FOR THE NATION'S ESTUARIES
PROCEEDINGS OF THE
VIRGINIA PUBLIC MEETING
FORT MONROE, VIRGINIA
NOVEMBER 19, 1968
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Regional Center for Environmental Information
USEPARegronMI
1650 Arch St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
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PROCEEDINGS
V
of the
VIRGINIA PUBLIC MEETING
NATIONAL ESTUARINE POLLUTION STUDY
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
U.S. EPA Region III
Regional Center for Environmental
Information
1650 Arch Street (3PM52)
Philadelphia, PA 19103
November 19, 1968
The Chamberlin, Old Point Comfort
Fort Monroe, Virginia
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TABLE OF C01TEITS
PAGE
Opening Remarks by Mr. Gary Gardner, Middle Atlantic
Region, Federal Water Pollution Control Administration — —— 1
Statements
Governor Mills E° Godwin, Jr. - Read by Mr. A. H« Paessler ———- 6
Honorable William B» Spong, Jr« - Read by Mr. Marvin Sutherland — 11
Honorable Richard M. Bagley —-————————————— 20
Honorable Harrison Mann - Read by Dr. William J. Hargis, Jr. ——— 2k
Mr. Frank Miller —————————————— 25
Mr. Maurice A. Thorn -------—,________»_-___-____.—.—.—_.—... — l±6
Virginia Tidewater Soil and Water Conservation District ———— 50
Mr. C. E. Adams, Jr. —-——_—-- — ———_--_.—,____«____«. 58
Mrs« June Pearson —.—.-—----.——..—-—.«.———. — ------——--«— 8l
M-r HI nvrSia TJ Ul 1 AV _<.— *. —~ «_««._«,_ «« —-, « — — •-•—— AA
i*ii O V el. WJf U.W Wf O W J= aL,C Jf ^t»*«J»l «) ™>Q» MEOHHK.OB »« O- ku/W
Mr. Franklin P. McGiimes —————————— 92
Mr» S« Mason Carbough —--——————-——-----—. — .«____--__« 96
Additional Statements Submitted For the Record
Mr. Tom Fo McGourin, State Conservationist — -— — - — ___-—_—.
City of Portsmouth, Virginia, Department of Public Works —-——120
Mr. Jack W» Mace, Executive Secretary, Hampton Roads
Maritime Association ——————————————— 122
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Page
Additional Statements, Continued
Honorable Clive L« Duval, II, Virginia House of Delegates —----——123
Mr0 Jo Mo Alexander, Commissioner, Virginia Department
of Conservation and Economic Development -—--————--—-.——-125
Mr. Thomas Fo Maxwell, City Manager, City of Norfolk, Virginia ——127
Mr. Josiah P. Rove, III, Mayor, City of Fredericksburg, Virginia —129
Honorable George Co Rawlings, Jr., Virginia House of Delegates -.—
Supporting Documents Sutaaitt-ed by Individuals and Agencies on File
in the Middle Atlantic Regional Office, But Hot Included in the Record
1« "The Storm Drainage Disposal Problem in the Richmond Area," by
A. H» Paessler and Eo R. Sutherland.
2, "The Virginia Tidal Riverbank Erosion Survey," by Virginia
Agricultural Experiment Station, Blacksburg, Virginia0
3. "Marine Resources of Virginia—The Use, Conservation, and
Development," Report of the Virginia Marine Resources Study
Commission to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia.
4. "Minutes—Public Hearings Before the Virginia Marine Resources
Study Commission.,"
Appendix A
T,1
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November 19, 1968
GARY GARDNER: Welcome to the meeting of the
Region of the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration.
I would like to pass on to you the regrets of Mr. Eugene
Jenson, the Regional Director of the middle Atlantic Region,
who came down with a severe cold over the week-end and was
unable to be here. My name is Gary Gardner. I'm from
Charlottesville, the Regional office.
I would like to give you a little background
into the purpose of the meeting and why we are here this
morning. The Clean Water Restoration Act of 1966, an amend-
ment to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, required
the Department of Interior make a national study of estuarine
pollution. The objectives of this study are outlined in a
brochure to be found on the back table and I'll summarize
these if I can. The objectives are for the Secretary of the
Interior to prepare a report and submit to Congress. This
report shall (1) document and analyze the various aspects
of estuarine pollution; (2) make recommendations for a com-
prehensive national program for the preservation, use and
development of estuarine zones and (3) recognize the respective
rolls of Federal, State and local governments plus private
and public interest. Actually the Act fairly well defines
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the scope of this activity. It calls for a comprehensive
study of the effects of its pollution including the effects
of sedimentation on the estuaries and estuarine zones and
particularly related to the beneficial uses, and to consider
use trends which will influence future pollution problems.
The Act also calls for assembly and coordination and organi-
zation of all existing data. The identification of problems
in areas in which there is a need for Federal study. An
analysis of economic and social values of the estuaries and
a discussion of the major economic, social and ecological
trends as they may influence future pollution problems. The
Act specifically directs that the study be made in cooperation
with other governmental agencies, private organizations,
institutions and individuals. The purpose of this meeting
today is to obtain an expression from interested persons,
groups and agencies from here and throughout the State of Virginia.
Although we do expect some statements from state agencies
and other federal agencies the primary purpose is a public
show. In other words individuals from conservation organiza-
tions. League of Women Voters, and private •itizens have an
opportunity to make a statement here this morning or to
submit a statement, the record of the minutes of this meeting
will be held open for approximately fifteen days. These
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statements will be contained in a report to Congress so
with this opportunity that you have, all of the informatio n
that we collect will be reviewed by Congress. By way of a
further comment all those who have registered for this
meeting and hopefully everyone here has/will receive a copy
of the minutes of this meeting. Some months ago the Secretary
of the Interior wrote to the Governors of each of the twenty-
three coastal states here in the United States and requested
that he designate someone to serve as a focal point for
State interest. Governor Godwin appointed three individuals
here in the State of Virginia and on my right are these three
individuals. First Dr. William Hargis, who is the Director
of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science. Seated next to
Dr. Hargis is Mr. Paesler, who is Executive Secretary of the
State Water Control Board and seated on the far right is
Mr. Marvin Sutherland, Director of the Virginia Department
of Conservation and Economic Development. The group of
individuals seated here to my left will serve as a panel
and these individuals will be introduced to you in a few
more moments. There are certain ground rules we would like
to attempt to follow here in our session. First, all of
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those presenting statements will be asked to come up here
to the podium and make their presentation. There will be
no questions from the floor of the speaker. The panel
serves the purpose of asking questions primarily from the
standpoint of clarifying some of the statements that are
made by the individuals who come forward. They are not
here to harass so don't let it bother you. More for
clarification or to expand upon a point. I'm sure that
all of us have certain ideas and sometimes it is very
difficult to get these in writing. If it is a prepared
statement and this off-the-cuff arrangement should help
maybe explain a little more fully some of the statements.
If at the time of registration you did not indicate that
you desired to make a statement feel perfectly free to
change your mind as we progress along if you feel that you
would like to present something for the record and to the
group please go back to the registration desk and indicate
this and they will send a card forward and we will call upon
you. As indicated earlier the records of the meeting will
remain open for approximately fifteen days and if you don't
care to come here to speak, feel free to send the information
to the Regional Office in Charlottesville. The address is
in the Estuarine Brochure. With that I will turn the session
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over to Mr. Paesler who will introduce the panel and begin
our meeting.
PAESLER: Thank you Mr. Gardner. I \vould like
to express the appreciation on behalf of the State repres-
entatives here today for your coining to this meeting to
consider this most valuable of Virginia's assets for
estuarine resources. As Mr. Gardner has indicated we have
a panel of experts here who are here for the- purpose of
trying to make this record as complete as we can and to
introduce them starting on my immediate left - on your
right Mr. John Anderson who is Director of Planning of
Virginia Ports Authority; Mr. R. V. Davis, Assistant
Executive Secretary of the State Water Control Board; ; r.
E. C. Meredith, Director of the Division of Engineering ,
State Department of Health; Dr. Morris Brehmer, Assistant
Director of the Division of Applied Marine Science and
Pollution Engineering of the Virginia Institute of Marine
Science; Mr. Milton Hickman, who is Director of the 'Marine
Resources Commission; Mr. Edwin Holms, who is Director of
Research of the Division of Industrial Development; Mr.
Julian Alexander, who is Commissioner of the Division of
water Resources, with the Department of Conservation and
Economic Development and through a space problem Mr. Elbert
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Cox, who is sitting in the audience here who is Director
of Commission of Outdoor Recreation. And now to get the
official part of this record going it is my extreme
pleasure to give you greetings from the Honorable Mills
E. Godwin, Jr. Governor of Virginia who unfortunately was
unable to be at this meeting but he has asked that we make
his comments a matter of record and I'm glad to do so at
this time.
Statement of Governor Mills E. Godwin, Jr.
I wish to thank the Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration of the Department of the Interior
and the cooperating State agencies for convening this meeting
to allow our people interested in the marine waters of the
Commonwealth to express their opinions regarding uses and
management of these natural resources and their concern for
their future. I wish also to represent those interested
Virginians who are not able to be here.
Constant contact with and obligation to the sea
is a part of the heritage of Virginians. Among our valuable
natural marine resources and the 4,000 statute miles of
shoreline and 4000 square miles of territorial seas, we also
enjoy easy access to nearly 13,000 square miles of Continental
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Shelf waters. Lower Chesapeake Bay and three major tidal
tributaries, plus countless lesser tidal streams, bays,
gulfs and lagoons are major resource systems. From these
are derived great economic and cultural benefits.
h majority of Virginians live in the one-third
of the counties that border the ocean and bay and most
industry is here. The largest urban complexes and the
fastest population growth is here.
We know that the living things and the waters,
bottoms and shorelines including the wetlands are resources
of great economic and aesthetic value. Significant commercial
fisheries, growing sport fisheries, port development,
marine-related military activity and industry, tourism and
other recreational activities are directly dependent upon
these resources.
Sportsmen hunt the wetlands, residences crowd
in on the shorelines, cities and industries drink, use and,
often, contaminate the waters.
While the great Northeastern urban complex or
corridor (Megalopolis) has recently begun to impinge on
Virginia's tidal areas, we still have most of the few re-
maining undamaged and untenanted coastal barrier islands
and wetlands in the mid-Atlantic region. However, pressures
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of municipal, industrial and recreational growth have
resulted in some problems with water pollution, overfishing,
competition for access to and space on the waters and struggle over
mineral rights. Shoreline development is accelerating,
threatening to eliminate habitat for waterfowl and fishes.
As utility of the marine resources has increased
and users and use problems have multiplied, the General
Assembly and Executive officers of the Commonwealth, urged
and encouraged by the citizens, have attempted to develop
appropriate management, research and planning mechanisms and
programs to deal with these growing difficulties--to reduce
pollution and other destruction, to increase use, and to
conserve arid oven preserve their values. We have tried to
do this in the interests of present and future Virginians and
visitors. We have attempted to enable increased and wiser
use of our marine environment and its resources. Though not
always successful, our efforts have borne fruit.
In developing what might be called its "Marine
Resource Research-Management and Planning System," Virginia
has demonstrated her great appreciation of and concern for
the marine resources. In the conviction that we must vigor-
ously assume responsibility and take action to insure and
enhance the continued multiple-use of our valuable estuarine,
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coastal and oceanic waters, and preserve the aesthetically
pleasing and spiritually necessary attributes of the marine
environment, we have established and supported several rele-
vant agencies and programs. These include the Virginia
Institute of Marine Science, the Marine Resources Commission, the
State Water Control Board, the Department of Conservation
and Economic Development and its Water Resources Division,
the State Department of Health, and the State Ports Authority.
These, coupled with the Soil and Water conservation Com-
mission, the Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries, the Div-
ision of Industrial Development, the Commission on Outdoor
Recreation, and the Division of planning and Community
Affairs, are in this System. Many other organizations and
agencies, including the Hampton Roads Sanitation District
Commission and the various intra-state River Basin associations,
as well. Several interstate fishery and water quality com-
missions have been developed. All these, working with each
other, and with appropriate federal agencies, have and will
continue this vital work.
Virginia is convinced that if she is to insure
the continued multiple use of her eistuarine and coastal waters
for commercial and sport fishing, tourism and other recreation,
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pbrt development and military activities, and as a focal
point for private, municipal and industrial development,
all resources of State and local governments and private
interests must be marshalled. We need and solicit coopera-
tion, advice and technical and financial support from the
vested federal agencies.
In the spirit of true cooperation, it is essential
that private, local, state and federal activities reduce the
quantity, where it would be useful, and improve the quality
of their waste effluents.
Under our present system of government and
organizational arrangements, primary ownership of and res-
ponsibility for management of most of the coastal marine
resources is vested in State or local governments. Therefore,
the prime obligation for development and conduct of sound
policies for management of estuarine and coastal waters
and their resources must be assumed by these same units.
I am also convinced that, where Virginia's marine
resources uses and interests coincide with or impinge on these
of other state, we will have to develop additional interdkte
or regional arrangements for planning and management. Examples
of potentially serious interstate problems are the proposals
to divert Susquehanna River water into other watersheds,
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and major channel modification projects such as the
proposed deepening of the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal.
In the interests of developing and assuring
better coordination of their programs, and better, more
effective services to the people, Virginia's water resource
oriented agencies have established an informal coordinating
committee, with a chairman.
In the interest of achieving wisest use of the
estuarine resources of Virginia, I am directing that the
relevant State agencies, operating within the framework
of their respective legal authority, cooperate in every
appropriate way with each other and with the responsible
agencies of the Federal government. Additionally, I am
requesting the t they keep me fully informed of their
activities.
At this time we would like to have Mr. Sutherland
read for the record a statement from Mr. Spong.
SUTHERLAND: I have communication from Allan
Jones who is the Legislative Assistant to the Senator and
in part states before the Senator left for Brussels, ho
asked me to convey his regret again that he cannot be present
this morning for the meeting. The substance of the Senator's
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statement I shall read verbatim.
I am pleased to submit a statement today in
support of efforts to restore and protect some of the most
important natural resources of my state and the Nation. .
our estuaries.
h'e in Virginia are vitally concerned about the
future of our estuarine and coastal waters and their resources,
for we increasingly depend on them for jobs, food, recrea-
tion, transportation and water supply. Who has not bene-
.Citted or been affected by the aquatic life and condition of
the Rappahannock, James, York or Potomac Rivers, for example?
Each has a valuable estuary. Bach, unfortunately, is polluted.
And there are many more estuarine zones--in fact, the whole
coast of Virginia is composed of a myriad of estuaries. These
zones are areas where river waters, the ocean tides, coastal
currents and the contours of the shores interact.
These zones and the condition of their waters have
been of key importance throughout our history here in Virginia.
Some 350 years ago, water was a major concern of Captain
Newport when the Susan Constant, the Godspeed, and the Discovery
entered Virginia via an estuary and dropped anchor at Jamestown.
Apparently, there were no natural springs at the settlement
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site and early records shov that the first settlers
tried to draw water from the salty James River--an estuary--
but gave up because of the foul taste. Shallow and easily
contaminated wells apparently were the principal source
of water for those early colonists. Usually, these wells
did not provide so-called "wweet water," but at least it
was more palatable than the river water. A poor drinking
water supply is generally accepted by historians as the
chief health problem of early Jamestown and it is probably
that this was a major factor in the loss of the colony.
As early as the 18th century, colonial laws to
protect the navigational use of inland waterways regulated
the construction of dams and other channel obstructions.
The state and private interests were actively engaged in
canal construction during much of the 19th century. Virginia,
through the Potomac River compact, later was one of the first
of the Eastern states to deal with water resources on a
regional basis.
Virginians are still dependent on the coastal
water resources—perhaps more than ever. Virginia's es-
tuarine resources encompass all the physical, biological
and aesthetic attributes of her approximate 13,000 square
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miles of marine waters and bottoms, and 4,000 statute
miles of shoreline, beaches and marshlands. The Chesapeake
Bay and its tidal tributaries and the reaches of the
adjoining continental shelf are among the most productive
of all waters. Much of the economic strength of Virginia
is based on these resources.
Estuaries are significant to total human welfare.
They provide corridors for transportation, habitat for the
production of food, sites for the disposal of waste and a
locale for recreational activities.
Estuaries generally have high biological pro-
ductivity, and their influence extends well into the ocean.
The waters of estuaries, including bays, lagoons, bayous,
marshes and other wetlands, are the haven for millions of
waterfowl of numberless varieties, the habitat and spawning
grounds of fish and shellfish which form a staple of the diet
of millions of people, and for growth of fur-bearing animals.
Because of their hydrologic and geologic character,
estuaries are a natural sink where pollutants gather and multiply
in quantity and in complexity. Therein lies the "rub"—
the great danger and threat to the very existence of these
essential organisms which depend upon the estuary.
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For despite their increasing value to a growing,
prospering state, our estuaries have b«corae increasingly
polluted. In Virginia, as in other state, the quality
of our waters has become a problem as a consequence of
population and economic growth. Growth has centered on
estuaries. Twenty-five percent of the United States popu-
lation is clustered on estuarine zones and the wastes of
these populations have adversely affected the aquatic
environment. We have come to a point in our history where
we, as a state and as a Nation, have begun to call a halt
to pollution. We are determined not to repeat the James-
town plight. We are here because we know we must protect,
preserve, develop, manage and judiciously use our estuarine
water resources to the best advantage of all our people--
today and tomorrow.
This meeting represents a significant forward
step in the cause of cooperation and conservation of these
resources.
We are here to define the value of these rich
resources and gather ideas from interested citizens for
optimum use and management of the estuaries. Ultimately,
on the basis of hearings held in many coastal states, a
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program for such management will be recommended to
Congress by the Department of the Interior in November
of 1969.
The study of estuarine pollution—of which
this hearing is a part—and the report to follow re-
commending national action were authorized by Congress
in the Clean Water Restoration Act. of 1966. That Act
and the Water Quality Act of 1965 set the strategy for a
nationwide water pollution cleanup and provided the tools
to carry out that strategy. Those tools were money to
help towns and cities construct needed waste treatment
works and conduct needed research and planning; water
quality standards to be set by the states and approved by
the Federal Government; and enforcement authority to see
that those standards of pollution control are met.
In passing the 1966 Act, congress realized that
one area very closely related to water pollution control,
and which merits attention, had been relatively ignored and
unrecogni^ed--tha t is, the problems of estuaries and their
related estuarine areas.
The development of coastal areas has been very
rapid in recent years, but Icnowledge of estuarine environments
has not kept pace with the need to resolve problems de/eloping
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frorn such intensive use.
The definition of an estuary, who owns them,
and who are responsible for their condition are the types
of questions which have plagued us. So a study was approved
to fill our information gaps.
Also, detailed information on estuarine char-
acteristics—such as estuarine circulation patterns, rates of
exchange of materials with coastal and marine waters, and the
ecology of estuarine organisms--must be developed to attain
a realistic, essential and effective management of the vital
estuarine areas.
Our goal for estuaries roust be to expand their
use for all citizens—make them clean and safe and rich in
life so that many uses may flourish. To do this, we must
control the damaging side effects of each use, for each
activity alters the natural environment to some extent, adds
to the pollution, and changes the ecology of the environment.
Industry fills in along the shore to expand its plants.
Growig waterborne commerce requires improved channels, thus
they are dredged and the spoil is deposited on unused land
or shallow water.
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Recently there have been accelerated efforts
to erect structures to protect the coast from hurricanes
or to preserve the recreational values of beaches. The
wastes from metropolitan and industrial centers located on
estuaries pollute the waters and destroy their use for many
purposes. The growing popularity of boating brings more
and more people into estuarine waters, along with their
discharges of sewage, oil and debris.
Any estuarine program, therefore, must be directed
at controlling the harmful side effects of each use of the
waters, so that more uses for more people may flourish in
that estuary.
Improvement of the quality of our coastal waters
will require the fullest cooperation of our Federal, state
and local governments, and of private business and industry.
Working together, we can preserve and increase one of our
most valuable national assets--our coastal resources.
Virginians have much experience in controll Ing water
pollution and this experience must be put to good use. It
is interesting that right here in this area, about 55 -/ears
ago, people were concerned with sewage disposal. There? was
an investigation and test program carried on in the Hampton
area in connection with the growing of oysters in the area
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Jcnown as Hampton Flats, which lies between Old Point and
Newport News Point. The result was the installation of a
sewerage system at the place now known as Hampton Institute.
The results were due to cooperative efforts among Virginia's
agencies, such as the Sanitary Engineers Office and the
State Health Department.
V«ater pollution control must be founded on mutual
respect and cooperative effort between the Federal Government,
the states, the municipalities, private organizations, in-
dividual citizens and industry.
Clearly, water problems affect each of us. I am
glad to see so many people of Virginia sufficiently concerned
with our water problems to come today to state specifically
what steps for action are needed. Yours is constructive
concern which will aid Congress in its efforts to promote
environmental quality.
I know as a result of this meeting today we will
work more effectively together for water pollution control
and for the future well-being of the Commonwealth of Virginia.
PAESLER: Thank you Mr. Sutherland. I would like
to recognize at this time the Honorable Richard M. Bagley
a member of the Virginia General Assembly and the House of
Delegates and who has indicated that he would like to make
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a statement. Mr. Bagley.
BAGLEY: Thank you Mr. Paesler, members of the
panel, ladies and gentlemen. It is a privilege this morning
for me to apparently be the only representative from Hampton
and so I would like to give you the official welcome of our
city. I think we are all very grateful this hearing is being
held in Tidewater, Virginia and especially in Hampton who
has such a vested interest in all matters concerning marine
resources. My purpose this morning is to make the gentlemen
of the study acquainted with what has taken place in Virginia
over the past two years in the matter of preservation in
marine resources. I have Mr. Chairman presented your clerk
with copies of a study which was authorized in the 1966 session
of the general assembly and have as its purpose the seeking
of the best possible uses of marine resources of Virginia
and the division of their use to all interested parties.
Like many states on the eastern seaboard Virginia has found
itself with an exploding population with urbanization taking
place in many areas and what normally we would let nature
and her wisdom portion, obviously it has become a greater
problem. Now this commission composed of fifteen Virginians
of which I was privilaged to participate, was drawn from all
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walks of people who are users of marine resources, private
citizens, heads of some of our state agencies, some of which
are seated here at the head table today, representatives of
the recreation division of people who are interested in learn-
ing resources, commercial seafood producers and processors.
We think that since the study was a unanimous report, that it is
fairly representative of the way Virginians feel at this point.
I might add that the results of the study in the form of ten
bills and two resolutions were passed unanimously in the
last session of the general assembly so I think this fairly
well states Virginia's position on the marine resources at
this time. I would like to briefly describe to you some
of the highlights of the study and you bear in mind that
these did subsequently become legislation and most of which were
effective July 1st of this year. First the commission of
Fisheries was changed in name and in roll. It became known
as the commission of Marine Resources. Its roll was expanded
and it was determined that this would be the price regulator
agency for Virginia's Marine Resources in the tidal areas.
The Board was increased from five to seven with the specific
recommendation which was followed by the Governor in that
all of Virginia's Marine users including sports fishing
interest would be represented on this commission. Also the
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capabilities of the marine resources commission were in-
creased by way of added inspectors and inspection boats.
In the field of pollution the State Health Department was
given new prerogatives in the construction of ne\v marinas.
We found this to be a very contributing and unregulated
source of pollution in Virginia waters. Boats pollution was
specifically placed under Water Control Board. There was
some area of concern if perhaps this was not pinned down as
it should oe and so Vircjinia's regulatory agencies for both
documented and undocumented vessels were specifically given
to the Water Control Board. The Virginia Institute of Marine
Science were directed to make two very significant studies,
one of which had to do with the cataloging of Virginia's
Wetlands and Marshlands. This in all their five public
hearings held throughout Virginia's tidal area was pointed
out as a big problem of the organization and before the
Commission could make any disposition of any corrective action
it became apparent that we didn't know which tide lands and
wet lands were important, which had significance to our marine
life, which had not, and so that study along with a study of
the perpetual and age old conflict between the Menhaden
fishers and the sports fishers was directed in the 1963
session though reporting back in a subsequent session. The
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sports fisninu program of Virginia, the salt water sports
fishing tournament was expanded to give them new funds and
for tht; , irsl time Virginia recognized it had a State resource
worthy of state promotion in its seafood industry and we did
succeed • r, naving f^ncs promoted specifically which in con-
junction v.t-c'i Federal funds would both promote our industry.
It war, o-'intid out that the country was well aware of Majne
lobsters and Louisiana shrimp but Virginia's equally famous
seafood rvrodacts didn't enjoy the same national excoptance.
J have t'lj.F morning IP ft copies of the rtudy. I have, Mr.
Paessler, taken the liberty of having the Division of Statutory
Research arvl Development forward to this Commission the ten
bills and tvo resolutions which were passed. I hope that this
package 01 legislation plus the study itself will be of some
value Mr, Gardner to you and to your work. Thank you very much.
PAESSLER: Are there any members of the panel that
have any questions or comments to make at this time? (No
response) 1 would like to take this opportunity to introduce
a member of the audience, a member of the State Water Control
Board, Kr. Robert spencer who is here from Roanoke today and
vho says ho is just 'ping to listen but I would like to say
that since he is a member of this team up here that if he has
any questions I would like to afford him the opportunity to
ask questions if he wishes to. Are there other members of
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tnc Genera1 Assembly or le-gislative members here who we
don't iavc- record on and who might want to make a comment
or statement at this time? (No response) Then I would like
to havo Dr. Harqis read at this time a statement from the
Honorable C. Harrison Mann, a member of the Virginia General
Assembly,
HARGIS: This letter addressed to Regional
Director Jonson of the Federal Water Pollution ControJ Ad-
rrtinistral- ion. Dear Mr. Jenson: Thank you for your invitation
and the opoortunity to be heard on November 18th. I regret
that I cannot be present as I haveaiother engagement on that
date. 1 wish however to express my opinion on several matters
of interest to the study. First, the problem of estuary
pollution while local in creation is an interstate problem
affecting broad areas and should therefore be dealt with on
that basis. In my judgment there should be federal standards
applicable across the board to all esturine areas. Res-
ponsiblity should rest with the States to enforce those
standards with federal enforcement if states fail. Second,
priorities must be assigned to the stemming of pollution.
It is ridiculous in my opinion to even be considering the
control o.t minimal pollution contribution of small pleasure
craft while toleratinq mars pollution by cities, towns,
and industries.
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(Special M"t°) 1 own no pleasure craft. When the major
verms o; pollution 3--e brought under control there will be
opportanitv to discuss lesser form without jeopardizing the
need for action wit:; respect tr f-be major culprits. Very
*.rujy y-..;rs, C. damson Mann, .Member of the House of Delegates.
GARDNFJF: We have received many statements to
he include- into t'•-'»- record. Late yesterday we received a
r-ommuru cat. i on from Honorable Clyde L. Devow, II, a member of
;
tho Virciriio Generai Assembly representing Fairfax - Falls
Church sending his reqrets that he would be unable to attend
and indicating that he would submit 'a statement. -V chis
time I would like to recognize Mr. DeCamp from Washington
who heads up the National Estuarine Pollution Staff. For
our next presentation I call Mr. Frank H. Miller of the Hampton
Roads Sanitation District. Mr. Miller.
MILLER: iMr. Chairman I'm afraid I represent
the first of those wno may be called polluters as I'm one
who has these wastes to dispose of and has to find practical
ways to do i.t. I'm a little bit afraid that if we came a
little bit to a count here today that the polluters here
would be ri}ht much out numbered by those who are telling us
how we have to do that to make it work effectively, but we
do try a go >d deal harder than some of you may believe.
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I am very grateful for this opportunity to
appear before this hearing, to which the Congress has
assigned the most commendable purpose of preservation,
study, use and development of estuarine waters.
If I may briefly identify myself, mine has been
a long and loving association with the waters of which this
meeting is concerned for many years. I came here and worked
with the Crohurst survey in 1934 as a recent Sanitary En-
gineering graduate from Virginia Tec I worked for the
Virginia State Health Department some seventeen years and
as such was supervisor of Shellfish Sanitation for about
five years with that agency doing survey work which classi-
fied the use OL these areas. I served on local and state
committees, concerned with the use of waters, fisheries,
recreational uses and since 1949 I have served as Chief
Engineer and later as General Manager and Chief Engineer
of the Hampton Roads Sanitation District. This is the
overall interceptor-treatment agency responsible for
pollution abatement for some 1250 square miles adjoining
the lower Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Finally,
during all of my 58 years I have been a devotee of boating,
fishing and other recreational uses of these waters, so feel
in addition to a professional interest a considerable personal
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interest in them. Senator Spong commented on the original
colonist who came over on the Susan Constant, the Discovery
and the Godspeed as having water problems even in those
days. I have another honor I think by certificate on my
wall in the office who is a member of the crew of the Susan
Constant. Back to the Hampton Roads sanitation district
I believe I need to cite no support for the statement that
the District Commission, since its initial work in 1947, has
continuously demonstrated its concern and dedication to
the same objectives for which this conference is organized.
Assigned by the Legislature of Virginia with the responsibility
of pollution abatement in these waters in 1938, the District
now includes systems having a replacement value in excess of
$40,000,000 to which it has added facilities, including both
interceptor and treatment, at a cost of more than $16,000,000
in the past five years. It projects programs which will
require expenditures in excess of $8,000,000 in the next
four years, and long term improvements through the year 2000
having an estimated overall total cost exceeding $100,000,000.
The District presently serves approximately 600,000 persons
and its systems are planned to serve about 80QOOO within the next
ten years.
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The systems for which the District is res-
ponsible basically utilize the concepts which are re-
commended in 1934 by the Public Health Service-State Health
Department report, and which have, in every instance to
date, received the approval of the State Health Depart-
ment and the v\ater Control Board of Virginia. They have
also received the implied approval and commendation of the
U. S. Public Health Service as the Federal agency respon-
sible for shellfish supervision, and the work of the Dis-
trict, has been cited by Federal Pollution Control authori-
ties over the years as a model which estuarine communities,
similar to chose an this area, might well follow. In terms
of treatment results, the District has consistently produced
in its primary treatneit plants effluents of less than
30 PFM BOD wiiich has never resulted, in
oxygen depletion ir receiving streams or problems incident
ic point v.here settxeable solids have been near nil, there
IP no evidence of sludge banks, nor is there evidence of
other problems associated with the solids removal standards
which we have been aole to achieve.
We have, within the last year or two, heard
increasingly of the need for secondary treatment withort
support oy survey or factual determination or demonstration of
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thc- value wnich smh treatment may have in this area. I
*. eel very strongly that your deliberations should evaluate
this neeJ and, at tne same time, evaluate the constructive
benefits which might be accomplished. We can only tell you
at this Lime that the estimate of cost to the people of the
tiampton Roads area to provide secondary treatment is in the
ran-jo ot uc-ven million dollars. It has been the attitude
of the Commission, in which I fully concur, that when there
is reasonable evidence to show that a need exists for
secondary treatment, and that constructive stream uses will
bti commensurately enhanced by the expenditure of this some
seven million dollars, then the Hampton Roads Sanitation
District will, witncut urging of any local state or federal
agency, recoonize and accept its obligation to provide such
facilities. Conversely, if the expenditure in this magnitude
will not serve to reasonably enhance the waters to which
these effluents are discharged and the constructive uses
of them, then the Commission feels it would be an unreasonable
imposition on the people that it serves to authorize such
expenditure. For the purposes of determining biologically,
bacteriologically, and chemically the present effects and
the enhancement which might be expected, the Commission has
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authorized the Virginia Institute of Marine Science to
undertake a twelve month study to fully develop these facts,
of what car> bo expected from secondary treatment or enhanced
treatment or whatever kind it might provide. This study
is in no way directed, and I think Dr. Hargis and Dr. Brehmer
vv.il! vouch to you, it is a study we have asked, them to pro-
duce for -is information which gives a basis for judgment.
If that -jvdament says a certain thing should be done which
is going to cost money, then I presume we have no choice
or desire; but: to spend that money to accomplish those purposes.
Concerning uses of area waters, I do not feel it
is a defeatist attitude to recognize some of the practicalities
which arc; involved, and I would suggest that in this hearing
these practicalities be given more consideration then it would
appear they have at times in the past. It is axiomatic, for
instance in shellfish work, that fresh pollution carries a
great deal higher :.azard than does that which has been through
treatment plants, or which has been subject to attenuation
i "i salt water for some length of time. I think Mr. Jenson
worked on shellfish work and will vouch for that fact.
Correction of fresh pollution from vessels, particularly
those of the Navy, now seems remote. Overflows contribute
both raw sewage and contiguous discharge. Let us at least
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foresee correction of some of these conditions before
we 'place in essential status expensive plant refinements
that inay ;-rovide comparatively little betterment. As a
practical matter, recreational use for swimming, skiing,
and boating and fishing takes place in the vicinity of
almost every one of these outfalls where primary treated
effiuont goes over. I <^on' t condone this or say that it
should necessarily be, however strictly from a bacteriological
standpoint or I would think from an epidemiological stand-
point this recreation and these carriers have no adherent
hazard, 'waterways values are not limited, nor am I at all
times convinced tney are always even primarily related to
the more technical aspects of water pollution. Silting,
destruction by filling, permitting derelicts to accumulate,
oil flow, debris, overfishing with nets, crab pots, etc.,
phosphate-nitrogen nutrient effects, etc. are all factors
whicn have a distinct bearing and must be considered. I
feel it quite possible that pursuit of higher objectives in all
of these areas must move in unison if we are to secure the
best use of waters of the type we have here. There is no
great point in restoring waters for recreational use if you
turn around after you have restored them and allocate four
or five square miles to take care of spoil, yes all your
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spoil away cost money but these waters are gone once they
are filled so why xvorry with protecting them if you are
eventually -icing to Lake them for uses of any kind that
prevents the utimate and highest best purposes as waters.
I would like to discuss briefly some of the
things wh.icn I think are important. This pollution from
vessels would certainly be one. Shipping and naval vessel
concentration contribute materially to area pollution.
I believe it would not. be an unrealistic estimate that
five to twenty thousand total population might at any time
live aboard vessels in these Hampton Roads waters. For
example, two airplane carriers with tnarely standby crews
aboard would represent two to tnree thousand persons each.
Support vessels with perhaps one to two hundred aboard would
account for another perhaps two thousand persons. Piers
where these vessels of the United States Government tie
are less than two miles from major resort-recreational
areas. There just has to be a significant pollution or effect
by bacteria in these discharges this close to the areas that
are used for recreational purposes more intensively than are
any in the vicinity.
Overflow that occurs is something that 1 think
is very significant and we need to give a great deal or
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attention to. Overflow due to storm flow, high ground
water, flooding by tides, or power failures occurs to a
degree wiirh is not now known and I say it is not now
Known without any fear of argument. I don't think the
Water control Board knows what happened, the State Health
Department doesn't knov; what happened and I don't think
I he cities of the area know and we are only beginning to
learn because vitnin the last two years we put in devices
v, hjch do toll us something of the effect that these things
are having. We have in our 4! stations for instance 33
installations for timing devices that at least tell us
the duration of time on storms, heavy rainfall, whatever
mirjht nave occurred, hign tides the duration of time when
the level in the sewers has been at or above their overflow
level so we can begin to interpretate - interpret something
of the information we had. It should be recognized, however,
that the uistrict operates only some one-tenth of about
four-hundred and fifty pumpino stations in this immediate
area of Hampton Roads, and that's one awful lot of potential
trouble when you are around 450 pieces of mechanical equipment
any one of which is subject to the failure of mechanical
equipment can have built into it. None of these stations
that I .-an recall of the whole four hundred and fifty has
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standby power and most of them are built without regard
to infiltration. Many years ago when it was no factor and
I'm not being critical in say a rig this, that the sewers were
built without regard to infiltration or storm water exclusion
or flooding exclusion from them. I had a man who I very
hiqbly rrspect who is one of the outstanding public works
engineers of this area made a statement to me about fifteen
years aqo tnat one of the best services rendered by the
domestic oowc-rage system that was put in the area and this
was a lar^-e one, was to lower the ground vater table in the
area about four feet. This is a little in conflict with
what I lecl to be the purposes of sanitary sewei? but this
is about the method that was used to install many of them.
These discharges from lateral sewerage systems or pumping
station overflows normally occur in headwaters where assimi-
lation capacity is low, dilution is low but where in many
instances thedciers and the swimmers and the people playing
on the banks of the river and some shellfish users are more
intense on that then any other point.
Mechanical in Process Failure; Mechanical in
process failure also are necessary a fact. I frankly 1hink
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tisaL tuechanica] and process failure is one of the lesser
lactors wo need he concerned with and although it is one
that needs to br investigated to a considerable extent
small boats nave oome in for a great deal of conversation
and they no constitute to say thr- least a most difficult
problem. The effect is perhaps minimal at moorings - except
at moorings and in headwatacs where boats are concentrated
in or are in close proximity to swimming, skiing or your
higher uses of adjoining land for residential purposes.
Treatment devices available leave much to be desired and
shore facilities for persons at (jocks, pier:?, marinas and
similar harV>oj:3 ar-> woeful !• inadequate. We in the District's
offices nave tried LQ exercise s^rao concern which would at
least - as mien as two years ago we wrote to those interested
hoping we -:ov ] d stimulate some interest in upgrading t'ie
available facilities on snort.1. Representative Mann SE id that
he had no selfish interest, I do. I own a boat and erjoy it
very much an.< at r.-is moment I don't know what Mr. Paessler,
Mr. Davis, or Mr. Jenson can offer but I do not know trie
practical answer to this business of pollution on a be it.
I cannot believe it is merely grinding it up in a chlorinator
raacerater anc; putting it back overboard and I have a real good
idea as a boat owner what a good many of them would do if it
devices
required tar. and then these complicated and unworkable/ are
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pumpinu ont on shore. My thought at the moment is that
perhaps one of the most constructive approaches was when
these boats come into marinas and small docking places
that, there be adequate clean and convenient facilities on
shore which not one in twenty of them today has I can assure
you. V.ith this people could be at least educated to go
ashore anc^ use them to some extent.
Nutrient pollution is extremely serious to us.
we know at this time aad I perhaps could bo corrected, I
think I'm quoting correctly from conclusions of the Water
Control Board otudy, of two major streams in the area,
by name is Lynnhaven River and Eastern Branch which in
certain areas, Eastern Branch particular I have seen it
repeatedly during the past summer , foul and unable to support
normal marine life, fish, crabs or any of them during a
good part of the summer due to the discharge of secondary
and tertiary treated effluents in the streams but by that
discharge contribution of high nutrients, phosphates and
oxygen to the stream. Hopefully some of these discharges
will come into the Central District system in the near future.
Some we know will and we need these loads a great deal but
this leads me to the question of what happens when our own
discharges. . . now we can't take all of the discharges we
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have in any practical way into waters where we have forty
feet of depth and control that. I'm not at all sure if we
continue the discharge of treated effluent and secondary
doesn't help this as some of you know. Secondary does
nothing to alleviate this problem of nutrient pollution
and in the Eastern Branch, unless I, in my forty years of
work in this area have been misled, it is nutrient pollu-
tion which leads to the depletion of DO and an unliveable
condition in that stream. I would suggest that secondary
treatment as such would be little or nothing towards nutrient
removal, 'should be very carefully weighed with regard to the
developing nutrient situation. Little except conjecture
would now guide planning as to what need exists or what
should be done in this area. Let me dismiss with just the
comment that runoff and silting I think are horribly serious.
One of the most constructive things I remember seeing recently
in termr- of pollution that causes trouble to all concerned
is this runoff and silting in this business of the Corps of
Engineers now requiring stilling bases which they did in
Mill Creek. I think it was 100 feet by 100 feet
by 8 or 10 feet in depth where materials coming in can settle
and be dredged in some more orderly way. I can cite to you a
cove within a short distance of us that was dredged to depths
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of perhaps four or five feet as recently as six years igo
where f hev are mow about t^o feet. The same cove every
jail vvron vou qet runoff .into the culxrerts along the
sides 01 the street carries all of these leaves dropi/ing
into tl'C stream and every summer - thi s is in the cool and
eojd v,-; <:.i:••(.-;. .;>•;/ here and e /ery summer -vhen it. then turns
v..~irv, a ,.' ' <: ;ra ,-eriai sta -!•;-• to degenerate you c?et an
ox'/''0,i -oil jcion xn 'he stream, an absolute septicity
cf Lhe v,aco>. jn it. If yc i pump that v/ater into the
s'jct:ior ::,i..c cf a heao and .it stays i'i there as much as
.seven bo:!.'_r, v/hen you pump it through you have a firo
C'i .'-,;:lfide odor in t le area. I think it is very
ta \\. : ;.at we *.r^ to c > ;;•• -othing about this runoff and
si J Line; an preserve our waters bv what we do. In addition
to t;ie '•ro,_-! c!'>, areas which I ,iave specifically discussed
the best .'c, development ind preservation of area watf rr=
should JTi.ljy conside'" reduction or prevention of total loss
of areas b> deliberate fil ~; *-••_•< as spoil areas, dumi) areas,
derelict collectior, piles, encroaching bulkhead lines, etc.
In the last quarter centurv ' * the a.rea probably well •-. ver
J,UOO acte-s, or five to six square miles, of -water area a
qood pa•t of which was available for shellfish, and all of
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v;'.i- -I: v.ri- a <^a i. !;•»;•) it for sor.e type of recreational use is
no 'orvo' available. It has been eliminated as a water
a r e n
UP cite plus side of the Tidewater Virginia
roj L.;tj \-, 'ji->,itrGl ledger, much has been done, beginning
.5= arSy "i ':• I -'47 t;o offset the pollutional effect of a
populat, i -..;; which na <-* more than doubled and the remarkaole growth
<-><~ stiij .in'i i-i-ito ; !;o area and rapid industrialization of it.
Ocoano .ra.vv,- of the area h- s been of great significance.
Vvatcr r.aii'iitv i'-, much of the area receiving District
discharges and those others we do not handle is substantially
tnc same cis in the ocean waters which they immediately
adjoir;. This effect" of the nearby ocean plus deep channels,
strong currents, unrestricted entrances and strong mixing
patterns, ^rovide a most favorable environment to receive
reasonable quantities of oxygen demand and suspended solids.
/inu her' of course by methods we know today we cannot get
rid of ali of it no matter what we do, we still have some
residnal tj-at. we have to let the stream help us with.
Bacterial rogrowth after chlorination is strongly attentuated
auJ i P. -nany ocner 'ways we see no effect by physical, chemical
and bacter: '-'logical characteristics of effluents that would
I ar; fr 4:vc lo admit be under conditions of many head water
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sLraams that are free flowing fresh flowing streams almost
intolerable.
There are, in my opinion, definite current
information needs other than the limited amount of in-
formation that has been obtained for shellfish purposes.
I do not recall any intensive survey or any survey of
consequence to develop facts since the Crohurst Survey
in 1934 in an area of this consequence and this importance
I think that is not in Keeping with the needs of the
situation. Almost no comprehensive information exists
as to these important waters to define vhat pollution
occurs in them or where it comes from. May I suggest a
first priority effort jointly between all of the local
governments and agencies involved in wastes collection
or disposal and state and federal regulatory bodies to
determine the projected effect which continued growth and
industrialization will have on these waters; the present
quality of these area waters; what is the pollution load
by shipping; where there are no logging of records that
show you how many people what effect might be under any
given set of circumstances. I do not believe even that the
little bit. of shellfish bacteriological work that gets done
has a record to go with it of how many people are on ships
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in the area at the time that work is done. We need an
overall time to know what our facts are and what they nee'd;
what is the pollution load by shipping; where, when and to
what degree does raw sewage overflow from the some 450
pumping stations in the area or from the systems which they"
serve; what is the present and projected effect of nutrient
pollution and what needs exist to accomplish the practicable
upgrading of these waters to assure their continuing
reasonable and constructive use.
In summary, I would hope that all of us who
share a deep concern for the preservation and highest
and best uses of these estuarine waters with which we are
blessed should, with due recognition of the limits of
funds and capability available to us, carefully evaluate
the total situation which exists and place priorities on
those things to which our problems most closely relate.
Mr. Chairman I apologize for taking so much of
your time at this meeting and thank you for the opportunity
to present this statement.
GARDNER: Do members of the panel have any
questions from Mr. Miller?
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R. V. DAVIS: Just a comment or two. I think
he pointed out the problems in this area very well and
stated them better than I could state it. Two comments I
would like to make in regard to the boat conditions. I
would like to point out the Board has held the responsibility
of coming up with rules and regulations to control water
pollution. This law became effective October 1st of this
year and during the past several months a Board staff has
been busy collecting information insofar as what all the
states are doing and what the federal government has been
considering insofar as federal legislation along this line.
One of the problems we face in developing control of
boat
/pollution from present craft is the interstate traffic. If
which should be
we adopt regulations here in Virginia/applicable to boats
coming from Maryland or North Carolina, but this is the
consideration which is now before the Board,the adoption of
these rules and regulations. We have had several state
agencies to consider this and we are no where near the
point of making a recommendation to the Board. Hopefully
in the lext six to eight months we hope to be in this
position but we are not real sure. As Frank Miller has
pointed out there are no suitable devices to control this
that have been acceptable to date.
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The other point I would like to make has to
do with the nutrient* of Richmond as the Eastern Branch
of the Elizabeth River and the Lynnhaven water fill. They
have been studied by the staff and considered by the Board
in the past. It will be before the Board at it's meeting
tomorrow for further consideration.
E. C. MEREDITH: I think Mr. Miller has pointed
up the principal reasons why the bulk of the shellfish
growing areas in this area are condemned. That wasn't
really the point I wanted to make. I wanted to comment a
bit on this marina situation. Mr. Bagley mentioned that the
last assembly enacted a bill which gave the State Health
Department the responsibility of coming up with rules and
regulations that would govern the disposal of waste at the
marinas, not waste from the boats themselves but at the
marinas. We are in the process of working up rules and
regulations or proposal that would cover this particular
matter and I am very hopeful that before too long you will
see some of the on shore facilities that Mr. Miller mentioned
being so much needed.
GARDNER: Are there other questions from the
panel? If not I have one I would like to ask Mr. Miller.
You did identify many of the estuarine pollution problems
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I wonder if you have any ideas as to where the management
responsibility might lie, would it be local, state or
combination, federal or a combination of federal, state
and local?
MILLER: It is necessary cooperative at all
levels. I don't think there is any escape from that.
It has to include those of us who are directly and locally
responsible to be effective. I would believe that it best
be done by - I don't like the word committee - but a grouping
of these efforts at top level implemented at where it was
most practical to carry on the field activity. I feel
very strongly personally in the capability of the State
Water Control Board both based on the accomplishments they
have had since 1949 and what I think they can do to take
care of this job in an adequate way. I don't, however,
take away at all the effective place which the federal
agency can have, particularly in areas where federal and
local agencies are involved.
GARDNER: Do you have any feeling with regard
to zoning. For example you mentioned landfilling, encroaching
upon the estuarine waters, do you think zoning might be a
method of overcoming some of this?
MILLER: No, I think the water resources body
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must be organized at a top level which will take in al"
of these factors. It is i^ my opinion pointless for those
of us who are concerned perhaps just with sewerage disposal,
waste disposal to go our independent way of those who are
using water which may be restricted channels that was
discharged so I think you have to have an overall body to
consider all factors.
GARDNER: In other words a combination of water
quality and man use plan?
MILLER: That's right.
GARDNER: Do you have any feeling as to the use
in
of physical and/or nthMMtLcal' models/assisting and evaluating
those treatment needs?
MILLER: There are greater systems, there is no
question about that and I with everyone else here is hopeful
that this Chesapeake Bay model will shed a great deal of light
on our problems here. I believe however that we need cer-
tainly in conjunction with that, if not a continuing, at least
a reasonably frequent intensive effort to determine what the
situation is from all aspects and to be guided by it. This
I think we have had very little.
GARDNER: Thank you Mr. Miller. I call upon at
this time Mr. Maurice Thorn from the Westmoreland County
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Planninq Commission. Mr. Thorn.
MAURICE /i. THORN: Mr. Chairman and members of
the panel, ladies, and gentlemen my name is Maurice A. Thorn.
I'm from Westmoreland County in the northern neck of Virghia,
and represent the Westmoreland Planning Commission. There
are many, r'lany serious problems concerning the Chesapeake
Bay area. It is hardly possible however tnat any person
in Uis room ran question that pollution is the most immediate
and potential threat to the entire Chesapeake Bay and its
estuaries. There are of course many types of problems.
At this time human waste was causing the greatest concern
as large areas have already been made unsafe for practically
any human use. There seeror, to be no likelihood of the
abatement of this in the near luture, but the sewage problem
is be.inqcj.ven serious attention.
There are still areas in the estuarine zone that are
relatively clean but these areas are now being threatened
seriously by the proposed location of a petroleum refinery
or refineries with the certainty that there will be oil
spills of varying magnitude. The assistant commissioner
for Environmental Health Services of Maryland State Depart-
ment of Health, Mr. James B. Colter says "The accidental
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spillage or careless discharge of large quantities of oil
or other hazardous substances into Chesapeake Bay could
have widespread catastrophic consequences. Should a large
tanker rupture or in some way spill it's cargo into the
Chesapeake at this time, the damage to property and wild-
life would be enormous beyond calculations because we are
not prepared to cope with the situation." Mr. Russell Crane
President of the Conservation Foundation and Chairman of
the Board Potomac Basin says "We really do not know how to
prevent spills or how to clean up after they occur and we
also don't know much about the degree and duration of
ecological damage from such spills."
The Assistant Secretary of Interior,Mr. Max
Edwards said "Oil is the life guard of our modern industrial
society. It fuels machines and lubricates the wheels of the
world's production but when that vital resource is out of
control it can destroy marine life and devastate the en-
vironment and economy of an entire region. The plain facts
are that the technology of oil, it's expansion, it's trans-
port, it's refinery and use has out paced laws to control
that technology and prevent oil from polluting the environ-
ment . "
Oil pollution, a report to the present Congress and a
special study conducted by the Secretary of the Interior
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and Secretary of Transportation issued February 1968
is a publication that adds emphasis to the danger of oil
spills and consequent pollution. I could quote many other
authorities. Their evidence adds up to this, oil spills
cannot be prevented. No techniques are presently known
for successfully containing oil spills or cleaning them
up after they have occurred. The Chesapeake Estuarine Zone
must be used for marine transportation, that is absolutely
recognized. Under no circumstances however should more
crude oil be allowed to pass through the entrance to
Chesapeake Bay.
AT Saint Mary's College, Maryland, The Potomac
River Citizens Committee and numerous other organizations
concur in ex-governor Carr's proposal that there should be
a regional approach to the problem of developing a sound
policy and control of the Chesapeake Bay and its estuaries.
It is to be hoped that the water resources agencies of Mary-
land and Virginia and the Federal Wter Pollution Control
Administration will not become convinced that oil spills
can be prevented,successfully contained or cleaned up after
they have occurred.
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Now for another type of pollution I have
here a letter and statement from the Chairman, Mr. W. C.
Garrett of the Tidewater Soil and Water Conservation
District*of the Virginia Association of Soil and Water
Conservation Districts which he asked me to present for
the record. Mr. Garrett describes some of the problems
and consequences of shore and river bank erosion. He
points out that erosion of valuable shore front
occurs annually causing considerable financial loss.
The public interest is involved as eroded material causes
siltation in all waterways which adversely affects fish
and wildlife, reduces recreational potential and makes
expensive dredging necessary in order to keep navigational
channels open.
Mr. Garrett further states that State legislation
is needed to protect individuals and communities and since
the public interest is involved, he advocates some form
of cost sharing should be adopted.
Would you kindly include the statement of the
Tidewater Soil and Water Conservation District in the record
of this hearing. Thank you very much.
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Statement of the Tidwwater Soil and Water
Conservation District, Bowlers Wharf, Virginia.
Estuarine Values and Problems.
Eastern Virginia with its many hundreds of
miles of shore line is directly exposed to all the hazards
which contribute to erosion and sedimentation. The irregular
coast line is made up of many rivers, bays, creeks, inlets,
and estuaries. The erosion taking place is aggravated by
winds and accompanying storms, fluctuating tides, ice, and
debris. Many records on file indicate that this problem
is not a new one. Augustine Washington stated upon building
his house in Westmoreland County some 200 years ago that the
Potomac will one day reach the house. Today the foundation
is falling into the river. The isthmus connecting Jamestown
Island to the mainland has long since washed away. The
first landing site and the site of the original fort have
disappeared into the James. The Yorktown Surrender Grounds
have lost over 125 feet to the York River.
The problem of river bank and shore erosion con-
tinues to accelerate with two major losses resulting: (one)
the loss of our most valuable land along the tidal waterways.
Some properties have lost as much as 20 feet in one storm.
The annual loss is estimated between two and three feet.
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(Two) the sediment and silt resulting from this erosion
are muddying our waters, closing many streams, adversely
affecting fish and wildlife, reducing our recreation po-
tential, and last but not least, causing a never ending
dredging operation which costs millions of dollars annually
just to keep the silt pumped out for safe navigation.
The population along all our waterways is
increasing annually, therefore, the loss of our valuable
property becomes a concern of more and more people.
Hundreds of farms are being developed annually by cor-
porations who show little concern for river bank erosion.
These waterfront lots are sold; expensive homes are built
with the owner suddenly realizing that his investment is
being slowly washed into the river.
As a member of the Shore Erosion Committee with the
National Association of Soil and Water Conservation Dis-
tricts, we have long been interested in an approach to a
solution to this widespread problem. We who have lived along
these waterways have not only observed the pollution and
loss from erosion, but we have actually experienced it. Many
millions of dollars have been spent by property owners trying
to stop or even slow down this continuous loss. Most of
these efforts have been of no avail. Most of the structures
have been poorly conceived, improperly built, or constructed
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of inferior material. Some few have succeeded but it is still
hazardous from an individual's approach, which involves
just a hundred or so feet.
We feel that an approach to this problem should
be undertaken as a community or group organization along a
natural physiographical unit of shore line rather than to
short reaches defined by individual property lines. We
further feel that some form of cost sharing with these
communities eould and should be considered. Such a plan
could well be patterned after Public Law 566. The sponsor
of such a project should be a political subdivision of the
State.
The time for an action program is late. We can
ill afford to lose any more of our valuable property or
allow our waterways to become silted to the extent of
jeopardizing the future uses. The problem cannot and will
not solve itself. Only by many groups, agencies, and in-
dividuals working together towards a common goal can we
expect to protect and conserve one of our most valuable
natural resources.
HARGIS: Thank you Mr. Thorn does any member
of the panel have any questions or comments relative to
Mr. Thorn's statement?
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JOHN R. ANDERSON, State Ports Authority:A Study
has recently been (gonducted by the Department of
Transportation and I don't know if everyone is aware of
it, on the Torry Canyon in which the Coast Guard has con-
ducted an actual experiment that contained oil spills
and this has been done throughout the United States.
I don't know if the results of this study have been completed.
yet but they should be complete sometime this year.
HARGIS: Are there any other questions or
comments? Thank you Mr. Thorn. At this time I would like
to recognize Honorable Walter B. Fiddler, Delegate from
Warsaw in the Northern Neck area. Mr. Fiddler would you
like to make a comment?
FIDDLER: (Will give statement later.)
JOHN JOSEPH BEECHER; who represents the Norfolk
Chapter of the Isaac Walton League. I would like to make
a brief statement. Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen
of the panel and ladies and gentlemen of the audience.
a co-
I happen to be/Chairman of the Norfolk Chapter of the Isaac
Walton League and we are very interested in this estuarine
problem. Now go back a few moments - take a few moments
of your time to tell .that I have been engaged in this water
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pollution and associated problems for many years, and 3
also say by experience I have some knowledge,by technical
education very little,but by education by experience- - -
you don't run out of things you run out of ideas. I think
Mr. Kingera,
that was one thing - -/he had about 4000 patents in the
patent office at the time he died. A great many of them
were used successfully. He always said you run out of ideas
rather than run out. o± things, I tnink of that in the case
of ideas and thoughts such as the problems we have. Let me
speak of one thing before I go back to the other. I think
the questions of zoning is very essential to the use of
our stream. For years we have tried in Norfolk to get the
Planning Commission to consider zoning, consider water
planning, the uses of the stream as much as we consider
planning of streets or traffic because the streams are
alraad/ so crowded basically. We have given a lot of time
to the location of gas stations, pool rooms and associated
minute problems but the problems of streams is just as
essential. May I say this, I have been engaged in this
water pollution thing for some years. It is my happy
privilege to go back to be associated with Honorable A.
Willis Robertson in 1930 when he formed the Virginia
Cooperative Committee of Stream Pollution. We had many
meetings. Some meetings here at the Chamberlain but oxit
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of the growth of that Cooperative Committee on Stream
Pollution we had an interest especially in the Hampton
Roads circuit. I happened to be Vice-chairman of the
original commission, that is before the effective body
which Mr. Miller represents and which hp spoke to all this
morning. We led in all of the effort that was necessary
both legislative in getting referendum passed in doing all
the things necessary to form the Hampton Roads Sanitation
Commission and Mr. James F. D of Hampton was our
first Chairman and prior to that on the Cooperative Com-
mittee on Stream Pollution was Mr. Richard Armstrong, also
of Hampton. So it was in this hotel in 1934 or 1935 that
we had a meeting with Secretary Aikes and some others, they
had no official capacity but they led with their effort
towards doing something about pollution. At various times
we have undertaken we don't think the question of stream
pollution has been solved either by the Hampton Roads
Sanitation Commission, we believe there are other things
which it can do, and we do hope and sincerely solicit the
activity of this commission because we do think they are
aware of the dangerous problems. Mr. Miller mentioned some
of it like the spoil disposal area. They reduce the ability
of streams. We left with some degree of subrogation on
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the enlarging of the disposal area of Spring Island.
You take that out of the stream and reduce its ability
to go back and forth, we have in the vicinity of this
hotel a very wonderful project the Hampton Roads Bridge
Tunnel but we were a little bit worried when they extended
the fill from Hampton instead of building a pressure wall.
We were also worried about the effect on our streams by
the location of the tunnel in Chesapeake Bay. We thought
it should be about ten or fifteen feet deeper in the channel
area than it is. There are various things I think we have
to give our attention to but we know that the question that
pollution was slushing back and forth when we look out here
through the window and see this tremendous territory of
water of Hampton Roads and know that it has five - about
five different areas of pollution, we know that it is some-
thing real. I wish to tahnk you for allowing me to make
this statement and the Norfolk Chapter of the Isaac Walton
League haa a continuous interest in pollution, we have other
chapters in the area which are just as interested as we are.
' We look upon the division of the Hampton Roads Sanitation
Commission for communities allowed to adopt an escapfe hatch
and get out of the commission, we look at that with great
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apprehension. In the legislative time or the activity that
went to form the employment act commission as a practical
matter they had to allow communities, we had to provide
legislation so the communities could use the escape hatch
because we were afraid we made it to ridld and including
everybody maybe it would break up the district. Like the
City of Portsmouth is not in the Hampton Roads Sanitation
District, it is geography but it is not actually and has
old treatment there and we think it is quite ineffective
and it falls under the laws to meet the standards of the
Hampton Roads Sanitation Commission but from my experience
on the water and otherwise, it comes far from meeting that
and so we do think that the whole thing - the pollution
courses may be most in our thought but this estuarine pollu-
a
tion is - estuarine study is/very big study and I thin>, we
should do everything to make it succeed and every contribu-
tion we could make to it we are very happy to add to it,
and I do thank you.
HARGIS: Thank you Mr. Beecher. Are there any
questions or comments from the panel? Thank you very much.
At this time I would like to ask the Norfolk District Colonel
Adams to come up.
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C. E. ADAMS, JR., Dr. Hargis, members of the
panel I have given the reporter a copy of the comments I
will make.
I appreciate the opportunity to be able to
participate in the hearing today in connection with the
study of the clean water restoration act of 1966. The
Norfolk District of the Corps of Engineers of the United
States Army is fully aware of the value of our estuaries
and estuarine areas . We are vitally interested in the
study of pollution problems involving all of these areas
in the Commonwealth of Virginia which coincide with district
boundaries. We believe it to be incumbent on all federal,
state, and private agencies to work together to the end
that conservation receives its full share of consideration in
the development of our natural resources. This is particularly
true of our estuarine areas. I might add that the District
Engineer of the Baltimore District has requested me to re-
present him at this hearing because of his interest in the
upper Chesapeake Bay area. The Baltimore District made a
presentation at a similar hearing at Annapolis on the 30th
of October of this year. That statement included a full
discussion of the scope of the congressionally authorized
Chesapeake Bay study which is being accomplished by the
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Baltimore District, and as a result I will not dwell at
any length on that Chesapeake Bay study.
Now the Corps of Engineers has the responsibility
under federal law for the development of water resources
projects for navigation, flood control, drainage, shore
protection, and hurricane protection, as well as other
associated purposes. We are also charged with the preserva-
tion and protection of navigable waters and the public
rights thereto. The Corps of Engineers is a service
organization. Now in this capacity the Corps investigates and
studies projects requested by local interests through their
duly elected representatives in Congress. Projects found
to be economically justified and physically feasible, become
eligible for construction under various congressional
authorities, subject to compliance by the local interests
with the terms of cooperation which may require a cash
contribution, furnishing of necessary spoil disposal areas
including retaining levees and spillways, or the furnishing
of lands, or rights-of-way, easements, or whatever other
items necessary for the project development.
Now there are sixty-five active navigation pro-
jects in the Norfolk District involving some 700 miles of
waterways. Of this mileage, a total of 167 miles has
been physically dredged, at one time or another. Project
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channels having depths from 30 to 45 feet serve the ports
of Norfolk, Newport News, Portsmouth and Chesapeake. A
project channel with a depth of 42 feet extends through
the Chesapeake Bay to the port of Baltimore, Maryland.
Other channels have lesser depths down to a minimum of
four feet. In additin to the 700 miles of waterway on
which improvements have been made, there are a number of
other waterways within Tidewater Virginia on which no
improvements have been made and which serve navigation
in their natural state.
Historically, our waterways were our first
and only avenues of conanunication and commerce. Even '.oday,
our larger and more improved waterways continue to serve the
nation in the very important and essential field of low
cost water transport. It was only in the latter part :>f the
19th century that we began to recognize our waterways as a
valuable fish and wildlife habitat, and even later, in the
early part of the 20th century, before we began to realize
and appreciate the recreational potential of our numer )us
natural waterways. Today, there are many diversified, and
sometimes conflicting uses being made of our waterways.
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Aside from their use for transportation, many are used
for the commercial production of fish and shellfish, and a
host of recreational uses including fishing, boating,
swimming, skiing, and other water-oriented sports. In
addition, various industrial uses have gradually come into
being. These include serving as sourves of water for
cooling power station condensers, both conventional and
nuclear power, as carriers of effluent from sewage treatment
plants, for washing of commercial products and many similar
purposes.
Planning by the Corps of Engineers for navigation
projects in the Norfolk District includes consideration of such
matters as layout of channels and structures; the effect of
the proposed changes of shoaling patterns, circulation, the
tidal prism, salinity, and marine life and other environmental
factors to minimize damage to or to enhance the value of
estuarine areas. Inevitably, in some cases conflicts arise
between interests favoring a waterway improvement and interests
who believe that the improvement will damage the marine en-
vironment. These conflicts may be generated but when the pro-
posed channels conflict with valuable shellfish grounds or
fish spawning areas — or when dredge disposal areas have a
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potential for damaging such areas as adjacent rich
marsh areas. Questions way be raised as to whether
shore disposal destroys valuable wildlife habitat, or
whether turbidity created by dredging alone interfers
with the spawning of fish.
In conducting our dredging operations, we make
every effort to follow the recommendations of the cognizant
conservation and anti-pollution interests with respect to
timing of dredging operations, location of disposal areas,
and the method of disposal. In some cases, for physical as
well as economical reasons, the optimum objectives cannot
always be met. As may be understood readily, the cost of
a dredging project will increase greatly if the material must
be pumped long distances or transported to a distant dis-
posal area by scow or hopper dredge. An alternative that
must be considered is the possibility of depositing the
material in closer open waters. In such cases, it is
necessary to carefully weigh the actual need for the dredging
against the potential adverse effects on the marine environ-
ment.
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In connection with our dredging projects, at
t!ie beginning of each year we submit to the FWPCA in
Charlottesville, also to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser-
vice in Atlanta, and initially to the Virginia Institute
of Marine Science, our complete program for the coining
year. This includes the location of the dredging, quantities
of material to be removed, and proposed disposal areas. Any
comments that may be received are given every consideration
before the work: is undertaken.
One of the major activities of the Norfolk Dis-
trict in connection with the reduction and prevention of
pollution of estuaries is the district engineer's function
by congressional direction as supervisor of the harbor of
Hampton Roads. For this purpose, the law defines Hampton
Roads as consisting of all tidal waters of Virginia tributary
to Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. As you can see,
this is a very large area reaching well up towards the
Washington, D. C. area. And the program is conducted through
an intensive education and information effort to make all
appropriate local interests aware of the laws and regulations
regarding pollution and the importance to the entire com-
munity of strict adherence to them. The harmful effects of
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oil pollution on recreation, fishing and conservation are
vividly illustrated by photographs of oil-soaked bathers,
beaches, boats, fish and various waterfowl.
In order to detect and stop violations of
federal river and harbor laws concerning harmful deposits
into the water, in my responsibility as supervisor of the
harbor, we operate comprehensive patrols of waterways
and shorelines. We use aircraft, boats and automobiles.
Any violations noted during these patrols are thoroughly
investigated and, depending upon the circumstances of each
case, appropriate action is taken to correct the situation.
Action may range from a warning letter to action in a federal
court.
Now another area that receives close attention
in connection with pollution abatement is dredging and
related waterfront construction activities. Whether the
work is performed by the Corps of Engineers or ander permit,
the plans are carefully examined to ensure that all necessary
precautions are taken to prevent any pollution. Overboard
discharge of dredged material is not permitted except in
areas where experience has shown that no harmful effects
will result. Permits for dredging and filling are not
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granted until a determination has been made that no
undesirable effects will result. These activities are
coordinated with cognizant federal and state agencies.
After a permit is granted, corps of engineers inspectors
make regular checks to ensure that all operations are con-
ducted in accordance with the terms of the permit.
I was asked to consider the administrative
and technical opportunities for future estuarine management
and research needs. While I cannot be specific, it appaars
to me that we do need to broaden our knowledge of marine
ecology, the life cycle of various marine animals and
organisms, and the cause and effect of various environmental
changes. In some of these fields I suspect that we do not
know enough to provide proper management procedures. For
instance, I understand that the Spanish mackeral was the
most prominent species of fish in Chesapeake Bay in the
latter part of the 19th century. Later on this was gradually
supplanted by the croaker, and today I understand that it is
the spot. In 1929, eel grass which covered large areas of
the Chesapeake Bay began to die out and disappear. Today,
I understand it is beginning to reappear. Within recent
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years we have witnessed the tremendous destruction wroucht
on the oyster industry by the MSX infestation. We also
witnessed v/ide fluctuations in our Chesapeake Bay crab
population, which I have been told is not related to fishery
effort. It appears to me that further research effort is
needed in all of these areas before we can devise proper
management techniques or be in a position to determine
beforehand the effect of proposed changes in environmental
conditions.
In managing our estuaries it is imperative that
navigation channels be maintained and/or modified and that
additional channels be provided when careful consideration
of all factors involved shows that such channels are warranted.
To this end, the Corps of Engineers endorses a program of
estuarine management by the state and/or federal government
which maintains a wise and proper balance between develop-
ment and conservation.
In furtherance of this position, the Corps has
established as one of its research objectives the determina-
tion and establishment of guidelines and criteria for
evaluating the effects of construction and operation of
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Corps facilities and improvements upon nationally important
economic, recreational, and aesthetic resources of estuaries.
The biological productivity of coastal waters of the United
States for fish and wildlife is dependent in large part
upon the estuaries and adjacent aquatic sites as nursery
and feeding grounds. This transition zone between the land
and the sea is sustained in a productive pattern by runoff
from the land and intermittent encroachment by the sea.
The construction of engineering works that affect the fresh
water discharges from the land or interfere with established
marine environments may have substantial effects upon the
resources of the area, some beneficial and others detrimental.
Inland reservoirs and canalization for flood control, fbodway
construction and operation, navigation harbor and channel
dredging and spoil disposal, hurricane barriers, salinity
barriers, and beach and inlet improvements all have a bearing
upon the environment in coastal waters. These effects are
obscure and may have opposite short-range and long-range
effects. The objectives of the corps is to progressively
clarify the effects of the civil works program in this area
and to determine requirements for protection and improvements
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of the environment and its resources. The limited nature
of the estuarine environment and the rapidity of encroach-
ment by economic development in these waters by both public
and private interests make it imperative that measures be
taken promptly to prevent despoilment of these national
resources.
Thank you again for the opportunity to present the
views of the Norfolk and Baltimore Districts at this meeting.
HARGIS: Thank you Colonel Adams . I wonder
if the panel would have any questions or comments to ask
the Colonel at this time? I would like to comment here
Colonel Adams in working with the Corps we have on some
of these problems, we have enjoyed a very good relationship.
I hope it will be possible for us to persuade your supericirsr
in the Congress to put up money for the Chesapeake Bay model
which some of us regard as a major tool of estuarine manage-
ment of considerable importance. Having taken one of the
prerogatives of a temporary chairman and interjected my
own opinion I would like to at this time ask Honorable
WaltMer B. Fidler if he would come and give us the benefit
of some of his thoughts. Delegate Fidler was Chairman of
the Marine Resource Study Commission of which Delegate
Bagley spoke and he is along with Delegate Bag ley a
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member of the Committee on Chesapeake as tributaries of
the House of Delegates. Both are highly interested in
estuarine problems.
WALTBER B. FIDLER: Dr. Hargis, members of
the panel, ladies and gentlemen, these are very rough
notes I have made here and they are a little on the blunt
side and jerky, but they are not designed to be offensive.
They are designed to graphically call our attention to
some of the problems that we have without in every instance
being able to suggest a solution. Virginia for a number of
years now has thocufjiactivities of its water control board
done a very good job in reducing existing sources of pollu-
tion and minimizing additional pollution sources through
it's certification program, at very, very little expense
to the taxpayers of the state. In the meantime however
pollution pressures from all directions have become a great
deal heavy. Industries have expanded and new ones have
located on the same streams. Populations of urban centers
have increased many folds and sewage handling and treating
systems have simply not kept pace with this peak in growth.
Boating, swimming and other recreational uses of our
streams have increased beyond our fondest projections.
During these same years the type of pollution have become
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more sophisticated and the ability of the State to detect
and to find them and their effect on our estuaries again
has not kept pace. During the past fifteen or twenty years
we have seen an unprecedented development and use of what
1 call the generalized polluters, namely insecticides,
and
herbicides,/pesticides with very little knowledge of their
total impact on the estuarine environment. In recent
years much of this stepped up man made activity has also
resulted in some major physical changes in the estuarine
areas. Dredging, filling and draining of marsh and wetland
areas have increased at an unprecedented pace. Probably
the greatest single desecrator of our wetlands is the
federal government itself and especially through the activities
of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. They have long used
our wetlands as their major areas for the deposit of spoils
from their dredging operations. They are still doing so
today. Many of you remember recently the sort of drawn out
controversy we had over dredging the James River. One of
the most amusing paragraphs in the Corps of Engineers report
to me on that dredging project was that they were going to
use - I have forgotten now the number - but something like
two or three thousand acres of unproductive marsh land
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as spoil areas and make it worthwhile land. Siltation
along the coastal regions of the east coast has been the.
sign of persistent destroyer of the usefulness of hundreds
of miles of our once navigable waterways. The more intense
and widespread the construction effort on our highland the
more siltation problems we generate for our streams. In
our own state often unwillingly our own department of high-
ways througn its activities is a major contributor. Water
front erosion is one area in which we are just beginning
to make some worthwhile strides. About three years ago
an employee of Soil conservation Service was assigned to
my counties on the northern neck specifically to waterfront
erosion work. This was a first in the nation and was
achieved only after several years of determination by a
few people in my own area who were so keenly aware of the
need. The work in that area has been beneficial and has
brought many good results, not the least of which is a
public awareness that there is someone to go to - I'm
taMng about my area now for sound advice before spending
one's own money on waterfront erosion control products.
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To make the point more timely this past Monday and Tuesday
literally thousands of tons of earth were washed into our
estuaries and coastal waters along the Atlantic Coast a's
a result of the storm. This is a problem for all of us
including the inland dweller as well and all of us should
participate in its control. Incidently since last Monday
and Tuesday I spent one afternoon looking at some of the
waterfront control projects that individuals had put in
in their area under the direction of this man I referred
to a while ago, and they have held up remarkably well -
remarkably well. The fact is I didn't see but one that
suffered any material damage at all. Now I saw hundreds
of others that did but the record up there and this is just
a one man operation you must understand, has been very good,
even in a severe storm. The public generally has become
more keenly aware of the devastating dangers to the estuarine
environment gping out of petroleum handling installations
then ever before in our history. This awareness has not
come too soon. The problems related to it are complex.
The solutions are not always readily apparent but one thing
is certain, the estuarine areas have a greater stake in
its proper management then we ever before imagined. On
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many scores we know a great deal more about the moon
and outerspace then we know about our own continental
shelf just off our shores. Research and education must
be one ot our main areas of thrust. Work in marine science
and oceanography must be expanded at a greatly stepped up
pace. Hydraulic models of bays and tributaries are a
most useful tool and should be funded more promptly.
During the 1968 session and here I think Dick Bagley has
mentioned some of these things and I suspect he has mentioned
the ones I have here, during the 1968 session of the
General Assembly of Virginia several constructive steps
were taken which may turn out as far as Virginia is con-
cerned to be landmarks of progress on the State level in
these areas we are concerned with today. (1) we funded a
two year budget for the State Water control Board which
was almost exactly double the preceding two year budget.
(2) we gave the Water Control Board specific authority
control by regulation to discharge of sewage and other
waste from boats and vessels on all waters of the State
including the authority to prescribe types of equipment
that can be used to make it uniform along the Atlantic
Coast. (3) v;e gave the State Health Department specific
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authority over sewage and waste disposal facilities at
marinas and other places where boats congregate so that
niininuim requirements will be related to the number of
boats and people to be accommodated. (4) We have adapted
a new criminal statute - statewide application prohibiting
the throwing or casting and this may borne as a shock to
some of you, we didn't have a State law that was adaptable
all across the state prohibiting the throwing of trash,
garbage, or debris of any kind in the waters of Virginia.
Wo adopted such a Statewide statute for the first time.
(5) V.'e directed Virginia Institute of Marine Science
and funded the program by the way, to make a study of all
marshes and wetlands in Virginia and to assess their
relative importance to the marine resources in the State.
I don't know how we are going to make out with that study
and this is no time to be asking Dr. Hargis but to me that
is one of 'che most important things we did because one of
the problems in Virginia and I suspect it is applicable in
other states is while we knew we had vast areas of marsh»s
and we knew from a surveying standpoint where they wers,
of
we also know that marshes are not/uniform value to the
estuarine environment and there are many marshes that
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much more valuable than many other marshes. Now what we
are trying to drive at here in Virginia is to learn which
of the marshes are most important and must be preserved
under nearly all circumstances- Now we will need that
knowledge before we can take any further steps in doing
something about it. Before making several suggestions of
our own as to some concrete steps that might be taken
to cope with some of the problems allow me to make several
observations. First, municipal and industrial pollution
has been allowed to grow out of all proportions in thit-
country. Second, a more determined and sustained effort
must be made on both the federal and state level to ever
curb it. Third, starting from where we are the direct parts
from whatever source they come is simply staggered. Fourth,
reckless, irrational enforcement edicts can cause self de-
feating economic chaos. Fifth, on the other hand we face
irreparable damage to the estuarine environment unless a
gigantic effort is undertaken and make no mistake about it
our population centers and our industries will drag their
feet if permitted to do so. We must make this turn in the
road and exert every reasonable pressure available to us.
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Now another observation by way of caution. There are
too many studies, agencies, boards and commissions
addressing themselves to the estuarine problem and I'm
not referring specifically to the federal government any
more than I am to the state. We are not now getting
proper coordination and there is still excessive over-
lapping. It is also an area that lends itself to make
work approaches and a vast amount of both public and private
funds will be wasted if we aren't eareful. There are some
projects going forward today that are frightening, unrebted
to pri>r work in the field and in some instances are being
carried on by private corporations organized solely for
the purpose of taking advantage of public grants, in
areas in which they had no particular qualifications,
experience or expertise whatever. I may divert just a
moment there, a year or so ago I had an experience with
one of these newly formed corporations operating on the
federal grant. I never did spend as disgusting day or two
in my life as I spent with them. Their sole ambition was
to get this useless report in on time in order to meet
the requirements to get the first and second payments on
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the grant. They didn't know anything about what they were
doing and I wasn't in a position to help them. Now here
follows several suggestions. (1) Waterfront erosion
engineers should be trained and assigned to the coastal
region as rapidly as funds permit. (2) Incentive matching
funds should be made available to private waterfront property
owners. I'm not talking about public waterfront owners
now, I'n calking about private, whether individual or
corporations or whoever it is, for waterfront erosion control
projects when performed on prior approved plans, either
stace or federal funds could be used and the ratio to
private investment does not need to be large in my opinion
to reach the desired result. (3) water pollution control
should continue to be actually administered on state level.
At the state level they know or will know in future years
the problem better and will know the capability for correction
better in a given locality. In addition to that they are
more efficient. (4) The hydraulic model of Chesapeake Bay
should be constructed as promptly as possible. (5) Valuable
marshes and wetlands should be forthwith declared off limits
to all federal and state agencies for use as spoil areas
no matter who owns or offers them for such purpose and no
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-78-
matter how inconvenient the alternative is and the only
way I know that can be accomplished is by congressional
acts but it ought to be done. More funds are needed on both
the state and federal level for acquisition of fee simple
or easement interest in our still productive wetlands.
(7) The U.S. in recent years has dropped from second to
sixth place as a producer of fishery products in the world.
At a time when all predictions are that protein from the
sea must be available in large quantities before the end
of this century to feed the world population. The most
important need now which is well within reach is the need
for government guaranteed long term reasonable interest
rate loans to the fishery industry. Conventional financial
sources are simply becoming more and more unfamiliar with
the fishery industry and would much prefer to make a loan
to a completely new organized electronics firm then to
glamour
assist in a field that holds so little/ Now the financial
lending institutions in this country were more familiar
with the fishery industry in 1910 and 1920 then they are
today. And that is one of the difficulties that the fishery -
I'm talking about all phases, shrimp, the whole works, fishery
industry in this country is faced with. We have higher labor
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josts i/i unis country then in most other places in the
world. We do not have the benefits of protected tariffs
which most other countries do, on their profits. And we
are in a terrible situation in this country as far as the
decline in fishery activities in the nation. Now there
are a number of things we could do, we could build an
agricultural rc-cte, and maybe it is justified in demanding
hut Lhr step I a:~ indicating here is a relatively minor
one a PC. a relatively inexpensive one for this nation to
undertake and t;iat is either direct loans or government
'juarant.ee.' loans. To me it is comparaole to the Rural Educa-
tion .Administration in the late 1930's. If need exists that
is the only way it; can be done. Most of the fishery operations
in this country are having to operate on very short term
loans at very high interest rates and the matter is coning
to a head rattier drastically by the way, and that's one
step in my judgment that the national government can do
to litlp the - advance the fishery industry in this country.
Xt: are going behind head over heels. Thi.~ is the last one.
Research in marine science and oceanography is in trouble
i.i this country. Despite all the hook law we have heard
in recent years, budget cuts in nondefense science budqets
'iave been drastic and we simply are not making the strides
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in these areas that we are led to believe. The only
purpose in mentioning that is that I (enow if. you have
read some of the things I read in the last two or three
years you are bound to have gained the impression that
we are doing more in this country then maybe most other
r'-Kintrifs in the world in the field of oceanography and
marine science research. Ladies and gentlemen what I'm
trying to say to you is that all tnat reads well and all
oi it. sounds good but the truth of the matter is we are
not and these recent budget cuts which we had to make
in our federal establishment, these cuts have fallen
heaviest on the non-defense size fee including the ones
we arc so much interested in. I'm not criticizing the
budget cuts. I think in many instances - for many reasons
we have had to do it but I just want you to know that
things arc not as rosy as they appear to be in this field
and right today we are not making the stride that we ought
to be making if we are thinking in terms of future usefulness
and productive usefulness of these estuarine areas. Thank
you .
HARGIS: Does any member of the panel have any
comments or questions? I thank you Mr. Fidler. I'll turn
tiie podium over to Mr. Gardner.
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GARDNER: I think we all found that to be a very fine
and interesting presentation. All of the recommendation
bear extreme consideration. I call upon Mrs. June Pearson
jor our next statement.
JUNE PEARSON: I'm June Pearson and I'm
Secretary of the York County Property Owners Protective
Association, Inc. and I'm also Chairman of its Anti-
peilution Committee, First of all let rne say it is a
pleasure to be here today, I'm most appreciative of the
opportunity to appear at this meeting. As Secretary of
the property Owners Association and as Chairman of its
Anti-pollution Committee, I have for many years been a
conscientious, and I guess you might say persistent
pursuer of clean waters for the State of Virginia. The
chief endeavors of our Association have been in the anti-
pollution realm, particularly as regards tne rivers and
streams in our area.
As we all know, there are many problems in
connection with estuarine resources and uses. Perhaps
the most common is the dumping of sewerage and sewerage
effluents into the streams. Our Association during the
past several years has strongly advocated the dumping
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of such effluents out into deep water where they can be
adequately and properly diluted and not, as so many
developers suggest, at the very ends of these streams and
creeks where there is very little or in many instances
no water action.
One of the main drawbacks to any sewerage
discharge into the streams is the so-called "buffer zone"
which is placed around the area of discharge. This of
course restrict? the shellfish activity in such areas
and is a necessary health safety precaution. However, from
year to year more and more areas are restricted with buffer
zones and the watermen are deprived of more and more working
areas. Although we realize that such buffer zones are
necessary, we would suggest that more consideration be
given to avoiding the more prominent shellfish bearing
areas when choosing a site for the dumping of sewerage
effluent. In some instances in the past this has not been
done, and we note in particular the discharge site for the
James River sewerage plant which requires a large buffer
zone around a sizable area of the best shellfish producing
grounds. We also feel that the recent requirement by the
Federal Government to have the localities alter their
present central sewerage systems so as to include secondary
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treatment before discharging the effluent into the
streams, is an important progressive step. We realize
ttiis is a costly undertaking, but is necessary if we are
to clean up the polluted areas'of our rivers and streams
and achieve and maintain clean waters for our State. This
in turn should neip to eliminate some of the buffer zones.
I know I'm not yxing to be very popular right now with
Mr. Killer of HRSDC as I recall what he had to say about
the secondary treatment business.
We arc particularly interested in the water
quality standards which have been adopted by the State
water Control Board. Representatives from our Association
attended and participated in several of the public hearings
with relation to the criteria standards. We strongly urged
at that time that the standards be set high enough to allow
the present uses of the waters including shell fishing,
regular fishing, swimming, boating and all other recreational
activities. It is our understanding that the Standards
for the State of Virginia have not yet been approved by the
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, and we
sincerely hope that when they are approved they will be stringent
enough to hold the line against further pollution of our
rivers and streams. We realized while attending the criteria
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standards hearings that there is much pressure applied
to the individuals representing the State and Federal
agencies involved, one of the main sources of this pressure
beinq contributed by industry. This does not mean that
all industry is uncooperative in the anti-pollution effort,
but there ic a tendency on the part of some industrialists
to resist necessary changes as regards improving qualiLy of
effluent being discharged, especially when it entails
expenditure of a substantial amount of money to improve
or install the necessary waste disposal systems. We suggest
that, this be one of the areas of strong endeavor and
enforcement, since industry does contribute a great amount
of waste materials to the waters and this source of waste
contribution will of course increase enormously as communities
qrow and develop.
In addition, as we all know, there is much
pollution in various sections of the Hampton Roads area,
and in several of our rivers. For instance, just offshore
from the Chamberlin are some of the most bountiful shellfish
producing grounds but they can only be worked a small portion
of the year and the shellfish must be transplanted to clean
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waters, whicn of course is time consuming and costly on the
pai-t of the watermen. These are the types of pollution
problems which must be alleviated and we sincerely hope
that the water quality standards are stringent enough to
resolve sortie of these problems so as to restore the purity
of these oollrted areas.
/in ever growing problem in our rivers and
streams today is the extensive use of marinas. This is
becoming a way of life and with it comes all the messy
wastes and trash problems associated with people. As we
all recognize, the existing laws as regards marinas and
dumping are not very stringent, and even if we had stronger
laws, there would not be enough available personnel to
police these areas and enforce the laws. The result can be
summed up in one word -- "Pollution". It is our understanding
that the State water Control Board is studying this waste
and trash problem and is currently developing proposed re-
gulations for boat wastes. We would suggest that they
expedite these efforts so as to be able to give some relief
to this .roblem. In the meantime, perhaps what we really
need is a :'don't be a litterbug" campaign as regards boaters.
This of course won't resolve the problem completely, but
this approach has greatly helped with relation to automobile
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-S6-
litterbugs, and could possibly start the boating public
thinking along that line.
We are very disturbed regarding the discharge
of sewerage from the many boats coming into the marinas,
and we are at the present time quite distressed regarding
the proposal for the development of Goodwin Island by
the Mobjack Bay Development corporation which includes
a 1200 boat marina in that immediate area. We strongly
feel that for any Agency to allow such a large marina at
one location in the York River is poor judgment and we
doubt that such a marina when in use would meet the water
quality standards set up for that particular area. It is
conceivable that approval by a State agency of such an
enormous marina would further breach the desired goal of
mutual agreement regarding the State Water Quality Standards
now being sought by the State Kater Control Board and the
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration. Regarding
dredging and filling, we are concerned since it not only
destroys the shellfish, but such disruption of the marshlands
and river bottom destroys the marine and wildlife. More
thought should be given by the responsible agencies to the
preservation of the marine and wildlife in the few remaining
areas in which they now exist, and Goodwin Island is one of these
areas.
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with relation to our local governmental body
in York County, we fe«l that the members of the Board of
Supervisors should actively participate whenever possible
in determine the best possible methods of sewerage disposal
in our County. During the last session of the legislature
we requested that our Delegate introduce a bill which would
give the local governmental body final say regarding approval
or disapproval of interim sewerage systems in the County.
This law (11>. 1-327.1) will apply to any County having a
master sewerage plan. We feel such decisions with relation
to interim sewerage systems should rest with the local
governmental body and not a State Agency, since the local
representatives are in a position to better understand
the needs and desires of the people of the community. Of
course, the State water Control Board still continues to
determine what can or cannot go into the streams.
In view of the extra demands upon some of the
Agencies as a result of State water quality standards, and
other legislation which will undoubtedly be forthcoming as
regards waters, wastes/ marinas, pollution, etc., we ruggest
that these respective agencies start to request increased
allocations in their budgets to cover the cost of hiring
additional personnel to enforce the Water Quality Standards
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-38-
and associated laws. After all is said and done, laws
are ineffective if there are insufficient ueople available
to enforce them.
In closing, I want to say that even though we are
critical in many areas as regards the Agencies and the
water pollution problems, we do not lose sight of the fact
that these Agencies do perform a very important and effective
function, v.iUiout which it would be an impossible situation.
Our organization desires to cooperate and assist in any
possible wav in maintaining clean, unpolluted waters in the
3tate of Virginia. Thank you very much.
GARDNER: Do members of the panel have any
questions? For our next statement I call on Mr. C. W.
Vviley of the Virginia State Department of Health.
CJLOYDE W, WILEY: Thank you Mr. Chairman an3
members of the panel, ladies and gentlemen. Virginia State
Health Department is very appreciative for this opportunity
to make a statement before this hearing primarily regarding
the State shellfish control program and shellfish industry.
Virginia is vitally concerned with the prevention,
control, arid abatement of pollution to its estuarine areas.
The preservation of the State's priceless water resources
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is of critical importance to the social and exonomic
progress of all its citizens. Traditionally, Virginia's
growth and development has been associated with its rivers
and estuaries. It is well recognized that these resources hold 5
vast potential for the future, and every effort must be
made to assure their preservation.
Man- sections of Virginia are rapidly shifting from
a rural to an urban datus. Problems associated with this
change are demanding widespread attention. The pressures
of population expansion are manifested in many forms such
as the Industrial and residential development of estuaries
and wetlands, t'.e construction of waste treatment facilities,
and a vast increase in the number of boats and marinas.
It must be stated, however, that enormous
strides i;< pollution control have also been achieved within
the state durinu the past few years. Better planning and
attention to water pollution control problems has resulted
in a sftift in emphasis from abatement to prevention of
pollution. This has resulted in a closer supervision of all
types of waste* disposal operations. Consequently, the
water quality of many streams has been substantially improved.
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V
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Virginia presently has 55 areas comprising
approximately 63,442 acres restricted for the direct
marketing of shellfish. While this is a fairly large figure,
it represents only a sraall portion of the available shellfish
growing area within the State. It is anticipated through
our modern technology of pollution control, condemnation of
presently approved 'shellfish growing areas can be held to
a minimum, and hopefully some of those areas now restricted
can be reclaimed.
The complexity of the problem of protecting
shellfish growing waters from the encroaching hazards of
environmental pollution is a mammoth undertaking requiring
the constant effort and cooperation of many agencies. The
Federal Government must recognize its own responsibilities
towards abating water pollution. Fourteen of Virginia's
presently restricted shellfish areas comprising approximately
47, 365 acres are influenced to varying degrees by installations
or facilities of the United States Government over which the
State has no control. This represents 75% of the total acres
within the State condemned for the direct marketing of
shellfish.
The shellfish industry is fully aware that
pollution is the major problem facing it today. We have
entered a new and more complicated period in our shellfish
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ami pollution control efforts. However, precise defini-
tions of water quality criteria are being formulated and
through determined efforts the water quality needs of the
shellfish program will receive proper recognition.
GARDNER: Do members of the panel have any
questions of Mr. Wiley? Thank you Mr. Wiley. For our
next statement I call upon Mr. Franklin P. McGinnes, of
Virginia Seafoods, Incorporated of Irvington, Virginia.
FRANKLIN P. MCGINNES: Mr. Chairman, Participants,
ladies and gentlemen, I am Frank McGinnes, of Virginia
Seafoods, Inc. and I am also a Director of our national
trade association. The Oyster Institute of North America.
Virginia has been famous as a producer of seafood
since ore-colonial days. In the thirties and forties, the
total marine harvest averaged around 250 million of pounds
per year. In 19-* 5, the total harvest of 304 millions of
pounds was valued at approximately 30 million dollars, of
this, over 1-3 million pounds was oyster and clam meats,
valued at 7 million dollars. In the mid 50's the art of
shellfish farming had advanced to the degree that we were
harvesting 22 millions of pounds of oyster meat per year.
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The production of our formerly rich oyster
harvests was sharply curtailed ten years ago when the iMSX
parasite decimated the oyster crops.
Last year we produced 9 million pounds of oyster
meat by virtue of practicing every oyster farming technique
known. MSK is iill around and because it has a salinity
barrier of approximately 13 parts per thousand, our oyster
crops must be grown in what would formerly be marginal
territory. The large estuaries of Virginia are too salty
for oysters to be produced because they do not survive the
third year with the persistent incidence of MSX. Thus we
must grow Oysters outside the MSX areas although with the
help of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science we hope to be
able to develop methods to grow oysters in the MSX areas.
Hard clams do thrive in the saltier water. Vast areas in
the James are not used for the harvest of Clams because of the
bacterial quality of the water.
This discourse brings us to the importance of my
testifying at this conference today. Since our most valuable
species, the oyster, cannot be grown in the saltier waters,
we must cultivate it in the brackish areas. These are the
ones most vulnerable to domestic pollution. This means that
we in the oyster industry are caught in a vise, MSX from the
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bay coming up the rivers, and pollution coming down the
rivers, causing more shellfish producing areas to be closed.
This cannot continue - not only for the sake of our industry
but for the welfare of every citizen of Virginia. Thus it
is imperative that the Water Resource Board and the Shellfish
Branch of the State Health Department work together with
increased effectiveness to restore areas now closed as well
as keep the waters of our presently producing areas at
acceptable quality levels. Clean water is essential for
maximum beneficial uses. The economic, recreational and
aesthetic values of our waters are crucial to the future
of Virginia. I would suggest increased attention to pollution
abatement of the York River which has had a long history
of tragic oil spills and domestic sewage hazards and to the
James River.
Since MSX has imposed limits on the oyster
industry in this state, vast interest has turned to clams.
The James River is the best source of supply of clams in
our state but due to pollution all taken from this area must
be re-layed, so they can cleanse themselves, therefore it
is economically prohibitive to gather these clams. Should
the water quality of this area be brought up to acceptable
standards for shellfish harvesting, this arsa would produce
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enough clams to put our state among the top three clam
producing states on the Atlantic Coast.
At this time Virginia is the only state of-the
twenty-three (23) maritime states whose standards of water
quality have not been approved by the Federal Government.
Realizing that pollution abatement is a slow process,
plant by plant and city by city, I hope that the state
standards can be revised so that we can get Federal approval
j n the very near future.
Other states are managing to open shellfishing
areas long closed, we urge and insist that our state officials
got the help they need to do likewise. We cannot afford the
luxury of isolation. If we need grants and technolog.-cal
assistance, only available from the Federal Government,
by all means let us take advantage of such help. Other
states insist on getting their share of the tax dollar.
why not Virginia? We will be more grateful to our state
officials when we are reclaiming more shellfish harvesting
areas than are being closed. Thank yon.
GARDNER: Are there any questions from the panel?
DAVIS: I would like to make just one comment,
as our spectator didn't give an entire presentation I would
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just like to say that the reason that our water problem
standards has not been approved is not due to the standards
themselves but due to the question cf secondary treatment.
We hope this can be resolved on a staff level which we will
discu.ss with the Board at its next meeting.
GARDNER: I call upon now Mr. S. Mason Carbough
representing the Virginia Department of Agriculture and
Commerce.
s. KASON CARBOUGH: Thank you Mr. Gardner, members
of the panel, ladies and gentlemen. I am S. Mason Carbough,
Executive Assistant to the Commissioner of the Virginia
Department of .nuriculture and Commerce and I'm representing
him today and will present to - at this hearing a statement
by the Commissioner.
Mr, Chairman, I appreciate the invitation to
present a statement to you at this hearing concerning the
comprehensive study of the Nation's estuarine areas and
particularly the estuaries and coastal waters in Virginia.
First, let me reaffirm tnat the industry of
agriculture has an abiding interest in providing an abundant
supply of clean water, and protecting all our natural
resources for not only agticulture, but for the public
at large.
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Pollution problems are just as critical for
the people in the industry of agriculture as for anyone
else. Agriculture needs "clean" water for the crops
and anirialr. arid, therefore, has a direct interest in
assuring an adequate quantity and quality of water
resource..- j.r, available to all.
it occurs to me that the agriculture land and
the estuariru. land in Virginia have a relationship
whereby ao.'ithoj is in direct competition with the other
for the alternative uses.
Although it is fair to say, I believe that
tne practices, activities, and plans concerning agricultural
land use and ostuarino land use do affect each other.
By virtue of the fact that extensive agriculture
production does take place adjacent to marshlands, wetlands,
the streams in the estuarine areas, and the coastal waters,
the industry of agriculture does have a direct interest
in the subject of this hearing.
Ij. you draw an imaginary line from Fredericksburg
to Emporia, the area east of that line produces roughly
one-third of the total income from farming in Virginia.
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Th e total dollar value of agricultural production including
farm forest approaches $175 million. The returns from
commercial forest would make this total even higher.
More specifically, to give you some idea of the
impact of this area on Virginia's agricultural economy,
it produces of the state's total: about 80 % of the
corn sold for cash; almost 95% of the soybeans; practially
all of the peanuts; over 90% of the cash vegetable crop;
approximate^ rO% of the hogs, and one-fifth of the livestock.
The production represents only a beginning of
the economic impact. The supply and service sector employs
many people in such businesses as banking, transportation,
food processr-iny, chemical manufacturing, feed and ferti-
lizer manufacturing, machinery dealers, and many others.
The marketing and processing sector employs many more.
The farm production statistics have been compiled
on a county basis and we would be pleased to furnish you
these data sheets for the counties in Virginia's estuarine
area, if yon would give us the names of the counties involved,
Beyond the estuarine land area, I believe the
solution, to estuarine pollution so far as agricultural
production is concerned, lies in the continued implementation
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of soil conservation practices which prevent soil erosion
and land runoff. The soil and water conservation programs,
such as small upstream watershed dams, have helped in the
past to reduce siltation, much of which when it occurs
probably finds its way into the estuarine areas, and can
be particularly helpful if properly supported and financed.
Similar and as effective results have come from the use of
sound soil and water conservation practices by individual
farmers both within the estuarine area and the inland
drainage ureas. Adequate public encouragement for the
implementation of the numerous practices needs to be continued.
Fertilizers and pesticides have been mentioned
by some people as contributors to pollution. You are well
aware, I am sure, of the part which agricultural chemicals
play in providing this nation with food and fiber. We are
today a bettor fed people at less cost than any people in
the world and a large measure of the credit for this
success must go to fertilizer and other agricultural chemicals.
Confusion seems to exist as to the extent of
pollution caused by the use of agricultural chemicals by
farmers. There are many variables to this complex question,
and I would encourage you to consider thoughtfully the
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-100-
questions \.bich arise on this subject and to seek out the
facts.
In recent years economic pressures and regula-
tory proqraras have exerted greater pressures for safe
practices than is likely to be brought about by pollution
control proarams. Farmers are not likely to use more
fertilizer or other chemicals than are economically justi-
fiable, nor arc they likely to intentionally use chemicals
that will contaminate their products. Continued surveillance
and monitoring inspection programs are an integral part of
pollution prevention and these are carried on daily by
the Department of Agriculture and Commerce, and by several
federal aqencies. There is a need for more research con-
sidering the many variables which will reveal more concrete
evidence as to the extent of pollution in land runoff caused
by agricultural production practices.
In the estuarine area are located our fine
seaport facilities. Through these facilities come the
imports from many countries. Unfortunately this commerce
brings with it the danger of the introduction into the
state of some new destructive pest, either insect or d-.sease.
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-101-
Thc fJSDA keeps close surveillance on the
,-novernen.t oC vessels and ooods, and has been quite effective
in keeping narnful pests from our shores. But. occasionally
some oest doe?; :et through the best of inspection systems.
When this happens, immediate steps must be taken to contain
and control it within the area of introduction.
<"!:\nurol measure's often involve the use of
chemicals and it is important that you provide flexibility
in your ntana jen-r-nt programs to protect our economy and
healtn.
A nev destructive pest not only poses a threat
of scrioi;- Direct economic losses to the industry oi'
agriculture, but also affects the movement of goods in
and o-.i t of Lhc; area, if it becomes quarantined. We have
the ex era rmv.ieri of protecting the inland states and keeping
o, en the <;hannols of trade.
On another matter, I ask that where livestock
and coultry r-^e-lots, and food processing olants occur within
the estuariae area, that these operations he handled on an
i.-,dividua J oasis insofar as they relate to estuarine pollution
• roblerns.
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I recognize the desirability of preserving our
estuarine resources, and encourage the development of a
program to effect the coordination of all interest in the
estuarine areas.
I would urge in any attempt to regulate the
land in the estuarine area, that proper consideration be
given to agricultural production and to the production
practices which are desirable and necessary in supplying our
people wit-i (cod and fiber. It would be helpful to have an
op;->ortrnity to further contribute to your planning in the
estuarine ar.ea of Virginia before any final plans are
develo;>eu i:>y "laving information affecting the industry of
agriculture available to us.
Than.t you for the opportunity to present tc you
some of o^r concerns which we feel relate to the estuarine
and coastal areas of Virginia. Maurice B. Rowe, Commi^sionei
of Agricv. 11ure.
GARDNER: We c< n put Mr. Carbaugh on the spot
since he read a presentation prepared by someone else.
Do we have a Question?
CARBAUGH: If I don't have the answer I "ill get
it.
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GARDNER: I had an indication from Mr. James
Coates of Norfolk that he would like to describe some
of the pollution that he has seen first hand within
Elizabeth Hiver.
JAMES CQATES: I appreciate the opportunity
to speak to you and without any preparation and I, perhaps
am the only amateur in the room among a panel of experts
and I do ai. ureciate this opportunity. I would like to
mention to you I think most of you know the effects of
building a "J" and what he has when it is built at right
angles to the shoreline. In certain areas because of
prevailincf winds and tides the sand or sod material will
build up on the side of a "J", sometimes as in the case
of Vvilloughby Beach you have it built u^ on both sides
arid we restore the beach. Some years ago I met with the
army engineers because I live on waterfront and I asked
them for permission to build and obtained permission to
build two "J". They stuck out at right angles to the shore
line 40 feet and the result was that on the north side
because of prevailing tides and winds, I accumulated a
very fine sandy beach on vhich my children and my neighbors
children could play. Today that beach is filled with
garbage. On at least Saturday and Sunday it was filled
with garbage. Today we ha -e a northeast wind and flood
-------
-104-
tide and this morning there was no garbage on our beach.
1 don't, know whether the Colonel gave permission to any
authority to build a "J" but the result is this, that we
nave a "j" built now extending out in a westerly direction
Ircm about •; 3th Street which goes about as far out into
our river as you go from here to Fort Wolfe. Now
what hap per -; when you build a "J" is that the topography
cnanges, the underwater topography rises in proportion to
the conditions that exist in that particular area and we
don't have :;o be technicians from/NIT or an expert to know
these things. But it is a fact that you can do anything
in the water and you will change to some extent - it might
bo minute but you do change some of the conditions. Now
since we ha^e been meeting and it is approximately 12 o'clock
there have been at least fifty and perhaps sixty huge garbage
dump trucks loaded with city garbage dumped into the river
since we have been here this morning. Who gave them per-
mission to do that? I might just as well take my garbage
and walk down to the beach and dump it overboard and yet
that's not legal for me to do it and yet there is a group
that do it and they do it wholesale. I happen to live in
the fortunate area where we have an incinerator and I'm only
a mile from it or less than a mile from it and I must agree
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-105-
I'n: a yood friend of Mr. Miller's but you '-enow having
his own job down there if I yet a southwest wind and
particularly in the summertime I can accumulate a bucket
f'jll very easily. All I have to do is to walk down to the
river and dip up a bucket full of black muck that stinks
to high heaven and in fact I took a gallon jug of black
riuok \vni. <%:: is accumulating with hydrogen sulfide as you
have :nc;:t i-oned and all the debris, it is an accumulation
M ;nown to ',:ict'- which is contaminating the river and that's
i-ei nr ;)<-,;•," ';odav right here. It is just, four or five
•,iloo iri thi---: direction. It. is an unhealthy condition.
The stink f.rom the garbaoc oile isn't so bad, the soot
from Lhc coal . ields is ^ot so bad but it is absolutely
i !excnc;able to have an inadequate sewage disposal plant
and -,,c na"e a-i inadequate cewage disposal system. We
c-ciii look onL of my bedroom window and see a brown streak
of water if i.oday the conditions are adequate or proper.
In the river there is a difference in the color of the
t na;:
viator'emanates and wio-.'ts as it fens out leaving the area
from vhica tue pipe empties its contents into the river.
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-106-
Then the wind changes as we have this morning
a refreshing breeze comes from a different direction, the
water begins to clean up a little bit and we get the water
from the channel. All of this summer it was too bad for
any children to get into the river. It was even too bad
lor dogs to chase a stick out into the river, anywhere from
100 feet out. Now if you go into the main channel and take
samples that is not so bad but anywhere in close you get
a very contaminated condition that either stinks so much
that it i.s almost unlivable and it is getting worse.
I love home and motherhood and flowers and clean
water and everybody does but what are we going to do about
it. Vve don't control the authorities who are the great
offenders. We went through the motions and bless your
neart I think we are making progress but we are making
progress too slowly. Now I ^on't own a share of stock in
any food processing. I don't own any rights to oyster
banks or oyster beds. I have no interest whatever in being
here except as a citizen who objects to the stink and the
conditions we are forced to live in and it cost me almost
$600 worth of taxes on my honesite each year in the city
in which I live. So I'm not Dripping about paying the
taxes but I do gripe about the odor and stink. I'm too
-------
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-107-
old to ski and I don't swim too much any more and I don't
have a pleasure boat but I do like to live and cut my grass
and have a decent place to live in and looking at it from
a purely practical standpoint we have an intolerable condition
over on the other side of the river. I thank you for the
opportunity to sound off and tell you about this. I know
we all are starting to correct those bad conditions and
I nope the army engineers will revoke their permit to build
this bi'.j "J1'. It sticks out almost a mile from the mainland
over there and they are actually dumping garbage in the river
this mornim;, since we have been here and I invite you to
go over and Look at it but take a clothespin.
PAfiSSLER: Mr. Coates with reference to the
garbage chat's going in, is this the amount that you described
is this the equivalent that is being dumped in from ships
or is this actually being dumped in from trucks?
CQATES: From trucks not ships.
GARDNER: Any further questions?
DAVIS: I would like to know if he could tell
us where it is coming fiom?
CQATES: I don't want to get in trouble. I iwite
you to go to see it. I can't fight city hall and I have no
mind to and the city health officials are interested in the
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-108-
protalem, whether they will actually take any action to do
anything about it or not I don't really know. I'm not
exaggeratinq. I invite you to come and see it. I will
be glad to answer questions - are there any other questions?
PAESLER: We would like to have more facts.
Perhaps you v;ould be glad to discuss this with us some
other time in private.
ANDERSON: Mr. Coates I have one question.
Can you tell us where this "J" is located you are speaking
of?
CQATES: I use the term "J" because a "J" is
a "j" whether it be made of concrete pine or plank or
whatever it is or whether it is made of concrete or whether
it is made of garbage with a little bit of dirt mixed in
with it and mashed tin cans and all that. A "J" is speaking
from an engineering standpoint is a structure which produces
a change in the contour in the bottom of the river by
blocking the flow of tide. Now the further out a "J" sticks
from shore the more dirt area it has behind it on either side
of that "J" because the tide has to go around it and the
effect is that the water accumulates and swirls behind the
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-109-
"j" and brie or brae or whatever you want to call it
vill accumulate along with tl• Js material - sand material
behind the "J". Now it makes no difference what a "J"
is constructed of, whether it is crushed rock, whether
it is rock that you have that builds a petition or builds
a wall around the islands out here on the Potomac or
runs out here in the middle of Chesapeake Bay, they are
all a form of retaining material and a "J:1 is that. It
can he garbage if it is wide enough and this is what
this one is - garbage.
/.NDERSON: What is it's location?
CQATES: Well it is parallel to Pier 6 and
North and Western Coal Piers, it is approximately - it
begins at 39th Street in the c !.ty of Norfolk and there I
qo yetting in trouble and it extends over to about 43rd
Street and if it keeps on it will be in my back yard in
about four more years, which is up abound 53rd Street.
ANDERSON: Is it Elizabeth River?
GQATES: Yes Elizabeth River and it is opposite
Crane Island. Incidentally I didn't want to interrupt the
Colonel and as I stayed here a little bit longer I became
a little bit more at home this morning, did the Army Engineers
give anybody permission to use the river as a dumping - as
-------
-110-
a garbage dumping area? I would like to know that and
I'm not trying to put anybody else on the spot but
certainly someone must have obtained permissL on if we
have an authority whether it be federal or state or
county or our legislators, but somebody had to give someone
permission to use our waters as a garbage dump.
GARDNER: Mr. Coates I think I can answer that.
It would be against the 1899 Refuge Act to dump garbage
debris and a number of other things into navigable waters
and I'm sure these are considered navigable waters.
CQATES: Well they used to be. Now they are
so shallow only row boats can go in there.
GARDNER: I know that all of us are getting a
wee bit hungry at this point but we only have a few more
to go. In fact what I have left are maybes, unless some
of the panel cares to make statements as we close. I have
a maybe here from Mr. J. L. Hamrick, Jr. Allied Chemical
Corporation,
HAMRICK: I don't desire to make a statement.
GARDNER* The other from Mr. G. D. Monola, Norfolk
Health Department.
MONOLA: with sympathy to the audience I do not
wish to make a statement at this time.
-------
-------
-Ill-
GARDNER: Another maybe is Mrs. H. S.
Keimlings .
KtflMLINGS: Not at this time.
GARDNER: I would like to point out as I have
sain oari.ier that the record will remain open and if >ou
(jon't ,:aic to say anything at this time mail a statement
to us and it will be included in the official minutes of
t "io inec-t'-iiiq. I also have a maybe from Mrs. Vaughan.
VAUGHAN: No statement at this time, but I
do have one question. I have been concerned about the
•jreat oceanography and increase in the jellyfish in the bay
and .I'rr' wondering if the ocean geographic survey or any-
thing like this is taking care of it.
tlARGIS : We, too, are concerned as many other
people with the - what has been alleged to be an increaee
in the jellyfish. No one really knows whether there has
been an increase or if there have, what the proportions
arc because records from former times are non-existing.
However fcnis is obviously a very severe economic problem
relating particularly to materials and recreational uses
of tne estuarine waters. Interest has developed so much
that there is a federal jellyfish act and under the federal
jellyfish act there is provision for money to investigate
the problem to see whether control is possible. Among the
-------
-112-
principal agencies involved in the program is our
inidtute, We have a study under way and the study
.is tx.-:i:ij enlarged. Interesting this is one of those
area where the economy drive didn't hit very hard this
tine. /AS a matter of fact the appropriation went up
instead of down.
GARDNER: Ar*5 there others nere in the group
that, would like to make a statement at this time. Members
jf the panel would you like to make a statement. Members
of the moderating team? I thank you all for the statements
and your participation in the meeting and as I indicated
earlier all will receive copies of the minutes once we
get che'i through publication. Thank you very much.
-------
ADDITIONAL
STATEMENTS
SUBMITTED
FOR
THE
RECORD
-------
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
SOIL CONSERVATION SERVICE
P. 0. Box 10026
Richmond, Virginia 23240
November
Mr. Eugene 7. Jensen
Regional P Lrcct or
Iederal Water Pollution Control Administration
U. ?. Department of the Interior
•'I'; Emmet Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Dear Mi. Jensen:
This IF in reference to the public meeting held at the Chamberlin Hotel,
Fort Monroe, Virginia, on November 19. Because of a prior commitment,
I was unable to attend this hearing.
We cubmit th^ aftached Research Report 65, "The Virginia TidaJ Riverbank
Erosion Survey',' and an article by W. A. Phillips and Frank D. Eastham
published several years ago in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation
as information for the record. As the result of said report and the
efforts of local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, county officials
and other concerned local leaders in Virginia, this agency on November
J9b5 assigned an engineer as a consultant to local landowners in tidal
riverbank stabilization. His services are in strong demand and results
are encouraging. The efforts to date have been on an informal basis
with individuals or very small groups and on areas of limited scope
which do not involve an enormous capital outlay. A combination of engi-
neering measures supported by vegetation is being fully explored.
We are convinced that tidal riverbank erosion is a serious problem in
Virginia because of the loss of land, the resulting sediment and loss
of valuable wat^r front property.
Very ip°uly your,0,
- I ' .
-------
By: W. A. Phillips
Area Conservationist
Area VA-A-3
Soil Conservation Service
Tappahannock, Virginia
and
Frank D. Eastban
Work Unit Conservationist
Warsaw, Virginia
RIVE8BAWK EROSION IN VIRGINIA
Tidewater Virginia has many bays, rivers, creeks and inlets that
subject the land to serious erosion problems. This erosion is caused by
the fluctuating tides, by wave action, by frost and floating ice, and by
rainwater. Erosion is aggravated by winds and accompanying atoms -
especially when blowing from sea to land during abaonsally high tides.
There are many records indicating that this problem is not a new
one. Augustine Washington built a home in Westmoreland County and re-
marked that it would be 200 years before the Potomac would bother it.
Two hundred years have about passed and the foundations are falling into
the river. By the time of the Revolution the isthmus connecting Jamestown
Island to the mainland had washed away. Prior to 1900, when a seawall
-------
was built, the first landing site and the site of the original fort had
long since disappeared into the James. Across the river a state high-
way has recently fallen over the cliffs at Mogarts Beach.
Park Service excavations indicate that no less than 125 feet of
the Yorktowri surrender grounds have fallen into the York River. Thus
many priceless historical landmarks have gone overboard, as at Jamestown.
Wakefield and Stratford plantations, the birthplaces of Generals Washing*
ton and Lee, on the Potomac, are annually losing enormous quantities of
timber and farmland.
Virginia, with a tidal shoreline more than 2*000 miles long, has
no rocky shores or protecting marshes on much of this exposure. Mary-
land, with a similar shoreline, made a detailed study which indicated a
loss of about 25,000 acres in 90 years - an annual loss of about 275
acres. One area, Bay Banks, lost 40 feet in one storm. This is not
merely topsoil we are losing, it is complete, final, and utter loss.
Many places in Virginia lose 20 to 30 feet of soil in one storm.
Some exposed areas have an annual loss of three to ten feet. Farms,
orchards, homes and timberlands are being eaten away by the steady grind
of the seas. Many Colonial cemeteries have been washed away. Augustine
Washington's family graveyard is now but a dozen steps from the Potomac.
The river is approaching at a rate of six feet annually.
Some cliffs along the Potomac rise 160 feet above the water. Waves
undercut sections, causing landslides involving thousands of tons of
earth and timber. The waves remove these slides and start undercutting
again. Slides carry away fields, woods, homes and highways. People
and animals have perished in riverbank cave-ins.
-------
The Jacaes, York, Rappahannock, and Potomac Rivers present the
tsajor problems, but many other bodies of water have the problem in
varying, degrees.
The problem is serious. Millions of dollars have been spent in
efforts to control the erosion of these shores - often to no avail.
Many structures are poorly conceived, improperly built, or constructed
of poor material.
Properly designed seawalls, jetties and bulkheads will do an effect-
ive job of control, but they are very expensive to construct and maintain.
Some cost $100 per foot. Most landowners simply aaove back as the river
moves in.
The Norther" Neck Soil Conservation District supervisors have long
sought an approach to the problem. In 1956 they decided to concentrate
on developing some practical way to reduce the loss at minimum cost.
While studying the problem and evaluating past efforts it was found that
one farmer on the Rappahannock River, Mr. Fred Durham of Richmond County,
had achieved very promising results with vegetation. The bank had been
sloped and sodded to Benaauda grass and had the beach well established in
a sod of native salt-tolerant marsh grass (Spartina patens). This had
previously been a rapidly eroding shoreline, but after treatment the
beach began gradually moving out into the river and the marsh grass has
built a dense barrier 30 feet wide between the bank and the. water. This
bank has successfully weathered hurricanes for 15 years. Hurrican Hazel
threw seas almost to the top of the bank with no ill effects. The grass
barrier absorbed much of the shock and the remaining energy expended it-
self rolling up and down the sodded bank. Similar banks, with the same
exposure, lost from eight to 20 feet in this one storm.
-------
This project merited study. The Spartina patens was obtained on
the farm and the only cost involved was lifting and planting. The bank
was sloped 2:1 and seeded to a general lawn mixture. Bermuda grass has
now taken over the site.
In 1957 the supervisors decided to try this method of control on
other sites with different exposures. Five were selected, one on the
Rappahannock, two on the Potomac, and two on a creek from Chesapeake
Bay.
The topsoil was stockpiled and the banks were sloped as low as
possible consistent with cost. A 3:1 slope was found to be very ef-
fective. The topsoil was then spread over the exposed ground and the
area was heavily manured and fertilized. Kentucky 31 fescue was seeded to
within 10 feet of the water; Midland Bermuda grass was heavily sprigged
from the fescue to within three feet of high water. Spartina pateas was
heavily sprigged from the midland Bermuda to the Mid-tide mark.
Spart ina a Item if lora was then planted in rows frost here to low tide.
In all cases mulching of the seedbed was important.
It was soon obvious that this was no simple job. The riverbanks
are exposed to extreme cold in winter, freezing to a depth of 18 to 24
inches. In summer direct and reflected sunlight make then very hot, and
the internal drainage and heat make them very hot. High tides and wind-
blown spray make thew alternately wet, dry, windy, cold, hot, and fre-
quently whipped by wind-blown sand and salt water. Before the banks
could be seeded heavy rains and windy seas had damaged them so severly
that they all had to be reworked.
(117)
-------
-------
Sufficient midland Bermuda for the trial was obatined from the
Beltsvllle, Maryland, Experiment Station. We also used native grasses
that seemed to be doing well on sinilar sites to those on which we were
working. Spartina patens, Spartioa alterniflora, and needle rush have
proved to be good ones.
We learned much fro* these projects. We know it is very im-
portant to give close maintenance for at least a year. Small washouts
and gullies must be quickly repaired. Several applications of fertiliz-
er are better than one heavy application. The heavy fertilization
causes a tremendous stimulation of weeds and annual grasses. These must
be cut at least once a month if a good sod is to be quickly formed.
We found that a stable beach is a prerequisite to sloping. If this
cannot be done with grasses then the toe of the slope must be held with
structures. Ranks more than ten to twelve feet high are risky and
treacherous to slope and seed. Here excessive washing, fluffing and
sliding are likely to occur. Excess water from the land needs to be
drawn off in tile lines. Sloping should be done with a dragline as it is
difficult to use a bulldozer and get slopes without pushing loose dirt to
the water's edge. Loose dirt here will be promptly washed away.
Sloping should be deferred until the toe of the slope has been
stabilized with adapted grasses or structures. In Virginia the topsoil
should be stockpiled and the sloping done in late winter in order to get
the banks seeded early. Thus the grasses will have the longest possible
growing season and will get well established before the fall hurricanes
and winter storms.
(113)
-------
All projects have com through the first year in surprisingly
good condition. The District supervisors are well pleased with the
results to date, and feel that we have found a practical approach to
many of our erosion problevs.
We do not think this syste* will work everywhere, but know that it
holds considerable promise for landowners with eroding banks of fairly
stable soils that are not exposed to wide stretches of open water*
(119)
-------
F J. BERGERON
D'KICTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.
E'TATLXrNT r-' " I ' . '.ECORD
F'v'PCA r'LETHIG CK L.V-'JA '-INK W\TEi;S,
HAMPTON ROADS-CHi^AP-IAi:- BAY A'.'^IAS,
.MB'l'.VLir ''('ILL, FO '.T ;Otf
-;.ies L ' c i;- .*:
,.r ro;,..- , .^--"
i-ye r -at i "ns x-;o ','',-?pe-j" t. f ul 1% 'equest cc
?"".; i ••?'e"1 / s;ta'f'c' as '-/I lows:
.1' '-\ ('"ioP, ol ti
• f1 p-rstv-ed i.c iijc-
Lr"ipaive(n n '_ t>e p.'"!S••>.
enciate berw^^n vc;-err.i:: • 3
'- ccndi *-.i, ns wit;-. xc e
waters c-> ^'le a oa S'ir
'j."is o f" *.:if waters a c
Tlie str'c.ia y shcnlf1 dLr
' localized conditions.
r>,i T,"i
be established a:>f'
;.?. I', rjeo-is un] ;i
.1 • en C'l^t oxy^ci'
;i ' t, S;ic? "a i : L ^C *i.T.''p _< ,, r-''-:fi
c'e I'l'/ienciefc exist. It would not, theiefore, seer,>
;• cjlpf'il to the esf.uarir.e ware:? tc reduce t'le oxyrer-
-Jf;ns' d G i vastewatr." '! i j?f!ia . i es. Tlio natu-e ard nou ces
• • '" pr ! i.utar ts whicl1 !ia-'f the r -'eatest dot ;imc;if al .^'Vett
i.'pc'i' hr -^s tin Lime '..'ate : thcul^ be O5:i;.al lishfcd i (: 60 /e
•tny IT '-e;ali?,ed p"o\, :a-' ; • ec'ucticr j '" all pollution
IP .T opted. Av'titra-y iii.-i cases in !•;<• decree o J woste-
w.TtC',?, riay tc irhi'oi'a)lo ; ;;'• -«ay ;ia\''.- no :neasuraMe
f i "C^-. c upon t'u" ^o-eial ostui -. rio watc-" duality. II
tin's is the case, the e:-;pendi tu? c of funds fc." 3"Mt"."^ry
inc f!,-j.'ifs irs t.iio de1' "ee ',-\ treatment would not be p uf^^
Carclul evaluation, thev-? "ore, is indicated,
(120)
-------
" s'. ' "Ia^es of v >r ~ o>' H;e protection c ." the several
no::r;I le uses o.; the est'uarine wate ." should te r.iade
st' Mat the meritc of !;;>e protection o" a possible
i:r~ nay be evaluaLcri or econoTic bases.
"; "Ii-1 'r ic at eve rcir-T-ents ";iy bo • ';elp to yea in
riecision.
' . I' . •,•! U'l''' . .
'Ic' ' <.':i;: 1 I '• - er tor
Pollution Coi'lrol AcHinJ st ratio
..•••cri.i t i •„ e flci ftr y
V'j.r'iuin ;:-(a*«p vJater Ccnt.:ol Boa . c'
;1". '':1^nr: J. Hargis, .1 .
" f L'^r to »•
Vi r-.i.nir! I^sliinie o ' Ma cine Srierce
. ';>•! • in i,, Sutherland
Direr tor
Virpinta Depai'traent of Conserva tic-n
n-i'J JvHiDiT1. ! c Development
:. . >-. > . !,'!' .'-on, Ji .
i. '( .. y i ian.i <•'
T'o .- 1 SVK-I. ! '.) . V: > <: inia
(1L1)
-------
Mampton Roads Maritime Association JT
~^y< INCORPORATED
N.*^' Established 1920
' . " 127 l?9 BANK STREET— NORFOLK VIRGINIA 235IO
• , !' TELEPHON662P2639 AREACODE7O3
JACK w MACE November 20, 1968 H-M THOMPSON
FXFCUllvr SFCRFTARY CONSULTANT
Mr. Eugene T. Jensen, Regional Director
Middle Atlantic Region
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
U. S. Department of the Interior
918 Emmet Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Dear Mr. Jensen:
In response to your letter of October 18th we wish to
offer our following comments inasmuch as the Association could
riot be represented at your hearing at Fort Monroe, Virginia on
November 19th .
The Hampton Roads Maritime Association, whose member-
ship includes almost all businesses engaged in waterborne commerce
in Hampton Roads, is very interested in water pollution control,
control of dredging and filling, and the application of area-wide
planning and/or zoning. While we do not have any specific state-
ments to make at this time, please be advised that this Association
will make every possible effort to cooperate in your comprehensive
study of this area's estuarine resources.
The communities of Hampton Roads and the State of Virginia
are blessed with beautiful and productive waterways and every effort
by private and governmental interests should be made to preserve
and develop this outstanding natural resource.
Sincerely yours,
JACK W. MACE
Executive Secretary
JWM/ca
(122)
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COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
RICHMOND
v\™
Cl.r.'t L. D') V 1L, i !
/VI\iO FALLS CHtir^-U
10M BUCHANAN BT
MCLEAN, VA. 221O1
CCMMITTFE
I.AW9
EXECl/VtVE
RETRENCHIWf
November 18, 1968
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
Middle Atlantic Region
918 Emmet Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Dear Sirs:
S.ince I live at McLean, Virginia, near the Potomac River,
my principal experience has been with uses and problems of the
esLuary of what has been termed The Nation's River. However,
some of the problems we have encountered in seeking to preserve
scenic and conservation values of the Potomac are undoubtedly
common to most, if not all, estuaries and estuarine zones.
Because a number of local jurisdictions and often several
States may be involved in the control of estuarine areas, the
most basic problem encountered is the need for — and methods of
accomplishing — area and region-wide supervision of the typical
estuary. For example, there must be uniformity in the planning
and zoning controls over land adjacent to or affecting estuarine
zones. Conflicts between private owners and local, state, and
Federal interests render this essential objective extraordinarily
difficult to accomplish.
The proposed Potomac River Basin Compact, which will soon
go before the Congress and the legislatures of Virginia and other
interested Basin States, is a hopeful tool to bring about
coordinated protection of the Potomac. One of the most useful
things your study could do would be to devise and propose a
series of approaches, mechanisms and inducements by which the
preservation of estuarine zones can be accomplished on an area
and region-wide basis.
Specific problems encountered v/hich threaten estuarine
zones of the Potomac include the following :
-------
Landfill of marshland at the mouth of Hunting Creek.
Hunting Creek is a tributary of the Potomac near Alexandria,
Va., and <*« the marsh area involved - which the developer seeks
to fill and develop for apartment houses - is a major wintering
ground for water fowl. The project is scenically objectionable
as well as destructive of a valuable estuarine resource. State
legislation granting authority to transfer the State's interest
in this marshland to the developers is being challenged in the
courts; in addition, the legislation may well be reconsidered
by the next General Assembly. Everything possible should be
done to prevent this misuse of a valuable estuarine asset.
Establishment of oil refinery at Piney Point, Md.
The leakage and spillage of oil" that would undoubtedly occur
if the Steuart Petroleum Company's plan for an oil refinery
at Piney Point is approved would be disastrous to Potomac
estuarine resources. The proposed facility should not be
built .
In addition to the foregoing, I call your attention
to the serioiis threat which may be posed to estuarine aquatic
life by the construction of huge power plants in or near
estuaries. Whether fueled by nuclear elements or other fuels,
large quantities of heated water are generated by operation
of such power plants. Unless the utility owners are required
to cool such waters to an appropriate temperature before
discharge into the neighboring water source, destruction of
nearby estuarine aquatic life during some portions of the
year is inevitable. Utilities should be required to develop
and apply cooling procedures and facilities, so as to cool
adequately the water they use before its return to public
waters. I hope that you will recommend controls of universal
application that will remove the threat of thermal pollution
of our estuaries by power plants.
I appreciate the opportunity to make these comments.
Please include this statement in the record of your
proceedings .
Respectfully submitted,
Olive L. DuVal, 2d
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liAl.'l H- OF
rk.v,K I l)f Ki-TPnWWWma !)•
|., f fillls, Rr.uiokr
' ""' DEPARTMENT OF CONSERVATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
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Mr. Eugene T. Jensen - 2 - November 20, 1968
value of the estuaries as a source of food supply. Also, the introduction
of waste waters would tend to diminish the value of the estuarine waters for
recreational purposes. Generally speaking it might be said that many of
man's activities will in all probability challenge the ecological balance of
estuarine waters.
In the formulation of plans and programs to deal with the develop-
ment and management of the water resources of the Commonwealth under the
provisions of state legislation, it would appear that such a plan should
include due consideration of estuarine waters. Too, it would appear that
plans and programs for management of the water resources in a river basin
should consider the estuarine portion of the river basin and the freshwater
portion of the basin as a complete system rather than considering the estuary
as an entity separate from the freshwater portion of the basin.
We are appreciative for the opportunity to comment.
Sincerely yours,
J. M. Alexander, P.E.
Commi ss ioner
JMA/bb
(126)
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of <
October 29, 1968
Mr. Eugene T. Jensen
Regional Director
United States Department of the Interior
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
Middle Atlantic Region
918 Emmet Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Dear Mr. Jensen:
In reply to your letter of October 18, 1968, this is to
advise that Mr. Arthur Freeman, of the Department of the
Public Works, will attend the meeting pertaining to the
Clean Water Restoration Act at the Chamberlin Hotel on
November 19, 1968. I have asked him to submit the
attached statement, which refers to the position of the
City of Norfolk, into the record.
Sincerely yours,
Thomas F. Maxwell
City Manager
(127)
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STATEMENT BY: CITY OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
The City of Norfolk is interested in pollution abatement in the
Hampton Roads area by any or all of the following.
1) All sewage treatment plants in the area, privately owned,
municipally owned, Government owned and State owned, should be of the
secondary type.
2) Ways and means should be provided to remove pollution from
the James River which, after receiving effluent from both municipal
and industrial areas in the Richmond-Hopewell section, discharge the
effluent into the Hampton Roads area.
3) More assurances that oil and coal pollution in the harbor
area are adequately controlled.
4) Means should be provided for the sewage disposal of all
ships, both commercial and Government, as well as pleasure craft.
The above steps are necessary for the most beneficial develop-
ment of the harbor area from a public health point of view, as well as
a recreational point of view.
CITY OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA
(123)
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CITY OF FREDERICKSBURG /fcx> A^,v '<
VIRGINIA /-. ^0^
November 16, 1968
JOSIAH P. ROWE, III
MAYOR
Mr. i uqene
Federal Water Pollution Control Administration
United States Department of the Interior
9 ! Qi Cmmet St reet
Chjriotlesvi I ie, Virginia 2290!
Dear Mr. Jen sen:
The City of Fredericksburg has considerable interest
in the proposed November !9 meeting at Fort Monroe, Virginia,
or reeding the preparation of a rr-port under the Clean Water
Pest'"'rat i on Act of I96C on estuarine zones and influences.
Due l^ other commitments, we are unable to send a
r<,-'pr(. sent at i ve to the meeting but wish to express our interest
;:,ince the? City of Freder i c k sburq lies at the upper end of the
esluarine zono of the Rappahannock Piver.
Records of William r, >rd indicate that sailing schooners
docked at the Freder i cl- sburg wharf approximately the time of
1732 A.D.
Tn~ (.itv ! i es IUST^ below the fa I I I ine and has a
particular interest in anything effecting estuarine develop-
ment. Over a period of many years, studies have been made
of the Rappahannock River by the Corps of Engineers which
have resulted in their latest report prepared in May of 1966
recommending the construction of the Salem Church Reservoir
just above the City of Fredericksburg.
A great economic advantage of the Salem Church Reservoir
will be the provision of low flow augmentation anticipated to
be of considerable benefit to shell fish and other fish down-
stream toward the mouth of the Rappahannock River.
It is noted that one of the assumptions in your frame
f reference for your studies is "estuaries cannot be considered
independently of their watersheds or the continental shelf".
(129)
o
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hope that /our study will make reference to the benefit
low How augmentation to estuarine zones which wi I I occur
'-r rr. the construction of up-river dams and reservoirs such
as the proposed Salem Church Dam, which was approved in the
Omnibus Public Works Bill of Congress during the 1968 Session,
'"'.gain lot me assure you of our interest, in the pres-
ervation and restoration of estuarine resources. We look
Tor-ward to receiving copies of reports which will result from
your public hearings throughout the United States.
Very truly yours,
'X. > - -
Jos i ah P. Rowc, I[
pe
(130)
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COMMONWF.fl.L1H OP VIRGINIA
HOUSE OF DELEGATES
R ICHMOND
November !''-, ] 96c
!Vi . jv. gene T. Jensen
KC.'-.ioir, i Director, liddl e Atlantic Ucgi on
Peeler.'.i i.aler Pollution Control Administration
i'ni tod bfates Department of f,h° Interior
"' ] • bi ui'C t, ,-s t ree I
Ci'.'ir i. O I" tcf i 11 e , \ J .'-,",: n 1 a ^'''.'L
o i T- :
Thank you for the opportunity to present recommenda-
i Lous for (lie preservation, study, use;, and development of
(ho Nation's estuarine resources. It IF impossible Tor me
to ; ;>|>car in person before your- group, and I wouJ d appreciate
your reading this .1 e 11 " i and filing hho same in the records.
Vo • being an expert in this field, I can only caJ 1
v on ! r'tt<--it] ion to uiattoT's u<;ir,' Lr-tve cor.ie to my p-art". i cnJ a r
irj!f-rc.~1 a s a state- 3 r>,", i s i <-< r or r-ejiresenf Ln^; tlio Frcdorjcl.s-
l»uit' , oj>o t sy 1 vania atni Stafford nrea in Virginia. Stafford
(.ounty Mas a '>art icu}. ?. r apsociri' 'on with estuarine j>robleuis
since its northeastern boun-'m-y is tho Potomac 'iiver, which
has a nuubcf of creeks arid o^ es that are a part of Stafford's
/ o ort and comiaeri ''a ;_
i' i s! J j n,'', lousiness and in )nori- j^eront years to increasing' rocre-
,'i ' ion;.! ;>c I "> v i ties.
( o-.T.iio rc i a i fisfieri;cn t a,\ e for1 ye.'irs earned theii"
i Lvei i hood from the Potor.ioc and -t< ,-/pahannock a.nd their1 creeks
wlii h border Stafford and Spotsyj vania Counties and other
-•- i hi i ] ar J y situated Virginia areas. They are a \.elcome fixiui'e
an'' should be encouraged and helped in every wa\ pos.-^ibJe. A !-
the saine i, Liie, ther-e is a [•; rov;i nfj activity of boal i. n,"; and
.re ! a t c ,1 waif 7" sports. Fher<- arc laws and regulation.0 whl< h
s^eiv 10 curtail the use of ' aese waters by fisheriaen arid
s;»orti.nt'' enthusiasts, 'our like any other regulations they
cannot ajv.oys be satisfactorily enforced to accomplish the
ends eou;d.i . One ov the most vexing pi'obletns i ^ the placing
and removal of stakes used to hold fishing nets. It is
impossible to get ai! of rhese srnkes removed by those who
place them, and they are a definite danger to boating and
water ski ing enthusiasts. It is i.iy opinion thai soi.ie practical
(131)
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; r . j',u, ',c i
\<>verbor
Page rw o
T . Jensen
, J96s periodically. It Is no t enough to say that i aw enforc*
nt officials snoxild pi-event the abandonment of these stakes
fishermen. Naturally, they should try to reduce to a
n i mu ;i ',iu' number of stakes left after the fishing nets have
on i cmo .-ed . However, it is impossible to keep everyone
<»iving stakes an<) obstructions. For this rea.con, we
;;' fn>,e t.he f a c t thar someone must remove those stakes
are abandoned. The .Vtate of Virginia is the primai-y
i lion f j. which is besf
up tohandle This t asK
a n i i r, h e
. isiori of Game and Inland Fisheries or the j?i .she r i os (domini-
on couJd accomplish it with the proper financ!al support
(1 impetus. If trie State is not goin^j to a>. oept this
>' ;. v , then the United States interior Department
>s pons 11; ' 1 ' ;. •
f he GUI ps- of Army 1 nginec-rs should accept i t .
'.'• t, by railing attention to this situation thai
•t ion can Fie taken.
I hope
some such
'ihero is one other particular problem for th
.1 • ii* ion c. f which I appeal to you. Many years a^,o t,
'. rail ron-'J depot on Atjuia i. t-eek in Stafford with piJ
ui iiif o the Creek. When • ' is depot was abandoned,
i 1 j n/vs w^re Jeft and nov re/iain just off shore at a
.iof ufvaj- a point oi' land near t .he mouth of the Cree
to.ny boater.- pass on entering (he Creel. . At certain
!u. ",i ' i nr;.'-' r^n- be ftefn and at other times, they are
he surface. They iepreserir an extreme and increasi
o sjitr; i 1 craft navigation. In fact, a nuiaber of bov
'C-on daijia;;<'fj upon these p^J i n^s arid although, as ye I
a\~e been J os t , we have i een oxt rerueJy fortunate. /•.
f-cjueF1 i !:-•• ExpJosi- o Or;'' i nance PcrsonneJ at ^uantic
^at.cd she , ossibiJit i»-s ' 01 :-hoii removing these j> LI
they vvere
not oquippc .' t-t> J o so. They referred me t
I .h
esu.l
a f.e '• Deraoii* on '1'eains of tne Amphibian Force o
A tJ antic Fleet, but becaiise of scfieduled coi;nai
As a specific project L ha
T urge you to f;ivpe attenti
the V i rg nia t'^ariie and Inl
'J '"ioa^'n ny request for help
WM\-' unabJe to helji.
froih this hearing,
r-oble''1. i might add tha
i f- h'- r-i »-s (. orTuni s s i on ru^n
roh ;<•!:, sopif time ago.
: prompt
:iore was
i rigs set
the
c r i t i c: a 1
< where
times
just below
'ig danger
ts have
, no 1 i v e.«
t my
o investi-
ings but
o the
T the
tments
t might
on to this
and
on this
Of com-se t oi'e are i.ian> othei pj-oblems whic i e\f>erts
w .1 i i uo doul.t i>oint out to yon. however, I have on'y attempted
to foc.us the spotlight on tvo places where action is needed
and which are of special Interest to me as a member of the
General Assembly from this area.
(132)
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' 1!' - I1. I ' ,< IK i , .! ft Off O !"1
\' ' ) ^ "ill! < t i • , i V6 '
ij;i, ,f 'i iu f <"•
l'i( . •>«••• undoj-sian ' i.'M I he '!re;v.irn J r>oJ 1-ii ion oi' Mir
• >oi oi"."i'- .•;'""• . i>< pi'C'Sf-iu^ need ! or co.rrori • iv; i t nro o/" ^rorii
1 i,- o ••.'• >-,' --- .•!-, : leaiand our a i ront ;on, L)iir ]. .11,1 Furo ^ fxi \\ i j i
i '••' c i ' !• .•!,-) •• RU,^^;OS i i on' on •• '•: i - Mat for. Xce'i i t: j- t-. ' o p?-y , I
.'••,','• ''•' • " - r •' ;, e f f o r '•' r o •- ' p •<•-1 :-• : i. > 'lie • • < > J i u f; i o n of this r i -ip' • r ,
Hi' •'\ " i • ill ion T-<.' tun '> cor - .:-'1 ifti' -robleinf? .loo?- r3t>r, in
,it)\ v,- , ; .' :sn that, 1 -io no', i'-'i > ,-,tea; ;ni.orp-Pi in i.ho so.iutioii
P:' '•!•- -if-Jter i< ro!) i c;.i an:) oihc: ini.'o rant needs ot' '.:oas(;fil
*."',,•, i 11 i a .
YC.U. fit, tent i fin t my su^^'.^-s: ions ivouJ d iif> appreciated.
i/i n c e r o ] \' your- j<"^\
*- - / / > / i ; \
^'- ^fc-^-V/ . v-
;.! i.ng? , J r .
(135)
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APPENDIX
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APPENDIX A
LIST OP REGISTRANTS
NATIONAL ESTUARINE POLLUTION STUDY
PORT MONROE, VIRGINIA
November 19, 1969
Colonel C. E. Adams, Jr.
U. S. Army Engineer District, Norfolk
803 Front Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Mr. Max Ailon
Richmond Times-Dispatch
333 East Grace Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr. John Joseph Baecher
Norfolk Chapter
Izaak Walton League of America,
46th Street and Colley Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 2350?
Inc.
Mr. Richard M. Bagley
Member, Virginia General Assembly
House of Delegates
192T Pembroke Avenue
Hampton, Virginia 23361
Dr. Charles E. Bell, Jr.
Old Dominion College
Norfolk, Virginia 23508
Mr. Patrick J. Brady
Portsmouth Water Department
P. 0. Box 490
Portsmouth, Virginia 23705
Mr. Morris L. Brehmer
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062
Raymond So Brown, M. D.
Gloucester, Virginia 23061
Mr. S. Mason Carbaugh
Virginia Department of Agriculture
and Commerce
P. 0. Box 1163
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr. A- L. Cherry
U. S. Army Engineer
District, Norfolk
Fort Norfolk, 803 Front Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Mr. A. J. Chewning, III
Nansemond County
3908 Thalia Drive
Virginia Beach, Virginia 234 52
Dr. Allen K. Clark
Old Dominion College
Norfolk, Virginia 23508
Mr. James R» Coates
Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Co.
5310 Edgewater Drive
Norfolk, Virginia 23508
Mrs. R. D. Cobb
League of Women Voters
Route 1, Box 175A
Norfolk, Virginia 23703
Mr. G. M. Cornell
Nansemond County
5214. North Main Street
Suffolk, Virginia 23^
Mr. James Corson
Superintendent, Colonial National
Historical Park
P. 0. Box 10008
Richmond, Virginia 232^0
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Mr, Elbert Cox
Virginia Commission of Outdoor Recreation
9th and Main Streets
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr« Ehomas J» Crawford
Virginia Division of Water Resources
911 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr. R. H. Cross, Jr.
Virginia Commission of Game
and Inland Fisheries
7 North Second Street
Richmond, Virginia 23213
Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Cseplo
Mobil Chemical Company
401 East Main Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr. William C. Daley
Virginia Electric and Power Company
Route 1, Box 91
Yorktown, Virginia 23490
Mr. R* V. Davis
Virginia State Water Control Board
4010 West Broad Street
(P. 0. Box 11143)
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Mr. Arthur V. Deal, Jr.
Virginia Department of Health
5721 Sellger Drive
Norfolk, Virginia 23502
Mr. J» Stephen Dorrler
Atlantic Division
Naval Facilities Engineering Command
Naval Station - Code 11A
Norfolk, Virginia 23511
Mr. Charles Eanes
News Director
WVEC-TV
Norfolk, Virginia
Mr. Charles G. Ehly
E. I. duPont de Nemours
P. 0. Box 1477
Richmond, Virginia 23212
Mr. Walther B. Fidler
Member Virginia House
of Delegates
Warsaw, Virginia 22572
Miss Anne Field
Virginia State Water Control Board
P. 0. Box 11143
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Mr. Arthur C. Freeman, III
Department of Public Works
City Hall
Norfolk, Virginia 23501
Mr. John Frye
National Fisherman
Kilanarnock, Virginia 22482
Mr, J. Gary Gardner
Federal Water Pollution
Control Administration
918 Emmet Street
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Mr. Eugene K. Goffigner
Hampton Roads Sanitation District
P. 0. Box 1741
Norfolk, Virginia 23501
Mr. Thomas A. Gosink
Old Dominion College
Norfolk, Virginia 23508
Mr. A. W. Hadder
Virginia State Water Control Board
P. 0. Box 11143
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Mr. J. L. Hamrick, Jr.
Allied Chemical Corporation
Hopewell, Virginia 23860
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Captain Arthur Hancock
Captain of the Port
United States Coast Guard, Norfolk Group
Hampton Roads Area
P. 0. Box 4557
Norfolk, Virginia 23523
Mr. Robert W. Hanks
United States Bureau of
Commercial Fisheries
Biological Laboratory
Oxford, Maryland 21654
Dr. William J. Hargis, Jr.
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Gloucester Point, Virginia 23062
Mr. James Go Harrison
State Planters' Bank Building
Hopewell, Virginia 23860
Dr. Wyman Harrison
United States Department of Commerce
ESSA
439 W. York
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Mr. Milton T. Hickman
Marine Resources Commission
Commonwealth of Virginia
2*1-01 West Avenue
Newport News, Virginia 2360?
Mr. H. J. Hiemenz
Horne Brothers, Inc.
2408 Harbor Road
Newport News, Virginia 2360?
Mr. Edwin Holm
Virginia Division of Industrial
Development
1010 State Office Building
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr. John A. Hope
Virginia State Department of Health
P. 0. Box 12418
Norfolk, Virginia 23602
Mr. Joseph A. Hartman
Dulaney Foods Division
Exmore, Virginia 23350
Mrs* Ho S. Keimling
Willoughby Civic League
and Garden Club
1163 Little Bay Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 23503
Mr. Re C. Kinzie
Southampton County
Courtland, Virginia 2383?
Mr. Carl Lamb
Staff Ranger, Southeast Region
National Park Service
P. 0. Box 10008
Richmond, Virginia 23240
Mr. Roman Lasota
Firestone Synthetic Fibers &
Textiles Company
P. 0. Box 450
Hopewell, Virginia 23860
Mr. J. T. Lawless
U. S. Army Engineer District,
Norfolk
803 Front Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Mr. S. E. Liljegren
City of Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia 23705
Mr. Frank G. MacMurray, Jr.
University of Virginia Law School
Route 5, Box 222
Charlottesville, Virginia 22901
Mr. Franklin P. McGinpes
Virginia Seafoods, Inc.
Irvington, Virginia 22480
Mr. Gregg C» McLeod
Gloucester County Health Department
Gloucester, Virginia 23061
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Mr. William R. Mark, Jr.
Atlantic Division, Atlantic
Facilities Engineering Command
Naval Station
Norfolk, Virginia 23511
Laura ¥. Mason
Daily Press-Hampton
Hampton, Virginia
Mr. E. C. Meredith
Virginia Department of Health
109 Governor Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr. Donald B. Meyer
American Oil Company
P. 0. Box 578
Yorktown, Virginia 23490
Mr. Frank H. Miller
Hampton Roads Sanitation District
P. 0. Box 1741
Norfolk, Virginia 23501
Mr. G. D. Monola
Norfolk Health Department
401 Colley Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 23507
Mr. C. M. Moyer, Jr.
City of Suffolk
P. 0. Box 1459
Suffolk, Virginia 23434
Mr. F. J. Murphy
General Electric Company
Portsmouth, Virginia 23705
Mr. John W. Palmer
Fort Eustis Engineer Office
Fort Eustis, Virginia 23604
Mrs. June A. Pearson
York County Property Owners'
Association, Inc.
Route 4, Box 163
Yorktown, Virginia 23490
Mr. M. G. Pendleton, Jr.
Portsmouth Health Department
439 Green Street (P. 0. Box 250)
Portsmouth, Virginia 23703
Mr, Anthony G. Petropoulas
Old Dominion College
Norfolk, Virginia 23508
Mr. J, I. Pettit
FMC-American Viscose Division
Fredericksburg, Virginia 22401
Mr, J. M. Pharr
Department^ of Public Utilities
City of Newport News, Virginia
108 Main Street
Newport News, Virginia 23601
Mr. Arthur W. Plummer
Chesapeake Corporation
of Virginia
West Point, Virginia 23181
Captain F. C. Ray, U.S.A. (Ret.)
City of Norfolk
City Hall
Norfolk, Virginia 23501
Mr. Theadore B. Ray
Newport News Shipbuilding and
Drydock Company
04l-Plant Engineers Division
N.N.S. & D.D. Co.
4101 Washington Avenue
Newport News, Virginia 23607
Mr. William T. Reilly
Southeastern Virginia
Regional Planning Commission
110 West Plume Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Mr. Kenner C. Rice, Jr.
U. S. Department of Agriculture
Soil Conservation Service
Warsaw, Virginia 22572
Mr. C. J. Robin
U. S. Army Engineer District, Norfolk
803 Front Street
Norfolk, Virginia 23510
Mr. Loring W. Rue
Virginia Chemicals
Portsmouth, Virginia 23505
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Mr. Joseph B. Sadler
Southern Materials Co . ,
P. 0. Box 420
Norfolk, Virginia 23501
Inc .
Mr. Albert E. Sanderson, Jr.
Maryland Department of Water Resburces
State Office Building
Annapolis, Maryland 21401
Mr. E. R. Simmons
Irginia State Water Control Board
0. Box 11143
-Jchmond, Virginia 23230
Mr. E. R. Simmons
Soil Conservation Service
Franklin, Virginia 23851
James A. Smith, M. D.
Henrico County
Box 3-V
Richmond, Virginia 23207
Mr. Robert Spessard
Virginia State Water Control Board
P. 0. Box 11143
Richmond, Virginia 23230
Mr. E. H. Stewart
Southern Materials Co«, Inc.
1300 Willis Road
Richmond, Virginia 23234
Mr. M. Mo Sutherland
Virginia Department of Conservation
and Economic Development
911 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr. Millard B. Thomas
York County Property Owners'
Association, Inc.
4 Thomas Road
Yorktown, Virginia 23490
Mr. Maurice A. Thorne
Westmoreland County Commission
Route 1
Tucker Hill, Virginia 22488
Mr. William G. VanSant, Jr.
Norfolk Chapter, Izaak Walton
League of America, Inc.
46th Street and Colley Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 23508
Mrs. Edwin A. Vaughan
Willoughby Garden Club
1332 W. Ocean View Avenue
Norfolk, Virginia 23503
Mro Roscoe B. Walker
Dulaney Foods Division
Exmore, Virginia 23350
Mr. Louis Washer, Jr.
City of Richmond
217 Governor Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Dr. Charles E. Waters
Allied Chemical Corporation
P. 0. Box 6l
Hopewell, Virginia 23860
Mr. C. W. Wiley
Virginia State Health Department
James Madison Building
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Mr. J. Lo Womack
City of Newport Hews
118 Main Street
Newport News, Virginia 23601
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