-------
- 40 -
607
DYE TRACER STUDY WITH OBSERVED CURRENTS
10 SEPT 1968
10.3cm sec" (Sfc.)
> 9cm sec"1 (5m)
N
1808. T=I70
3.7cm sec"1 (5m)
4.6cm sec"1 (7m)
Figure 30. Plan view of trajectory of dye cloud with measured currents
(cm. sec ) and cloud velocity (cm. sec ) estimated from dye tracer
study, 10 September, 1968.
-------
_ 41 -
608
between five and seven meters was estimated to be moving at
2.8 cm. sec and the drogue measurements gave velocities of
3.7 and 4.6 cm. sec at five and seven meters respectively.
During the experiment the dye cloud increased in width
gradually from 35 meters at t + 30 minutes to 90 meters at
t + 150 minutes. The dye moved approximately southeastward
which corresponded very well with the drogue measurements at
the depths where the dye was located (Fig. 30). The mixing
of the dye was limited almost entirely to the horizontal plane
despite the weak thermal stratification prevailing during the
experiment. No dye was detected above the seven meter release
level until more than two hours after the release. In the
last 45 minutes of the experiment the dye was detected at five
meters at two locations, but even then most of the cloud was
apparently still at seven meters. Sampling below the 7.5 meter
level was not possible because of the risk of pumping mud
through the Fluorometer.
Throughout the experiment the difficulty in successively
locating the dye in the three dimensional system by the pumping
method precluded obtaining precise data on the structure of
the cloud in terms of concentration. Therefore, no reliable
estimates of diffusivity could be made. However, two hours
after the release, the maximum observed dye concentration was
four orders of magnitude less than the concentration of the re-
leased solution.
From the results of the dye tracer experiment it can be
concluded that:
1. Dissolved material introduced below the surface in
Chequamegon Bay moves in the same direction and with
the same speed as currents measured by the free drogue
method, thus validating the use of free drogues for
obtaining predictive data on water movements.
-------
609
2. Vertical mixing in a weakly stratified situation
(0.9°C per eight meters) with light wind action
(less than 12 knots) is exceedingly weak.
3. Horizontal mixing under these same conditions is
moderate with dilution through four orders of magni-
tude occurring in two hours.
V. DISCUSSION
A. General Comment
Chequamegon Bay is a semi-enclosed body of water connected
at its northeast corner to Lake Superior by a passage between
the mainland and Long Island. This passage is 4.5 km wide, with
depths ranging to 23 meters. The bottom of the Bay slopes
steadily downward along its long axis from the southwest to
the northeast. There is no sill separating the Bay from the
main body of Lake Superior.
The thermal and hydrographic behavior of Chequamegon
Bay in summer can be generalized as a fluctuating system. The
Bay behaves as a closed basin for periods of a few days, during
which it undergoes surface heating and thermal stratification,
and then under the influence of strong winds it is subjected
to nearly complete flushing and exchange with the main body
of Lake Superior. With a wind reversal, new surface water
flows back into the Bay, the thermocline tends to reform and
the cycle begins again. The entire cycle can be likeneid to the
action of an estuary with the flushing effect of the tides
except that the flushing is caused by aperiodic wind episodes.
The Bay is characterized by the presence of varying
currents at all depths at all times. Of the (total no.) 251
currents measured during July and August, 1968, 28 percent had
a speed greater than 10 cm. sec and the mode speed was 5
cm. sec~ (Table 3 ). Although these statistics in themselves
-------
- 43 -
610
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-------
- 44 -
611
do not tell much about the pattern of the circulation, they
are a measure of the vigor of the circulation which is primarily
winddriven. Only once, at one station was a zero current
observed.
Superimposed on the winddriven circulation and the
occasional nearly complete flushing of the Bay is a continuous
and complex oscillation of the water surface. This seiche
activity, which is also winddriven, exhibits several frequencies
which correspond well with those which would be expected on
theoretical grounds (Table 1) with vertical displacements
ranging from 5 to 75 centimeters (Table 2). These vertical
displacements are necessarily accompanied by horizontal motions
of the water which vary sinusoidally and reverse every half
period. Since at least four waves with different periods are
occurring simultaneously, the pattern of these seiche currents
is extremely complex. When these are added to the directly
winddriven currents the result is a highly variable current
regime which is not always amenable to unambiguous analysis.
B. Thermal Evidence
The constantly changing thermal structure of the Bay
provides the primary evidence for the apparent fluctuating
behavior of the circulation. The time series of temperature
measurements at stations V-2, IV-2, and 1-2 as shown in figures
8-12 and the longitudinal temperature sections for 9-27
August (Figs. 13 - 16) illustrate very well the unsteady behavior
of the thermal stratification.
As an example consider the two thermal cycles that occurred
between 11 and 23 August. During the three day period 11-13
August the wind was from the southwest and the entire mass of
water above the 18°C isotherm was swept northeastward and out
of the Bay. This warm water was replaced by cool water flowing
below. This water replacement process is shown in figures 8-10
-------
612
and probably even more clearly by the longitudinal temperature
sections in figures 13 - 14. Note that by 14 August no 18°C
water was observed at any of the three stations while 8°C water
had penetrated all the way to station V-2 and most of the Bay
was dominated by water cooler than 16°C (Fig. 14).
During the next four days, 14 - 17 August, the wind was
mostly north or northeast, i.e. into the Bay. The cool water
apparently moved lakeward and although a small amount of 18°C
water was observed on 16 August (Figure 14), the return flow in
the upper levels was almost completely made up of water between
16°C and 18°C (Fig. 15) .
On 18 and 19 August the wind was again from the southwest
and cool water again intruded along the bottom forcing the 16°C
isotherm upward as the warmer surface water moved lakeward.
(Fig. 15). A wind reversal to the northeast on 21 - 23 August
resulted in a second inflow of the warm surface water and con-
sequent outflow of the deeper cool water, completing a second
cycle.
These thermal cycles are clearly linked to the wind
changes accompanying the passage of cyclonic storms every four
to six days. The process is probably best viewed as a forced
oscillation of the thermocline with cool sub-surface Lake
Superior water penetrating deep into the Bay at intervals
corresponding to the occurrence of prolonged southwest winds.
The reciprocal flow of the warm water of the Bay probably
represents a change of water of the Bay itself since the return
flow of water in the upper layers associated with succeeding
north-northeast winds is never quite as warm as the water that
was swept out of the Bay by the previous southwest wind.
The amount of water exchanged between the Lake and the
Bay during one of these cycles is of interest. If one assumes
that there is no transverse variation in the thermal structure
-------
- 46 -
613
of the Bay, and that any change in water temperature is due to
advection, it is possible to approximate the volume of the water
movement necessary to cause the observed displacements of any
isotherm. This was done by dividing the Bay into ten sections,
each approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of
the Bay and each section was then divided vertically into one
meter increments. The volume of water in each one meter incre-
ment of each section was computed. Using these volumes and the
observed displacements of the 16°C isotherm, the following
results were obtained. The rise of the 16 °C isotherm in the
period 10 - 14 August represents an inflow of bottom water
equivalent to 51 percent of the volume of the Bay, with com-
pensating outflow of surface water. During the period 14 - 18
August the downward movement of the 16°C isotherm represents
outflow of bottom water equivalent to 55 percent of the volume
of the Bay, with compensating inflow of surface water.
It is almost certain that the general eastward flow of
the surface water of Lake Superior along the south shore (Ragotzkie
and Bratnick, 1965; Ragotzkie, 1966; Monohan, 1968) entrains
surface water "exhaled" from the Bay and provides new water
for the succeeding "inhalation." In this way most of the water
in the Bay is replaced more or less regularly by the reversing
wind regimes characteristic of the cyclonic storms of this
region.
C. Direct Measurements of Currents
In the previous section the mean motions of the water
masses of the entire Bay are deduced from the observed fluc-
tuations of the thermal structure. Direct measurements of the
currents would not be expected to reveal a clear picture of
these mean motions because of the high variability of individual
currents both in space and in time due to geometry of the Bay
and short term fluctuations of the wind. This variability is
further increased by the complex horizontal motions resulting
-------
- 47 - 614
from the multiple seiche activity. Nevertheless, some features
of the circulation of the Bay can be elucidated from the current
data.
Beginning with the one-meter currents (labelled "surface"
in the figures) it can be seen that as expected the surface
water tends to move in the direction of the wind or slightly
to the right of the wind as predicted by the Ekman theory
(Figs. 18, 20, and 23). This is consonant with the general
lakeward movement under southwest winds and the reverse on
north and northeast winds described in the previous section.
The currents at five meters depth (Figs. 19, 21, and 24)
strongly suggest a systematic counter-clockwise circulation at
this depth. In addition to the current vectors shown in these
figures the position of the five-meter depth contour should be
examined. Horizontal currents at five meters will tend to be
parallel to this contour and the observed current mostly confirms
this. Thus the water at five meters tends to enter the Bay along
the west shore, circle counterclockwise parallel to the five-
meter contour and leave the Bay on the east side.
At 10 meters the Bay is reduced to a relatively narrow
channel along the west shore. The current appears to be directed
either into or out of the Bay (Figs. 22 and 25) although on 1
August (Fig. 22) there was some tendency for a. counterclockwise
turning in the vicinity of section I. The direction of the 10
meter current was generally opposite to the wind indicating that
deeper water was replacing surface water swept out of the Bay
by southwest winds (Fig. 22) or that deeper water was being forced
out of the Bay by the influx of surface water under northwest
winds (Fig. 25). This two-layered model is further confirmed
by the analysis of the thermal structure in the previous section.
-------
- 48 -
615
D. Significance of Seiches
As previously pointed out, the horizontal motions
deriving from the multiple seiche activity are complex. For
the primary uninodal seiche with a period of 60 - 65 minutes
the maximum horizontal current at the nodal line is calcu-
lated to range from 8 to 27 cm. sec for the most frequent
seiche amplitudes of 10 to 35 cm. Note that these are maximum
currents which would occur at the nodal line as the surface of
the Bay passes through the horizontal position. Away from the
node the maximum currents decrease, reaching zero at the anti-
nodes where only vertical motion occurs (see diagram below).
•antipodes
Seiche currents are sinusoidal in character, reversing
every half period. Because of this, these currents by themselves
do not result in any net transport of water. However, by providing
a back and forth sloshing of the water they can be expected to
enhance mixing processes, and when a gradient of any constituent
exists, the oscillatory motion plus mixing will result in net
movement of the constituent in the direction of the gradient
from higher to lower concentration.
-------
- 49 -
616
The 140 minute seiche is a special case. A first order
calculation of the wavelength of this seiche indicates that the
nodal line lies somewhere near the mouth of Chequamegon Bay.
An oscillating horizontal motion induced by this seiche across
the nodal line will result in transport of water in and out of
the Bay itself. As water moves out of the Bay it can be expected
to be entrained in steady lake currents flowing past the Bay,
usually eastward along the south shore of Lake Superior (Ragot-
zkie, Bratnick, 1965; Ragotzkie, 1966). Then when the return
flow occurs across the nodal line, new water will flow into the
Bay. In this way, a regular flushing action occurs with a period
of about 140 minutes. A first order approximation of the exchange
rate was calculated assuming that the surface of the Bay remains
a plane. The results (Table 4) indicate that a 10 cm. vertical
oscillation could result in an exchange rate of 5 percent of
9 3
the voluma of the Bay (1.4 x 10 M ) each day. Doubling the
vertical oscillation doubles the exchange rate.
This same mechanism was observed and documented for Great
South Bay in Lake Huron by Bryson and Stearns (1959).
Table 4. Flushing rate due to seiche with nodal line across
mouth of Chequamegon Bay.
Range (cm.) of
vertical dis-
placement at
SW end of Bay
5
10
20
Flushing Rate
percent of total
volume per cycle (140 min.)
0.25
0.5
1.0
percent of total
volume per day
2.5
5.1
10.3
-------
- 50 -
617
The oscillatory nature of seiche currents superimposed
on the winddriven currents result in an increased variability
in the observed currents. Figures 26-28 clearly show this
effect. At station V-2 on 16 July a series of current measure-
ments at one meter (labelled "surface" in Fig. 26) indicate
a regular variation in the current with an approximate period of
60 minutes suggesting that the uninodal seiche current is inter-
acting with the steadier winddriven current. Figure 27 shows a
similar effect at the same station on 22 August at one, five
and seven meters. On 26 August (Fig. 28) the current fluctua-
tions appear to have a period of slightly more than two hours
suggesting that the 140 minute seiche is dominant.
Note that the variation in currents is in terms of both
speed and direction, but seldom does the current reverse com-
pletely. This would only be expected if the maximum seiche
current exceeded the winddriven current, and this would be most
likely to occur at or near the nodal line when the seiche was
particularly active. However, an increase in seiche amplitude
and hence in seiche currents is associated with strong winds,
and since this would also favor faster winddriven currents,
dominance of seiche currents would not normally be expected.
Therefore the conclusions drawn from the observed currents
are not necessarily invalidated by the interference of seiche-
induced currents although interpretation is frequently more
difficult due to the complexity of the interaction of the two
kinds of motion.
The significance of seiche currents is in the enhance-
ment of mixing and the interaction of seiche currents with
steady currents flowing past a bay. Seiche currents are super-
imposed on winddriven currents and thereby increase the variability
of observed currents, but seldom dominating the field of hori-
zontal motion.
-------
- 51 -
618
E. Circulation During other Seasons
During spring immediately after the ice goes out and late
fall until 'complete ice cover forms the Bay can be expected to
be isothermal, i.e. unstratified. Under these conditions com-
plete vertical mixing of the water occurs. Although no observa-
tions were made during these periods, some comment on the nature
of the circulation can be made based on the behavior of other
water bodies in this region.
In spring the ice normally leaves Chequamegon Bay some-
time in May. At this time solar radiation is approaching its
maximum and surface heating of the water is fairly rapid. A
shallow thermocline can be expected to form in a matter of a
few days. This thermocline may be broken up by a strong wind,
only to form again a few days later. Within two or three weeks
a permanent thermocline will form which then gradually migrates
downward under the influence of occasional strong wind action
and further solar heating. In 1968 the permanent thermocline
had formed before 4 June when surface water temperatures of
16° to 20 °C were observed in the southern half of the Bay by
means of an airborne infrared radiometer (Fig. 31). The results
of the present study are applicable whenever the Bay is stratified.
The isothermal situation in late fall results from a
combination of surface cooling and wind action. Surface cooling
will tend to weaken the hydrostatic stability of the water column
until the mixing action of the wind exceeds the damping action
of the stability, resulting in complete vertical mixing. Since
cooling is continuous until ice cover forms, the isothermal
situation will prevail until freeze-up. During this period
circulation is likely to be more vigorous than during the summer.
This comes about for two reasons: First, the water is warmer
than the air and the resulting instability of the air over the
water results in much enhanced "coupling" between the atmosphere
and the water. More kinetic energy is transferred to the water
-------
- 52 -
619
AIRBORNE INFRARED RADIOMETER SURFACE
WATER TEMPERATURES 4 JUNE 1968
'FLIGHT TRACK
TEMPERATURE IN °C
Figure 31. Surface water temperature from airborne
radiometer measurements, 4 June 1968.
-------
- 53 -
620
and higher current velocities and more vigorous mixing can be
expected. Second, wind velocities in the late fall are fre-
quently higher due to the passage of early winter cyclonic
storms. These storms tend to intensify over Lake Superior due
to the relatively warm surface of the lake. Thus both these
factors favor a stronger circulation during late fall than in
the summer.
Cooling continues until the water reaches a temperature
well below 4°C, probably about 1°C (Scott, 1964). At this time
ice starts to form and eventually the entire Bay becomes ice-
covered. The circulation situation is now sharply altered.
No directly winddriven currents are present, but seiche acti-
vity certainly continues. This follows from observations made
on ice-covered lakes in Wisconsin and is verified by direct
observation of constant ice movement on Chequamegon Bay through-
out the winter (Blackburn, 1968). This means that horizontal
seiche currents continue and will accomplish flushing of the Bay.
Much of Lake Superior remains ice-free throughout the winter so
its circulation can be expected to continue although the nature
of its winter circulation is largely unknown at present.
The thermal situation of the Bay also changes once ice
cover forms. Further cooling at the surface results in in-
creasing the thickness of the ice since the water is already
at or below 1°C. At the same time, heat stored in the bottom
sediments during the summer is slowly transferred back to the
water near the bottom. This heat raises the temperature of the
bottom water above l°Cf which, since fresh water has its maxi-
mum density at 4°C, results in a stable stratification. Though
the absolute stability is not great, the protective cover of ice
prevents wind mixing, and the thermal stratification persists
and increases throughout the ice season.
-------
- 54 -
621
VI. CONCLUSIONS
1. Chequamegon Bay is dominated by a wind-induced circulation
which is expressed partly as directly wind-driven currents and
partly as a complex oscillation (seiche) of the Bay as a whole.
2. The Bay is thermally stratified during the summer season,
at least from early June to early September.
3. Exchange of water between the Bay and Lake Superior occurs
by a forced fluctuation of the thermocline. Sustained south-
westerly winds result in the removal of warm surface water and
replacement from below by cooler sub-surface water from Lake
Superior. Northerly winds result in the opposite circulation
with surface Lake Superior water entering the bay and sub-surface
water of the Bay leaving. These reversals characteristically
occur every five to ten days depending on the frequency of cyclonic
storms.
4. Seiche activity is expressed by multiple oscillations
of the Bay surface with periods of 12, 21, 36, 62, and 140 minutes.
Horizontal currents associated with these oscillations are super-
imposed on the directly winddriven currents.
5. The 140-minute seiche has a nodal line near the mouth of
the Bay and horizontal seiche currents across this line act as
a flushing mechanism for the Bay.
6. A dye tracer experiment indicated that
a. Dissolved material introduced below the surface in Chequa-
megon Bay moves in the same direction and with the same
speed as currents measured by the free drogue method, thus
validating the use of free drogues for obtaining predictive
data on water movements.
b. Vertical mixing in a weakly stratified situation (0.9°
per eight meters) with light wind action (less than 12
knots) is exceedingly weak.
-------
- 55 -
622
c. Horizontal mixing under these same conditions is moderate
with diluation through four orders of magnitude occurring
in two hours.
7. The water of Chequamegon Bay is in free circulation with
Lake Superior and is flushed by at least two mechanisms: first,
by the wind-induced fluctuations of the thermocline, and second,
by the periodic motions associated with the seiche. First order
calculations of the magnitude of the flushing rate by each of
these mechanisms indicate that an exchange rate of 5 to 10 percent
perday of the volume of the Bay with the Lake is not unusual.
8. Immediately after the break-up of the ice in the spring
the Bay will be isothermal, i.e. unstratified, for a brief period
during which both horizontal and vertical mixing will occur.
9. In the late fall isothermal conditions will again prevail.
However during this part of the year the mixing and circulation
will be stronger than in the summer due to increased wind action.
As a consequence of this increased circulation, the flushing of
the Bay can be expected to be more efficient.
10. During the period when the Bay is ice-covered, seiche
currents can be expected to continue and interaction with Lake
Superior will accomplish steady flushing. Weak thermal strati-
fication probably prevails during this period, thus damping
vertical mixing. Horizontal dispersion and movements will con-
tinue due to the seiche currents and circulation induced by
thermal differences and by the interaction with Lake Superior.
-------
- 56 -
623
VII. REFERENCES
Blackburn, J.G. (1968) Personal Communication
Bryson, R.A., and C.R. Stearns. 1959. A Mechanism for the
Mixing of the Waters of Lake Huron and South Bay,
Manitoulin Island. Limnol. Oceanog. 4: 246-251.
Carpenter, W.B. 1872. Report on Scientific Researches
Carried on During the Months of August, September,
October, 1871, in H.M. Surveying Ship Shearwater.
Proc. Roy. Soc. London, 20: 535-644.
Cromwell, T.R., B. Montgomery and E.D. Stroup, 1954.
Equatorial Undercurrent in Pacific Ocean Revealed by
New Methods. Science 119: 648-699.
Knauss, J .A. 1963. Drogues and Neutral-Buoyant Floats,
p. 303-305. In H.N. Hill [ed.] The Sea, v. II. Inter-
science, New York.
Mitchell, H. 1867. Soundings in the Gulf Stream Between
Key West, Florida and Havana, Cuba. Report of the
Superintendent of the United States Coast Survey,
Appendix 15, 176-179.
Monohan, E.C. (1968). A Report on a Continuing Drift-
Bottle Study of the Surface Currents of Lake Superior.
Tech. Rept. No. 2. ONR, NR 083-212, pp. 31-40. Physics
Dept., No. Mich. Univ.
Ragotzkie, R. A. and M. Bratnick (1965) Infrared Temperature
Patterns on Lake Superior and Inferred Vertical Motions.
Proc. Eighth Great Lakes Research Conference, pp. 349-
357, Great Lakes Res. Div. Univ. of Mich.
Ragotzkie, R. A. (1966) The Keeweenaw Current, A Regular
Feature of Summer Circulation of Lake Superior. Tech.
Rept. No. 29 NONR 1202 (07), 30 pp., Dept. of Meteorology,
Univ. of Wis.
Scott, J.T., 1964. A Comparison of the Heat Balance of Lakes
in Winter, Tech. Rept. No. 13, NONR 1202(07), 138 pp.,
Department of Meteorology, Univ. of Wis.
-------
624
Lloyd L. Folk
A scientific paper on this work was presented last week by the
Marine Center scientists at the Twelfth Conference on Great Lakes
Reserach held in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The University study
developed several pertinent items that should be of interest to
this conference. In summary, these are:
1. The currents in Chequamegon Bay are caused partly
by the wind and partly by the complex oscillations, called
seiches, of the bay and Lake Superior.
2. Although one has the impression from a map that
the bay is almost land-locked, there are great exchanges of water
between the bay and the lake. It freely exchanges water with Lake
Superior by wind currents as well as by seiche currents. For
example, southerly winds push warm surface bay waters out into the
lake, allowing cool bottom lake water to enter the bay. With
northerly winds, the opposite effect takes place. Furthermore,
west-to-east lake currents sweep away waters "exhaled" from the bay.
3. The report indicates that the exchange rate of the
bay with the lake is more than 10 percent of the bay's volume per
day. Since the bay's volume is about 400 billion gallons, this
represents an average exchange rate with Lake Superior of over 27
million gallons per minute. This is equivalent, to give you a
comparison, to about 1/3 the flow that goes over Niagara Falls.
-------
625
Lloyd L. Falk
4. The bay waters are almost always in motion at
all depths, due either to wind or seiche effects. Furthermore,
these currents are always changing in direction as well as velocity.
In other words, while there may be thermal stratification of the bay
in summer, the deep, as well as shallow, waters do not stagnate.
Even in winter when there is an ice cover, the university report
indicates that the seiche currents still keep the bay waters
in motion.
The Marine Studies Center Work showed us that "red
water" will receive very great dilution in Chequamegon Bay.
Discharge to deeper waters will not result in buildup of waste
concentrations. No detrimental effects to other water uses will
occur. But there will be elimination of the aesthetic color problem.
We are now working on the design of an effective
dispersion system. This system will carry the wastes out into the
bay over 1/2 mile from shore where the water depth is at least
20 feet. We shall jet the wastes at high velocity horizontally
into these waters through nozzles less than one inch in diameter,
spaced 50 feet apart. Using the well-established jet mixing
formulas, we expect to get over 200 dilutions of our wastes within
35 feet of the end of the nozzles. Additional dilution will then
occur as demonstrated by dye tracer tests carried out by the
University last summer.
Our system will eliminate the coloration problem now
existing along the shoreline. It will not create a new color
-------
626
Lloyd L. Folk
problem further out because the initial mixing will be very rapid
and the water depths will allow much more rapid mixing by the
currents in the bay than is now the case near shore. "Red water"
will not accumulate in the bay because of the constant motions of
its waters and its high rate of exchange with Lake Superior.
The system we propose is within the policies of the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and will meet our
obligations to provide adequate waste disposal under the water
quality standards adopted by Wisconsin and approved by the Secretary
of the Interior.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(Applause.)
MR. DOMINICK: I believe we have a question.
MR. STEIN: I want to refer to your last statement.
Here just what you are proposing is a dispersal system, and the
last paragraph says:
"The system we propose is within the policies of the
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and will meet our
obligations to provide adequate waste disposal under the
water quality standards adopted by Wisconsin and approved by
the Secretary of the Interior."
I don't want to pre-judge this, as I think you will
have to work with our technical people, but this is a relatively
positive statement that you are making and I just want to tag that
for the purpose of the record. We will have to have discussions with
-------
627
Mrs. Robert G. Erickson
our technical people before we can give you a judgment on
that, at least from the Federal point of view.
MR. DOMINICK: Are there any other questions?
(No response.)
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you.
MR. FRANCOS: Mr. Chairman, I believe we have a
representative from the Wisconsin Chapter of the Sierra Club.
May we have that statement.
STATEMENT OF MRS. ROBERT G. ERICKSON,
REPRESENTATIVE, JOHN MUIR CHAPTER,
SIERRA CLUB, RACINE, WISCONSIN.
MRS. ERICKSON: I am Mrs. Robert G. Erickson of
Racine, Wisconsin.
The John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club, an organiza-
tion of approximately 600 members, which is the Wisconsin unit of
a national association of some 70,000 members, respectfully represents:
1. That the preservation of Lake Superior assumes
critical importance in view of the fact that it is the last of
the Great Lakes to remain in a "healthy" condition;
2. That protection of our remaining clean waters has
such momentous significance insofar as the quality of life in this
ares is concerned that it must transcend matters of purely economic
concern;
-------
628
Mrs. Robert G. Erickson
3. That studies by the Department of the Interior
leave no doubt that the discharge of taconite tailings into this
lake by Reserve Mining Company is causing pollution which results
in increased turbidity, accelerated eutrophication, change in the
chemical constitution of the water, and impairment of the fish
habitat;
4. That it is completely illogical and utterly
unconscionable to use this precious resource belonging to all of
the people as a dumping ground for industrial wastes, especially
in view of the fact that alternate methods of disposal are
available and are used by other miners in the same industry;
5. That residents of the State of Wisconsin have a
substantial interest in preservation of this lake because a
sizable portion of their State borders on it and the attractiveness
of the Apostle Islands and the proposed Apostle Islands National
Lakeshore is dependent, to a large extent, upon maintenance of the
purity of its waters.
Therefore, the John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club
urgently requests that the permit of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
to the Reserve Mining Company be extended only on a conditional
basis for a period of not to exceed 3 years and that use of the
lake as a disposal site for taconite tailings be discontinued just
as soon as alternate waste disposal facilities, including provision
for recycling of washwater, can be arranged.
-------
629
Miriam G. Dahl
In addition, I would like to make one statement.
I was most pleased to hear about the fine projects which the
Reserve Mining Company has been doing in its local community in
Minnesota. Just as advertising is one of the costs of their doing
business, and just as these community projects are one of their
costs of doing business, I feel that the cost of pollution should
be considered in a like manner, a real cost of doing business.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
MR. FRANCOS: Thank you, Mrs. Erickson.
I now have a resolution received from the Wisconsin
State Division of the Izaak Walton League of America.
WHEREAS: the dumping of taconite tailings into Silver
Bay has continued for a number of years past, and
WHEREAS: this practice has produced unmistakable
pollution of the Silver Bay area, and
WHEREAS: other changes have appeared in water flow
and in the ecology of the water life and food chain, and
WHEREAS: said Silver Bay area is a part of Lake
Superior, one of our greatest irreplaceable natural resources,
and of inestimable value to the human family, and
WHEREAS: the careless attitude of those who regard
dumping their refuse into any natural resource as their right
and privilege with no thought of any consequence, present or
future, will no longer be tolerated by a long-suffering people
-------
630
Miriam G. Dahl
deprived of their natural heritage through selfish misuse,
nor should it be tolerated in this enlightened time with its
great scientific expertise,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Wisconsin State
Division of the Izaak Walton League of American favors and
strongly urges the companies now dumping tailings, or any
materials, or substance into Lake Superior, to cease and
desist from this practice, and to return the residue from, the
taconite manufacture back into the ground from which it was
taken, and further urge that proper disposition be made by
anyone dumping any type of substance into any part of these
waters, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: the Wisconsin State
Division of the Izaak Walton League of America urges that
strong legislation be passed without delay and with powers of
implementation to prevent any future use of Lake Superior or
any of the Great Lakes including the watersheds drainage areas
of these lakes, for purposes of dumping waste and refuse of any
type by any company, municipality, or individuals, and, FURTHER,
that these laws be clearly worded to be effectively enacted
within the shortest possible time from now.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT: Copies of this resolution
be sent to Mr. Thomas Frangos, Director of the Wisconsin State
Division for Environmental Protection to be presented at the
hearing held by the Federal Water Pollution Control Board
on May 13-14, 1969, at the Hotel Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, and,
-------
631
Martin Hanson
further, that copies be sent to each Wisconsin Chapter of
the Izaak Walton League of American and to the National Office
in Glenview and to the press.
Respectfully submitted, Miriam G. Dahl, Chairman,
Pollution Committee, Wisconsin State Division IWLA.
We now have a statement, Mr. Chairman, from Mr. Martin
Hanson for the Wisconsin Resource Conservation Council.
STATEMENT OF MARTIN HANSON,
SECRETARY, WISCONSIN RESOURCE
CONSERVATION COUNCIL, MELLEN, WISCONSIN
MR. HANSON: My name is Martin Hanson, Secretary of
the Wisconsin Resource Conservation Council, which is composed of
about 35 affiliated groups concerned with the proper use of our
natural resources.
The Council, at general membership meetings, has
consistently urged that this Federal conference be held. We feel
that States have been lagging and it is necessary for the Federal
Government to see that antipollution measures are carried out.
An example of this is the Dupont Company at Barksdale,
Wisconsin, which has been polluting Boyd Creek, a tributary of
Lake Superior, since 1914, even though Wisconsin's first antipollution
law was passed in 1899. It was not until last year that the Resource
Development Board issued an order that this pollution should be
cleaned up by October 1970. The order stated that the
-------
632
Martin Hanson
least desirable alternative was to pipe this waste out into
Chequamegon Bay. This is a completely unsatisfactory solution
and the Federal Government should demand a better method.
Another example of States lagging is that Minnesota
has allowed Reserve Mining Company to continue to release taconite
tailings into Silver Bay, even though it has been shown that these
tailings have gone beyond the limits of the State permit. Mining
company spokesmen have reached into the air and stated that it would
cost $200 million not to dump these tailings into the lake. The
Bureau of Mines estimate is a $7 million investment and an annual
cost of $3 million a year. If the $7 million investment were
depreciated over a 7—year period, the net added production cost
would be $4 million a year, or 40<£ per ton of taconite.
Dravo Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, recently
was involved in tailings disposal for a 1 million—ton-a—year plant
and costs were approximately 15£ per ton. The 40<: a ton figure
for Reserve looks high, particularly when you take into account that
the cost per ton for a closed water cycle should come down as
plant size goes up.
I am including with this statement, and I have given
it to the reporter, the financial statements of the Reserve Mining
Company parent companies, Armco Steel Corporation, and Republic
Steel Corporation.
(The aboves-mentioned financial statements follow.)
-------
633
-'PUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
IO I ^ i i
i i.
i ' 3 ' I
~\ /~V •'""""N I ' S~** J /—*" ~ •" S^~\ S~~*<' t *•*""*•> f~*\ /"> V^/"
ibUSiUcUOU ii I^Ui I
December 31,1967 and December 31.1966
s Vs 'c~y discounts allowed , . . . .....
') iiicnds interest and other income — Note A
TOTAL
('«:<,« .ind expenses:
\i inufucturing cost of products sold
Administrative and selling expenses
Provision for depreciation and depletion
Interest and expense on lon^-term debt . ...
Sundry other deductions
Federal income caxes (deferred tax credits
1967— $444, -r'20, 1966— $132,113)— Note E
TC7AL
CONSOLIDATED NET INCOME
''( ;nco:r.e per share of common stock . . .
v' i ;•'/( to consolidated financial statements.
1987 ;
i
f
$1,266,315,782
i
12,615,364
$1,278,931,146
I
i
i
$1,022691,868
7 ' } 1
60 728,774'
1
73,039,081
12 347 764
I
2,044,011
1
or* " " "• ",
$1,203,75 -.-Lo
$ 75 179,648
$475
1963
$1,359,758,378
14,341,293
$1,374,099,671
$1,092,046,642
58,436,001
68,964,950
10 986,130
855,594
49,100,000
$1,280,389,317
$ 93,710,354
$593
-------
634
December 31,
19S7
December 31,
19S6
Current Assets
Cash • S 54,369,092 $ 61,610,587
Marketable securities—at cost and accrued interest
(approximate market) 44,453,686 28,862,110
Accounts and notes receivable—trade, less allowances
for possible losses (52,400,000 in each year) ' 115,309,958 103,074,720
Inventories—Note B 289,398,901 285,942,005
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS $ 503,531,637 S 479,489,422
Investments and Other Assets !
Investments in and receivables from unconsolidated
subsidiaries—Note A S 16,669,751 S 14,477,806
Investments in and receivables from associated
companies—Note C 46,062,527 48,758,128
Miscellaneous investments and receivables 13,978,643 13,094,386
S 76,710,921 S 76,330,320
Properties '
Steel producing, manufacturing, raw material
and transportation facilities—at cost 01,876,057,267 51,722,086,152
Less allowances for depreciation, depletion, and amortization .... 955,778,514 889,325,512
S 920,278,753 $ 832,760,640
deferred
Prepaid royalties and other deferred charges 22,486,925 22,524,285
81,523,008,236
51,411,104,667
-------
635
PUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION AMD CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES-DECEMBER 31,1357 AMD DECEMBER 31.1965
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities . . .
Federal income taxes
Taxes—other than federal income taxes ....
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
one !rm Debt—Note D
ther Liabilities and Reserves
Deferred federal income taxes—Note E
Reserves and other liabilities
tockholders' Equity
Capital stock:
Prior preference—par value SlOO per share;
authorized 467,698 shares; none issued
Common—par value S10 per share;
authorized 28,000,000 shares; issued 15,855,142 shares
(1966—15,821,374 shares) including shares in treasury—Note F
Capital surplus
Incc • retained and invested in the business—Note D
Less common stock in treasury—29,990 shares at cost . .
December 31,
1SS7
$ 146,901,682
6,383,193
26,280,876
$ 179,565,751
339,163,775
S 44,981,798
6,319,922
S 51,301,720
S 158,551,420
146,741,626
"647,879^223)
S 953,172,269
195,279
S 952,976,990
SI,523,008,236
December 31,
1S66
S 154,210,891
22,138,207
26,726,588
S 203,075,686
242,460,841
S 45,426,218
8,002,730
S 53,428,948
S 158,213,740
145,906,583
60^,2:4,148
S 912,334,471
195,279
S 912,139,192
51,411,104,667
-------
636
REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Statements of Consolidated Capiial Surp'us
and Income Retained and Invested in the Business
years ended December 31,1967 and December 31,1966
Capita! Surplus
Balance at beginning of year . . . ..... . ....
Amount received upon exercise of stock options in excess of portion
(1967—5337,680; 1966—5119,260) credited to
common capital stock account
Balance at end of year ... . ....
Income Retained and Invested in the Business
Adjustment of investments in unconsolidated domestic subsidiaries from
cost thereof to equity in net assets at January 1 , 1 967 — Xote A ....
Net income for the vear /.'%^JliJ —
Cash_diyir]erids paid on common stock
(1957 — 52 50 per share' 1966 — 52.125 per share)
Balance at end of year . ...
See notes to consolidated financial statements. /"•'""^ *-
0 ~i r *~ ;T ^ T " * '* v'^ { V (j i '
1967
(^5145,906,583 I
835,043
5146741,626
5608214 148
^4j314;J60
5687,407,956
^^ ' ' — - — **
5647,879,223
,
— ^'3^'^ V/J
1966
5145,612,159
294,424
5145,906,583
5548,056,652
—0—
-f 93,710,354
5641,767,006
33,552,858
5608,214,148
Republic Steel
Corporation
and Consolidated
Subsidiaries
NOTES TO
CONSOLIDATED
FINANCIAL
STATEMENTS
December 31,1967
NOTE A—Principles of Consolidation
The consolidated statements include the accounts of the Corporation and
two wholly-owned subsidiaries. Investments in unconsolidated domestic
subsidiaries were adjusted at the beginning of 1957 from cost thereof to equity
in the net assets of such subsidiaries, and the excess of equity was credited to
income retained and invested in the business. The equity in net income of
these subsidiaries for the year 1957 (5780,000) was included in consolidated
net income. Financial statements for the year 1965 were not restated since
the effect of this adjustment was not material.
Investments in unconsolidated foreign subsidiaries are carried at cost. The
equity of the Corporation in the undistributed net income of such subsidiaries,
ilnce dates of acquiring controlling interests therein, amounted to approxi-
mately 520,810,000 at December 31, 1967. Dividends received (55,250,000)
and credited to consolidated income for the year 1967, exceeded net income
of such subsidiaries by approximately S2,075,000.
-------
637
NOTE B—Inventories
Inventories are stated at cost (principally last-in, first-out), not in excess
of replacement market. A summary of in\entories follows:
Dec. 31,1967 Dec. 31,1966
Ore S 37,789,199 $ 42,685,856
Scrap 10,593,110 10,395,562
Fuel 10,514,013 10,068,378
Ferrous metals and alloys 4,393,292 8,469,668
Rolls, molds, and stools 13,080,399 14,537,391
Stores and manufacturing supplies . . 17,407,371 14,422,865
Miscellaneous materials 4,517,820 4,564,364
Pig iron 14,479,580 14,390,600
Product—semifinished 54,983,840 49,548,525
Product—finished and in process . . 121,640,277 116,858,796
TOTAL $289,398,901 $285,942,005
NOTE C—Associated Company
The Corporation's investments include $28,029,107 representing the
carrying amount of capital stock of Reserve Mining Company (representing
a 50% interest) and of other funds furnished to Reserve by the Corporation.
The other 50% capital stock interest is owned by Armco Steel Corporation.
Separate financial statements for Reserve are included in reports filed an-
nually with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
At December 31, 1967, Reserve had $93,254,000 Series A and $75,680,000
Series B Bonds outstanding. Until such bonds are paid in full, its shareholders
are obligated according to their proportionate interest to take the entire
production of Reserve and to pay its costs pursuant to the provisions of
certain agreements. To the extent that may be required, the stockholders
of Reserve have agreed to furnish Reserve amounts needed to pay fixed
sinking fund installments on such bonds and any remaining principal
amounts at their respective maturities; also for certain other purposes, funds
would be obtained from its stockholders pursuant to subscription agreements.
NOTE D —Long-term Debt
Long-term debt outstanding at December 31, 1967, is shown in the
following summary:
Republic Steel Corporation:
4%% Sinking Fund Debentures due 1985 (annual sink-
ing fund payments, excluding prepayments for 1968:
1969 and 1970—$3,000,000; 1971 through 1983—
$7,000,000; 1984—58,000,000) 5113,000,000
4.65% Notes, due May 1, 1989 (payable $6,250,000
annually from 1970 to 1989) 125,000,000
Promissory notes payable to banks (payable as stated
below) 100,000,000
Promissory notes payable to customer (payable in
monthly installments based upon steel products pur-
chased) interest at 3% 1,163,775
TOTAL $339,163,775
Notes payable to banks were issued under the terms of a Revolving and
Term Loan Credit Agreement and bear interest at the prime commercial
rate (currently 6%). Notes issued under the revolving credits mature De-
cember 31,1970, and under the term loan credits in ten semiannual install-
ments commencing June 30, 1971. The Corporation has the option to borrow
-------
638
notes to
consolidated
financial
statements
(continued)
a maximum of $75,000,000 under a new Revolving and Term Loan Credit
Agreement :o be effective February 15, 1958. Notes issued under the revolv-
ing credits \vou!d mature February 29, 1972, and under the term loan
credits in four annual installments commencing February 28, 1973.
The loan agreements contain certain restrictions relating to the payment
of cash dividends and maintenance of net oar-rent assets. Under the mrst
restrictive covenant, income retained and invested in the business at De-
cember 31,1967, was unrestricted to the extentcf approximately $223,970,000.
NOTE E—Federal income Taxes
Federal income taxes currently payable, based upon taxable income after
the deduction of percentage depletion, were reduced by credits for investment
in depreciable property ($9,882,000) and foreign taxes.
Deferred federal income taxes were attributable to deductions by the
Corporation for tax purposes of its share of the depreciation and amortization
charges of Reserve Mining Company in excess of amounts recorded on the
books of Reserve, and to the excess of depreciation charges of the Corpora-
tion for tax purposes over amounts included in the statement of income.
NOTE F—Stock Options
At December 31, 1967, there were 121,452 shares, of common stock
reserved for exercisable outstanding options nnder the 1951 Stock Option
Plan, now expired, at option prices aggregating $7,181,000. No options
under this plan were exercised during 1967,. Options were canceled for
18,250 shares at aggregate option prices of $1.074,000.
There were 338,542 shares of common stock reserved at December 31.
1967, for issuance under the 1962 Stock Option Plan for officers and other
key employees. The plan provides that options may be granted at not less
than the fair market value at the date of grant; that options granted prior
to March 15, 1966, shall be exercisable over 2. period of not more than ten
years; and, that options granted thereafter shaDl be exercisable over a period
of not more than five years. Options were outstanding at December 31, 1967,
for 333,667 shares (176,827 exercisable) at aggregate option prices of
$12,077,000 ($6,221,000 exercisable). During "i'967 options were granted for
5,000 shares and were exercised for 33,768 shares at aggregate option prices
of $225,000 and $1,173,000 respectively. Options were canceled for 6,825
shares at aggregate option prices of $241,000.
MOTE G —Pensions
The Corporation and consolidated subsidiaries have contributory and non-
contributory pension plans which cover substantially ail employees. Pension
costs, which are funded, were $23,744,000 for tiiae year 1967 including amorti-
zation of prior service costs. Pension fund assets exceeded the actuarially
computed value of vested benefits under the plans at December 31, 1967.
Wote K—Other Matters
In connection with certain bank loans cT -an unconsolidated domestic
subsidiary, the Corporation has agreed to purchase the notes evidencing
such loans up to a maximum of $8,600,000 principal amount if such notes
are not paid at maturity. Notes in the principal amount of $5,000,000 were
outstanding at December 31, .967.
In the event certain companies supplying raw materials to the Corpora-
tion, and in which it holds stock investments, are unable to make the neces-i
sary payments on their long-term indebtedness (in connection with financing
the construction of facilities) the Corporation! ihas agreed to pay its propor-
tionate share ($19,853,000 at December 31, 1S67) thereof up to a maximum
amount of $21,028,000. The Corporation is also committed to make addi-
tional investments in certain companies in the maximum amount of $924,000,
-------
accountants' report
ERNST o, ERNST
CLEVELAND, OHIO
Vo tho StocX^olders and Boird of
corsistent with that of the precea-ng year
Cleveiar.ci, Ohio
February 12, 1963
639
Carried as Investments in Financial Statements
December 31,1957
Union Drawn Steel Company, Ltd.
River Terminal Railway Company
Beatrice Pocahontas Company, Buchanan County, Va
Carol Pellet Company, Labrador, Canada
Cuyahoga Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio
Dor.ner-Kanna Coke Corporation, Buffalo, X. Y. . .
Iron Ore Company of Canada, Labrador and Quebec, Canada
X. & S. Metal Supply, Inc., Xew York, X. Y
The Xegaunee Mine Company, Xegaunee, Mich
Pioneer Pellet Plant, Xegs.~r.ee, Mich
Presque Isle Corporation, Aipena, Mich
Republic Supply Compaiv., Oklahoma City, Okla
Reserve Minir.y Cornoany, S.lver Bay and Babbitt, Minn. -
The Prospect Corporation, Monrovia, Liberia
(Liberia Mining Companv. Ltd. 59.13%)
(Tankore Corporation 50%)
Vance Iron & Steel Company, Chattanooga, Tenn
Witherbee Sherman Corporation, Pore Henry, X. Y
Ownership
5C%
. 7.69%
-00%
1CO%
50%
100%
100%
100%
-------
640
REPUBLIC STEEL CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
a 15 year review
s n
i 1 IV
•! U !
Doilars and tons in thousands
13S7
1966
1S65
1934
1D63
-
Related Data
nancial Position
sf December 31
Sales
Depreciation, depletion, and amortization . . .
Net Income ... ...
Per cent to sales .... . . . .
Total cash dividends paid to stockholders .
Cash dividends paid, per share of common stock
Income retained and invested in the business
Ratio current assets to current liabilities . .
Properties, plants and equipment — -net . . .
Stockholders' equity per share of common stock
Number of stockholders . ...
Production index (1957-1959 = 100)
Per hour
$1 266 316
S 73,039
$ 12,348
S 59,267
$ 75,180
5.9%
S 4.75
S 39,529
S 2.50
S .39^665
S 161 823
$ 323,966
2.8 to 1
S 920,279
$ 339 164
S 952,977
S 60.22
100,483
9,303
124.5
6,406
7,017
449
50,378
36.2
S 478,350
S 5.03
1,359 758 ,
68,965
10,986
76 169
93,710
6.9
5.93
33,553
2.125
60,157
"iTo"Vi2
276414
2.4 to 1
832,761
242461
912,139
57.76
104,478
10010
133.9
6,877
7672
584
53412
37.2
498,001
4.81
1 374541
63,391
10,141
60,474
77,302
5.6
4.90
31,553
2.00
45,749
134 719
294,353
2.8 to 1
768,714
251,720
851,568
53.97
104,953
9,894
132.4
7,143
7,060
584
55888
36.5
489,576
4.60
1,272,742
60, 1 34
9,422
57,078
72,277
5.7
4.58
31,512
200
40J65
118,463
276,919
2.5 to 1
701,744
210,348
805,296
51.08
105,856
10,210
136.2
6,711
7,:e:
59o
53 488
37.7
471,989
4.48
1 , 1 1 4, 1 9 '
58,93;,
8,9 li
63,20i,
55,50!
5.0
3.52
31.49S
2.00'-
24,003'
56,405
260,054
2.7 to !
646,439
180,81b
764,00t
48.51,
104,826
8,543*
114 3[
5,899,
5,652|
442i
1
1
49 Ob9'
36.8!
421,105:
4.47!
-------
CAPITAL STKUCIUr.c K£LA HOfJSHIP
641
coo
750
Lo
Pi
! " "1 Co
^~~
J
j
1
- ' 1
,
1953
1961
965,903
41,092
9,205
^8,027
,6,954
5.9
3.62
47,197
300
9,757
89,117
249,029
2.7 to 1
656,523
219,783
739,202
46.95
93,640
7,251
97.0
4,905
"93
29
48,675 j
35.5
381,746
4.23
n', Term Oci>:
mman Sla^i.aSd,,,-.'
: I
~1 .' 1
\ \
—1 j p
: i L
i ' r~
r~: r
i :
rn i_
1 '• U
_li__LJ_
1954 1355
1360
1,053,873
36,371
5,786
69,895 ;
52,846
5.0
336
47,113
3.00
5,733_!__
119,607
282,432 *
3.0 to 1
610,714
214,728
728,259
46.35
90,915 ,
7,700
102.3
5,384 !
5,528
386
55,927
34.0
410,262
4.12 i
E : -1
• i
'• I
; j i
j 1
s i ;
!- 1
!
i
r |_
19CO 1961
1957
1,227,258
40,788
1,448
113,588
85,014
6.9
5.45
46,704
3.00
33,310._
149,635
212,214
26 to 1
502,099
75,984
697,207
44.71
94,891
8,485
113.5
6,211
6,711
720
65,110
35.8
433,315
3.57
r~- f i
; i • [
: i !
•I * '
'! i i
: : • 1
M ; i
< I : 1
- i • r
'• \ • ',
~"< ! i
i i
« i
i i
J 1
1962 1363
19S6
1,244,214 •
43,059
1,494
110,438
90,407
7.3
5.83
40,631
2 625
49,776_
105,807
244,937
28 to 1
391,548
40,755
657,494
42.39
90,421
9,349
1248
6,783
6,575
829
68,918
35.6
418,850
3.27
i i
i i '
•' 1 :
: i ;
i i :
1 1
• 1 :
:. i >
" 1 i
: | • t—
1
r , ^~
! 1
1 '
' i i
j . 1
1064 1955 1
1355
1,188,560
45,472
2,028
98,467
| 86,271
7.3
5.59
38,404
2.50
._.47,867..
35,925
• 256,130
3.6 to 1
'334,689
44,030
606,097
39.26
83,053
9,680
129.5
6,989
6,599
736
66,033
37.9
395,603
3.03
' ! l
> !
, i : j
'•I '1
'1 ; i
• | ! [
' t \
; t ; 1
> i i- !
L i : J
1 i l
< i !
\ \
• \ \
i
1 1
966 1367
1954
846,311
41,613
4,533
62,783
52,875
6.2
3.55
29,787
225
.._ 23,088_
20,003
226,397
3.3 ;o !
352,3£0
9:,-:;s
537,850
36.71
69,-.-64
6,973
93.3
5,012
4,572
532
57,753
348
300,580
2.86
• G50
.- 900
850
- ^50
o
o
0 S
1953
1,137,124
41,046
5,090
114,456
56,744
5.0
4.63
28,345
2.25
28,399
21,791
192,311
2.9 to 1
384,098
150,819
470,060
37.11
65,914
9,630
1289
7,136
6,599
667
69,463
38.7
380,701
2.72
-------
642
^—^
Armco Stee! Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries V
For the years ended December 31, 1S67 and 1855
(Dollars in thousands)
1£37 1£35
jrce of Funds
Operations
Net income for the year -$J[C,e47 $ 33,737
Depreciation ' 79,160 71,027
Deferred Federal income taxes (decrease) (213) (1,264)
Total 149,591 155,500
Increase in long-term debt 6G,GCO —
Bank loans — 8,000
From other sources—net 6,613 63
Total 213,204 164,568
Use of Funds
Capital expenditures 154,110 195,103
Cash dividends ' C 44,475 44,411
•' ••) -- ^ /..- '• \ ' ~-' "~
Increase in investments.i.:":•:''.•: \ /_ 31,373 5,331
Decrease in accounts payable and
accruals (increase) 25,693 (19,215)
Increase in accounts and notes receivable £,cX9 11,130
Increase in inventories 2,3£o 5,368
Payments on long-term debt (Note D — 21,749
Total 237,10'. 234,377
Decrease in Cash and Marketable Securities for Year 50,837 99,309
Cash and Marketable Securities
Beginning of year 136,550 236,359
End of year $ B5,S53 $136,550
(1) 5°^ notes to financial statements—Note 2, page 23.
-------
643
December 31,1967 (Dollars in thousands)
Percentage of
Ownership Amount
Foreign Subsidiaries Not Consolidated (Note 2) 60-100 $23,423
Bellefonte Insurance Company 100 1,142
Truss Pipe Company 50 530
Associated Companies (Notos)
Reserve Mining Company 50 2£,029
Iron Ore Company of Canada 5.13 5,709
Oregon Metallurgical Corporation 29.27 4,200
Carol Pellet Company 7.69 1,717
A. 0. Smith Corporation of Texas 50 500
Iron Ore Transport Company, Limited 13 297
Oglebay Norton Company 3.S4 233
One Domestic and Seven Foreign Companies 20-50 2,440
Total Associated Companies 43,125
Notes and Accounts Receivable—
Not Current, and Miscellaneous Securities, etc 32,517
Total $100,740
(1) The inves!ments in Be'lefonte insurance Company (wholly-
owned) and Truss Piae Company (]o,n\ venture partnership)
are stated at equity; all other investments are stated at cost.
(2) Armco's equity in the net assats of foreign subsidiaries not
consolidated amounted to 555,211.000 at October 31, 1967,
based upon translating their auc.tec financial statements into
Unitod States dollars at appropr.ate rates of exchange. Divi-
dends received from such foreign subsidiaries (included in
revenues for the year) were S70v,000 less than Armco's equity
in their cornbir.oc net income.
(3) Armco's eqi-.ty in the net assets of associated companies
amounted to $53,036,000 at December 31, 1S37, based upon
unaudited financial statements rurnished by the companies.
Armco's investment in Reserve Mining Company is its equity
in that comoany's net assets. Separate financial statements for
Reserve are included in reports filed annually with the Secur-
ities and Exchange Commission.
-------
Arrr.co Stee! Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries V
644
}w^r\iGs srjiu w*cci^i;~. «* c* %oc, aJ'Oo/'Gc-s^Oii
the year ended December 31,1967 (Dollars in thousands)
'.V.ac'r.'.r.sry
C*t . 'v«
,,,-,.-, ^_ -.'. O *" n P "
i— i „/.,. \_,.... vy »., i c. •
Progress
perty, Plant, & Equipment—At cost
Balance, January 1, 1S67 (Note D $1,371,212 $15£,2":2 $ £73,325 $ £3,335 £135,740
Additions (deductions) 154,r.O 12,554 -,33,543 ".3,35-, (53,033)
Less retirements 13,835 1,125 8,967 3,743 —
Balance, December 31, 1957. . ..
... 1,511,487 170,641 1,155,898 106,246 78,702
3 Accumulated Depreciation (Note2j... 7S6,S92 83,167 649,501 54,324 —
oerty, Plant, & Equipment—Net $ 724,495 $37,474 $ 503,337 $51,922 $78,702
tcludes Olympic Screw & Rivet Corporation (See notes
aneial statements—Note 1, page 23).
?prar' 'on for the year amounted to ST9,160,000, as com-
! wit ,027,000 for the previous year. Provision for de-
ation _ new facilities acquired since January 1, 1955, is
•uted generally by applying to the net oook value of each
> of assets a rate equal to double the straight-line com-
3 rates except that the sum-of-tne-years-digits method of
extinguish the cost of the oroperties through charges to oper-
ations and creaits to accumulated depreciation over their esti-
mated productive (guideline) lives.
:oun2ants' Opinion
SKINS & SELLS
IFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
;o Steel Corporation, its Shareholders and
j-tors:
3 have examined the statement of consoli-
j financial position of Armco Steel Corpora-
:nd consolidated subsidiaries as of December
967 and the related statement of consolidated
ne and income retained in :he business for
ear ended, and the supplemental sched-
of sou.ce and use of funds, investments, and
?rties and accumulated depreciation as of that
and for that year. Our examination was made
:cordance with generally accepted auditing
!ards, and accordingly included such tests of
nnati, Ohio
jaryS, 1968
the accounting records and such other auditing
procedures as we considered necessary in the cir-
cumstances.
!n our opinion, such financial' sta:em£r..s present
fairly the financial position of the companies at
December 31, 1967 and ine results of their opera-
tions :or the year then enced, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles app:ied
on a basis consistent with that of the preceding
year; and >P.e supplemental schedules present
fairly the information shown therein.
-------
645
10 Year Summary
Results for Year (net tons and dollars in thousands)
1967 1968 1965
Revenues
Sales, less discounts, returns, and allowances $1,133,138 1,224,605 1,188,545
Dividends, royalties, and interest 25,529 26,219 23,763
Total 1,163,667 1,250,824 1,212,308
Costs and expenses
Cost of products sold 978,768 1,017,366 950,026
Selling, general and administrative expenses 90,760 88,623 86,368
Interest and expense on long-term debt 10,675 9,489 5,727
Sundry other charges (credits^ (1,194) (281) (708)
Federal, state, and foreign income taxes 14,013 48,890 67,387
Total 1,093,020 1,164,087 1,118,800
Net income (Note D 3 70,647 86,737 93,508
Net income per share of common stock (Note 2) $ 4.74 5.86 6.32
Cash dividends $ 44,475 44,411 44,411
Cash dividends per share ot common stock $ 3.00 3.00 3.00
Net income regained in the business after cash dividends $ 26,172 42<^_2S 49j^57
Raw steel production (nations) 77:v 7,455 7,616 7,755
Shipments (net tons) (Note 3) 4,874 5,230 5,236
Year-End Data
Working capital $ 352,881 366,635 364,790
Property, plant, and equipment
Balance, less accumulated depreciation $ 724,495 649,905 526,968
Capital expenditures $ 154,110 195,103 127,247
Provision for depreciation $ 79,160 71,027 63,156
Expenditures—lease rights $ 53,287 — —
Shareholders' equity
Common stock $ 148,933 148,048 148,048
Capita! paid-in in excess of par value (Capital surplus) 105,301 105,074 105,074
Income retained in the business (Earned surplus) 833,755 606,235 533,960
Total shareholders'equity $ 887,989 860,405 818,080
Long-term debt $ 255,000 205,000 206,879
Per cent earned
Onnetsales 6.2% 7.1 7.9
On shareholders'equity (Note 4) S.1% 10.3 11.8
Common stock
Book value per share (Note 2) $ 59.62 58.12 55.26
Shares outstanding (Thousands of full shares) (Note 2) 14,892 14,804 14,804
Number of shareholders 73,709 72,846 67,256
Number of employees (Average tor year) 33,439 39,237 33,006
(1) Net income for 1964 includes an extraordinary credit of 35,979,583 (S.40 per share);
net income for 1963 includes an extraordinary credit of 34,928,709 (S.33 per share)
(2) Based on the number of shares outstanding at end of individual years.
-------
1964
1963
Armco Stee! Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries ""V"
'952 1961 1SSO 1359 1953
837,391
17,032
646
1,063,521
22,554
1,086,085
081
01,926
6,013
32^
43,354
;,005,638
80,387
5.43
44,411
3.00
35,976
6,823
4,774
406,698
4. .,11
59,100
52,531
148,046
103,074
514,853
738,933
130,152
7.6
1C.7
51.94
14,804
67,526
: 3
933,439
25,184
959,623
765,273
73,132
6,322
(3,271)
47,303
893,759
65,354
4.45
44,411
3.00
21/.53
5,735
4,163
334,000
468,233
67,996
51,387
148,046
103,074
478,887
733,007
137,990
7.1
9.1
49.51
14,804
63,113
34,508
918,551
20,237
938.7S3
771,495
77,164
6,612
1,683
35,943
392,905
45,893
3.10
44/11
3.00
1/32
5,005
3,S9"
364,242
464,354
90,504
57,333
148,047
103,074
457/34
7' 1,555
144,735
5.0
S.5
43.03
14,304
03,881
34,399
887,970
23,054
911,034
72^,959
75,887
6,543
',323
47,300
853 ,5 '7
57,517
3.89
44,395
o.CO
13,121
5,359
3,330
404,021
433,392
73,034
43,3-5
148,035
1C3.029
455,952
7-0,0-7
151/30
0.5
0.2
47.S3
14,303
63,232
35,031
937,999
25,517
933,316
T40,392
73,511
3/79
',093
63,375
893,157
70/59
4,76
44,387
3.00
26.072
4,934
3,994
434,241
393/31
51,329
40,133
147,970
105,326
442,331
596,527
153,850
7.5
10.3
47.08
14,793
70,554
33,820
1,022/29
21, SCO
1,043,929
803,270
76,235
3,335
345
73,- '7
953,8?'
77,334
5.21
4-4,377
3.CO
S2,S87
5/29
4,104
337,335
376,753
37,113
S3.93S
147,955
1C5.774
4- 5,759
570,488
'74,5oo
7.5
11.5
45.32
14, 79^
70,920
•40,307
694,337
39.742
0,749
' 3CS
__57/24
323,911
57,512
3.89
44,203
3.00
13,309
4,506
3,641
340,971
377/41
61,035
34/57
147,835
-05,509
334,072
537,413
107,055
43.12
14,782
o/,
(3) Net tons include products manufactured 'rom steel Durchased f-on o'^er suppliers (yea's 1S64 and prior).
(4) Based on average of beginning and end-of-year balances.
-------
647
Martin Hanson
In the last 5 years, 1963 - 1967, these two companies have
averaged more than $75 million a year in retained net income.
These companies can easily afford ant ipo Hut ion
measures not only because of their large retained earnings but
also because they have had 12 years of operation with substantial
savings without waste treatment. The plant has operated for a
period long enough to enjoy substantial depreciation and now
enjoy assurance of no added tax cost since passage of the Minnesota
Taconite Amendment.
We urge the Corps of Engineers not to renew the
permit to allow releasing these tailings into the navigable waters
of Lake Superior.
Lake Superior is the best of our Great Lakes,
Let's keep it that way.
I would like to further comment that I thought it was
in very poor taste that Commissioner Klein would refer to Charles
Stoddard and refer to the Stoddard Report. I have considered some
of his statements a personal attack on a very fine person and one
of the best of the people we have in the natural resource field in
our country today.
(Applause.)
MR. FRANCOS: Mr. Chairman, I have a resolution
received from the Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs that
I would like to read for the record.
-------
648
Wisconsin Federation of Women's Clubs
A resolution of the Wisconsin Tenth District Con-
vention, General Federation of Women's Clubs.
WHEREAS: The health and welfare of future generations
of this Nation will depend directly upon the availability of
an extensive supply of clean, fresh water; and
WHEREAS: The people of this Nation have the right to
the enjoyment of clean and unpolluted lakes, rivers, and
streams, both for aesthetic and recreational enjoyment; and
WHEREAS: There are many practices in our society at
present, whether committed in ignorance of knowingly, by
private individuals or corporate bodies, which threaten our
waterways with escalating pollution;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That the Wisconsin Tenth
District Convention of the General Federation of Women's Clubs
strongly opposes any and all activites which tend to degrade
the quality of the waters of this Nation, whether by processes
which increase sedimentation or poison and pollute the waters,
undermining their natural life-sustaining character; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That this Convention calls upon
the Federal, State, and local governments, and upon private
citizens and corporate bodies, to exercise every legitimate
means within their power to end the degradation of our waters
and to secure for this Nation's people and their descendents
as pure a quality of water as nature endowed us with.
-------
649
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
Passed by vote of the Convention April 23, 1969,
at Spooner, Wisconsin.
For the Convention:
Signed, Catheryn Johnson, Washburn, Wisconsin, and
Isabel Lamal, Ashland, Wisconsin.
Mr. Chairman, I have a communication received from
the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. It was prepared by Richard
A. Hemp, presented by Harry S. Pomeroy, Vice-president, Mr.
Pomeroy could not be with us.
The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is a statewide
organization of conservation clubs and individuals
affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation. The
Federation represents 63 local clubs and approximately
12,000 members.
The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation can offer no
technical solution to the problems of Lake Superior water
quality, except to suggest that the most direct, obvious, and
economical way to maintain high water quality is to prohibit the
discharge of any element, waste, by-product, or substance into
the water which has the property to downgrade its quality.
Persuasive arguments can often be heard that a single
given operation or development cannot by itself harm the
environment in any appreciable or noticeable degree. This
may very well be so.
-------
650
Wisconsin Wildlife Federation
However, the aggregate of these so-called semi-
harmless developments can in their total sum build up, in
relationship to their number, a massive pollution problem.
We have seen the other four of the Great Lakes "go
down the drain" because too little attention was given the
problems as they were building up and forthright action is
now hard to come by because of the irreversible nature of
past and present developments.
In Lake Superior we have the largest relatively
unspoiled body of water remaining in America. The opportunity
to prevent its despoliation is here and now while its water
quality, as compared to the other Great Lakes, is still
relatively high.
Certainly if we drift into a policy of permitting this
and then permitting that because this operation or that
development has no apparent effect on the ecology of the lake,
we are passing an eventual death sentence on this magnificent
body of water, much in the same manner in which the other
Great Lakes are doomed to die, unless through long, costly,
and ponderous processes we can reserve this judgment.
The Wisconsin Wildlife Federation is categorically
opposed to pollution in any form. Let's save Lake Superior
from the thoughtless, reckless exploitation which has marked
our natural resource use up to now."
-------
651
B. C. Prentice
I have had a request from Dr. B. C. Prentice to
make a statement to this Conference.
Is Dr. Prentice here?
A VOICE: He couldn't make it. I will give it
to you for the record. He cannot be here.
MR. FRANCOS: All right.
(The statement of Dr. Culver Prentice was read
and follows.)
-------
652
W. E. BAHGHDLTZ, M. o. FIRST FLDDR, SUITE 1DI
J. E. KREHER. M. D. PH O N E= 6 8 Z-6 6 Z Z
J. W. PRENTICE, M. D.
8. C. PRENTICE, M. O.
•.*. KDELLER, M.D. SMILES-PRENTICE MEDICAL GROUP
2O6 SIXTH AVENUE WEST
ASHLAND, WISCONSIN
S4SD6
May 13, 1969
Chairman
P W P C A Enforcement Hearing
Duluth, Minnesota
fly name is Dr. Culver Prentice of Ashland, Wisconsin. I apeak
as a concerned private eitisen and as the Chairman of the "Citizens
Committee for an Apostle Island National Lake Shore." I hare lived
and worked my entire adult life in the-4wrenvirons of Lake Superior.
Ky home is on its shore. Bays, beaches and tributaries have shap-
ed my life. I have plied its waters Vy sail from Whitefish Bay
to the Apostle Islands. I know Lake Superior well and love it
deeply.
In the course of this hearing there will be statement and counter-
statement relative to what does or does not constitute pollution.
.there will be attempts to decide which bits of violence done to
Lake Superior constitute violations of law, and even whether or
not clear violations can or should be brought to account.
All this seems beside the point. The real point is that in Lake
Superior we have the last clean and the most magnificent fresh.
water body in the world, and that its freshness and magnificence
is of the most fragile sort.
It has its own peculiar ecology brought into balance over the past
eons. A most delicate balance of living organisms, geologic de-
velopment and climatologic influences. And make no mistake about
it, despite its seemingly limitless capacity for dilution this
delicate balance will be hideously influenced by any and all
pollution! And once the ecologic balance is tipped by pollution,
by whatever name it may be called, the plunge to degradation is
accelerated.
And just as its magnificence has struck us as being ageless, so
too will Lake Superior's pollution be ageless. For even if all
forms of pollution were totally stopped, it would take this vast
lake 500 years to purge itself!
With these thoughts in mind it is self evident that anything
that in anyway disturbs Lake Superior's ecologic balance, be it
thermal pollution, municipal sewage, industrial discharges or
mill tailings must be prohibited as illegal. And whether or
not considered by the law to be illegal such outrages against
our environment are opposed to all codes of moral decency.
-------
653
W. E. BARGHDLTZ, M.D. FIRST FLDOR, SUITE 1D1
J. E. KREHER, M.D. PHONE: 6B2-66ZZ
J. W. PRENTICE, M. D.
B. C. PRENTICE, M. D.
SMILES-PRENTICE MEDICAL GROUP
2D6 SIXTH AVENUE WEST
ASHLAND, WISCONSIN
54806
Kay 15, 1969
Chairman
J W I- C A Enforcement Hearing
Page -2-
I would urge the F W P C A to take a strong stand against aJ.1
forms of alteration of Lake Superior's ecology. I would urge
the adEinistration to bring the force of law to bear where
there are present violations. I would encourage them to assume
a forward looking stance in fomulatinr; policies that do not
fa.vor municipalities, industries and xrxdivi duals, but tha.t
favor the environment in which, we all aust function!
Thank you for the opportunity for presenting
B. C. 1'rentice, K/Xu^^* Chairman
Citizens Committee for Apostle Islands
l.'ntional Lake Ghore
BCP:mla
-------
654
Don Covill Skinner
MR. FRANCOS: We have had a request from the
Reverend Dr. Don Covill Skinner of Northland College to make
a statement.
Is Dr. Skinner here?
STATEMENT OF DON COVILL SKINNER,
NORTHLAND COLLEGE, ASHLAND, WISCONSIN
DR. SKINNER: Gentlemen:
My name is Don Skinner. I am a resident of Ashland,
Wisconsin, and serve on the faculty of Northland College. Along
with these verbal remarks, I am submitting for the record a report
of a study conducted by myself and Mr. Henry Lockwood, a Northland
College Senior majoring in biology.
(The report follows.)
-------
655
WRITTEN TESTIMONY SUBMITTED TO THE FKOEnAL WA'TSR POLLUTION CONTROL
ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE, LAKE SUPERIOR BASIN, AT
DULUTH, MINNESOTA, MAY l^s-l^h, 1969.
Statement submitted by: Dr. Don Covill Skinner, Ashland, Wisconsin
Mr, Henry Lockwood, Northland College.
A. INTRODUCTION
During the late part of April and early May, we conducted exper-
iments to test t^e effect on marine life of the effluent of the
E. I. Du Pont De Nemours Co., Inc. plant at Barksdale, Wisconsin.
This effluent enters Boyd Creek as the creek passes through the
Du Pont property, and shortly thereafter drains into Lake Superior
in Chequamegon Bay.
Our study of this material was motivated by a number of factors,
the first being that the general dissatisfaction with the effluent
relates to its red color, making it an esthetic nuisance; but we
have heard little concerning its impact on the ecology of the
stream and the lake. Representatives of the Du Pont plant, in our
conversations with them, indicate this is their primary concern.
They point to studies indicating that the material, in modest
quantities, is not noticeably harmful to warm-blooded animals,
and that there have been no reported instances of fish-kills.
We were secondly motivated to conduct this study because we became
aware that the state of Wisconsin was dealing with the problem,
but only recently, when the problem has existed for fifty-five
years, since Du Pont first began to release this effluent in
We had heard rumors as to the toxic quality of the material, and
determined to investigate for ourselves.
It should also be stated that we are convinced of Du Font's good
will in their claims that they are working hard to solve the
problem. The difficult nature of the problem is witnessed in the
fact that all attempts to solve it thus far have proved either
ineffectual or economically prohibitive.
On the basis of our study, however, we cannot agree with the view
that this is primarily an esthetic problem, and we are very con-
cerned over the quality of the chemical materials in question.
B. THE "RED WATER" PROBLEM
Briefly, the "red water" phenomenon is caused by the runoff of
cooling and wash waters at the end of the production of the
organic compound 2,^-,6-Trinitrotoluene, commonly called TNT, an
explosive substance. In the effluent are significant quantities
of Nitrotoluene Sulfonic Acid, (NTS), which material has a high
coloring capability, and even in small quantities colors the water
a bright red. This material is run off as effluent because of
certain undesirable components of the TNT production, which are
outlined in the appendices at the conclusion of this report.
In the course of our study, we have learned the following about
this material: that Nitrotoluene Sulfonic Acid is a highly toxic
substance to any organic life, as are all members of the ni i'-ro
group of organic- compounds; that it is a stable compound not easily
-------
Skinner / Lockwood 656
Page 2
broken down, and has a low degree of biological degradability;
that it does not evaporate out of solution readily, but tends to
stay behind in increasing concentration as water evaporates; that
it can be broken down by organisms if it is not initiated in lethal
dosage, and in vertibrates is reduced to Nitrobenzoic Acid which
is capable of being excreted through the kidneys; that this process
demands an increased oxygen consumption on the organism's part to
facilitate the oxydzzation process; and that organisms may be
greatly weakened physically until the alien material is purged.
An additional danger on which we do not yet have information is
the possibility of NTS, under certain conditions, being reduced
to Nitrobenzene, a potent organic solvent which will dissolve any
living tissue. This material is highly toxic, may be absorbed
through the skin or inhaled as vapor, and can only partially be
discharged. It turns the blood a chocolate brown and disrupts the
functioning of hemoglobin and metahemoglobin.
With this information in hand, we conducted two sets of experi-
ments .
C. FIELD EXPERIMENTS
Using a planktonic drag net, we took samples from Boyd Creek with
the following results;
1. A drag of the creek above the Du Pont effluence point
yielded a number of life forms normal to creek life.
2. A drag below the Du Pont effluence point yielded no living
organisms, but several dead ones in the sediment.
3. A drag at the delta, just nrior to the creek's entry into
Chequamegon Bay yielded only two small worms of unidentified
species.
While in the field, we collected large samples of the stream water
both above and below the effluence point, samples of which staid
before you, the white water from above, the red water from below.
These served as the basis for our laboratory experiments.
D. LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS
Two sets of lab experiments were conducted, the first using
microscopic life forms, the second five species of fish common
to Lake Superior.
The results of the experiments with microscopic life are not yet
completed. We can state, however, that the introduction of the
red water into cultures of these organisms results in a signifi-
cant reduction of life, and in some cases total anniHilation..
The implications of this fact for the ecology of Cnequamegor. Bay
are extremely profound. These animals assist in the processing
of organic materials in the water, somewhat like a waste disposal
system, and in turn serve as food for higher life forms. Their
destruction can therefore result in both decay of the water
quality and loss of the base of the marine food supply.
-------
657
Ski/run er / Lockwood
Pa-e 3
The fish experiments preyed to be more decisive, and are herein
outlined. Three experiments were conducted, using the corairon
bate minnow known as shiners, rock catfish, stickleback, suckers
and Brook Trout, It should be noted that these species represent
a considerable variation in fish life, from highly specialized
and sensitive species on the one end to organisms capable of sur-
viving in rather low-quality conditions on the other. We first
determined that these species would survive in Boyd Creek water
prior to the initiation of the NTS material, and found they
thrived. A control tank was maintained throughout the experiments,
and at the end these fish were released in a healthy condition in-
to Lake Superior.
In the first experiment, fish x/ere subjected directly to the red
stream water as taken from Boyd Creek, with temperature and oxy-
gen control. Fish so treated followed a uniform pattern. Within
a few seconds they demonstrated violent swimming behavior, and
often made successive leaps out of the water. Within a few seconds
after that, they entered a state of extreme •'ntoxification, re-
sembling a siezure, or the spasmodic muscular contractions of a
fish which has been stuck on the head with a blunt instrument.
Within one minute they had lost equilibrium, and floated on their
backs at the surface or on the bottom, and death ensued within
several minutes.
It should be noted that in recent trials with a more concentrated
solution, as the stream has declined after the spring runoff,
fish subjected to the stream water die within a matter of 15 or
so seconds.
These experiments were continued in increasingly less concentrated
solutions, by the addition of fresh water—as would happen in the
lake as the stream water is distributed through the water system--
until it was determined that death would not result. It was found
in this way ~kbat if the stream water were diluted in a ratio of
one part to •&§&• parts fresh water, fish die within twenty-four
hours; but at a ratio of one part stream water to ten parts fresh
water, the fish continue to survive.
In the second experiment, fish were placed in tanks containing
varying concentrations of solution, ranging from one-to-ten up
to one-to-fifty stream water to fresh. Over a ten-day period, all
the fish survived with the exception of a few which died almost
immediately, apparently because of desease or similar liability.
None of the other fish showed significant change, except thoce i:i
the most concentrated solution. These demonstrated loss of equi-
librium, and could not maintain a position midway in the tank,
i.e. they either rested on the bottom of floated to the top in-
stantly with the cessation of swimming movements, suggesting a
considerable disability. Only one change was noted: the fish
showed signs of revival on the eighth day, an explanation for
which is provided below.
In the third experiment a group of fish were placed in clear water,
and a measured quantity of stream water \^as added daily for ten
days. The dosage was such that on the eighth day the solution
should have reached the lethal level. As of the tenth day, however_
all the fish remained alive. We postulated that one of two DOS-
-------
Ski.cn.er / Lock-wood 553
Page ^
sibilities existed; (a) that the fish had developed a tolerance
for the material, a fact unlikely according to the literature,
given the toxicity characteristics of NTS; or, (b) that the mater-
ial was being broken down within the tank environment so that by
the tenth day the le-thftl level had not in fact been achieved. We
tested these hypotheses by placing fresh fish from the control
tank directly into the experimental tank on the tenth day. Their
behavior did not change, and since they had no opportunity to
develop a tolerance for the material, it is apparent the lethil
level had not been achieved.
Examination of the tank contents revealed little bacterial growth,
although some algal growth was noted. It seems more likely, how-
ever, that the fish themselves were internalizing the material,
processing it, and excreting it in broken-down form, although
tests for this are extremely difficult and we have not been able
to pursue them. If this hypothesis is correct, however, it would
also explain the eighth-day recovery of the fish in above-mentioned
one-to-ten solution.
E. CONCLUSIONS
From these studies we have drawn the following conclusions, which
have obvious implications, and suggest several serious potential
problems;
1. The Du Pont effluent is highly hazardous to marine life, and
is definitely not merely an esthetic nuisance. We feel confi-
dent to predict that no fish will survive in Boyd Creek or in
Chequamegon Bay before sufficient dilution has occurred to
render the material tolerable in concentration. That there has
been no significant fish-kill is not entirely true. Drc Newton
3obb, Emeritus Professor of Biology at Northland College, in-
forms us that in 191*+, when Du Pont first introduced NTS to
Boyd Creek, a once fine trout stream was destroyed, a whole
strain of trout killed, and people came from all around during
the migration season to pick the dying trout out of the water.
The implication is that cleaned up, and given a chance to purge
itself, Boyd Creek could again become a trout stream, which sug-
gests what has been done to a recreational and natural resource.
2. While our experiments indicate that some organisms, and perhaps
fish, can process NTS over an extended time period, it is also
evident that during that period fish suffer a physical debili-
tation, making them more readily subject to the hazards of the
environment, such as predators or desease. We have no informa-
tion of how this condition might affect reproductive capacity.
And perhaps most serious, we have no clues to date as to what
the end products of this biological processing might be, or
their impact on the chemical composition of Lake Superior
waters.
F. RECOMMENDATIONS
Based on these experiments and our conclusions, we wish to enter
the following recommendations to this conference;
-------
Skinner / Lockwood
Page 5 659
Because of the grave impact of NTS on Eoyd Creek waters, and
its potentially grave impact on Lake Superior, it is our opin-
ion that the toxicity factor has been outweighed by esthetic
considerations, and we therefore find -unacceptable any proposed
solution to the colored water which is based on diluting the
material and piping it out to the bottom of Chequamegon Bay.
This might solve the esthetic problem by hiding it at the
bottom of 'the bay, but it also obscures from view the biolo-
gical impact. Given the ecological system of a lake such as
Superior, where the shallows areas such as Chequamegon Bay
form the base for the entire ecosystem's food supply, the im-
pact of NTS is too dangerous to toy around with.
We reject the notion that it is permissible for Du Pont to
continue dumping this material into Lake Superior on any grouud
whatever. We are not impressed by the arguement that since
there is little pollution in the area, there can be little harm
in what they are doing. Biological studies of the Bay over a
period of years since the turn of the century indicate a
serious and continuing degradation of the area and a continu-
ous decline of its life-sustaining properties. Adding any
pollutant to these waters, especially a material of high tox-
icity, can only complicate the problem and frustrate a solution.
We are appalled, quite frankly, that a 'Isconsin state law
prohibiting pollution of Lake Superior by industry, passed in
1899^ has been ignored in this case until last year. We would
like to know how it is that the red water has been present
since 191*+, but that the first state order to clean it up was
not issued until 1968. With this kind of casual attitude en
the part of the state regulatory agencies, our environment has
little chance of surviving; or, to put it in different terms,
if Lake Superior has those kinds of friends, who needs enemies?
-------
Gkuir.er / Loclcwcod
660
6
APPENDIX A
/ Characteristics of Nitro toluene
The properties of Nitrotoluene
zene, a potent organic solvent
are similar to those of Nitroben-
which will dissolve organic jcater-
. In the body, however, the pre-
Nitro toluene less toxic than Nitro-
may be oxidized, resulting in
Nitrobenzoic acid, which may be excreted through the kidneys,
as illustrated below:
ials not
sence of
benzene,
otherwise dissolvable,
the CH^ group renders
because the CE-, group
IT
h
N02
Nitro toluene
or its isomers
Oxidation
Nitrobenzoic Acid
In addition, it is worth noting that traces of Benzoic acid have
preservative properties for food. However, the material is con-
sidered sufficiently dangerous, even in trace amounts, that the
law prohibits its use as a food preservative. These facts sug-
gest something of the hazards which characterize the nitro group
of compounds, of which the Nitrotoluene Sulfonic Acid effluent is
one.
APPENDIX B / Alternatives to the NTS Effluent Process
Under the present set of circumstances, the production of TNT
results in two other products, 2,3,^- and 2,M-, 5-Trinitrotoluene.
Each of these contains a labile nitro group (one which is easily
broken off the molecule) which makes them undesired by-products,
in that they tend to hydrolize easily and yield Nitric Acid.
They are therefore considered contaminants, and are eliminated
as follows: crude TNT is warmed in a 5% aqueous solution of So-
dium Sultife (Na2SCb). The labile N02 groups are replaced by the
Sodium Sulfinate group (SOoNa) to yield water soluble derivatives
of "reddish sulfite extract," thus the red water color.
CH3
iJo
CH3
NO 2
WASHv.
: WATE'H "
-------
Skinnor / Lockwood 661
Page 7
The process, hovaver, need not stop here with the washing away
of the last yield of compounds as waste as in Boyd Creek. An
additional step may be instituted which combines these material?
and forms a second explosive material, the schematic formula for
which appears below. We have acquainted the Du Pont management
with this process (we are unaware of whether or not they have
considered it before)v but not being industrial chemists we can-
not speak to the cost involved or to the marketability of the
final product. The idea would at least seem worthy of considera-
tion as an alternative to the pollution of Boyd Creek and Lake
Superior.
INVQv / \
'Olso-Ba
N02
i
"V ^
I. CH3NH2 (Replacing the S03Na)
2. Nitration
NO 2
3-Methyltetryl
BIBLIOGRAPHY
The following deal with the nature and problems of the "red water
phenomenon" and difficulties in dealing with it as an effluent.
Stuart Schott, C.C. Ruchhoff & Stephen Megregian, "TNT Wastes,"
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry, Vol. 35, Wo. 10, October
19^3, pp. 1122-1127.
"Surveys of Liquid Wastes from Munitions Manufacturing," Public
Health Reports, vol. 58, No. 37, September 10, 19^3, PP- -'Jo 5-
1372."
The above were drawn to our attention by the Du Pont management
in our personal conversations with them.
-------
662
Don Covill Skinner
Our study, conducted over the period of the last few months,
concerns the impact on marine life of the effluent of the Du
Pont plant at Barksdale, Wisconsin.
I have placed before you two bottles of water. The
clear water is a sample taken from Boyd Creek at the point it
enters Du Font's property; the second bottle contains the same
water as it leaves the Du Pont property just prior to the creek's
mouth at Lake Superior. The red color is caused by the presence
of significant quantities of nitrotoluene sulfonic acid, which is
washed off in the final stages of the preparation of the explosive TNT.
Our written report gives full details of our studies,
findings, and recommendations. I shall here make only a few
selected remarks for the purpose of emphasis.
Like many residents of the Chequamegon Bay area, we
are concerned by this situation. But while many people, including
the management of the Du Pont plant, as you just heard, see it
primarily as aesthetic nuisance, our concern is somewhat more
serious, becuase, quite frankly stated, this material is poison,
plain and simple. In a mixture of 1 part effluent to about a
thousand parts of stream water - which is what you see before you -
a fish will die in a matter of a few seconds to at most a couple
of minutes, depending on how high the stream is running when you
extract your samples.
-------
663
Don Covill Skinner
We know this, gentlemen, because we have done it with
numerous fish, including shiners, rock catfish, stickleback, suckers,
and brook trout. We also know that this material is lethal to
those microscopic organisms which form the base of. the food chain
in a body of water like Lake Superior. We consider this to be an
extreme hazard to the lake, because the death of such organisms
not only interrupts the normal food cycle of fish upon which we
depend for sport and commercial fisheries, but because these
organisms are vital in keeping the lake clean. Like a waste
disposal system, they process organic material which results from
life in the lake, keeping the water clear, and their loss results in
a proportional decay of the lake waters.
We see no reason why this situation should be permitted
to continue. We further see no reason why the lake should be
used as a garbage disposal unit for the processing of the waste
products of our industry, urban areas, or private homes. The lake
will do some of this for us if we demand it, and if we are willing
to live next to and play in an open sewer.
We further find it appalling that this condition has
existed since 1914 when Du Pont first began producing TNT at the
Barksdale plant; that since 1899 the State has had a statute
forbidding the pollution of the lake; but that the first order
issued by the State against Du Pont to clean up the situation was
not issued until 1968. That certainly does not square well with our
Wisconsin pride in being a national leader in matters of pollution
abatement and resource conservation„
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664
Don Covill Skinner
If I may depart just momentarily from my written text.
The statement that there have been no significant fish killed because
of the "red water" problem is not true. A professor at Northland
College has studied Chequamegon Bay since 1904, and he recalls in
1914 when the "red water" first entered Boyd's Creek that the trout
once having been in the stream turned belly up and died in the creek.
And people came from all around to pickup the trout, the trout being
up from the stream, as they died. The trout, being an anadnomus fish,
return to their spawning grounds. Although the trout did not choose
to enter that, they did enter, and that whole stream of trout did
go into it.
Because of all the above, we cannot under any cir-
cumstances endorse the Du Pont proposal which would solve the
problem by piping the material in diluted form out to the bottom
of Chequamegon Bay and hide it there. That may solve the aesthetic
nuisance, but it fails completely to meet the grave ecological
hazards. There are entirely too many unanswered questions concerning
the immediate impact and long-term liabilities of flooding the
environment with lethal substances.
I would also like to add a brief comment concerning the
way we approach this and similar problems. Much has been said lately
concerning this conference, asserting we must here ascertain scientific
facts/ and that this conference will have been a failure if decisions
are based on political considerations. I agree, up to a point. That
point is defined by my understanding of both politics and science.
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665
Don Covill Skinner
If by science we mean some wonderful medium by which
we will solve all human problems and cure all human ills, we are
deluding ourselves. This places on science a burden it cannot
tolerate. Science is, after all, merely a very specialized way
of looking for particular kinds of information. By its nature it
is restricted from making value judgments. Science can tell us,
for instance, that a particular action will alter Lake Superior in
a particular way. This is useful to know. But there are still many
actions the effect of which science cannot predict. And even with
the information it can give us, science as science cannot tell us
whether our behavior is good or bad.
We will have to determine that on the basis of value
judgments having to do with what quality of environment we demand
for ourselves and posterity, and how much we are willing to pay
for it - in money, in human resources, and in friction in our
communities as some people demand to take certain liberties with
the environment that others are unwilling to give them.
This is why these are political issues, political in
the sense that they deal with the processes by which a people govern
themselves. For what we are really doing here is taking the pulse
of the people to determine just what they will, or will not, put
up with.
At heart, political issues are issues of ethical value.
And first on our list of values, if our efforts are not to culminate
in tragedies like Lake Erie, where I grew up, must be an unwillingness
-------
666
Charles H. Stoddard
to permit any practice the consequences of which we cannot predict.
The fact that we may necessarily have to say at some point that
science has not given us a complete answer is not a justification
for continued tampering with the environment.
In summary, gentlemen, I contend that where there is
a difference of opinion the burden of proof rests with those whose
actions have the potential of altering the lake. It is they who
must prove their actions harmless, not that those objecting to such
practices must prove them harmful. For those doing the objecting
know that their goal is the maintenance of the purity of Lake
Superior. Those who wish to use it as a dumping ground must either
account for their actions fully, or admit their ignorance. And I
would remind you that behavior based on ignorance most frequently
ends in disaster.
Thank you very much.
(Applause.)
MR. FRANCOS: Mr. Chairman, I would now like to call
upon Mr. Charles Stoddard as a citizen of Wisconsin to make a
statement to this Conference.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES H. STODDARD,
RESOURCE CONSULTANT, WOLF
SPRINGS FOREST, MINONG, WISCONSIN
MR. STODDARD: Mr. Chairman, conferees:
-------
667
Charles H. Stoddard
In the event that anybody here might have missed
Mr. Klein's remarks yesterday with respect to a report that
was written last winter, I would like to introduce into the
record a copy of the Summary Report on Environment Impact of
Taconite with Respect to Lake Superior.
MR. DOMINICK: We would be happy to receive that
report as an exhibit.
(The above—mentioned report is on file at FWPCA
Headquarters, Washington, D. C., and the Great Lakes Regional
Office, Chicago, Illinois.)
MR. STODDARD: Over the past 20 years great changes
have taken place in the Great Lakes. Probably because economic
development has not proceeded as rapidly along Lake Superior as
it has along lower Lake Michigan and Lake Erie, we have one Great
Lake left which has not yet reached the pollution crisis stage.
The issue facing this historic and precedent-sett Lag conference
and squarely facing those vested with the authority for enforcing
pollution control laws is simply this: Can we clean up existing
sources of contamination, and can we build into any new developments
prevention devices so as to maintain Lake Superior's purity? An
equally basic question is: Can our complex legal and administrative
machinery really enforce pollution control laws in the face of heavy
economic and political pressures to study, to postpone, to discredit,
and, yes, even to use improper influence not to act?
-------
668
Charles H. Stoddacd
I throw down these questions as a challenge directly
to the Secretary and Assistant Secretary of the Interior, to the
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, to the pollution
control agencies of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and to the
U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Office. Yours is
a heavy responsibility to generations unborn, gentlemen.
During the past several months the press and the air
have been filled with statements and counter-statements about the
Department of Interior report to the Army Corps of Engineers on
taconite tailings disposal in Lake Superior. As the coordinator of
Interior agencies under authority delegated me by Secretary Udall,
mine was the responsibility to implement the Army-Interior agreement
of 1967 in the Great Lakes Region.
Under this agreement the Corps requested comments from
Interior bureaus on requests for new permits and revalidation of
existing permits for dredging, filling, and excavating of the
navigable waters of the United States. (It is important to note
here that the U. S. Government exercises legal authority in an
1899 Act in these navigable waters at the shoreline - not simply
on an imaginary State line at the center of the lake.) On
November 1, 1967, the St. Paul office of the Corps issued a notice
requesting comments on the revalidation of an existing permit to the
Reserve Mining Company of Silver Bay, Minnesota, involving the
deposition of 60,000 tons of taconite tailings per day into the
lake. Interior bureaus did comment. They suggested a study and
-------
669
Charles H. Stoddard
only a temporary renewal of the permit originally issued. The
study was not a water pollution control study of all of Lake
Superior, it was simply on the one single aspect of the Corps
of Army Engineers permit to Reserve.
From this point on strict bureaucratic procedures
were adhered to - with the one exception that much greater study
and detailed fact-finding were planned to find the basic facts of
the effects of this highly controversial source of effluent into
the lake than is normally required. This procedure is set forth
in detail in the submitted attached memorandum from my office to
the Chief of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, dated January 20,
1969. Subject: Chronology of Lake Superior Taconite Tailings
Study.
I would like to introduce into the record a copy of
that memorandum.
MR. DOMINICK: We would be happy to have that
memorandum as an exhibit.
(The above—mentioned memorandum is on file at
FWPCA Headquarters, Washington, D. C., and the Regional
Office, Chicago, Illinois.
-------
670
Charles H. Stoddard
MR. STODDARD: To summarize, five Interior regional
agencies - the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, Bureau of
Commercial Fisheries, Bureau of Mines, Geological Survey, and Federal
Water Pollution Control Administration - cooperated fully under my
chairmanship in designing the studies, made their top scientists
available for investigations, interpreted their data, submitted reports
which were included in toto in the final report. The States of Minnesota
and Wisconsin cooperated by having their own pollution agency representa-
tives present at all meetings and by collecting certain portions of the
data for which they were particularly well equipped. Each of the three
principal participating Federal agencies - Commercial Fisheries, Sports
Fisheries and Wildlife and FWPCA - reviewed the draft of the Summary
Report - Part I, which I just submitted, prepared by a working committee
of those agencies, concurred with the findings that pollution of Lake
Superior was resulting from taconite tailings at Silver Bay, and the
renewal of the Army Engineers permit should be conditional pending
construction of on-land disposal facilities.
Under the circumstances it would not have been possible
for me to have influenced the findings in any manner, even if I wanted
to do so, which I did not. Hard facts are hard facts, and these men
found that taconite tailings are polluting Lake Superior.
The report - Part I (a summary) and Part II (the full
research submissions) were tansmitted to Colonel Richard Hesse, District
Engineer of the Corps in Sto Paul, on December 31, 1968. This is the
report here that backs up the summary report. It is fully annotated
in every detail.,
-------
671
Charles H. Stoddard
There was no requirement - I repeat no requirement
for Washington off ice'"review"of Army-Interior reports. Prior to
completion of the report there was a great deal of pressure from
citizen groups and the press to release preliminary findings -
which we did not. I personally gave Secretary Udall a copy.
Copies also were sent to Mr. Jack Bregraan, a former staff assistant
to former Assistant Secretary Max Edwards, who preceded Mr. Klein,
who indicated his office would release the report. Copies were
also given immediately to the Reserve Mining Company.
I have subsequently learned that such tremendous
pressures were exerted upon Edwards and Bregman that when the
report became public that Edwards became concerned enough to make
such statements as,, "It is full of errors, it contains falsities,"
etc. But when asked to specify precisely, they could not do so.
Neither have any of those who recently made statements to the press
been able to do so. However, Water Pollution Control Commissioner
Joe Moore, who is an outstanding, tough-minded public servant, on
January 23, publicly defended the report but took possible exception
only to the conclusicn that 60,000 tons of taconite tailings daily
vere accelerating aging (eutrophication) of the lake. You heard
Dr. Bartsch on this yesterday and you know it can happen here.
I would like to introduce Mr. Moore's statement into
the record.
MR. DOMINICK: That will be received as an exhibit.
(The above—mentioned statement is on file at FWPCA
Headquarters, Washington, D. C. and the Regional Office, Chicago,
Illinois.)
-------
672
Charles H. Stoddard
MR. STODDARD: I would point out to Assistant Secretary
Klein and others who publicly questioned the, integrity and authenticity
of the December 31 Interior Report, that every single finding is docu-
mented in this Five-Agency Report, Part II. The main differences
between this Interior Report and the single agency FWPCA "An Appraisal
of Water Pollution in the Lake Superior Basin" lie in the omission of
several significant findings by other Interior agencies. The new
FWPCA report did include new findings on taconite tailings in the Duluth
water supply, for example. It is an excellent report and corroborates
the earlier report's findings. Those which were omitted dealt largely
with the findings of other Interior agencies, State matters, enforcement,
and disposal recommendations.
In my formal papers I have identified the omissions as:
1) That Federal-State water quality standards are being violated as
a result of the discharge of iron, lead, zinc, cadmium, and copper;
3) That turbidity has been found to be widespread and in excess of the
Minnesota permit to Reserve;
6) That the 60,000 tons of tailings per day are equal to all of the
silt discharged from North Shore streams in a year0
10) that alternate disposal methods are available. Every other taconite
plant has on-land closed system tailings disposal„
It is significant, I believe, that numerous speakers preceeding
me have quoted liberally from the Interior Report and used its data, even
Reserve Mining. It is equally significant that no responsible scientist
or layman has very successfully challenged any of the findings of the
report labeled by some high public officials as saying
completely "false" and "full of errors."
-------
673
Charles H. Stoddard
Before the report was finally published it was
necessary to obtain the approval of the three Bureaus that I
mentioned - Commercial Fisheries, Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, and FWPCA,
Each Regional Director submitted letters which directed--! have
copies of these available and will introduce them into the record--
that these tailings be placed at an on-land disposal site.
Specifically, these three key agencies concurred with the following
statement:
"The Department of Interior report concluded from
the evidence developed in the agencies' studies that:
"1. Pollution is occurring as a result of taconite
tailings being deposited in Lake Superior by Reserve Mining
Company.
"2. The kind, extent, quanitity, degree, and nature
of pollution from this source have been set forth in the main
body of the report and in the conclusions.
"3. The environmental effect of such pollution is to
increase the turbidity of this once-clear lake, accelerate
eutrophication by enrichment of its waters, raise certain
chemical constituents to levels beyond established limits,
and to decrease available fish foods and fish habitat through
deposition of sediment.
"4. Improvement of the lake environment cannot be
expected until the taconite tailings waste can be disposed
of elsewhere.
-------
674
Charles H. Stoddard
"Therefore, the Department of the Interior recommends
that the permit of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to the
Reserve Mining Company be extended conditionally for a period
of three years, sufficient to investigate and construct alternate
on-land waste disposal facilities, including recycling of used
water, in order to comply with Federal-State water quality
standards and to restore Lake Superior waters to their original
high quality."
Exactly the same process used by all other taconite
operations up on the Iron Range- It has not been considered an economic
hardship by the companies which are doing this exact same thing,
such charges are false and those who make them know full well - good
people of Silver Bay.
When this report was received by Secretary Udall he
called this conference. He accepted it as official. He told me
he wanted a fact-finding conference, that he was satisfied with the
facts in this report as the reason for calling it, and he hoped the
conference would act on them to keep Lake Superior from becoming
another Lake Erie.
I wish that Assistant Secretary Klein, who has said the
report has "no official status," were here today. These are serious
charges. Mr. Klein apparently has not done his home work - he is new
to the Department. If he had, he would have learned that the report
was prepared as I have described - strictly according to procedure
and with only solid scientific evidence. If it is Mr. Klein's
-------
675
Charles H. Stoddard
intention to repeal the Udall procedures for Interior review over
Army dredging and filling permits - and that is what Mr. Klein is
implying - then he puts Secretary Hickel's Administration in full
retreat from Udall's conservation record. This is what many feared
and it is bad news for the environment.
The test will come when the St. Paul office of the
Corps - as Colonel Hesse said in his statement - receives the
recommendation of the Hickel-Klein Interior Department. Make
no mistake - a recommendation for continued surveillance in place
of land disposal will represent a retreat and public demonstration
that the law is bent to favor big polluters. Further surveillance
and study of an increasingly festering situation is a time-worn
bureaucratic evasion from tough decisions in the public interest.
Must we wait for the facts of irreversible pollution of Lake Superior
before we have the courage to act?
During my period of tenure as Regional Coordinator,
one other significant Inter-Bureau study covering the degradation
of the St. Louis River and the environmental quality of Jay Cooke
State Park was completed at the request of the Under Secretary. I
would also like to introduce that into the record.
MR. DOMINICK: That will be received as an exhibit.
(The above—mentioned study is on file at FWPCA Headquarters,
Washington, D. C., and the Regional Office, Chicago, Illinois.)
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676
Charles H. Stoddard
MR. STODDARD: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
It has been reported in the Duluth and Minnespolis
press that planning is under way to construct a nuclear plant on
the North Shore of Lake Superior approximately 20 miles from Duluth.
This site (near the Knife River) is reported to fit the requirements
for cooling water amounting to 2 billion gallons per day. The U. S.
Atomic Energy Commission is said to.be joining with Union Carbide
Corporation in this venture. On-the-ground site surveys have been
made. This location was chosen because 2 billion gallons of water
per day are needed for cooling. This is, incidentally, more water
than the Mississippi carried in its recent flood stage at LaCrosse,
Wisconsin.
Because of the tremendous and probably damaging impact
such a development would have on our outstanding scenic and
environmental resources of the North Shore, the likelihood of
permanent alteration of the quality of Lake Superior water by
thermal pollution and danger from nuclear wastes, people are
concerned that apparently the decision to locate this plant has
been on the basis of strictly economic and physical suitability
without regard to environmental impacts or without regard to local
or regional considerations by the residents of the area.
No hearings have been held. Our fear - like all the
big projects of recent years - is that the final decision to locate
the plant will rest in the hands of a few corporate and agency
engineers and planners, and will become irrevocable before
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677
Chaires H. Stoddard
alternatives are examined or environmental factors are considered.
Are decisions of this kind made in Washington by a few people with
political power and then announced to the citizenry? Many of us
feel that tfoe decision to build on this site and no other should
not become final before these considerations can be properly
weighed. I respectfully urge that a series of public hearings be
held by an independent and politically responsible body. At such
a hearing the following facts should be clearly set forth by the
proponents:
(1) Reasons why the Knife River-North Shore site
was chosen as against alternative sites vmxcK have been considered.
(2) The possibility of using an alternative site
within the already polluted Duluth-Superior Harbor which could
contain the expected thermal pollution and provide for utilization
of waste heat by Twin Ports industries, commercial, and residential
buildings.
(3) The extent and input of discharge of nuclear and
thermal pollution into the lake.
(4) The effect of the changes of water temperature
and what nuclear wastes will do to the lake, and-particularly on
the research program of the National Water Quality Laboratory - a
new facility which could be rendered useless.
-------
678
Charles H. Stoddard
(5) Finally, a measure of the extent of economic
benefit to the area where the project is finally built and what
end result will be required for the plant to function.
In conclusion, this conference is in many ways a test
of our national moral fiber and our ability to learn from the
mistakes on the other Great Lakes. If we follow old procedures
of allowing pollution to build up in the wake of economic develop-
ment, then find the evidence and then try to act, we will pass on
a sorry legacy to those who follow us. We will pass on more of the
same as Lake Erie and Lake Michigan.
Or we can take a bold approach, turn over a new leaf
by cleaning up existing sources of pollution and require that the
effluents of any new developments be so handled that no decrease
in water quality will take place.
This would call upon the conference to review the now
relatively weak water quality standards for the lake - particularly
pesticides, thermal and nuclear pollution, siltation, and chemical
additives. This conference, when it reconvenes, should establish
not only higher standards but a requirement that any new developments
producing effluents have a plan for waste recovery or treatment
before contamination begins on the lake or its tributaries.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
MR, DOMINICK: Are there any questions?
(No response.)
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you, Mr. Stoddard.
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679
Wisconsin Conservation Congress
MR. FRANCOS: Is there a representative here from the
Wisconsin Conservation Congress?
(No response.)
MR. FRANCOS: Mr. Ralph Borst, is he here?
(No response.)
MR. FRANCOS: I take it he is not.
I will read the statement for the Wisconsin Con-
servation Congress.
The following resolution was unanimously approved by
the membership of the North Wisconsin Rod and Gun Club of
Ashland, Wisconsin, at is regular meeting held on April 9, 1969:
WHEREAS, the E. W. Davis Works of Reserve Mining
Company at Silver Bay, Minnesota, are discharging 60,000
long tons of taconite tailings daily directly into Lake
Superior; and
WHEREAS, west to northwest winds move this green
colored waste out into Lake Superior and in the direction of
the south shore and near the western boundary of the Apostle
Islands; and
WHEREAS, the prevailing current in Lake Superior runs
counter-clockwise, which increases the amount of pollution
into Wisconsin waters; and
WHEREAS, this pollution is known to have harmful effect
on plant and marine life;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Wisconsin
Conservation Congress, assembled at its annual meeting at
-------
680
Robert J. Sneed
Stevens Point, Wisconsin, April 25-26, 1969, go on record
as urging that the Governor of the State of Wisconsin bring
pressure 'to bear upon every State and Federal agency available
to an within this power to stop this source of pollution in
Lake Superior.
Signed, Richard Miller, President; Dennis Dornfeldt,
Secretary; Ralph Borst, Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Is Dr. Robert Sneed of Ashland here?
(No response.)
MR. FRANCOS: Dr. Sneed has asked that the following
letter be submitted for the record at the May 13 hearing in
Duluth regarding Lake Superior:
(The above mentioned letter follows)
-------
ASHLAND EYE CLINIC 681
ROBERT J. SNEED, M. D. KENNETH A. MORROW, M. O.
1DO1 SECOND STREET WEST
ASHLAND, WISCONSIN 54BD6
PHONE: 6B2-Z3O5
April 28th, 1969
Mr. Thomas G. Frangos
Department of Natural Resources
Box 450
Madison, Wisconsin 53701
Dear Mr. Frangos:
I would like the following letter submitted for the
record at the Kay 13th Pollution Hearing in Duluth regarding
Lake Superior:
I am a physician presently living in the town of
Ashland, Wisconsin and would like to make a statement regarding
pollution in Lake Superior.
I was born and raised in the town of Green Bay,. Wisconsin
and in this town during the short period of time of my childhood saw
Green Bay become grossly polluted for a distance of forty to fifty
miles. This was a very distressing thing for me and is the primary
reason that I did not return to that area to practice medicine.
I then moved to Duluth, Minnesota where I became aware
of the serious pollution problems in that immediate area affecting
Lake Superior. The St. Louis River where it flows through Jay Cooke
Park has the odor of the effluent from the sulphite wastes of the
paper mill immediately upstream. Brown trout caught from that river
tasted so strongly of sulphite that they were unpalatable. Walleyes
caught in the river down near Pond du Lac also were unable to be eaten
because of the pollution. When looking from the hill out over the
lake it was very evident that the water from the St. Louis Bay flowing
into Lake Superior was badly polluted and caused a very cloudy area to
extend out into the clear waters of the lake.
I then moved, to the town of Ashland, Wisconsin where the
pollution problems were not as severe but were those of municipal
sewage as well as the Dupont Chemical Plant at Barksdale, Wisconsin.
This is a fine body of water which has great economic
and esthetic value in its natural state. This value will become even
APR 3 0
-------
„ 682
ASHLAND EYE CLINIC
ROBERT J. SNEEO, M. D. KENNETH A. MORROW, M. D.
1OO1 SECOND STREET WEST
ASHLAND, WISCONSIN 54BD6
PHONE: 6S2-23D5
Mr. Thomas G. Frangos - 2 - April 28th, 1969
greater with the passage of time. It is very evident that pollution
has started f rom the sources that I have mentioned as well as from
the Reserve Mining plant in Silver Bay, Minnesota.
I certainly hope that the conference will take necessary
measures to end these sources of pollution as well as other sources
around the lake so that this body of water does not end up in the
manner as Green Bay, lower Lake Michigan or Lake Erie.
Sincerely yours,
RJS:ecs fiobert J. Sneed, M.D.
CC: Mrs. Walter Sve, Secretary
East Star Route, Box 120
Two Harbors, Minn. 55616
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683
Mrs. Anne Foncher
MR. FRANCOS: Mr. Chairman, for the record I
would like to insert a letter received from Wisconsin Bow
Hunters Association, signed by Mrs. Anne Fancher, Secretary.
I will not read it.
MR. DOMINICK: That will be received for the record.
(The letter follows.)
-------
684
WISCONSIN BOWHUNTERS ASSOCIATION
Rt. 2
:Tr. Thomas vranges, A^.in. Crivitz, Wis. 54114
livision of Environmental I-'rotection
Y/is. repertrnent of I'atural Resources
Box 450
r.Iadison, "/isconsin 53701
I;ear I-Ir. ?r9 •.,_;•• 5;:
•7e would like this statement to be included in the hearing-
record at the Federal Water Pollution Enforcement Conference,
Duluth, Kinnesota, T.'ay 13-14, 1969.
"The Wisconsin Bowhunters Association, with a membership in
excess of 6,000, is a group dedicated to the ethics of fair
chase and perpetuating America's outdoor heritage.
The pollution of our environment a.nd the needless destruction
of game and fish habitat is a.n ever increasing concern to
each member.
Lake Superior is the finest and cleanest of our Great Lakes
and it must be kept that way. Where waiters were once clear
along its' shorelines, there is now the grey-green tide of
needless pollution.
Pesticides, chemical wastes, paper mills, steel companies,
oil refineries, commercial and recreational boat wastes,
private septic systems, inadequate municipal sewerage systems
are all contributing to an irreversible destruction of this
lake. Inadequate state laws and state's competeing for economic
advantages are factors that point up the need for this federal
conference.
The 60,000 tons of taconite tailings released into this great
lake daily by a north shore mining company must be halted. [Their
Corp of Engineers permit to allow this fill in navigable waters
should be terminated. This is the only taconite company that
is allowed the economic advantage of not having settling basins
and reuse of their waste water.
We urge the present Administration to move forward with orders
correcting what could be the death of Lake Superior as we all
have come to know it and love it. The law is there, enforce it!!
Yours trul
I!rs. Anne Fsncher, 3
rlAT " 7 '"DH ',Yi scons in Bowhunter^
-------
685
May 8, 1969
Mrs. Anne Fancher, Secretary
Wisconsin Bowhunters Association
Route 2
Crivitz, Wisconsin 54114
Dear Mrs. Fancher:
Thnnk you for thu ar/>t.ou>«nt of tlio W.i«con.iin P.owhuntors Assnocintion
that you viah Co bo inciua-iJ la tlio lumriiii, record at the Federal Water
Pollution Conference at Duluth, Minnesota commencing on Kay 13, 1969.
We have not received an agenda for tho mooting but it appears that
Wisconsin testimony will not be presented until May 14 or later.
Regardless, we will make sure that your statement is made a part of the
record.
Your interest and concern in this matter is appreciated.
Very truly yours,
Division of Environmental Protection
Thomas G. Frangos
Administrator
TCFtfsJ
-------
686
Roger Bodin
MR. FRANCOS: I have a resolution received from the
Chamber of Commerce of Bayfield, Wisconsin, Roger Bodin. This
was to be presented by Mr. Bodin. He is not here.
(The above—mentioned resolution was read and follows.)
I am Roger Bodin and am delivering this statement on
behalf of the Bayfield, Wisconsin, Chamber of Commerce, a
civic organization made up of some 100 citizens from Ashland,
Washburn, Cornucopia, Port Wing, Bayfield, and LaPointe, which
is on Madeline Island, the largest of the Apostle Islands
group in Lake Superior.
Natural resources play a vital role in the economy
of all of these communities on the South Shore of Lake Superior.
Each one is a city of tourism, and a clean, clear, and
blue Lake Superior is the mainstay of the tourism business.
We cannot condone any form of contamination of this
priceless resource.
Our organization unanimously supports 100 percent
pollution control for Lake Superior.
Industries and municipalities must not be allowed to
pollute the lake for economic advantages, as the economics will
not balance out when the tourist industry is diminished.
We concur with and endorse the special report on water
quality of December 1968 of Lake Superior in the vicinity of
Silver Bay, Minnesota, by the United States Department of the
Interior, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration,
Great Lakes Region.
-------
687
Roger Bodin
We are convinced that pollutants originating from
Reserve Mining Company at Silver Bay, Minnesota, are
adversely affecting our shores at Bayfield, and at other
communities on the South Shore.
Our organization asks for immediate corrective action
on all other sources of pollution around our lake, whether it
be from municipal, industrial, or private use.
We request legislation to prohibit all thermal, nuclear,
and pesticide pollution of these international waters, and that
standards be strengthened and enforced relating to siltation,
toxic metals, and shipboard wastes.
Finally, it is also important to remember that ownership
of both land and water does not give one the right to destroy
them. It is, instead, our responsibility to maintain, as a
responsible custodian would, our land and water in order that
succeeding generations may also enjoy such resources.
Bayfield Chamber of Commerce members are hopeful that
stringent regulatory controls by the Federal Government on all
types of pollution of Lake Superior be the result of this
conference today.
Thank you for allowing me to appear today and present
this statement.
Mr. Chairman, we have received a letter from the Bayfield,
Wisconsin, Joint School District No. 1, requesting that this letter
-------
688
and a number of letters that were written by school children and
Boy Scouts of that Joint School District No. 1 be submitted for
the record.
I will read the letter submitted by Mr. Richard
O'Leary, Instructor of Science, and I will ask that the remaining
letters be submitted as part of the record at this time.
MR. DOMINICK: They will be received as an exhibit.
(The above—mentioned letters from School Children
and Boy Scouts of the Joint School District No. 1, Bayfield,
Wisconsin, will be on file at Headquarters, FWPCA. The letter
submitted by Mr. Richard O'Leary was read and follows.)
-------
BOARD OF EDUCATION
JOINT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1
Bayfield, Wisconsin 54841
DONALD ANDERSON
SUPERINTENDENT
ROBERT LINO
PRINCIPAL
689
8
;c
-1 j
jear fa
The environment in and
geologic heritage that
ay
ield area has a
etched in the natural
phenomena is enchanced by an
the basin is which, this comjj.unity
one of the marvels cf the
around the
is forever
habitate This beautiful
added factor and that is
is settled is filled wit.
world; the waters of Lake Superior* The complicated
ecological chain that exists in this natural habitat
has recently been upset by the introduction of an
industrial waste into this acquatic environment0 The
result has been a drastic and continual deterioration
of water purity and appearance» Besides the obvious
aesthetic desecration is the more important underlying
caustic results of pollution, the disruption of the food
wi1] affent every
cnain ana energy cycle that eventually will affect
Superior,,
living organism in the water of Lake
The residents of the area as well as transitory guests,
are deeply concerned about the problem„ w/e have all
seen the results of complacency about water pollution in
the irreparable eyesore of Lake Lrie, and in the deplor-
able condition of Lake hichigan's water. These monu-
ments to man's nearsightedness, and thoughtless disregard
for conservation and preservation will provide for us the
incentive to not only expect, but demand prompt action
that will assure a constant state of water purity in
Lake superior0
Because of these reasons and more yet unmentioned the
following- file is a compilation of themes and statements
The
corvee
3oy _
that thi
is a
,he young people of Bayfield, Wisconsin,
n by
couts and high School Students sincerely hope
effort will not go unnoticed* --ilso induced
petition that ,-/e have* Tuis will assure ti
gnea
aid necessary to succeed
;nis cause
Sincerel:,
Richard G'Leary
.nPtrucfcor cf s
'•: s
-------
690
Steve Astmann
MR. FRANCOS: The Save Lake Superior Association,
Wisconsin Chapter, has indicated they would like to make a
presentation at this time.
STATEMENT OF STEVE ASTMANN,
WISCONSIN CHAPTER, SAVE LAKE
SUPERIOR ASSOCIATION, WISCONSIN
MR. ASTMANN: Gentlemen:
My name is Steve Astmann. I am the Director of the
Student Union at Northland College.
This statement reflects the corporate opinion of the
several hundred Wisconsin residents who now wear the blue and white
emblem of the Save .Lake Superior Association. Our statement concerns
two specific problems, and we also wish to enter a statement of
general principle. In addition, we support testimony concerning
other problems specific to Wisconsin which will be forthcoming
from other witnesses, but with which we will not deal directly here.
A. Reserve Mining Company.
Concerning the taconite tailings being dumped into
Lake Superior by the Reserve Mining Company, we wish to state the
following:
1. Since the Federal study conducted in the Silver Bay
area did not go beyond the 5 by 9 mile perimeter defined for the study
-------
691
Steve Astmonn
in terms of comprehensive analysis, the study fails to prove that
interstate pollution by taconite tailings does not exist. Common
reason insists that interstate pollution does exist. Lake Superior
is a body of water governed by the same principles governing all
bodies of water. Materials poured into it in solution or suspension
move with the currents of the lake. To suggest that the influence
of taconite tailings extends to the Duluth Harbor but does not
enter Wisconsin waters is like saggesting that you and I are
sitting on opposite sides of a bucket and that although you have
poured arsenic in your half, it is all right for me to drink from
my half.
There may be an imaginary dotted line drawn across the
surface of Lake Superior defining the boundary between Minnesota and
Wisconsin, but no one, as far as we know, has yet informed the
taconite tailings they are not to cross that line. Because of the
capacity of the taconite tailings to remain in suspension for long
periods of time before settling out, it is unreasonable to assume
they do not reach Wisconsin. We therefore challenge the Federal
and State governments to take bottom samples from the Wisconsin shore
and prove to us that cummingtonite, the trace metal which identifies
taconite tailings, is not present on the Wisconsin side. And until
you do, do not talk to us about there being no evidence of interstate
pollution.
-------
692
Steve Astmann
2. It has been demonstrated to our satisfaction that
the construction of settling ponds as an alternative to Reserve's
present practice is both economically and technologically feasible.
It is further apparent to us that the cost of such a program would
constitute but a fraction of the annual corporate profits of Reserve
Mining and its parent corporations, Republic and Armco Steel.
3. Wisconsin State law described any unnecessary
sedimentation of a body of water as pollution. We agree, and are
proud of our State's position on this matter. We see no reason
why Minnesota should lag so far behind us in this critical matter
and grant the Reserve Mining Company license to dump fill into the
lake in any quantity whatever, particularly material so abundant in
trace metals which are known to provide the basis for accelerated
eutrophication of lakes.
4. We object strenuously to the economic inequity
which Reserve's present practice constitutes for Wisconsin industry.
Being prohibited by law from dumping waste in Lake Superior places
Wisconsin industry at an economic disadvantage, and, in fact, it is
penalized by having to make a greater investment in a competitive
market. Or, to turn the equation around, and place the responsibility
where it belongs, Reserve Mining Company is rewarded by the State of
Minnesota with increased profits for its practice of polluting Lake
Superior. We find this intolerable, and see no reason why it should
continue.
-------
693
Steve Astmonn
B. Marine Craft Sewage.
Secondly, we wish to state briefly our concern over
the fact that ships and boats operating on Lake Superior are able
to use the lake as an open sewer for untreated waste. In an age
when we are placing increasing pressure on municipalities to upgrade
their sewage disposal systems, permitting such a condition on
watercraft is not only inconsistent, it is downright appalling.
We therefore call upon the State and Federal Governments
to devise, and enforce, a system of on-ship storage and harbor
disposal, or on-ship treatment of wastes, which will bring an end
to this gross form of water pollution.
C. Statement of General Principle.
Finally, we wish to enter a statement of general
principle.
In numerous cases where questions of pollution arise,
parties wishing to continue questionable practices argue that we
do not yet know what damage might be done to the ecology of Lake
Superior, and therefore to suggest such practices should be prohibited
is premature. Perhaps we miss some fine point of consideration,
but the logic of this arguement escapes us completely.
If we do not know the effect of our actions, if we are
ignorant of what we are doing, then we must request - indeed, as
concerned citizens we must demand - to know on what grounds such
practices are continued.
-------
694
Steve Astmonn
Hard detergents were on the market for years before
their deadly influence required them to be withdrawn. Atmospheric
testing of nuclear weapons continued for 20 years before we finally
woke up to its destructive impact on the life of this planet. DDT
and other persistent, broad spectrum killers had badly polluted our
whole environment before we discovered the dangers, and we have not
yet resolved to stop using them.
In brief, gentlemen, our recent history is punctuated
by one technological mistake after another, the consequences of
which were not foreseen, and in every case those consequences, once
realized, stand as a judgment on our ignorance.
Our question, then, and our demand is to know how long
private and corporate bodies will be allowed to go on dumping their
garbage in Lake Superior, all the while pleading ignorance of its
impact as the ground for being allowed to continue doing so. We
are particularly at a loss to interpret the findings of Federal
agencies in relation to the recently published report on Reserve
Mining Company's taconite tailings. After listing one hazard after
another, the recommendation is made that Reserve be allowed to
continue, subject only to semi-annual review. This strikes us as
evidence of petty politicking, and hints of covert pressure on those
responsible for the report.
At what point, we must ask, will the decision finally
be made? Suppose present practices are allowed to continue until
suddenly some irreparable damage is discovered. What then? Will
we all throw up our hands in despair and claim innocently that we
did not know it would happen?
-------
695
Steve Astmann
No, gentlemen, that is not good enough, and we all
know it. The day is past when the people of this Nation will
tolerate abusive practices and half-measures to correct them.
There is too much at stake. The day is past when people will
permit industry to pose as if it were above the common good and
the welfare of future generations. The day is past when the
people will allow themselves to be subjected to that unique form
of blackmail industry employs to silence those who protest their
abuses by claiming the cost of cleaning up will have dire conse-
quences to the community. We find particularly obnoxious the
threats by industry to lay off workers and move out if forced to
clean up. This is childish and petulant. It is to behave like
little boys who take their toys and run off to play with someone
who will let them degrade the environment free of public
interference.
The fact is that the continued abuse of our water and
our air constitutes a threat to the future and well-being of our
people so vast that no loss of industry, real or imagined, can
possibly match it. When dealing with the question of the quality
of our environment and with its ability to sustain life, the
contention that we cannot economically afford to clean up is a
patent falsehood. We cannot afford not to clean up, and no economic
consideration is so vital as to justify as its price the destruction
of our environment. We may be foolish, but we are not yet suicidal.
Thank you.
-------
696
Ashland County New Democratic Coalition
(Applause.)
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you for a very excellent
statement.
We will take a 10-minute break and meet back here
at 4:10 to continue with citizens' statements.
(Whereupon, a recess was taken)
MR. DOMINICK: Will you please take your seats.
Mr. Frangos, are you ready to proceed?
MR. FRANGOS: Yes, I am, Mr. Chairman.
Since I have exceeded the time allotted to Wisconsin,
I have other statements that I will submit for the record and will
not read.
I have received a resolution from the Ashland County
New Democratic Coalition relative to pollution of Lake Superior,
and I ask that it be accepted as part of the record of the
conference.
MR. DOMINICK: That will be made a part of the record.
(The above--mentioned resolution follows.)
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697
The A a hi an tf County Maw Democratic Coalition has adopted che
following resolution regarding the pollution of Laka Superior:
10 Ua oppose the indiscriminate filling of Laka Superior by tha
dumping of waste material such as teeonite tailings from tha Reserve
fining Company at Sliver Bey* Minnesota and fly ash used as fill by
tha Lake Superior Diatrlet Power Company at Ashland* Wisconsin.
2» We oppose tha pollution of Laka Superior by chemlcaia aa avidaricad
by tha contamination of Soyd Creak at Barksdala* Wisconsin, which con-
dition is caused by astarlal released by the Dy Pont Company.
30 y© oppose the dumping of inart matarial such as plastic blta and
piacas raletsad into Chequaraegon Say at A ah lane! by tha Marathon
Paper Company.
4. We op p a? as th® dumping of raw sateaga into Lake Superior by citiaae
towns and individuals $lth inadequate sewage treatment plants.
5, Ula oppose the dumping af raw sewags into Lake Superior by Great
Laka® carriers and acsan going
In conclusion 9 »® can see no good purpose to b® served by delaying
tha correction af theaa and any othar pollution problem© affecting
Laka Superior, a® favsr iwwsdiate action against polluters and
suggest s time table be established allotting only tha necessary tine
to construct facilities to provide for other means of disposal of
pollutants s'Td saast® materials,,
Thomas L» Ortman, Chairmen
Ashland County vew Democratic Coalition
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698
Ernest J. Korpela
MR. FRANCOS: I have a letter received from
Assemblyman Ernest J. Korpela, Assemblyman from Ashland, Bayfield,
and Iron Counties., with reference to the proceedings at this
conference, and I ask that this letter be made a part of the
record,
MR. DOMINICK: That will be received for the record.
(The above—mentioned letter follows.)
-------
FKNKSTJ. KORPELA /",, AsWand, Bay field and Iron
\ Counties 699
Home: . ' '
633 oui Avonue East ,-.-^..;r,-.,.-.' ..;V ; MEMBER:
rt'arhb'im, Wi-cor.f,in 51891 f ,;' .' ' ' 1 "',....,. Committee on Education
Phone. 373-tii 19 '•'.>•.'• '- • '•'" :^-
•«;,-...-,,-, , , iv-~ •p*"-
Capitol Office:
335A North V-f«rT"fS,<"1 f 'c~' "^- j-:'"^« '-M> ^T' *"*"?f™.?
Capitol V, V' -f'J" """ '-I.. ^-^.-....J-i; ••- ,;.-«j
Madison, Wisconsin 53702 ,' r("K* T"!
Phone:266-1186 '- •""•.•-. — •• -'••
MADISON
53702
May 7, 1969
Mr. F. H. Schraufnagel *^!
Department of Natural Resources
Box 450 E®**1-
Madison, Wisconsin 53701
Dear Mr. Schraufnagel:
This letter is in reference to the public hearing to be held on
Tuesday, May 13, 1969 in Duluth pertaining to the pollution prob-
lem of Lake Superior and especially the pollutants being drained into
the Lake by the taconite industries. I hope this letter will be
entered in support of restricting the various industries polluting
a lake which is relatively free of pollutants in comparison to the
other Great Lakes. Please enter this letter as I will apparently
be unable to attend the hearing because the State Legislature will
be in session.
It is becoming increasingly apparent that the taconite industry
will eventually expand into Northern Wisconsin and expand further
in Northern Minnesota and Michigan. It is essential that steps be
taken now to require adequate safeguards that this expanding in-
dustry return water it uses in as nearly as possible^he same
purity as what it takes from its source. Requiring such uniformity
from State to State and even from industry to industry will make
it feasible for every producer to be faced with approximately the
same cost factors and increased cost of production,
In that my assembly district covers a major portion of the Wisconsin
portion of the Lake Superior Watershed, I feel it is critically
important that steps be taken immediately to force a clean-up of
our lakes and streams not only in the Lake Superior watershed but
across the nation to guarantee a safe environment for our children.
A uniformity of standards and enforcement nationwide and even
internationally with Canada is of utmost importance to guarantee
industry will locate in areas best suited for their growth.
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Page Two
II. Schraufnagel
700
There are many reasons why increased standards are necessary. This
letter is simply a reiteration of a belief of many people that
America must take immediate steps in controlling a terrific pollution
problem which is compounding with our ever-increasing industrial
society .
Sincerely,
ERNEST J . KORPELA
Assemblynfan
Ashland,' Bayfield, Iron
E JK : j s
cc: Richard W. Mihalek
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701
Moquoh Men's Club
MR. FRANCOS: I have received a copy of a resolution
from the Moquah Men's Club, Moqucth, Wisconsin. I ask that this
be made a part of the record, please.
MR. DOMINICK: That will be made a part of the record.
(The above—mentioned resolution follows.)
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702
May 5> 1969
Moquah Hens Club
Mo quali, Wis0
rir0 Thomas Go Frangos, Acting Admins itr at or
Division of Environmental Protection
Wisconsin. Department of Natural Resources
Box 450
Madison, Wisconsin 53701
Dear Itr, Frangos:
The Hoquah Hens Club, a civic groiip very much interested in
keeping a healthy and attractive environment for the present
arid' for its future generations, requests that the following be
included in the testimony to be made at the .FEDERAL WATER POLL-
UTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE - LAKE
SUPERIOR BASIN which convenes on Hay 13 of this year0
It is the firm belief of the membership that action to dras-
tically reduce pollution escalation in Lake Superior is overdue0
The once crystal clear water of this great lake is showing vis-
ible signs of going the way of Lakes Erie and Michigan,, One of
the most obvious of the symptoms of pollution is the general
apathy that local, state, and federal government has shown in
making a sincere effort to stop it. There are unlimited numbers
of bulletins, pamphlets, field men and textbooks, all against
pollution, and all suggesting how it should be stopped,. Still
the destruction and death of Lake Erie happened in spite of all
of this kind of advice 0 Lake Michigan will apparently be another
historical account of what can happen to a splendid body of
water as more advice and studies continue to be offered while
government stands idly by. Lake Superior still has a good chance
of being kept in a reasonable condition if drastic action is
taken now* Tlore studies, or any other delaying tactics won't
stop pollution; but enforcement of laws will,
The main thesis of this letter is that the Moquah Mens Club
go on record as strongly urging government, especially the Fed-
eral Government, to raise all natural water quality standards
and to enforce .the laws. Only in this way will Lake Superior
remain the one last fresh water resource of the Great Lakes «
Sincerely submitted,
Mr« /Joseph Johanik, President ...v
MAV-91969
/ j
Mr. Walter Johanik, Secretary
cc Mrs« Jurlene Harvell, President
Save Lake Superior Association
E. Star Route, Box 11?
Two Harbors, Minn. 55616
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703
R. M. BODIN
Roger Bodin
MR. FRANCOS: I have a letter received from the
Bodin Fisheries, Roger Bodin, President, and I ask that that
correspondence be amde a part of the record.
MR. DOMINICK: That will be received.
(The above mentioned letter follows.)
PHONE (715) -779-33D1
BODIN FISHERIES
. 9",«£ 'Water tjislt 2bi.trilulor and ??r<,c«So, '
BAYFIELD. WISCONSIN 54S14
WAY 12, 1969
Dear Sir:
I am Roger Bodin of Washburn, Wisconsin and have a
commercial fishery in Bayfield, Wisconsin. I am the President
of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Fisheries Association and would like
to make the following comments on pollution in Lake Superior
along with some history. I have lived on the lake for nearly
fifty years and have been directly in contact with the water
almost daily being the grandson of a fishing family who started
fishing in the late 1890's. In the early 1930's we were
confronted with two distinct types of pollution in and around
the Bayfield, Ashland area. One was the Du Pont plant at
Barksdale when the average life of a pound net was only one
year, versus five years any where else in the bay, because of
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704
Roger Bodin
the acid content of the discharge from the plant and its
reaction to the cotton nets at this time. The other detrement
was the bark from pulp logs getting entangled in the gill nets
which was very disasterous. We convinced the conservation
department that something should be done about this problem and
an order was issued that any pulp floated in rafts had tci be
peeled before shipping, and this was the solution to this
problem. The waste acid from the Du Pont plant became less
a problem as the years followed because the fishing of
commercial fish was prohibited, so there is no proof of the
detremental effects on nets since then. Then followed the years
of the floods in the 1950'a that put so much silt and mud into
the lake that even now the water never clears up. Another type
of pollution in the early 1960's that was very harmful to our
nets was the plastic that was washed into the bay area as the
cheapest means of disposal. We are still seeing the effects
of this in the nets or on the swimming beaches and it often
clogs up the intake tubes of the water cooled engines of boats.
Then too we began to get crude oil in our nets similar to tar
after the pipe—line was constructed in Superior. It is our
belief that this oil drifted to the Apostle Island area due to
the counter clockwise drift of Lake Superior. Due to the lack
of commercial fishing in the Cornucopia area in the past few
years no current information is available on its abundance.
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705
Roger Bodin
This oil has traveled about 60 miles from its source. We
are now confronted with the grey water in and around the
Apostle Island area which we believe is due to taconite
tailings. We are very concened over this fine dust in the
water because from all indications it has affected our herring
populations on the north shore and we are fearful of the lack of
herring on the south shore as we have seen a rapid decline of
this species. Now the latest episode with pesticides and
insecticides are our most immediate concern, and we feel that
the Federal agencies should control the sale of them since it
appears that the States end up without controls due to strong
protest from the agriculture and chemical lobbyists? Our
commercial fishing industry has had many severe set backs
in recent years but far the greatest problem is pollution,
whether it be done by industrial wastes, crude oil, taconite
tailings, human waste, chemicals, pesticides, insecticides or
by any products of industries along the drainage basin. I feel
the Federal Govern ent should enforce pollution problems where
there is a lack of progress on the State level. Stalling will
only make the task more costly. Since Lake Superior is on
international waters by having it in the hands of the Federal
we can expect more cooperation from Canada.
Certain types of pollution could be helpful to Lake
Superior as for fish life as it is too pure and too cold.
Thermal pollution could be a help to fish life if it could be
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706
Roger Bodin
controlled, as not to excede a certain temperature. Lake
Superior in comparison to the other Great Lakes does not
provide much fish per acre because of its pureness and
temperature. Certain nutiants would also help if they could
be controlled. If there were to be other by-products such as
radio active material from thermal pollution if would be much
better not dumped into the lake.
I am in hopes that the results from these hearings will
speed up the monies promised to the municipalities for sewage
disposal improvements and the States immediate action for controls
where they now are bogged down in politics. I am proud to be
from Wisconsin since I know that much positive action has been
taking place this past year and is continuing as fast as
monies permit. I sincerely hope that Michigan and Minnesota
will pass and start some corrective measures on pollution at
once, if the Federal Government is not given the authority to
take action. As a representative of one of the major industries
of Lake Superior we need positive action now!
Respectfully yours,
Roger M. Bodin, President
Minnesota-Wisconsin Fisheries Association
-------
707
Wisconsin League of Women Voters
MR. FRANCOS: We have received a statement from the
Wisconsin League of Women Voters, and I ask that this statement
be made part of the record. I understand that a statement will be
made subsequently to the conference, a joint statement of the three
Leagues of the three States involved here today.
MR. DOMINICK: That will be made a part of the record.
(The above-mentioned statement follows.)
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708
STATSMEET TO BE SSKT TO IULUTH FOB POLLUTION K1&3IHO; HAY 13, 1969
Laague of Cornea Voter* of Asblnnd strongly ur^s*? that th*
present soar car. of the pollution of Lako Gupsrior bo stopped,
and that evsrjr effort b» raa^e to prevent further pollution.
Industries should not be allowed to frjjyo any of their ^
into tha lake; r.mnici politics r.rast grp.rtly i;r.T>vovB their
treatnoat facilities; ev*n*y inaivid^ial should bs actively wwrr©
of tha aace-sssity for clean tfator.
Ther© ar© pollution n^n, tenant I?-vs that hnv« to be enforced; vro
nast have fc(?j-/:her legislation for enforci\ig pollution control
on Lak« ,'?u.p*rior.
2t is vital thnt rs accapt the responsibility cf stewardship for
this great rsfiource, so that it raay be up«'l and enjoyed by ths
roauy generAtiona to cons - rathstr than nisussd e.nd killed by
Gsrea Jernst®dt, Prssident
of ^omoa Voters
i lisconein
Carolyn Sneed, !?atsr Reso-orce Chairaan
League of ^.'omen ?c-ters
Ashland, T/i sc onein
cc: Honor pJbl« Jojin A. Blatnilc
Washington, D. C.
Wr. Tbonjas G. Francos
Madison, Wisconsin
Mrs. Walter
Harbors, Minnesota
HORACE M HAVr.TR
Notary P^Uc - S"!.- c!_ ''Vur.o
My CoinniiiSion L\t i:e3 ju,.-- ..
-------
709
MR. FRANCOS: I have also received some correspondence
from Professor Charles E. Carson, Associate Professor of the Department
of Plant and Earth Science at the Wisconsin State University, River
Falls, Wisconsin, and I understand he has a statement to be made but
that will be made a part of the presentation of the Minnesota
Environmental Control Citizens organization tomorrow afternoon.
I believe that concludes the Wisconsin presentation.
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you very much, Mr. Frangos.
Mr. Badalich, we can turn now to you with further
witnesses from the State of Minnesota.
We have had discussion among the conferees since my
announcement earlier this afternoon and we agree that Michigan
will lead off tomorrow morning, followed by other Federal agencies,
followed by all interested citizens who have not yet been heard from.
We will turn now to Mr. Badalich and any witnesses
which he wishes to call.
MR. BADALICH: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Tc continue with the so-called public witnesses, I
would like to call these in this order: the Duluth Area Chamber
of Commerce, Silver Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Northeastern
Minnesota Development Association, the Babbitt Area Business and
Professional Association, and then it would be the United Steelworkers
of America, Silver Bay, Minnesota, Conservation Federation, North
Star Chapter of the Sierra Club, Save the Lakes, United Sportsmen
Club of Duluth, and I think that will probably take the rest of
the afternoon.
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710
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
So if I may call upon Mr. Austin from the Duluth
Area Chamber of Commerce.
(No response.)
MR. BADALICH: Mr. Chairman, I have a prepared
statement and sufficient copies for the conferees, and we will
just introduce it in the record.
MR. D0MINICK: That will be done.
(The above—mentioned statement follows.)
STATEMENT OF THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE
CITY OF DULUTH, SUBMITTED TO THE FEDERAL-STATE
CONFERENCE ON LAKE SUPERIOR, MAY 13-14, 1969
Gentlemen:
I am Daniel D. Austin, manager of the Economic
Development Council of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce and on
behalf of the Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce, and by approval of
its board of directors, we submit the following remarks as testimony
into this conference.
Pollution of our air, land, and water environment is the
collective responsibility of all elements of our society reflected
by our ever growing standard of living, demands for new products,
improved materials, and our ability to create new technology.
Therefore, let's create a partnership where collectively the public,
industry, government at all levels, and news media closest to a
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711
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
problem can make up the essential ingredients to attack
environmental pollution. It is clear, from what we have heard
and seen during the time leading up to this conference, that
numerous groups are concerned with pollution of Lake Superior and
its tributaries, but have they considered the aesthetic, biological,
technical, and economic factors which make this problem complex
and interdependent? Or, have they singled out instead an industry,
a particular cause, or a special interest?
The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce is very much
interested in the Federal-State Conference which has been called
here to consider the problems of claimed pollution of Lake Superior.
We are greatly interested in the condition of Lake Superior which
is so important to the city and its inhabitants. We are also
interested in the various industries and business concerns located
near or upon the shores of Lake Superior, the Duluth-Superior Harbor/
and the St. Louis River which flows into Lake Superior. We trust
that this Conference will not arrive at any conclusions without
insisting upon adequate evidence and careful and fair consideration
of all the facts.
In connection with this hearing, there have been references
to the operations of the taconite plant of Reserve Mining Company
at Silver Bay, Minnesota. We believe that unfounded charges have
been made against that operation. We trust that there will be
careful consideration of all the evidence dealing with this problem
by the conferees.
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712
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
Reserve Mining Company's operations are of great
importance to all of northeastern Minnesota. It has some 3,200
employees. There are two villages — Silver Bay and Babbitt--whose
combined populations total between nine and ten thousand, which
cam « into existence because of Reserve's operations, and are
entirely dependent upon it.
In addition, there are many concerns which furnish
materials, supplies and services. Duluth and the whole area would
be seriously affected if there were any unreasonable interference
with, or termination of its operations.
In a similar manner, other industries and concerns in
the Duluth-Superior harbor and St. Louis River areas being considered
at this conference, have great importance to this whole region.
We recognize the importance of pollution studies, but
there should be a determination as to whether there is any adverse
material effect on Lake Superior from industrial operations and,
if so, what remedies there may be. The Duluth Area Chamber of
Commerce stresses that any such determinations should be based upon
facts, rather than hasty or unwarranted surmises.
The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce supports water quality
improvement of Lake Superior and echoes its policy position as
developed for the Governor's Commission Studying Water Pollution in
Lake Superior in 1967 which recommended that municipalities and
industries be encouraged to solve their pollution problems a step
at a time and that they do the following:
1. Become better acquainted with their environment
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713
Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce
and their effect upon it.
This particularly involves a detailed investigation
as to the total effect the wastes that they produce
have on the receiving waters and also includes the
continual compilation of data necessary to determine
if, and to what extent, pollution abatement facilities
are needed.
2. Consult with the staffs of Federal and State
Pollution Control Agencies as a cooperative effort
towards the solution of any pollution control problems
if such exists, This will also aid the establishment of
uniform proceedures and techniques for sampling, testing,
and reporting water quality data,
3« Provide, where feasible, the necessary treatment of
waste which would adequately protect the quality of
the public waters. Where financial problems arise in
justifying the installation of such facilities, industry
should apply for tax exemptions under the Minnesota
Tax Reform &. Relief Act of 1967 (Article XI (11)) and
that industry and municipalities should explore all
avenues for Federal aid and assistance.
The Duluth Area Chamber of Commerce believes that signifi-
cant improvement can be made in most instances affecting the quality
of Lake Superior's water and its harbor areas. We believe that continued
conferences such as this, and continual study of Lake Superior
is the proper step that will lead to a satisfactory and
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714
Robert J. Babich
workable solution. We pledge to do what we can to encourage
private interests, groups, and governmental subdivisions to effect
programs that will solve pollution problems. We further believe
that only through an understanding and enlightened partnership
will the best solutions be found. We maintain that the aesthetic,
biolobical, technical, and economic factors must be considered in
adoption of time schedules and actual changes that will be required
so that a proper social balance can be kept.
MR. BADALICH: The next participant will be Mr. Vernon
Larson, Assistant President of the Chamber of Commerce.
(No response.)
MR. BADALICH: We will probably get back to him.
Next will be Mr. Babich from the Northeastern Minnesota
Area Development Association.
Is there a Mr. Babich in the audience?
Here he is.
Mr. Babich.
STATEMELTT OF ROBERT J. BABICH,
EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT,
NORTHEASTERN MINNESOTA DEVELOPMENT
ASSOCIATION, DULUTH, MINNESOTA
MR. BABICH: My name is Robert J. Babich. I serve as
Executive Vice-President of the Northeastern Minnesota Development
Association with an office in Duluth, Minnesota. The purpose of
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715
Robert J. Babich
our organization is to develop and expand employment opportunities
and to diversify the economics of the six-county region consisting
of Carlton, Itasca, St. Louis, Koochiching, Cook, and Lake Counties.
Our organization is nonprofit. Our operating funds are derived
from subscriptions of labor organizations, major manufacturing
companies, iron mining companies, banks, communications media,
and retail establishments located and operating in the area. The
Assocation was formed during the early months of 1964 and began its
activities in November of 1964. The Association is governed by a
Board of Directors representing subscribing organizations and areas
of our six-county region.
I have been involved with NEMDA since its inception.
Previous to accepting the position as Executive
Vice-President of Northeastern Minnesota Development Association,
I was Chief of Public Works for 10 north central States for the
Department of Commerce. In this capacity I approved over $100 million
worth of sewer and water projects to communities, industrial parks,
harbors, and recreation improvements. The largest of these projects
was the $8 million Cloquet-Lake Superior water line. I am a most
sincere believer in water pollution control, and particularly the
efforts of the FWPCA with whom I have worked closely during my
tenure as Chief of Public Works for the north central States. My
testimony is based on my close association with FWPCA and the
utilization of the high quality water of Lake Superior as it
pertains to industrial development.
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716
Robert J. Babich
Business Conditions Prior to the Developmem: of the
Taconite Industry
From the early fifties when the substantial declines
in iron ore mining and associated industries began, our region
suffered losses of employment opportunitites. During this period
when older, experienced men were being laid off and more employment
opportunities were disappearing, younger people were forced to
leave this area to seek employment opportunities elsewhere. As
the depressed era became more firmly implanted in this region,
public investment was reduced and a general feeling of pessimism
prevailed.
Unemployment in some iron range towns was as high as
19 percent. Even Duluth was hard hit. Youngsters were leaving
for better opportunity elsewhere. The region was dying, on the
way to becoming a second Appalachia.
It was about 10 years ago when the great Mesabi,
supplier of 75 percent of the Nation's iron ore needs, began to
play out, starting the exodus of people and talent, energy, and
purpose.
With the death of mines and depletion of reserves
went a decline in employment in mining and transporation (Hibbing
is one of the striking examples of such decline from over 4,000
persons employed, representing one-half of total employment in
June of 1953, to about 1,200 persons, and only 1/5 of the total
in 1966) and a decrease in tax revenues from mining industry
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717
Robert J. Babich
(county and local governments' tax revenues from iron ore in
Minnesota in 1966 represented only 59 and 57 percent, respectively,
of those in 19S7).
Impact of Taconite Industry Development.
In the period since November 1964, which marks the
passage of the Taconite Amendment and the many announcements that
followed the passage of the amendment, many changes have taken place
in our region. Pessimism has. been replaced by strong optimism.
All types of projects involving public and private funds have
blossomed.
Investments in taconite plants have totaled over a
billion dollars in the region. By 1990, investments are estimated
to reach $2 billion. Capital investments on an annual total
expenditure basis will increase by nearly $75 million each year
until 1975, and then drop to a $33 million increase per year
through 1990. The cost of labor was $120 million in 1965, is
estimated at $130 million for 1975, and will reach $150 million
by 1990.
Even though the progress just indicated is substantial,
probably the most important dividend of the taconite industry is
the proliferation of "satellite industries" which have located in
the region due to the large equipment and material purchases required
by the taconite mining industry. These diversified manufacturers
could prove as great a benefit to the region's economy as the giant
taconite industry itself. Any adverse influence can delay this
tremendous potential development.
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718
Robert J. Bdbich
Satellite Industries
Due to the extreme hardness of taconite rock, equipment
wear is severe and replacement becomes an expensive undertaking.
It has been estimated that approximately 10 pounds of steel is
worn away in pelletizing process alone for each ton of taconite
produced. In 1965 estimates of expenditures and supplies for the
Erie, Reserve, and Pilotac plants totaled nearly $63 million.
By 1975 this annual expenditure should jump to
$165 million and $250 million by 1990. Clearly this is a large
potential market waiting to be tapped by associated industries.
NEMDA Satellite Industry Report.
The current impact of the taconite industry is high-
lighted in a survey recently taken by NEMDA that indicates the
economic impact of the taconite industry is substantially greater
than the benefits resulting from new construction and new operations
alone.
The survey shows that the new taconite industry provides
a very large market for products made and distributed in this area
and for services sold by various firms. The survey covers 140
area firms and shows that sales to the taconite industry exceed
$112 million annually.
Sales to the taconite companies include such items as
blasting agents, grinding and crushing equipment, industrial
machinery, engines, tires, electrical equipment, fuel, repair services,
and many other items that are necessary in the operation of taconite
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719
Robert J. Babich
mines and plants. The firms which supply the taconite
companies emply 3,466 persons. The taconite companies themselves
employ 8,425 on a year-round basis.
The survey results have disclosed that 28 area firms
have plans for expansion and one new firm has already begun
production of grinding equipment for taconite operations.
Natural ore operations employ 5,175 people, bringing
the mining industry employment total to 13,600. Taconite payrolls
amounted to $85 million last year, while the payroll in the natural
ore industry came to over $52 million. The total industry payroll
amounts to over $137 million.
The survey also disclosed that sales of supplies and
services to the natural iron ore industry amounted to close to
$19 million brining the total economic impact of the iron mining
industry in the area to $289 million. These are service industries,
not counting the taconite sales, bringing the total economic impact
of the iron mining industry to $289 million and it can only be the
begining.
The NEMDA report stresses that these are present figures
and that continued expansion and growth in the taconite industry as
well as in supporting industries can be anticipated; and let's
hope they do.
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Robert J. Babich
Economic Impact of Reserve Mining Company.
The Reserve Mining Company operation at Silver Bay,
Minnesota, on the shore of Lake Superior plays a very important
role in the economy of northeastern Minnesota. Its direct payroll
last year was over $29 million. It paid taxes in the amount of
$3.7 million. It provided more than 3,200 year-round jobs. In
addition, its annual expenditures for goods and services have meant
much to the other industries in the whole area. In fact, it is
the principal support for the villages of Silver Bay and Babbitt
with combined populations of close to 10,000 people. And the
Government is talking about new towns. These are new towns with
10,000 full-time, year-round workers.
In a letter to the editor of the Mesabi Daily News,
Mr. Glenn E. Peterson, Director of the United Steelworkers of
America Union in Duluth, points out that Reserve Mining Company
has studied this matter of pollution of Lake Superior quite
thoroughly. "Testimony of independent expert witnesses was taken
and the same questions were raised as are being raised now. At
the conclusion of these hearings, Reserve was granted permission
to proceed with the present method of depositing the grindings."
He recommends that all opinions and judgments be withheld until
such time that this matter be clarified on the basis of facts.
A hearing must be based on these facts and follow the procedures
of a sole issue, that of determining if the depositing of grindings
actually harm Lake Superior.
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721
Robert J. Bcibich
Tourism
Important in the ever-growing activity in our region
has been the development of our recreational resources. We have
encouraged the full utilization of these resources and the
additional investment necessary to improve and modernize facilities
that have suffered from age and are on the verge of outliving their
usefulness. In short, our program has extended the full range of
economic development activity, and it has been planned and executed
so as to develop a spirit of interest and cooperation rather than
jealous competition.
NEMDA has never received an unfavorable comment
relative to pollution in Lake Superior. Lake Superior has no
floating debris, obnoxious odors or unsightly, unnatural colored
waters.
Conclusions
In summing up this testimony on behalf of the industrial
development interests in northeastern Minnesota, I feel strongly
that industry has progressed to the point where plants of all types
will be completely compatible with the scenic and recreatdonal
advantages this region is widely known to have. Industry in
northeastern Minnesota has expressed their desire and interest to do
everything possible to work out the best solutions to the water
pollution problem. Reserve Mining Company, along with others, have
continuously supported the idea of developing programs that will
serve to eliminate pollution effects.
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722
Robert J. Bobich
Speaking on behalf of industrial development, I feel
the emphasis currently placed upon pollution control that
specifically singles out an operation so vital to this area's
economy should not overshadow the attention that should be given
to attracting industry to this region. The impact of the potential
we anticipate is just too great to jeopardize with the undue
attention being given to preliminary reports relating to pollution
problems in Lake Superior.
In closing, I urge that every consideration be made
to permit the fair treatment of industry to provide new employment
opportunities and economic development so badly needed in our region.
If this is granted, we will be better equipped to maintain and
develop for future generations the beauty, recreational advantages,
and industrial opportunities that are so important to our economy.
Certainly any failure to achieve these ends will reflect an echo
for years to come on any future economic development activities
within the entire State of Minnesota.
It is most disturbing to developers in development
organizations such as ours who work so hard to create an image
for an area that has had a history of economic instability, to be
confronted with such undue emphasis from a preliminary or incomplete
pollution report. Reserve Mining Company and other industries in
northeastern Minnesota are most aware of the high quality water
control. In their desire to comply with water pollution regulations,
Reserve Mining Company, before investing millions of dollars in
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723
Robert J. Babich
the economically depressed North Shore area, did considerable
research with the State and Federal authorities before proceeding
with construction of the present facilities.
It is unfortunate that a preliminary or incomplete
report could stimulate such embarrassment to a company that has
shown confidence in northeastern Minnesota and has complied with
all regulations of the water pollution control authority. It is
my hope that the water pollution control authorities, both Federal
and State, will proceed on an intelligent research basis as has
been consistent with their program. It would be most disastrous
if the quality of Lake Superior water becomes a political football.
Well-planned industrial development is conducive to
water pollution control. We must look at the constructive
attributes from industrial development. A balance between water
quality standards set by the law and the need for industrial develop-
ment to create jobs is an example. I have put in many projects
in Wisconsin communities that never had treatment facilities, and
with the activated industrial parks and industries the entire town
now has water treatment facilities. That is the involvement of
industry and their contribution to water pollution control.
The city of Duluth, the Mayor and the City Council,
because of the demand of industrial development, have, for the
first time, a study going on to upgrade their treatment facilities,
and why? - because of the industrial expansion involvement in Duluth.
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Robert J. Babich
The North Shore Highway, which is half a mile from
Lake Superior, prevents any runoff, which is considerable in
pollution, because the installation of Reserve Mining Company
is there, and that is why you have a 4—lane highway there.
This is incidental involvement of water pollution
control by industry.
I might state my own experiences. I look back to
1944. We had a chicken coop and a rabbit pen in our yard. I was
9 years old in a family of 10 kids in 1935. My dad's average was
6 years of employment. The last 2 years he worked 2 days. In
1946 I returned from Europe in the service. We put in a gas stove
and an electric stove. This is a form of pollution and the economics
involved in water pollution control.
I recently attended a conference in Minneapolis where
they used a slogan to raise money for the arts and symphonies -
violins, and paint brushes - and the importance of cultural
interests to attract industry in an area. A slogan is apropos
between industry, FWPCA, jobs, chicken coops, and outdoor privies.
We don't want a puritanism so no industry will develop between
the shores of Wisconsin and Minnesota. How do you explain to
people in Cloquet if you said Japan is buying timber from Montana
and dumping their finished product in the United States? How do
you explain to the unemployed miner in the country in Wisconsin
that his ore could be processed in Canada? And how do you explain
in the city of Duluth when each year we have Canadian wheat for
Canadians by the thousands who buy in Duluth? In the next 20 years
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725
Robert J. Babich
are we going to have a Minnesota Day in Wisconsin?
We have worked for the last year on a gaseous
diffusion plant - 8,000 construction workers - but I am told by
a so-called expert, without any facilities, without any research,
that the thermal temperature will be increased. At least they
deserve a hearing on this. This is no reference to the FWPCA.
These people are very sincere in their efforts.
In conclusion, I would like to say as a result of
this meeting and the publicity in the last 6 months, two apologies
are in order, I feel, 1) to the dedicated people involved in the
State, Federal, and local levels who are sincere in their efforts
in water pollution as I am, and, incidentally, not even having the
opportunity to complete their research; and 2) to the Reserve
Mining Company, who have shown confidence in this area after the
people of Minnesota showed confidence in the potential of the
mining industry, invested millions of dollars, and have had to
listen to what we have listened to for the past 6 months.
I thank you very much.
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you, Mr. Babich, for a very
forceful statement.
We do have a question.
MR. PURDY: Mr. Babich, you have made reference to the
fact of the expanding allied industry. I wonder if you feel it
would be appropriate for the expanding taconite industry, as well as
the existing industries throughout the whole Lake Superior Basin,
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Robert J. Babich
to dispose of their tailings into Lake Superior,, Do you think
this would be appropriate?
MR. BABICH: Would you repeat that? I did not hear
the question, sir.
MR. PURDY: You refer to an expanding taconite
industry and the harmful effect that might occur to this particular
company if they had to do anything different than discharge their
tailings into Lake Superior,, I am wondering if you feel that it
would be appropriate for the entire taconite industry to enjoy the
same economic advantage, if one exists, and discharge the tailings
from the full taconite industry in the Lake Superior Basin into
Lake Superior?
MR. BABICH: I did not make the statement that
tailings would create this problem. I don't know, as many of
us here do not know - most of us I should say« As for the remainder
of the industry that is expanding or anticipating expansion of
dumping their tailings into Lake Superior, this would not become a
necessity. Again I -refer to the economics of the North Shore and
why the plant was located with the availability of water., I don't
think I have every suggested a plan to dump all tailings, nor is
it a suggestion that has been made by any other industry on the
Iron Range complex, anticipating expansion, of ever disposing of
their tailings in this fashion. The need isn't there, sir.
-------
727
Robert J. Babich
MR. PURDY: We have a growing industry in Michigan
and in their case they are required to dispose of their tailings
on the land at a cost to their production, and I am wondering if
you feel it would be appropriate that they also discharge their
tailings into Lake Superior?
MR. BABICH: I understand they are dumping some
tailings in Michigan - the copper industry. I think we are
pointing a finger at one industry. I understand in Ashland,
Wisconsin, the community dumps ash as a residue from the plant
into Lake Superior, which has definitely acids involved. I am
not familiar with the situation in Michigan. There is a possibility
that water was available in the plant. I did build the plant,
incidentally, at Republic, Michigan. I am fairly familiar
with the Negaunee area. There are possibilities that water supply
was available, but it was not necessary to do this.
MR. PURDY: I think you have answered my question.
MR. DOMINICK: Are there any further questions?
(No response.)
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you again, Mr, Babich.
If we may continue with the Minnesota presentation.
Next, I would like to call on the representative
of the Babbitt area Business and Professional Association, then
next I would like to call on the Minnesota Conservation Federation,
United Steelworkers of America, and then the North Star Sierra
Club.
-------
728
James T. Shields
Is Mr. Harold Johnson here from the Babbitt
Business and Professional Association?
(No response.)
MR. DOMINICK: If not, we will continue.
I next call upon the Minnesota Conservation Federation.
STATEMENT OF JAMES T. SHIELDS,
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MINNESOTA
CONSERVATION FEDERATION, MINNESOTA
MR. SHIELDS: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Conferees, ladies and gentlemen:
I am James T. Shields, Executive Director of the
Minnesota Conservation Federation.
The Minnesota Conservation Federation has about
100 affiliated clubs and 10,000 individual members from through-
out Minnesota. We are the largest conservation organization in
the State and are affiliated with the National Wildlife Federation,
and that is about 2,500,000 members.
There are many voices in our membership that speak
loudly and clearly against all forms and degrees of pollution.
They must be heard, for without them we could rapidly compromise
our resources for the mere sake of expediency and immediate
material benefit.
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729
James T. Shields
Today, however, even at the risk of offending some
of these voices, we wish to propose practical guidelines for
limiting the pollution of Lake Superior caused by the taconite
beneficiation plant at Silver Bay.
Before outlining these guidelines, we should focus
our attention on the salient factors which have been gleaned
from the reports and studies done by both the State and Federal
agencies. Unfortunately, a great deal of misleading information
has been heard concerning these matters.
1. The original permits issued to Reserve Mining
Company to operate the taconite beneficiation plant at Silver Bay
provided for the dumping of tailings in a specified area of the
lake. The potential chemical pollution from these tailings was
taken into account but was determined to be negligible in its
influence on aquatic life. The "permissible pollution," then,
was that resulting from the filling of a portion of the very deep
trough that is located a short distance from shore and the narrow
corridor between the taconite plant and this deep trough.
2. The Reserve Mining Company proceeded with final
development of the plant at Silver Bay in the belief that the
terms of the permits would be met through the planned operational
procedures.
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730
James T. Shields
3. In the 13 years the taconite plant has been
operating it has become increasingly evident that not all of the
tailings are settling in the deep trough offshore from the plant.
The finer particles are drifting with the lake currents and are
being deposited as far as 15 miles downshore.
I might add there that, in my opinion, at least, it
is ridiculous for anyone to deny that that is not a violation
of at least the intent, if not the legal weapon, of the operating
permit.
At times this drifting of the "fines" increases the
turbidity, causes a marked discoloration of the water, and reduces
penetration of life generating sunlight. The deposition of the
fines changes the physical composition of the bottom soils and
somewhat alters the production of certain bottom-dwelling organisms
which provide part of the diet of some species of fish. The ultimate
effect on the production of fish, however, is apparently more
theoretical than actual.
4. There is yet no solid evidence that the fines have
had any appreciable toxic effect on living organisms in the lake.
Neither is there evidence that the fines have had any direct
adverse effects on fish, fish fry, or fish eggs. It should be
noted here that the laboratory experiments that have suggested
that fish eggs or fish fry are injured by these fine particles have
been done with extremely heavy concentrations of tailings which are
found in the lake only in the immediate discharge area of the plant.
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731
James T. Shields
5. The excessive amounts of certain chemical elements,
such as copper and zinc, that exist in the tailings apparently
are in forms that are virtually insoluble and inactive and therefore
pose only a theoretical threat of pollution. The possibility of
these chemicals ever having a measurable adverse effect on
aquatic life in Lake Superior is virtually nil.
We may conclude from these essential factors that in
terms of the permit the impermissible pollution resulting from
the operation of the taconite beneficiation plant at Silver Bay
is associated entirely with the "renegade fines." These fines
drift downshore causing objectionable discoloration of the water.
They also limit to some degree the production of some fish food
organisms by decreasing the penetration of sunlight in the water
and by changing the physical composition of the lake bottom.
Three possible solutions are immediately suggested:
(1) close down the plant/ (2) pump the tailings inland; or (3)
eliminate the fines from the tailings so that the deposition will
occur in the lake as originally planned and in accordance with
the intent of the permit.
Speaking of No. 1, closing down the plant obviously
should be considered only if a satisfactory solution to the
pollution or disposition problem cannot be found.
Pumping the tailings inland would have results which
are just as objectionable as the pollution of Lake Superior. The
contours of the land in this area are such that Lax Lake would
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732
James T. Shields
certainly be ruined by the deposition of tailings inland. This
200-acre lake supports a fine sport fishery and is considered to
be a valuable recreational area. In addition to Lax Lake, the
potential disposition area forms a major portion of the watershed
of the Beaver River. It seems certain that this fine trout
stream would be adversely affected, if not entirely ruined. Thus,
pumping the tailings inland from the Silver Bay plant would only
transfer the pollution problems from one area to another.
Removing the fines from the tailings before they are
deposited into the lake is technically possible and is, therefore,
the only practical solution. This would reduce the deposition of
tailings in Lake Superior to the "permissible" amount allowed by
the original permits. And although even that amount may be
considered objectionable by some, it is the only fair way of
facing the problem at this time. We should, however, limit the
period this will be tolerated and reject plans for similar operations
in the future.
In summary, the following guidelines are suggested:
1. Allow the present operation to continue for only
a brief period, such as not more than 18 months, after which
further permit renewals will specify that only the larger particles
may be deposited in Lake Superior. In effect, this gives the
mining company ample time to develop a method of removing the
finer particles from the tailings. Any further pollution of the
lake that may occur during this limited period will be negligible
except for the discoloration of the water.
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733
James T. Shields
2. Establish a definite time limitation for the
operation of the Silver Bay plant which will allow the company
to depreciate its investment.
3. Let it be clear to all concerned that there will
be no further permits issued for operations which would use Lake
Superior as a dispose-all, regardless of how chemically inert the
dumpings may be or how rapidly they settle to the depths where
we cannot see them.
The Minnesota Conservation Federation is, of course,
also concerned about the many other types and sources of pollution
occurring in Lake Superior. We will strongly support measures
that may be taken to eliminate or reduce such pollution and
thereby maintain Lake Superior as the crown jewel of the Great
Lakes.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(Applause.)
MR. BADALICH: Are there any questions?
MR. PURDY: No.
MR. BADALICH: Next, I would like to call upon
Gene Roach, representing United States Steelworkers of America,
Silver Bay.
(No response.)
MR. BADALICH: We will pass on to Mr. Richard Thorpe,
who is representing the North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club.
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734
Richard J. Thorpe
Mr. Thorp.
STATEMENT OF RICHARD J. THORPE,
CHAIRMAN, NORTH STAR CHAPTER,
SIERRA CLUB, ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA
MR. THORPE: Mr. Chairman, conferees, ladies and
gentlemen:
I am Richard Thorpe of St. Paul, Minnesota. I am
Chairman of the North Star Chapter of the Sierra Club.
The Sierra Club was founded in 1892 "to explore,
enjoy, and preserve scenic resources of the United States."
The Sierra Club is one of the Nation's oldest conservation
organizations, playing a prominent part in the effort to preserve
major scenic and natural resources. The Sierra Club today has a
nationwide membership of over 78,000. The North Star Chapter in
Minnesota has grown to 650. I might comment that this interest in
the Club in Minnesota has been generated in the last year or so.
At a meeting of its national Board of Directors in
San Francisco on May 3-4, 1969, the following resolution was
adopted:
"The Sierra Club urges that all measures be taken to
preserve and maintain the quality of Lake Superior's water,
and it pledges to cooperate with its Midwest chapters in
pursuing this goal."
I might comment, to carry out that resolution the
Board of Directors appointed a three-State committee, consisting
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735
Richard J. Thorpe
of two Sierra Club leaders from Michigan, two from Minnesota,
and two from Wisconsin. .They will be working on the national
staff on this problem.
Another thing the organization will be doing is
preparing one of its format books, such as they have done in
other conservation areas like the Grand Canyon and the Redwoods.
We feel that it is fitting that a national organization
express its concern over the matter of preserving the water quality
of Lake Superior. The lake is a major national resource. The
fact that it borders on only three of the 50 States makes it
mandatory that these States, and the Federal Government, act as
trustees for the benefit of the citizens of all the States and
exert every effort to preserve Lake Superior in its present
relatively unpolluted state. To this end the most stringent of
water quality standards for the lake must be adopted and firmly
enforced.
In an earlier time we could grant to polluters a
measure of leniency and the benefit of the doubt. In 1969, however,
when Lake Erie is dead, Lake Michigan is dying, and Lake Superior
is threatened, and when on all fronts man is assaulting his environment
with ever-increasing ferocity, this attitude must change or our
descendants will pay an incredibly high price for our sloth.
We, therefore, call for the adoption of the principle
that no industrial or municipal waste discharge to Lake Superior
be permitted which has an adverse effect on the ecology of the lake.
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736
Richard J. Thorpe
We also call on the various State agencies, particularly
the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, to exhibit a greater
concern over the threat to the lake.
The 1947 permit granted to Reserve Mining Company by
the State of Minnesota was granted upon the condition that
tailings should not be discharged so as to result in any material
clouding or discoloration of the water at the surface outside of
a specified zone. The permit also imposed a condition that the
tailings should not be discharged so as to result in any material
adverse effects on fish life. As you know, other conditions were
also imposed.
Both the controversial December 31, 1968, unofficial
report of the Department of the Interior interagency study group
and the official April 1969 report of the Department of the Interior
indicate that there may well be sufficient evidence to warrant a
finding that the conditions of the 1947 Minnesota permit are being
violated. However, instead of expressions of concern from the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, we get repeated knee-jerk
reactions, summarily refusing to acknowledge that the conditions
of the Minnesota permit are possibly being violated. We feel a
more reasonable response would be a call for a public hearing on
possible revocation of the permit for violation of its conditions
and the immediate undertaking of further in-depth studies.
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737
Richard J. Thorpe
You have heard various comments, pro and con, on
the portion of the on-shore disposal of Reserve Mining Company's
taconite tailings. There is an obvious disparity between their
estimates and that of the private or the Federal Bureau of Mines.
Obviously, this is an area of fact here that should not be conjectured
upon, but should be studied by the Federal Government to determine
if this is really economically feasible. We don't feel that it
should be rejected at this point.
Great in-depth studies of the cost of on-land disposal
of Reserve Mining Company's taconite tailings should be undertaken
immediately. The unofficial report, in Part II, suggested an
initial capital outlay of $7.5 million for 3 years of production
and annual operating costs of $3.3 million. In a statement of
April 1, 1969, Reserve Mining Company estimated capital costs
well in excess of $250 million and annual operating costs of $13
million. Such a wide disparity in figures indicates the need
for further study. The possibility of on-land disposal should
not be rejected.
The preservation of the water quality of Lake Superior
merits the highest of priorities on a national scale of values.
The operation of any industrial plant or municipal waste disposal
plant should not be in conflict with this goal.
Thank you.
(Applause.)
MR. BADALICH: Next, I will call on Mr. Milton
Pelletier representing the United Northern Sportsmen Club.
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738
Milton Pelletier
STATEMENT OF MILTON PELLETIER,
UNITED NORTHERN SPORTSMEN CLUB,
DULUTH, MINNESOTA
MR. PELLETIER: My name is Milton Pelletier, and
I appear here to deliver this paper on behalf of the United
Northern Sportsmen, a conservation club with a membership of
over 800 persons residing in and adjacent to the city of Duluth.
My position with the organization is past president, trustee, and
member of the Study Committee.
The United Northern Sportsmen Club, from its very
inception over 20 years ago, has been in the foreground of the
fight against water pollution and against other plundering of
our natural resources. Our fight has been nonpartisan in scope
and based on several beliefs, which we wish to share with you:
1. We believe that the habits of a Nation will finally
determine its destiny. If we choose to pollute our waters, however
it may be justified, or allow our land to erode, or to bury our
country under tons of litter, or to allow other natural resources
to be plundered, we are heading toward ruin and no amount of
money will repair the damage.
2. We believe that every individual has a personal
and continuing responsibility and a equity in all our natural
resources, including water - but there is, indeed, a much heavier
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739
Milton Pelletier
responsibility upon those elected and appointed public
servants charged with cleaning up our environment.
3. We believe that land or water ownership is
merely a life tenure of custodianship to be passed on to
succeeding generations, and that such ownership or custodianship
does not carry with it the divine right to destroy.
4. We believe that everyone must have a reverence
for the land and water and its fruits not based on profit motive.
Any other course leads to exploitation and destruction, as we
have learned, to our sorrow.
5. We are a conservation club and believe in the
wise use of our natural resources. We believe it is much cheaper
to prevent pollution than to clean up the results. It should not
be permissable to dump anything desired into public water and
then set standards juding the results of such abusive practices.
Control should occur before disposal.
We have been steadfast in the pursuit of these
ideals. The club has grown and prospered these many years because
of our consistent adherence to them. We have been recognized
State -wide and nationally for our sane and capable fight to secure
the benefits to mankind expressed in the above-stated creed,,
We need and want industry, as most of our members
depend on industry for a livelihood. There is no question that
industry can operate profitably in our area in a manner assuring
no natural resources will be plundered or needlessly destroyed.
-------
740
Milton Pelletier
We con cite mstctnces of companies consulting with us when their
plants were .'being designed so as to assure protection of our water
resource. We have been proud to join with our affiliate, the
Minnesota Conservation Federation, in making awards recognizing
"applied sound water conservation principles" by industry. Many
companies are now following this example, and we applaud them
one and all.
We do not appear here as interpreters of technical
reports, nor do we appear as technically trained experts. Either
course would be presumptuous on our part. We do, however, appear
as interested citizens, citizens who appreciate the value of this
great reservoir of fine water both locally and nationally, and
want to take no chance whatever that it will be destroyed. We
want no misunderstanding on our position. So that it will be
crystal clear, it is summarized as follows:
1. It is an undisputed fact the St. Louis River, the
first major tributary to the lake, is being polluted by municipal,
industrial, and natural wastes. We want the sources of pollution
identified, and we see no reason for further delay in implementing
a vigorous and prompt program of pollution correction and control
immediately.
2. Municipal, industrial, and marine wastes are
adding their contaminating influence daily to the Duluth-Superior
Harbor. In our desire to restore the aesthetic value of a clean
and fresh body of water (to add to the value of our city's very
fine cultural, recreational,and educational facilities) we must
-------
741
Milton Pelletier
identify the sources of pollution and call upon our State and
Federal officials and agencies to use every means available to
either stop or curtail this insidious poisoning of what could
well be Duluth and Superior's finest resource.
3. Many private cabins or homes are located so
close to the shore, or have disposal systems so ineffective that
seepage is directly polluting the lake or ground water sources.
We want an ambitious program instituted by the State Water Pollution
Control Agency as soon as possible to remedy this situation.
4. If the proposed location of a nuclear breeder
plant on Lake Superior would have any adverse effect on the
quality of the water in the lake, we would be opposed to it. All
questions of feasibility and possible constructive uses of the
heat generated by such an installation should be answered in
advance and not after the construction of such an industry.
5, The United Northern Sportsmen have consistently
opposed the disposal of taconite tailings in Lake Superior. At
times we have stood almost alone in our opoosition. We believe
this practice should be stopped and an alternate method of
disposal employed. Until such changes are made, the State should
enforce the present permit which specifically prohibits any
material clouding of the lake, and grant no liberalization of same
beyond the permit limits. Any statement that this company cannot
operate unless allowed to dispose of waste in Lake Superior is
-------
742
Milton Pelletier
debatable, because other companies are doing it and competing
successfully. We also call upon the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers
to require on-land disposal of tailings at Silver Bay as recommended
in the U. S. Department of Interior report dated December 31, 1968.
6. Siltation by construction and poor agricultural
practices is a major contributing factor to pollution in Lake
Superior. The problem areas should be pinpointed and immediate
steps taken to institute sound soil conservation practices.
7. All other sources of pollution around the lake,
either from feeder streams, municipal, industrial or private
uses, deserve immediate and determined corrective action.
8. And, finally, we urge a review of the water
quality standards adopted for Lake Superior in that they be
strengthened to prohibit all thermal, nuclear, and pesticide
pollution, and to tighten the standards relating to siltation,
toxic metals, and shipboard waste.
The fine results of the introduction of Coho Salmon
t.. Lake Michigan reveal what can be accomplished when concerted
action is taken. The cloud of doubt now suspended over the future
of this endeavor illustrates very vividly what damage may be
caused by the indiscriminate use of pesticides and shoddy methods
of waste disposal.
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743
Milton Pelletier
Those who consider the above outlined program as
being too unrealistic or stringent to achieve should remember
how old methods have failed. We know by very bitter experience
how even a little pollution is prone to collect in unexpected
places and manifest itself in some very unpleasant and unexpected
ways. Lake Superior, for all its vast area, depth, and coldness
of water, is most assuredly not immune to the ills that have
served to cause such havoc in so many other lakes.
Finally, we want no more studies simply to prove the
lake is becoming more polluted and which are dictated by political
expedience, but solely on what is good for the lake environment
in the long run. Surely we now possess the degree of technical
knowledge and competence to prevent the ruin of this water as has
been the case in so many other areas. The saddest picture I have
ever seen was a cartoon picturing a water hole surrounded by an
elephant, lion, zebra, and several other animals. The lion speaks,
"We are no longer a backward Nation this water hole is polluted."
What a shame and strong resolve this should evoke! The implementation
of present technical knowledge and fair, yet rigid, enforcement
of present laws and regulations could prevent that if our
administrators have the will to do so. The United Northern Sportsmen
are proud of this conference and feel that a great amount of good
can derive from this extraordinary hearing. We assure you of
remaining ever constant in our battle for a better America, and
we stand ready to assist each and every one of you in any way within
-------
744
Milton Pelletier
our means to preserve for posterity this priceless Lake
Superior - "The Crown Jewel of America."
Thank you for permitting us to appear and
present our views.
Attached for your files is a copy of our letter of
November 18, 1968, addressed to the Honorable Stewart Udall
urging his calling of this conference.
(Applause.)
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you, Mr. Pelletier.
That letter will be made part of the record.
(The above-mentioned letter follows.)
-------
745
Request for
WATER QUALITY ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE OF LAKE SUPERIOR
by
UNITED NORTHERN SPORTSMEN
-------
746
'Jfontfoin
$FW1* <&>i-~ > * *-fff *
SPORTSMEN'S CLUB
MINNESOTA'S LARGEST AND MOS^ ACTiV£ CONSERVATION CLU5 ••'-'',
To all organizations and individuals who recognize the need
for definite standards of cleanliness to be established for
Lake Superior as soon as possible.
Attached for your information is a copy of a self-explanatory
letter addressed to Mr. Stewart Udall, Secretary of Interior.
We urge that you support our reouest and that you make your
views known to Secretary Udall promptly.
We would appreciate a carbon copy of any correspondence in
reference to this subject for our files.
Your cooperation will be very much appreciated by The Study
Committee of the United Northern Sportsmen Club, Mr. E. C.
Pearson, Chairman, 2201 Hillcrest Drive, Duluth, Minnesota
55811.
Committee members: Harold Sims, Lyell Brand, J. Wesley White,
Dolphe Johnson, Robert Anderson, Bud Haug, Harold Edstrom,
and Dennis Kreuth.
Milton Pelletier
President, United Northern Sportsmen
3680 Munger Shaw Road
Duluth, Minnesota 55810
United Northern Sportsmen are organized for tha following purpose: To Improve conservation and to increase our game and fish by legislation, or other legitimate
means, and endeavor to provide education for its members and our children by their understanding of the Fish and Game Code, and to guard against Poachers and
others who Infringe upon the laws of the State. To enforce existing laws and secure the repeal of those that are unjust.
-------
747
November 18, 1968
Honorable Stewart Udall
Secretary of Interior
Department of the Interior
Washington, D.C.
Pear Mr. Secretary:
This letter is written on behalf of the members of the United Northern
Sportsme"1' s Club Minnesota's largest air1 most active Conservation
Organization. At present -we boast a membership of over 600 persons. i~i ell
walks of life residing in and adlacent to t^e cit" of Dulutb. ©n a broader
scale, we are affiliated with the Minnesota Conservation Federation, a
statewide organization, and nationally -with the National Wildlife Federation.
The United Northern Sportsmen Club, from its very Inception, over twentv
years ago, instigated the fight, locally, for pure water anfl pure air. At
that time, we were a small voice crying in the wilderness. We were ridiculed
for our ideas, threatened, as veil as withstanding other methods of intimid-
ation. However, we are a stubborn group. We love this north country, and we
intend to make it our lifetime ^orce. We can think of no finer place on the
face of the earth for our children and our children's children to live.
The above is not written for the purpose of glorifying the club in your eyes,
but simply to give you a thumb--nail sketch of our organization and perhaps
serve as a crutch for later requests for your assistance.
We do not want you to believe that we are the only organization in Northern
Minnesota interested in prevention and control of pollution--we are not.
Neither do we wish you to believe that every individual in Northeastern
Minnesota who believes in the prevention and control of pollution and wants
to participate in attaining pure water and air belongs to the United Northern
Sportsmen Club, they do not. However, we do believe that our efforts have
been the best coordinated and of the longest duration!
As you know, this Lake Superior Country is a relatively newly developed area;
although old, from the standpoint of history; the first French Explorers
approaching the great inland sea by way of the Ottowa River and Lake Huron
knowins nothing of the connection of that lake with Lake ^rie; referred to
their discovery as "Le Lac Superieur." Properly translated, the expression
should be "Upper Lake", that is, the lake above Lake Huron. But the English
name, denoting size depth, et el; superiority, seems more apt in :aany ways.
-------
748
The first explorations of the lake were made prior to 1623 and may have
preceded any settlement on the Atlantic Sea board. By 1658 there was a fairly
accurate map of Lake Superior. Oddly enough, Lake Superior was discovered
and explored "before Lakes Michigan, Erie and Ontario.
Following exploration there was fur trading, fishing, mining, and lumbering
operations carried on, on the shores of Lake Superior, but presumably little
was done to destroy either pure air or pure water. People began moving in
and settlement of the north shore dated from the Indian Treaty of 185*1.
In June 1870, William Francis Butler, later to become Sir William Butler
one of the great soldier-adventurers and writers of the nineteenth century,
visited Duluth and the shores of Lake Superior. His description of the lake
as taken from his book "The Great Lone Land" follows:
"Before turning our steps westward from this inland-ocean of Lake
Superior, it will be well to pause a moment on the shore and look
out over its bosom. It is worth looking at, for the world possesses
not its equal; four hundred English miles in length, 150 miles
across it, 600 feet above the Atlantic levle, 900 feet in depth—one
vast spring of purest crystal water, so cold, that during summer
months its waters are like ice itself, and so clear, that hundreds
of feet below the surface the rocks stand out as distinctly as
though seen through platoglass. Fellow in fancy the outpourings
of this wonderful basin; seek its future course in Huron, Erie,
and Ontario, fn that wild Ic^p from the rocky edge which makes
Ni&gsra famous throughout the world. Seek it further still, in
the quiet loneliness of the Thousand Isles; in the whirl and
sweep of the Cedar Rapids; in the silent rush of the great current
under the rocks at the foot of Quebec. Aye,, and even further
away still, down where the lone Laurentien Hills come forth to
look again upon the water whose earliest beginnings they cradled,
along the shores of L«ik-e.'Superior. There close to the sounding
billows of the Atlantic, 2000 miles from Superior, these hills--
the only ones that ever last—guard the great gate by which the
St. Laurence seeks the sea.
There are rivers whose current, running red with the silt and mud
of their soft alluvial shores, carry far into the ocean, the
record of their muddy progress; but this glorious river system.
through its many lakes and various names-, is ever the same crystal
current, flowing pure from the fountain-head of Lake Superior.
Great cities stud its shores but they are powerless to dim the
transparency of its waters. Steatuehips cover the broad bosom of
its lakes and estuaries., but they change not the beauty of the
water—no more than the fleets of the world mark the waves of the
ocean."
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749
Only ninety-eight years, a relatively short time as far as history is con-
cerned have passed since Mr Butler's succinct description and would to God
that we could say the same things now that he said then. To our great shame
and discredit, we cannot do so. We are told that Lake Erie is a "dead" lake,
and that Lake Michigan is "sick" and that others have varying degrees of
pollution. Lake Superior is presumably, at present, the cleanest of all of
the five Great Lakes. This fact is not due to any great control on our part,
more accurately can be attributed to more dense industrial activity on the
four lakes lying to the east.
However, pollution is present and many cases have been recognized and others
suspected. In addition others can be anticipated. A brief review of the
situation follows:
1. St. -Louis River Watershed —
It is a well-known fact that the St. Louis River is polluted. If there is
any doubt, all one needs do is drive from Pond Du Lac to Cnrlton, through
Pond Du Lac State Park, which parallels the river, and the smell -should
convince even the greatest skeptic. On May 22, 1958, the Duluth-Herald con-
tained the following statement, "French Fiver State Fish Hatchery crews are
removing thousands of dead fish from the St. Louis River in New Duluth and
Pond Du Lac." The Duluth Herald paper for August 22, 1968 contained the
following partial statement: "Cloouet Mayor Walter Stock urged the Arrowhead
Economic Development District, Inc., today to give a high priority to helping
combat pollution in the St. Louis Elver." The river which flows into Lake
Superior and has its source in east central St. Louis County, is 27$ polluted
even before passing through Clccmet. Stock said, additional pollutants are
dumped in through 'city and industrial wastes at Cloquet. "The pollutents
upstream from Cloquet, Stock said, are from natural sources such as swamps,
lowlands and farms and also possible from other communities, such as TSrookston,
Meadowlands, Floodwood, and Forbes."
"We'll do Whatever we can to take care of our pollution," SUock said, "but
it doesn't seem right that Cloquet should clean the river to 85$ to 90$
purity when it is already polluted to the extent of 27$ before it gets to us."
He acknowledged that the extent of pollution by the time the river reaches
its nouth is such that if you take a boat up from Fond Du Lac it makes you
shiver to see what's going on.'
2. Duluth Superior Harbor—
The "polluted water originating in the St. Louis River Watershed is Coined
in the Duluth-Superior Harbor by additional pollutants from the following
sources:
a. Discharge of untreated wastes from ships using the Harbor.
b. Various Industries discharging untreated, industrial and sanitary
sewage from plants in Duluth and Superior directly into -the Bay.
c. Insufficiently treated sewage from the cities of Duluth-Superior
(as recently as three years ago the city of Superior was
dumping raw sewage in the Lake.)
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750
3. Private Systems—
There is no secret about the fact that untreated effluent from private
systems along the nortvi shore of Lake Superior? and perhaps elsewhere,
seeps into the Lake and also pollutes ground water sources.
k. Silt Problems--
It is easy for anyone to stand on the hills surrounding Lake Superior
when the waves are battering the shores, and ovserve the brown layer of
silt and other debris staining the clear waters. The effect is particularly
great along the south shore of Lake Superior--this indicates the need
for study and the institution of sound soil conservation practices.
5. Taeonite ManufacturlttC--
At the present time, Reserve Mining Company is dumping about 60,000
tons of taconite tailings a day into Lake Superior. In passing, we feel
compelled to mention that the United Northern Sportsmen Club stood almost
alone in resisting the issuance of this disposal permit. Thus far we have
seen no evidence to make us regret this resistance, and much evidence to
make us feel we were right in resisting!
6. Other Areas—
We have confined our brief remarks to the Head of the Lakes. Certainly
there are other areas along Lake Superior in Wisconsin, Michigan and
Canada, which should be reviewed and evaluated.
1. Future Problems--
Recent newspaper stories have indicated t^c possibility of a Nuclear
Breeder Plant being constructed alone the north shore by the Union Carbide
Company, As we understand the situation-,- the plant would be to manufacture
Atomic Materials for other power plantc--electric power would be a by-product.
There were indications that 2 billion gallons of water per day, or 730 billion
gallons a year would be used and recycled. In 19^6 the water appropriation
from the Lake Superior Watershed (thrrc. is from Duluth to Pigeon Eiver) was
about 218 billion gallons per year of which 98.15$> vas surface water and
1.5$ from ground water sources. It is obvious that the proposed plant
would use more than three times the present water appropriation for the Lake
Superior Watershed. We certainly feel that any such proposal should have
a comprehensive advance study to provide the best answers possible to the
following questions:
a. Why is the Knife River, one of the three finest trout streams on Lake
Superior chosen ns the site" of this- plant?
b. Effects on water quality--What changes in the lake itself, can we
anticipate from all this warm water? How much and to what distance will the
temperature of the Lake water be affected?
c. How many plants of this nature can the lake support?
d. Where should they be located so that it might be possible to utilise
these B.T.U.'s for some industrial or other worthwhile heating purpose?
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751
We have been speaking "briefly of some things that are wrong, and some things
that may be wrong, and we may have given the impression that we are unaware
of the manv organizations and individuals combating the problems. We are not.'
We have folio-wed with interest and applause each forward step by the Federal
Water PollutJon Control Administration, and our own Minnesota Pollution
Control Agency. We only wish it were possible for each to have unlimited
resources, and to move faster. Also, we applauded the calling of the recent
"Pollution Enforcement Conference in Chicago," but we were also a little
saddened because the very name of the conference indicated that damage had
already been done and that we were again starting the old familiar practice
of "locking the barn door after the horse had escaped."
It seems to us that money-wise end other-wise ve cannot wait until enforcement
conferences are necessary. We can no longer accept the philosophy that the
important thing is to bring in industry, at any cost,, regardless of the
consequences to water urity and other natural resources. It seems to us
that one of the great problems in America today and a fallacy from beginning
to end, is the belief that we can have good conservation practices without
affecting the personal liberty or wallets of anyone, or without interferring
with exploitation by industry. This was expressed clearly at a hearing by the
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at Tuluth, Minnesota on February 23. 19^8
(as reported in the Puluth News Tribune of February 2U, 1968) when the
Executive Vice President of the Northeastern Minnesota Development Association
said—"He supported the control of water and air pollution--but--! not at the
expense of losing >obs and penalizing future economic development.' Water
quality is not lust a problem for the conservationist, the hunter, and the
fisherman. Clean water is everyone's problem. It cannot be solved by one
neighborhood, by one city, by one county, by one state, or by the Federal
Government. If we ere to use and, at the same time preserve our water
resources we must have everyone's cooperative assistance. We believe that:
Everyone can do something about water pollution.'
Everyone can help to clean up dirty water.'
Everyone can help to keep clean water clearI
But, we do believe that many able assistants and protagonists for pure water
and pure air are being lost through failure to inform them fully, and failure
to provide a catalyst to unite the effort.
In paragraph three of this letter, we indicated that we needed your assistance,
and perhaps now is the time to make our request known. We ask and we urge
that you exercise authority,, which you now possess, and call at the earliest
practicable date an interstate pollution prevention conference for Lake
Superior, the Crown Jewel of the United States I
This could be an historic first, and clear evidence that we can act before
our problems get out of control. It would be our thought that the conference
should provide data in the following categories:
1. Put together all known facts regarding present pollution of Lake-
Superior and its various watersheds.
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752-7^
2. Put together data on steps now being taken to correct known
situations.
3. Outline steps necessary to prevent pollution in the future.
Your cooperation and assistance in making this request become a reality
will be sincerely appreciated!
Very truly yours,
Milton E. Pelletier
President-United Northern Sportsmen Club
3680 Munger Shaw Road
Duluth, Minnesota 55810
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754
Mrs. Arlene Harvell
MR. BADALICH: Mr. Chairman, if the Minnesota
recitation may continue, I would next like to call on the
Save Lake Superior Association. I have a letter here from
Mrs. Arlene Harvell, resident of Two Harbors, Minnesota.
STATEMENT OF MRS. ARLENE HARVELL,
PRESIDENT, SAVE LAKE SUPERIOR
ASSOCIATION
MRS. HARVELL: Members of this conference, ladies
and gentlemen:
As President of the Tri-State organization known as
Save Lake Superior Association, Inc., I will make my report in
two parts. No. 1, I will present 'the position of our Tri-State
organization and a representative sampling of the written testimony
on which we base our position. No. 2, Dr. Louis G. Williams will
present the scientific evidence that substantiates our statement.
The Save Lake Superior Association would like to
preface our statement of position with three specific questions:
1. Are the intentions of this conference merely to
justify additional appropriations or is it to seek the prevention
of further pollution?
2. Gentlemen, we have been told over and over again
to wait for all of the evidence. Should we, in fact, wait for all
of the evidence? If I placed a drop of arsenic in my husband's
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755
Mrs, Arlene Harvell
coffee every day and you watched me do it every day, would you
wait for all of the evidence? Would you wait for a dead body
before you took action? And are you now going to wait for the
dead body of Lake Superior before you take action?
3. This conference has been told that there are
taconite tailings in the Duluth, Minnesota/ water supply, yet,
through omission, they try to make us believe that somehow they
are not in the Superior, Wisconsin, water supply. If this is
true, then our Association would like to know where this invisible
wall is located that somehow contains the waters of Minnesota and
prevents their lapping over on the shores of Wisconsin and the
shores of Michigan.
The Save Lake Superior Association is a response to
the pleas of the residents who live around Lake Superior. We
directly represent over 800 alarmed citizens of Minnesota, Wisconsin,
and Michigan. It is our belief that any major pollutant dumped
into the lake is carried throughout the lake and thereby constitutes
interstate pollution.
It is the belief of our membership that the pollution
of Lake Superior is a threat to the health and welfare of all the
residents living around Lake Superior and, indeed, an indirect
threat to the citizens of the United States of America. In fact,
in the somewhat stronger words of the Honorary President of Save
Lake Superior Association, Inc., Mr. Arthur Godfrey, "Unless
something constructive is done along these lines very quickly,
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756
Mrs. Arlene Harvell
it is now a well-established fact that our beautiful little
planet is doomed." We have this opportunity today to do
something constructive.
We have witnessed the destruction of lakes and
rivers through man's carelessness, foolishness, selfishness,
permissiveness and greed. We know perfectly well that we are
capable of destroying our own environment and thereby the lives
of all who live within our environment. We also know that we
are perfectly capable of exercising controls upon this environ-
ment. We have been told, in fact, by a representative here in
District 61-A in Minnesota, Mr. James Euland, that it is up to
the people to establish the priorities and that we are also free
to change these priorities. Through this Association we hereby
call for a change in these priorities.
We sincerely regret an abysmal lack of knowledge
and thereby a horrendous error in allowing the establishment of
a priority and a precedent in 1947 which allowed an industry to
dump taconite tailings into the waters of Lake Superior. We wish
to now have this error corrected, and, if it is necessary, to
share in the blame and the cost that this correction might incur.
We admit our past ignorance and plead with this conference to allow
the correction as soon as it is humanly possible, that our children
will not have to bear the burden of our wrong.
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757
Mrs. Arlene Harvell
We ask that this conference carefully weigh the
testimony of our many citizens who base their facts on good
eyesight, on comprehension, and, indeed, on common sense, who
may not be scientists, but who do claim to have their health
and well-being at stake in this matter.
Many of our members are now or have been at one
time commercial fishermen. It is a fact that the fish in Lake
Superior will not stay in dirty water,that they are not to be
found in commercial quantities in the grey water that is caused
by taconite tailings. Our fishermen readily admit there are
several factors which have contributed to the total decline in
fishing. However, they point out the fact that studies conducted
by various departments of the government have not indicated exactly
where all the fish catches were made, only the area adjacent to
the fisherman's docking facilities. Our fishermen will be glad
to testify to the fact that commercial quantities of fish will
not be found in the grey water area that is caused by taconite
tailings. They wish also to call attention to the fact that their
welfare has been directly affected by the continued discharge of
taconite tailings into Lake Superior at Silver Bay, Minnesota.
Many have, in fact, been forced to find other means of income. This
is no longer a threat to them; it is an existing damage to their
current welfare.
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758
Mrs. Arlene Harvell
Many of our members own and operate tourist
facilities. They testify to the fact that their business, and
thereby their welfare, depends on the beauty of Lake Superior.
It is their main tourist attraction and, indeed, for some their
only tourist attraction. In fact, the local civic organziations,
businesses, and industries appear to support the importance of
the beauty of Lake Superior as they annually expend thousands of
dollars to promote tourism and their promotional photos inevitably
show beautiful scenes of Lake Superior. In fact, our Governor,
Harold Levander, told a Senate Committee that a Federal-State
commission charged with the economic revival of northern
Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan could profitably spend $1 billion
to improve the region. However, the immediate plan involves
$23 million for 1969-1970. The plan is to involve industrial
development, tourist improvements, and projects for natural resources
protection.
One of the major concerns of our membership is short-
range plans for industrial development. It is our hope that no
one industry will be allowed to use up, to degrade, or to pollute
our greatest resource - Lake Superior. We wish to maintain the
quality of our water in order to allow many industries to locate
in this area in the future. We wish to be able to provide the
water these will need for both industrial uses and for the
increasing population of the area. The present degradation of
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759
Mrs. Arlene Harvell
Lake Superior thereby strikes at the very heart of our
economic development plans - at the plans for providing future
sources of employment for the Lake Superior area.
Our members in the tourist industry depend upon a
seasonal influx of tourists for their business, for their income.
Our membership consists of many of these tourists who, in fact,
are annual vistors to the North Shore of Lake Superior and of
many who annually visit various attractions around the entire lake.
These people are alarmed at the greyish band of water that appears
in Lake Superior with increasing intensity. These people have
visited many parts of the United States and have until now preferred
the Lake Superior area because of its beauty and its "sky blue
waters." In the interest of their health and welfare, that they
may have an area conducive to rest and recreation, soothing to
their hayfever, and in the interests of the welfare of the resort
owners whom they support with their tourist dollars, we plead their
case, and we will provide a sample of their written testimony.
The Save Lake Superior Association also represents
many young adults. Psychologists and sociologists are continually
finding links between our environment and our mental health.
These young members of our society are alarmed at this threat to
their environment. They listen to our good intentions and then
they witness our actions or lack of actions in regard to pollution
of their environment, the degradation of their legacy, and the
fulfillment of our moral responsibilities. They bear witness to the
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760
Mrs. Arlene Harvell
pollution of their environment, to the threat to their future
health and welfare, in fact, to the threat of their very
existence.
We have many members who hold degrees in the
various scientific fields. Several of these members express
their witness to pollution in the letters which I will place
before you soon. These people, perhaps above all others, realize
the threat of continued pollution to Lake Superior. They bear
witness to the turbidity of Lake Superior and the visible
evidence that this turbidity is being caused by the Reserve
Mining Company at Silver Bay, Minnesota. They feel that it is
a crime against future generations to neglect the abatement of
this obvious source of pollution.
The majority of our membership are property owners
along the shores of Lake Superior and its tributary waters.
These citizens, these already heavily burdened taxpayers, are
alarmed at the prospect of having to pay for the cleaning up of
these polluted waters. They have witnessed the mismanagement of
water supplies in the East; they realize the inadequacy of present
standards, and they look with horror at the ineffective enforcement
of the present laws and provisions of permits. Is it any wonder
that many of them have given up in despair and retreated into an
apathetic state or that some are out demonstrating against our
Government's policies. Will they have to pay the costs of cleanup
plus the wages of those who allowed their errors to continue in the
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761
Mrs. Arlene Harvell
face of facts? These people have invested heavily in the future
of our area and they have every right to expect at least a minimal
protection of their investment.
It is through the personal testimony of our membership
that the Save Lake Superior Association takes its present stand.
We respectfully request the conferees to study a representative
sampling of this testimony. I have those papers ready.
We summarize these points:
1. Taconite tailings in Lake Superior constitute
interstate pollution.
2. The resulting pollution is a threat to the
health and welfare of the residents of and the visitors to Lake
Superior.
3. We request an adjustment of priorities and a
correction of the existing situation. We are willing to share the
blame and the cost of an alternative method of disposal for Reserve
Mining Company's taconite tailings if this is a necessary procedure.
4. We ask for the immediate enforcement of the existing
laws and provisions of the permits.
5. We plead for the protection of our environment
and the health and welfare of our people.
6. We ask for a strong precedent to be set so that
we may provide the leadership that this Nation expects from a
Federal conference.
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Mrs. Arlene Harvell
I have here a compilation of the Save Lake Superior
Association, "Analysis of the Economic Capability of Reserve to
Control Taconite Pollutants." This has been examined by four
qualified economists. We feel we should submit it to this
conference. Is this acceptable?
MR. DOMINICK: Could I see your analysis, please?
MRS. HARVELL: Yes.
We also have two statements, one from our Michigan
Chapter, who is relatively new and who is unable to provide a
person to speak on their behalf today or tomorrow.
We also wish to submit what the young people have
done on their own entirely.
And these (indicating) are signatures of the people
who support our stand besides the many organizations who support
our staud.
Then, to substantiate our position scientifically,
we have the personal testimony of one of our members, Dr. Louis
G. Williams. Dr. Williams has been doing research on problems of
eutropnication since 1958, over a three-year period from 1965
through 1967. Dr. Williams worked specifically on the biota of
Lake Superior. He was employed by the National Water Quality
Laboratory here in Duluth. He was, in fact, the senior ranking
member of the research team to September of 1967.
It is my he nor and pleasure to introduce Dr. Williams.
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763
Arlene Harvell
MR. DOMINICK: Before Dr. Williams comes up --
MRS. HARVELL: He is here.
MR. DOMINICK: As to your analysis of the economic
capability of Reserve Mining Company, you mentioned this had been
compiled by four individuals, is that correct?
MRS. HARVELL: By an independent firm of economists,
and it has been examined by four individuals.
MR. DOMINICK: Could you identify in the document
where this came from and the four individuals who examined it,
and we would be happy to place it in the record.
MRS. HARVELL: I do not have a statement available
from these persons. They are members of our Association. It is the
policy of our Association not to reveal the identity of its
membership unless we have a written statement doing so, because
of the fact that many of our members work for pollutant industries
and their jobs may be threatened, therefore!
MR. DOMINICK: Would you identify the firm?
MRS. HARVELL: I will identify one of the individuals
who, I believe, has given his permission, who is an economics
teacher at the University of Minnesota, Duluth, Mr. Nelson.
MR. DOMINICK: Very well, we will have this as an
exhibit.
(The above—mentioned analysis is on file at
Headquarters, FWPCA, and the Regional Office, Chicago, Illinois.)
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'64
Mrs. Arlene Harvell
MR. DOMINICK: We will also receive your list of
signatures. How many signatures are on this, do you know?
MRS. HARVELL: I have not counted them. The
children did those.
MR. DOMINICK: We will be happy to place in the
record the Michigan statement and receive as exhibits the
material that you presented to the conferees.
(The above-tmentioned signature lists and other
material presented to the conferees, are on file at FWPCA
Headquarters, Washington, D. C., and the Regional Office,
Chicago, Illinois. The above-mentioned Michigan statement follows.)
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765
SAVE LAKE SUPERIOR
The majority of the residentSof the Northern Counties of Michigan
when asked about the condition of Lake Superior will say, "It's clean
now, not as clean as it was 10-15 years ago, but not to the point where
it can be called polluted." Right down the line they agree that some-
thing should be done to insure a fresh water Lake for years to come
but lack a concrete plan for cleaning it up. This plan, whatever it may
be, must include the necessary provisions stopping the current causes
for the Lake getting "dirty".
The legislation ultimately passed will be worded by representatives
in our State Legislatures, and in Washington D.C. by our Congressmen.
These men, no matter how well intentioned, must listen to the voice
of the people who are most familiar with the Lake and how it is being used
and abused. Scientists agree that the Lake is far from being itjoriginal
self. The degree of deterioration can be argued, but all scientists will
agree that it is aging faster than it should be.
It would be a sin for no action to be taken now as any delay would
hasten the day when large expenditures of funds would be needed to undo
the harm being done. This experience can be noted in the lower Lakes
of Erie, Huron, and Michigan.
We, the concerned citizens of Michigan present to you the following
letters from the people who know Lake Superior the best, the lake
shore residents.
/• \
L,
ri ueu ,.,u ouurn to before ;:i
a, u of JIT . ^ ll oc.-'
President,'Michigan Chapter of
the Save Lake Superior Association
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766
Louis G. Williams
MR. BADALICH: Will the conferees be furnished a
copy of the economic study, Mr. Chairman?
MR. DOMINICK: We have taken this as an exhibit.
We will try to have copies made of it and furnish it to the
conferees.
STATEMENT OF LOUIS G. WILLIAMS,
SAVE LAKE SUPERIOR ASSOCIATION
(Univ. of Alabama)
DR. WILLIAMS: Mr. Chairman:
At the present time Lake Superior is not a pollution
crisis; neither was Lake Erie two generation gaps ago. Lake
Superior, however, has lost its virginity chiefly to a small
segment of the mining industrial complex, which disposes of
60,000 long tons of taconite wastes per day into this largest
freshwater supply in the United State of good water quality.
We cannot blame the economics. They are lawfully
operating with a permit, which was based on "legal" hearings.
The original permit to discharge these finely pulverized taconite
wastes and several revalidations of this permit have been made,
all based on tests and especially public hearing. Each time the
judgments have been that the lake has not been adversely affected,
based on standards in which they legally operate.
Recent findings, however, using more sensitive
scientific instruments and new methods, may mean that the Reserve
Mining operations are badly in need of a fresh assessment.
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767
Louis G. Williams
Like Lake Tahoe between California and Nevada, Lake
Superior is still one of the cleanest and clearest freshwater
assests in the world. This is true because other large lakes
have become man-polluted. Lake Superior is an irreplacable
scenic treasure and natural resource. To protect it from
destruction by taconite pollution causing accelerated eutrophication,
present judgments should be based on recent test finding, using
newly developed scientific methods and the more sensitive equip-
ment which were not available when Reserve began its operation.
At the present time the waters of Lake Superior are
not enriched when compared with other major bodies of water, and
they support a phytoplankton population about the same biomass
density as Lake Tahoe.
By present enrichment criteria these beautiful lakes
are not polluted. Yet, the interests for preserving Lake Tahoe
has been so great that wastewaters that used to empty into Lake
Tahoe are now being diverted away for irrigation in Nevada.
Tahoe's principal threat has been enrichment from phosphorus and
nitrogen. While nitrogen and phosphorus are minor problems for
Lake Superior, the major pollution threat to the purity of Lake
Superior are from metabolic trace metals in circulating taconite
from the Reserve Mining tailings. These trace metals, on
reaching threshold concentrations, bring about enrichment and
blooms of unwanted bluegreen algae, and the constantly shifting
taconite sand is spreading with water turbulence to cover and
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768
Louis G. Williams
smother beneficial crevices in rocks which serve as niches for
many beneficial lake organisms. Breeding places are destroyed,
and some of the trace metals have reached concentrations that
drive away beneficial sport fishes.
These findings are not based on feelings but on
many years of study and specialization, including the examination
of raw water samples from Lake Superior from 1958 to September 1967
while I was in charge of the aquatic biology program, chiefly
plankton, of the US PHS National Water Quality Network of 128
stations, which included the Great Lakes. From 1965 to 1967 I
was transferred to Duluth, where I was in charge of the plankton
program of the National Water Quality Laboratory. Space will
not permit here a report on the extensive research I conducted on
many aspects of water quality of Lake Superior based on the factors
of the lake that affect the plankton and periphyton populations
and their reactions to the circulating taconite tailings from the
lake.
The first priority of any discussion of the water
quality of Lake Superior should be an attempt to inform the
citizens about the general principles of limnology and eutrophi-
cation so as informed people they may exercise responsible judgments.
Much speculation exists as to the fate of Lake Superior. Will
it become another Lake Erie? Extensive public hearings are not
necessarily the solution, because the validity of much of the
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769
Louis G. Williams
testimony has already proven to be incorrect in past hearings.
For example, in a hearing on August 24, 25, and 26, 1966, W. K.
Montague testified, "...taconite consists essentially of hard
rock which is crushed down and from which the iron ore particles
are removed by magnetic separation. The remainder is nothing
but coarse and fine sand. It is like the sand which the North
Shore streams have been pouring into Lake Superior for three
thousand years. There are no chemicals added."
Now, we know as a matter of scientific fact that the
sands are chemically unlike those of the North Shore streams.
Turbid particles from these streams vary from yellow to red to
brown, but the taconite particles are gray. We know that both
fly ash and CaCl have been added to the waste discharge. We have
been repeatedly told that these taconite tailings wastes are
harmless and inert. Today we know that some of the chemicals in
taconite wastes are highly metabolic, and that they significantly
add to the aging process of Lake Superior, which tend to make it
more and more like "old" Lake Erie.
Perhaps the biggest misjudgment has been the belief
that high density currents would carry the taconite wastes to a
deep trough and that the lake would remain in its state of purity,
because none would get out of this relatively small dump.
MR. DOMINICK: Mr. Williams, could you suspend for
just a moment.
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770
Louis G. Williams
I note here that your statement runs to seven pages
single spaced. Would it be possible to summarise this statement
in any way? We have the statement before us and it will be
included in the record in its entirety.
DR. WILLIAMS: I believe the Save Lake Superior
Association has gone to a great deal of trouble to bring me here.
I have taken off from my classes at the University of Alabama,
made a lot of effort to get here myself.
MR. DOMINICK: I appreciate that.
DR. WILLIAMS: I am probably farther away than any
one of this conference. I believe my statement is worthwhile and
the audience should hear it.
MR. DOMINICK: Very well, you may proceed.
DR. WILLIAMS: From numerous samples taken along
both the North and South Shores I have repeatedly found fine, gray
taconite sands being widely spread during periods of water turbulence,
Filling up the rock crevices destroys niches for the good guys,
which are some of the food-chain organisms to fish. The water
quality has been markedly deteriorating based on more and more
green algae, and especially nuisance bluegreen algae, instead of
domination of diatoms, of the clean water community types. This
taconite sand deposition was further studied by placing special
large glass substrates at selected sites on the bottom below the
wave lash zone.
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771
Louis G. Williams
I have found that the dispersed particles in the
waters of the North Shore streams draining into Lake Superior are
unlike those of the taconite particles and that the silt contribution
from these North Shore rivers are negligible when compared with the
60,000 long tons per day of taconite wastes and especially the tiny
sizes (0.5 to 3.0u) that circulate wherever water flows in and
from Lake Superior
There are numerous statements about the "green illusion
water-" ^ne can now sav that there is no longer any illusion about
these green waters. They are real color from taconite particles
and from algal blooms produced by their enrichment. I have been
able to produce these algal blooms in the labroatory by adding
taconite colloids to lake water. The green water in the lake, I
have observed repeatedly, is a result of surface flowing water,
usually driven by wind, blowing toward or away from the shore and
causing the deeper strata of water to upwell and bring the settled
taconite particles back into resuspension. This phenomenon is
associated with warm surface water. These tiny silt particles are
carried for many miles by the lake currents.
The very fine particles (colloids) which were obtained
by alum flocculation of water after passing through a membrane filter
circulate in surface water all over Lake Superior and downstream to
other lakes and into the St. Lawrence River and on to the Atlantic
Ocean.
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Louis G. Williams
These colloids are particularly important in Lake
Superior for a number of biological reasons dealing with acceleration
of eutrophication. Without these circulating suspended particles
of taconite, some of the trace metals (copper, zinc, molybdenum)
would be in too short supply to support the present corps of
phototrophs of both the phytoplankton and the periphyton. During
the warm-water period in late summer and early fall, blooms of
bluegreen algae and some green algae occur in populations as high
as 130,000 cells per milliliter, which is an extremely bad
indication of short-term eutrophication associated with taconite
suspended particles.
Most biologists know that some bluegreen algae are
able to take nitrogen from the air, dissolved in the water, and
fix it to a usable nitrite and nitrate only when the trace element
molybdenum is present. Colloids of taconite were found to have a
relatively high content of this tract metal, which might explain the
enormous blooms of nuisance bluegreen algae.
This report of necessity must be an oversimplification,
because the humans charged with decision-making concerning the life
and death of Lake Superior must rely on outside professional help.
Here there is often a communications gap. They must realize that
the most important organisms in the lake from both a nuisance
viewpoint and a food-chain to sports fishes are the phytoplankton
which are followed by the zooplankton and through many kinds of tiny
microinvertebrates. To communicate to the public about the welfare
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Louis G. Williams
of these tiny microbes is most difficult. I see them and know them
and I know their positive and negative relationships to the welfare
of the entire lake ecosystem. On the other hand, I must either
deal with fishes, which are not microscopic, or first try to
explain the vast biomasses of the tiny, unseen plankton. My
studies have been chiefly at the base of the food chains to fish.
However, biologists, who work principally with fishes, are better
able to reach a fish-conscious audience.
From 1958 to 1967 I studied the kinds and numbers of
planktonic organisms in the major waterways of the United States,
while I was in charge of the program for the US PHS, (which later
became the Department of the Interior) being stationed in
Cincinnati until my function was transferred to Duluth.
Communities of these unseen (microscopic) organisms
do have personalities and by their diversities do reflect, like
a modern computer, the quality of the water in a manner far more
sensitively than any known present chemical method.
These organisms are now telling us that Lake Superior
has taken a turn for the worse. It has the germs of an infection
from taconite wastes. Some damage has already been done. As
people (who pollute) we can still arrest this disease now by stopping
the flow of taconite metabolic trace elements to Lake Superior.
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Louis G. Williams
Taconite pollution of Lake Superior is to a large
extent the addition of particulate matter to the lake. Researchers
whose specialty is culturing these microbes have demonstrated
that these microbes must have certain chemicals to live. An
over-supply, however, of some kinds of chemicals produce unwanted
(eutrophic) conditions. The traveling varieties of taconite
particles in the Great Lakes have been tested and found to be
associated with the unwanted high productivity in the lakes,
probably because of the concentration and adsorption of nutrients
for centers of biological activity. These result in unwanted
bluegreen algae. The unwanted bluegreens are unwanted because
they are poor food-chain organisms aid produce poor conditions for
growth of wanted food-chain organisms. Space here does not permit
elaboration on the many cultures and bioassay studies that I
conducted in the National Water Quality Laboratory at Duluth that
supports this position. I have always treated my data as
preliminary. Lake Superior raw water was brought into the
laboratory in large quantities for these studies, as my fellow
workers at the Duluth National Water Quality Laboratory will
attest.
Lake Superior raw water was brought into the laboratory,
then in the Old Main Hall of the University of Minnesota at Duluth,
where it was used by culturing technique for various ways of
assessing the enrichment (eutrophication) of various places at
different seasons for the influence of taconite suspended particles.
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Louis G. Williams
The suspended material was filtered, settled, centrifuged, and
flocculated. Within the range of oil emersion microscopic
examination of 1,000 times magnification with special hyrax slides
the particles were sized. Toxicity was evident from tailings taken
from the vicinity of Silver Bay, based on laboratory bioassay
technique to species of Daphnia and Diaptomus. These particles impart
something to the water that hurt diatom communities and promote
nuisance populations of bluegreen algae, which are undesirable for
food-chain organisms to fish.
There is some gratification to me that the 404 page
report by the Great Lakes Region of the Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration concerning the water quality of Lake
Superior in the vicinity of Silver Bay, Minnesota (December 1968)
fully supports my work, which had been reported prior to
September 1967. Likewise, much of the work of the recent survey
of the Duluth National Water Quality Laboratory also essentially
substantiates my reported findings,
"Doing one's thing" these days appears to be the way to
success. Some professionals on college campuses have become highly
successful in bringing before the public a need for a change of some
of our faulty public policies. Through disruptive practices,
however, a few minority groups have been able to accomplish changes
that are not in the long-term welfare of the majority. Being humans,
we cannot divorce the issue of taconite pollution from the positive
economic considerations, such as jobs and profits. Therefore, we are
dealing essentially with problems that have many components. Some
of these are selfish.
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Louis G. Williams
After removal of the selfish aspects the remaining
problems are still very complex, because they deal with principles
of aquatic ecology, economics, and sociology. Any worthwhile
hearing or conference on the state of health of the big lake must
permit a common meeting ground for not only responsible ecologists,
conservationists, economists, and sociologists, but also responsible
representatives of the mass news media. All of the people of the
United States own the lake and have a big stake and pride in its
natural resources. Furthermore, moral issues are involved. We
must address ourselves to the question: What kind of a Lake
Superior do we want to pass on to future generations?
I do have clear-cut answers to some of the scientific
questions about the ecologic state of Lake Superior in respect to
taconite contamination. I cannot, however, represent ethical
moral, economic, nor social issues. The records over the past
10 years clearly indicate that the process of having public
hearings and attempting to decide scientific solutions by this
method have failed miserably. Apparently past "scientific"
testimony is now obviously faulty, since some of it has since
proven to be untrue concerning the fate of these wastes in the lake.
This has a parallel in the solution to the racial tensions. We
cannot solve the racial issues by having a white biracial committee
and a black biracial committee. Can we have our cake and eat it, too?
In the first place, we must decide between a clean Lake Superior, or
the economic benefits of making Lake Superior a dump. That is our
choice.
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Louis G. Williams
Considerable scientific data is presently available to
give answers to questions about effects of taconite wastes on water
quality, fish-food organisms, commercial and sport fishes,
recreational and aesthetic values.
From my intensive studies of 128 water sampling
stations of the major waterways of the United States, including the
Great Lakes, I have been able to assess rather reliably the ecologic
state of many sampling stations and to predict their fates when
abatement practices went unheeded. Being a researcher, I have never
been in a policy-making capacity while working for the Federal
Government. But at times I have been denied the opportunity to
present expert testimony to policy-making bodies as well as to my
own colleagues, and I am real proud to get to this hearing today.
After I left the National Water Quality Laboratory a
policy was apparently instituted to downgrade my work while I was
a researcher there. This is based on letters and statements from
people still in high positions there. I am gratified, however,
that the recent studies of several Federal agencies have validated
my reported findings, and these have been published.
Should history repeat, my testimony at this hearing will
likewise go unheeded. This is somewhat similar to telling a person
of his probabilities of contracting cancer from excessive smoking,
or becoming a chronic alcoholic from too much social .drinking, or
to drug addiction from "small" trips.
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Louis G. Williams
Considerations at this hearing which are most likely
to carry the most influence are going to be jobs and profit issues.
The effect of the exploitation of Lake Superior as a dumping site
may have to wait until it is considerably more like Lake Erie, whose
eutrophication is now irreversible. To offset this bread and butter
issue, we must show that a clean lake brings in a lot of tourist
dollars, which could be here for many years for long-term investment.
Perhaps I am over-critical concerning many Minnesota
newspapers and TV stations that seem to have been guilty of
giving preferential treatment to glowing statements about how the
Reserve Mining Company is looking after the welfare of Lake Superior.
For example, a front page article of the Duluth News-Tribune of
Saturday, September 16, 1967, attributed to a "spokesman" from the
Reserve Mining Company is now known to be untrue. Here below each
item will be serially numbered for later comment by referring back
to its number."
(1) Charges that dumping of taconite wastes in Lake
Superior threatens water quality and the Apostle Islands
National Lakeshore Program in Wisconsin are without foundation
and apparently the result of a misunderstanding.
(2) Schmid said,*We haven't injured the lake in any
way and no one is more careful of Lake Superior than we are.
(3) Turbidity of the lake has not increased during the
last 12 years.
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Louis G. Williams
(4) All we are putting into Lake Superior is sand like
the streams on the North and South Shores have been doing for
thousands of years.
(5) The sand is deposited on the beach and the
colloidal fine materials are going into the deep trough
(700 to 900 feet) just as the studies indicated that they would.
(6) Our tailings are comparable to these other sources
of sand but contain no organic materials nor chemicals that
would be dissolved in the water.
(7) We are confident that future careful study of
our use of Lake Superior will show what so many scientific
studies of the past have shown - that Reserve has not injured
Lake Superior of any of the beneficial uses of the lake.
(Unquote.)
The Duluth Sunday News-Tribune, January 19, 1969,
carried a front-page article written from St. Paul by Karlstrant,
which said in part:
(8) "State Senator Raymond Higgins, Duluth, said
Saturday he may ask for an investigation by the Minnesota
Legislature into what he termed 'unfounded allegations' that
Lake Superior is being polluted by taconite tailings discharged
at Silver Bay by Reserve Mining Company."
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780
Louis G. Williams
(9) Higgins, in whose district the Reserve plant is
located, asserted that Minnesota is entitled to know the true
facts and leveled scathing criticism.,.for unjust and perhaps
erroneous accusations of one of the State's finest corporate
citizens.
(10) These moves are being activated by certain
preservation groups,,
(11) John Badalich, Executive Director of the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency, said Minnesota will cooperate in the
Duluth Conference, but will hold its own hearings,
The St. Paul Pioneer Press carried an editorial which was
also printed in the Duluth News-Tribune, Friday, January 12, 1968,
which said in part:
(12) "It is no secret that 60,000 tons of crushed rock
are dumped into the lake at Silver Bay.0<>the point is, however, at
this time there is no official evidence stating that this is
the cause" etc.
(13) So on with the study, and for the moment critics
should stop screaming wolf,, Maybe there's one out there. But
let' s see it0
(14) Dr. Mount, Director of the National Water Quality
Laboratory, said, "we haven't gotten deeply involved in the subject
yet."
Now let's look at what the people of Minnesota are
reading in their newspapers. Many of the above-numbered items
are either untrue or irresponsible. In Item 14 above, Dr. Mount
should have known that I did become perhaps too deeply involved in the
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Louis G. Williams
taconite pollution research, but I worked under Dr. C. M. Tarzwell,
then Director, before Dr. Don Mount came aboard as Director. I am
quite sure that Dr. Tarzwell knows very well of my findings from my
frequent reports to him and from actual on-the-spot examination of
the experiments conducted in the laboratory, then in Old Main Hall
of the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Why didn't Dr. Mount seek
from Dr. Tarzwell my reports? It is true that Dr. Tarzwell had
earlier told me to direct my research away from taconite studies,
but he later returned to Duluth and told me to go back to full
strength research on this problem of taconite contamination
on the biota of Lake Superior. I must say that no one can do any
kind of research on the biota of Lake Superior without involving
taconite, inasmuch as it is a principal factor in most any project
one would undertake if it gets to the meat of the lake's biota.
Now let's take each item above by corresponding
number. Item (1) is untrue, because I found taconite silt deposited
along the bottom in protected places of the Apostle Islands, and
these deposits are still there for further study. Therefore, the
use of "without foundation" and "misunderstanding" are misleading,
to say the least. Further, highly metabolic colloids are being
dispersed not only through the Apostle Islands, but throughout
Lake Superior and its waters draining toward the Atlantic Ocean.
These studies are based on modern techniques using membrane
filtration, centrifugation, alum coagulation, and high power
observation under a microscope using 1,000 times magnification.
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782
Louis G. Williams
Item (2) by Schmid that they have not injured Lake
Superior is simply untrue for several factors. First, let's discuss
copper-zinc solutions. J. B. Sprague in August 1964 published an
article in the Journal of the Water Pollution Control Federation
on the avoidance of copper-zinc solutions by young salmon in the
laboratory. He showed that the adult Atlantic salmon avoided
sublethal copper-zinc pollution in an eastern Canadian river.
Copper content of the laboratory water was 2 ^ug/1, and zinc was
3_^ug/l. Now, in my research at Duluth I found average summer and
fall concentrations of copper and zinc to be respectively 6.8 and
7.2jag/l in the lake water taconite colloids collected just east
of the city. This was the residue on a .45 membrane filter. The
filtrate, which passed through the filter, had respectively 1.0
and 3.7^ug/l. These results were published along with other
information in BioScience, Volume 18(1), Pages 36 and 37, in 1968.
Here is prime evidence that copper and zinc from circulating taconite
wastes do have bad effects. Here they would have an effect of
driving away desirable sport fishes. Furthermore, Sprague and
Ramsey, in J. Fish. Res. Board of Canada, 22(2)425-432, 1965, have
shown that these two trace metals found together account for a type
of potentiation for the death of salmon that is more than additive.
Concentrations of these metals in several times higher in the delta
area of the Reserve Mining tailings. When not killed by these metals,
some planktonic organisms concentrate them many times than found in
the surrounding water and pass them along the food chain to fish.
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Louis G. Williams
Also, I found molybdenum in later summer and fall to
be respectively 3.8 and Z.S^ug/l associated with the circulating
taconite particles, and after filtration through a .45 u membrane
filter. Molybdenum is a very dangerous stimulant to some bluegreen
algae, because molybdenum enables them to fix nitrogen and thereby
increase the eutrophication of Lake Superior. During the late
summer and fall large populations of bluegreens were found in the
raw water intake of the water treatment plant of Duluth.
In shallow bays between Duluth and Two Harbors, I have
found white fungus slime covering periphyton on rocks, strongly
indicating severe toxic conditions for the biota there.
Item (3), turbidities from taconite particles are on
the increase, which has not only been documented by my studies, but
also by those of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
Chicago study.
Item (4), careful studies by me reported in BioScience,
18(1):36-37, 1968, and the Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration demonstrate that Reserve Mining is putting into
the lake highly metabolic substances.
Item (5), much of the taconite, the most dangerous
portion, is not going into the trough as early studies indicated it
would. Instead, it is circulating as buoyant, dispersed fine
particles wherever water moves in and from Lake Superior. Attached
to these particles, adsorbed to them, are highly eutrophic substances,
such as zinc, copper, and molybdenum, which came from the taconite
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Louis G. Williams
tailings. Additionally, there are nitrates and phosphates picked
up from river discharges, such as the St. Louis River, which are
increasing the fertility of the lake to nuisance blooms of
bluegreen algae.
Item (6), my studies of several North Shore streams
and those of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration recent
survey show that the "sands" from taconite are spectacularly
different from those of the rivers along the North Shore. I made
numerous special hyrax microslides and for study of these fine
particles under the 1,000 magnifications of my research microscope
while in Duluth. I am sure that all of the then personnel know
about this research.
Item (7), this is obviously not true, because of the
widespread and smothering effect of taconite silt in the breeding
niches of many beneficial organisms. This is a form of physical or
displacement pollution. In addition to this displacement pollution,
these silt particles carry with them undesirable metabolic trace
elements, which are always associated with the circulating colloids.
Item (8), Senator Higgins is now obviously in error in
his use of "unfounded" and "allegations" in reference to known
taconite pollution.
Item (9), I agree with Senator Higgins, and I hope that
others will join us, that Minnesota is entitled to know the "true
facts."
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Louis G. Williams
Item (10) , these moves are being activated by certain
preservation groups ... he is again so correct. One of these groups
is the North Shore centered Save Lake Superior Association. What can
possibly be wrong with having responsible citizens organized into
any kind of groups to help save this great national resource. I now
hope that the Senator will join us. If not, I hope he will turn his
efforts to improving the resources of the lake for all beneficial uses.
Item (11), this would tend to make any thinking person,
after reading this newspaper account by Mr. Badalich, believe that
the Duluth Conference and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency do
not hold the same kind of conferences. If all parties are completely
objective, there can be no need for separate hearings and conferences.
Mr. John P. Badalich is Executive Secretary and Chief Executive
Officer of the Duluth Chamber of Commerce. Now, I hope he has
some real basis for promoting all of the beneficial aspects of the
big lake. Based on a statement by Richard Schoon, Manager of the
Duluth Chamber of Commerce, that the organization "supports water
quality improvement of Lake Superior and its harbor areas wherever the
need for such programs are adequately supported by fact, where the
public agencies authorized to administer such programs come up with
reasonable time schedules for their implementation."
Isn't the present state of the "facts" now adequate for
Schoon and Badalich to begin a change of policy of immediately"
stopping the enormous detrimental influence of taconite wastes on the
water quality of Lake Superior? Who must decide reasonable time
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786
Louis G. Williams
schedule? What are "facts" to the Chamber of Commerce?
Surely, now, Mr. J. Eric Jones, Executive Vice-President
of the Northeastern Minnesota Development Association, will support
the much-needed change. He has stated the policy of NEMDA when
he said, "We must not have development with pollution." In 1967
Reserve's direct payroll was about $26 million. Jones says that
industry creates jobs. He is on record (Duluth News-Tribune,
•Saturday, February 24, 1968) where he is reporting his position:
"... Jones said he supported the control of water and air pollution
but not at the expense of losing jobs and penalizing future
economic development.''
Certainly there are now enough solid facts to convince
business that the many resources of Lake Superior must be now
developed, because future development will be too late.
Is Mr. Schoon insinuating something when he says,
"... public agencies authorized to administer such programs come
up with reasonable time schedules for their implementation."
Surely Mr. Schoon cannot be so naive as to believe that "public
agencies" cannot sin. The simple fact is that the so-called
"public agencies" support such organizations as NEMDA and the
Chamber of Commerce. When these organizations realize the full
impact of Lake Superior pollution and proper abatement the "public
agencies" will respond accordingly.
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787
Louis G. Williams
Item (12) , what is official evidence and what is
scientific evidence? Between these two, which is the more valid?
Mistakes have been made and will continue to be made when the
"official" evidence is contrary to the scientific evidence.
Scientific laws have never been based on "official evidence."
Item (13), I agree. Let's do talk about the circulating
taconite dispersed particles and their detrimental metabolic effects.
Item (14), Dr. Don Mount, now the Director of the
National Water Quality Laboratory in Duluth, should know that I
did become deeply involved in taconite controversy. In his
official position he must reflect policy of his Federal agency for
his success. I'm quite sure that Don Mount and I are basically the
same on our ideas about the water quality of Lake Superior. Because
of his background as a fishery biologist, however, he would tend to
interpret conditions in terms of fish. The major problems of Lake
Superior deal mostly with the phytoplankton, and this is my specialty.
People know fish but most of them do not know the plankton. So I
have a major communications gap to the average layman who is deciding
what are the real implications of the role of plankton in the
eutrophication of Lake Superior. I do sincerely hope that my
research findings about Lake Superior can now take seed. Also, I
trust that I will not be ostracized, as I have been in past
situations, for stepping out of my role in research to bridge the
communications gap between the lay public and science.
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788
Louis G. Williams
General Conclusions.
Beautiful, clean lakes and people-pollution (too many
consumer-produced wastes) are incompatible. Clean lakes remain
beautiful and serve many benefits only by thoughtful management
practices. Before the event of industrialized man clean lakes were
gifts of nature for long periods of time. The industrial (including
farming) and domestic enrichment of waters have played havoc with the
other Great Lakes bringing about excesses of phytoplankton and
other algae that have destroyed recreational and other beneficial
uses of lake water.
Since the other lakes are rapidly going or gone, Lake
Superior could satisfy a big national demand for clean, nuisance-free
water. This demand will increase with more and more leisure time
and the ever-growing population pressure. I am almost sure that
any intelligent appraisal would place uses of Lake Superior, other
than for the disposal of taconite and other wastes, of far greater
economic importance than the advantages to be gained by continuing
to allow the Reserve Mining Company to pollute the lake. For great
savings to the economy of the North Shore and all of the shores of
this big lake, the Reserve Mining Company can continue to operate
by putting its taconite wastes in some of the big holes that have
been formed from previous ore mining operations. Other ore mining
companies are now doing this. Reserve has made many years of profit
by using the lake as a "cheap" dump for its wastes. Certainly,
speed must be now exercised to stop this wholesale destruction of
Lake Superior.
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789
Louis G. Williams
Preserving Lake Superior is now a national concern.
Greater education of the public of the real issues at stake is
sorely needed to control this great national resource for the
maximum use of all of the people. With this kind of understanding,
I hope that Reserve will want to serve the hopes of all of the
people. This is not to imply that the Reserve Mining Company has
not had this attitude all of the time. Now we know that the basis
on which Reserve was given a permit to discharge its wastes to the
lake was grossly in error.
Now, what is the first order of change for the better?
The media for the mass communication can be of great service to the
people not only of Minnesota but the entire world, by attempting
to communicate the complexities of interpreting and managing the role
of phytoplankton and other biologic problems associated with
preserving the beneficial qualities of our big, clean, fresh water,
inland sea.
My involvement in the taconite waste enrichment is simply
to focus a considered attention to those factors that stimulate aging
by nuisance growth of plankton (eutrophication) which have already
played havoc in the other Great Lakes. Help from the mass media is
necessary to support the prediction that by continuing to increase
the rate of growth of nuisance bluegreen algae from taconite wastes
Lake Superior will go the way of Lake Erie. Now, does this position
take me out of the role of a research scientist and into the role
of a "self-interest politician?"
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790
Louis G. Williams
Lake Superior is unquestionably one of the most
interesting and beautiful lakes in the world, yet until recently
it has received surprisingly little attention from aquatic
scientists who are interested in preserving its oligotrophy, which
is the opposite of eutrophy. Surely scientists of the Reserve
Mining Company - one of the State's "finest" corporate citizens -
will in the light of the new facts expedite its effort to preserve
this great national resource for the benefit of all of its present
and future citizens to enjoy and to make even more big economic
returns.
Thank you for your kind attention.
(Applause.)
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you, Dr. Williams.
I would like to make one short statement with respect
to Dr. Tarzwell. He is internationally recognized in the field of
aquatic biology, and is, perhaps, one of the finest scientists in
the entire water quality field. I am sure that none of your remarks
by implication or otherwise were intended to impugn the scientific
credibility or responsibility or professional ethics of Dr. Tarzwell.
Dr. WILLIAMS: May I make another statement.
I am sure this is not true. I do not know who told
Dr. Tarzwell to have me quit working on the taconite material.
MR. BADALICH: Mrs. Harvell, is this the final
testimony for you?
MRS. HARVELL: Yes.
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791
Dale W. Olsen
MR. BADALICH: Next, I will call on the Duluth Chapter
of the Izaak Walton League.
Is there a representative here?
MR. MERRITT: Are we going to take a break for dinner?
MR. DOMINICK: How long will your statement be, sir?
MR. OLSEN: Fifteen minutes.
STATEMENT OF DALE W. OLSEN,
REPRESENTATIVE, IZAAK WALTON
LEAGUE OF AMERICA, DULUTH CHAPTER
DULUTH, MINNESOTA
MR. OLSEN: My name is Dale Olsen. I trust this will
be as brief as possible. I emphasize the fact that I represent our
Duluth Chapter of the Izaak Walton League of America, and we are
presenting essentially the non-scientific viewpoints as concerned
citizens who live in this area.
As lay citizens of the Lake Superior Basin concerned
with the present and future quality of this great natural resource,
we wish to include the following statement as part of the hearing
record of this conference:
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792
Dale W. Olsen
We preface these remarks with reference to a work
by one of Minnesota's finest conservationists, Richard J. Dorer,
which reads as follows:
"That great eternal and creative Force
Which set the sun and moon upon their course,
Splashed heaven's canopy with stars, and made
The seasons pass in endless cavalcade,
Gave man dominion of the Earth and all
The living things that creep and crawl,
That walk and swim and wing the vaulted sky
Or stand and serve -- immobile -- such as I.
Be not a blinded, self-destructive fool
Who challenges relentless Nature's rule.
If she offended be -- for each offense --
She will exact the fullest recompense."
We feel that no more succinct and eloquent statement
of our concern for man's lack of stewardship of his environment
and its precious resources and particularly the problems of
pollution and contamination is to be found.
The position of the Izaak Walton League on matters of
environmental pollution is well known to most citizens of this Nation.
We have consistently supported and, indeed, helped initiate practices
which recognized the individual's right to quality of living as
expressed by the absence of environmental pollution.
1. Richard J. Dorer, "Relentless Nature," The Ghost Tree Speaks.
Minneapolis: Ross and Haines, Inc., 1964, p. 71.
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793
Dale W. Olsen
The Izaak Walton League has not confined its studies and actions to
matters of particular interest to the sportsman alone, but rather
to the broad spectrum of issues which relate to the conservation of
all resources. This is especially true of League activities in
recent years. Our concern for Lake Superior, therefore, is simply
a logical extension of that interest in conservation which has
characterized the philosophy and activities of the League since
its inception.
We have learned through scientific reports and from
the public press of the rapid deterioration taking place in the
four lower Great Lakes. Scientists speak of a natural aging process
called eutrophication, pointing out that all lakes are subject to
this phenomenon and that the rate at which it proceeds varies with
many natural factors at work in the lake itself and in the
surrounding drainage area. Inasmuch as the Great Lakes are com-
paratively young, the natural aging process should not be a matter
of great concern because the rate of change is slow, even by the
geological time scale. Recent studies show, however, that the
aging of these lakes ir ™>ow being accelerated tremendously by man' s
disregard for the lonq term effects of his actions. Population in
the Great Lakes Basin has increased from a few thousand in the
1870's to more than 30 million in the decade of the 1960's.
Industrial and municipal wastes have been pouring into the lower
lakes at rates unforeseen even 10 years ago, with the resultant
negative impact on the water quality of these great natural reservoirs.
Indeed, the effect in the case of Lake Erie may soon be irreparable.
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794
Dale W. Olsen
Only Lake Superior has been spared the serious deterioration now
common to the other four lakes. Members of the Duluth Chapter,
Izaak Walton League, in common with many other citizens of the
Lake Superior Basin, now ask the question, "Will we heed the
tragic experience of the lower lakes and take measures now to
assure future generations a lake which is free of those undesirable
elements which may eventually lead to irreversible processes of
deterioration?"
We believe that present techniques of environmental
pollution control, properly established and administered, can
provide the guarantee of a clean lake for as long as man desires.
The Izaak Walton League is not opposed to industrial growth in
the Lake Superior Basin provided such expansion is in harmony with
long-range goals for the maintenance of quality in the natural
resources of this region. Therefore, it is in the light of recent
experience in the lower lakes, the body of scientific knowledge
which clearly points to the hazards of unchecked pollution, and the
Duluth Chapter, Izaak Walton League's record of active support for
the conservation of natural resources that we cite the following
areas of concern as they apply to the Lake Superior region:
1. Nuclear plants. We have serious reservations about
tentative plans of the Atomic Energy Commission and Union Carbide
Company to construct a gaseous diffusion atomic installation along
the North Shore of Lake Superior in the vicinity of Knife River.
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Dale W. Olsen
We share the concern of many in the Lake Superior Basin who fear
the possibility of thermal and radioactive pollution which might
accompany the construction of such a facility. We also fear
destruction of one of the Nation's finest steel head fisheries as
a consequence of such activity. The effect of discharges from
such a plant on present and projected research programs at the
National Water Quality Laboratory in Duluth also raises grave
questions concerning location of a gaseous diffusion atomic plant
in such close proximity to the basic freshwater research program
at the laboratory.
A much larger question, however, has not been asked,
and this question relates to the priorities society wishes to
establish for the utilization of lands adjacent to the shores of
Lake Superior. We have grave misgivings about the wisdom of
committing unspoiled lands and waters to functions which could
only diminish their ultimate value to future generations. Are we
to sacrifice for short-term gain resources which, when properly
administered, can benefit mankind for untold generations?
2. Industrial pollution and sewage wastes. A second
broad concern centers on industrial pollution and pollution from
inadequately treated sewage discharged in the Duluth-Superior area
and along the North Shore of Lake Superior. Considerable evidence
already points to serious pollution of the St. Louis River and Bay
by wood products industries. Additional pollution by metal
fabricating, beverage, and food products industries have reduced the
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796
Dale W. Olsen
water quality of the St. Louis Bay to such a degree that it
is now included in the list of chemically contaminated harbor
areas of the Great Lakes by the Federal Water Pollution Control
Administration.^
The label of inadequate sewage treatment can presently
be applied to both the Duluth and Superior sewage treatment
facilities. The low quality effluent from these municipal systems,
combined with the previously cited industrial pollution and
indiscriminate waste disposal by ships, have, we feel, brought
the harbor area to a shocking level of pollution.
I will omit a paragraph which relates to a 1965
Minnesota water pollution control study, which, in essence, points
out we studied the issue and little was accomplished at that time.
That was 4 years ago.
Late in 1968 several area industries and municipalities
received notice from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency that
improvements in sewage and waste disposal would be necessary on
their part in order for them to comply with interstate water quality
standards for the State of Minnesota. Included in the list of
those notified were Duluth, Carlton, Scanlon, Two Harbors, and
Floodwood. Also cited were Superwood Corporation, R. J. Reynolds
Foods, Inc., and Fitger Brewing Co. In the initial letter of the
2. Water Pollution Problems of the Great Lakes Area, p. 9. U.S.D.I.,
FWPCA Sept. 1966 (Rev. October 1967)
4. Letter from R. D. Miller, Acting Chief, Section of Enforcement,
M.P.C.A., February 3, 1969
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797
Dole W. Olsen
Acting Chief, Section of Enforcement, the statement also included
U. S. Steel plant, but a subsequent letter from Mr. Miller indicated
their name is not included.
We sincerely hope that these industries and communities
are currently in the process of meeting the required standards.
Dumping of taconite tailings from the Reserve Mining
Company plant at Silver Bay is also of great concern. Reports
have indicated that Republic Steel Corporation (co-owner with
Armco Steel of the Reserve plant) has continually refused to
comply with the Calumet Area Federal-State Enforcement Conference
standards established in 1965 for the installation of antipollution
control measures in its plant at 11600 Burley Avenue, Chicago,
Illinois. Outdoor America, the Izaak Walton magazine, reports:
"... Republic has not denied that it is polluting the Calumet River,
and its attitude suggests that it will continue to do so as long
as it chooses." 5
We trust and I might add, that the attitude of Reserve
Mining Company toward Lake Superior and its future is much more
enlightened than the attitude of Republic Steel toward the Calumet
River in Illinois. Yet our concern continues, for the original
Interior Department Lake Superior report indicates in one of its
concluding statements that, "One requirement of the Minnesota
Pollution Control Agency permit / to Reserve Mining/ to discharge
tailings into Lake Superior is violated in that there is 'material
5. Izaak Walton Magazine, March 1969.
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798
Dale W. Olsen
clouding or discoloration of the water at the surface ' outside
the prescribed permit area."
Our question: "Is there or is there not a violation
of the permit?" Whose evidence shall we accept?
3. Pesticides. We recognize the need to control
insect pests of various kinds, both in agricultural enterprise
and in protection of forest lands and also with regard to specific
infestation in cities or in the countryside or threats to the
public health. We are most concerned, however, with the effect
the use of certain chemical pesticides has, either through runoff
from adjacent lands or on direct application, on water resources
such as those found in the Lake Superior Basin. Effects on fish
life, on animal life, and eventually on man, are crucial. Our
primary concern is with the chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides
such as DDT -- those which persist even as they disperse -- of
which the long-term effects on man and nature are still basically
unknown. We concur with Rachel Carson's observation, and reiterate
her question in the closing sentence of this quote from Si1ent Spring:
"The fisheries of fresh and salt water are a resource
of great importance, involving the interests and the welfare
of a very large number of people. That they are now
seriously threatened by the chemicals entering our waters
can no longer be doubted. If we would divert to constructive
research even a small fraction of the money spent each year on
the development of ever more toxic sprays, we could find ways
6. Summary Report on Environmental Impacts of Taconite Waste
Disposal in Lake Superior, Part I. U.S. Department of the Interior,
December 1968, p. 26.
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799
Dale W. Olsen
to use less dangerous materials and to keep poisons out of
our waterways. When will the public become sufficiently
aware of the facts to demand action?"
4. Wastes from watercraft. To the extent that such
action is still carried out, we are deeply concerned with the
effect of bilge water pumping by lake and ocean ships, and with
solid waste, garbage, and sewage disposal into Lake Superior or
any of its bays and harbors from such ships, or by private pleasure
craft. We are shocked to note in this respect that the U. S.
Coast Guard Cutter WOODRUSH, operating out of Duluth, with a 47
o
man complement, provides for no adequate waste treatment system.
If you will refer to Page 79 of the report of this
conference, you will find that information.
5. Dredged materials. We also question the propriety
of dumping dredged materials from ship channels directly into bays
and harbors and, in some cases, the transfer of such materials
from bay bottoms out into the lake for disposal.
6. Absentee corporate decisions. Finally, we express
concern for a problem over which we have little or no local control
or influence -- namely, the fact that crucial decisions which affect
the future of the Lake Superior Basin, and perhaps even its continued
existence as a prime source of freshwater, are increasingly being
made by conglomerate corporations headquartered in Pittsburgh,
San Francisco, Chicago, or other cities far removed from the lake
7. Rachel Carson, Silent Spring, Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.,
1962, p. 152.
8. An Appraisal of Water Pollution in the Lake Superior Basin,
U.S.D.I., FWPCA, April 1969, p. 79.
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800
Dale W. Olsen
basin. For as citizens, we have no voice in decisions whose
consequences may some day vitally affect our lives and the lives
of future generations living on Lake Superior's shores.
We recognize many threats from pollution and con-
tamination in the Lake Superior Basin. These have been all too
briefly touched upon in this statement, and too rapidly. They
range from concern for untreated sewage to chemical wastes,
pesticides, and taconite tailings, among others. Existing
problems prompt Duluth Chpater, Izaak Walton League, to propose
the following recommendations as the concluding section of this
statement:
Recommendations
1. The responsibility of each polluter for all forms
of damage caused by his pollution should be effectively recognized
and generally accepted. There should be no "right" to pollute.
Indeed, it would be wiser to follow a policy which would require
a manufacturer or producer of an objectionable substance to prove,
first of all, that it is not harmful before he is granted a permit
to release it into the environment.
2. The roles of all governmental authorities, local,
State, and Federal, in pollution enforcement and regulation should
be complementary and mutually supporting, and not competitive. At
present, for example, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency suggests
that Reserve Mining is not violating its permits in the Lake Superior
operation, yet the very action of convening this Conference seems
to indicate a concern on the part of the U. S. Interior Department
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801
Dale W. Olsen
that there might well exist violation of water quality standards
9
for interstate waters.
3. Where the statistics are clear as to water quality
standards, violators should be prosecuted to the fullest extent.
With respect to pollution of the St. Louis River and Bay area, the
League believes the State and local authorities have moved much
too slowly against those whose actions violate the regulations
established for environmental pollution control, and this is the
one that is so difficult to measure.
4. The League recommends that agencies which set
water quality standards for personal and industrial use consider
qualities often impossible to measure in dollars and cents, yet
values which are absolutely essential to man's continued existence
on earth -- prime among these being aesthetic factors and crucial
ecological interrelationships which exist in every unpolluted
watercourse. Ecology and aesthetics are of immeasurable value. We
must manage our resources with an understanding of ecological
relationships much more firmly in mind than it has ever been to
date.
5. We are asking that water quality standards for
the Lake Superior Basin be maintained at the highest level, not
compromised. Standards for thermal pollution, radioactive materials
discharges, pesticides, chemical additives, sediment, and sewage
effluent discharges should all be stringently enforced. Maintaining
high standards at this time will assure citizens of this lake basin.
9
See Page 797 above.
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SOL
Dale Olsen
that new industrial, municipal, or private development along the
lake shore must meet high standards of water quality. This action,
if taken earlier, would have eliminated the painful sort of dilemma
which we now face.
6. Citizens must stand up and speak out for a livable
environment. It is possible to have jobs and also to husband our
resources for generations yet unborn. Let us not be otherwise
convinced.
Thank you, gentlemen.
(Applause.)
MR. DOMINICK: Thank you very much.
Our final witness will be Grant Merritt. Following
Mr. Merritt we will close out for the evening and be back at
9 o'clock in the morning.
Mr. Merritt.
MR. MERRITT: Mr. Chairman, we have been here for 94 or
10 hours. I would respectfully request that we adjourn until
tomorrow morning at 9 o'clock, or even earlier. It has been a long,
tiring day; I would prefer if at all possible to go on the first
thing in the morning.
MR. DOMINICK: Mr. Merritt, it has been a tiring day
for all of us. We still have a great number of witnesses to hear
from tomorrow, and we would like to hear from you now, please.
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803
MR. MERRITT: I would again renew my request, Mr.
Chairman. I do have a rather lengthy statement to present. I
think in view of the hour, in view of the time the reporter has
been here, the official reporter and the other reporter present,
that we ought to have some consideration for the two reporters as
well as the rest of us. We have been here for some 9% to 10 hours,
and I would request the Minnesota Delegation, if at all possible,
to give us this consideration as well as the consideration f->r
the others.
MR. BADALICH: Mr. Merritt, I appreciate your concern.
I have to allude to the fact that I have another 15 witnesses who
want to be heard and they would like to talk anywhere from 10 to
15 minutes, plus I have eight or nine other statements that I want
to enter for the record. This is tiring for us. And I would like
to see this conference concluded as soon as possible, if at all
possible by tomorrow evening.
MR. MERRITT: I can confine my remarks to 20 minutes
in the morning, if that would facilitate the conference, and I
would prefer to do that, if at all possible.
MR. DOMINICK: I think we should go ahead with the
schedule we planned and hear from you this evening and then proceed
with the State of Michigan tomorrow.
MR. MERRITT: Then, in that event, Mr. Chairman, I
would yield to a couple other gentlemen who are on the agenda who
are prepared to give shorter statements this evening.
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804
MR. DOMINICK: And you withdraw your request to testify
at this time?
MR. MERRITT: No, I do not withdraw my request to
testify. I would expect to be on the agenda tomorrow sometime.
Anytime during the day is perfectly all right.
MR. DOMINICK: This will create intolerable confusion.
We have a list that is established. Let's proceed in an orderly
manner with that list.
MR. MERRITT: I don't think there will be any confusion.
I don't think it would be any problem.
MR. PEGORS: My name is John Pegors. I have been
asked to submit three statements for three different organizations.
Representatives of these organizations are unable to be present.
Their presentations will be of such a nature that they would
satisfactorily fill up the time that you wish to use, to give to
Mr. Merritt. It would not create an intolerable confusion. The
agenda Mr. Badalich gave to me last night has been altered, and I
would be more than happy to submit these statements.
MR. DOMINICK: All right, we will revise the list.
Mr. Merritt, you can come in at the end of that list
and we will hear from you.
MR. MERRITT: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
MR. BADALICH: Will you identify yourself and also
identify the group you are speaking for, respectively.
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805
Donald Andrews
STATEMENT OF DONALD ANDREWS
VICE-CHAIRMAN, MINNESOTA
ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE COUNCIL
ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA (read by John Pegors)
MR. PEGORS: Thank you, Mr. Commissioner, and
Mr. Badalich.
My name is John Pegors.
At this time I would like to read a statement on
behalf of Mr. Donald Andrews of 1515 Eighth Avenue North, St.
Cloud, Minnesota. He was not present today.
MR. DOMINICK: So we may clarify this, are you
presenting a statement on your own behalf?
MR. PEGORS: This is for a gentlemen who was not able
to be here today.
MR. DOMINICK: If he is not present, we will place
it in the record, and if you have any other statements, we will
then place those in the record.
(The above-mentioned statement follows.)
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806
Donald Andrews
My name is Don Andrews. I live at 1515 8th Avenue
North, St. Cloud, Minnesota. In making this statement today I
wish to represent the missing, the unheard from majority. I am
representing the millions of people who are interested in Lake
Superior but who have to work every day. We are the contributors
to this country's ever increasing gross national product. We
cannot take time off once or twice a month to attend hearings.
While we are contributing to the prosperity of this country we are
paying taxes and we expect that our Pollution Agency will enforce
the laws and protect our rights.
Among the missing today will be my son-in-law just
starting in the insurance business. He has to sell $500.00
worth of commissions each month or he is out. No, he can't be
here today.
Then th^re is my neighbor who has not heard the words
"economically feasible . He would not be nominated to a Pollution
Control Agency because he has never been connected with an establish-
ment which pours its wastes into our waters. No, he works each day
and cannot be here.
My son goes to the University of Minnesota. He has to
study quite a bit to keep his grades up. But should he have to attend
this hearing? You can be sure he wants to see Lake Superior as it
was in the past. Do we not have a moral obligation to leave this
lake as it was when we first saw it? Can you really blame the
younger generation for being upset, for rioting, etc.? The young men
face draft into a war we are not trying to win and they are inheriting
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807
Donald Andrews
the mistakes of their fathers in the indiscriminate use of
pesticides and the most thorough destruction of the country's most
vital freshwater.
The men we have stationed in Viet Nam, canno"1" ^e here.
But what are they putting their lives in jeopardy for? Does not the
State of Minnesota owe these men the right to come home to a country
where the water is still pure -- where fishing and other recreation
can be enjoyed? When permits for discharging wastes are permitted
the entire Nation suffers.
I would like to ask the conferees to stand on the shore
of Lake Superior at Silver Bay. Look at the water good. Without
a doubt this is pollution. There is a great change in the water --
in the color. You can see it. Wastes are being discharged.
What about the fish? Is there any change in the
ecology here? Just try keeping a goldfish alive in a bowl while
circulating sand through the water. Can you imagine a fish running
this stuff through its gills to get oxygen?
Another disgrace to this country and to Minnesota is the
harbor at Duluth. It has been considered unsafe to wade in this
water for over 40 years. And it gets worse.
I am pleased that this Federal conference has been
called and I hope that you will remember the unheard majority who
are willing to pay more taxes for pollution abatement, and pay more
for the product if necessary. We are happy that the Federal
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808
John Pegors
Government come up with the Water Quality Act of 1965, otherwise
we would be just where we were in 1965. I urge the Federal Water
Pollution Agency to enforce the laws in this case and save Lake
Superior for the citizens of the United States.
MR. PEGORS: In that event, I would like to present a
statement on behalf of the Minnesota Environmental Defense Council.
I am vice-chairman of this organization. I have copies of this
statement for you at this time..
MR. DOMINICK: And you are representing that
Council here?
MR. PEGORS: Yes.
MR. DOMINICK: Fine.
MR. PEGORS: The Minnesota Environmental Defense Council
is an organization of Minnesota groups interested in those
problems which bear on the environment in the State of Minnesota.
The Minnesota Environmental Defense Council has among
its active supporters the Southern Minnesota Conservation Association,
Minnesota Conservation Federation, League of Women Voters of
Minnesota, Minnesota Federation of Women's Clubs, Community Wildlife
Club, Inc., of St. Cloud, Clearwater Sportsmen's Club, Clear Air-
Clean Water Unlimited, and Minnesota Environmental Control
Citizen's Association.
The Defense Council was organized to coordinate
activities in the areas of environmental enhancement. Our interest
in Lake Superior is the need for immediate activity in the abatement
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809
John Pegors
of the pollution of this Nation's greatest lake. We believe
that the strength of our Nation's future depends on the wise use of
its resources. • And the present policy of destroying our resources
to create or maintain jobs is very shortsighted.
The policy I refer to is the matter of dumping wastes
into Lake Superior by Reserve Mining. This is simply a matter of
this company making a profit at the expense of the citizens of
Minnesota and of the United States.
The question of whether there is pollution or not is
also irrelevant. There is a definite material clouding of the
water below the plant. This discoloration has an effect on the
ecology of the surrounding area. What will be the effect when this
plant expands, as all industry does, as so often happens in the
case of industry? What we have here is a potential threat to the
very life of this lake.
The MEDC strongly recommends the enforcement of the
present laws. Present studies show that this company has violated
the present permit. The conferees are urged to require on-land
deposit of taconite wastes.
Another potential threat to the water quality of Lake
Superior is the recently proposed gaseous diffusion plant at Knife
River. The proposed plant would be the source of enormous amounts
of heated wastewater as well as radioactive isotopes from the
nuclear reactors necessary to operate the plant processes. Discharge
of these thermal and radioactive wastes would cause severe damage
to the ecological systems in the Knife River area of Lake Superior.
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810
John Pegors
Other sources of pollution affecting the ecological
balances of Lake Superior include the siltation of the Nemadji
River, heavy industrial and municipal sewage wastes from the St. Louis
River, the Cities of Duluth and Two Harbors, and the many resort
facilities located along the lake shore. In addition, to -these
sources of damage to the Lake Superior ecosystem, we must
acknowledge the harm from the pesticides, especially the chlorinated
hydrocarbons, used so indiscriminately. Strong evidence indicates
the gradual elimination of our American Bald Eagle populations
caused by metabolic dysfunctions due to chlorinated hydrocarbon
concentrations in the fish food of these birds. A halt to the use
of these powerful biocides should be a principal objective of the
conferees.
Evidence continues to mount showing the health and
welfare of our citizens is seriously affected by the pollution of
this great natural resource, Lake Superior. We are sick and tired
of the never-ending studies that are proposed. The time for action
to halt further pollution of Lake Superior is at hand and the
distinguished conferees should take that necessary action. Enforce
the law, gentlemen.
Then, Mr. Chairman, I would also like to submit the
statement for an organization known as Clear Air-Clear Water, and I
will submit copies for the conferees.
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811
John Pegors
Lake Superior is a natural resource that the citizens
of Minnesota must protect from exploitation and premature aging
through use of the lake as a dumping ground for by-products--
MR. DOMINICK: Excuse me. Would you identify your
relationship?
MR. PEGORS: Yes. I am sorry. I beg your pardon.
My name is John Pegors. I am President of Clear Air-
Clear Water. It is a citizens' organization comprised mainly of
residents in the Mississippi Valley and the St. Croix Valley. The
membership ranges from approximately the St. Cloud area down to the
lower end of the Mississippi River at Winona and in the St. Croix
Valley as far north as Danbury, Wisconsin.
MR. DOMINICK: Very well, you may proceed.
MR. PEGORS: Thank you.
Lake Superior is a natural resource the citizens of
Minnesota must protect from exploitation and premature aging
through use of the lake as a dumping ground for by-products of
various industrial technological processes. The grave condition
of Lake Erie, prematurely aged 15,000 years since the turn of this
Century, by man's disregard for ecological systems and natural
processes, should serve as a crystal clear warning to us not to
further jeopardize Lake Superior. Lake Michigan is now entering
a crisis which conceivably could find us faced with another gravely
injured member of the Great Lakes family. We have the knowledge to
protect Lake Superior from a fate similar to that of Lakes Erie and
Michigan. The question we must answer at this Conference is: Do we
have the courage and the wisdom to save Lake Superior?
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812
John Pegors
Clear Air-Clear Water Unlimited, urges the distinguiseed
confereed to recommend all action necessary to protect Lake Superior
from further contamination by industrial, municipal, manufacturing,
mining, shipping, and private wastes. Lake Superior should not be
used as a dumping ground for taconite wastes, hence a natural
resource subsidy to the mining industry.
Taconite tailings are harmful to aquatic life and
constitute a threat to the intricate balances found in the ecosystems
of the lake. Ample evidence exists that the wastes from Reserve
Mining Company have caused deleterious effects on various fish and
fauna of the lake. Violations of the original permit to Reserve
Mining Company have occurred. These violations are good and
sufficient reason for complete cessation of dumping of taconite
wastes in Lake Superior. Applicable Federal water quality standards
for Lake Superior have also been violated by Reserve Mining.
We respectfully urge the conferees to require the
adoption of the fastest possible timetable for cessation of all
discharge of wastes of all kinds by Reserve Mining Company.
We urge the distinguished conferees to take every necessary
measure to protect Lake Superior from the potential threat of
discharge of any radioactive and thermal discharges from any
installations that might be constructed and operated in the Lake
Superior Basin. The proposed gaseous diffusion plant at Knife
River would be one such source of radioactive and thermal wastes.
The greatly elevated order of magnitude of toxicity of these
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813
Rice Area Sportsman's Club
pollutants should be anticipated by the conferees and all
necessary preventive measures taken to assure that the water quality
of the lake is preserved. The United States Atomic Energy Commission
should not be permitted to assist in the establishment of any levels
of discharge of radioactive wastes into Lake Superior, as is noted
in the document "An Appraisal of Water Pollution in the Lake
Superior Basin, April 1969," page 106.
We respectfully urge the enforcement of all existing
and applicable water quality standards for Lake Superior. Delays
for additional surveys, studies, and appraisals of the health of
Lake Superior are superfluous.
In addition, Mr. Chairman, I have a short statement
I have been asked to present for the Rice Area Sportsman's Club.
I believe I have submitted copies of this to you earlier.
MR. DOMINICK: That will be received for the record.
(The above—mentioned statement follows.)
RICE AREA SPORTSMAN'S CLUB
Rice, Minnesota
Our names are John Clark and Elwood Anderson, co-chariman
of the anti-pollution committee and we would like to make a statement
on behalf of the Rice Area Sportsman's Club, as regard to the
continued use of Lake Superior for the dumping of taconite tailings.
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814
Rice Area Sportsman 's Club
1. We believe that the Great Lakes and their watersheds
belong to all people of the United States and any use should be for
the benefit of the entire population.
2. We believe that no person, group of persons or
corporation, should have the right to exploit or destroy these
great water courses for profit.
3. We believe that the waters of our land should be
passed on to succeeding generations as pure and wholesome as they
were before man began to use them.
We are not technically trained experts but make this
statement as interested citizens who appreciate the value of this
great reservoir of fine water, both locally and nationally, and
want to take no chance that it will be destroyed.
We have read the study of the Regional Coordinator of
U.MiW.G.L.A., we have read many other papers and studies on the
dumping of industrial waste and taconite tailings into Lake
Superior, we have heard many speakers on this subject, and have
come to the same conclusions as the United Northern Sportsman of
Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, and would like to repeat their summary
as follows:
1. It is an undisputed fact the St. Louis River, the
first major tributary to the lake, is being polluted by municipal,
industrial, and natural wastes. We want the sources of pollution
identified, and we see no reason for further delay in implementing a
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815
Rice Area Sportsman's Club
vigorous and prompt program of pollution correction and control
immediately.
2. Municipal, industrial, and marine wastes are adding
their contaminating influence daily to the Duluth-Superior Harbor.
It is our desire to restore the esthetic value of a clean and fresh
smelling body of water (to add to the value of our cities very fine
cultural, recreational, and educational facilities) we must identify
the sources of pollution and call upon our State and Federal officials
and agency to use every means available to either stop or Curtail
this insidious poisoning of what could well be Duluth and Superior's
finest resource.
3. Many private cabins or homes are located so close to
the shore, or have disposal systems so ineffective that seepage is
directly polluting the lake or ground water sources. We want an
ambitious program instituted by the State Water Pollution Control
Agency as soon as possible to remedy this situation.
4. If the proposed location of a nuclear breeder plant
on Lake Superior would have any adverse effect on the quality of the
water in the lake, we would be opposed to it. All questions of
feasibility add possible constructive use of the heat generated
by such an installation should be answered in advance and not after
the construction of such an industry.
5. We have consistently opposed the disposal of taconite
tailings in Lake Superior. We believe this practice should be
stopped and an alternate method of disposal employed. Until such
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816
Rice V-ea Sportsman's Club
changes are made, the State should enforce the present permit which
specifically prohibits any material clouding of the lake and grant
no liberalization of same beyond the permit limits. Any statement
that this company cannot operate unless allowed to dispose of waste
in Lake Superior is debatable because other companies are doing it
and competing successfully. We also call upon the U. S. Army Corps
of Engineers to require on land disposal of tailings at Silver Bay
as recommended in the U. S. Department of Interior report dated
December 31, 1968.
60 Siltation is a major contributing factor to pollution.
The problem areas should be pinpointed and immediate steps taken to
institute sound soil conservation practices.
7. All other sources of pollution around the Lake,
either from feeder streams, municipal, industrial or private uses,
deserve immediate determined corrective action.
8. Finally, we urge a review of the water quality
standards adopted for Lake Superior in that they be strengthened
to prohibit all thermal, nuclear and pesticide pollution, and to
tighten the standards relating to siltation, toxic metals and
shipboard waste.
In conclusion, we believe that sufficient studies have
been made and these studies prove that the lake is becoming more
polluted and that if this pollution is to be remedied, all sources of
pollution must be stopped immediately.
Sincerely,
/s/ John A. Clark
John A. Clark
/s/ Elwood Anderson
Elwood Anderson
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817
MR. DOMINICK: Mr. Pegors, if you will suspend there,
I think we have reached the limit of our endurance today.
I would ask that all witnesses in the future try to
confine their remarks to new information, if possible, and that
we avoid wherever possible the duplication and the repetition of
testimony.
Further, I would ask that where witnesses have submitted
statements but are not personally present to offer them, these
statements will be placed in the record,,
We will suspend the conference here and return at
9 o'clock tomorrow morning. I believe we have another meeting place
for the conference.
Is that correct?
MR, BRYSON: Yes. It is downstairs in the Moorish
Room. It is on the first floor.
MR. DOMINICK: I think the Rotarians are moving us out
of here tomorrow, so we will meet downstairs in the Moorish Room.
Thank you very much for your patience.
(Whereupon, at 6:50 p.m., the conference adjourned until
Thursday, May 15, 1969, at 9:00 a.m.).
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