that it can no longer be taken by the individual system.

Senator MATHIAS. Thank you very much.

Senator RIBICOFF. Thank you very much.

Our next witness will be Mr. Daniel T. Hedden.

The committee will take a 5-minute recess before Mr. Hedden's testimony.

(Recess at 10:50 a.m.)

Senator RIBICOFF. The committee will be in order.

Our next witness will be Mr. Daniel T. Hedden, who is accompanied by Mr. Marcus McCraven.

You may proceed, Mr. Hedden.

STATEMENT OF DANIEL T. HEDDEN, CHIEF OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES OF NORTHEAST UTILITIES, WETHERSFIELD, CONN.; ACCOMPANIED BY MARCUS R. McCRAVEN, DIRECTOR OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING FOR THE UNITED ILLUMINATING CO., NEW HAVEN AND BRIDGEPORT, CONN.

Mr. HEDDEN. My name is Daniel T. Hedden, Chief of Environmental Sciences for Northeast Utilities at Wethersfield, Conn. I am accompanied by Marcus R. McCraven, director of environmental engineering for the United Illuminating Co. of New Haven and Bridgeport, Conn.

On behalf of our respective utilities, we would like to express our appreciation for the opportunity to offer an endorsement of the objectives of S. 2472, which would establish an intergovernmental commission on Long Island Sound.

Our two companies, which together form the Convex Pool, generate, transmit and distribute electric energy to 1,160,000 customers in southern New England. Six of the 13 steam electric generating stations which we operate are on or immediately adjacent to Long Island Sound. These stations represent some 1,880,000 kilowatts or about 43 percent of our combined generating capability of 4,334,450 kilowatts.

INCREASING DEMAND FOR ELECTRIC ENERGY

As the subcommittee may know, the demand for electric energy in the areas we serve is presently growing at a rate of some 8 to 9 percent each year. If this growth were to continue over the next 10 years at the current annual rate, our total generating capability would have to increase from the present 4,334,450 kilowatts to about 10 million kilowatts. Undoubtedly, much of this increase in generation would have to be physically located along the sound until such time as technological advances permit greater thermal efficiencies or new generating techniques.

Before a reasonable evaluation can be made of the ability of the sound to absorb additional thermal releases from power generation or other sources, a great deal of basic information must be obtained on the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of this vast body of water. As residents, we recognize the traditional, conservation, recreational, and commercial assets of the sound, but without comprehensive coastal zone planning we are hard pressed to define limitations on each use. The study proposed in S. 2472 would go-and needs to go far beyond the purview of electric generation.

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES BEING MADE

Because we are aware that warm water discharges may affect the marine environment, we are making every effort to design and operate our generating stations to minimize such effects. As specific examples of our efforts in this direction, we would like to mention the environmental studies being conducted in connection with the nuclear plant of Northeast Utilities at Millstone Point in Waterford, by United Illuminating in the New Haven area, and by Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co. on the lower Connecticut River.

Two years before the scheduled operating date of Millstone unit No. 1, environmental studies were initiated in Long Island Sound off Niantic Bay. Temperature surveys and tidal current measurements were conducted to provide the basic data necessary to predict the temperature distribution of the warm water discharged from the plant's condensers. Dye tracer studies by Pritchard-Carpenter Associates of Johns Hopkins University provided valuable information on the diffusion and dilution of cooling water and low-level radioactive waste discharged to the sound.

ECOLOGICAL SURVEYS

An ecological survey conducted by the William F. Clapp Laboratories of Battelle Memorial Institute, under the direction of Dr. Nelson Marshall of the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, has been in progress since 1968. The purpose of this ecological survey is to obtain baseline information on marine life in the Millstone Point area and to detect and evaluate any changes to the marine biota resulting from the operation of the Millstone station.

Surveys to determine levels of radiation already existing in the area have been in progress for more than 3 years. These surveys will also provide a basis for detecting any changes in radiation levels which might result from plant operation.

Based on the information derived from these studies, it is the conclusion of our consultants that the operation of Millstone unit No. 1, scheduled to start up this fall, and Millstone unit No. 2, now being designed and scheduled for operation in 1974, will have no adverse effect upon the marine environment of Long Island Sound.

A SUCCESSFUL EXPERIMENT

The subcommittee may also be interested to learn that Northeast Utilities is planning to utilize the heated water from the Millstone station for the nursery culture of oysters, clams, scallops, and lobsters.

This work is an extension of successful experiments already in progress at the Northport plant of the Long Island Lighting Co.

United Illuminating presently has a study under way to measure the biological and hydrological parameters in New Haven Harbor. Dye-tracer studies conducted by Pritchard-Carpenter Associates, under the direction of EBASCO Services of New York, have been completed.

These studies will determine the flushing characteristics of the harbor.

The biological studies are being conducted by Raytheon Corp. of New London under the direction of biologist Dr. Donald Normandeau of Normandeau Associates, Inc. These studies will determine the presence and amount of marine life existing in the harbor and will be conducted for a period of time sufficient to compensate for natural changes.

A major ecological study undertaken by Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Co. is focusing on a 5-mile stretch of the Connecticut River above and below the Connecticut Yankee Atomic Power Plant at Haddam Neck. This study has been under way since 1965, and will continue at least until the end of 1972.

A paper based on this study, "The Calefaction of a River." by Dr. Daniel Merriman of Yale University, published in the May 1970 issue of Scientific American, may be of interest to the subcommittee.

However, the need for a comprehensive coordinated study of Long Island Sound and its environment is apparent. To that end, we have been working closely with Consolidated Edison Co. and Long Island Lighting Co. to coordinate our environmental programs and to exchange information resulting from environmental studies at specific sites.

JOINT EFFORT

The New York utilities mentioned above have also joined us in sponsoring a scoping study to delineate and define areas of future investigation which might be undertaken to determine the impact on the environment of present and future generating stations located on or near the sound. We expect that, where appropriate, these investigations will be undertaken by the four utilities as a continuation of our joint effort. We also believe that the guidelines developed by this scoping study may well prove valuable in any comprehensive survey which might later be undertaken by a commission, as proposed in Š.

2472.

The United Illuminating Co. and Northeast Utilities are aware of the need for coordinating action on the part of Federal, State, and private agencies to preserve this historic water resource. We offer our fullest cooperation in the important work which could result from enactment of this legislation.

Senator RIBICOFF. Thank you very much. Mr. Hedden.

Before asking a few questions, during recess a number of people asked about the opportunity to be heard. May I say again, as I said at the beginning of the hearing, that after our formal witnesses have testified we will open up this hearing for those people who are not scheduled who might like to add something.

Those representing organizations will be called on first, and then, to the extent time will allow, anyone in this audience who might like

to have something to say will be more than welcome, and we will welcome your reactions on your point of view or your suggestions.

UTILITY COMPANIES LABELED VILLAIN

Dr. Hedden, I do appreciate your coming. As you realize, in this great drive in the environment for the ecology, utilities across the Nation will be labeled almost villain No. 1, and I am pleased to find your concern in the cooperation between the various utilities in New York and Connecticut concerning the problems that will affect Long Island Sound.

When do you believe that some of these studies will be completed? Mr. HEDDEN. The site studies, Senator Ribicoff, the individual site studies, are well on their way. Our company has been involved for 3 years, and other companies I mentioned in the testimony have conducted studies of specific sites, some of which have been completed. The scoping study which I mentioned-which is, in truth, just as the name implies, an attempt to delineate the problem. We learned by long experience, 5 years' work in Connecticut, that these studies are tremendous things, and you cannot rush into them. You have to clearly define your goals.

That scoping study is starting right now, actually this month. Senator RIBICOFF. You do not know whether this study will take 2 years or 5 years?

Mr. HEDDEN. The scoping study, itself, will be very brief, to outline the problem, and, as with most of our studies, they are continuing efforts. We have studied several areas. We are starting another one this summer. But they are indefinite in length, as long as the problems exist they will have to be studied.

WATER FOR POWERPLANT COOLING

Senator RIBICOFF. At the Millstone Atomic Powerplant, how many gallons or cubic feet of water are used for cooling purposes each day Mr. HEDDEN. With the two units working together, the total flow, Millstone 1 and 2, is about 2,155 cubic feet a second, close to a million gallons per minute.

Senator RIBICOFF. A million gallons per minute is being used for cooling purposes.

When that water goes back into the sound, what is the temperature differential from what it comes in?

Mr. HEDDEN. It is designed to be 221⁄2° higher than the water that was taken in.

Senator RIBICOFF. What impact does that have upon the general temperature of the water within a mile radius, let us say?

Mr. HEDDEN. Senator, you realize, of course, it is a tidal area. There are 120,000 cubic feet a second, on the average, moving back and across Millstone Point, so it is a changing picture.

So, if I can speak in maxima here, with a wind blowing the right way on an ebb tide, which is really the worst case, you can find temperatures on the order of 4° as far as a mile from the discharge in an area maybe 300 feet wide and penetrating to a depth of 10 to 15 feet. But as the tide changes, this area could decrease, as it flows the other way.