COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS JOHN L. MCCLELLAN, Arkansas, Chairman HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington EUGENE J. MCCARTHY, Minnesota KARL E. MUNDT, South Dakota EDWARD J. GURNEY, Florida JAMES R. CALLOWAY, Chief Counsel and Staff Director SUBCOMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE REORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT RESEARCH ABRAHAM RIBICOFF, Connecticut, Chairman JOHN L. MCCLELLAN, Arkansas JACOB K. JAVITS, New York TED STEVENS, Alaska CHARLES MCC. MATHIAS, JR., Maryland PAUL DANACEAU, Staff Director (II) CONTENTS David H. Wallace, director, Division of Marine and Coastal Resources, State of New York, Department of Environmental Conservation_ John M. DeNoyer, Director, Earth Observations Programs, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; accompanied by Fred Ruggles, Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey-- Mrs. Claire Stern, executive director, Long Island Environmental Council Edmond C. Granger, Jr., mayor, Rye, N.Y.; accompanied by Bronson B. T. Eden, executive secretary, Non-Partisan Civic Association__ Carl J. Mays, executive director, Hudson River Valley Association_ Josselyn Shore, chairman, Board of Commissioners, Great Neck Park Page 23. Statement of Dr. John M. DeNoyer, Director, Earth Observations Programs, Office of Space Science and Applications, National Aeronautics and Space Administration__. 24. Letter from Jerome A. Ambro to Senator Ribicoff, June 22, 1970- 25. Statement, news release, and letter submitted for the record from 30. "Can We Survive the Peaceful Atom?" by John W. Gofman and Arthur R. Tamplin, biomedical division, University of California 31. Statement of the Consolidated Co. of New York, Inc.- 32. "Biological Effects of Thermal Pollution," prepared by State University 33. "Low-Level Radiation Effects From Nuclear Fission Products in the Environment," by E. J. Sternglass, School of Medicine, University of 34. "Nuclear Power: Benefits and Risks," by Barry Commoner, director, Center for the Biology of Natural Systems, Washington University, PRESERVING THE FUTURE OF LONG ISLAND SOUND WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1970 U.S. SENATE, SUBCOMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE REORGANIZATION AND GOVERNMENT RESEARCH, COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, N.Y., Senator Abraham Ribicoff (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Present: Senators Ribicoff and Javits. Also present: Robert J. Wager, general counsel; Robert Bird, professional staff member; John R. Graff, minority consultant; James Rubenstein, staff assistant; and Rosemarie Wagner, clerk. OPENING REMARKS Senator RIBICOFF. This morning we resume hearings on S. 2472, a bill to authorize a 3-year study of Long Island Sound by an intergovernmental commission. On July 7 and 8 we held hearings in Connecticut. At New London and Norwalk we heard from more than 70 witnesses from all walks of life conservationists, scientists, businessmen, students, government officials, and sportsmen. Their testimony was most helpful. They described the pollution and devastation of Long Island Sound as it affects them in their daily lives. Everyone endorsed the purpose of the bill and many offered constructive suggestions for improving it. These hearings demonstrated once again that Washington has no monopoly on wisdom. The people directly affected by a problem have good practical ideas for dealing with it. That is why these hearings have been convened today, to hear the views of the people of Long Island, N.Y. We want to know how you see the problems and what should be done about them. We all know that Long Island Sound is polluted and in danger of becoming another Lake Erie, unfit for swimming, boating, or fishing. But it seems to me that most descriptions of Long Island Sound are based on a picture taken through the wrong end of a telescope. THE TROUBLE IS MAN There is nothing wrong with the sound. The trouble is man. He has dumped his wastes in it, dredged it, and despoiled it with oil spills. So if we are to clean up the sound we must find ways to prevent man from fouling it. This will require more than new plans or new laws. It will require a new environmental ethic-one which emphasizes the dependence of man on nature, not his domination over it. Adlai Stevenson once expressed it well: We travel together, passengers on a little spaceship, dependent on its vulnerable supplies of air and water, preserved from annihilation only by the care. the work and the love we give our fragile craft. Representative WOLFF. All the talk of saving our environment must lead for affirmative action. The commission, with the legislation being considered today to establish not just another study commission in the manner of some Washington bureaucracy, rather it offers a unique opportunity to develop a vital and responsible plan for the sound. Now, we had many piecemeal studies of the sound but never has any group done a comprehensive job considering all of the sources of pollutants, all of the land development and all of the means of regulation. Senator Javits has said someone suggested that the New England River Basin could do this job. Unfortunately, as is constituted today this group has limited jurisdiction, it excludes the western end of the sound which most of the pollutants come. If the New England Group Authority could be extended sufficiently and properly funded and staffed, then we might have the answer that we're looking for, but no such action as I'm sure, will take place. CONNECTICUT RIVER BASIN COMMISSION Senator RIBICOFF. I think if the Congressman would yield, I think it's only fair to state that I have had discussions with the Connecticut River Basin Commission. It is my understanding they are willing to undertake this study; that they feel that they could get the necessary order, which is all they need, is an executive order from the President to enlarge on the jurisdiction they have. In May, they received additional jurisdiction of Long Island Sound which they had not had but part of it; it holds great merit, it would save a considerable period of time and this is being explored, and I have started exploration with the Appropriation Committee in the Senate about the possibility of getting funds in a supplemental appropriation. I am sure Senator Javits will be of great assistance to me in that, if we believe that it's the fastest and best way to go, so that I think that in all fairness it's something I want to tell you that I started to explore. Senator JAVITS. I would like to join in with our chairman in that statement. I said I would help and I certainly will help both with the President, if it's needed, and with the request for an interim appropriation. I think our effort should be to get whatever machinery there is going, to begin the job now, rather than to wait for the ideal piece of machinery. I would like to say to Congressman Wolff, that what you have just said about development, this could be consistent with recreation-I am sure that our witnesses will give us their views on that and it's critically important for the development of the whole region. Senator RIBICOFF. Congressman Weicker, I know that you have some prepared testimony and I will give you the option of testifying now or later in the proceedings, but the chance is yours, sir. |