PROCEEDINGS
VOLUME 1
PENNSYLVANIA
'
OHIO
Buffalo—August 10-11, 1965
Conference
In the matter of Pollution of
Lake Erie and its Tributaries
FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
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FEDERAL WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ADMINISTRATION
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_ *
In re:
*
ENFORCEMENT CONFERENCE ON THE *
*
INTERSTATE AND OHIO INTRASTATE *
*
WATERS OF LAKE ERIE AND ITS *
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TRIBUTARIES *
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Statler-Hilton Hotel
Buffalo, New York
Tuesday, August 10, 1965
The above-entitled matter, pursuant to notice, at
9:30 a.m.
MURRAY STEIN, Chairman
CONFEREES:
Loring F. Oeming, Executive Secretary, Michigan Water
Resources Commission, Lansing, Michigan
Blucher A. Poole, Technical Secretary, Indiana Stream
Pollution Control Board, Indianapolis, Indiana
Emmett W. Arnold, M.D,, Chairman, Ohio Water Pollution
Control Board, Ohio Department of Health, Columbus,
Ohio
Fred E. Morr, Director of Natural Resources, State of
Ohio, Columbus, Ohio
Charles L. Wilbar, Jr., M.D., Chairman, Pennsylvania
Sanitary Water Board, Pennsylvania Department of
Health, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Richard M. Boardman, Chief, Stream Quality Section,
Pennsylvania Department of Health, Harrisburg,
Pennsylvania
Hollis S. Ingraham, M.D., Commissioner of Health,
New York State Department of Health, Albany,
New York
Robert D. Hennigan, Director, Bureau of Water Resource
Services, New York State Department of Health,
Albany, New York
H. W. Poston, United States Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, Regional Program Director,
Region V, Chicago, Illinois
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INDEX
STATEMENT BY;
Honorable Robert F. Kennedy
United States Senate
Dr. Charles L. Wilbar, Jr. 30
Secretary of Health
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Honorable Richard D. McCarthy 52
U.S. House of Representatives
Mr. Mark Abelson 64
Regional Coordinator
U.S. Department of the Interior
Boston, Massachusetts
Mr. Ernest D. Premetz 71
Deputy Regional Director &
U.S. Department of the Interior 104
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Honorable Nelson A. Rockefeller 75
Governor of New York
Dr. Hollis S. Ingraham 91
Commissioner of Health
New York State Department of Health
Albany, New York
Dr. Harold G. Wilm 97
Conservation Commissioner
New York State Water Resources Commission
Albany, New York
Dr. Charles L. Wilbar, Jr. 116
Secretary of Health
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Mr. Lawrence R. Moriarty 142
Sanitary Engineer
Erie County Health Department
Erie, Pennsylvania
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2A
INDEX
STATEMENT BY; PAGE
Dr. Clarence M. Tarzwell 210
Chief of Aquatic Biology
U.S. Public Health Service
Kingston, Rhode Island
Mr. James B. Coulter 233
Chief, Technical Services Branch
Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare
Washington, D. C.
Mr. Grover Cook 235
Chief, Enforcement Program
Division of Water Supply and Pollution Control
Chicago, Illinois
Mr. Stephen Megregian 249
Deputy Project Director
Great Lakes-Illinois River Basin Project
Chicago, Illinois
Mr. Victor L. Casper 269
Aquatic Biologist
Great Lakes-Illinois River Basin Project
Lake Erie Field Station
Cleveland, Ohio
Colonel R. W. Neff 304
District Engineer
U.S. Army Engineering District
Buffalo, New York
Mr. Robert D. Hennigan 313
Director, Bureau of Water Resource Services
New York State Department of Health
Albany, New York
Mr. Jerome Wilkenfeld 353
Associated Industries of New York State
Niagara Falls, New York
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2B
INDEX
STATEMENT BY; PAGE
Mr. Raymond J. Cochran 367
Executive Director
New York State Conference of Mayors
Albany, New York
Honorable Chester Kowal 377
Mayor of Buffalo, New York
Mr. Robert P. Schermerhorn 385
Director, Empire State Chamber of Commerce
Buffalo, New York
Mr. Stanley P. Spisiak 391
Chairman, Water Resources Committee
New York State Conservation Council
Buffalo, New York
Honorable John H. Doerr 405
State Senator from New York
Dr. William E. Mosher 411
Commissioner, Erie County Department of Health
Buffalo, New York
Mrs. Robert North, Jr. 425
Vice President
League of Women Voters of New York State
Buffalo, New York
Mrs. Stanley D. Higgins 429
Lake Erie Basin Committee
League of Women Voters
Orchard Park, New York
Honorable John Pillion 435
Former Congressman
Hamburg, New York
Mr. Lee Adams 450
Silver Creek, New York
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THOSE IN ATTENDANCE:
Seth A. Abbott, Supervisor, Town of Hamburg,
Hamburg, New York
Mark Abelson, Regional Coordinator, U. S.
Department of the Interior, Boston, Massachusetts
Edward G. Airey, Hamburg, New York
George R. Amery, Sr. Engineer, E. !„ duPont
deNemours & Co., Niagara Falls, New York
Earl J. Anderson, Regional Program Director,
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, New York,
New York
Mrs. James Ballard, Vice President, League of
Women Voters, Clarence, Williamsville 21, New York
Charles L. Barber, Chemist, Wanakah Water Co.,
Wanakan, New York
Rachel G. Barre, Reporter, Dunkirk Observer,
Silver Creek, New York
William J0 Barrett, Citizen, Buffalo 14, New York
Walter Baumgart, Buffalo, New York
Edward D. Baxter, Commission of Public Works, City
of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14202
Edwin To Bean, Jr., Vice President, Wanakah Water
Company, Hamburg, New York
Mrs. Edward Becker, Christian Family Movement,
Buffalo, New York
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Dr. Theda Bennett, Professor, NYS University Coll.
League of Women Voters, Buffalo, New York
Honorable Roland R. Benzow, Councilman, Minority
Leader, City of Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
Carl J. Bernhardt, Regional Director - Eng., N.Y.
State Department of Health, Buffalo 2, New York
L. F. Birkel, Engr., Republic Steel Corp.,
Cleveland, Ohio
Mrs. Folmar Bjerre, President, League of Women
Voters, Hamburg, New York
Hayse H. Black, U. S. Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, Cincinnati 26, Ohio
Mrs. Peter J. Boldenow, League of Women Voters of
Hamburg, New York, North Boston, New York
George To Booth, Jr., President, Buffalo Waste Oil
Service, North Tonawanda, New York
Edmund M. Borowski, Chemist, Water Department, City
of Dunkirk, Dunkirk, New York 14048
A. D. Boswell, Project Engineer, Union Carbide Corp.,
Niagara Falls, New York
James J. Bowen, Sanitary Engineer, Erie County
Department of Public Works, Buffalo, New York
Allan P. Bradley, Executive Assistant to Commissioner
of Education, New York State Education Department, Albany 1, N.Y0
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Bill Branche, Reporter, Niagara Falls Gazette,
Niagara Falls , New York
A. D. Brandt, Manager, Industrial Health Engineering,
Bethlehem Steel Co., Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
John D. Bridge, Attorney, Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.,
Buffalo, New York
Dave Brigham, National Director, New York State
Jaycees, Buffalo, New York
Lewis Brooke, Oper. Supt., Mobil Oil Co., Baffalo,
New York
Earl W. Brydges, Minority Leader N.Y. S. Senate,
Niagara Falls, New York
Charles G. Bueztman, Technical Director, Soap &
Detergent Association, New York City 17, New York
Paul G. Bulger, President, State University College,
Buffalo, New York
John Henry Bunz, Chairman, Clean Streams Comm.,
Tonawanda Sportsmans Club Inc., N. Tonawanda, New York
Frank A. Butrico, Dir. Envir. Health Science
Programs, Battelle Memorial Institute, Washington, D. C. 20036
W. R. Cady, Technical Assistant, Allied Chemical -
Solvay Process, Detroit, Michigan
Donald J. Casey, Oceanographer, U.S. Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare, Rochester, New York
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Victor L. Casper, Aquatic Biologist, U.S. Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare, Cleveland, Ohio
A. L. Chamberlain, Executive Director, N.Y. State
County Officers Assn., Albany, New York
Mrs. Roy H. Clark, Conservation Chairman, 8th
District Federated Garden Clubs, and YWCA and AAUW, Kenmore, N.Y,
Theodore P. Clista, Sanitary Engineer, Pennsylvania
Department of Health, Meadville, Pennsylvania
Nicholas So Colello, Director of Development, City
of Lackawanna , Lackawanna, New York
William F. Cooke, Supervisor of Laboratories, Mobil
Oil Co«, Inc., Buffalo, New York
Robert E. Copeland, Project Devel. Eng. , O'Brien &
Gere Consulting Eg., Syracuse, New York
Mrs. Edward K. Crook, Member of Lake Erie Basin Cornm.,
League of Women Voters, Holland, New York
Edward Cuddy. Assoc. Prof., Tonawanda, New York
Paul Cygan, Chief, Bureau of Sewers, Erie, Pennsylvania
Mrs. Ormus W. Davenport, President, Buffalo Federation
of Women's Clubs, Buffalo, New York
Kernan W. Davis, Geologist, West Falls, New York 14170
Stanley C. Davis, Western Region Director, New York
State Petroleum Council, Buffalo, New York
Robert V. Day; Chief, Planning & Reports, Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare, Cleveland, Ohio
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Lee Dickinson, Fuel Engineer, Bethlehem Steel Co.,
Lackawanna, New York
Walter R. Dobay, Guard, State University College,
Buffalo, New York
John H. Doerr, Senator - State New York, Buffalo,
New York
Albert W. Dold, Mgr - Ind. Rel. & Bus. Serv., Buffalo
Area Chamber of Commerce, Buffalo, New York
H. E. Dosbert, Buffalo 2, New York
Carol Ann Dros, Student, Bishop Colton, Buffalo,
New York
John Duren, Waste Treatment Sales Engineer, Dow
Chemical Co., Buffalo, New York
Miss Dorothea C. Duttweiler, Conservation Consultant,
Federated Garden Club of N.Y. State, Holland, New York 14080
Leonard B0 Dworsky, Director, Cornell University
Water Resources Center, Ithaca, New York
George H. Eagle, Chief Engineer, Ohio Department of
Health, Columbus, Ohio 43216
Harold B. Ehrlich, Executive Director, Niagara
Frontier Port Authority, Buffalo, New York
William R. Elsea, M.D., Deputy Commissioner, Erie
County Health Department, Buffalo, New York
William T. Evans, Executive Vice President, Wanakah
Water Co., Hamburg, New York
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Leonard J. Facciani, Director of Environmental
Health, Chautauqua County Health Department, Mayville, New York
Richard Farnham, Plant Foreman, Town of Tonawanda
Sewerage Department, Tonawanda, New York
Marvin B. Fast, Prog. Operations Officer, Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Mrs. Fred H. Federlein, League of Women Voters,
Lewiston, New York
Marilyn Fiegel, Educator, Conservation Forum,
Buffalo 15, New York
Robert B. Filbert, Jr., Assoc. Mgr,, Chem. Engrg.,
Battelle Memorial Inst., Columbus, Ohio 43201
Edward J. Fox, Director, Locksley Park Taxpayers
Association Inc., Hamburg, New York
Wm. M. Friedman, Chief, Bur. Special Services, Erie
County Health Department, Buffalo 2, New York
Carolyn A. Gazdik, Department of Health, Education,
and Welfare, Cleveland, Ohio 44130
Edward V. Geisman, Chief Enforcement Officer,
Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, New York, N. Y.
Edwin E. Geldreich, Bacteriologist, Taft Center,
Cincinnati, Ohio 45226
Col. L. J. Goodsell, Executive Director, Great
Lakes Commission, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Helen Gordon, Citizen, Buffalo, New York 14213
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J. A. Gouck, Supervisor - Effluent Control, National
Aniline Div., Buffalo, New York
Mrs. J. Barrie Graham, Citizen, Hamburg, New York 14075
Keith Graham, Wellesley College, Wellesley, Massachusetts
M. E. Graham, Vice President-General Counsel, Hammermill
Paper Co., Erie, Pennsylvania
Leo Grandy, Sr., Citizen, Buffalo, New York
Larry W. Griffis, Jr., Asst. R.D. McCarthy, M.C.,
Buffalo, New York 14213
Alvin Grossman, Rochester, New York
Ben J. Gryctko, Federal Water Pollution Control Advisory
Board, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, B.C.
T. L. Haberkorn, Manager, Quality Control & Prof., F & M
Schaefer Brewing Co., Buffalo, New York 14213
M. H. Abrams, Walton League, Buffalo, New York
Chester Halgas, Public Health Engr., Cattaraugus Co.,
Olean, New York
Fred T. Hall, Director, Buffalo Museum of Science,
Buffalo, New York 14211
Arthur Handley, Assoc. San. Eng., NYS Dept. Health,
Albany, New York
John E. Harney, Wildlife Biologist, Bur. of Sport
Fisheries & Wildlife, Concord, New Hampshire 03301
Robert P. Hartley, Oceanographer, Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare, Cleveland 30, Ohio
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Richard R. Harvey, Electro-Refracturies , Buffalo,
New York
Charles-J. Hauser, Treasurer, Niagara Frontier Port
Authority, Buffalo, New York
Paul Hawkins, Student, West Seneca Central School,
Buffalo, New York
William Henrich, Citizen, Buffalo, New York 14226
Gene A. Heuser, Diver, Erie, Pennsylvania
Rand Hickey, Business Consultant, New York State
Department of Commerce, Buffalo, New York
Mrs. Stanley Higgins, Citizen, Lake Erie Basin
Committee, League of Women Voters, Orchard Park, New York 14127
William 0. Hill, Jr., County Commissioner, Erie
County, Erie, Pennsylvania
Lt. C. R. Hinrichs, Group Commander Buffalo, United
States Coast Guard, Buffalo, New York
Benjamin J. Hoey IV, Campaign Manager, Ben Hoey,
Cheektowaya, New York
Mrs. J. H. Hollands, Taxpayer, Buffalo, New York
J. B. Holleyman, Liaison Meteorologist, GLIRBP -
Weather Bureau, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare,
Chicago, Illinois
Vincent H. Hourigan, Chief Operations Div. , U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers, Buffalo, New York
Daniel Idzik, Counsel - Senator Glinski, Buffalo 23,
New York
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3-H
Hollis Ingraham, M.D. , State Health Commissioner, New
York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
Burr C. Jackson, Citizen, Buffalo, New York
Richard M. Jordan, District Manager, Calgon Corp.,
Tonawanda, New York
Paul H. Joslin, Research Assistant, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627
Felix L. Katzmarck, President, Forest District Civic
Association, Buffalo 7, New York
John A. Kehoe, Engineer, Kimberly Clark Corp.,
Niagara Falls, New York
Henry W. Keitzel, Forum Chairman, Buffalo Sewer
Authority, Izaak Walton League, Buffalo, New York
Thomas F. Kelleher, Program Planning Officer, Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare, Washington, D. C.
Honorable Robert F. Kennedy, United States Senate,
Washington, D. C.
James L. Kerwin, Reporter, Detroit News, Detroit 31,
Michigan
Robert L. Ketter, Head, Dept. of Civil Engng., St.
Univ. of N.Y. Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
E. H. Killheffer, Gen. Sales Mgr., The Dow Chemical
Co., Buffalo, New York
Mrs. Margie King, Secretary, Citizen's Committee,
Silver Creek, New York
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Roy King, President, Citizen's Committee, Silver
Creek, New York
Norbert H. Kirchgessner, Production Supt. , Hooker
Chemical Corp., N. Tonawanda, New York
F. W. Kittrell, Chief, Pollution Evaluation,. Department
of Health, Education, and Welfare, Cincinnati, Ohio
Betty Klaric, Cleveland Press Reporter, Cleveland, Ohio
K. L. Kollar, Director, Water Industries & Engineering
Services, Department of Commerce, Silver Spring, Maryland
Mrs. Stanley Kresses, Operation Petticoat Progress,
Niagara Falls, New York
Richard A. Kressin, Associate Chemist, Buffalo Sewer
Authority, Buffalo, New York
Victor Kupenas, Citizen, Buffalo, New York
Albert M. LaSala, Jr., Geologist, U.S. Geological
Survey, Hamburg, New York
John J. Lauchert, President, Hamburg Jaycees,
Hamburg, New York
Mrs. Joseph Laufer, League of Women Voters, Buffalo,
New York 14222
James J. Linosey, Regional Supvr. of Fish & Game,
N. Y. S. Cons. Dept, Olean, New York
Mrs. George F. Little, CFM, Buffalo 15, New York
Vincent P. Locey, Chemist - Sewage Dept., City of
Niagara Falls, Niagara Falls, New York
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Mary Ann Lucki, Student, D'Youville College, Buffalo,
New York
Kenneth M. Mackenthun, Aquatic Biologist, U.S. PHS,
Cincinnati, Ohio
Gloria A. Mahoney, Operation Petticoat Progress,
Niagara Falls, New York
Cdr. Francis J. Mann, USCG, Captain of The Port,
Buffalo, U.S. Coast Guard, Buffalo, New York 14203
Joseph A. Marino, President, Lockslay Park Taxpayers
Assn. Inc., Hamburg, New York
Frank J. Mathews, City Engineer, City of Lackawanna,
New York State
James 0. McDonald, U.S.P.H.S. , Chicago, Illinois
John C. McMahon, Regional Engineer, NYS Conservation
Dept., Div- of Water Resources, West Seneca, New York 14224
William S. Meeks, Asst. News Director, WBEN-TV,
Buffalo, New York 14207
Claude H. Messengis, Refinery Superintendent, Ashland
Oil (Buffalo Plant), Tonawanda, New York
Mrs. John Meyers, Member - Citizen, Bertie Boat Club,
Point Ahino, Ontario, Canada
Howard W. Michaelis, Chemist (Retired), Conservation
of Natural Resources, Buffalo, New York 14207
Raymond W. Michaels, Grand Island, New York 14072
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Harold D. Mitchell, Director, Izaak Walton League,
Williamsville, New York
R. W. Montonari, Asst. Commissioner, Albany, New York
Mrs. Howard T. Moore, Chm., Lake Erie Basin Committee,
League of Women Voters, Chardon, Ohio 44024
Lawrence R. Moriarty, Director, Division of San«
Health, Erie Co. Dept., Erie, Pennsylvania
Fred E. Morr, Director, Ohio Dept. Natural Resources,
State of Ohio, Columbus, Ohio
Louise L. Morris, Buffalo, New York
William E. Mosher, Erie Co, Health Dept., Buffalo,
New York
H. S. Mount, Asst. Mgr. Genl. Marketing Order Dept.,
Sun Oil Co., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frank Mrozak, Foreman, Town of Tonawanda, Kenmore,
New York
Thomas A. Mulhern, U.S. Public Health Service,
Cleveland 30, Ohio
Henry Nagel, Eggertsville , New York
Colonel R. W. Neff, District Engineer, USA Engr. Dist.,
Buffalo, New York
Hugh Nevins, Chief Chemist, Town of Tonawanda Water
Plant, Tonawanda, New York
Mrs. Robert North, Jr., League of Women Voters, Buffalo,
New York 14222
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C. Northington, Director, Lake Erie Project, U. S.
Public Health Service, Cleveland, Ohio
Loring F. Oeming, Executive Secretary, Water Resources
Commission, Lansing, Michigan
Kevin O'Gorman, Cornell U. , Hamburg, New York
Col. Loren W. Olmstead, Chief Engineer, Niagara
Frontier Port Authority, Buffalo, New York
Dorothy K. O'Neil, Sen. Jacob K. Javits
C. R. Ownbey, Chief, Planning & Reports, GLIRB Project
J. C. Parry, New York City, New York
Mrs. Daniel C. Paul, Publication Director, League of
Women Voters, Lewiston, New York
E. G. Paulson, Mgr. Process & Waste Water Engr., Hall
Lab. Div. , Calgor Corp., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15230
Ted Pieczonka, Jr., STP Operator, Lackawanna, New York
Thaddeus J. Pieczonka, Supt., Sewage Treatment,
Lackawanna, New York 14218
Chris Potos , Chief Chemist, Erie County Laboratory,
Buffalo 2, New York
Ernest D. Premetz, Deputy Regional Director, U.S.
Department of Interior, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, Ann
Arbor, Michigan
Brainard E. Prescott, Senator Earl Brydges, E. Aurora,
New York
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Robert L. Protzman, Reporter, Erie, Pennsylvania
Morning News, Erie, Pennsylvania
Sharon Quackenbush, UPI Reporter, United Press
International, Buffalo, New York
S. A. Radi, Plant Engineer, American Standard Corp.,
Buffalo, New York
Raymond J. Cochran, Executive Director, New York State
Conference of Mayors, Albany, New York
Frank J. Reddy, Tonawanda, New York
Peter F,, Regan, Vice President for Health Affairs,
Buffalo, New York 14209
Roger D. Repp, Public Information Officer, Army
Engineers, Buffalo, New York
Allan M. Reppenhagen, Treasurer, Citizens Committee,
Silver Creek, New York
Mrs. Margaret Reppenhagen, Chairman, Citizens Committee,
Silver Creek, New York
Alfred M. Roberts, Director, Wanakah Water Co., Hamburg,
New York
Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, State of New York, State
Capital, Albany, New York
Mr. Ronald Rine, Teacher, West Seneca Central School,
Buffalo 24, New York
Mrs. Dorothy H. Rose, State Assemblyman, Angola, New York
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Mrs. Melvin Rudov, Water Resources Chairman,
Atnherst League of Women Voters, Amherst, New York
Joseph W. Ryan, Jr., President of Below Assn.,
Grandview Bay Comm. Assn., Angola, New York
William K. Sanford, Executive Secretary, Association
of Towns of the State of New York, Albany, New York
Robert P. Schermerhorn, Director, Empire State C of C,
Buffalo, New York 14222
Edward J. Schleicher, Adm. Asst. to Congressman
Vigorito, Erie, Pennsylvania
Joseph T. Schmidle, Director of M.D.T., Buffalo Board
of Education, Buffalo, New York
Bernard Schwab, Chief Bacteriologist, Erie County
Lab, Buffalo, New York
Francis X. Schwab, Executive Secretary, City Planning
Division, City Planning, Buffalo, New York
Eugene F. Seebald, Asst. Commissioner for Env. Health,
Niagara Co. Health Department, Lockport, New York
Robert L. Seitz, Agent, Infilco, Inc., Tucson, Arizona
Roger Semerad, Coordinator of Federal Aid, State
University College, Buffalo, New York
Dr. Howard Sengbusch, Dean, Arts & Sciences, State
University College, Buffalo, New York 14222
Allan M. Shapiro, Chief, Data Processing, LEPO, U.S.
P.H.S., Cleveland 30, Ohio
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P. N. Shellenberger, Superintendent, General Chemical,
Buffalo, New York
William Shepherd, Reg. Fisheries Mgr., N.Y.S. Cons.
Dept., Olean, New York
Lewis W. Shafer, Director, Allied Sportsman, Buffalo 26,
New York
Mrs. Stanley Siembieda, Chairman, Water Resources Comm.,
League of Women Voters, Erie Co.
Robert C. Singer, Public Relations Director, Soap and
Detergent Assoc. , New York, New York
William H. Sipprell, Sr., Secretary, Niagara Frontier
Port Authority, Buffalo, New York
F. A. Sluntoyser, Erie County, Pennsylvania
John M. A. Sorrentino, Buffalo, New York 14205
Mrs. Ellis R. Spaulding, Clarence League of Women Voters,
Williamsville, New York
C. C. Spencer, Buffalo, New York
Stanley P. Spisiak, Chairman, Water Resources Comm.,
N.Y.S. Conservation Council, Buffalo 6, New York
W. E. Stahlka, Hydraulic Engineer, N.M. Power Corp.,
Buffalo 3, New York
Michael J. Stankewich, Director, Env. Health, Erie Co.
Health Dept., Buffalo, New York
William Steinfeldt, Rochester, New York
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John V. Stampien, CFM, AID, USW, Buffalo 15, New York
Earl B. Strowger, Kenmore, New York 14217
Peter M. Sturtevant, Jr., Account Executive, Darcy
Associates, Buffalo, New York
Bernard D. Suitor, President, Niagara Front Chptr -
Izaak Walton League, Kenmore, New York
M. C. Sumpter, Buffalo, New York
Clark C. Suor, General Manager, Buffalo Sewer
Authority, Buffalo, New York
Clarence M. Tarzwell, Chief of Aquatic Biology, U.S.
Public Health Service, Kingston, Rhode Island
William J. Tatu, Superintendent, Buffalo Waste Oil
Service, No. Tuna, New York
W. H. Taylor, Buffalo, New York
Robert W. Teater, Assistant Director, Ohio Department
of Natural Resources, Columbus, Ohio
Mrs. Dorothy Teryl, Buffalo 21, New York
J. E. Tisdel, President, Stimm Associates, Buffalo,
New York 14203
Mrs. William Tourot, C.F.M. , Buffalo, New York
William C. Treon, Metro Government Report, The Plain
Dealer - Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio
F. E. Tucker, National Steel, Weirton, West Virginia
John S. Tygert, Sanitary Engineer, N.Y.S. Dept. of
Health, Buffalo, New York
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Dunton F. Tynan, Assistant Solicitor General, N.Y.S.
Attorney General, Albany, New York
Edward C. Ulrich, Buffalo, New York
Dr. John Urban, Professor of Science, State University
College, Buffalo, New York 14222
Dr. John Urban, Professor of Biology, State University
College, Buffalo, New York 14222
Mrs. Lawrence Vagnozzi, Operation Petticoat Progress,
Niagara Falls, New York
George G. Valgora, Director, Izaak Walton League,
Hamburg, New York
Mr. & Mrs. Paul R. Van Dooser, Buffalo, New York
Harry L. Vanderworp, Technical Director, Peerless
Cement Co., Detroit 26, Michigan
A. J. Von Frank, Allied Chemical Corp., Philadelphia 37,
Pennsylvania
Phyllis M. Wagner, Conservation Forum, Buffalo, New York
Edgar W. Wagoner, Ant. Pollution Chairman, Town of
Wilson, New York
C. R. Walbridge, Manager, Process Wastes Control,
Allied Chemical Corp., Morristown, New Jersey
Mrs. Kent J. Ward, Amherst, Buffalo, New York
Mrs. A. Edward Warner, Operation Petticoat Progress,
Lewiston, New York
Charles R. Waters, Ex - DPWKS Dist. Engr., Buffalo,
New York
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A. H. Watkins , Executive Director, Lake Erie Watershed
Conservation, Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Gertrude G. Webster, Chairman, Water Pollution Comm.,
Kenmore, New York 14223
F. W. Wessel, Chief, River Basin Office, U.S. Bureau
of Mines, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Richard L. Whitford, Assistant to President, State
University College, Buffalo, New York 14214
R. A. Wiener, Socony Mobil Oil Co., New York, N.Y. 10017
Dr. Charles L. Wilbar, Jr., Secretary of Health,
Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Jerome Wilkenfeld, Associated Industries of New York,
Niagara Falls, New York
P. M. Wilkins, Technical Manager, Mobil Oil Company,
Trenton, Michigan 48183
Harold G. Wilm, Conservation Commissioner, New York
State Water Resources Comm., Albany, New York
Mrs. Howard Wyranch, Operation Petticoat for Progress,
Niagara Falls, New York
N. D. Yale, Assistant to Mgr. Production Carbide,
Union Carbide Corp., Niagara Falls, New York
Thomas A. Young, Director, Health and Safety, Buffalo 8,
New York
Everett F. Zurn, Water Pollution Control Advisory Board,
Fairview, Pennsylvania
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Opening Statement - Mr. Stein
PROCEEDI_NGS_
OPENING STATEMENT
BY
MR. MURRAY STEIN
CHAIRMAN STEIN: The conference is open.
This conference in the matter of pollution of the
interstate and Ohio intrastate waters of Lake Erie and its
tributaries, involving the states of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio,
Pennsylvania and New York and the U. S. Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, is being held under the provisions of
section 8 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
Under the provisions of the Act, the Secretary is au-
thorized to call a conference of this type when requested to do
so by the Governor of a State, and when on the basis of reports,
surveys or studies, he has reason to believe that pollution of
interstate waters subject to abatement under the Federal Act is
occurring.
In a letter dated June 11, 1965, to the Honorable
Anthony J. Celebrezze, Secretary of the Department of Health,
Education, and Welfare, Governor James A. Rhodes of Ohio re-
quested that a conference be called to consider pollution of
Lake Erie. Governor Rhodes' letter to Secretary Celebrezze
is as follows:
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"Dear Secretary Celebrezze:
The recent Governors' Conference on Great Lakes
Pollution held at Cleveland, Ohio, at my invitation, provided
evidence that there are widespread contributions to the pollu-
tion problems of Lake Erie.
It is true that state and local agencies are making
definite progress toward pollution abatement in Lake Erie.
However, because of the numerous pollution sources, both
within and outside the State, and because of the national
significance of this fresh water resource, it is apparent
that the Federal Government has a responsibility in this
matter.
Under these circumstances, it appears that any
effective pollution abatement program regarding Lake Erie
should involve local, state, Federal and even international
cooperation, and such is our desire. I am therefore requesting
that you call a Federal Pollution Conference as soon as possible
to institute a plan of action to improve Lake Erie water quality.
You may count on the complete cooperation of this
Office and our various State agencies in conducting such a
conference.
Sincerely,
JAMES A. RHODES, Governor."
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In accordance with that request and also on the basis
of reports, surveys and studies, a notice of the conference was
sent to the official State water pollution control agencies of
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York.
The purpose of the conference is to bring together
the State water pollution control agencies, the representatives
of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, and other
interested parties to review the existing situation, the progress
which has been made, to lay a basis for future action by all
parties concerned, and to give the States, localities, and in-
dustries an opportunity to take any indicated remedial action
under State and local law.
This is a conference between the official State water
pollution control agencies of those five States, Indiana,
Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York and the Federal
Government. These agencies are the Indiana Stream Pollution
Control Board, the Michigan Water Resources Commission, the Ohio
Department of Health, the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board,
and the New York State Department of Health and for the Federal
Government, the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
Under the Federal law, we in the Federal Government
may only invite other Federal agencies and other Federal rep-
resentatives , and the States. All industries, municipalities,
citizen's groups and citizens in the States wishing to partici-
pate in the conference, must be invited by their respective
State agency.
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I want to make it clear that we are here as long as
necessary. We are here to get the full story and hear everybody
that the State will invite, but under the Federal law, it should
also be made clear that the State governs its own time and
governs the participants from that State. Anyone who wants to
participate will have to talk to his State agency and have it
put him on the program. Our function is to invite the States
here, provide the forum, which we have done, and I can assure
you that we will be here and listen and take account of, and
give due consideration to all relative views expressed at the
conference.
The State of Indiana has designated as its conferee
for this conference Mr. Blucher Poole. Michigan will be repre-
sented by Mr. Loring Oeming. Ohio will be represented by Mr.
George Eagle and I have a letter from Dr. Arnold of Ohio, who
writes as follows:
"I regret I am unable to continue my participation in
the conference of Pollution of Lake Erie and its Tributaries,
the second phase of which is to be held this week in Buffalo,
New York.
Illness in my family compels me to remain in Columbus.
Sincerely yours,
E. W. Arnold, M.D.
Director of Health, State of Ohio"
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8
To the Ohio conferees I want to say that I hope that
the news is good for Dr. Arnold and that he was indeed most
helpful as a conferee in Cleveland last week and contributed
in large measure to what I consider to be the success of our
conference. Pennsylvania will be represented by Charles
Wilbar. New York will be represented by Mr. Robert Hennigan.
Mr. H. W. Poston of the Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare, with headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, has been
designated as conferee for the Federal Government. My name
is Murray Stein. I am from Washington, D. C., headquarters
of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare and am
the representative of the Secretary of the Department.
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act declares
that the States have primary rights and responsibilities for
taking action to abate and control pollution. It has long been
our policy to recognize this traditional role of the States.
However, the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare also
is charged by law with specific responsibilities in the field
of water pollution control, in connection with pollution of
navigable and interstate waters which endangers the health
or welfare of any persons. The Act provides that pollution of
such waters, whether the matter causing or contributing to
such pollution is discharged directly into such waters, or
reaches such waters after discharge into a tributary of such
waters which endangers the health or welfare of a person in a
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State other than that in which the discharge originates is
subject to abatement. The Act also states that the Secretary
shall call a conference at the request of the Governor of any
State if it involves pollution of intrastate or navigable
waters which is endangering the health or welfare of persons.
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We have had two previous conferences dealing with the
Great Lakes - one at the lower end of Lake Michigan between
Indiana and Illinois where I think the conference came to a very
successful conclusion and we have developed an action program
which, I believe, and most others believe that if put into ef-
fect, and I'm pretty sure it will be put into effect because
it's in the process of being put into effect now, will save
Lake Michigan and the pure, clean water quality of Lake Michigan
for further uses - almost all uses.
On December 6, 1961, Governor Swainson, then Governor
of Michigan, asked for a conference on the Detroit River. We
have concluded that conference with recommendations in the State
of Michigan at the present time, under the direction of Mr.
Oeming, who is to my left and who is carrying forth these recom-
mendations and I think Michigan is well on its way to putting in
an action program for the control of pollution in the Detroit
River.
Mr, Oeming last week at Cleveland gave us the en-
couraging news that Michigan, in embarking on this program, was
about six months ahead of the schedule that we had adopted at
the conference, which is good news indeed, considering the
schedule for this first phase involved a year, and Mr. Oeming
expects to complete that job within six months. So, I think
we're well on our way.
Just last week we had a conference in Cleveland.
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10
The conferees came up with recommendations and conclusions.
I think several things should be said about these recommenda-
tions and conclusions.
One, while we dealt with the problems of Lake Erie as
a whole, the emphasis at the Cleveland conference was on de-
tailed presentations by the three western States - Michigan,
Indiana and Ohio - not New York and Pennsylvania which a few of
us believe will be handled more fully here.
Also, in the Executive Session deliberations, we had
representatives of Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and the Federal
Government that came up with these. These were neither partici-
pated in, developed, nor endorsed necessarily but they may be
later, by the representatives of New Tork and Pennsylvania.
Now, the recommendations that we came up with in
Cleveland last week were as follows:
1. The waters of Lake Erie within the United States
are interstate waters within the meaning of Section 8 of the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act. The waters of Lake Erie
and its tributaries within the United States are navigable
waters within the meaning of Section 8 of the Federal Water
Pollution Control Act.
2. Lake Erie and its tributaries are polluted. The
main body of the Lake has deteriorated in quality at a rate
many times greater than its normal aging processes, due to the
inputs of wastes resulting from the activities of man.
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3. Identified pollutants contributing to damages to
water uses in Lake Erie are sewage and industrial wastes, oils,
silts, sediment, floating solids and nutrients (phosphates and
nitrates), Enrichment of Lake Erie, caused by man-made contri-
butions of nutrient materials, is proceeding at an alarming
rate. Pollution in Lake Erie and its tributaries causes sig-
nificant damage to recreation, commercial fishing, sport
fishing, navigation, water supply and esthetic values.
4. Eutrophication or over-fertilization of Lake Erie
and the Maumee River is of major concern. (This is in Indiana
and Ohio). Problems are occurring along the lake shoreline and
at some water intakes from algal growths stimulated by
nutrients. Algal growths can be controlled, and eutrophication
of Lake Erie can be retarded and perhaps even reversed by
reducing one or more nutrients below the level required for
extensive growth.
5. Many sources of waste discharge in the area still
have inadequate waste treatment facilities. The delays in con-
trolling the pollution problem in the area covered by the
Cleveland Session of the conference are caused by the lack of
such adequate facilities and the complex municipal, industrial
and biological nature of the problem.
6. Interstate pollution of Lake Erie exists. Dis-
charges into Lake Erie and its tributaries from various sources
are endangering the health or welfare of persons in States
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12
other than those In which such discharges originate and in a
large measure, this pollution is caused by nutrients which
over-fertilige the Lake. This pollution is subject to abate-
ment under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act.
7- Pollution of navigable waters subject to abatement
under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act is occurring in
the Ohio waters of Lake Erie and its tributaries. The dis-
charges causing and contributing to the pollution come from
various municipal and industrial sources, from garbage, debris
and land runoff.
8. Pollution of the Ohio waters of Lake Erie and its
tributaries within the State of Ohio endangers health and welfare.
9. Municipal wastes are to be given secondary treat-
ment, or treatment of such nature as to effectuate the maximum
reduction of BOD (which is biochemical oxygen demand) and phos-
phates, as well as other deleterious substances.
10, Secondary treatment plants be so designed and
operated as to maximize the removal of phosphates.
11. Disinfection of municipal waste effluents be
practiced in a manner that will maintain coliform densities not
to exceed 5,000 organisms per 100 ml at public water supply
intakes and not to exceed 1,000 organisms per 100 ml where and
when the receiving waters in proximity to the discharge point
are used for recreational purposes involving bodily contact.
12. All new sewerage facilities are to be designed
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13
to prevent the necessity of bypassing untreated waters.
13. Combined storm and sanitary sewers are to be
prohibited in all newly-developed urban areas, and eliminated
in existing areas wherever feasible. Existing combined sewer
systems are to be patrolled and flow-regulating structures
adjusted to convey the maximum practicable amount of combined
flows to and through treatment plants.
14. Programs are to be developed to prevent acci-
dental spills of waste materials to Lake Erie and its tribu-
taries. In-plant surveys with the purpose of preventing
accidents are recommended.
15. Unusual increases in waste output and accidental
spills are to be reported immediately to the appropriate State
agency.
16. Disposal of garbage, trash and other deleterious
refuse in Lake Erie or its tributaries is to be prohibited and
existing dumps along river banks and shores of the Lake are to
be removed.
17. Industrial plants are to improve practices for
the segregation and treatment of waste to the effect the maximum
reductions of the following:
Acids and alkalies; oils and tarry substances; phenolic
compounds and organic chemicals that contribute to taste and
odor problems; ammonia and other nitrogenous compounds; phos-
phorous compounds; suspended material; toxic and highly-colored
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14
wastes; oxygen-demanding substances; excessive heat; foam-pro-
ducing discharges; other wastes which detract from recreational
uses, esthetic enjoyment, or other beneficial uses of the waters.
18. The Michigan Water Resources Commission, the
Indiana Stream Pollution Control Board, and the Ohio Water
Pollution Control Board are to undertake action to insure that
industrial plants discharging wastes into waters of Lake Erie
and its tributaries within their respective jurisdictions
institute programs of sampling their effluents to provide
necessary information about waste outputs. Such sampling shall
be conducted at such locations and with such frequency as to
yield statistically reliable values of all waste outputs and
to show their variations. Analyses to be so reported are to
include where applicable: pH, oil, tarry residues, phenolics,
ammonia, total nitrogen, cyanide, toxic materials, total bio-
chemical oxygen demand, and all other substances listed in the
preceding paragraphs.
19. Waste results are to be reported in terms of
both concentrations and load rates. Such information will be
maintained in open files by the State agencies for all those
having a legitimate interest in the information.
20. The U.S. Department of Health, Education, and
Welfare is to establish water pollution surveillance stations
at appropriate locations on Lake Erie. Surveillance of the
tributaries will be the primary responsibility of the States.
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15
The Department of Health, Education, and Welfare will assist
the States at such times as requested.
21. Within six months after the issuance of this
Summary, the State water pollution control agencies concerned
are to present a schedule of remedial action to the conferees
for their consideration and evaluation.
22. The Federal conferee recommends the following for
the consideration of the State agencies:
a. Recommended municipal treatment: Completion of
plans and specifications, August 1966; completion of financing,
February 1967; construction started August 1967; construction
completed January 1, 1969; chlorination of effluents May 15,
1966; provision of stand-by and emergency equipment to prevent
interruptions of operation in municipal treatment plants,
August 1966; patrolling of combined sewer systems, immediately.
b. Discontinuance of garbage and trash dumping into
waters, immediately.
c. Industrial waste treatment facilities to be com-
pleted and in operation by January 1, 1969.
23. Federal installations: Waste treatment facili-
ties are to be completed and in operation by August 1966.
24. Representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers are to meet with the Conferees, develop and put into
action a program for disposal of dredged material into Lake Erie
and its tributaries which will satisfactorily protect water
quality. Such a program is to be developed within six months
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16
after the issuance of this Summary and effectuated as soon as
possible thereafter.
25. The conference may be reconvened on the call of
the Chairman.
26. These conclusions will be re-evaluated after the
material at the Buffalo Session of the Conference is presented.
Now, this is what was determined at Cleveland and
should be kept in mind by all those participating in this con-
ference.
Now a brief word about the procedure. We will call
upon participants to make statements. We suggest, for the most
part, that they identify themselves for the record.
At the conclusion of that the conferees may make com-
ments or ask questions. There will be no comments or questions
from the audience. Hold your comments or questions, or your
statement, or get them up to your State or Federal conferees,
and, if appropriate, he will ask the question for you.
We are making a verbatim transcript of this conference,
which will be made available to the State agencies for distribu-
tion. It is suggested that if you want a verbatim transcript
you get in touch with your State agencies. This should be
printed within a couple of months.
With that, we will proceed to call upon, as is our
custom, the Congressional and State-elected officials who wish
to participate in the conference.
First, I would like to have the honor to call on a
distinguished member of the United States Senate, and a dis-
tinguished New Yorker and one who has had a tremendous interest
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17
in clean water and a clean environment all the time, and has
certainly made his influence felt in the Senate since he's been
there, Senator Robert Kennedy of New York.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Mr. Stein and members of the panel,
I want to first welcome all of you here to Buffalo and to say
how grateful we are for Secretary Celebrezze's calling this
conference—how grateful we are to all of you for the effort
that you are making in this field.
I might say that I'm sure everybody in this room and
people all over the State watched the conference which was held
in Cleveland with great care and with great interest. We hope
that out of that conference and out of the conference that will
be held here, we can develop a program for Lake Erie and this
part of the State of New York as well as the other states in-
volved, which will go a long way toward dealing with the prob-
lem of pollution. It affects all of our lives and will continue
to affect us. I think the best opportunity for taking a step
which will be meaningful and which will be effective is this
conference and the recommendations and suggestions that you
make after this conference is finished.
I was delighted to hear the Chairman say that you
would be willing to listen to any of those who have information
and knowledge about this problem and that you'd be willing to
continue the conference to hear them. Of course, they have to
be invited through the States, but I understand there are a
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number of people who have requested to appear before this com-
mittee and you were told by the State that you were rushed and
you are unable to hear them. I understood the Chairman to say
that you would be willing to hear any of those who have infor-
mation to present at this conference, is that correct?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: That is correct. We will be here
as long as there is anyone who is legally invited, and who
feels he has anything relative to say.
SENATOR KENNEDY: I know that the people of New York
State and the Buffalo Metropolitan Area are very pleased to
see this conference convene in Buffalo.
Both Congressman Richard McCarthy and I appreciate
the response of Secretary Celebrezze to our request this
Spring for a Federal water pollution conference for Lake Erie.
In light of the many water pollution hearings that the United
States Public Health Service has been called upon to hold this
year, I think we are fortunate to have Chairman Stein and his
associates hold this hearing here.
I know that everyone in this room is aware of the
urgency of this problem. The continuing contamination of Lake
Erie is evident to anyone who is familiar with water pollution
problems.
I am not sure, however, that the more than 1,000,000
citizens living in the Buffalo area and along the shores of Lake
Erie in New York State are fully aware of the need for this con-
ference.
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Lake Erie is in danger of becoming polluted to the
point where cities can no longer draw drinking water from this
tremendous reservoir, where commerce on its shores is en-
dangered and where the growth of algae and other aquatic plants
threatens those who wish to enjoy the Lake for boating,
swimming or just the magnificent scenery.
The Public Health Service has said in its report
dated July 1965:
Lake Erie and its tributaries are polluted. The main
body of the Lake had deteriorated in quality at a rate
manjr times greater than its normal aging processes,
due to ... pollution resulting from the activities of
man.
If this pollution worsens, the 835,000 people in New
York State and the almost 2,442,000 people in other states who
draw their drinking water directly from Lake Erie will have to
turn to other sources for their water supplies. They may be
faced with a report on Lake Erie from the New York State
Department of Health stating that the Lake is not suitable
from a sanitary point of view as a permanent source of public
water and should only be used as a source of water during grave
water shortages.
If this sounds unlikelj", I might point out that the
New York State Department of Health issued a report of this
nature for the Hudson River in 1950. As a result, the citizens
of New York City who use about a billion and a quarter gallons
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20
of water every day do not draw any water from the 20 billion
gallons of fresh water that the Hudson pours into the Atlantic
Ocean every day.
The industries in the five states that currently use
4.7 billion gallons of Lake Erie's water daily will be forced
to look elsewhere for water. If Lake Erie becomes clogged with
algae and the pollution level rises, New York State industry,
using 1.6 billion gallons a day for power generation and 350
million gallons a day for cooling or other processes, would be
severely crippled. The costs of removing pollution after the
fact are much higher than those of preventing a source of water
from becoming polluted in the first place.
The New York State Legislature has passed during this
last session a program which can make some difference, particu-
larly in relation to municipal sewage. Under this program New
York State will provide one third of the funds required by mu-
nicipalities to construct sewage treatment plants. The Federal
Government is being asked to provide the next third, and local
communities will be required to contribute the remaining 40%.
The voters of New York State have been asked to ap-
prove the first part of this program in a referendum that will
be on the ballot this November. I hope the voters will approve
the proposed bond issue.
In legislation shortly to be enacted in Congress, the
Federal part of this program is being completed. Project size
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limitations that have hindered use of Federal funds for con-
struction of municipal sewage plants are being increased to as-
sist communities in meeting the sewage treatment plant needs.
In addition to the increases in project size limitations, $50
million is being added to the funds already authorized, and
there are no project size restrictions on this sum.
Thus as a result of the efforts of Congressman
McCarthy, in particular, and many others, a total of $150 mil-
lion in Federal funds is expected to be available this year.
New York State will be able to qualify for a major share of
these sums.
There are, however, other immediate local, state and
Federal steps that can and must be taken now if we are to have
any success in combatting water pollution over the long run.
We need more political innovation at the state and
local levels, particularly in relation to industrial pollution.
Of course, no town or state government likes to tell an industry
that it must eliminate pollution. The economics of plant in-
vestment often lead a firm to reply that it will relocate its
plant in another state if local pollution controls are enforced.
Because there are major differences in state regulations and
enforcement of pollution laws, industry can play one municipality
or state off against another.
One of the barriers to effective local and state en-
forcement is the fact that communities using water from rivers
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22
and lakes crossing state boundaries are currently faced with
different pollution standards on each side of a state line.
One city cannot reasonably be asked to treat its waste if the
next does not. If New York and Pennsylvania, or Massachusetts
and Rhode Island, or any two or more states are to effectively
reduce pollution, common pollution standards and enforcement
for the communities sharing a waterway must be established on
both sides of their common borders.
Control of pollution in Lake Erie is a good example
of this problem. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New
York as well as Canada are each individually responsible for
the control of pollution flowing into Lake Erie. It has been
shown clearly that pollution from each of the states affects
the quality of the water used by the other states and by Canada
as well. Yet there is no common standard of pollution control
between the states and Canada. Communities and industry along
the Lake are being asked to take steps to clean up pollution,
with no assurance that other locations will be required to do
the same thing. Unless common standards are applied, it is
difficult to require action from communities and industry.
Yet New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine and many
other states opposed the establishment of Federal interstate
water quality standards recommended in the water pollution legis-
lation brought before Congress in this session,,
The water quality standards passed by the Senate this
year but rejected by the House should be adopted by Congress.
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I have urged the House conferees to join the Senate in adopting
these interstate water quality standards. They are a critical
underpinning for state and local anti-pollution efforts.
We must go beyond the establishment of standards
however, that apply only to interstate waters, and establish
and enforce quality standards for all waterways.
I do not believe that continued Federal aid to fight
the contamination of water will be available until the states
are willing to enforce pollution regulations. There would be
no sense in spending large amounts of money to remove municipal
pollution in one area only to have a river or stream polluted
by the neighboring community, industry or state.
There are a number of ways in which better pollution
control can be exercised.
In Germany and England, for example, which are
countries that have already faced the water shortage that we
are now experiencing, each source of pollution is licensed by
the appropriate river or water basin commission so that there
is full knowledge of the pollution that is going into the water-
way. And certain kinds of pollution are completely prohibited.
We could well do the same here in the United States.
At least it deserves a major study. We might, for instance,
have a Federally established licensing or permit system, with
enforcement generally to be accomplished by states and munici-
palities. The control agency could be given a right of entry
and inspection for all licensed sources of pollution. Such a
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system of licensing would ensure that competing firms with pol-
lution problems would all be treated alike.
Another source of control might be a user fee applied
to each source of pollution on the basis of cost to the govern-
ment of removing the pollutants that are discharged. Since
collective treatment of waste is less costly, this user fee
might cost the polluter less than installing his own purifica-
tion unit would cost,
I also believe that Federal economic assistance to
industry in meeting new pollution standards can be provided
through rapid Federal tax write-offs of the cost of acquiring
and installing adequate pollution control equipment„ Assistance
of this type could be useful if coupled with a broad attack on
water pollution.
Turning specifically to the current conference:
In the first session of the Water Pollution Conference
for Lake Erie held in Cleveland, a number of recommendations
were discussed by the conferees and, in most cases, agreed to
by the conferees from Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio. We do not
know whether New York State or Pennsylvania agreed to those
recommendations. I hope that with the appearance of Governor
Rockefeller today, we will learn that New York will adhere to
the recommendations of the conferees, and that they will follow
this program, which I think has been so ably set up by the con-
ference.
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CHAIRMAN STEIN: Senator, I might indicate that all
the recommendations and conclusions arrived at in Cleveland
were arrived at unanimously. Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and the
Federal Government have absolutely no differences. We are all
in complete and unanimous agreement„
SENATOR KENNEDY: Did New York take any position
during that period of time?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: New York was not present during the
deliberations.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Is that the time New York had left -
before the final day?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Yes, Senator.
SENATOR KENNEDY: I think that the potential results
of this conference are important enough to the 11.2 million
people living on the shores of Lake Erie to warrant the partici-
pation of New York State. I hope that New York State will now
endorse the recommendations of the conference so that the five
states and Canada can move ahead with a program to eliminate
pollution in Lake Erie.
Of particular importance are the recommendations that
the communities along the Lake provide at least secondary treat-
ment of their municipal wastes. New York State has at least
50,000 people who discharge waste into Lake Erie with absolutely
no treatment at all. It has an additional 1,160,779 residents
whose sewage receives only primary treatment before being dis-
charged into the Lake,
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I have these figures rising out of your conference,
which I think are a serious indictment of the State of New York,
in connection with the amount of secondary treatment that is
provided by other states - pollution treatment provided by other
states in contrast to the State of New York.
For instance, in Ohio, we see that sewage from 3,613,850
people receiving secondary treatment and when we go down to New
York, we find it's only 285,000. I think that these reports
that you have in your record, contained on page 37, 38 and 39
are of great significance.
Only 285,000 residents are serviced by secondary sewage
treatment here in New York, a necessity for all municipal waste
if we are to prevent the contamination of the Lake.
Of great importance in the Buffalo area is the need
for interception and treatment plants to handle the municipal
sewage that normally is washed out into the Lake during rain-
storms .
Third, and perhaps the most important recommendation
from the standpoint of industrial pollution is the recommendation
that specific pollution information from industry and municipali-
ties be reported and maintained in open files by the State
agencies controlling pollution.
As I understand it, Mr. Chairman, that was agreed to
at the conference in Cleveland, was it not?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Yes, it was agreed to. The problem
we have in several of the States, notably Ohio and New York, is
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27
that the statutes--the water pollution control statutes—in
those states gives some color to the notion that industrial
waste information may be withheld from the public, and of
course, we cannot ask that any state official not comply fully
with the requirements of his state laws.
However, the Ohio statute read that this information
could not be divulged without the permission of the industry
involved.
At the Cleveland conference industry after industry,
including some of the largest such as Sun Oil, Republic Steel,
duPont, Jones & Laughlin,came up and they all indicated that
their company policy was to make such information available to
interested Federal-state agencies and other agencies which
might be interested in the problem. We looked on this as a
very encouraging sign because previously, while we had almost
unanimity among industry wanting to make this information
available, there were some difficult spots.
As far as I can see now, there are very few companies
which have not publicly announced that this is their policy--
that the public has a right to know what the volume or strength
of the material that they put into public waters is.
SENATOR KENNEDY: I congratulate them. I saw a re-
port on that in the paper and I also saw some of the pictures
outside this conference, so I congratulate the interest by
business and by industry in developing and supporting this kind
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28
of a program, in the public interest. I think it's not only
worthwhile for them, but it's also worthwhile for all of the
people who live at this Lake, and who want to enjoy Lake Erie
and need the water from Lake Erie. I think it is going to be
absolutely essential. I would hope also as this conference goes
along that Governor Rockefeller, when he appears here, will say
that either they would develop the same kind of a program here
in the State of New York, or ask that this law be repealed. I
am sure that the Legislature would be willing to follow his di-
rection on it, if he asks that this law be repealed. That is
the great problem here in this State of New York. Then we can
move on and publish that kind of information, which I think is
in the interest of all of the people of the State of New York.
It is certainly in the interest of those who want to deal with
the pollution problem.
In a major step taken in Cleveland, referring to your
statement, a number of industry representatives agreed to make
this information available. State representatives from Indiana,
Michigan and Ohio also agreed to the recommendation that this
information be collected and made available in open files. As
I say, I hope that the State of New York, through Governor
Rockefeller, will announce that that will be done here in the
State. And if he feels that the law, which I am going to make
reference to in a moment—is an impediment, that he will ask
for repeal of that law.
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I would think that industry and government in New York
State would want to fully endorse this principle.
At the present time, referring to the Code that you
mentioned, a section of New York State penal code passed last
year is used to prevent the State government from releasing
specific information to either the public or Federal agencies.
I find it incredible that the basic pollution information
telling us about the nature of our industrial pollution is not
available to either the Federal Government or to the public.
The United States Public Health Service spent over
$1,000,000 in making a detailed study of pollution in the
Detroit River waters of Lake Erie because the specific informa-
tion on pollution was not available. I would hope that a simi-
lar study would not be required for the Buffalo-Niagara area.
Yet if the basic pollution information is not made available,
I would urge that a study of this type be conducted.
Four, the Federal conferee in Cleveland also recom-
mended a schedule for the elimination of pollution. State rep-
resentatives should either endorse this schedule or set a date
at which a more acceptable schedule can be agreed to.
Five - Dredging, I also urge the State conferees to
agree to the recommendation that the Corps of Engineers work
out a plan by which material dredged from Lake Erie and its
tributaries, such as the Buffalo River, be disposed of in a
manner which will protect the quality of Lake Erie's water.
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The control of water pollution is a complex subject
of critical importance to New York State and to the rest of the
nation. The question is not so much whether we will have water,
but what price we pay for water. New York State and the other
states on the Great Lakes have been magnificently endowed with
clear fresh water. It is up to us to keep from fouling it to
the point where it cannot be used without expensive treatment.
To do this we must act now.
New York State has been a leader in many areas; in
education, in industrial development, and in transportation for
example. Yet when foreign visitors ask where they can see ef-
fective water pollution control, they are sent to Indiana or
Michigan and not to New York State. New York State can be a
leader in this critical area. I urge that we take the steps
to regain that leadership„ (applause)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Senator.
Are there any questions or comments for the Senator,
please?
DR. WILBAR: Senator Kennedy is a very distinguished
lawyer and was Attorney General of the United States. Is it
usual in a court procedure for the judge or jury to make de-
cisions before all of the facts are heard before the court?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I don't think it is.
DR. WILBAR: Well, I participated in several of these
conferences and previously no conclusions have been made at the
conference until the conference was ovei.
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There was some implied criticism that Pennsylvania
and New York did not concur or take part in the conclusions
made in Cleveland. The time for conclusions, I would say, is
at the conclusion of the conference, and not in the middle of
the conference.
To my knowledge, no other conference held on inter-
state water pollution has put out conclusions before the con-
ference was completed.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Of course, that's up to the com-
mittee itself to make such determination. I would think that
the jury has long come in on the question of whether Lake Erie
is polluted. I don't think you need another study or another
conference to make that decision. I think that the jury has
been out and that it came in years ago, and Lake Erie is
polluted, and now it's a question of doing something about it.
Let me say this. I think that all of the States and
those of us in Congress, and those of us who are Federal of-
ficials or State officials or local officials, had the responsi-
bility that perhaps should have been met a long time ago, for
dealing with the pollution of Lake Erie,
Now as I understand it, there were certain recommenda-
tions that were made and several of the States said that they
thought that these recommendations should be put into effect--
that they made some sense. I think that it is time to start
to develop a program, and again, this is up to your group — it
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wasn't up to me as I was not in Cleveland—but I think that to
say you are going to have a specific and particular program to
deal with the problem of pollution of Lake Erie makes a great
deal of sense, and I think we should get on with it. (applause)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further comments?
SENATOR KENNEDY: May I ask a question? I wrote
Governor Rockefeller a while ago, July 15th, and I received a
letter back from him dated July 30th, in which he makes a number
of points regarding the involvement of the Federal Government
in this matter.
One, on the question of how much money is going to be
made available at the Federal level. Governor Rockefeller calls
for a figure of $250,000,000. As I said, I would hope that
$150,000,000 will be made available--$100,000,000 has been al-
located now. We are trying to get another $50,000,000. It
would appear that this $50,000,000 will be available.
That $50,000,000 that I'm referring to, over and above
the $100,000,000, will be free to be used by the Federal
agencies and departments in any part of the United States. It
is my judgment that if a program is developed here in New York,
that a substantial amount of that can be used here in the State
of New York.
The billion, six hundred million dollars over a six
year period which has been suggested by the legislature and by
Governor Rockefeller will have to be passed on by the State and
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33
voted on, and of course that can't take place until November,
and then each of the communities is going to have to develop
their own program. So I would say that I think that the $150
million made available by Congress will be enough at least for
the first year, for the operation here in the State of New
York. I think that they can work closely together as they de-
velop their programs, but the important thing is to get on
with it.
More important criticism however, of the Federal in-
volvement by Governor Rockefeller is contained in the last
page of his letter and I ask that this letter and my letter
be made part of the record, if that meets with the approval.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: If there is no objection that will
be done.
(The letters referred to by Senator Kennedy are as follows:)
"July 15, 1965
Dear Governor Rockefeller:
The people of Western New York have a tremendous
stake in the success of the Federal Conference which convenes
next month to consider the multiple pollution problems which
beset their greatest natural resource -- the waters of Lake
Erie.
The Conference, to convene at Cleveland on August 3
and which re-convenes at Buffalo on August 10, was called by
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34
the Secretary of Health Education and Welfare under the enforce-
ment authority of the Federal Water Pollution Act.
If that Conference is to be of optimum benefit to the
State of New York, the State should give full support to the
Conference. We regret that you have not requested that the
scope of the Conference include the pollution of the New York
waters of Lake Erie which originates within the State of New
York.
In a recent statement, Dr. Hollis Ingraham, Commissioner
of Health, stated that the lake pollution from which our State
is suffering comes 'almost entirely from New York.1 Under the
law, the Federal enforcement authority can be invoked with re-
spect to intrastate pollution only on the request of the Governor
of the State. Thus, New York will not receive full benefit from
this Conference unless you decide to request Federal enforcement.
Governor Rhodes of Ohio did make this request for
Federal assistance and as a result there will be available to
Ohio, legal, technical and financial resources which will not
be available to New York.
It is our belief that a state does not relinquish its
rights and responsibilities through the use of the Federal en-
forcement machinery. The enormity of the task demands the em-
ployment, on the basis of full cooperation, of the resources of
government at all levels. We share Lake Erie with three other
states and Canada.
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35
Because of the complexities involved in demonstrating
that pollution originating in one State has in fact crossed a
State line and is endangering the health or welfare of persons
in another State, we regret that an intrastate action involving
New York has not been taken in connection with the Lake Erie
water pollution control conference.
The Conference gives great promise of success. The
groundwork for the Buffalo session is now being laid. Therefore,
even if you will not request Federal enforcement, we urge you to
exert the powers of your office to encourage officials of the
State of New York to put forth maximum effort to make the
Conference on August 10 an effective instrument for restoring
Lake Erie's waters.
Specifically, we urge the State Department of Health
to invite to the Conference those persons -- representing munici-
pal, industrial, conservationist, civic and other interests --
whose presence and participation can add singificantly to the
information of the conferees, can put the problem in focus, and
can present constructive ideas for the control of lake pollution.
Further, we urge that the State Department of Health
work closely with the Department of Health, Education and Welfare
to develop for the Conference the fullest information possible on
wastes entering Lake Erie and its tributary streams. The leaders
of industry, through an appeal to their civil responsibility,
should be urged to cooperate and to make available such data as
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36
would be requisite or helpful to an accurate evaluation of the
pollution problems of the basin and the extent and prospective
cost of the measures necessary to their solution.
We are hopeful that you will act soon to assure the
residents of the Niagara Frontier that you are interested in
developing the full set of facts on the pollution problem on
Lake Erie. We know that with the cooperation of State agencies
this Conference can be a resounding success and a boost towards
cleanup of our lakes and streams.
Sincerely yours,
Robert F. Kennedy Richard D. McCarthy
United States Senator Member of Congress'1
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37
"July 30, 1965
Dear Senator Kennedy:
This is in response to your letter of July fifteenth
regarding the Federal water pollution control conference on
Lake Erie.
As you indicate, the conference is being held on the
problem of interstate pollution but on intrastate pollution only
as it relates to the state of Ohio. Also, as you indicate, in-
trastate pollution in New York may only be considered at my re-
quest.
As you know, New York State has just completed the
following steps to permit a rapid cleanup and purification of
the waters of the State:
(1) By the end of this year all of the involved New
York waters will have been classified as to their best
usage and pollution abatement plans for all surface
waters will have been completed.
(2) Unanimous passage by both Houses of the
Legislature at my request of the Pure Waters Act.
This Act involves the issuance of one billion dollars
of State bonds in order to:
(a) Provide money for the State to contribute five
hundred million dollars to localities as its
thirty percent share of the cost of cleaning up
the pollution of our waters, and
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38
(b) Provide monies for the State to advance to the
localities five hundred million dollars to cover
the Federal government's full thirty percent
share of the cost. The State advance of the
Federal money is necessary, as I explained at
the meeting which I called of our New York State
Congressional delegation, because at the present
time Federal funds are woefully insufficient to
meet the needs.
(3) As you are further aware, I have gone to Washington
to appear before both the Blatnik Committee in the House
and the Muskie Committee in the Senate to urge them to
recommend to the Congress an increase in the annual
Federal appropriation for water pollution control from
the present one hundred million dollar level to a two
hundred and fifty million dollar annual appropriation
and to remove the provisions in the present law which
discriminate against the urban areas and industrial
states.
Under the present law and level of Congressional
appropriations, New York State only gets five million
dollars a year. This is but a drop in the bucket in
the face of the one billion seven hundred million
dollar expenditure which we must make to clean up
our waters. The Federal thirty percent share of this
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39
total program for New York is five hundred million
dollars. On the basis of the present Federal five
million dollars a year assistance, it would take New
York State more than one hundred years to clean up
its waterso Of course this would be intolerable and
that is why the State is moving ahead on its own.
(4) The State at the last session of the Legislature
also at my request, greatly strengthened the enforce-
ment provisions of the law with the result that we
are now in a position to take action through the courts
requiring community and private owners to stop the
pollution of our waters.
As a result of the above, New York State, with voter
approval of the Pure Waters Bond Issue this fall, should be able
to clean up its waters in the next six years.
In light of the above I can see no useful purpose for
requesting a Federal study of New York State's intrastate needs
nor of Federal enforcement. The time for study has passed. The
time for action is at hand. A Federal study now would simply
involve delay, duplication and confusion.
What would be helpful, however, would be if you
personally would appear before the Joint Conference Committee
of the Senate and the House and urge the Committee to recommend
amendments to the present Federal law to eliminate the provi-
sions that discriminate against New York and to increase Federal
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40
appropriations from the present level of one hundred million a
year, to at least two hundred and fifty million dollars a year,
and further, to urge that a provision be written into the law
similar to the provision in the Interstate Highway Act permitting
the States to advance monies against future Federal appropria-
tions so that all States can get on with the program without
future delay.
In summary, the answer to our pollution problem in our
State is not more outside studies nor Federal enforcement efforts.
The answer is money - money to enable the local communities to
do the job of construction of pollution abatement facilities.
The Federal government can really help by paying its full thirty
percent share of the cost of these local facilities. It can
help by ending the discrimination against urban states like New
York in its aid formulas.
With regard to the August tenth conference in Buffalo,
the New York State Health Department will certainly cooperate in
every appropriate way both in presenting information and in in-
viting a broad representation of views.
Sincerely,
NELSON ROCKEFELLER"
* * # * *
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41
SENATOR KENNEDY: He talks about whether it is neces-
sary to have a study and have the Federal Government involved
and he said:
"The time for study has passed. The time for action
is at hand. A Federal study now would simply involve de-
lay, duplication and confusion."
I would like to refer to this Committee's efforts in
this field, and I would like to ask you what you are doing at
the present time, and what is coming out of it—arising out of
this conference that is going to involve delays, duplication
and confusion? Would you make a comment about each one of
those--delay first?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Well, I don't think there is any de-
lay. As a matter of fact, perhaps, that's what Dr. Wilbar was
referring to.
I think at Cleveland an action program was developed;
many things were to take place immediately. As far as I can
see, the pollution program was arranged so industrial and mu-
nicipal pollution could be cleaned up in an operation by
January 1, 1969, which seems to me a reasonably rapid rate.
Pollution from Federal installations would be cleaned up by
August 1966. I don't know that there is any delay contemplated.
As a matter of fact, I think the complaints come from
the notion that when the Federal enforcement activity gets
rolling, there is a noticeable lack of delay.
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42
I should like to point out to the Senator, too, that
we attempt to operate the conferences in the same manner that I
think is roughly analogous to a Senate Hearing — that is, we give
someone an opportunity to appear. When they don't appear, or
if they're not there, we just, as you said many times in your
little talk today, have to get on with it.
The pollution problem is so great that it just can't
wait, because if we do have to wait, a State representative,
merely by absenting himself from a conference, could exercise
his veto power over pollution clean-ups at the Federal level.
I don't think that is what the Congress anticipated as we in-
terpret and administer the law. If we're mistaken in that, of
course, I think the Congress should so indicate. I think that
this question has come up before, and we had the unqualified
endorsement of both sides of the Congress on that kind of
interpretation.
Also, we have had many, many conferences where we
have had one, two, three and four sessions and at the conclusion
of every one of these sessions, we always come up with con-
clusions and recommendations.
Again, I don't think this is a novel operation. I
should point out that the conclusions and recommendations are
subject to your evaluation here, and, in large measure, deal
with the three Western States. The names Pennsylvania and New
York were not mentioned.
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43
But to answer your question, rather than delay, I
think we've got this program off to a tremendous start on the
western end of the Nation, and we're moving as rapidly as
prudent engineering, construction and evaluation can permit.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Let me ask you specifically if the
Federal-State program agreed to by the other states - if that
went into effect - if it were agreed to by Governor Rockefeller
here in the State of New York, could that go into operation
immediately?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Absolutely.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Would there be any delay at all?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: As a matter of fact, I think that
other than a delay, I think that this would be a tremendous
speed-up.
MR. OEMING: I think, Senator Kennedy, that there is
one aspect of this that should be recognized, and that is that
many of these recommendations are still subject, even with the
best efforts that the State or the Federal Government can make,
are still subject to determination by the courts, should there
be issues raised by the voters that they wish to have their day
in court.
So, when we're talking about delays, I think we should
recognize that enforcement procedures do involve delays and
should some of these recommendations--there are interesting
possibilities, I think, in some cases.
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44
SENATOR KENNEDY: I suppose that would be true if the
State or the local community put in these kinds of steps them-
selves. They could also have court cases to delay that. In
any case, any kind of pollution enforcement that you put into
effect is subject to that.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Yes.
SENATOR KENNEDY: But what I'm talking about is the
Federal Government's role in it, other than the fact that it
might be taken to court and tested. Actually, if the Federal
Government's putting its program into effect, could it go into
effect immediately? What you have suggested or recommended is
not really a further study, but rather an action program, as I
understand it.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Exactly, and I should point out that
what Mr. Oeming says is entirely correct, of course. We have
had enforcement cases against over a thousand cities and a
thousand industries by now-over two thousand in all. We have
only gone to court once, with one city, so I don't look for
these spectres of delays, Mr. Oeming, and I'm sure in your
Michigan program you, yourself, indicated that you are beating
our program that we set in Detroit, by six months.
SENATOR KENNEDY: I agree.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: While we're on Michigan, Mr. Oeming
pointed out another fact that I wonder if I could just at this
time refer to. While we spent the $1,000,000 in the detailed
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45
study of pollution in the Detroit River, it was not because
Detroit, Michigan, did not make the information available to
us. Michigan always had a policy of open files, and making
complete industrial information available to us. The diffi-
culty in the Detroit River was, despite having this informa-
tion, the situation there was so complex that we needed some
more specific information and had to do this.
I think the main crux of your statement is entirely
correct--that if we did not get similar information in the
Buffalo-Niagara area, that you would urge a study of this type
be conducted.
So, I would say, if we didn't get that information
for which we asked, as far as I can see it now, we would have
no alternative but to go ahead with that—as our statutory ob-
ligation, to get that information, I don't see how we could
do otherwise.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Should there be any duplication
and confusion if this Federal program is put into effect?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: No, sir. As a matter of fact, as it
worked out, we have several states here we've worked with
through the years. We have so much pollution control business
to do throughout the country, we are not interested in dupli-
cating or confusing any issue. If the State can get on with
it, we are most happy to withdraw and go somewhere else. The
one thing we ought to do is to disengage as rapidly as possible
where a case is on the line.
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46
SENATOR KENNEDY: Let me just ask you — there has been
a major effort here in the State of New York to classify streams
and lakes and rivers, has there not?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Yes, there has.
SENATOR KENNEDY: As far as classification to the
degree of pollution?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Yes, sir.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Has there been any steps that have
been taken by the State, after they have been classified to
deal with the pollution?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I've been following the New York
program for a while, and I think the emphasis for the past 10
or 15 years has been their classification. I think the next
step contemplated here is the bond issue. But I think the
situation has been different in some of the other states such
as Indiana. We have here Ohio possibly and Michigan and
Pennsylvania, where they don't emphasize the classification
technique but they take industry by industry and city by city,
and as they go along, attempt to get them to put in improved
methods of treatment.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Going back to the point that, as
far as New York is concerned, we had the classification of
these streams, and possibly the State has the information as
to who is responsible for the pollution. I hope and expect
that they have it.
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47
That information has not been made public. And, under
the law that was passed last year, evidently, it cannot be made
public. But as far as dealing with the problem of pollution and
ridding the streams or the lakes or the rivers of pollution--
that program, up until the bond issue, has not been put into
effect in the State of New York as of now.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I went up the Buffalo River yester-
day, and you did, too, and I think that River speaks for itself.
Another case is Raritan Bay and the rivers there. I think the
facts there speak for themselves, too. I don't think you need
scientific studies to really indicate that those rivers are
polluted,
SENATOR KENNEDY: We are suggesting here that what the
conference is all about is the fact that this information pos-
sibly is available. Now we have to deal with the information.
Now we have to deal with the particular rivers, the particular
lakes, the particular streams that are polluted, and put a pro-
gram into effect.
What I gather from the conference in Cleveland is
that it was supported by the local officials; it was supported
by the State officials and it was supported by industry in that
kind of a program. I think that's absolutely necessary and es-
sential here in the State of New York. I don't think it's pos-
sible just to continue as we have in the past, and so, once
again, I congratulate and I thank the conference. I think it
is well worthwhile.
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48
CHAIRMAN STEIN: There is one more point in your
statement that I'd like to call attention to, because this came
up at Cleveland several times. You point out that if pollution
worsens, people in New York State and in other states who draw
their drinking water from Lake Erie, will have to turn to
other sources for their water supply. That's on page 2 where
you said that.
Sir, as far as we are concerned in the Federal
Government, the Great Lakes, and Lake Erie among them, are our
most precious resources of fresh water. As far as we know, they
are the greatest single source of fresh water, certainly essen-
tial source which we use mostly for large users—the greatest
single source of fresh water in the hemisphere, and possibly in
the world. If that deteriorates, we will find that in this area,
around here, the life of the people will change. If a source
of that size goes, it is not very easily replaced, and the
people need it for life itself.
Secondly, water probably is one of the most important
products used by industry—fresh water that is. Again in the
Great Lakes, and in Lake Erie in particular, we--once we have
a dying lake, we very well may have a problem of reversing the
trend. The miracle of America has been that the Great Lakes
have remained fresh so long and have not deteriorated the way
other lakes have.
This is not, I should point out, like cleaning up the
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49
Hudson River or Rarltan Bay. Because if that's done, we can
expect that something like some dredging operations in a year
or two will restore it, and we would have that river or that
estuary, or that bay, back to reasonable shape within several
years if we keep the pollution out.
The question here is, if the pollution rises and the
Great Lakes go down as a fresh water source, whether we will be
able to maintain the economy of this area and thus maintain the
position of the United States as a world power. This is, at
least from our point of view, and that of the people working on
water resources, one of the most vital issues that we have in
the field today. I don't think there can be any question but
that a top priority task in the Federal Government is to pre-
serve the fresh water quality of the Great Lakes.
SENATOR KENNEDY: I agree with that. As I understand
from your report, there is no question that Lake Erie is a
dying lake at the present time.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: According to the report, that's right.
SENATOR KENNEDY: And also from reading your report,
there is no question that New York State is contributing to
causing the death of Lake Erie.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: That is according to the report, yes sir.
SENATOR KENNEDY: So I think it's about time we met our
responsibilities, and ended it.
Mr. Chairman, could I ask that my whole statement be
part of the record?
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50
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Yes. Without objection that would
be accepted. Do we have copies of your letter, Senator? Some
of the conferees would like to see those before I put them in
the record.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Well, I have the one from Governor
Rockefeller to me,,
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I think, at your convenience, if we
could have those?
SENATOR KENNEDY: I will, and I'll provide them for
the record. I only have this one, and if this can be returned--
it is the original.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Yes, it can. Thank you very much, sir.
SENATOR KENNEDY: Thank you very much. (applause)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I have a statement that I'd like to
read in the record now, from the other New York Senator, the
Senior Senator from New York, Senator Jacob K. Javits. His
statement is: (he sent a telegram up to the same effect)
"Because the Senate Labor and Public Welfare Committee
has scheduled action this morning on the Bill repealing 14B, I
very much regret that I will be unable to attend the Federal
Water Pollution Conference in Buffalo. Representatives from
my Buffalo Office are in attendance, and will keep me informed
of all developments."
We have met the representatives of the Buffalo Office,
and they've been very attentive and very helpful.
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"It is important to-day to emphasize that Government
Officials on the local, State and Federal level are united in
an all-out effort to combat pollution in Lake Erie and restore,
once again clear, fresh water for the use of the people.
"This is a Non-Partisan issue and should so continue.
"New York State will shortly embark on a precedent
setting $1.7 Billion - Water Pollution Control Program, de-
signed to deal with the problem within the borders of the State.
Years of research and investigation - details of which will be
made available to Federal Officials - have enabled the State to
formulate this Master Plan, which can be carried out with the
financial assistance of the Federal Government.
"But pollution of Interstate Waters such as Lake
Erie, cannot be controlled by a single State alone, and I wel-
come the Forum, the expert advice and some of the money needed
to help us to help ourselves.
"Both Houses of Congress have passed legislation
greatly increasing Federal participation in the Water Pollution
Control Program, and I am hopeful that the recent naming of
Conferees on the measure is an indication that final action
will be completed soon.
"Many of the amendments which I offered in the Senate
were adopted by the House. One amendment increased New York's
share of the funds and another amendment made more money
available for Urban Centers. I shall do all I can to see that
these amendments are preserved in the final version of the Bill.
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"In New York, we have the plans, and we will soon
have the money to begin Governor Rockefeller's comprehensive
program. This Conference will I feel, highlight the problem
and mobilize the public support needed to make successful the
State's program within our borders and the Federal Plans to
combat Pollution on the Interstate Level.
Jacob K. Javits, U.S,S."
At the present time, we would like to call on a
Congressman who has been very interested in water pollution
control since his coming into Congress, and he was so inter-
ested that he requested to get on the House Public Works
Committee, which handles our legislation.
Consequently, he becomes, at least to me, one of my
bosses, and I have never had a more attentive or delightful
boss, or a man who is so interested in preserving the resources
of the country, and particularly the resources of his region,
and looking out for the welfare of the Niagara Frontier, and
Buffalo in particular. Congressman Richard D. McCarthy.
(applause)
CONGRESSMAN MCCARTHY: Senator Kennedy, Chairman
Stein, gentlemen, today can be a turning point for Lake Erie.
Right now this body of water has the distinction of being the
worst case of pollution ever recorded by the Public Health
Service. It has been called a chemical tank and is considered
literally to be a dying lake.
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Years and years of unconcern were needed to create
this situation, and years of effort may be needed to correct
it. But we have to start now or beyond any doubt we will be
too late.
The citizens of Western New York are tired of help-
lessly watching the deterioration of the Buffalo area's greatest
natural and economic resource. They are indignant about what
pollution has done to our Lake. They no longer can enjoy the
natural beauty of sparkling clear water. Recreational use of
the Lake -- fishing, swimming, boating -- has been severely
curtailed. They are sick and tired of seeing the goose that
laid the golden egg killed, because Lake Erie created Buffalo,
and in a primitive society, we'd worship it as a God of Creative-
ness .
And because of the accelerated aging process caused
by pollution, the problem may soon become one of whether we will
have any Lake at all, because this algae just keeps growing like
a green thing. A hundred pounds of phosphate create a million
pounds of algae, and if we just keep that up we'll have nothing
but algae, and nothing but a swamp.
The people of this area have made it perfectly clear
that they do not want their public officials to twiddle their
thumbs while Lake Erie dies. They want and deserve action.
I am convinced that this action must include Federal
involvement--for three reasons:
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54
1) The problem of Lake Erie is interstate - merely
looking at the map confirms this - affecting five States, in-
cluding one not even bordering on the Lake.
2) The need for action is so urgent that firm en-
forcement powers are required - powers that no one State, or
interstate agency could be expected to supply.
3) In the interest of justice and efficiency, as
Senator Kennedy pointed out, it is important that the recommen-
dations of this conference be enforced across the board (this
is fairer to industry too), without exception and with deliberate
speed.
The challenge facing us is too critical to let juris-
dictional jealousies interfere. Only Federal-State partnership
can possibly cope with the problem. Governors Rhodes and Romney
have recognized this fact, but inexplicably Governor Rockefeller
has repeatedly refused to request Federal enforcement. Senator
Kennedy and I, as he pointed out, formally urged the Governor
to make such a request, but he has not.
This should not be a partisan issue, and believe me,
it isn't with me. I just want to see the job get done. It is
not a matter of States' rights. It is a question of seeking
assistance from all quarters in order to return Lake Erie to
good health. Governor Rockefeller would not be relinquishing
the prerogatives of New York State by combining State and
Federal resources in this effort. Rather, he would be serving
the best interests of the people of New York State.
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55
Likewise, it is time for municipalities and industries
to realize, that the public wants an end to pollution. We in
Washington know about and are sympathetic to the financial prob-
lems involved in the costly process of abating pollution.
There will be more Federal funds for the municipali-
ties. And if the voters of New York State approve, as I sin-
cerely hope they will, there will also be, thanks to the
Governor's initiative on this, a State aid to help the hard-
pressed towns, villages and cities install the necessary waste-
treatment facilities.
As a 13-year veteran of the National Gypsum Company, I
am very sympathetic and fully aware of the problems of business-
men. I have introduced legislation to provide fast tax write-
offs to industries that install highly expensive pollution
abatement equipment. The White House is interested in the Bill
and in similar bills. I'm not the only one who introduced a
bill like this. Senator Ribicoff did, too, and I'm hopeful
that this legislation will be forthcoming.
I want to make it clear that the Federal Government
is sincerely trying to do its part. To date, it has expended
$800 million, simply for the construction of waste-treatment
plants, and as the Senator pointed out, next year we'll raise
that by $150 million, of which New York State will receive
$9,880,000 and on the 30-30-40 formula, this would generate
$33 million worth of waste-treatment construction in one year,
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56
$198 million in six years. We tried to raise that in the
House. I got my amendment in adding $50 million, and we tried
to make it another $100 million, but we were outvoted by the
coalition. I am hopeful that as public pressure on this builds
up, that we will be able to increase the Federal participation
still more.
New York State, I am sure if the voters approve, will
do its share. But the municipalities and industries have to do
their part., too. And I'd like to suggest that we all face up
to the fact that the people want action from all of us.
There are no mysteries regarding the pollution of Lake
Erie. We do not need to conduct extensive research before cor-
rective action can be taken. Far too often the cry for further
research, surveys and studies has been simply a technique for
procrastination.
Numerous technological advances already have yet to
be taken advantage of. For instance, the Rand Development
Corporation recently developed a new sewage treatment process
that is both more effective and more economical than present
methods. It uses coal and produces electric power as a byproduct„
So it is not more studies that we need. Nor is it
expressions of good intentions. What we need from this con-
ference is a firm schedule of steps to be taken with specific
deadlines and--as Mr. Stein outlined previously have been set
up for the other three States—clear identification of responsi-
bilities.
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57
I sincerely hope that the Governor will see fit to
make this a joint Federal-State effort, and that local public
and industry officials will cooperate in following the recom-
mendations that this conference will make.
Finally, let me stress the importance of Federal en-
forcement.
Federal procedures will get action faster than State
procedures, as the colloquy between Senator Kennedy and Chairman
Stein I think elucidated.
The New York State law, the new law alluded to, while
it eliminates the old one-year grace period, still enables a
municipality or industry to stall for an additional five years--
that would take us to 1970--before ceasing its pollution of our
waters. All the polluter has to do is to go to court or appeal
to the Water Resources Commission for an extension of up to five
years.
Experience shows that compliance can be brought about
under Federal procedures in as little as two years, as the
timetable of Chairman Stein pointed out.
But unless the Governor, like Governor Rhodes, re-
quests Federal action, the war on Lake Erie pollution I'm
afraid will be slowed. For then the Public Health Service
will have to prove that New York pollution endangers the health
and welfare of States to the west. Extensive studies of
scientists of the Public Health Service over the past two years
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58
have shown that the Lake's currents flow intermittently eastward
as well as westward over the Falls. They are reasonably certain
that contaminants originating in New York State intermingle with
others in the Lake, but to prove this in a quasi-court proceeding
would be extremely time-consuming and expensive.
But if New York persists in this, I'm afraid that's
what we'll have to do.
That will mean more months of delay which we really
can't afford.
I suggest that this time-wasting effort can be avoided,
and that all New York State has to do is to request the Federal
enforcement procedures„
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. (applause)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any comments or questions
from the conferees?
MR. BOSTON: Congressman McCarthy, I notice that on
Page 1, you say that only Federal-State partnership can possibly
cope with the problem, and I would like to tell you a little bit
about our Federal water pollution control program.
We feel that the States have the responsibility for
control of pollution, and our Federal program is geared to sup-
port and aid the States' program. We have many ways, and I like
to think of these as tools for assisting in States' water pollu-
tion control activities.
First off, we have technical assistance. With a
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59
research facility at Cincinnati, we provide technical assistance
to States, municipalities, industries, where they have particu-
lar and specific problems that they need assistance in.
We have a grant program, where the Federal Government
gives grants to municipalities, and since this program started
in 1956, we have been of assistance to the States in helping
them get up and solve some of the particularly knotty problems.
Where municipalities have been unable to move ahead with con-
struction works, this grant program has been helpful. I par-
ticularly think of two municipalities in our region which have
been under pressure from the State agencies for a period of up
to 20 years. They constructed plants early in the construction
grant program.
We have another aspect of our program, which is com-
prehensive planning and we give assistance and cooperation in
long-range plans for control of pollution in particular basins,
and this covers across State boundaries so that we will have
uniformity and so that nobody can say "I didn't expect this
kind of a thing to occur."
And then we have a research program. Congress has
authorized and appropriated monies for regional water pollution
control laboratories, to do research in problems of a particu-
lar area. One of these will be located at Ann Arbor, Michigan,
and this laboratory will be expected to study problems in the
Lake to assist in this over-all pollution problem.
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60
One other tool that we are using here today is the
enforcement aspect and enforcement in general is used for pol-
lution abatement. Pollution from one or a number of States
might affect other States than where it originates, and this
is a problem that State agencies do not have the power to cope
with; when pollution from another State affects them, they have
no authority to move in.
I think these are the ways the Federal program is geared
to support State activities and local activities, and we sin-
cerely desire, as the Chairman has pointed out, to disengage
from individual activities as quickly as possible - as quickly
as they are carried on at a local level.
CONGRESSMAN MCCARTHY: I think this kind of partner-
ship is certainly what we need. We have to work together in
this, and I really hope that the New York State people will see
this. It's just pretty clear to me that we can get the job
done quicker and more harmoniously with this kind of a partner-
ship arrangement. I hope that's what we'll get.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you. Are there any further
comments or questions of the Congressman? If not, thank you
very much.
CONGRESSMAN McCARTHY: Thank you. (applause)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We have two more Congressional com-
munications which I would like to read. This is a telegram,
addressed to me, as Chairman.
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61
"PLEASE KNOW THAT I AND MY CONSTITUENTS IN THE
FORTIETH DISTRICT OF NEW YORK ARE VITALLY INTERESTED IN POLLU-
TION CONTROL AND PURE WATER. I AM CERTAIN THAT AFTER YEARS OF
STUDY, RESEARCH, AND FACT-FINDING SESSIONS, THE FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT IS ABUNDANTLY AWARE OF THE IMMENSITY OF THE CRITICAL
WATER POLLUTION PROBLEMS IN LAKE ERIE. WE HOPE THAT YOUR CON-
FERENCE IS EMINENTLY SUCCESSFUL IN INSTITUTING POLLUTION CON-
TROL ENFORCEMENT FOR ALL LAKE ERIE AND ITS TRIBUTARIES."
Evidently there is bi-partisan Congressional unanimity,
because this is signed by Henry P. Smith III, Representative,
Fortieth District.
I also have a statement by T. J. Dulski of the 41st
District, for insertion in the record. It says:
"Mr. Chairman: I regret that it is impossible for
me to appear personally at this conference which has been
called to discuss further the water pollution in Lake Erie, and
I appreciate this opportunity to submit my statement for the
record.
"I see no necessity in repeating here what we already
know about water pollution in our area. We know the problem
exists. Experts have studied it, and they are unanimous in
their opinion as to the severity of the problem. They have
made their reports and recommendations.
"It seems to me then, that the immediate problem is to
implement those recommendations with action. It is the problem
of successfully coordinating Federal, State and local agencies
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62
so that they will function together and create the machinery
needed to clean up these contaminated waters. We know it is
not solely the responsibility of the Federal Government.
Congress has passed legislation aimed at helping States and
municipalities in combatting the problem, but due to lack of
enforcement procedures, such regulations as were promulgated
were weak and ineffective.
"We are now in the process of enacting a Federal law
designed to strengthen these important procedures, and provide
increased assistance to local communities. Neither is the
pollution problem the sole responsibility of the State or the
municipality, but they should not tarry in recognizing the
urgency of the situation, and avail themselves of the assis-
tance offered through the Federal Government.
"I urge the Governor of our Great State of New York
to take swift action, and join forces with our City of Buffalo
and the County of Erie in drafting a plan so that we can embark
upon a program to rid Lake Erie and its tributaries of these
infested waters. I urge all local officials concerned to give
top priority to the solution of the problem. We know the facts.
Now, let us move quickly toward the formulation of the program
that will halt further pollution immediately, and then proceed
on the most practical basis possible, to clean up the polluted
areas.
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63
"We have already done far too much talking, and too
little acting.
(Signed) Thaddeus J. Dulski,
Representative 41st District of New York"
and dated August 10, 1965.
We have received word that Governor Rockefeller is in
the air somewhere above Buffalo. Our present program, of course,
is to try to get him on before the luncheon recess. At the
present time, I suggest we recess for ten minutes, but please
be in first call, because we may want to reconvene rather
quickly.
(WHEREUPON A SHORT RECESS WAS TAKEN)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: With the cooperation of our sister
Water Resource Agency, I think we are going to be able to handle
the rest of the morning rather well, I hope, and take into ac-
count the Governor's schedule.
We will call upon the Department of Interior and this
will be the Regional Director, or Regional Coordinator, Mark
Abelson, and then Mr. Premetz will speak after him. When the
Governor comes in—and we expect him at 11:50 now--we will in-
terrupt Mr. Premetz. We will put the Governor on, and Mr.
Premetz then will be able to continue later, because he will
be available.
We would like to express our thanks to the Department
of the Interior. Mr. Abelson, are you ready to make your pre-
sentation? As always, we find the Department of the Interior
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64
one of the most cooperative sister agencies connected in the
field of water pollution control.
Mr,, Abelson?
MR. ABELSON: If this sounds a little disjointed, it
may be due to the fact that the man just took it to get it dup-
licated, and I hope he put the pages back in the right order.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the Conference, I am Mark
Abelson, Regional Coordinator for the Northeast Region of the
Department of the Interior.
The Department of the Interior, which is the princi-
pal Federal agency concerned with natural resources has a
definite interest in all waters.of the country and in the en-
tire pollution problem.
In order to coordinate the efforts of all those con-
cerned with the related water problems, there must be compre-
hensive planning and activity among all interested. The in-
terest of the Department of the Interior in water can be best
expressed by quoting from a recent statement by Secretary Udall
before a Congressional committee:
"..ooothe focus of Interior effort is directed to the
maintenance of adequate national water supplies and adequate
water quality for whatever uses man may wish to make of this
valuable resource. The Interior approach emphasizes the co-
ordination and interrelation between uses and the effect of
these uses on management and quality of the total water supply
system.
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65
"Maintenance of water quality involves not only the
quality levels for human consumption, but also quality levels
for consumption by other animal and plant life, for development
of other natural resources, and for industrial processes. These
quality considerations are interrelated0 They can be understood
and controlled best from the point of view of water as a re-
source, rather than from the point of view of a particular
quality need."
In handling the water problems over a period of years
the Department has accumulated a great deal of experience. It
has the facilities and the qualified manpower to deal with a
wide variety of water problems. The Department has six operating
Bureaus and one office in this region, which have an interest in
the region's water resources, ranging from purely unbiased fact
finders to strong advocates of clean waters. These Bureaus are:
The Bureau of Mines; Geological Survey; the Bureau of
Sport Fisheries and Wildlife; National Park Service; Bureau of
Commercial Fisheries; Bureau of Outdoor Recreation; and the new
Office of Water Resources Research.
Interior Bureaus carry on water quality studies re-
lated to the physical, chemical and in some degree, biological
adequacy of natural and developed water supplies. These
studies and research are chiefly those in which the skills and
required knowledge are based on geology, chemistry, hydrology,
engineering and other physical science aspects of water
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66
management. Interior's water quality research extends to the
study of environments adequate for the propagation, production
and control of both fish and wildlife resources, and for water
based recreation.
In common with many others, Interior has interests
and responsibilities in the economic and social aspects of
water-quality management. We recognize that such factors as
quantitative requirements, competitive uses and marketability
of water and associated products must be given consideration
in all plans. Interior takes account of the economic impact
and other values that protection of water quality will have on
the community, the basin, the State and the Nation.
I will now present the responsibilities of the various
Bureaus concerned in the matter of pollution of the interstate
waters of Lake Erie.
Mr. Chairman, the statements that I have from the
Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, the Bureau of Sport Fisheries,
the Bureau of Mines, have been presented at Cleveland, and are
the exact same statements that I have here.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Do you want to summarize them, or
we can have them in the record or duplicated in the record?
MR, ABELSON: I believe that if they were just dup-
licated in the record, it would save some time.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We would be very happy to do that.
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67
MR. ABELSON: Each of these Bureaus emphasize its role
in the Lake Erie, and the need for data and clean waters. In
addition to this, the Geological Survey at Cleveland presented
a statement covering just the western part of the Lake, and I
will now present their statement on the eastern part. In ad-
dition, I have a statement by the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation,
concerning Outdoor Recreation on Lake Erie,,
WATER RESOURCES ACTIVITIES IN THE EASTERN PART OF THE
LAKE ERIE BASIN
The U. S. Geological Survey is responsible for de-
scribing systematically the Nation's water resources and
monitoring changes in these resources, to provide a continuing
appraisal of their availability and development,, The water-
resources activities of the Geological Survey include (1) the
measurement of streamflows and changes in lake, reservoir and
ground-water storage, (2) the mapping of ground-water reservoirs
(aquifers) and determination of their yields, (3) analysis of
the chemical quality of both surface water and ground water and
(4) research into the fundamental laws governing the occurrence
and movement of water both on and beneath the Earth's surface.
Approximately 70 percent of the water-resources ac-
tivities of the Geological Survey are supported jointly and
equally by the Federal Government and by State and local
agencies. The programs are, therefore, responsive to and re-
flect both the National and the local needs for water knowledge
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68
The water-resources activities of the Geological Survey
in the eastern part of the Lake Erie basin are described below.
These studies are supported in New York by the State Water Re-
sources Commission, the State Departments of Health and Public
Works and by the Corps of Engineers. In Pennsylvania, they are
supported by the Department of Forests and Waters.
One of the most important activities of the Geological
Survey consists of the collection of basic hydrologic data.
These data and the number of stations at which they are being
collected or have been collected during the past year in the
Pennsylvania and New York portions of the Lake Erie basin are
listed below:
Stream discharge »...„„. 33 stations
Ground-water storage „. „ 12 wells
Chemical quality of streams........ 7 stations
Chemical quality of ground water... 7 wells
Another major activity of the G. S. in the Eastern
Lake Erie basin consists of areaj. studies of the water re-
sources of specific areas. Studies in progress at the present
time include the following:
Lake Erie-Niagara area. The Lake Erie-Niagara area
consists of the 2,000 square miles centered around Buffalo
that extends from Cattaraugus Creek on the south to Tonawanda
Creek to the north. This study, which was started in 1962, is
being conducted in cooperation with the New York Water Resources
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69
Commission and the Erie-Niagara Regional Planning Board. The
objectives of the study are to determine how much water is
available in the area, the extent to which the quantity varies
with time, and the chemical quality and sediment content of
the water. An interim report describing the results of the
first year of the study was published in 1964 as Bulletin GW-52
of the New York Water Resources Commission. The final report
on the study is now in preparation.
A study of the time of travel of water, and associated
analysis of streamflow characteristics, has been made in ten
regions of six major streams in the Lake Erie basin. The field
work was done in 1964 and 1965 under a cooperative agreement
with the New York State Department of Health. A report on this
activity is in preparation.
Drainage areas and other selected data on the physical
features of all named streams in the Lake Erie basin in New York
have been determined. A compilation of drainage areas at
selected points is being prepared for the purpose of interagency
coordination of data. A separate gazetteer of named streams is
also being prepared. This will list data on length, elevation
and area, as well as cultural features of location.
Now the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation present the
following statement:
The pollution problem of Lake Erie, which primarily
affects the littoral zone of the lake, exists at undeveloped as
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70
well as developed areas. Its effect is equally serious,
whether directly or indirectly related. It creates great
difficulty in managing outdoor recreation activities at cities
such as Erie, Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York, but is also
present in more remote sections of the Lake.
Frequently at Presque Isle State Park near Erie,
Pennsylvania, the closing of one bathing area because of a
high bacteria count results in diminished utilization of the
other beaches because people assume the entire area is unfit
for swimming.
At Lake Erie State Park near Dunkirk, New York, bathing
is curtailed at times because of algae "blooms". For lack of
suitable residential sewage disposal added nutrients find their
way into the Lake and cause abnormal increase in algae.
The pollution problem is not related only to swimming.
Boating and water skiing are also affected because of industrial
wastes that cause unsightly waters, obnoxious odors, or even
chemical or physical effects to boats, seawalls and beaches.
From the aesthetic standpoint, driving for pleasure
and sightseeing are adversely affected by the appearance and
odor of polluted waters.
As I mentioned at the start, I have statements here
which have been given to the secretary, or to the recorder,
which are similar to that made at Cleveland. I have experts
here from all the fields mentioned, and if there are any
questions, I am sure that we can answer them.
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71
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I am sure of that, too. I've been
up against your experts before.
Are there any comments or questions from the conferees?
MR. ABELSON: Mr. Chairman, Mr. Premetz will give an
additional statement by the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you very much. Will Mr.
Premetz come up?
MR» PREMETZi Mr,, Chairman, Conferees, ladies and
gentlemen, I'm doubly pleased to be here today, because of my
extreme interest in the problems of Lake Erie and also because
I spent most of my life along Lake Erie. I was born in
Cleveland, entered grade school there and then moved to Buffalo,
New York, entered high school and also the University of Buffalo
here, so I've watched this Lake deteriorate over the years. It
hits home when you've been that close to it, and we're here to
do something about it0
The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries has been actively
participating in the Public Health Service's Illinois-Great
Lakes River Basin Project, which includes Lake Erie. In fact,
our scientists are closely coordinating their research efforts
with those of the Public Health Service, to assure that pollu-
tion abatement measures reflect full cognizance of fishery
problems. The aim is to prevent further deterioration and to
the extent possible mitigate the damage that has already been
done to fish and aquatic life.
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In the early stages of the Public Health Service study
some two years ago, the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries was
pleased to make available to the Public Health Service, the use
of vessels and the technical know-how of its personnel. Many
of the Public Health Service scientists concerned with the study
were afforded an opportunity to work intimately with and, in some(.
cases, receive guidance from the Bureau's experts, who have had
extensive experience with Great Lakes fisheries, and the effects
of pollution on fish and aquatic life.
We have been interested in fisheries in the Great Lakes
area since about 1871, so our research goes back a long ways. We
have been more and more concerned in recent years. In fact, 10,
15 years ago, our scientists warned that we were going to see
what we are seeing today. They were labelled "alarmists". It's
come to pass, and we're going to have further deterioration and
we're going to have a horrible mess in both parts of the Lake,
unless we do something about it.
Let's talk about the eastern end of the Lake. Many
have said, "Well, the situation isn't as bad in the eastern end
of the Lake as it is in the western end". That's true. It
isn't. But it will be in 10, 15 years. We already see the
signs of the development of a problem in the eastern end of
this Lake, similar to what we already are experiencing in the
western end. Now is the time to do something about it.
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73
Evidence has been accumulating for some time that pol-
lution may be one of the major factors in limiting the produc-
tion of fish in not only our fresh waters, but also in our es-
tuaries along our coastline, and even in the open ocean. I
just recently picked up an article in one of the newspapers,
which reads:
"DDT in Antarctica as Sequel to 'Silent Spring.'
Scientists are puzzled by the fact that they are now finding
quantities of DDT in seals, penguins and fish in the remote
lands, thousands of miles from the nearest pests in gardens."
So how did they get there? We talk about this prob-
lem of interstate pollution. Actually, aren't we experiencing
worldwide, intercontinental pollution? Actually, don't we con-
sider the Great Lakes as one big river, floating into the
ocean? Aren't we dumping all of this sewage into the ocean—
where it goes we don't know? It gets into the currents, and
it's distributed all along the coastline, not only of this
continent, but of other continents. This is a serious problem.
Let's not minimize it.
I have heard many, many definitions of pollution.
Of course, these definitions depend on the interest of the
particular person you are talking to, but almost everyone to-
day--! think today--not a few years ago, but today, will agree
that pollution means the addition of something, whether it be
trash, chemicals, biological entities, or even heat, which re-
duces the quality of an environment for specific purposes.
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74
A widely accepted measure of pollution is the suita-
bility of water for a required use. We're concerned about the
suitability of water for fish and aquatic life, and so are
many, many people along our great Great Lakes shoreline, and in
inland areas who enjoy fishing on Lake Erie, and enjoy eating
the fish from Lake Erie.
We cannot consider a single set of water quality
standards as being applicable for all uses. You have heard
about standards, about developing standards0 These standards
must be flexible. They must take into account all uses, unless
we're willing to sacrifice some of these uses.
At this point, I might interject that the steps taken
here today, and at previous conferences, are only a first step.
We don't have all the answers. We still need extensive research
to get the answers. We should not become complacent and decide
now, "Well, if we put all these treatment plants in now, our
problems are all solved, and we're going to have a nice, clean
Lake Erie." We've waved the magic wand. We've found the
Fountain of Youth and we're going to rejuvenate Lake Erie.
This is not the case. In fact, it is very, very doubtful that
we will ever see the good old days of Lake Erie — that we will
ever see the species of fish we once enjoyed in Lake Erie, but
if we don't do something now, we're not going to be around Lake
Erie to enjoy anything.
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People have asked me, "When will Lake Erie die?"
when we talk about a dying lake. I don't know. No one can
answer this question, but it is coming. I will say this.
Whether it happens in our lifetime, or in the lifetime of our
progeny, the one thing that we must remember is that none of
these people will be around to see Lake Erie die, because long
before Lake Erie dies, it will cease to function as a useful
resource. It will be useless to all of the people that wish
to use Lake Erie for all of the various purposes that it is
used for.
I notice that the Governor is coming in, so at this
stage why don't I stop, and let Governor Rockefeller come up
here and make his speech. (applause)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: You know, they say you have for the
President a long and a short introduction. You can say either,
"The President of the United States" that's the short one, but
the long one is "Ladies and gentlemen, the President of the
United States." I think with Governor Rockefeller we don't
have to do any more. Governor Rockefeller. (applause)
GOVERNOR ROCKEFELLER: Thank you very much. I
apologize for being late. Traffic conditions at two airports
resulted in the delay.
I'd like to thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and
members of the committee, for the privilege of appearing here
today. I don't think I have to say to those present in this
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76
room that Lake Erie pollution is of vital and continuing concern
to New York and we welcome the active interest of the Federal
Government in what is in fact a serious international and inter-
state problem.
Four years ago, in recognition of this problem, I re-
quested Secretary of State Dean Rusk to bring the question of
Lake Erie pollution before the Canadian-American International
Joint Commission. The Governments of the United States and
Canada did so just last year.
As a "downstream" state on Lake Erie, New York's con-
cern extends to the pollution control progress being made not
only by our communities but by our "upstream" neighbors as well.
Upon my recommendation and with the unanimous approval
of the Legislature, New York has initiated a comprehensive and
massive program to end water pollution throughout our State.
This billion-dollar State program—the boldest yet launched in
this country—may well point the way to decisive progress in
other states, if there is full and proper support from the
Federal Government. Nothing short of a national attack on the
blight of pollution on such a scale is worthy of the problem's
real dimensions.
It is for this reason that I went to Washington in
February to personally urge President Johnson and, at his sug-
gestion, Secretary Celebrezze of Health, Education, and Welfare
and the Department of the Interior to support the goal of ending
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the pollutions of pure waters to which the President referred in
his State of the Union Message earlier this year.
My plea was that the President recommend to the Congress
the appropriation of funds on a scale comparable to the magnitude
and urgency of the problem we face—and to the scale of the fi-
nancial effort which I had recommended to the New York State
Legislature. In essence the problem facing the Nation is dramat-
ically illustrated by the following figures:
In New York State alone, we must spend $1.7 billion,
to end the pollution of our waters. Toward this goal, under
existing Federal air programs for pollution control, New York
State only receives $5 million a year from the Federal government.
Five million toward the needed expenditure of $1.7 billion in
New York State is barely a drop in the bucket.
The President was sympathetic but has so far made no
recommendations to the Congress for increased appropriations.
The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare was sympathetic
and recommended that I go to the Congress and make my plea di-
rectly, which I subsequently did before the Blatnik Committee
of the House on February twenty-third and the Muskie Committee
of the Senate on May nineteenth. In addition, I called a
special meeting of the New York State Congressional Delegation
to enlist their support with the Committees and the Congress
as a whole. Since then the Legislature in New York State
unanimously voted the authorization of a billion dollar bond
issue which I had requested for this purpose subject, of course,
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to the approval of the people in November. But the Congress has
not acted and the Senate and the House Committees are still in
conference.
However, I am much heartened by the fact that the
President of the United States has called a meeting for tomorrow
morning at the White House of the Governors and Mayors of New
York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to discuss the water problem.
I am hopeful that now in the light of the dire water shortage due
to the drought that the President will recommend prompt
Congressional action to appropriate sufficient funds for pollution
control, and to amend the Federal laws to eliminate the existing
discriminatory features against the industrial and urban states.
It is my purpose in joining the conferees here today
to discuss the real needs which must be met to help us solve the
critical problem of water pollution in Lake Erie--in New York
State, and throughout the United States.
There are some facts which must be faced.
The primary fact is the staggering cost of building
water pollution control facilities. As I already mentioned, we
estimate that it will cost $1,7 billion to build the new treat-
ment plants and intercepting sewers needed by our communities in
New York now and through 1970. This estimate is not plucked out
of the air. It is based upon our Health Department records as
well as a $200,000 State-conducted engineering study, using
field survey methods, which evaluated the specific needs for
sewage treatment facilities in every community in the State.
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The second fact we must face is a corollary of the
first. Confronted as we are with such a tremendous backlog of
needed facilities, pollution control laws, be they state or
Federal, and pollution control conferences, be they state or
Federal, cannot be fully effective until we decide to make the
massive financial commitment required to eliminate the backlog.
I am convinced that we can end water pollution only by
moving on a broad front through a concerted intergovernmental
effort to provide the wherewithall for communities to meet their
needs and to provide incentives for industry to comply.
These are facts which certainly are not unique to New
York. New York's needs are shared with every other urban area
throughout the Nation.
I submit that the Federal Government has not faced up
to the problem realistically. As I pointed out, its present
program of grants-in-aid for the construction of sewage treat-
ment facilities is woefully inadequate to overcome the huge back-
log of facilities needs that presently exists. (I say here
parenthetically, ladies and gentlemen, that the members of the
Committees in the Senate and House and the members of the De-
partments directly involved in Washington are most sympathetic
to this fact, and are deeply dedicated to getting the Federal
appropriations levels raised to a point where this problem can
be dealt with effectively. I might say also parenthetically,
that Under Secretary of the Interior told me that as things now
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stand at present Federal appropriation levels, we are losing
ground in the United States as far as water pollution is con-
cerned, not gaining ground.) The inadequacy of the program in
terms of size is compounded by limitations on grants and by a
formula for allocating the available funds- among the states
which discriminate against urban areas where the facilities
need is greatest.
I submit that the State of New York is presently un-
dertaking a program which is responsive to the real needs and
which will end water pollution in New York State in a period of
six years, if the public supports the bond issue this Fall.
We know what our problem is. The classification of
all surface waters in this area has been completed and specific
abatement plans will be completed by the end of this year.
We have laid the groundwork for decisive action.
Through a State Constitutional amendment which I recommended
and which the people of the State approved in 1963, local govern-
ment obligations incurred until 1973 for sewage works are
wholly exempted from constitutional debt limits. This was a
very important and necessary step. In addition, New York
State's Constitution and statutes have been amended to en-
courage intermunicipal cooperation to meet area-wide service
needs in the most efficient and effective manner. As a result
of legislation which I recommended, the State now pays 100 per-
cent of the cost of comprehensive sewerage planning studies
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undertaken by municipalities on an area-wide basis, and $9
million has already been appropriated for these studies.
And now we have initiated truly decisive action — the
comprehensive Pure Waters program to end water pollution
throughout New York State in six years.
To be more specific in relation to this Pure Water
Program, let me give you some of the elements that go to make
up the program.
1. Authorization of a $1 billion State bond issue to
provide the financial means to communities to overcome the huge
backlog of facilities needs by reducing the local share of the
cost of such facilities to 40 percent, and frankly the thing
that has held us up throughout the State has been this tre-
mendous cost factor. This billion-dollar bond issue authoriza-
tion, which is the key to the success of the program, was
unanimously approved by the New York State Legislature and will
appear on our ballot this November for approval of the voters.
Through this bond issue, the State will take the leadership in
Federal-state-local sharing of the costs of constructing new
sewage treatment plants and intercepting sewers. The State
will assume 30 percent of the cost to the local community. If
necessary, the State will also pay another 30 percent to the
local community, 30 percent of the cost of such facilities,
representing the proper Federal share. Such pre-financing of
the proper Federal share of the cost, without waiting for
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Federal action, will enable New York to avoid delay and to
eliminate the backlog of needed works as quickly as planning
and construction timetables will permit.
I might just add another word there, although the
gentlemen at the table, of course, know the details. But to
illustrate how the limitations of the Federal law operate under
existing law, which ostensibly gives 30 percent of the cost to a
local community, no community can, for one plan, get more than
$600,000. The last big New York City plant cost $83 million^ so
that the 30 percent representing $600,000 didn't go very far in
paying for their share. In addition, there were other limita-
tions ^ which resulted in New York City only getting $250,000 for
that plant, which cost the City $83 million. This is what we
are trying to get around by this program of the State, so that
we will put up State money for one-third, we will put up 30 per-
cent and we will pre-finance the Federal 30 percent for the
full amount, giving the local community 60.
2. State and local tax incentives to spur construc-
tion of new industrial pollution control facilities. A one-year
depreciation write-off for industrial treatment facilities under
our corporate franchise tax and the provision of real property
tax exemption are now the law of the State, unanimously adopted
by the Legislature at this last session, upon my recommendation.
I guess I might say there again, parenthetically, that
under our State Constitution,- the State has no right to assist a
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private corporation, but we can adjust our tax laws to encourage
and to facilitate the private corporations from making these ex-
penditures .
3. State aid to localities for one-third of the cost
of operating and maintaining local sewage treatment plants. This
aid was authorized upon my recommendation in 1962 but funds were
not appropriated until this year when $8 million were approved
in my Budget to finance this part of the program for this fiscal
year alone.
4. Initiation of a new automated water quality moni-
toring system and an expansion of State research in water pollu-
tion control problems.
5. Vigorous enforcement of the State's new laws
against water pollution. Significant legislation which I recom-
mended was unanimously adopted by the recent session of our
Legislature to streamline and quicken the pace of enforcement.
This is a program which will indeed enable us to move
on a broad front against pollution. It will permit us in six
years to move throughout the State to eliminate a problem that
has been building up for over a century, including the elimina-
tion of all pollution by New York State in Lake Erie.
As this Nation has been swept forward in a tide of
urbanization and population growth, local governments have been
faced with increasing financial responsibilities and burdens in
essential service areas such as education. While local financial
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burdens grew, the need for water pollution control facilities was
often low on the list of local priorities because water pollution
often affects people and industries located downstream from those
responsible for that pollution. The problem has been compounded
by the fact that the Nation's water needs are increasing at the
same time that wastes—actual and potential pollution—are in-
creasing.
The State of New York has taken great steps in re-
sponding to urban needs; of our current budget, 58 percent—
over $2 billion is paid to the localities as State aid. Despite
this substantial financial underpinning, the burdens upon our
urban areas are such that they have huge backlogs of need for
waste treatment facilities.
Our Pure Waters program represents the kind of decisive
action necessary to face up to the problem.
The importance of overcoming that backlog immediately
and decisively cannot be over-emphasized, and of course is
dramatized by this hearing. Not only will it permit us to move
on a broad front against water pollution, but it will also per-
mit us to solve the problem before the costs become unmanageable.
I think it is interesting to note that construction
costs in this field increase about four to five percent a year.
If we were to permit our existing backlog of needed works to
persist for the next ten years, rising construction costs, to-
gether with new needs caused by increasing urban population and
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replacement of obsolete treatment plants, would double the cost
of eliminating that existing backlog, bringing it to almost
$4 billion.
We believe, therefore, that New York's comprehensive
new program, building upon our previous efforts, is the solution
to the water pollution problem in New York State. Through it,
with the approval of the voters this November, we will end water
pollution throughout the State, including the area with which
this conference is specifically concerned.
Thus, the State action needed is under way.
With specific regard to this Federal Enforcement Con-
ference, the extent of "interstate" pollution from New York (the
specific problem of the Conference regarding New York) is very
small in comparison to the pollution from the "upstream" states.
The great bulk of existing pollution from New York from this area
does not add to "interstate" pollution of the Lake and thus is
"intrastate" in nature and will—under the new State legislation--
be dealt with and eliminated if the bond issue is approved by
the voters this fall. Senator Robert Kennedy and Representative
Richard McCarthy have suggested that I request that the concern
of the Conference be extended to cover New York's "intrastate"
pollution problem in the Niagara Frontier.
In a joint letter dated July 15, the Senator and the
Congressman said and I quote:
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"Under the law, the Federal enforcement authority can
be invoked with respect to intrastate pollution only on request
of the Governor of the State. Thus, New Yorkers will not re-
ceive full benefit from this Conference unless you decide to
request federal enforcement."
This statement is extremely misleading, ladies and
gentlemen, to say the least. The fact is, however, that there
would be no benefit to New York in terms of its intrastate pol-
lution problem from such Federal Enforcement. We would receive
no extra financial assistance. We do not need Federal legal
assistance, and indeed such Federal enforcement activity could
only serve to duplicate and hinder State action, already under
way, confuse and diffuse responsibility, and thus delay the
achievement of the real goal—clean waters.
Both the Senator and the Congressman attended the New
York State Congressional Delegation meeting which I called, and
are fully familiar with New York State's action program. Both
of these gentlemen know that New York State now has the power to
enforce and the comprehensive program to carry it out, if the
voters approve the bond issue this fall and there is every indi-
cation that the voters will approve the bond issue. Both of
these gentlemen also know that New York's share of existing
Federal funds is only $5 million per year as compared with our
State's needs of $1.7 billion.
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What the Senator and the Congressman should be doing
is working in the Congress to increase the Federal appropriations
and to eliminate the provisions in the present law which short-
change New York and the other industrial and urban states.
The necessary Federal commitment is yet to come. As
I mentioned earlier, twice this year I have appeared before
committees of the Congress—the Blatnik and the Muskie Committees -
to urge the Federal government to assume its full 30 percent
share of the cost burden in partnership with the state and locali-
ties as called for under the existing basic legislation, and 30
percent of the cost in New York State is $500 million. That is
what we hope to get from the Federal government. At the present
rate, it would take about 50 years, and we can't wait, ladies
and gentlemen. We've got to move and act now. I have suggested
a number of changes in the present construction grant program
under the Water Pollution Control Act, which would result in
achieving this goal. These include:
Allocation of total Federal funds among the states
solely on the basis of population. We now get about 5 percent
of the total Federal funds which is $5 million on a $100 million
appropriation. We have 10 percent of the population and pay a
good deal more in percentage of taxes. We would be happy to
get 10 percent on a population basis, and if then the appropria-
tion were increased to a minimum of $250,000,000 instead of
$100,000,000 that would give New York $25,000,000 a year.
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If we were allowed to pre-finance, that is, we'd pay
and do the job now and collect each year $25 million from the
Federal government as we can do under the Interstate Highway
Program, then in 20 years, the Federal government at that rate,
$250 million a year--$25 million to New York, would achieve
their $500,000,000 share which is 30 percent of the cost in
New York State.
Now what I've recommended is that the Federal govern-
ment also amend their present law and make provision for an
extra Federal grant where states provide grants to localities
for construction of eligible projects to provide a full 30
percent Federal share, without regard to limitations.
Another revision, I've recommended provision for Federal
reimbursement to a state from future Federal appropriations
where such a state advances all or part of the Federal contri-
bution to costs on eligible projects, and an increase in the
yearly authorization for the Federal program from its present
$100 million to at least $250 million.
I have also suggested a Federal tax incentive, similar
to New York's under the Federal Corporate Income Tax to encourage
and help industries in constructing the treatment facilities
needed to end industrial water pollution where industrial wastes
are not included in municipal systems. I might say there on
this question of industrial wastes, that while a great many
people think that industry is largely responsible for the
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pollution, in New York State the cost of correcting industrial
pollution is around $67 million, whereas the cost of correcting
community pollution is $1.7 billion, so that our industries
have done a pretty good job. The incentive which I've recom-
mended will help to clean up the last steps with the new en-
forcement provisions that the Legislature gave us.
In making these suggestions in Washington I have had
a most interested reception. But their implementation by Congress
will require some real and sustained effort by our Representatives
in Washington as well.
I am convinced that this kind of national action as I
suggested would provide the basis for a realistic solution to
the mounting national problem, making the Federal program truly
responsive to the national need, and go far to encourage states
to assume their responsibilities under the Federal system.
In summary, the huge backlog of construction needs
stands as a barrier to efforts to end water pollution. The
State of New York is taking action--it has embarked upon a
massive program to overcome this backlog, knows specifically
what its program is, and intends to solve it.
The needed Federal action is a substantial Federal
financial commitment in a Federal-state-local partnership pro-
gram of immediate and decisive action—not simply to deplore
water pollution, but to end it, with the funds that are neces-
sary to build the plants.
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Mr. Chairman, gentlemen, I'd like to thank you for
your presence here and to say that by your presence you focus
public attention on the problem and generate public support. I
am confident that this conference which you have called will be
an important factor in awakening increased public understanding
and interest, so that when the issue comes before the public
this fall, in November on our ballot, I have every confidence
that the public, the voters of New York, will support this $1
billion bond issue. I am hopeful that it will not only be ef-
fective in New York, but will stimulate other states to take
similar action and encourage the Federal government to do like-
wise in terms of the magnitude of the Federal financial effort.
Thank you very much indeed. (applause)
CHAIBMAN STEIN: Thank you, Governor, for indeed a
comprehensive thinking on New York's position. I think that
when we have people wanting to clean up pollution, and we just
have a difference in detail, we can achieve these results.
Governor, you know if you stay around long enough,
almost everyone is your boss or your ex-boss. I remember when
you were my boss as Under Secretary—that' s when you developed
this legislation that we are applying here now and these en-
forcement procedures.
Are there any further comments or questions? If not,
I understand that Dr. Ingraham, who is with the Governor, would
like to make his statement now.
May we hear from Dr. Ingraham?
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DR. INGRAHAM: Mr. Chairman, conferees, ladies and
gentlemen, I am Hollis Ingraham, Commissioner of Health of the
State of New York, and I should like to describe to the conference
the powers and programs of the State Health Department in com-
batting water pollution not only on Lake Erie, but in the rest
of the State as well.
In New York State, the policy-making coordinating
agency for all State resources is the State Water Resources
Commission. Our State Conservation Commissioner, Mr. Harold
Wilm, who is Chairman of the Water Resources Commission, will
testify here today. The Health Department is the agency which
administers the State's Water Pollution Control Program within
the framework of policy established by the Water Resources Com-
mission. As Commissioner of Health, I am also a member of the
Water Resources Commission.
The Commission is responsible for classifying and re-
classifying waters as to their best social and economic use.
The State Commissioner of Health is responsible for enforcing
the law "to abate existing pollution and to prevent future
pollution." To meet our responsibilities, we have created a
water resources program within the Health Department that in
size, scope and the quality of personnel ranks among the leading
water control programs in the Nation.
Our Water Resources Bureau is organized to deal with
both the immediate problems of pollution and, equally vital, to
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carry out long-range, area-wide planning to insure that our re-
sults are not,sporadic, piecemeal or short-lived.
The comprehensiveness of our approach is perhaps sug-
gested by the programs operating within our Bureau of Water
Resources. These are research and development, planning and
evaluation, municipal and industrial pollution identification,
water pollution control enforcement and water supply services.
Let me summarize quickly the major outlines of the
Department's water programs. This year, we completed an ex-
haustive survey of the State's 54,000 square miles of surface
waters. By the end of the year, all these waters shall have
been classified according to their best usage. We have com-
pletely abated more than 600 sources of pollution through volun-
tary compliance, or court actions since the Water Pollution
Control Act of 1949 .came into effect. We have identified 700
industrial and 1200 municipal sources of present pollution.
We have set abatement schedules to end pollution from all of
these sources. Together with the State's Attorney General, we
are carrying out numerous pollution hearings and court actions
in cases where voluntary efforts have not availed. We exercise
preventive action by requiring the submission and approval of
plans for new waste outlets or modified disposal systems.
Through our investigations we originally identified
132 sources of pollution in the Erie-Niagara Drainage Basin.
The Health Department has succeeded in completely abating
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pollution from over 36 percent of these sources. Another 12 per-
cent have been partly curbed. Since 1957, $17 million has been
spent in Erie County alone for trunking and treatment facilities.
Four million dollars more are committed for construction. We
still have 62 municipal and 21 industrial sources of pollution
in this basin, of which 30 are considered heavy polluters.
Just as important as the enforcement of the pollution
abatement, we have also instituted positive programs to help
communities and industries plan their waste treatment systems
with an eye to the future purity of our waters. For example,
we pay the full cost of studies to encourage the planning of com-
prehensive water supply and sewage treatment facilities along
the sensible, more economical lines of drainage basins. Eight
such studies in the Erie-Niagara Basin are now among the 110
that the State is currently supporting. We are providing the
technical services of State experts to assist our local health
departments with special pollution problems. We have under way,
a vigorous program of research to find more efficient and less
costly treatment methods and to find ways to treat difficult and
unusual wastes.
Governor Rockefeller has already described to you our
State assistance to localities and financial incentives to in-
dustry to stimulate the construction of sewage treatment facili-
ties. Mr. Hennigan who directs our Bureau of Water Resource
Services is here today as a participant, and will give you a
more complete picture of what we are doing, and what we propose
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to do as a State deeply committed to rescuing our waters from
pollution. Perhaps I can put that effort into some sort of
perspective by saying that our State level water planning and
pollution abatement services are now a $15 million annual item
in the State Health Department budget.
But this is not enough. Governor Rockefeller's state-
ment clearly identified the key to decisive pollution abatement,
which is to help communities and industries meet the staggering
expense of building sewage treatment facilities. The unanimous
enactment of the Pure Waters Act by our State Legislature
demonstrates the willingness of New Yorkers to accept a $1.7
billion price for cleaning up our waters.
One of the issues before this conference seems to be
whether or not the pollution of Lake Erie is interstate. This
issue involves technical definitions and arguments can be made
for either case. However, I believe that this issue does not
rival the far more relevant question as to how we go about
abating the pollution. Lake Erie is admittedly polluted and
New York is admittedly one of the several States contributing
to this condition, even if, as Governor Rockefeller mentioned,
we contribute less than 1 percent of the total pollution load
to Lake Erie.
Our objective is to abate the pollution that emanates
from sources in New York State, and we ask the Federal Govern-
ment to become a fuller financial partner in helping us meet
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this goal. We know our pollution problem. We know what must
be done to end it. And we know how much it will cost. The
link that chains these factors together into a successful attack
on pollution is financing.
We possess within the State the organization, the
skills and, most crucial of all, the will to end water pollu-
tion. Of course, we will always welcome the excellent techni-
cal and consultant assistance of the Public Health Service when
offered on a true partnership basis. We hope to continue to
enjoy the help of the Service, but at this point, the decisive
force needed to defeat pollution is greater Federal financial
assistance in line with Governor Rockefeller's recommendations.
By continuing its technical cooperation and by pro-
viding increased financial incentives to municipalities and in-
dustries, the Federal Government can create a model partnership
with New York State that will point the way to cleaner waters
throughout the Nation.
This ends my formal presentation, Mr. Stein. I'd
merely like to say that there has been great interest in this
conference--so much so that we felt it was impossible to accede
to the requests of all those who wished to speak here today,
and I thought that in view of the fact that on June 17th,
Senator Muskie held a conference here in this same City, and
reviewed in great depth the problems of pollution in Lake Erie,
of which all segments of the population had an opportunity to
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testify, that it might be desirable to incorporate into the pro-
ceedings of this conference the testimony given at that time.
I make that merely as a suggestion that Mr. Hennigan perhaps
could enlarge on.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I wonder if we could keep that under
advisement for a while--to look at the size of that record to
see whether we want to make it an exhibit, or part of the tran-
script .
DR. INGRAHAM: Merely a suggestion, Mr. Stein, for
your consideration.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Of course, Dr. Ingraham, you know
that under the law, you fully control New York's time and the
invitees from the State, You also know that as conferees we
are here and are ready to be here, as long as you have invitees
who you feel have relative statements and you want to put them
forth before us. In other words, we are not imposing any time
limitations.
DR, INGRAHAM: Yes, sir, and we have invited a number
of participants who have accepted the invitation. I thought
this might merely be a way in which absolutely complete coverage
might be attained, if it is not attained in the course of this
conference.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We will take that up with Mr. Hennigan,
if we may.
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Are there any further comments or questions of Dr.
Ingraham? If not, thank you very much, Dr. Ingraham, for your
very perceptive statement. We certainly appreciated it, and
I'm sure it is going to add to the conferees' deliberations.
Thank you. (applause)
Before lunch, we would like to call on Dr. Harold
Wilm, Commissioner of Conservation of the State of New York,
who has a statement for the conferees. Dr. Wilm?
DR, WILM: Chairman Stein, it's nice to see you
again, and your associates at the front table.
Ladies and gentlemen, my paper can be very brief for
one very good reason: I have been preceded by my boss, the
Governor of New York State and by Dr. Ingraham, who have ex-
plained the responsibility of the Health Department in con-
nection with the Water Resources Commission.
I'm appearing as the Chairman of the Commission.
As such, I am not going to try to duplicate what Dr. Ingraham
has already told you. But I would like to expand just a little
bit on what was said, to indicate some of the other responsi-
bilities of the Commission, aside from water pollution control,
simply because these other activities do relate directly on
water pollution control, through the relation of water to all
its uses, including quality.
The establishing of water quality goals is an important
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part of the concentrated study efforts that have been undertaken
by the State within the last three years in the Erie-Niagara
Basin and in other areas of New York State.
In this State, we have the legal and administrative
framework for effectively handling and coordinating activities
and programs relating to all aspects of water resources planning,
development and control. Policy-making for these activities is
centralized in the Water Resources Commission, which is composed
of the seven chief executives of the Departments of Agriculture
and Markets, Commerce, Conservation, Health, Law, Public Works
and the Office for Local Government, and four laymen advisory
members who represent agriculture, sportsmen, municipal corpora-
tions and industry. The Office of Local Government was added to
the Commission just this last year because of the very great
strength of local governments in New York State, particularly
in comparison with many other States. The Conservation Com-
missioner, as you know, is Chairman.
In connection with water quality, it might be emphasized
that the Water Resources Commission adopts the standards and
classifications which apply to all the waters of the State. These
are controlled by the Health Department in consultation with
other departments, and then before they are made rules of the
State, they have to be approved by all the voting members of the
Commission.
In the case of all other water resource activities,
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some single department of the member departments carries out the
policies in the water quality field. The Health Department en-
forces the standards and classifications and takes all necessary
action in connection with water quality and water pollution con-
trol.
This is a powerful mechanism. It's a very good mecha-
nism in the sense that it ties together the interests of the
Federal-State departments and various laymen interests in a
single Commission which passes upon the policies executed by
individual departments, such as the Health Department.
I'd like to bring to your attention State planning ac-
tivities to demonstrate that New York has a complete water re-
sources program within which water quality goals can be estab-
lished and continually protected: (1) The Water Resources Com-
mission is charged with evolving a Statewide plan for compre-
hensive development of the State's water resources. Therefore,
the Commission is participating in planning jobs involving about
one-half the State's area already in Federal-State cooidinating
committees, in which the Water Resources Commission works di-
rectly with the Federal agencies; (2) The Delaware River Basin
where we have an interstate Federal contact with very broad
power over the water resources of the Delaware River Basin.
The Commission, in this case, is composed of the Governors of
four States, and a representative of the President - one
representative of the President. He is required by law to
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coordinate all the Federal activities in the Delaware River Basin;
(3) Intrastate regional board studies under Part V, Article V of
the New York State Conservation Law and finally (4) broad-scale
water resources studies of ten regions of the State with the
State Office for Regional Development and also in cooperation
with the Federal Housing and Home Finance Agency.
Of particular interest here is the State-financed
regional board study of the Erie-Niagara Basin, which embraces
about 2,000 square miles in a four-county area; this includes
about 84 percent of the total area of the State which drains
into Lake Erie (roughly 5 percent of the total geographical
area of the State is tributary to Lake Erie). The board, con-
stituted in January 1963 by the Water Resources Commission and
composed of seven highly qualified local leaders residing in
the basin, is responsible for evolving a comprehensive plan for
the development of the water and related land resources of this
four-county region, centered around Buffalo.
I might add in this connection that we requested the
Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Army to assist
us in this case, rather than our assisting the Federal people.
The Secretary of Agriculture responded that under Public Law 556,
the Department of Agriculture is already empowered to cooperate
directly with State and local agencies such as this four-county
board, and he would be very glad to supply personnel and fi-
nances, if granted by the Congress. Of course, we have been
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talking to Congress to see that the Secretary of Agriculture
gets a little bit of money.
When we approached the Array on the same subject, we
found that while they would be very happy to cooperate with us,
although we surprised them a little bit, that they needed to
have a little additional language in the Flood Control Act of
1965, which would empower them to cooperate with the local
agencies, such as this regional board. At the request of
Congressman Leo O'Brien, the Chairman—the ranking member of
the Interior Committee of the House—incidentally - Congressman
O'Brien asked the Army to draft some suitable language, which
has now been introduced into the Congress.
For the first time you might say, two great Federal
agencies are cooperating with a local board with leadership by
the State in a really cooperative planning endeavor starting
right now in the counties most concerned.
The plan for the Erie-Niagara Basin will include pro-
visions to meet short- and long-range needs to satisfy diverse
water requirements: municipal, industrial and agricultural
water supply; water quality management, including low-flow aug-
mentation; water-based recreation; fish and wildlife enhance-
ment and management; navigation; hydroelectric power; erosion
and sedimentation control; related land use and land treatment;
and others.
Estimates of the benefits to be derived from the
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varied project functions will be developed for various alternative
schemes. All practicable, alternative means of solving the major
water resources problems of the region are being studied to de-
termine the most economical and advantageous solutions. Water
quality management, including pollution control, is a basic con-
sideration in the evaluation of the possible solutions. The
comprehensive plan for the Erie-Niagara Basin is expected to be
completed sometime in 1968.
Without the cooperation of the local people at every
stage of this complex planning process, any efforts to conserve,
control, Utilize, develop and manage the water resources of a
region or a river basin are likely to fall short of the end ob-
jectives. In other words, we believe in planning from beneath
with the assistance of the higher levels of government, rather
than planning from the top with the assistance of the lower
levels. This is quite a radical change in our philosophy.
The Erie-Niagara Basin Board provides the local par-
ticipation that is necessary to achieve successful planning.
Water quality goals appropriate for the many needed and desired
uses is basic for our economic and social well-being and re-
quires consideration of many aspects which clearly are beyond
the area of health alone. We have in operation here, not only
the mechanism, but an actual program under local leadership,
participation and financing to achieve these goals.
Similar intrastate regional board studies are now
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in progress in other river basins of the State. In all of these,
as well as those of interstate river basins of concern to New
York, we welcome the participation of the U. S. Public Health
Service, and other Federal agencies as collaborators with the
State in planning the use, control and development of the wa-
ters of the State0 We believe that Congress has clearly estab-
lished the need for this teamwork, and that water quality goals
in any area of study can be established realistically only when
local, State and Federal agencies work together to insure col-
laborative consideration of all significant interests.
Thank you. (applause)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Dr0 Wilm. As always, you
have given us a very perceptive and professional analysis of the
problem, and I'm sure this will be very helpful too.
Are there any comments or questions of Dr. Wilm? If
not, thank you very much, Sir.
We will recess for lunch and reconvene promptly at
2 o'clock.
(Conference recessed for lunch)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are we ready to reconvene? Mr.
Premetz, will you continue please?
MR. PREMETZ: I guess we'll get to Part II of the
aaga of Lake Erie now.
I did remember one thing, Chairman Stein. I think
in Cleveland you told us that if we didn't identify ourselves
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by record, our remarks would be listed under "Anonymous", so I
guess my remarks this morning were listed under "Anonymous".
CHAIRMAN STEIN: No, they were listed under
"Miscellaneous".
MR. PREMETZ: But for the record, my name is Ernest
Premetz and I'm Deputy Director of the Great Lakes and Central
Region of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, U. S. Department
of the Interior, headquarters at Ann Arbor, Michigan. Out of
Ann Arbor, we cover an eighteen State area in the Great Lakes
and Central part of the country, so we are concerned with pol-
lution problems in a variety of environments--all of our major
river basins, and the Great Lakes area. With that, let's get
to the point where we stopped this morning, and that was this
matter of water quality standards.
As I mentioned, we cannot consider a single set of
water quality standards as being applicable to all uses. For
example, water that might be suitable for industrial purposes
may not be acceptable for human consumption and, as is the
case, would be even less acceptable to fish and wildlife.
In dealing with the suitability of water for fish,
we are not concerned merely with the question of whether fish
can survive in the water. We must consider whether the en-
tire environment is suitable for satisfactory reproduction and
growth of fish. A case in point is what is happening to lake
perch in the western end of this Lake. Lake perch are extremely
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abundant, and yet they are not contributing very much to either
the commercial fishermen or sportsmen, simply because they are
not growing. Where it used to take them a couple of years to
reach the legal size, the size that the commercial fishermen and
the sportsmen wanted, it now takes them three and a half years
to reach this same size. In fact, these fish are dying of old
age in the Lake before they can be used by the people living on
the shore.
This is one of the types of effects that we have from
pollution. It need not necessarily kill the fish. It can so
alter the environment that it makes it impossible for the fish
either to reproduce or it changes the fish to the extent that
it does not grow fast enough to contribute to the people that
wish to make use of the resource.
There have been some rather dramatic decreases in the
abundance of several important fish species. These species, of
course, are harvested both by the commercial fishing industry and
end up on the tables through your restaurants, and through your
supermarkets, and also are utilized by the sportsmen. Gone from
Lake Erie are the keystones that supported a healthy and lucra-
tive industry, second to none in the years 1935 to 1958--blue
pike. All of you remember blue pike in this part of the Lake.
Walleyes, whitefish and yellow perch stocks have dwindled to
insignificance or have changed character so much that their con-
tributions to the welfare of the fishing industry are almost nil.
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For example, following the initial collapse of the blue pike
and walleye production in 1958, fisheries for both species con-
tinued to decline to insignificant levels. Blue pike production
dropped from some 6.8 million pounds worth $1.3 million in 1956,
to 200 pounds worth $120 in 1963. At the present time, to catch
a blue pike is quite a task. In fact, it's becoming a biological
rarity in Lake Erie. Now what happened to blue pike? Our
scientists feel that gradually we have continued to pollute the
waters at the eastern end of the Lake. This pollutant is in the
silt that is deposited on the bottom. The blue pike deposits
its eggs on the bottom. These eggs do not survive. Without
survival, the entire stock of fish is disappearing.
Now let's take the walleye. This was the key species
in the western end of the Lake. In 1957, we had over 5 million
pounds worth $1.4 million. In 1962, 433,000 pounds worth
$186,000. The situation has further deteriorated. There is
very little of it caught at all now.
In less than eight years, the fishing industry in
U. S. waters—this is U. S. waters alone of Lake Erie—lost
dockside values in these two species alone of $2.5 million
annually. This is without considering any other species. We
don't know how much was lost due to the decline in sport
fishing. I imagine it was considerably more than this amount.
So, we've got a serious problem facing us. Other usable fish
in the Lake are now threatened to the extent that the stability
and development of stocks are extremely undependable and
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beyond production. We have a difficult time trying to predict
anything, because things change so rapidly. A lot of people
can't even keep up with it.
I have other things that are going into the record as
far as what is happening with some of these fish species. I
won't repeat them here, but the one point that I do want to make
is that all of the information we have at hand now indicate that
pollution is having a direct effect on fish and aquatic life in
the Lake, and this pollution threatens extinction of many of the
more desirable fish in that Lake.
Now you've heard a lot of talk about dissolved oxygen
and about the fact that we have oxygen depletion in the Lake.
This was first pointed out, as far as Lake Erie is concerned,
by Ohio State University in September of 1953. They found, at
that time, that in less than five days the dissolved oxygen
levels reached .7 to 1.2 parts per million in many areas. Un-
fortunately, they didn't follow through with observations, so
we don't know whether this situation which we found in the
western basin also existed in the central basin at that time.
However, studies that were made in the central basin as early
as 1929 showed oxygen deficiencies below 65 percent saturation
and in some areas below 40 percent during the months of July
and August.
It's not unreasonable to assume that serious oxygen
deficiencies in the central basin occurred regularly and even
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more regularly in the western basin. Two phenomena always ac-
company these oxygen deficiencies in Lake Erie. A thermal
stratification is established and the zone of oxygen deficiency
is always near the bottom; so much so that our people working
in this area had to develop special samplers to demonstrate the
vertical extent of the affected column of water. Frequently,
the thermocline and oxygen-deficient layers are less than two
meters thick, so it's right down to the very, very bottom. But
this is sufficient to kill off a lot of the eggs of the fish
that are spawning in the Lake.
Since 1953 extensive oxygen deficiencies in the middle
and frequently the western basins of Lake Erie have occurred af-
fecting thousands of square miles. One time there we found an
area of 4,000 square miles that was devoid of oxygen. This
condition has been detected every year since 1958, and it ap-
pears that its regularity of occurrence is becoming accepted
as a seasonal phenomenon. We haven't noticed this serious situa-
tion in the eastern end, although we are now getting indications
that we are going to get this sort of situation here. We have a
different situation here, simply because this is the deeper end
of the Lake, and it takes a little more time to have this sort
of an effect, but as we continue to dump pollutants in our wa-
ters, we create a greater and greater oxygen demand and we come
closer to a state of oxygen deficiency in the water.
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Along with oxygen deficiency we have had several
changes in the chemistry of the Lake. I won't go into this,
because a lot of the same material is covered by the Public
Health Service in its report, but I have submitted the record
we have — the comparisons we have of 1907 with 1961 to show the
trends that have occurred during this period.
As I mentioned, the situation we are facing in Lake
Erie is difficult to deal with employing the usual surveys,
techniques and criteria for detecting and measuring pollution.
Scientists that have worked in this field gain most of their
knowledge on pollution from work on rivers, streams and small
bodies of water, which are nothing like the larger lakes.
Actually, most of them have very little knowledge of the effects
of pollution on large lakes, such as Lake Erie. Nevertheless,
they have been able to mount a fairly substantial program in
more recent years , and now we feel that ample evidence exists
to demonstrate that Lake Erie has changed appreciably, as a re-
sult of pollution, and this is having a serious effect on the
fish stocks in the Lake.
I am adding here also a little bit of a statement to
try to tell you a little bit about what happens in this aging
process and to explain this term eutrophication that's used.
But I won't go into it at this time, because I believe Dr.
Tarzwell is going to be on the program to give you a little
bit of a short course on eutrophication and pollution. He did
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a fabulous job in Cleveland, and I think a lot of the people
went away knowing a bit more about some of the terms that were
tossed at you, which is very, very difficult for most people
to understand.
Except for the oxygen deficiencies that have been
noted, some people say that the limnological changes have not
been highly critical. However, to make our consideration of
this whole matter more comprehensive, we must add at least
three additional factors that are definitive where fisheries
are concerned.
One is, there have been certain environmental changes,
due to nature. For example, in the last 45 years, the mean wa-
ter temperatures in the Lake have risen almost 2°F. This does
affect some fish.
The sedimentation rate has increased markedly, and
these sediments have become more active and complex chemically,
with the passing of time. Our scientists feel that the sediment
itself is our basic problem, as far as fish are concerned. All
of the constituents, all of the chemicals, all of the toxicants,
all of these things that draw on oxygen are contained in this
sediment, and there is a terrific amount of it in the Lake.
How this would ever be removed, we don't know—but at the same
time, we don't want to contribute more to it, and continued
practices of the type weVe had are going to add more. It is
going to create a more extreme oxygen demand here, so we've got
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to put a stop to these things. To find out just how this sedi-
ment acts in water that contains proper oxygen, we have run some
experiments in the laboratory. And, for example, if we were to
take five grams of the sediment from the bottom of Lake Erie and
put it in a 250 ml water sample, all of the oxygen in that water
sample is removed in less than five minutes. Now what we do in
this column which we've developed is to try to simulate what
happens in nature. So you can see when conditions are right,
this sediment can draw the oxygen right out of that water and
create an environment entirely devoid of oxygen, which means
that fish that are there can't live — that eggs that are there
can't survive—the younger fish that are there can't survive.
So these are the problems we face.
All of you in this area—not so much here perhaps as
in the western area or part of the Lake—can remember the swarms
of mayflies that were seen in all of our cities and it created
quite a nuisance. You don't see them any more. They're gone.
The pollution has actually affected this particular insect, the
mayfly, and this mayfly, of course, was one of the chief foods
of various species of fish. Without this food, many of these
species have not been able to adjust.
Some of our people feel that one of the reasons that
the yellow perch does not grow as fast as it used to is because
it has to feed on other things now — sludgeworms, for example,
that are found in the Lake, rather than the mayfly. Therefore,
it can't grow as quickly.
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I don't want to go into a great deal of detail here.
I think I've talked long enough, but you can see that this is
an extremely complex and involved matter. That the steps that
are being suggested today are only first steps, based on our
present knowledge, that there is still a great deal more work
to be done, and a great deal more research that has to be done,
before we can suggest other steps—that all of this is going
to take a spirit of cooperation on the part of everyone that's
interested in doing something about preserving this resource.
It's bigger than all of us. Let's face it. We can't tackle
the job alone. I'm sure that Public Health Service can't
tackle it alone. I'm sure the States can't tackle it alone.
I think we've all got to work together, not only on this first
step, but on the steps beyond this and this is going to take
many, many, many years to do, and I hope, in time, that we're
going to have a Lake that is useful again to man, and that can
again contribute to our welfare.
Thank you all for being such a kind audience and I
certainly appreciate having had the opportunity to chat with you.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Mr. Premetz. Are there
any questions or comments?
MR. POSTON: I would like to ask Mr. Premetz a ques-
tion. He referred to DDT in the Antarctic fishery and in seals
and I wondered if he was trying to make the point that the
fishery in Lake Erie was mobile and moved around all over the
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Lake, to the extent that the fishery is affected by pollution
no matter whether it is over the whole Lake, or whether it is
in a stream.
I noted after our boat trip yesterday we did see a
lot of chemical wastes in the Buffalo River and while I know
the fishery wouldn't move up the Buffalo River and continue to
exist, I wondered if these wastes over in this area might af-
fect the fish which would be caught up in another part of the
Lake? Would you care to comment on this?
MR. PREMETZ? You're putting me on the spot here.
But, as I mentioned, as far as we can see, the pollution is
pretty widespread and we really don't know where these things
we put in the water may end up.
Really, not to evade the question asked, but perhaps
consideration of framework of our responsibility, that is,
fish itself, if we're thinking in terms of Lake Erie and all
of the States along Lake Erie, anything any one State does
within its particular State boundaries which affects fish and
their ability to survive or reproduce affects people in adja-
cent States. In other words, let us hypothetically say that
blue pikes spawn in New York waters; due to a severe pollution
condition the eggs don't survive. These fish, in turn, migrate
to Canadian waters, Ohio waters, Pennsylvania waters and then
perhaps we have a situation where all of the States are con-
tributing, to some extent, to a decline of a particular
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resource. Is this what you're getting at, primarily?
MR. POSTON: That's right.
We appreciate the cooperation and assistance that we
have had from the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and our people
have exchanged information with them and are very appreciative
of this cooperation with your agency.
MR, PREMETZ: Well, we enjoy working with the people
in the Public Health Service as well, andyoxihave one boy (and
I used that advisedly) that we'd like to have over on our team
right now, and that's Dr. Tarzwell, because he's the granddaddy
of them all when it comes to pollution research as it affects
fish, and you're going to hear from him a little bit later on.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: He's our Chief Coach. He's just
incredible.
MR. PREMETZ: We'll listen to him a little more, too.
MR, HENNIGAN: Mr. Premetz, I have one question. Did
you say that in 1953 studies at Ohio State University revealed
a critically low level of dissolved oxygen in the Lake?
MR, PREMETZ: In western Lake Erie, yes.
MR. HENNIGAN: It's interesting that in this same
period, '53, '54 and '55, in fact, the walleye population in
Lake Erie was at one of its high peaks. What is the relation-
ship here?
MR. PREMETZ: Well, this is hard to explain. It may
very well be that this oxygen demand was in an area where it
did not affect that population. These were isolated cases in
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the early year. When we talk about '53, this is one spot where
this was noted. In later years, and particularly in recent
years, we have gotten situations where, at one time, we have
4,000 square miles devoid of oxygen. This has a serious ef-
fect. This problem has been growing over a number of years,
and is getting more serious each year.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further comments or
questions'i If not, thank you very much, Mr. Premetz. (applause)
We just have one more person out of order, but be-
cause we have had so many this morning and this afternoon, I
might indicate to you what the order is. I should give you my
philosophy first. An agenda is something to help us run a
meeting or a conference and we're not slavishly governed by an
agenda. Obviously, when you have Governor Rockefeller or
Senator Kennedy's schedules to meet, adjustments have to be made.
Now, generally speaking, when we proceed we would first
bake the Federal Government presentation and we would call on
other Federal agencies and then we would call on the various
State agencies for their invitees. This is what we will do
after the next presentation is made.
We are privileged today to have Dr. Wilbar, the
Health Officer of Pennsylvania, with us. Dr. Wilbar has to
leave today, and will have an alternate, Mr. Richard Boardman,
sitting in for him when he leaves. In order to facilitate
Dr. Wilbar's meeting his very busy schedule, we are going to
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ask Dr. Wilbar to make his presentation now, and then we will
adhere to the format of the original agenda. Dr. Wilbar?
DR. WILBAR: Mr. Chairman, fellow conferees, and
ladies and gentlemen, I am Dr. Charles Wilbar. I'm Secretary
of Health of Pennsylvania, and by virtue of that office, I am
also Chairman of the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board, so in
a way I have the responsibilities that both Dr. Ingraham and
Dr. Wilm have in the State of New York.
Since we are very cognizant of the roll call here of
the conferees, I would like to point out that the Pennsylvania
Sanitary Water Board is meeting tomorrow. It is a scheduled
meeting with a large agenda, and I must get back to do this,
sleeves rolled up, as part of our regular program in
Pennsylvania of water pollution control, and in my stead, Mr.
Richard Boardman will sit in on the conference. He is
Sanitary Engineer in charge of water quality in the Pennsylvania
Department of Health.
Our program in Pennsylvania has a good deal of simi-
larity with that of New York State, and I agree very much with
Dr. Ingraham, in that there is a particular need from the
Federal Government for research and technical aid and particu-
larly grants-in-aid finanically, to help meet the great costs
of some of these programs.
The enforcement powers, I think, are quite adequate
in most of the States. We have 100 men, full time, trained in
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the water pollution program, in the Health Department of
Pennsylvania, and a score or so men in the Departments of Mines
and Indoor Industries who are full time in this program in con-
nection with the strip mines in the bituminous areas. We also
have a law under which the State provides 2 percent of the cost
of a treatment plant each year, after the plant has been built.
The cost now to the State is nearly $8 million per year for
this. This is really a maintenance factor and the municipality
or the authority owning the plant gets this money for an in-
definite period of time.
We have had a strong water pollution law in the State
for over 50 years now, and it was strengthened two years ago
and there's a bill in now to strengthen it further, in regard
to acid mine drainage.
We do classify streams and have for some time. T
think that we have had a rather successful program with more
than 85 percent of our industries and municipalities which are
under orders to treat their wastes adequately and cause us no
new problems.
We in Pennsylvania are intensively interested in Lake
Erie. The Lake is an important source of public and industrial
water supply, and it's a popular summer playground for
Pennsylvanians, as well as tourists from other States. The
Sanitary Water Board has, over the years, endeavored to protect
this valuable resource from pollution by establishing a complete
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degree of treatment as the treatment requirements for all
wastes discharged into the Lake and into its tributaries.
Because of the importance of Lake Erie in
Pennsylvania's economy we support the need for the Public
Health Service Comprehensive Study of the Lake Erie Basin, now
going on. The abatement of water pollution is a complex busi-
ness, and intelligent action must be based on comprehensive
long-range planning in which all pertinent facts are considered.
The Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie Basin in-
cludes portions of Crawford and Erie Counties and encompasses
an area of 512 square miles. Agriculture is one of the princi-
pal industries in the Basin. Grapes and other fruit crops and
early maturing vegetables are the most important crops. Some
heavy industry is concentrated in and near the City of Erie.
The population of the Basin is approximately 260,000, of which
about 140,000 live within the City of Erie.
Numerous small streams enter the Lake from the
Pennsylvania portion of the Basin. The U. S. Geological
Survey does not measure flow in any of these streams on a
regular basis. However, it has been estimated that they con-
tribute an average flow of about 420 cubic feet per second to
the Lake.
Uses of the waters of Lake Erie in Pennsylvania are
many and varied. Recreational use of the Lake includes bathing
at the many beaches, fishing and boating. The best known and
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most heavily used beaches are a series of broad sandy beaches
in Presque Isle State Park near Erie. Yearly attendance at the
park exceeds 3 million people. The estimated dollar value of
this facility in terms of annual income to the area is $-45 million.
Boating interest is evidenced by the numerous pleasure
boats to be seen in the Erie City area on most summer days. Re-
ports indicate that fishing, although less popular in recent
years because of a decline in numbers of the more desirable game
fish, is still a very popular form of recreation. Commercial
fishing has also declined. Nevertheless, it still offers a
livelihood or a supplemental source of income for some
Pennsylvanians.
The Lake serves as a source of municipal water supply
for the City of Erie and surrounding communities. Water is
drawn from two intakes which extend several thousand feet out
from the western shore of Presque Isle. The average water use
for this purpose is approximately 39 million gallons per day.
Water use exceeding 50 million gallons per day during the summer
months is common. The estimated population served is 200,000.
The remainder of the population in the Basin is served by pri-
vate on-lot water supplies or by public water supplies which
use tributary streams or ground water as sources of supply.
Total industrial water use is about 220 million gallons per
day. Most of this is used for cooling purposes.
All of the municipalities in the Basin which maintain
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public sewer systems are served by complete degree treatment
works. Complete treatment is that treatment in which a minimum
of 85 percent of the biochemical oxygen demand load is removed.
It affects the removal of substantially all suspended and
settleable solids as well as the removal of oils, greases,
acids, alkalis and of toxic, putrescible taste and odor pro-
ducing substances. A number of schools and business establish-
ments in the Basin do not have access to public sewers and
therefore must provide complete degree sewage treatment prior
to discharging to streams. A tabulation showing the status of
sewage treatment in the Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie
Basin is attached to copies of this presentation.
All of the industrial establishments in the Lake Erie
Basin are meeting the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board's waste
treatment requirements or are making satisfactory progress
towards meeting this goal. The latter group has submitted time
schedules for the necessary corrective action and are on
schedule. The tabulation of the industrial establishments in
the Basin indicating their water pollution control status are
attached to copies of my presentation.
An important case presently making satisfactory
progress is the Hammermill Paper Company plant at Erie. A
change in the company's manufacturing process about ten years
ago created a waste which is not amenable to treatment by con-
ventional methods, and created a serious pollution problem.
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After a great deal of research the company has chosen to dispose
of its strong waste in deep wells. One of the two planned wells
has been in operation for more than a year. This is about 1200
feet deep. On July 20 of this year, the company received a per-
mit from the Sanitary Water Board to begin operation of its
second well. It is twice as deep as the first one. These wells
by this time should be effectively handling two million gallons
per day of highly concentrated pulp mill waste. These wastes
constitute most of the company's high BOD waste. All other
wastes from the mill receive treatment prior to discharge to
Lake Erie. In the near future, we plan to evaluate the effect
on lake quality of the plant discharge to determine if ad-
ditional pollution abatement steps are necessary.
Water quality in the eastern end of Presque Isle Bay
has been adversely affected by discharges of both sewage from
combined sewers and of industrial wastes. Overflows from the
Erie City combined sewer and storm drain system during the
periods of heavy precipitation constitute a source of pollution
to the Bay. The City has intensified its preventive maintenance
program to eliminate unnecessary discharges from combined sewers.
Because of the very nature of combined sewer operation we will
continue to have periodic discharges of wastes to the Bay and
some of its tributary streams during the periods of heavy
precipitation. The City has estimated that to separate storm
and sanitary sewer systems in order to eliminate periodic dis-
charges would cost $20 million.
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Discharges of industrial wastes to the Bay through
city storm sewers and streams tributary to the Bay caused a
series of fish kills in Presque Isle Bay during the summer of
1964. A cooperative survey made by the Pennsylvania Department
of Health and consultants for the City of Erie has pinpointed
these sources of pollution and most of the discharges have been
abated. Satisfactory progress has been made toward abatement of
the remainder. We plan to study the effect of these discharges
on the Bay after planned abatement work in this City is com-
pleted in order to determine if any additional action is needed.
The quality of the streams entering Lake Erie from
Pennsylvania is generally good. The only exceptions are Cascade
Creek, Mill Creek, and Garrison Run, which receive the combined
storm and sanitary sewer discharges mentioned above. General
compliance with Sanitary Water Board waste treatment requirements
and the rural nature of much of the watershed combined to pre-
serve the quality of the other Pennsylvania streams at a high
level. Conneaut Creek, the only interstate stream of signifi-
cant size, receives several treated waste discharges, but quality
is good at the State line.
Water quality in the Lake proper has been generally
good except for a zone immediately east of Presque Isle. The
effects of the Hammermill Paper Company's discharge which en-
ter the Lake in this shallow cove have been readily apparent.
The dark brown color and propensity to foam have been obvious
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to the casual observer. Winds from the northeast, which are
infrequent and opposite to the prevailing wind direction, have
several times in the past caused the waste to concentrate in
the cove and in Presque Isle Bay to the extent that dissolved
oxygen was seriously depleted and fish were killed.
Extensive sampling of the Presque Isle beach area for
bacteriological analysis over the years has indicated acceptable
quality on all beaches except Beach 11 at the eastern point of
Presque Isle. High coliform levels at Beach 11 have been cor-
related with occasional winds from the east which carry the
chlorinated effluent from the Erie sewage treatment plant in
the direction of the beach. The sewage treatment plant dis-
charges to the Lake through a submerged outfall about a mile
from the Presque Isle beaches. Operation and control changes
have been made at the sewage treatment plant in an attempt to
eliminate this problem.
We have no information available to us that indicates
that pollution of Lake Erie in relation to Pennsylvania is
occurring from another State.
An indication of the eutrophication of the waters
of the Lake is observed periodically in the Erie area. Heavy
mats of algae are washed ashore creating nuisance conditions
and discouraging bathing.
By way of summary and conclusion, significant pollu-
tion control progress has been made by the municipalities and
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industries in the Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie Basin.
We will continue our program aimed at abating the remaining
inadequately treated waste discharges in the Basin. We realize
that effluents from complete degree treatment works and agri-
cultural runoff contain residual pollutants that can adversely
affect water quality. Nutrients which speed up the eutrophica-
tion process fall in this category. I might add parenthetically
here that I think this is a most serious problem—this fertili-
zation or eutrophication, due to excess of phosphates mainly,
and we haven't yet seen scientific analysis of the proper long-
term answer to this in this Lake or any other lake in the
United States. There are a few small lakes in the United
States that have completely disappeared due to eutrophication
and this could happen to Lake Erie. We expect that the Public
Health Service study report will indicate the effect of these
nutrients on the Lake, where they come from, and how much it
will cost the people in the Basin to abate this type of pol-
lution.
We have no information that indicates that interstate
pollution involving Pennsylvania is occurring in Lake Erie.
Pennsylvanians have devoted a great deal of effort
toward abating pollution in our portion of the Basin. The
economy of the Pennsylvania portion of the Lake Erie Basin
depends upon preservation of lake water quality. We intend
to do everything in our power to assure that water quality
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requirements designed to enhance the quality of the Lake are
met, and I would like to add a supplemental statement at this
time. We did receive five days prior to the opening of the
conference the report from the Public Health Service. It
takes a while to read it and study it, but I would like to say
in addition to my prepared statement, I would like to comment
on the recommendations made in the Public Health Service's re-
port on Lake Erie.
Pennsylvania's water pollution control program al-
ready has requirements that meet most of the general recommenda-
tions. The specific recommendations in Part III of the report
are apparently based on somewhat outdated information and it
created a public relations problem for two industries in the
Erie area. The two industries mentioned in the report,
Hammermill Paper Company and Interlake Iron Company, were the
subject of newspaper criticism by one of the Congressmen from
the Erie area. He used the Public Health Service outdated and
inaccurate information as a source, and the Hammermill Company
has already taken the action recommended in the report and
Interlake Iron Company has had effective solids and phenol re-
movals for some time. It is unfortunate that information such
as this was not checked more closely with our people prior to
its published release. These companies have spent considerable
sums of money to meet the Sanitary Water Board requirements and
should not be unjustly criticized.
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The City of Erie is already looking into the extension
and enlargement of interceptors which would allow for the diver-
sion of less storm flow to Mill Creek. The additional storm
flow would be diverted to the sewage treatment plant, and dis-
charged to the Lake, rather than to the small tributaries and
the Bay. The technical and economic feasibility of such a plan
is being investigated.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you, Dr. Wilbar. Are there
any comments or questions?
MR. POSTON; I have a few questions for Dr. Wilbar.
I wonder whether the State of Pennsylvania--! understand they
classify streams in Pennsylvania, do you also classify that
portion of Lake Erie that is Pennsylvania waters?
DR. WILBARt Yes.
MR. POSTON: And how do you classify that? In what
way? What classification do you give Lake Erie waters?
DR. WILBARi I can't tell you. Mr. Boardman, what
is the classification of Lake Erie at present?
MR. BOARDMAN: It is classified for complete treatment.
DR. WILBAR: We have complete treatment, as I pointed
out, on Lake Erie and its tributaries in Pennsylvania.
MR. POSTON: I notice that you are going to discharge
sewage to the Bayand some of the storm water overflows—dis-
charge those direct to the Lake. Would this then meet your
classification of complete treatment?
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DR. WILBAR: Well, as you well know, this Is a matter
of having storm sewers and sanitary sewers together as found in
most of the old cities of the United States and the solution
here is a very difficult one. To dig up the streets and sepa-
rate them is a very expensive thing in a large, old city.
The complete treatment of a sewage plant itself, ex-
cept in cases of major storms where you have a big run of water
and the overflow from the drains is--the storm overflow washes
out then in these combined sewers over where we are and some of
the untreated sewage just can't be helped, I think, except by a
very expensive process. As I told you, it would cost about
$20 million for the City of Erie to do this. It gets down to
a considerable economic problem. It should be done, I say, in
Erie and in many other cities in the United States--most of
them.
MR. BOSTON: The extension of the sewer--to discharge
into the Lake, rather than into the Bay and harbor--there would
be a means of eliminating a private industry pollution source in
the present discharge area, and move it out into the Lake so the
Lake could handle it --
DR. WILBAR: There's a greater dilution factor —
MR. POSTON: I wonder whether the Hammermill Paper
Company which is putting in wells would have a capacity
there to handle breakdowns. I understand that some of the
wells--! don't know if they are made specifically for
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paper mill wastes or not, but they have these underground dis-
charges to dispose of the waste. I have heard that in some
cases this practice has to be stopped until further wells can
be drilled or until some other means of disposal can be found.
I wonder whether extra capacity will be available, so that in
the event of breakdowns they will be able to handle this? Or
would that mean that it would go back into the Lake, then, for
a period of time?
DR. WILBAR: The engineers have estimated that the
two wells should be able to handle the situation from some ex-
perience elsewhere. Now this is not a widely used practice and
we can't be absolutely sure about it.
MR. POSTON: In Erie, your Public Health Service re-
port has said that therd is a load of some 4,000 tons of phos-
phate per day to Lake Erie from Erie and other local sources
in that area. Does the Sanitary Water Board and the Health
Department disagree with this evaluation?
DR. WILBAR: Not that I know of. We have no quarrel
with this estimate.
MR. POSTON: Do you think that eutrophication in the
Lake is an interstate problem? What is your reaction to this?
Do you think eutrophication is an interstate problem?
DR. WILBAR: Yes, I think that it's an interstate
and an international problem. Actually the total of the phos-
phates going into the Lake tend to decrease the volume of the
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Lake all the time, and if it decreases on the one shore, it de-
creases it all over, as far as that's concerned. But I think
that the record of the Public Health Service has really not
proven that the pollutants from the State of Pennsylvania and
perhaps the State of New York actually get into the water sup-
ply of, or the use of, another State.
MR. POSTON: What you're saying is that all the con-
tributions make the whole problem as far as eutrophication,
isn't that right? I think that's all I have now, Mr. Chairman.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Any further questions or comments?
Doctor, did you want all your tables at the end in-
cluded in the record?
DR. WILBAR: Yes, that's right.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: That will be done without objection.
Doctor, I heard you speak about the Public Health
Service Report, about some inaccuracies you believed you found
in them, but I wonder if you would like to look at your first
page on Sewage Status, page 1, Lake Erie Basin (July 1965). I
wonder if you'd look down at about the middle of the page
where you have Wattsburg running into Four Mile Creek, where
you have Behrend Center flowing into Trout Run as the re-
ceiving stream and Harbor Creek running into Trout Run. Would
you, in the interests of accuracy, like to change "Four Mile
Creek" to the "Ohio Basin," "Trout Run" to "Seven Mile Creek"
under Behrend Center, and on Harbor Creek to change "Trout Run"
to "Seven Mile Creek"?
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DR. WILBAR: I still don't see where we are here.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: On page 1 of the charts.
DR. WILBAR: I believe those corrections are in order.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I think it is inevitable in all these
reports. The people who have been to Cleveland have found these
little errors but they don't change the main thrust of the re-
port. The next point I'd like to make is that I listened with
interest to your relatively rosy and optimistic report.
The problem that I have, Doctor, is that I guess
we've looked at this report and heard it in Cleveland. Let's
read the remarks of the Federal investigators where they say
Lake Erie and its tributary streams in the Pennsylvania Basin
are polluted by discharges of municipal and industrial wastes
combined through overflows, accidental spills from vessels and
industries and wastes from lake vessels and land drainage.
This pollution has caused taste and odor problems in domestic
water supply, bacterial contamination of bathing beaches, fish
kills and algae growth. In addition, wastes which cause the
receiving waters to turn blackish-brown and have a foul odor
have interfered with recreation and aesthetic enjoyment. Somehow
it seems to me from listening to your account and the Federal
investigator's account--! hope you were both looking at the
same stream, but it really doesn't seem like it's the same
one--I wonder if you'd comment on that?
DR. WILBAR: Well, we're with this all the time,,
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The other investigation was done rather quickly and super-
ficially. There is, however, of course, a study going on--
the Lake Erie Comprehensive Study Group, which I think will
give us very careful answers, but this investigation did not
come out of that study, which is not completed, is that not
correct?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I understand that, but Doctor, I
was up the Buffalo River yesterday, and I did that quite
quickly and superficially. Here's what they're talking about:
combined sewer overflow, accidental spills, bacterial contami-
nation of bathing beaches, receiving waters of foam turning
blackish-brown and having a foul odor which interfered with
recreation and aesthetic enjoyment.
I believe that on the basis of a short boat trip up
the Buffalo River, or, perhaps, the Cuyahoga River, that I
could have made judgments like that without any extended survey.
I don't see that these observations are particularly refined.
These were a few visual observations. If our people talk in
terms of bacterial contamination, they must be dealing with
gross counts. I don't know if you need that refined an exami-
nation to see the obvious things.
DR. WILBAR: The solution is a relative thing. I
think that everybody here knows that. In every stream, every
river, every lake in the United States there is some pollution.
This is the matter we are trying to get out at this conference—
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the exact extent of the pollution, the type of pollution, where
it occurs and how it is being met and how further it can be met.
We don't need a conference to determine that there is some pol-
lution, but we do differ as to the exactitude of the statements
about details of pollution factors.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Well, if you need a conference to de-
termine that, that's what the law provides. But sometimes we
find we need a conference to determine how and when, in par-
ticular, the pollution is going to be cleaned up.
I have another one. On page 4 of your statement you
say, "The quality of the streams entering Lake Erie from
Pennsylvania is generally good," But the next sentence goes on
to say "The only exceptions are Cascade Creek, Mill Creek and
Garrison Run which receive the combined storm and sanitary sewer
discharges above mentioned." As I understand it, Cascade Creek,
Mill Creek and Garrison Run are rivers discharging wastes into
Lake Erie around Erie, Pennsylvania. I suspect that the other
streams might be good. But when you say the only exceptions
are your three major streams and your wastes are carried through
these from your metropolitan area, it seems to me a pretty big
exception,indeed.
DR. WILBAR: As we pointed out, when you have these
heavy rains, when you have overflows where the combined dis-
charges from the City of Erie of both storm drains and sewer
drains, then you have an amount of pollution at that point.
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This happens whenever you have this heavy rain and heavy dis-
charge. The rest of the time it's satisfactory. But this is a
problem of this combined type of storm-drain sewer, as it is in
every large city in the United States.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: You didn't just say "storm sewer."
You said "sanitary sewer discharges," too. Then you say you
have no information available to you that indicates pollution
of Lake Erie in relation to Pennsylvania as coming from another
State. The Federal report does say that "Discharges of munici-
pal and industrial wastes originating in Michigan, Indiana,
Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York are endangering the health or
welfare of persons in States other than those in which those
discharges originate..."
DR. WILBAR: Just saying it doesn't make it so. I
think it has to be proven.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: But we have that information, Doctor.
Is our information wrong or do you think we prepared a blank
sheet of paper? I think the information was supplied to you.
You have the information. If you want to contest the informa-
tion that's one thing. If you're going to deny receiving the
information, that's another.
DR. WILBAR: We received the information, as I said,
but you have to take into account the pollutant factors, the
currents, the amount of sewage discharged, the amount of pol-
lutants in each area. From the data supplied, we feel that--I
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don't think it's a very major point, really—but we feel that
the report of the Public Health Service has not really proven
interstate pollution, as far as New York and Pennsylvania are
concerned.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: As far as we're concerned that is
the major point--whether there is interstate pollution. Be-
cause I think while the Governors of Michigan and Ohio invited
us in on the intrastate problem, the Governors of New York and
Pennsylvania have not seen fit to do so. The only way we have
jurisdiction, if we are going to have any at all, is on an in-
terstate problem.
As I understand your statement before to Mr. Poston,
you did indicate that all the pollution from the various
sources, particularly the phosphates he was talking about, was
contributing to the degradation and eutrophication of the Lake.
Am I not correct as far as I understood that? Isn't that in-
terstate pollution?
DR. WILBAR: Well, if it is a matter of definition I
think this could be stated. In our opinion if it is the shore-
line in the Pennsylvania areas that is being affected by eutro-
phication, and the bottom too, this, of course, reduces the
total size of the Lake, but it doesn't necessarily mean ipso
facto that this is pollution as far as the rest of the Lake is
concerned. This is a matter of definition. I don't think it
is an extremely important point.
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CHAIRMAN STEIN: Doctor, I think this is a vital
point. I just want to ask one other question, and this is
somewhat the same. I believe you said that you have no infor-
mation that indicates pollution of Lake Erie in relation to
Pennsylvania occurring from other States. Then on the next
page you say you have no information that indicates that in-
terstate pollution involving Pennsylvania is occurring in Lake
Erie,, Then, you go on to say "an indication of the eutrophica-
tion of the waters of the Lake is observed periodically in the
Lake Erie area. Heavy mats of algae are washed ashore creating
nuisance conditions and discouraging bathing."
Where does that come from? Does it come from inside
Pennsylvania? Does it come from outside Pennsylvania? Are you
causing that eutrophication in the Lake and it just affects you
in Pennsylvania and doesn't go anywhere else? No one else is
contributing to that and causing those nuisance conditions and
discouraging bathing? We are in a world by ourselves on the
Lake -—?
DR. WILBAR: Mr. Chairman, this area is around the
City of Erie and it's caused by Pennsylvania and it's affecting
Pennsylvania.
Now, we're interested in the whole Lake. We're mem-
bers of the International Commission studying the Lake, too.
We are all involved, of course, as to what it affects. But I
don't think we need a beating over the head to try to prove
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that this is interstate pollution. I think the main point is
that we work together, and not let the Federal Government try
to take over and control the situation, because I think as far
as our State is concerned, we are well on the way to controlling
it. We certainly need cooperative workers. It has been said
time and time again. We need researchers and research as to
how to get rid of phosphates, in the first place, and to make
technical improvements and financial aid in building the costly
sites of treatment that are needed in these cases.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Doctor, this is the point. I agree
with you in all the basic philosophy, except when we come to
one real particular point. I don't think that the Federal
Government or anyone else is trying to prove that there is: in-
terstate pollution. I think they are facing the unpleasant
fact that there is interstate pollution and it so states in
their report. They have charged that Lake Erie is one body of
water. There aren't really compartments dealing with
Pennsylvania, with New York, Ohio and Michigan. If we are
going to deal with the problem of eutrophication of the Lake,
you have to deal with the Lake itself. This is not a question
of talking about anything but cooperative work and not working
with the straight facts. But I think if we are going to come
up with two diametrically opposed viewpoints, one, that wherever
we find pollution in the Lake, whether it is about Detroit,
Toledo, Cleveland, Erie or Buffalo--these are all localized
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problems that can be neatly handled by the State and local au-
thorities in their own compartments, without bothering anyone
else, or two, whether we are dealing with a regional resource
problem that calls for a Federal interest. As far as I can
see, the Governors of all the States have indicated that there
is a Federal interest and from my own point of view, I have
been on three of the rivers here within the past few months —
the Detroit River, the Cuyahoga and the Buffalo, and if that's
the notion of progress being made on a local level in handling
the problem, then perhaps the Federal Government is just what
is needed in this situation.
I can't believe that you can take a boat trip up
this river or the Cuyahoga River and point with pride to the
local progress.
DR. WILBARt The question is that the Federal Government,
ipso facto can do a better job than the State Government, and I
do not accept that assumption.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: My assumption is that the Federal
Government, in cooperation with the State and local governments,
can do a better job, and I think that is the premise of the
Federal role, Doctor. The point is that I think that meeting
after meeting after meeting, when State and local people—not
so many local but the industry—have talked in terms of State
Government and interstate agencies they have always left out
the Federal Government. I don't think this is a question of
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jurisdiction—of fighting about state's rights. I think the
job is so big that we all have to do it. I think the preserva-
tion of Lake Erie is a tremendous job, and it's not as compart-
mentalized as local.
DR. WILBAR: I agree with you, except for
your statement that in these meetings the Federal Government is
left out. It is not left out at all. I agree that there must
be Federal-State cooperation. It's just a matter of what type
of cooperation.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: That's right.
DR. WILBAR: And I think that we've been going around
in circles. It is not very important, actually, when we all
agree that we must work together to try and prove that a given
molecule or a given bacterium from Pennsylvania got into a wa-
ter supply in Ohio.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I would hope we weren't pushed to
those extremes.
Are there any other comments or questions?
MR. OEMING: Dr. Wilbar, do you feel that from the
standpoint of Pennsylvania that the interests of Pennsylvania
are affected by the discharges from the other States, is this
what I interpret your statement to mean? That you don't feel
or that you do feel that the discharges are adverse to
Pennsylvania--that is, the discharges from other States?
DR. WILBAR: What I have said is that there is no
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proof in the Public Health Service Report that the discharge
from another State is causing the pollution in the waters of
Pennsylvania or that the discharge of Pennsylvania into the
waters of Lake Erie is causing pollution in another State.
The total implication—the building up of the solid
portions which reduces the water in the Lake in any area really
affects the whole Lake. The total volume is going down, and
there is no question about that. I think we need to work to-
gether on this.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Just a point of information on this.
Doctor, are you attributing the water level and the volume
going down in the Lake to eutrophication?
DR. WILBAR: To a large degree, to some degree, yes.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: I just wanted to get your view on that.
Are there any further questions or comments?
MR. POSTON: I was going to ask the Doctor if the State
proposes to have industries in Pennsylvania be heard here at this
conference? Are there any that will be?
DR. WILBAR: We have invited industries if they wished
to testify at this conference, and to be heard and none of them
have seen fit to do so.
MR. POSTON: How about the cities? Will there be any
cities?
DR. WILBAR: This is also true. There is a represen-
tative from Erie County and City here, but they said that they
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did not wish to testify any further than I have testified.
MR. POSTON: Well, perhaps I should ask you then--
DR. WILBAR: I invited them to do so but, they chose
not to.
MR. POSTON: Will industrial information that pertains
to the quantity and the type of wastes from industries in
Pennsylvania be available to the Public Health Service?
DR. WILBAR: Yes.
MR. POSTON: This will give us quantity and quality
of discharges to the waters?
DR. WILBAR: Our law is unlike the law of some other
States, We are permitted to give such information out.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We have always had the best type of
cooperation from Pennsylvania, through the years. I don't
think there's any problem here.
Any further comments or questions?
MR. POSTON: I had one other question. Would the
State of Pennsylvania participate in any remedial measures and
recommendations needed by the conferees at the end of this
conference?
DR. WILBAR: I pointed out this morning that I
thought the conclusions and recommendations should come after
everybody has been heard at the end of the conference, and not
part-way through. But then at the end of the conference, we
will participate. Mr. Boardman and I have full authority to
participate in the conclusions for Pennsylvania„
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MR* OEMING: Dr. Wilbar, I don't think I completely
understand your answer to my question. Maybe I can put
it a little more specifically,,
As Health Officer of Pennsylvania, do you know of
any injury to the health of the people of Pennsylvania, by
reason of the discharge from other States?
DR. WILBAR: I do not.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Do we have any other comments or
questions? If not, thank you very much, Dr. Wilbar, for your
very enlightening presentation. (applause)
As you know, this is just our way of getting at a
problem and agreeing.
I think the next presentation will be about thirty
to forty-five minutes. Let's take a ten minute recess and
then we will return.
(WHEREUPON A SHORT RECESS WAS TAKEN.)
CHAIRMAN STEIN: May we reconvene please? I would
like to indicate what we hope will be the schedule for the
rest of the afternoon. We hope to complete the Federal pre-
sentations and New York State will be ready to go on with its
presentations and invitees, starting at 9:30 in the morning.
DR. WILBAR: During the recess the City of Erie has
asked to have its Chief Engineer, Mr. Moriarty, make a brief
statement, and we have concurred. If it is satisfactory with
the Chairman, I'd like to ask Mr. Moriarty to make his
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statement on behalf of the City of Erie.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Moriarty?
MR, MORIARTY: I'd like to make a correction. I am
Sanitary Engineer at the Erie County Health Department and rep-
resent the County of Erie.
I have a few words here written down on paper, so I
will read this direct.
Erie County, Pennsylvania is located, as you know, be-
tween the States of Ohio and New York. I tend to agree with Dr.
Wilbar that most of our obvious pollution problems are local.
However, I cannot believe other than that Pennsylvania is re-
ceiving residual pollution, as I see it, from the west and is
giving the same to New York. By residual, I mean we are not
receiving the brunt of the pollution but the effects of it. The
growth of algae is one of the residuals. The loss of the com-
mercial fishing fleets out of Erie also reflects residual pol-
lution on Pennsylvania.
Do not think, however, that we do not have our own
problems. We have perhaps the best beaches on the south shore
of the Lake at Presque Isle State Park and, as a consequence,
tourism is a growing industry for Erie County. To protect this
industry and the health of the people who associate themselves
with this industry by water recreational activities, the City
and County of Erie, Pennsylvania, looks to the future to cor-
rect pollution problems and protect these facilities (the
tourism industry).
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Combined sewers of the WPA days are a thing of the past
in new construction. The City of Erie has combined sewers, some
$16 million to $22 million in new construction at today's going
construction costs if they were to be replaced. While I cannot
talk for the City of Erie, I am sure that if sufficient monies
were available through State and Federal aid one source of our
local problem would be solved. The City cannot finance such an
undertaking alone.
Industry contributes its share of pollution to the Lake.
Even though much money has been spent, industrial waste continues
to be a problem. Phenols, color, foam and fiber are some of the
by-products of industry. You may say these are not health
hazards, but they have aesthetic consequences and very often
made ten to twenty miles of shoreline not usable for local
people. Surveillance on the part of industry can go a long
way towards eliminating these forms of pollution.
Erie has an enviable spot on the Lake—we hope to keep
it that way. City-county governments are for pure water — indus-
try must be for it, not only for their investment but for their
water needs and the labor market.
In conclusion, I would like to make one additional
comment that is not only part of Erie's problem but also Lake
Erie's—and any other lakes and rivers throughout this Nation.
The detergent industry came up with a new detergent to take away
visible pollution in the form of foam.
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Just think how much additional good the same industry
can do if they would find a substitute for the phosphates that
make up part of their detergents. This may be a side line to
our problem, but when we look at the algae problem in Lake Erie
and in the other lakes around the country, here is an area
where one pollution potential can be corrected before the
housewife pulls the plug on the kitchen sink.
I asked the Chairman if we would have permission to
send a written report to this body in the next week or so. Is
this possible?
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Without objection we will keep the
record open for a report of that kind.
Are there any comments or questions for Mr. Moriarty?
If not, thank you very much for your statement.
(The report referred to by Mr. Moriarty is as follows:)
*****
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
2101 PEACH STREET
ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA
August 12, 1965
Mr. Everett F. Zurn
Zurn Industries, Inc.
2214 West 8th Street
Erie, Pa.
Re: Lake Erie Pollution
State of Pennsylvania
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145
Dear Sir:
In accordance with the desires of Erie County
Commissioners, enclosed is a report on Lake Erie Pollution as
related to Erie County, Pa«
The data is being submitted to supplement the en-
closed statement made by Mr. Moriarty at the Buffalo hearing
on Lake Erie pollution. The report and information were
assembled by Mr. Moriarty.
If you desire additional copies, please do not
hesitate to contact this office.
Very truly yours,
Felix S. Shubert, M.D.
Deputy Director
LRM/tt
Enc.
cc: Erie County Commissioners (3)
Mr. Stein, P.H.S. Washington
Mr. Northington, P.H.S. Cleveland
(See Mr. Moriarty1s presentation above)
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
REPORT ON LAKE POLLUTION--AUGUST 1965
CONCLUSIONS
1. Local pollution is a problem that the county-city govern-
ment and industry are involved in.
2. Interstate pollution does exist and the State of Pennsylvania
in a mild way causes interstate pollution.
-------
146
3. By comparison, the State of Pennsylvania far surpasses the
nearby states in its pollution abatement program. This is
shown by the requirement that all sewage treatment plants on
the Lake Erie drainage basin must have complete treatment.
4. By comparison, the State of Pennsylvania, Erie City-County
have the best beaches on the lake in the form of Presque Isle
State Park, and relatively speaking has a minimal amount of
pollution entering Lake Erie.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That local governments through state and federal aid plan
pollution abatement programs to relieve the bay and Presque
Isle Lake area of intermittent sewage pollution.
2. That industry use its knowledge and know-how to cope with
the technical problem of industrial waste removal.
3. That industry institute a "house-keeping" and surveillance
program on their actual waste disposal processes.
4. That because an interstate pollution problem does exist,
cooperation between the states takes place to restore not only
Lake Erie but all the Great Lakes to the condition suitable in
every respect for man's use.
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
REPORT ON LAKE POLLUTION--AUGUST 1965
As part of the Public Health Service hearing with
representatives of the states of Indiana, Michigan, New York,
-------
147
Ohio and Pennsylvania in Buffalo, New York on August 10, 1965,
Dr. Wilbar, Secretary of the Pennsylvania Sanitary Water Board
delivered a prepared statement to the hearing representatives.
In his statement, Dr. Wilbar said, "We have no information avail-
able to us that indicates that pollution of Lake Erie in rela-
tion to Pennsylvania is occurring from another state".... also
"We have no information that indicates that interstate pollution
involving Pennsylvania is occurring in Lake Erie."
A discussion of the above point followed and as a re-
sult, Commissioner W. Hill and Mr. L. Moriarty, a sanitary en-
gineer from Erie County, Pa. asked of and were given permission
by Dr. Wilbar to make a statement. (Mr. Moriarty gave essen-
tially or basically the statement that is enclosed. The original
statement, taken from notes, has been edited, but the sense and
intent of the edited statement does not differ from the original.)
The statement is enclosed.
The statement presented by Mr. Moriarty indicates that
a local pollution problem does exist and that the state of
Pennsylvania is affected by interstate pollution.
LOCAL POLLUTION
On page 108, Part 3 — "New York and Pennsylvania
Sources" Report on Pollution of Lake Erie and its Tributaries,
a table indicates coliform and fecal streptococcus contamination
on beaches of Presque Isle State Park. The Erie County
Department of Health took part in this survey and submits
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148
Reference R-l as detailed information for resource information
to the hearing committee. From these reports, it is quite evi-
dent that the beaches are contaminated from a local source when
the wind is in the right direction.
The stream sample reports (R-2) of 1964-65 also indi-
cates that pollution is entering Lake Erie in varying degrees
from Pennsylvania tributaries. Here again is confirmation that
a local pollution problem exists„
The beach survey report (R-3) of this summer (1965)
further indicates that local pollution is a factor in Erie
County and the State of Pennsylvania.
It should be understood that coliform counts should
not be used as the sole criteria of pollution. Chemical and
visual evaluation should also be part of the final decision.
As Erie County Health Department does not have a laboratory for
chemical analysis, it has visually observed unsatisfactory con-
ditions that do verify the coliform counts.
INTERSTATE POLLUTION
Again, the County Health Department cannot verify in-
terstate pollution by means of chemical analysis but does indi-
cate that by visual and pictorial means, interstate pollution
does exist. (The pictures in form of slides are on file.)
Interstate pollution is evident by;
1. Algae Cladophora collects on the entire length of
the Pennsylvania shore line. The growth of this plant at the
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149
Ohio line, with the prevailing currents to the east, cannot be
attributed to the waste of Pennsylvania alone. The nutrients
must come from other areas of the lake,
2. The decline of the commercial fishing fleet in
Pennsylvania has been attributed to the lack of fish in Lake
Erie. It is also the contention that the declining fish catches
over the years has been brought about by pollutants in the lake.
This pollution is not entirely from Pennslyvania but affects
the fish industry in Pennsylvania and thereby becomes an in-
terstate problem.
3. Waste from Erie industries contaminate Lake Erie
shore line to the east and as recently as August 3 and 5, 1965,
brown-black color has been observed in the lake within a half
mile of the New York state line. It is the contention of the
Erie County Department of Health that industrial waste does
periodically get into the State of New York waters.
REFERENCE
R-4. Also enclosed for resource information is an article pre-
sented to the Erie County Commissioners in February 1964 rela-
tive to Lake Erie pollution.
R-5. Copy of a letter to the Erie County Commissioners, dated
May 14, 1964, from Mr. J. Harvey on Lake Erie pollution. (Re-
source information in Mr. Zurn's letter only.)
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150
R-1A. ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK -- BEACH SURVEY
June 6 to June 21, 1964 -- SUMMARY
TO: Dr. Felix S. Shubert
Deputy County Health Director
FROM: Lawrence R. Moriarty
Director, Division of Environmental Health
Attached for use now and future reference are the following;
1. Coliform Index for waters of the Great Lakes.
2. Standards for Natural Swimming Places.
3. Summary of Presque Isle Beach Survey June 6 to
June 21, 1964, inclusive.
Samples from beaches 1, 8, 10 and 11 are collected
by Presque Isle State Park life guards, are given to Erie County
sanitarians and delivered to the laboratory in the matter of two
hours. Appropriate dilutions are made in the laboratory so that
each sample will give a representative result„ Tests are made
for coliform and fecal streptococcus bacteria. Item #3 is the
result of 17 days of sampling.
Coliform. Item #1 indicates that Beach #11 at times
was not satisfactory for swimming. Item #2, paragraphs 1 and 2
also indicate that Beach #11 is not satisfactory for swimming.
Fecal Streptococcus. While standards have not been
promulgated to indicate what levels of fecal streptococcus
bacteria are detrimental, the presence of fecal streptococcus
bacteria may be taken as an indicator of relatively fresh
-------
151
pollution. This then, in general, would indicate the possi-
bility of Beach #1 periodically being contaminated with minor
amounts of fresh pollution.
Wind Direction. Although wind direction is shown on
Item #3, no correlation is being made as to the relationship of
pollution and wind direction on Beach #11. It is felt that
there is a connection, however, but more study and evaluation
needs to be done to get a general concept as to what is
happenings
General. To date, samples have been collected for
17 continuous days and 136 samples processed through the
laboratory. Inclusive of June 14, 1964, the water sample
laboratory cost was $200.
Comments. 1. To date, the results indicate Beach
#11 is a questionable area in which to swim and that Beach #11
is periodically affected by waste coming from the west.
2. I believe a meeting of yourself, Mr. Wargo and
myself should be arranged to work out a plan for discriminate
use of Beach #11. You might wish to call the State Health
Department and the Public Health Service into the meeting.
3. I would suggest that if this information is
given to the press, that it be given with due explanation so
they will not indicate the whole area is polluted.
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152
INTERPRETATION OF COLIFORM INDEX AS
FOUND IN NATURAL WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES
AND UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE AREA
COLIFORM PER 100 ml.
Not more than
0
1
10 to 100
100 to 500
(Not satis- 1,000
factory for
swimming)
10,000
100,000
1,000,000
INTERPRETATION
Water Sample free of pollution
Treasury Department standard for
drinking water
Indicative of good water -- normal for
inland lakes and Great Lakes which are
free of sewage pollution
Normal for inland streams, free of
detrimental sewage pollution, might
be attributed to land wash
Suspicious -- generally indicates mild
pollution in natural waters, but
dangerous in proximity to fresh sewage
pollution
Definite evidence of fresh sewage pol-
lution -- menace to health.
Heavy sewage pollution -- definitely
dangerous
Normal sewage
The above standards were agreed upon for interstate
use by the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River Drainage
Basin Board of Engineers. Reference can be found in "Coastline
Pollution Surveys of Michigan, June, 1933" Report of Michigan
Stream Control Commission.
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153
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
NATURAL SWIMMING PLACES
The water in natural or semi-artificial swimming
beaches shall be deemed to be contaminated if:
1. In a series of at least ten (10) samples collected
by the Department over a period of at least thirty (30) days but
not more than one year from a beach, more than fifty (50) percent
of the samples show a most probable number of coliform organisms
of more than one thousand (1000) per 100 milliliters, or
2. More than twenty (20) percent of a series of such
samples shows a most probable number of coliform organisms of
more than twenty-four hundred (2400) per 100 milliliters, or
3. More than five (5) percent of a series of such
samples shows a most probable number of coliform organisms of
more than four thousand (4000) per 100 milliliters.
No swimming beach shall be so located to permit it to
be adversely affected by the discharge of sewage or industrial
waste; nor shall it be so located that by its use it will ad-
versely affect the source of supply of a public water supply
system.
(Extract from proposed "Minimum Design Standard for
Public Swimming Places," Pennsylvania State Department of
Health.)
-------
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK — BEACH SURVEY
June 6 to June 21, 1964 -- SUMMARY
SAMPLE
NO,
-
^
T_
*
4
5
DATE ,.DAY
" •"" "
,
6/6 1
6/7^
6/8
6/9
i 6" 6/.1D
t
1-4-
J.O
ii
F
S
O
L±L
T
W
6/11 ' T
6/ 12" | F
- o
o /*>
t ,...,,.
. ~" 2Q
%$ | 22
Si 12
M
I 22
1100 j 320
T 30
W
6/18 ! T
, 6/19 i F
6/20" '
6/21
S
s
40
o
36
126
60
350
460 ! 4000
"156
•~?
-------
155
R-1B ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK — BEACH SURVEY
June 22, 1964 to July 12, 1964
REPORT II
TO: Dr. Felix S. Shubert
Deputy County Health Director
FROM: Lawrence R. Moriarty
Director, Division of Environmental Health
Attached you will find a summary of the Presque Isle
Beach Survey for the period of June 22 to July 12, 1964, in-
clusive. The results, except as stated below, have been quite
satisfactory.
On Wednesday, July 1, 1964, you, Mr. Michael Wargo,
Park Superintendent, and myself met to determine a course of
action to be taken and under what circumstances any of the
park beaches should be closed.
To summarize the meeting, it was agreed by all if
any two consecutive daily coliform samples from any of the four
beaches were over 1000 per 100 ml of sample, the beach in ques-
tion would be closed. The beach would remain closed until
another good sample was obtained and would again be closed if
two more consecutive samples were obtained.
This procedure is reasonable in that, in comparison
with the lactose or MPN reporting method, 48 hours or more
would lapse before sample results would indicate high counts.
Two consecutive samples within approximately 36 hours by the
-------
156
filter method gives a double check and an indication of a pro-
longed period of possible high counts.
By this method and using the results to date, Beach
#11 might have been closed on June 8 and 9, June 18, 22 and
June 28 and 29. As of the 12th of July, the reporting method
inaugurated on July 1, 1964, does not indicate any of the
beaches should be closed.
Daily samples will continue to be collected from
Beaches #1, Water Works, #10 and #11. To date, 38 daily trips
have been made to the State Park. One hundred and fifty-two
(152) samples have been collected with three hundred and three
(303) samples being analyzed in the laboratory.
To date, the program has cost the department the
following:
Lab. fees --- $757.50
Mileage --- 76.00
Total --- $833.50
The above does not include one man's time (1 1/2 hours)
per day.
Tentative plans are now underway with the Public
Health Service to do a second two-day intensive survey of the
same beaches on August 2 and 3, 1964.
-------
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK -- BEACH SURVEY
June 22 to July 12, 1964 -- SUMMARY
SAMPLE
NO.
DATE DAY
COLIFORM
No. per 100 ml
FECAL STREPTOCOCCUS
No. per 100 ml
WIND
DIRECTION
18
3.9
6/22 ,
6/23
20 j 6/24
2L.
•")•")
6/25"
M !
1
8
T ^ BB*
Q s
-Tl
6/26 \ F ]
A 20
J 66
j "70 '
' 23" \ " 6"/3r"]"'S Sj""$0
2'1-:-
25—
26
27
28
:" -Z?—\
\ 30
31
32
33 '
6/23
6/29
6/30
7/ 1
F^
*D
5 16
BEACH
8 j 10
3
<1
6
4
*c 1
10
20 11
" 3'0
7
ic> I 56
2
r 130 "i 70 !
uft 80
T 1 S
7/ 2 j TJ
- ?/. 3l~Fi
'// 4
7/ 5
7/ 6
'-fir*!
34 1 7/8
35 7/9
56 1 7/10
' — 37
j 38
7/11
7/12
S
M[
m
w
72
S6
100
56
| 30
jj 1^
i io
i 30
T j! 6
F|
s i
iJ 1
16
'76
36
60
88
16
28
8
800 )
780
1 '1.800'""
10 j 2700"
14
16
20
6
18
22
2
44
8
34
14
500
54
970
120 "
1
18
BB*
1040
56
176
128
BE/
8
12
18
320
31
32
34
i 37 5
j 54 j 30
5f5l> 1j 1^
520 |{ 33
1200 1) t'5
""600 || 3:T ^
9T)^
100
160
116
300
i 33
9
: 166
7
1 2
1300 |! 22
850 j| 27
9600 |j 13
1700 |j 33
9
52
6
12
23
27
1
7
7
4
32
14
^CH
10
1
11
3^0
42
4
25
9
9
7
11
3
3
38
11
8
10
9
58"
19
35
I
i
>
I
100 1 \
62 i 1
80
46
16
14
19
f
i
i
i
j
1
2 i 4 ,
45
11
4
41
9
24 \ 40
T6
7 i
15
4
5
2
62 i !
BB* -- Broken Bottle
-------
158
R-1C ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK -- BEACH SURVEY
July 13, 1964 to August 1, 1964
REPORT III
To: Dr. Felix S. Shubert
Deputy County Health Officer
From: Lawrence R. Moriarty, Director
Division of Environmental Health
Enc.: 1. Map Presque Isle State Park showing location of
bathing beaches samples.
2. Table III, showing results of survey, July 13
to August 1, 1964, inclusive.
The enclosed map shows the location of Beaches #1,
#8 (Water Works), #10 and #11. To review -- a daily sample is
taken from each of the four beaches about 3:00 P.M. in the
afternoon. The sample is taken by a Presque Isle State Park
life guard from mid-beach, in neck deep water, waist high.
(The guards are to be complimented for their efforts, regard-
less of weather, to get the samples and return them for pick-
up by the Health Department sanitarian.)
As a result of the survey, beach #11 was closed to
swimming on July 13 and 30. The other beaches remained in
excellent condition during that period.
An intensive survey, similar to the weekend survey
of May 28-29, was conducted August 2 and 3 by the Public Health
Service. (Complete analysis is not available as of this date —
a report will follow.) This survey replaced the local daily
-------
159
survey of four samples with approximately 70 samples per day.
On July 30, 1964, a dye test was run on the Erie City
Sewage Plant outfall. The results were inconclusive. Addi-
tional tests will be made along with float studies to determine
direction of current and location of outfall.
To date, 58 daily trips have been made to the State
Park by the sanitarians, 232 samples have been collected and
460 determinations have been made in the laboratory. The pro-
gram has cost the Health Department the following:
Laboratory Fees $1155.00
Mileage 116.00
Total $1271.00
The survey will continue until the Labor Day weekend.
At that time, the Public Health Service will again conduct a
two day intensive survey of the beaches.
The above report and enclosed table again points out
that beaches, except for beach #11, at Presque Isle State Park
are quite satisfactory for swimming; that beach #11, when
churned up by storm and wind action, becomes contaminated and
is not suitable for swimming for a period of several days.
-------
TABLE III
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK -- BEACH SURVEY
July 13 to August 1, 1964 — SUMMARY
SAMPLE
NO. DATE
COLIFORM
DAY No. per 100 ml
FECAL STREPTOCOCCUS
No. per 100 ml
WIND
DIRECTION
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
7/13
7/14
7/15
7/16
7/17
7/18
7/19
7/20
7/21
7/22
7/23
7/24
7/25
7/26
7/27
7/28
7/29
7/30
7/31
8/ 1
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
1
400
"TOO
80
4
18
<2
6
<2
30
10
20
6
8
6
4
20
2100
4
2
1.0
BEACT
8
110
52
64
10
2
14
8
<2
14
26
24
30
10
4
24
24
56
4
6
*2
10
84
64
32
4
80
2
6
18
130
60
16
24
12
2
14
22
90
14
<2
2S
11
500
530
980
700
50
2700 |
60
80
280
350
280
180
28 , 000
410
110
1400
2000
30
3500
7600
1
58
116
52
7
25
7
28
<1
3
1
10
2
6
5
1
6
84
2
2
1 <1
BEACH
8
11
39
9
5
9
15
5
3
2
1
5
6
7
1
22
7
lo
6
1
18
10
7
9
18
2
3
<1
4
1
4
15
<1
17
14
23
1
2
13
2
<1
<1
11
1
5
3
2
6
5
25
*1
6
6
2
4
64
17
14
3
30
1
3
2
NW-NW
S S-SU
W W-Cfllm
E E-Cplta j
W W
W S-SW
sw sw
NW Calm
SW SW
S S
NE E-NE
SW SW
NE SE
W SW
NW S
SW S-SW |
W W |
NE N
NE E
I Calm E i
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161
R-1D ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK -- DAILY BEACH SURVEY
August 2 to August 25, 1964
REPORT IV
TO: Dr. Felix S. Shubert
Deputy County Health Officer
FROM: Lawrence R0 Moriarty, Director
Division of Environmental Health
ENCLOSED: Table showing results of survey, August 2 to 25,
1964, inclusive.
Daily surveying of the Beaches #1-2, #8 (Waterworks),
#10 and #11 continued through this twenty-four (24) day period.
The Presque Isle State Park Life Guards collected the samples
and the Erie County Sanitarians delivered same to the laboratory
that afternoon.
Sample results for August 2 and 3 are average results
taken from the data secured on the intensive survey (II) .
As a result of the daily survey and in agreement with
Mr, Michael Wargo, the Park Superintendent, only Beach #11 was
closed, in accordance with the agreement of July 1, 1964, on
the following dates — August 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15, 22 and 23,
1964. The agreement was that if on two consecutive days the
coliform count would rise over the 1000 bacteria count per hundred
(100) milliters, the beach would be closed until a daily sample
of less than 1000 count was obtained.
All total, during this period, 45.8% of the samples
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162
collected at Beach #11 were above the 1000 count. Of all daily
samples collected since the survey began, 37.8% of the samples
at Beach #11 have been above the 1000 count. Under the Natural
Swimming Place Standards given in Daily Survey I, Beach #11
could have been closed for the twenty-four (24) day sampling
cycle. The plan in use by agreement is much more realistic
and allows the beach to be used through the cycles of good water.
On August 6, 1964, another dye test of the City of
Erie's sewage plant outfall sewer was conducted and again the
dye was not noticeable. Either more dye or a different dye
will be used to study the flow pattern from the sewer outfall
and its effect on Presque Isle beaches.
To date, 82 daily trips have been made to the State
Park by the sanitarians, 328 samples have been collected and
654 determinations have been made in the laboratory. The pro-
gram has cost the County Health Department the following:
Laboratory Fees $1595.00
Mileage 164.00
Total $1759.00
One more report on the fifth and final phase of the
daily sampling will follow.
CONCLUSION:
Beaches #1-2, #8, #10 continue to be satisfactory for
swimming while Beach #11 continues to maintain counts over 1000
for approximately 4070 of the time.
-------
163
The procedure initiated to keep Beach #11 closed
under circumstances of high counts has worked out satisfactorily.
However, Report V should give final acceptance or disuse of this
procedure for the 1965 swimming season.
-------
TABLE IV
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK -- BEACH SURVEY
August 2 to August 25, 1964
SAMPLE COLIFORM FECAL STREPTOCOCCUS
NO. DATE . DAY No. per 100 ml , No. per 100 ml
59
8/ 2
60 lj 8/3
61 1 8/4
62 j 8/5
63 I 8/6
64 \ 8/7
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
8/ 8
8/ 9
8/10
8/11
8/12
8/13
8/ 14
8/15
8/16
8/17
8/18
76 J 8/19
77
78
79
80
81
82
8/20
8/21
8/22
8/23
8/24
8/25"
S
1
540
M 933
T
W
T
F
14
G
BEACH
8 , 10. 11
23
74
10
<.2 \ 1200
^2 [ 2
6
S i 22
8
34
S 4 j 8
M
T
W
T
F
«-2 <-2
100
< 2
30
120
S 1 14
5 i 14
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
M
T
30
10
4
450
12 1
440
58
56
" 136
10
< 2
40
70
14
434
389
16
4440
168
4811 Ii 345
12000 [1 2
BEACH
8 , 10 ,| 1
356 260 11
99 ( 207
< L -cl i
44 i 30 | 1 | 88 2 |
120 j 420 i 4 I 4 8 j
16 j 900 i 6 j 2 -t-i |
22
<2
10
-c 2
10
24U | L6 ( 21 39 |
50 1 4
8 <1 J
.80 B LO <.! «=jl |
2800 jj <-L
«cl .cl
9100 it 300 | 150 95 1
20 1 2200 |{ 160
60 2900
4 \ 320
\ 48
12 20
4 2
11 1 10 5
8 8 1 620 !1 <•!
10 <-2| 330 || 12
10 8 ! 180 II 10
130 24 1 80 il 1
< 1 -i 1
5 8
20 . 3
2 ^1
60 110 j 7400 || 220 | 27 24
50 860
48
38
26
2800 Ii 6
2900 j| 96
52 j 760 il 68
6 3
8 4
17 19
6 | 2 | 640 !! 81 7 2 !
24 ] 26 [ lo'tiOO 1! 10 J 4 41
WIND
DIRECTION
i
.1
L79 S S
752 j E S-SlS i
+80 j N N !
23 NE HE
51 N E
10 { SW S i
24 j WNW N
2 W W
<.! i NS ENE
< I 1 SW SW i
45 j NW NW i
4 I NW NW !
48 { W NWSW
4 i WNW SW
< 1 Calm S 1
•cl SW S-SN 1
<1 NW NENW i
< 1 WNW N I
8 SW S-SW
2 SE SE
3 S S-SW i
10 1 W SW
4 i WNW W i
5 |. SW S-SW \
-------
165
R-1E ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK -- DAILY BEACH SURVEY
August 26 to September 7, 1964
REPORT V
TO: Dr. Felix S. Shubert
Deputy County Health Officer
FROM: Lawrence R. Moriarty, Director
Division of Environmental Health
Attached is the final tabulation of data from the
daily beach survey of Presque Isle Beaches #1-2, #8 (Waterworks),
#10 and #11 for the period of August 26 to September 7, 1964,
Like the previous data submitted on these beaches ,
this information again points out that Beaches #1-2, #8 and
#10 are excellent for swimming. However, Beach #11 still re-
mains questionable as an area suitable for daily or unlimited
swimming.
Thirty-eight and four tenths (38.47o) of Beach #11
samples were above an allowable count of 1000 bacteria per 100
ml with an average count of 3122 and a median count of 700.
At the conclusion of the survey, 95 trips had been made to the
state park with 380 samples collected and some 758 determina-
tions and 1400 dilutions made.
To date, the program cost the County Health Department:
Laboratory Fees $1855.00
Mileage 190.00
Total $2045.00
-------
166
A vote of thanks should be given the life guards at
Presque Isle State Park for their diligence in taking daily
samples. They did not fail to pick up samples by 4 P.M. re-
gardless of the weather.
To summarize the total data for 95 days of sampling,
the following information is given;
TOTAL COLIFORM PER 100 ml FECAL STREP per 100 ml
BEACHES BEACHES
1-2 8 10 11 1-2 8 10 11
AVERAGE 118 64 91 2400 42 20 17 40
MEDIAN 28 18 24 700 10 7 4 5
% SAMPLES 2.11.10 38.9 0 0 0 0
ABOVE 1000
For all samples collected and examined for coliform,
10.6% were above the 1000 count. The average coliform count
was 643. The average fecal strep count was 30/100 ml.
In general, Beach #8 could be considered to be the
best with #10, #1-2 and #11 following in that order. No con-
clusions are being presented at this time as a final report
to include findings in the daily beach survey, the intensive
beach survey and the Presque Isle bay survey will be prepared
for you and the commissioners. The results of these three
survey programs all dove-tail together, conclusions for one
are pertinent to the other.
-------
TABLE V
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK -- BEACH SURVEY
August 26 to September 7, 1964
SAMPLE
NO
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
COLIFORM FECAL STREPTOCOCCUS
DATE DAY No. per 100 ml No. per 100 ml
8/26
8/27
8/28
8/29
8/30
8/3 L
9/. 1
9/. 2
9/. 3
9/ 4
9/. 5
9/ 6
9/ 7
W
T
F
S
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
S
M
1
28
10
6
<2
8
28
28
LO
70
18
36
16
4
BEACH
8 1 10
14
18
*2
4
6
28
26
16
12
6
40
12
4
10
,6801
350
30
24
28
250
18
32
8
120
32
a
11
3300
13000
14000
1700
660
440
4800
280
150
620
780
170
700
1
4
2
2
14
4
21
19
2
3
20
| 88
1 1
1 L
BEAC
8
4
<1
2
6
«<1
5
8
«-].
18
3
34
15
3
:H
10
2
2
^1
6
1
1
8
2
7
1
35
3
*•! ,
11
1
«il
420
6
2
*1
14
5
^1
c. 1
4
7
WIND
DIRECTION
.SW SW-N
NE SSE
S S-SE
E SW-SE
Calm
WNW W
NE NESE
NE SENE
NW S-SW j
W W-SW |
SW-NW |
E S
2 | NE NE
-------
168
R-1F ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
SUMMARY -- INTENSIVE SURVEY
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK
May 28 and May 29th, 1964
TO: Dr. Felix S. Shubert
Deputy Health Officer
At the request of the P.H.S. and working with them,
an intensive survey of Beaches 1-2, 8, 10 and 11 was conducted
on May 28 and 29th, 1964. The survey consisted of sampling
twice daily each of the above-mentioned beaches and then
culturing each sample into two or three dilutions for total
coliform and fecal streptococcus determination.
Some one hundred and eighteen (118) samples all
total were collected, with four hundred and seventy eight
(478) dilutions being set up» These samples were collected
in water from a mid-depth when the water was four (4) to five
(5) feet deep. This requirement necessitated collecting
samples at varying distances from the shore.
The intensive survey is to be run for comparative
purposes and to establish a base line for future evaluation
of beach conditions. Similar surveys are to be run in the
first weeks of August and September.
As the attached table of information indicates, all
four beaches at the time of the survey were satisfactory for
bathing conditions. A summation of the analysis for each
-------
beach would show the following counts per 100 ml of sample:
Beach Total Coliform Fecal Strep.
1-2 35 11
8 15 5
10 40 4
11 90 _7_
Average 45 7
The above information indicates clearly that on
May 28 and 29, 1964, the beaches at the Peninsula were in
excellent condition and quite satisfactory for swimming.
The August and September samplings will show the trend due
to temperature, bathing load, recreational facilities and
other relative factors.
This survey was conducted by and under the super-
vision of the P.H.S. at no expense to the county. Hoxvever,
time and service were factors and the following deserve
thanks for their efforts:
(cont. on following Page)
-------
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK BEACHES
INTENSIVE SURVEY I -- May 28 and May 29, 1964
DATE DAY TIME
5/28 Thurs. A.M.
5/29 Fri. A.M.
BEACH
NO.
1-2
8
10
11
1-2
8
10
11
AVERAGE COUNTS
Total
Coliform
60
35
125
180
25
5
2
25
/100 ml
Fecal
Strep.
17
11
5
7
10
1
2
11
TIME AVERAGE COUNTS
Total
Coliform
P.M. 30
15
20
135
P.M. 30
10
10
10
/100 ml
Fecal
Strep.
16
9
6
7
2
1
2
2
Public Health Service -- men and materials.
Erie Water Works -- use of laboratory facilities
State Department of Health -- man to work in laboratory
State Department of Forests and Waters -- man and boat
Erie County Department -- men to collect samples and
work in the laboratory.
Submitted by:
Lawrence R. Moriarty, Director
Division of Environmental Health
Erie County Department of Health
-------
171
R-1G ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
SUMMARY -- INTENSIVE SURVEY II
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK BEACHES
August 2 and 3, 1964
TO: Dr. Felix S, Shubert
Deputy Health Officer
As part of the Public Health Service program of
sampling the beaches at Presque Isle State Park, this is the
second in a series of three surveys in which each of the four
previously sampled beaches (#1-2, #8 (Waterworks), #10 and #11)
were intensively sampled.
Samples were collected twice daily from approximately
eight stations on each beach. To repeat the procedure--each
sample was checked for coliform and fecal, streptococcus. At
least two dilutions were run on each sample.
Some one hundred and twenty-eight (128) total samples
were collected, with three hundred and twenty-four (324) dilu-
tions being set up. These samples were collected in water from
a mid-depth when the water was four (4) to five (5) feet deep.
This requirement necessitated collecting samples at varying
distances from the shore.
The table below indicates a comparison of the May
and August surveys:
-------
172
TABLE I Count/100 ml Count/100 ml
Total Coliform Fecal Strep.
BEACH
1-2
8
10
11
MAY
35
15
40
90
AUGUST
736
49
254
4625
MAY
11
5
4
7
AUGUST
257
225
234
965
SURVEY AVERAGE 45 1416 7 420
If the counts were looked at from the point of the
median sample, the results would be as follows:
TABLE II Count/100 ml Count/100 ml
Total Coliform Fecal Strep.
BEACH MAY AUGUST MAY AUGUST
1-2
8
10
11
30
12
10
60
50
30
115
3900
4
1
2
2
76
101
79
470
A comparison of the average with the median indicates
the following:
Coliform -- May - August
Only on Beach #11 is the median count of 60 - 3900
above the average count of 45 - 1416. This means that for
August, even though the beach samples show that the average
count is close to being satisfactory at a 1000 per 100 ml
count, the median count indicates most of the samples were
well above 1000 and Beach #11 was unsatisfactory for swimming
at that time.
It should be pointed out that the August 2 and 3
survey was run under very difficult conditions. Stormy
-------
173
conditions with heavy rains and rough water dominated the en-
tire period of survey. The survey shows the effect of bad
weather conditions and the results this condition would give
at the beaches. The State Park Life Guards are to be given
the writer's, sanitarians' and P.H. S. thanks for participating
in this survey for, without them, it is doubtful that samples
would have been collected on these two days.
Comparison of the average with the median on the
other beaches indicated that only a few samples were high and
the beaches #1-2, #8 and #10 remained satisfactory for swimming.
A comparison of the May results with the August re-
sults and knowing the stormy conditions shows the results of
such "riling up" of the water. This is quite noticeable in
the average counts.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Storms do affect bacterial counts on the beaches
by intensifying same,
2. Beach #11 is affected by outside contamination
and, as the results show, should be closed when storm and
weather conditions cause the bacteria counts to go up.
3. Table III indicates that weather also can and
is a factor of raising the counts above allowable levels on
Beach #1-2. Continued efforts should be made to stop pollu-
tion from entering the lake west of the State Park,,
-------
174
CREDITS DUE:
Presque Isle State Park Life Guards for collecting
samples.
State Health Department for supplying two men to
work in the laboratory.
City of Erie -- supplying Water Works Laboratory.
Erie County Department of Health -- Sanitarians
working with the Life Guards and in the laboratory.
Public Health Service for supplying two men, equip-
ment and media for test.
Submitted by:
Lawrence R. Moriarty, Director
Div, of Environmental Health
Erie County Dept, of Health
-------
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK BEACHES
INTENSIVE SURVEY II -- August 2 and 3, 1964
Average Counts/lOO ml
Average Counts/100 ml
DATE
8/2
8/3
DAY TIME BEACH NO.
Sun. A.M. 1-2
8
10
11
Mon. A.M. 1-2
8
10
11
TOTAL
COLIFORM
183
26
171
3520
1368
20
474
5322
FBCAL
STREP
62
124
412
1212
313
10
219
980
TIME TOTAL
COLIFORM
P.M. 894
20
69
5356
P.M. 498
128
303
4300
FECAL
STREP
274
589
109
1146
377
183
196
523
—I
Ui
-------
176
R-1H ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
SUMMARY -- INTENSIVE SURVEY III
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK BEACHES
September 14 and 15, 1964
TO: Dr. Felix S. Shubert
Deputy Health Officer
FROM: Lawrence R. Moriarty
Division Director
The final phase of a three-part program by the Public
Health Service and the Erie County Health Department to do ex-
tensive concentrated sampling of Beaches #1-2, #8 (Waterworks),
#10 and #11 of Presque Isle State Park was completed on
September 15, 1964.
As in the two previous surveys, samples were taken
in water from mid-depth when the water was four (4) to five
(5) feet deep. Four to six samples were collected from each
beach twice daily.
Seventy-six (76) samples were collected, with three
hundred and ninety-four (394) dilutions being set up. Both
total coliform and fecal streptococcus determinations were
made.
Table I below indicates a comparison of the May,
August and September surveys.
-------
177
TABLE I
BEACH Count per 100 ml
Total Coliform Fecal Strep.
1-2
8
10
11
Survey
Average
MAY
35
15
40
90
45
AUGUST
736
49
254
4625
1416
SEPT.
4
140
166
3822
1033
MAY
11
5
4
7
7
AUGUST
257
225
234
965
420
SEPT.
27
11
10
15
16
Table II below indicates a comparison of the median
samples collected during the same periods.
TABLE II
Count per 100 ml
Total Coliform Fecal Strep.
BEACH
1-2
8
10
11
MAY
30
12
10
60
AUGUST
50
30
115
3900
SEPT.
2
10
33
3150
MAY
4
1
2
2
AUGUST
76
101
79
490
SEPT.
2
6
3
10
The September survey again points out that Beach #11
is periodically contaminated by pollution from unidentified
specific sources. Sixty-five percent (65%) of the samples col-
lected at Beach #11 during the two-day survey were over the al-
lowable 1000 coliform count per 100 ml.
Brown-colored industrial waste was very noticeable
on Beach #11 on the morning of September 14 and on beaches #8
and #11 on the morning of September 15, 1964.
The presence of the waste is definitely related to the
wind direction. The wind for the 14th and 15th was from the
-------
178
south, south-east and east, driving the waste to Beach #11 then
around the eastern extreme of the Presque Isle beaches in a loop
which dipped back into Beach #8. This color was verified by
tests taken of water coming in through the Chestnut Street Water
Works intake on September 15, 1964„
High median and average samples for the August survey
again point out the storms do affect bacterial counts on all
beaches. The increase can be attributed to riling-up of the
surrounding waters and increased run--off.
The counts on Beaches #1-2, #8 and #10 based on this
survey were exceptionally low, continuing to point out that
Presque Isle State Park has exceptionally good quality water
for swimming and bathing purposes.
CONCLUSIONS:
1. Wind direction can be a factor in:
A. elevation of bacterial counts on Beach #11.
B. industrial waste causing a definite coloring of
Beach #11.
C. The spread of industrial waste to Beach #8.
D. The industrial waste reaching the intake of
the City Water Works.
2. Beach #11 to be closed when wind directions are
from south-east, east and north-east.
-------
179
CREDITS DUE:
1. State Health Department for supplying one man to
work part time in the laboratory.
2. City of Erie -- supplying man part time in the
laboratory and allowing the use of a fine water works laboratory
facility.
3. Public Health Service for supplying two men,
equipment and media for test.
4. County Health Department sanitarians for braving
the cold air and warm water to collect samples, also for a man
to work in the laboratory.
Report prepared by:
Lawrence R. Moriarty
Director
Division of Environmental Health
Erie County Department of Health
-------
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK BEACHES
INTENSIVE SURVEY III -- TABLE III
September 14, and 15, 1964
AVERAGE COUNTS/100 ml
DATE DAY TIME
9/14 Won. A.M.
9/15 Tues. A.M.
BEACH NO.
1-2
8
10
11
1-2
8
10
11
TOTAL
COLIFORM
1.5
3
19.5
3372
6.3
490
206
774
FECAL TIME
STREP.
4.5 P.M.
5
3
IS
15.5 P.M.
30
29
34
TOTAL
COLIFORM
3
2
3
5420
5
64
435
5722
FECAL
STREP.
1.0
3
1
5
86
7
4
4
00
o
-------
18'
R-2 ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
DATE: July 1, 1965
TO: Dr. Felix S. Shubert
Deputy Director
FROM: L.R. Moriarty
RE: 1964-65 Route #5 Stream Survey
Last in series of nine samplings
The ninth and last in a series of surveys of Route #5
streams was conducted by Mr, Jenkins on June 8, 1965. Samples
were collected from a west to east direction and following a day
of rain. Muddy water and the high bacterial counts are indica-
tive of the excessive run-off. The survey results are attached.
In summing up the survey, 155 samples have been taken
from 15 streams and 3 other sampling points. About 1000 miles
have been driven to complete the work.
Further in summary -- the median sample for all samples
for all streams crossing Route #5 during the survey was 4600
coliform/100 ml of sample. The average for same was 106,000.
The median and average count for each station is as
follows:
STATION NO. STATION LOCATION MEDIAN AVERAGE
A Twenty-Mile Creek 225 350
B Sixteen-Mile Creek 4600 5900
C Twelve-Mile Creek 2100 4500
D Eight-Mile Creek 1500 2400
-------
182
STATION NO. STATION LOCATION
D-l Six-Mile Creek
E Four-Mile Creek
F Millcreek
F-3 Garrison Run
G Cascade Creek
H Walnut Creek
I Trout Run
J Elk Creek
K Raccoon Creek
Crooked Creek
Conneaut Creek
Public Dock
Ship Channel
K-l
X
F-2
F-l
EI-1
MEDIAN AVERAGE
2300 18,500
9300 19,500
350,000 515,000
240,000 420,000
11,000 44,000
4600 5000
3900
55,000
2000
24,000
1100 2200
150 150
1100 1100
3500 4000
2400 3300
Four-Mile Creek G.E. Sewer 60,000 58,000
There is no question that of the streams samples,
Twenty-Mile Creek is in excellent condition, that it is affected
little by human pollution. Such streams as Eight-Mile, Trout,
Raccoon, Crooked Creek and Conneaut Creek also can be considered
to be in satisfactory condition. It would be the writer's opinion
that the counts for these streams would be due mostly to natural
conditions.
Such creeks as Sixteen-Mile, Twelve-Mile, Six-Mile,
Four-Mile and Walnut Creek reflect populated areas. Some waste
is entering these streams causing counts to rise slightly.
-------
183
These are the areas where sewage plants and waste treatment
facilities should be up-dated or adequate sewage facilities
should be provided for the odd clusters of homes or budding
subdivisions. Enforcement of local controls on on-lot dis-
posal and subdivision ordinances will go a long way towards
preventing these streams from getting worse.
Elk Creek. The overloaded Girard and Lake City
Borough sewage plants are factors in the high counts in Elk
Creek. Lake City, to correct its end of the problem, is now
enlarging its plant and will treat all waste adequately be-
fore it is discharged. This work should be completed within
the next year. Girard Borough is presently discussing plant
expansion with a consulting engineer and may have plant ex-
pansion underway in the near future.
Cascade Creek. Counts in Cascade indicate some bac-
terial pollution. However, visual observations indicate other
contaminants. Samples collected have been given to the State
Health Department for analysis. Routine checks of Cascade
Creek at West 25th Street are being made with the hopes of
tracing and catching the party or parties involved.
Garrison Run and Millcreek. They remain a serious
problem and will remain problems until the city through a long-
range program converts its storm-sanitary sewers into separate
systems. The work done by the city tochange overflows, fix
syphons, cap sewers, etc. is quite evident in the decreasing
-------
184
counts obtained. The proposed trip through the two tubes by
city personnel will help further to reduce pollution by the lo-
cation and removal of sources of waste.
The sampling of the bay area around the public dock
and the ship channel has not proved conclusively that Millcreek,
Garrison Run, Cascade Creek and the bayfront area are the only
cause of bacterial pollution on Beach #11 at Presque Isle State
Park. There is no doubt that the combination of the four areas
mentioned above do contribute to the problem, but it is realis-
tic to assume that other sources from the lake side do contri-
bute to Beach #11 pollution.
Summer survey work on beach areas with twice weekly
sampling has already started to show high counts at Dunn
Boulevard in Erie and Lakeside Beach in Lawrence Park. This
indicates that this area is also contributing to the Beach #11
problem.
CONCLUSION:
The Route #5 survey was proposed in order to obtain
a baseline on the general condition of streams entering Lake
Erie from Erie County. It is quite apparent that the streams
in Erie County., except for Millcreek, Garrison Run and Elk
Creek (and possibly Cascade Creek) can be considered to be in
good to excellent condition. From the standpoint of fisher-
men and the newspapers, many fish have been caught in all the
streams except those mentioned above. The newspapers at
times do report catches in Elk Creek.
-------
185
None of the streams tested could be used for drinking
water without chlorination and surely none could be used for a
large supply unless treatment and chlorination were used. Ex-
cept for Twenty-Mile, Eight-Mile, Raccoon and Crooked Creek
(and possibly Sixteen-Mile Creek) none of the remaining creeks
sampled should be considered absolutely safe for swimming.
The results also indicate that under ideal conditions, Six-Mile
Creek could be used for short periods of time.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Borough of Girard go forward as quickly as possi-
ble with its plans for enlarging the sewage treatment plant.
2. That strict supervision of conditions by both
bacterial and visual observation be made routinely of Millcreek
and Garrison Run and that, upon any noticeable change above
normal conditions, the city will investigate and correct the
cause immediately.
3. That as a long-range program, a feasibility re-
port and plan of implementation be drawn up to separate storm
and sanitary sewers.
4. That this department continue to sample Elk
Creek -- a program of sampling the entire creek be undertaken
to ascertain if pollution beyond the limits of Lake City and
Girard is affecting the stream. There would be six to eight
sampling stations between the mouth of the creek and a point
beyond the Middleboro area.
-------
186
5. That this department, through its summer beach
program, dye testing and float studies, continue to relate and
ferret out conditions that affect the wellrbeing of Beach #11.
1964-65 STREAM SURVEY
SAMPLING STATIONS*
CODE LOCATION REMARKS
A 20 Mile Creek
B 16 Mile Creek
C 12 Mile Creek
D 8 Mile Creek
D-l 6 Mile Creek
E 4 Mile Creek
EI-1 4 Mile Creek
F Millcreek
F-l Ship Channel
F-2 Public Dock
G Cascade Creek
H Walnut Creek
I Avonia
J Elk Creek
25' North of N.W. Corner of Bridge
25' North of N.E. Corner of Bridge
50' North of N.W. Corner of Bridge
30' North of N.W, Corner of Bridge
100' North of N.W. Corner of
Bridge, Rock
100' North of N.E. Corner of Bridge
100' South of S.W. Corner of
General Electric Sewer
Center of Bridge -- West of Erie
Sewage Plant Administration Building
West Entrance -- near 3rd Red
Tower, South Pier
Foot of State St. -- North of Pier
25' East of Foot Bridge on South
Shore, Frontier Park
By Bottle from South Side of Road
above West Tunnel
20' North of N.E. Corner of Bridge
on Old Route #5
Pass Bridge to West, enter Side
Road on North, go North to Creek
K
Raccoon Creek
Under North tfest Corner of Bridge
-------
CODE
LOCATION
187
REMARKS
M
Millcreek
Millcreek
Glenwood Park Ave. and West 30th at
Spillway
Glenwood Park Ave. and County Line
East Side of Gore Road
*A11 stations located along Route #5 unless otherwise noted.
INTERPRETATION OF COLIFORM INDEX AS FOUND IN
NATURAL WATERS OF THE GREAT LAKES AND UPPER
MISSISSIPPI RIVER DRAINAGE AREA
COLIFORM PER 100 ml
Not more than
0
1
10 to 100
100 to 500
Not satis- ). 1,000
factory for)
swimming )
Not satis- ) 10,000
factory for)
swimming )
" 100,000
INTERPRETATION
Water Sample free of pollution
Treasury Department standard for drinking
Vater
Indicative of good water -- normal for
inland lakes and Great Lakes which are
free of sewage pollution
Normal for inland streams, free of det-
rimental sewage pollution, might be at-
tributed to land wash
Suspicious -- generally indicates mild
pollution in natural waters, but dan-
gerous in proximity to fresh sewage
pollution
Definite evidence of fresh sewage pol-
lution -- menace to health
Heavy sewage pollution -- definitely
dangerous
" 1,000,000 Normal Sewage
The above standards were agreed upon for interstate use
by the Great Lakes and Upper Mississippi River Drainage Basin
Board of Engineers.
Reference can be found in "Coastline Pollution Surveys
of Michigan, June 1933" Report of Michigan Stream Control Commission
-------
LOCATION
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH « DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
1964-65 STREAM SURVEY
DATE AND COLIFORM PER LOOml
12-23-64
A 240
B 1100+
C 1100+
D 1100
D-l 1100+
E 1100+
F 110,000+
F-l 1100+
F-2 1100+
G 1100+
H 1100
I 1100+
J 1100+
K 1100
G-l
F-3 GARR
San. Moriarty
i
1-12-65
210
11,000
11,000+^
1100+
11.00+
4600
1,100,000+
4600
4600
11,000
1100+
11,000+
11,000+
1100+
SON RUN
LRM & CW
2-2-65
--
11,000
0
930
2300
2300
1,100,000
1 — —
4600
! 11,000+
4600
1500
15,000
1500
1 Wilt
2-23-65
23
2400
930
1500
1500
2400
150,000
„
11,000
11,000+
430
7500
110,000+
430
(2-19-65
11,000+
CW & JG
3-16-65
--
930
11,000
4,600
24,000
11,000
1,110,000
_„
2400
*
91
1500
24,000
1230
110,000+
240,000
3ranahan
4-7-65
150
11,000
2100
430
910
11,000+
240,000
— —
2400
__
4600
7500
4300
*• •»
9100
110,000+
JG & NC
4-28-65
—
11,000
930
4,600
2300
24,000
460,000
2400
4600
„_
11,000
2000
110,000
11,000+
23,000
240,000
Colonna
5-24-65
240
430
2400
2400
4300
9300
1,110,000
11,000+
2400
.—
11,000
2300
110,000V
3900
9100
..
NC ft RJ
6-8-65
1100
4600
11,000+
4600
110,000
110,000+
1,100,000+
4600
4600
«• •»
11,000+
910
110,000+
360
240,000
1,100,000+
Jenkins
* Now G-l (new sampling point)
-------
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
DATE
RESULTS -- 1965 SUMMER BEACH SURVEY
Colifornx /100 ml
BEACHES
DUNN
BB6
May
5/14/65
June
6/10
6/15
6/17
6/22
6/24
6/29
July
7/1
7/6
7/8
7/13
// j.^
7/15
7/20
7/22
7/27
7/29
8/3
8/5
.-
21,000
110,000+
1X0,000+
2,300
110,000
24,000
46,000
460,000
9,300
C3 0 01)
1,100,000+
1,100,000+
(3 0^01)
1,100,000
1,100,000
f ~$ m ^
\ J • w X /
1,100,000+
1,100,000
/ •*> _ n^M
240,000
43,000
HALLEY
BB5
11,000+
110,000+
460,000
9,100
75,000
1,100,000+
1,100,000+
110,000+
23,000
460,000
f "*• n m fi
9,100
1,100,000+
4 "I C\ C\\ \
\ J \J • \J ± /
290,000
9,100
/ -T m \
\ j • *j *• j
1,100,000
1.100,000+
t , J n^.\
1,100,000+
43,000
SHADES
BB4
..
4,600
930
230
930
11,000+
11,000"
2,400
4,600
24,000
XT /\ T \
930
11,000+
f \ n m ^
^ J ~ U . U JL/
910
91
/ T _ AT N
^ — ' v \J 1m J
9,100
43,000
,^ Q^%
1,100,000
0
SHOREWOOD
BB3
--
4,600
750
2,400
930
11,000+
11,000V
430
430
930
f •* -i n\
2,400
1,500
/I 1 A V
\- Jf ™ JL < U /
430
430
i ( ^ r«l 0^
\ J ^ * \f /
1,500
4,600
t ' 10)
11,000+
11,000
FREEPORT
BB2
--
930
2,400
230
430
930
930/930
2,400
2,400
-/ T 1 rtA
230
/ T i n^
430
430
/ T T r\ \
930
36
<.3 1 . OT)
230
210
(3 10)
460
91
ST. BARN.
BBl
--
11,000
230
11,000+
230
11,000+
or
46,000
11,000+
2,400
3,600
f f "> \
V •* • ^* X
4,300"
X IT 1 \
9,300
2^i 000
v T n i ^
\ •> u • *• t
4,300
0
63 1)
0
46,000
(.3 1 0)
460
0
MEDIAN
—
7,800+
1,700+
5,800+
930
11,000+
11,000+
2,400+
4,100
6, 800
5,750
17,500+
2,600
260
5,300
44,500
125,500+
5,545
AVERAGE
--
25,000^
96,000-
22,000J
13,000
207,000-
193,000
27,000
82,000
83,000
187,000
373,000
230,000
185,000
368,471
52,301
408,653
16,181
00
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190
R-4 ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
DIVISION OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
LAKE ERIE
WATER POLLUTION
ERIE COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
DRAINAGE AREA
For the sake of argument, Erie County is divided into
two drainage areas. An .imaginary line running diagonally
(north-east) through the townships of Elk Creek, Franklin,
McKean, Summit, Greene, Greenfield and cutting the lower south-
east corner of North East township in general divides the
drainage areas. The south portion of the county eventually
drains to the Ohio Valley. The north portion of the county
drains to Lake Erie. Except for general comment now and then,
little will be said in this discussion about the south portion
of the county.
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
In the Ohio Valley portion of the drainage area in
Erie County some 30,000 people populate the area. There are
approximately 220,000 people in the Lake Erie drainage basin
according to the I960 census.
SEWAGE TREATMENT PLANTS
In the Lake Erie drainage area there are publically-
owned and operated sewage treatment plants in the boroughs of
North East, Lake City, Girard and Albion. These communities
service approximately 10,000 people.
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191
The City of Erie in its own sewage treatment plant
processes waste from the Borough of Wesleyville, the townships
of Lawrence Park and from portions of Harborcreek and Millcreek.
The total waste treated from the City of Erie, Wesleyville,
Lawrence Park, Harborcreek and Millcreek comes from a population
of approximately 160,000. Therefore, approximately 170,000
people are serviced by public sewerage facilities in the Lake
Erie drainage area. One additional community will be served
by public sewers in the near future (Cranesville - 600).
There are four public plants in the Ohio Valley
drainage area catering to approximately 15,000 people (Corry,
Edinboro, Union City and Waterford*).
PACKAGE PLANTS
Semi-Public Sewage Disposal Systems. There are some
16 package-type plants in operation, 5 such plants are under
construction or under permit awaiting the proper time to start
construction and 7 package plants are proposed for the Lake
Erie drainage area. These plants are built in areas not ac-
cessible to the out-stretched laterals of a public system.
They may be considered as interim plants until public systems
become available.
The plants in operation were designed to accomodate
a population equivalent of some 3000 people for such places as
gas stations, motels, restaurants, etc. and a population of
3000 for such facilities with stationary population as schools,
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192
institutions and industries. (See Table I)
*Under construction.
TABLE I
PACKAGE PLANTS IN OPERATION
GAS STATION & RESTAURANTS:
1. Larry's Economy (175)
2. Stouffer's (130)
3. Green Shingle (100)
4. Terrace (120)
5. Talerico (550)
SCHOOLS;
6. F. S. Clark (400)
7. Behrend Center (930)
8. Summit-Robison (300)
9. Fairview High (575)
INDUSTRY!
10. White Sewing Machine Co. (165)
MOTEL & RESTAURANT;
11. Howard Johnson (420)
12. Holiday Inn (not open) (400)
STATE PARK;
13. Presque Isle Boat Marina (1000)
INSTITUTIONS:
14. Erie County Hospital (500)
15. Rondale Nursing Home (100)
GAS STATION:
16. Carney's (90)
The plants under construction will have an estimated
population equivalent of 600 for transients and 900 for local
people. (See Table II)
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193
Proposed package plants in the Lake Erie drainage
basin would accomodate approximately another 1700 people, 1150
of these would be permanent residents of Erie County.
One other method of treating sewage is in use in the
Lake Erie drainage area and that is a stabilization pond for a
subdivision of 120 homes. Presently there are 10 homes in use
in the subdivision with about 30 people occupying same.
In summary then -- sewage is treated in the Lake Erie
drainage basin in the following manner and for the following
population:
1. Public sewerage systems 170,000
2. Package plants 3,000
3. Stabilization ponds 30_
Total 173,030
Under construction:
1. Public sewerage systems 600
2. Package plants 900
•Total 1500
TABLE II
PACKAGE PLANTS UNDER CONSTRUCTION
MOTEL & RESTAURANT;
1. Travelers' Inn 400
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194
SUBDIVISION;
2. Greenbriar 200
GAS STATION AND RESTAURANT:
3. Pure Oil (90 and 20) 200
SCHOOLS;
4. Klein 400
5. Green Township (1500) 300
Total 1500
PROPOSED PACKAGE PLANTS
GAS STATION & RESTAURANT:
1. Seaway 200
2. Pasche 300
SCHOOL;
3. St. Boniface 450
INSTITUTION;
4. Gospel Hill Nursing Home 100
SUBDIVISION:
5. Lake Shore 500
MOTELS;
6. Conner's (Route 19) 50
7. Weindorf 100
Total 1700
Stabilization Pond (in operation):
Georgetown Heights Subdivision 30
(Potential) 320
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195
This would indicate that by the end of 1964 approxi-
mately 175,000 or 80% of the Lake Erie drainage basin will have
sewerage systems treating domestic waste.
The other 45,000 people because of their location will
be in areas of partial control of waste disposal by means of
local sewage ordinances. Still others, transients namely,
(3600) not considered in the total above will be more or less
under constant control of sewerage systems along Route 90 and
in recreational areas.
THE NEGATIVE SIDE
On the negative side of domestic sewage treatment,
we can assume that all mechanical equipment will not function
to its utmost at all times and the quality of maintenance and
operation, will vary to give a degree of treatment a little
less than the ultimate desired.
The approval of subdivision plots by townships with-
out regard to type of ground or the installation of a sewage
treatment plant or Health Department approval creates an ever-
increasing threat of keeping up with pollution abatement.
This type of action necessitates big sewer expansion programs
to eliminate sewage nuisances and health hazards.
A planned sewer program and sewage disposal by a new
subdivider would eliminate future sewage and health nuisances
and require the home purchaser to pay for a sewerage system
once and one time only. An ordinance would keep pollution un-
der control before it started.
-------
196
There are approximately 3 to 5 FHA-VA on-lot sewage
disposal applications approved each year by the Erie County
Department of Health. This is an indication of the type of
soil in the county and reason for the need of local or county
control over individual household on-lot sewage disposal sys-
tems. Having an ordinance and not enforcing same is a detri-
ment also to future pollution control.
Domestic sewage creates a few outstanding problems
in such areas as Brookside and the Fairfield areas of
Harborcreek Township, Lake Shore subdivision of Fairview
Township and McKee Road, Spires Drive, West 32nd Street and
Colonial Avenue in Millcreek Township, to name a few.
Only major sewer expansion programs will correct the
flow of pollution from these areas to the lake. To this end,
Harborcreek Township has a committee of prominent men studying
the problem and shortly should come up with a recommended pro-
gram for abatement.
Fairview Township Sewer Authority took up the problem
of pollution abatement for Lake Shore subdivision but of late
have not shown any noticeable activity for solving the problem.
Millcreek Township is in the process of governmental red tape
trying to obtain funds for detail plans for a two or three
million dollar sewer expansion program. The City of Erie, by
the chlorination of its sewage plant effluent will reduce the
bacterial load to the lake.
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197
In summarizing pollution to Lake Erie from the do-
mestic standpoint, sewage treatment facilities and lack of
sewerage systems Erie County can well be proud of the effort
being made to abate pollution to Lake Erie.
It is quite apparent that Erie County is not letting
its raw domestic sewage run "whole hog" into the lake. Yet it
is also apparent that steps must be taken to control subdivi-
sion expansion without proper sewage disposal, that sewage
ordinances must be enforced and that, in areas where public
sewers are not available or practicable, use of such interim
devices as package plants and waste stabilization ponds be
used until such time as public or metropolitan-type waste treat-
ment facilities are made available.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE FACILITIES
The major share of industrial waste to Lake Erie
comes from the City of Erie area. One tannery in Girard
Township, after treatment, periodically discharges a highly-
colored waste to Elk Creek, thence to the lake. After pre-
treatment, waste from the grape industry in North East is dis-
charged to Sixteen-Mile Creek and also to Lake Erie. In
essence, these are the only major sources of treated or un-
treated xjaste to the lake by industrial facilities in the
county. These industries operate under state permit.
A few plants in Lake City and Millcreek Township
empty their waste into the public sewerage systems for
-------
198
treatment before being discharged to the lake. A few gravel
washing operations in the county, also under permit to the
state, are required to presettle waste water to prevent silt
from depositing in streams.
Minor pollution outbreaks have occurred in the county
from industrial waste by-products being deposited on the sur-
face of the ground. Fly ash, from power plants, deposited in
Harborcreek and Millcreek has, because of seepage, turned
small streams rusty and lox^ered the pH» Wood waste from the
paper mill deposited in the Harborcreek area caused pollution
when seepage from the wood pile broke dykes and allowed
heavily polluted colored waste to enter a nearby stream.
Many industries in the City of Erie deposit their
waste in the city sewerage system for treatment before dis-
charge to the lake. The iron works pre-treats its waste to
remove sediment and phenol compounds. On occasions, such pol-
lution escapes to the lake. The paper mill which has been ex-
perimenting with waste treatment facilities for over ten years,
continues to discharge large quantities of waste to Lake Erie
far in excess of the population equivalent of the total domes-
tic output of the City of Erie sewage treatment plant. This
waste adds fibers, color and causes foam.
Minor wastes, such as: chromium, acid, hot water,
oil, etc. are also discharged in minor quantities to the
Presque Isle Bay and to the lake.
-------
199
Cooling water, while not apparent as a factor in pol-
lution, may in winter time accumulate enough heat that when
discharged to the receiving water act as an attractant to fish.
"Large quantities of fish, so attracted and dying off, through
decomposition, pose a problem in pollution abatement. The de-
composition process may be a factor in lowering oxygen levels
and supplying a continued source of nutrients for algal growth.
While population equivalent figures are not available
for all industries in the Lake Erie drainage area, it would be
safe to assume that such waste contributes at least 600,000
population equivalent to the lake and may be as high as 700,000
or higher of untreated waste.
Comparing 600,000 for industry with no treatment, to
175,000 people with treatment and that portion of 45,000 that
in some way their waste gets into the lake, it is quite easy
to rationalize that industry is contributing at least ten times
as much raw waste as is the domestic population. In other
words, for every 60,000 people, industry is dumping into Lake
Erie the equivalent of 600,000 people.
This is not quite the picture that has been painted
in the past. Pollution has been lumped in one big package and
we talk of it in terms of bacteria, detrimental to health and
closing down beaches and with a side look at the public as the
source of all trouble.
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200
AGRICULTURE
Some may wonder after what has been said about waste
from people and industry as to what is happening to the lake
because of agricultural regions in the Lake Erie drainage area.
There is no way except for long-range and intensive stream
surveys to determine off-hand how much pollution in the form
of nutrients (fertilizer) and poisons (insecticides, herbi-
cides, etc.) is contributed to the lake in a given cycle or
area.
Heavy growths of algae in some streams entering the
lake from farm and orchard areas are indicative of fertilizer
run-off. Such fertilizer, while at first may not appear as a
pollutant, can indirectly contribute to massive growth of algae
which in turn, as many along the lake front will attest, dies
off, collects in the most selective coves, beaches, etc., then
decomposes to the knowledge of everyone within smelling dis-
tance. Such decomposition is the source of pollution and new
nutrients for future algae growths in the lake.
Contrary to popular belief of the average lay person,
algae in its growing state is a credit to the lake and a pol-
lution abater. Algae must have sunlight, carbon dioxide and
nutrients to grow and produce oxygen in a water soluble form.
Dissolved oxygen is a factor in pollution abatement.
Fishermen may not agree with this theory, but for
only another reason, heavy growths of algae may cover breeding
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201
areas but, on the other hand, algae in some cases affords pro-
tection for the small fry.
Insecticides, pesticides, herbacides, etc., if un-
controlled and used indiscriminatelyp will react and cause fish
kills -- these are usually quick and sensational. Such kills
attract newspaper publicity and arouse the indignation of the
general public.
Such kills on a creek in Erie County by comparison
may be minor to damage being done by other waste, yet the fish
kills are not necessary and little by little contribute to the
overall degradation of the lake.
At this time, there is no information readily available
to the Erie County Health Department as to the magnitude of ag-
ricultural pollution to Lake Erie but algae growth and fish
kills here and there point out a problem does exist.
ALGAE
Agricultural waste is not the only contributor of nu-
trients to the lake. Treated and untreated domestic sewage and
some industrial treated and untreated wastes provide nutrients
for algae growth. As mentioned above, algae is a "helper" in
abating pollution when it is growing, a luscious green growth
is indicative of help. Nutrients in the form of nitrogen and
phosphates promote the growth. It is the decomposing waste
that causes the pollution and esthetic problem along the lake
front.
-------
202
Until the time arrives that these nutrients are con-
trolled at their source and the lake by dilution eliminates its
present storage of nutrients, algae will always be a problem in
Lake Erie.
The Ontario Water Commission in its studies of spot
control of algae have been successful in eliminating the growth
in certain areas. However, as soon as chemical additives wear
off, the algae reestablishes itself.
It would be impractical and uneconomical, unless
some new impediment to algae growth is discovered, to com-
pletely treat any or all of the Great Lakes with chemicals for
algae control. Local control is illogical also, because it's
like the man with the dandelion-free lawn trying to cope with
the situation when all the neighbors around him care little
about the little yellow flower.
SWIMMING-BEACHES
Locally there is a problem which rotates around the
use of Beach 11 at Presque Isle State Park. When I say lo-
cally, it is a local problem and not one of concern for the
whole lake front. The various communities along the lake have
their own pollution problems, as was evident this past summer
in the newspapers when beaches were closed.
The local problem revolves around: pollution from
the bay, unchlorinated sewage treatment plant effluent, indus-
trial waste, lake currents and wind directions. The history
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203
of the state park beaches and county beaches west to the Ohio
state line is a good and envious one because of low bacteria
counts and far and in-between high counts.
However, the history of pollution at potential beach
areas east of the city of Erie to North East (Lawrence Park and
Harborcreek Townships) and Beach 11 at Presque Isle State Park
has at times been mediocre and at times very bad. This has
necessitated closing Beach 11 and recommending beaches in the
Lawrence Park area not be used. These circumstances of good
vest side - poor east side strongly indicate it is a local
problem and must be corrected locally.
Bacteria alone is not a criteria of what constitutes
good bathing water. This is true also of drinking water.
From the esthetic viewpoint, people do not like to bathe in
highly-colored or foamy water nor do fishermen relish putting
their equipment and boats through this type of contaminant.
The only good factor about color and foam is that a person on
Beach 11 or one at the township beaches has a visual aid in-
dicating that pollution is being carried his way.
With the addition of chlorine to the sewage treat-
ment plant effluent, quick and proper treatment of industrial
waste and the cleanup or prevention of future pollution to
Presque Isle Bay, not only will Beach 11 be made a better
place to swim, but miles of lake front bordering on Lawrence
Park, Harborcreek and North East Township, because of their
recreational availability will become a tourist attraction.
-------
204
SUMMARY
From the above, it is apparent that pollution does
exist in the lake, it affects the economy of the local people,
the pleasure of our visitors and gives Lake Erie a "black eye."
Local people, through their community in a sense, are partially
to blame. Industry can accept more than its share and public
officials can shoulder the blame for lack of enforcement or
enactment of laws to prevent present and future pollution.
CONCLUSIONS
WHAT IS BEING DONE:
FEDERAL LEVEL. An extensive and very comprehensive
survey of Lake Erie is being done by the Public Health Service.
This is a realistic program to give the over-all picture of
pollution in the lake. The results, if listened to and followed
by the states, will have far reaching effects on making Lake
Erie as well as the -other Great Lakes as pollution free as
possible.
STATE LEVEL. The Sanitary Water Board and State
Health Department has one of the best records in the nation
in combating pollution. While their efforts may not look or
appear sensational, their continued program of surveillance,
checking, evaluating and approving permits for sewage and in-
dustrial waste treatment has made Erie County and its lake
front a better place to live^ Lack of enforcement on their
part would leave pollution in an intolerable state in this
-------
205
area. Mr. Harvey of Meadville deserves much credit for handling
this program over the years.
A constant watch by game and fish commission personnel
of the waters of the Commonwealth is a factor in checking
existing pollution and indirectly preventing similar pollution.
LOCAL LEVEL. County Health Department -- Promotion
of sewage disposal, on-lot and subdivision ordinances to con-
trol waste treatment has long been the program of the depart-
ment. Promotion of public sewerage systems in communities
where needed and package plants in out-of-the-way places takes
up considerable time of the department. Minor surveys of
stream and lake front areas are carried out to determine lo-
cation of pollution problems.
Boroughs, Cities and Townships -- Enactment of
sewage ordinances, building of sewerage facilities (particu-
larly boroughs') and extension of sewers constitute some of the
activity of these municipalities. The increase in the number
of sewer authorities in the past few years attests to the de-
sire to look into and abate pollution. (Some times I wonder
if sewer expansion programs are not aimed at the people's
comfort rather than abating pollution to streams and lakes.)
Organizations -- Numerous organizations dealing
with recreation, conservation, boating, fishing, etc. do much
to arouse the public into thinking about the problem at hand.
The aroused public are the one that eventually have laws
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206
enacted which in turn help states and local officials abate
pollution.
WHAT CAN BE DONE
LOCALLY -- To solve our own problem,
1. Industry, without further delays, assume its
full responsibility and remove all waste from the lake. This
should be a crash program -- not one of experiment and delay.
2. Passage of county ordinances controlling sewage
disposal for subdivisions and other establishments and neces-
sitating approval of such installations by the County and/or
the State Health Departments.
3. Adoption and specifically enforcement of sewage
ordinances for on-lot disposal of waste by townships and
boroughs. Under such an ordinance, homes will not be built
on property not suitable for subsurface disposal.
4o County Health Department to encourage extension
of sewers into areas greatly needing waste treatment facili-
ties and to enforce subdivision ordinance regulating sewage
disposal.
5. A joint effort by State-County-City Health
Departments to eliminate sources of waste to and prevent new
pollution from transient visitors from entering Presque Isle
Bay.
6. Local organizations to voice their opinions
where and to whom it is needed in the form of resolutions.
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207
STATE -- Continue program requesting proper instal-
lations and new installations of sewage and waste treatment
facilities and requesting correction of existing pollution in
problem areas. Heed the federal report when it is published.
FEDERAL -- Continue survey work and coordinate over-
all efforts of the states to improve the lake.
In conclusion, Erie County has its own problem to
lick in relation to pollution as it affects our beaches,
recreation and tourism and a joint effort with the other
states to lick same as it affects fishing and future water
usages.
Report prepared and written by:
Lawrence R. Moriarty, Director
Division of Environmental Health
Approved by
Dr. Felix S. Shubert Presented to County
Deputy Director Commissioner, Feb., 1964
Erie County Dept. of Health
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208
IZAAK WALTON LEAGUE OF AMERICA, INC.
R.D.2, Franklin, Pa.
9 August 1965
TO: U.S. Public Health Service
SUBJECT: Great Lakes Pollution
In care of Mr. Charles L. Wilbar, Jr. Chairman
Sanitary Water Board
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Box 90
Harrisburg, Pa. 17120
Dear Sirs:
The Izaak Walton League of America conducted a sur-
vey of the Great Lakes in 1959 with Canada cooperating with
Mr. Dave Kuck of Chicago as chairman. At that time, our sur-
vey of Pennsylvania's shoreline on Lake Erie revealed a great
deal of pollution, mainly from Hammermill Paper Co. in Erie,
Cascade St. Conduit sewage from Erie, houseboat sewage in the
bay at Erie and four canneries polluting Sixteen Mile Creek
at North-East, Pa.
At present, the conditions are not nearly as bad.
We still have pollution from Pennsylvania, and oceangoing
ships were supposed to dump their sewage and bilge water into
facilities to be constructed at Duquesne pier in Erie.
My last talk, with Dr. Maurice Goddard revealed these
facilities had not been constructed yet although they were
part of the plans presented the public when appeal for funds
for Duquesne pier was made.
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209
As you know, our 1959 survey conducted in cooperation
with the Penna. Fish Commission here in Penna. revealed
Hammermill Paper Co. as being a chronic polluter of Lake Erie
and we requested State Attorney General to prosecute.
Citation was issued to them, and they are now ex-
perimenting with pumping pollution underground which will not
be the final answer to their problem I am sure. Even a sponge
will only hold so much water.
Am happy to see official Federal survey being con-
ducted and urge cleanup of conditions you find.
Yours for
"The wise use of our Human and Natural Resources",
Roy T. Frank - Chairman
Penna. Div. of I.W.L.A.
Great Lakes Pollution Committee
copy - Gregg, Fraley
*****
CHAIRMAN STEIN: If we may now go on with the Federal
presentations, Mr. Poston.
MR. POSTON: Thank you, Chairman Stein.
Conferees, members of this conference. I think that
the conferees in their deliberations at Cleveland have taken a
great step towards implementation of a clean-up program for
Lake Erie's pollution. I sincerely hope that here at this
conference we can have an equally cooperative agreement and
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210
progress can be made here at this conference in Buffalo in the
same manner.
The Public Health Service can contribute signifi-
cantly to this conference, in terms of causes of pollution and
damages from pollution, and of the Lake Erie pollution problem.
For this purpose, technical people of our Public Health Service
have been studying the pollution problem of Lake Erie from end
to end -- at Buffalo and at Erie, Cleveland, Toledo and
Detroit. These studies have involved broad categories of
scientific and technical people -- bacteriologists, chemists,
oceanographers, hydrologists, data processors and engineers.
We have prepared the report in three parts, which is available
at the front desk. It was there this morning, at least.
We would like to present this report to you in
break-down form, and for this purpose, Mr. Grover Cook and Mr.
Megregian will make this presentation. However, prior to this,
we have asked Dr. Clarence Tarzwell, Chief of our Biology
Research with the National Marine Quality Research Laboratories,
to make a presentation on changes in Lake Erie.
I'd like to present to you at this time Dr. Tarzwell.
DR. TARZWELL: Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee,
ladies and gentlemen:
The environmental problems facing us today have no
easy solution but they are of great importance to all of us
now and in the future» Can we maintain a desirable environment
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for ourselves and generations yet to come? Are deteriorating
soil, air, and water resources a necessary result of our so-
called progress? Must we accept unsightly, odoriferous, and
contaminated streams and lakes as an inevitable result of the
growth of population and the development of our industries?
In the past many accepted this view of the problem and felt
that it would be essential to dedicate certain of our streams
solely as sewers for the carrying off of wastes. I do not be-
lieve that we can afford to do this. In the future, at least
in many areas, we will need all available water for municipal
supplies, and these streams must be cleaned up so that they
are suitable for such use.
During the past half century, in our rush for im-
mediate creature comforts and the so-called better things of
life, many of us, especially those living in the larger cities,
have forgotten the environmental conditions under which we have
evolved. Little consideration has been given to the effects of
our activities on our overall environment. Man has now attained
the ability to significantly alter or damage his environment.
Significant damage has already been done either knowingly or
unknowingly. Wastes of an ever-increasing variety, volume,
and complexity are being discharged into our air and water
with little consideration of their direct, let alone their in-
direct or long-term effects on our environment and well-being.
Since the turn of the century, there have been the
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voices of conservationists crying in the jungle of resource
exploitation, waste dumping, and the fast buck. However, in
recent years with the great increases in the numbers , com-
plexity, and quantity of our wastes, these voices have become
louder and more persistent. That we cannot indefinitely pour
our untreated wastes into the lakes and streams from which we
take our water supplies has been forcefully brought to the
attention of the general public. Finally, at least a portion
of the public has been awakened to the threat to our general
well-being, health, and welfare. We hear more and more about
abatement and prevention of pollution. Pollution is now a
widely di-scussed subject. But what do we mean by pollution?
When is a water polluted? It is apparent that this now widely
used term has different meanings to different persons and
groups. There is no general agreement as how to define pollu-
tion, what it is, or where it exists.
Some define pollution as any departure from the pri-
mordial conditions. They believe that any change in the com-
position of the aquatic biota constitutes pollution. It is im-
possible to bring all of our streams back to the conditions
which existed when the country was forested. Further, I am
not sure that we would wish to do this even if it were possible.
Modern agriculture has demonstrated that a change in the flora
can be very beneficial to man. We now raise larger crops than
were thought possible one hundred years ago. I feel that such
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a definition of pollution is impractical.
Others have defined pollution as any change in the
quality or character of a stream. Such a definition is not
always applicable. For example, let us consider two streams,
one draining a limestone area and having hard water and the
other draining a sand-stone area and having soft water. Each
of these streams is pure and has a good fauna. After their
junction, the resulting streams also have a good fish fauna.
However, the character and quality of each water have changed,
but we cannot say that the resulting stream is polluted.
Another Example. Let us say that pure warm water is added to
a stream in Glacial National Park where many of the streams
are naturally so cold that even the trout do not grow well.
This warm water would increase production and the growth of
the trout. If the production of fish is our objective, how
can we say that the warming of the water is pollution if it
is beneficial.
Some consider the addition of any material to a
stream as pollution and classify the materials as pollutants.
Again such a definition is not always applicable. If this
were a true definition of pollution the addition of distilled
water would constitute pollution. The addition of certain
compounds such as phosphates, nitrates, calcium carbonate,
potassium, and other earth elements would be classified as
pollution under this definition even though the addition of
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these elements may fertilize the stream and result in increased
productivity. The mere addition of these materials is not al-
ways pollution. However, fertilizing materials can be added
in excessive quantities so that they bring about undesirable
conditions which harm the use of the water. In this case they
would be pollutants.
Some have maintained that the addition of any toxic
materials constitutes pollution. This also is not necessarily
true. Trace elements in water, such as copper, zinc, molybdenum,
iron, magnesium, iodine, manganese, boron, and selenium may be
actually beneficial since all of these elements are among those
needed for life. They become toxic and harmful only when they
are added in concentrations which exceed the maximum safe level
or needed levels. Thus the key consideration is how much and
what is added and not the mere addition. Even table salt which
is necessary for life becomes a toxic when added in excessive
quantities as evidenced in the baby poisoning case in the
hospital where salt was mistaken for sugar and placed in the
babies' formulae. Further, a material which may be harmful
for one use and thus cause pollution may not be harmful for
another use. Let us take for example a sewage waste. If we
add sewage in small quantities to a stream used for navigation
or power, it has no real effect and, in fact, may be considered
as neutral. However if we add small amounts of sewage to a
barren trout stream it will serve as a fertilizer, enrich the
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stream, increase production of food organisms, and in turn in-
crease the crop of trout. If our objective is trout production,
such additions cannot be considered pollution. On the other
hand if the same amount of sewage is added to a stream used for
domestic water supplies it will contaminate the water, inter-
fere with its use, and thus be considered as pollution. Thus
we see that the amount added and the desired use are important
since a material may be beneficial for one use and harmful to
another. We can overfertilize and burn our potatoes or kill
our grass and likewise we can add too much nutrient materials
to a water and produce undesirable growths. The key to this
question is the desired use of the water. For each use we
want water of a quantity and quality suitable for that use.
In view of these considerations I have formulated my own defi-
nition of pollution which results from man's activities. I
believe that pollution is the addition of any material or any
change in the quality or character of a water which interferes
with, lessens, or destroys a desired use. Without some harm
to a desired use there is no pollution.
In abating pollution it is essential that concentra-
tions of materials are kept below levels which are harmful or
toxic. It should be remembered that toxicity is a quantita-
tive term since toxicity depends on concentration or the amount
taken up. Thus the simplist definition for pollution is "too
much.'! Thus discharging amounts of material to a stream which
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exceed the maximum concentrations which are not harmful is not
a use of that water, but a misuse or abuse, and constitutes
pollution.
Today we are considering the question: Is Lake Erie
receiving too much? It is misused, abused and polluted. We
have heard much of eutrophication, a term which has long been
used by limnologists. Like pollution this is another term
which is not well understood.
To define this and other terms and to understand the
things that are happening in Lake Erie, it would be well to con-
sider small lakes where changes are more rapid, well defined and
more easily observed. Glacial lakes can be likened to man in
that they have birth, youth, maturity, old age and death. In
this North Central area, lakes were created or born in glacial
times. During their youth or oligotrophic stage they were clear,
had abundant oxygen throughout their depth, were relatively
infertile, and usually supported a good population of salmonid
fishes. As they became older, nutrients and silt washed in
from the watershed collected in the shore areas forming shallow
bays which were favorable for the development of rooted aquatic
plants. As these deposits and the plant beds increased in ex-
tent, the water became richer, plankton populations increased,
and the bottom and its biota became more favorable for warm-
water fishes. As organic materials from plankton, rooted
aquatics, and other substances washed into the lake and
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accumulated on the bottom in deep-water areas there was an in-
crease in the oxygen demand and a gradual decrease in the DO
content of the water of the hypolimnion. The quality of the
fish population changed with the bass and perch families in-
creasing in abundance. As this stage developed, the lake
reached maturity which is known as the eutrophic stage. Thus
eutrophication is the aging of a lake with enrichment and a
change in the biota. Eutrophication of many lakes is now
being greatly speeded up by man's activities which bring about
the addition of large amounts of organic materials. As the
lake becomes older, shallow areas are filled, more and more
silt accumulates, vegetation beds extend further and further
into the lake, filling as they advance. Shore and marsh vege-
tation advances behind the rooted aquatics and the lake becomes
more acid and reaches old age or the dystrophic stage. As this
stage advances in a small lake a quaking bog develops on which
shrubs grow and these continue to progress towards the center
of the lake. The water becomes highly acid and the number of
fish species are reduced until finally only two remain,
stickleback and the mud minnow. Finally even these give up to
the brown acid waters. The encircling tamarack trees move in
an ever-tightening ring, the quaking bog covers the entire
water surface and finally the lake is completely filled and
becomes a meadow. I am sure that you have seen the small in-
land lakes of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan in all stages of
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this evolution. Generally speaking, this aging or eutrophica-
tion, dystrophication and destruction is measured in geological
time; however, through man's activities it can be greatly
speeded up. In some of our inland lakes great changes can be
noted in a single lifetime. As the lakes are enriched through
the addition of organic materials and other nutrients, these
materials find their way into the bottom materials of the
deepest water or hypolimnion which is the area below the
thermocline which is not usually circulated except at the
spring and fall turnover. Above the thermocline is the
epilimnion which is the zone of water which is circulated and
mixed by the wind. The epilimnion contains the warm oxygenated
water. Between these two bodies of water, the epilimnion and
the hypolimnion, there is then an abrupt change of temperature.
This zone is known as the thermocline. In fall and spring when
all lake waters come near to the same temperature the wind is
able to circulate the whole lake and we have the turnover. At
this time in the spring the deeper water layer - the hypolimnion
receives the oxygen that must last all summer. As the organic
materials increase in this deep zone, bacterial action puts an
ever increasing demand on the dissolved oxygen in this water
and as enrichment advances each year there is a greater deple-
tion of DO. In time the DO is used up. Then aerobic decompo-
sition ceases and the task is taken over by anaerobes which
can live in the absence of free oxygen and anaerobic
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decomposition prevails. Under anaerobic conditions there is a
change in the redox potential - the oxidation reduction poten-
tial - and many materials are changed so they come back into
solution. When anaerobic conditions develop changes in the
lake speed up.
It seems that everyone, when looking for a cottage
site, prefers a clean, clear, gravel and sand-bottom lake with
fine sand beaches free from vegetation. When someone builds
on such a lake it is not too long before others also build and
eventually there is a row of cottages around the lake and be-
fore long perhaps two or more rows. Then changes are noted.
The water becomes more turbid, rooted vegetation occurs in the
bay, plankton becomes abundant, vegetation is washed up on the
beaches in wind rows and unsightly conditions develop. There
is a change in the abundance of different species of fishes
with the salmonids and fine fish decreasing while the coarse
fishes increase. The cottage owners wonder what can be hap-
pening in the lake and may adopt the use of herbicides and
algicides for the control of vegetation. But this doesn't
meet the problem because they simply kill forms which, upon
decomposition, furnish foods for another generation. Generally
they blame anything and everything for their troubles except
the effluents from their own septic tanks which are enriching
the lake.
The municipal wastes which are being discharged into
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our Great Lakes add nutrients which greatly exceed those
originally coming from the drainage basin. Changes which
formerly were measured in geological time can now be noted in
the short span of a generation. Lake Erie is especially sus-
ceptible to such chage or aging for several reasons. It is
the southernmost and warmest of the Great Lakes. It is also
the shallowest and consequently has the least deep water below
the thermocline which serves as a reservoir for dissolved
oxygen. In the western end in particular, it is so shallow
that wind action can almost continually or at least periodi-
cally circulate the water, bringing up nutrients and materials
which in deeper lakes collect in the bottom in deposits and
are circulated and made available to the biota only at the
spring and fall overturns. In addition, the great concentra-
tion of population around Lake Erie has increased threefold
since 1916. Industry has increased six- to sevenfold in the
same time. Some 12 million pounds of suspended solids are
added to Lake Erie each day. Each day Lake Erie receives
174,000 pounds of phosphates and 820,000 pounds of nitrogen
compounds. Two-thirds to three-fourths of these materials
enter the Lake directly as municipal wastes.
Formerly it was through that the addition of these
materials had no effect on the deep-water areas of the Lake
and the only effect was a local one. No changes were detected
in the deep-water open areas<, However, it is now evident that
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these materials were accumulating in the bottom materials of
the lakes and have now accumulated to such an extent that they
are drastically influencing dissolved oxygen levels in exten-
sive areas.
Rapid and significant changes are being produced in
Lake Erie, Bacterial contamination has become so widespread
that several of the beaches have been closed. Rooted aquatic
plants have increased greatly in extent and density, and in
some bays they interfere with swimming, boating, fishing and
have been thrown up in wind rows along the beach to form odor-
iferous, unsightly masses. Filamentous algae, which you may
have sometimes noted on the oars of your boat as long, slimey
strings, have also increased to such an extent that it inter-
feres with swimming, boating, and fishing and is undesirable
from the aesthetic sense. Plankton, that is, the small micro-
scopic free-floating or free-swimming plants and animals, has
increased greatly in numbers. From 1938 to 1942 plankton popu-
lations on Lake Erie have on the average increased three-and-
one-half times. There has been a six- to sevenfold increase
in plankton populations in the Cleveland area. In addition,
the composition of the plankton has changed with the more
desirable diatoms becoming less abundant and the less de-
sirable blue-green algae increasing in abundance. Some blue-
green algae cause undesirable tastes or odors in water sup-
plies. Others produce unsightly conditions, often collecting
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in such numbers that they make the water look like green paint.
At times they may collect in wind rows on the beach and become
a nuisance.
During the past few years there has been a marked
change in bottom materials and bottom organisms in western
Lake Erie. Organic materials have collected on the bottom to
such an extent that their breakdown by bacterial action has de-
pleted or used up the dissolved oxygen in extensive areas. In
western Lake Erie, mayflies were practically exterminated in the
fall of 1953, and there was a serious depletion of caddisfly
larva in 1958. The reduction of these and other large insects
which are of outstanding importance as fish food has had a
detrimental effect on certain fishes. These insects have been
replaced by Tubificids or bloodworms and fingernail clams which
are much less desirable as fish food. Fertilizing materials
have increased in the bottom deposits and phosphates have now
reached concentrations of 1500 to 3000 ppm dry weight of bottom
materials. This represents a tremendous store of nutrients
which, if released to the Lake waters, could cause unprecedented
blooms of undesirable algae. Phosphates stored in bottom ma-
terials now equal the total addition of several years.
As has been indicated, there has been an undesirable
and serious reduction in dissolved oxygen levels in Lake Erie.
During the past 35 years, the average dissolved oxygen content
of the water has decreased from 5 ppm to 2 ppm or less.
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Decreases in DO were first noted in 1929. Dissolved oxygen
concentrations of 2 ppm or less were noted in some 26,000 square
miles, about 1/4 of the total Lake area. In the deeper waters
of the eastern portion of the Lake there has been a steady de-
crease in the amount of oxygen present in the hypolimnion
during late summer. In August 1928, dissolved oxygen was 78
percent of saturation in the hypolimnion, whereas in August
1960 it was only 25 percent of saturation. The oxygen deficit
in Lake Erie has increased 2.6 times between 1933 and 1955. It
has been calculated that the oxygen deficit of the hypolimnion
is 270 million pounds.
Concomitant with these environmental changes there
have been changes in the fish population. Trout, whitefish,
cisco or herring, sauger, walleye, and blue pike have greatly
decreased in abundance or have practically disappeared. The
normal commercial catch of whitefish, cisco, blue pike, and
sauger when compared with the I960 catch, shows a reduction of
99.92 percent. The catch of walleyes for 1936 when compared
to the catch for I960 shows a reduction of 99.96 percent. There
have been further decreases since I960 in some species. With
the decrease in the more desirable species, carp, shad, ale-
wives, smelts and goldfish have increased in number. The
environment has become less favorable for the desired species
and more favorable for the coarser species, with the result
that the latter have greatly increased in numbers at the
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expense of the desirable species.
It is not necessary to kill fish directly through
toxic action in order to decimate or wipe out a species. When
environmental conditions become unfavorable for a species, that
species can be eliminated through competition for food and
space with those species favored by the new environment. This
can be illustrated by the experience of a Canadian fisheries
investigator. He was carrying out long-term studies for the
determination of the oxygen requirements of brook trout. Since
he was holding the trout for long periods, it was necessary to
provide food for them which he did through the use of minnows.
\
After the experiment had been underway for a considerable time,
he noted that the trout seemed to be starving to death. An
examination revealed that at the low dissolved oxygen levels in
the test aquaria the minnows could swim faster than the trout
and the latter just could not catch the minnows. The experi-
menter solved this problem by simply cutting off the tails of
the minnows, but we cannot do anything like this in nature.
Low dissolved oxygen levels when coupled with high
temperatures can result in decimation or rapid elimination of
a species. Since more dissolved oxygen is required at the
higher temperatures for normal metabolism and the water holds
less oxygen as the temperature rises, DO and temperature cannot
be considered alone; they must be considered together. Further-
more it is not necessary for one species to eat another in order
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to eliminate it. Some have asked, "How did the carp drive out
the bass or some other species?" It is simply competition for
food and space and perhaps the muddying of the waters through
the rooting activities of the carp. This same problem applies
in agriculture. If you had a 10-acre plot and placed 10 cows in
it they might do quite well. However, if you were to add 100
goats, the cows would do very poorly and might be greatly re-
duced in numbers, but the goats wouldn't eat a single cow.
If dissolved oxygen and other environmental condi-
tions are favorable to at least some species, raising the
temperature of the water may result in an increase in the to-
tal pounds of fish produced due to the increased growth of the
coarse species. However, our desire is not simply for quantity
of fish but for quality. If we are interested only in quantity
in our garden, we would forget about the lettuce, carrots,
radishes, etc. and grow only weeds because we could produce
more pounds per acre if we grew weeds. However, we do not
want weeds, we want lettuce. In the same way the general pub-
lic wants whitefish, trout, cisco, walleye and sauger instead
of carp, shad or alewives.
In summing up, there are several statements of fact
and conclusions we can make. It is recognized among all
aquatic biologists, litnnologists, and geologists that lakes
change and evolve. Glacial lakes undergo birth, youth, maturity,
old age and death. The speed of this change depends on the size
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and depth of the lake and conditions in the watershed. However,
normally these changes are measured on a geological timetable.
It has been observed that man's activities through soil erosion,
the addition of large amounts of organic materials and other
nutrients have speeded up this change. In fact, the addition
of immense amounts of these materials in the wastes from our
metropolitan areas has speeded up this change or eutrophication
until changes even in the Great Lakes can be noted in the life
span of a man. This enrichment with the production of undesir-
able conditions has been especially notable in Lake Erie which
is the shallowest and warmest of the Great Lakes. In addition,
it- receives the residue of the wastes from the upper lakes and
the wastes of four larger municipalities.
Notable changes in Lake Erie are as follows: (1)
Bacterial contamination has increased and many beaches have
been closed; (2) Rooted aquatic vegetation has increased in
many areas, interfering with boating, swimming and producing
undesirable conditions on beaches; (3) Filamentous algae has
increased to such an extent it has caused nuisances in several
areas, interfering with boating, swimming, fishing and the
aesthetic enjoyment of the Lake; (4) Plankton populations
have increased and they are adding to the organic content of
the bottom materials, increasing turbidity and lessening
aesthetic values; (5) The organic content of bottom materials
has increased with an increase in the oxygen demand, a lowering
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of DO levels and a change in the benthic or bottom biota; (6)
Dissolved oxygen has decreased significantly throughout the
Lake but especially in the western portion where DO reaches
low levels over extensive areas and at certain periods is ab-
sent over bottom areas with the destruction of such desirable
fish food organisms as mayflies and caddisflies; (7) Anaerobic
conditions have occurred in some areas and are being approached
over extensive areas; (8) There have been qualitative and
quantitative changes in the fish population with a decrease in
the more desirable sport and commercial species such as white-
fish, cisco, walleye, sauger, and blue pike and an increase in
the less desirable species as the gizzard shad, alewives, carp,
goldfish and smelt; (9) Recreational uses have been damaged;
and (10) Aesthetic values have been reduced. The conclusion
which we must reach is that several uses of Lake Erie have been
damaged, lessened or destroyed and it is polluted.
Since these conditions exist the next question is -
What shall we do about it? I believe the most important thing
in the detecting and abating of pollution is the attitude of
the people. Until the people recognize the seriousness of the
problem and the necessity of treating our wastes in order to
preserve our aquatic resources, the problem will not be met in
an adequate manner. To many people pollution control and the
spending of money for the treatment of wastes is something the
other fellow should do. They are all for it until they have to
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pay for it. Many know little and care less about the treatment
of wastes and the protection of our aquatic resources for the
coming generations. The need for sewer systems is recognized
but when wastes from a single home are mixed with those of
others and put in,a common pipe and then discharged out of
sight to the stream below the toxm, the homeowner does not
feel much responsibility for them. It is considered socially
unacceptable to dump your garbage on your neighbor1s front
lawn, but there is no social stigma attached to the dumping of
your town's wastes in his drinking water.
In our large cities, where the population is removed
from direct contact with nature, some think milk comes from
bottles or cartons and water comes from a tap. Little thought
is given to the origin of the water, its safety, and its
adequacy for the future. These attitudes must be changed. We
must develop a feeling of responsibility for our actions. We
must consider not only the direct but also the indirect and
long-term effects of our actions. Often the desire for profit
leads people either unknowingly or knowingly to commit offenses
against their fellow men. For example, when the sulfa drugs
were discovered, their sale was controlled but the law did not
cover elixirs. An individual in Tennessee decided he would put
them on the market in this form and he searched for good solvents.
He found one and put the elixir on the market. However, when
people were poisoned, it was found that this solvent was
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ethelene glycol or Prestone. This is merely an example of
quite a common approach.
Our population has now exceeded the number whose wastes
can be purified by nature. Natural purification in our streams
and lakes can no longer handle the problem. In the past, our
wastes were handled at little or no cost; now we must begin to
pay for the purifying of them. This is one of the many costs of
an ever-increasing population. These costs will be significant.
Our water supply is limited by rainfall. If we are to have
enough water for all our uses, we must use it over and over
again. Such reuse requires that each user return the water he
has used to the stream or lake in such condition it does not
damage, lessen, or destroy another desired use. With the growth
in population and water requirements, secondary or so-called
complete treatment is now enough.
The problem in Lake Erie is real and urgent. We can-
not make it go away by ignoring it. The record of the past is
clear. We have seen what has happened in many small inland
lakes. Conditions in extensive areas of Lake Erie are on the
verge of going anaerobic. If this occurs, the nutrients which
have been stored in the bottom material of the Lake in ever-
increasing amounts for many years will be released much more
rapidly and there will be a sudden increase in the rate of
deterioration. In this instance, the old sayings, "A stitch
in time saves nine" or "An ounce of prevention is worth a
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pound of cure" are very applicable. The bottom areas of the Lake
must be kept aerobic. The quickest approach is to remove the
nutrients from the wastes of the large cities. Economically
feasible methods for the reduction of phosphates and nitrates
in waste effluents have been developed. There have been studies
in detail by workers in Switzerland. Of course, costs will be
greater, but we must meet them if we are to preserve the resource.
Water is not a luxury; it is a necessity. It is worth whatever
we have to pay to get it. In the future we will do just that.
In the final analysis, water is worth more than gold; and if you
were thirsty enough you would give all your worldly possession
for just one swallow.
The preservation of our water resources, for use now and
in the future, is essential for our economic and general well-
being, for our health and our very existence. We must act now to
restore and maintain this great resource for ourselves and the
generations yet to come.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you. (applause)
I know you -realize that Dr. Tarzwell, of course, is our
Senior Biologist and he is one of our super stars. I think it's
generally acknowledged that his is the foremost aquatic biologist
in the world today.
Do we have any comments or questions?
DR. WILBAR: I'd like to ask Dr. Tarzwell just one
question. This fertilization of our waters in Lake Erie and
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other places is caused a good deal by the presence of phosphates
and some presence of nitrates — we agree on that --
DR. TARZWELL: And other materials.
DR. WILBAR: -- and other materials. Now, in a so-
called "complete" sewage treatment plant, is it not true that
the phosphates from detergents and other matter go through the
plant. In other words, the complete treatment doesn't take
out the phosphates, to any great degree?
DR. TARZWELL: A portion of the phosphates are removed,
but much of the total dissolved phosphates are discharged with
the effluent of the plant, under the methods that are generally
used at the present time.
DR. WILBAR: So if we cut down appreciably on those
sewage treatment plants, this is in addition to those that come
from agriculture sources which means that some treatment beyond
what we not call "complete treatment" is necessary.
DR, TARZWELL: It sure does. Regular treatment will
remove some, but if you're going to really meet the problem of
increasing population, you're going to have to go beyond so-called
"complete treatment," as I see it.
DR, WILBAR: And to what extent is this treatment
known and how much does it cost generally?
DR. TARZWELL: The cost figures I'm not prepared to
give you, but the scientists who have been working on waste
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treatment problems and advanced waste water treatment feel that
it is economically feasible to remove the phosphates down to
quite low levels expressed as parts per million and some, for
instance Dr. Wuhrmann in Switzerland feels that he can remove
most of the phosphates and the nitrates in two operations and
the cost, as I understand it, is not terribly great. Even if
the costs are considerable what other alternative do we have?
OR, WILBAR: I agree. I just wanted to bring out
this point that you say in the United States there are few
treatment plants for removing the phosphates almost entirely.
DR. TARZWELL: They are removing some, but there is
still a considerable portion left—and this is in a good form
for rapid use biologically, because it's already broken down.
The effluents are rich in carbon dioxide, phosphates, nitrates,
trace elements and also growth factors.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We do have Mr. Coulter here, the
Chief of our Technical Services Branch. He has been working on
these plants for phosphate removal costs. I wonder if you might
want to ask him a question, and you might get more particulars.
Mr. Coulter, will you please come up2 Dr. Wilbar has
asked Dr. Tarzwell about the removal of phosphates with ordinary
secondary treatment--the kind of costs we would run into if we
were doing it, and the kind of plants for successfully removing
phophates in the United States today.
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MR. COULTER: I am James Coulter. I am in charge of
the Water Projects Section for the Division of Water Supply and
Pollution Control, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare.
As I understand the question, Dr. Wilbar, it is,
what is the efficiency of phosphate removal, or what could it
be in secondary treatment?
DR. WILBAR: Yes. As I understand it, most of the
plants today in this country are not doing a very complete job
of removing phosphates. Now, methods are available. What are
these methods, and what does it cost?
MR. COULTER: First of all, in primary treatment there
is very little removal of phosphate. In secondary treatment of
sewage--and by secondary, I mean after going through the stages
where sewage is treated by physical methods, that is by settling,
screening and so on, it is subjected to biological action, phos-
phate removal varies from about 10 percent to 70 percent. The
variation seems to be in the method in which the activated
sludge is handled. That is, how the sludge is handled after it
is taken from the secondary process.
We believe that it is quite possible to operate a con-
ventional secondary sewage treatment plant in a manner so that
about 60 percent of the phosphate will be removed. I'm not sure
exactly what the figure is in the report, but it is in the area
of 60 percent.
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234
The Chicago-Metropolitan District reports as high as
75 percent removal of phosphates, and it seems to be as a result
of pulling the sludge out of the system, and incinerating it,
without letting the phosphate return back into the system.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Do you want to talk about costs?
What would be the cost if we have to go to something beyond
secondary treatment to get rid of the phosphates, or to put a
stage in in addition to traditional secondary treatment which
would remove the phosphates?
MR. COULTER: Yes, in the advanced waste treatment
studies at the Sanitary Engineering Center the removal of phos-
phates has been investigated in a number of areas throughout
the country. Working on secondary sewage plant effluents it is
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235
possible to remove up to about 99 percent of the phosphates by
adding a stage of chemical precipitation. That is, coagulating
the effluents, settling it, running it through a filter. It is a
commonly used sanitary engineering process that is normally used
in water treatment rather than sewage treatment. The costs are
well known, and it appears that phosphates can be essentially
completely removed at a cost of about eight cents per thousand
gallons.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Are there any further questions or
comments on either this phosphate removal, or for Dr. Tarzwell?
If not, thank you very much Mr. Coulter and Dr.
Tarzwell for an excellent presentation.
MR. POSTON: We will next hear from Mr. Grover Cook,
who is Chief of our Regional Enforcement Program. Mr. Cook
will, in a brief form, give us a summary of the Part 1, Lake
Erie Report. Mr. Cook.
MR. COOK: Mr. Chairman, conferees, ladies and gentle-
men, the Report was read more in its entirety in Cleveland. I
think many of the conferees heard this. We will only hit the
high spots here. I am starting on page 9 of the Report, in
case you wish to follow me.
"Lake Currents
"The net movement of water in Lake Erie is from west
to east draining into Lake Ontario via the Niagara River...
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236
"More than 90 percent of the input to Lake Erie is
from the Detroit River. Most of this flow comes down the cen-
ter of the River, fanning out continuing far southward into
the western basin,, The flow along the west side of the River
continues along the Michigan shore to mix with the Maumee
River discharge. This flow then continues eastward along the
Ohio shore. The flow along the east side of the Detroit River
moves eastward along the Canadian shore.
"The western basin water mixes in the island area and
most of it then drains into the central basin via Pelee Passage.
Studies show a dominant flow toward the west in the southern
channels creating an essentially rotary movement in the island
area.
"The drainage from Pelee Passage appears to reach as
far south as the Ohio shore at least at the surface. However,
most of the flow turns eastward before reaching that far south.
"The predominant eastward flow in the central and
eastern basin is reinforced by prevailing winds from the south-
west, however, wind studies for a 10-year period for Lake Erie
indicate that the reversed pattern or flow may occur nearly
25 percent of the time.
"Discharges from tributary streams along the south
shore such as the Huron, Vermilion, Black and Cuyahoga Rivers,
and other streams to the east in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New
York, tend to stay along the south shore and move normally
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237
eastward with an alternate, but smaller secondary flow to the
west. General dispersal of the flows from the south shore
streams with the deeper off-shore waters is limited.
"The discharge of wastes and the tributary streams
along the south shore of the lake will increasingly contribute
to the pollution of beaches and other water uses as it moves
along the shore, both from Ohio waters into Pennsylvania and
to a lesser extent from Pennsylvania to Ohio. This along shore
flow will also apply to the movement of tributary streams and
wastes from Pennsylvania to New York and to a less degree from
New York to Pennsylvania.
"Deep water or mid-lake circulation is complex in the
central and eastern basins being controlled to a great degree
by the wind. The wind induces surface flow in its general di-
rection accompanied by an opposing subsurface flow into the wind,
Since south-west winds prevail, the surface flow is dominantly
toward the east and the subsurface flow is dominantly toward the
west over most of the central and eastern basins. A wide band
along the Canadian shore, as wide as about 1/3 of the lake's
width, moves predominantly eastward from top to bottom....
"It is apparent from these studies that discharges
anywhere along the shores of Lake Erie can affect water quality
in Lake Erie, with the dominant effect occuring from west to
east.
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238
"IV - DEGRADATION OF LAKE ERIE
"Lake Enrichment
"Eutrophication means enrichment of waters through
either man-created or natural means. Natural enrichment pro-
duces a rate of lake aging that may be manifested only on the
clock of geologic time. Additional fertilization will accel-
erate the rate of lake aging, making changes in water quality
noticeable within a decade or even less. For example, growing
cities and expanding industries are pouring nutrients into the
nation's waterways at an ever-increasing rate, and aquatic weed
and algal nuisances are occuring in areas where they did not
exist before.
"The scope of accelerated eutrophication or water en-
richment is broad and the ramifications are many. The most
perceptible characteristics to the layman include nuisance
growths of small suspended plants or algal scums, developing
areas of rooted water plants, and odors associated with decaying
dead vegetation and possibly fish. More subtle changes can be
found by the investigator as indicated by decreased light pene-
tration; decreased dissolved oxygen in deeper waters; increased
nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations especially in the deeper
waters; significant changes in the algal population, and in the
kinds and numbers of bottom dwelling organisms, and increased
rooted aquatic weed beds.
"There are many elements that are essential to life
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239
processes. Among these are carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen,
phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, and several trace minerals. They
are all present in sewage. Nitrogen and phosphorus is partially
removed by a sewage treatment plant, but the percentage of re-
moval depends on plant design and efficiency of operation.
Nitrogen is in good supply from natural sources (80% of the
air we breathe is nitrogen), but phosphorus is not plentiful.
The density of algae growth is usually governed by the concen-
tration of phosphorus. If phosphates are reduced, algae
growths are correspondingly less. Phosphorus, a constituent
of domestic sewage and certain industrial wastes, promotes
algae growths and is thus a serious pollutant that must be
controlled.
"It is well documented that many lakes throughout
the country have been fertile reservoirs for algal development
for many years and have been labeled eutrophic."
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Just a moment. I think the record
should show that the alternate for Pennsylvania, Mr. Richard
Boardman is here, instead of Dr. Charles Wilbar at this point.
Will you go on?
MR. COOK: "Included among these are Lake Zoar in
Connecticut, Lake Sebasticook in Maine, the Madison lakes in
Wisconsin, Lake Erie, the Detroit lakes in Minnesota, Green
Lake and Lake Washington in Washington, and Klamath Lake in
Oregon. Of these, Lake Erie is the largest.
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240
"When the concentrations of inorganic nitrogen and
soluble phosphate exceed 0.3 tng/1 and 0.03 mg/1, respectively,
prior to the algal growing season and when other growth condi-
tions such as light, temperature, and turbulence are favorable,
algal, blooms have been found to develop. Those algae that oc-
cur usually in small numbers in infertile lakes become sup-
planted by larger populations of more troublesome kinds.
"As nutrient concentrations increase, the numbers of
algal cells increase. Nuisance conditions such as surface
scums and algal-littered beaches occur. The water may become
foul-smelling. Filter-clogging problems may occur at municipal
water supplies. Filamentous algae, especially Cladophora, grow
profusely on almost any suitable subsurface. They, too, cause
nuisance conditions when they break loose and wash ashore at
bathing beaches to form windrows of stinking vegetation.
Growths of filamentous algae and slimes hamper commercial
fishing by adhering to nets, and interfere with municipal and
industrial water supplies by clogging intake screens.
"At this stage of eutrophication other changes are
occurring in the lake. The bottom is changed by sedimentation
of organic material; this habitat is changed from one suitable
for mayfly nymphs, scuds and other small organisms favored as
food by desirable fish to one where only sludgeworms and
bloodworms can exist,, Fish populations are changed to the
coarser species because the habitat is more favorable to them.
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241
"Nutrient concentrations in Lake Erie indicate that
soluble phosphate values in the western basin consistently
exceeded the stated critical value during studies in 1963 and
1964, with average concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.15
rag/1 phosphate (PO,) . The central and eastern basins now have
phosphate concentrations at the critical threshold value and
any increase in present levels will produce a corresponding
increase in algal populations."
I would like to depart from the text for just one
moment. This past weekend I observed a bloom which apparently
was a blue-green algal bloom, just west of Cleveland, well out
in the Lake. As far as I know, this has never been reported
in this area before. That is a pretty discouraging sight to
a limnologist.
"Water clarity as demonstrated by Secchi disc readings
indicates that visibility of the white and black disc extends
through 4 feet in the western basin, and through 13 feet in
both the central and eastern basins. Because this test measures
relative turbidity conditions by a combination of algae and
other suspended material, it reflects undesirable changes in
the western basin.
"The biology of the western Lake Erie basin has
changed drastically during the past 35 years, especially the
past 15. In the Bass Island area, samples collected in
September 1964, showed suspended algal populations of 3,500
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242
organisms per milliliter (about 3.5 million per quart) compared
to a maximum 1,000 per milliliter found in a study conducted
between 1938 and 1942. Species composition has also changed
from one predominantly of diatoms to one presently dominated
by blue-green algae that are associated closely with enriched
waters.
"Long-term increases in suspended algal populations
are also apparent from data published for the area adjacent to
Cleveland in the central basin of Lake Erie. Annual averages
have increased from 200 to 400 cells per milliliter between
1920 and 1930 to 1500 to 2300 cells at the present time. Also,
there have been significant changes in dominant organisms with
blue-green algal forms becoming increasingly present even in
this area.
"Although historical data are not available for the
suspended algae of the eastern basin, PHS studies in 1963 and
1964 revealed that the kinds and numbers are similar to those
that occurred in the central basin,
"The filamentous green alga Cladophora is encouraged
by enriched waters to grow on any suitable attachment site.
When it matures, it characteristically breaks loose, floats to
the water surface, and creates an odorous nuisance when de-
posited on beaches by wind and waves. An estimated 340 miles
of Lake Erie shoreline has a subsurface suitable for Cladophora
growth. Nuisance conditions have become so severe that
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243
restricted swimming and sunbathing have occurred in the island
area and at the beaches in the eastern basin, especially east
of Erie, Pennsylvania and near Dunkirk, New York.
"Dissolved Oxygen Deficit in the Bottom Waters
"Low dissolved oxygen concentrations were detected
in the bottom waters of the central basin as early as August
1929 when DO values of 4.4 and 4.8 mg/1 were recorded at 2
stations in the central basin. A low value of 0.8 mg/1 was
measured at one station near Marblehead, Ohio, in August 1930.
"Low DO values from 1948 through 1951 of 2 to 4 mg/1
r
were recorded and in September 1959 the DO was found to be less
than 3 mg/1 in a large area of the central basin. A survey in
August 1960 revealed a similarly large area where the DO was
less than 3 mg/1. One zero DO was recorded in August 1959
near the south shore.
"In August 1964, an area of about the same magnitude
was found where the DO concentrations were even lower. Most of
the affected area had DO values of 2 mg/1 or less. This area
was about 2,600 square miles, or about 25 per cent of the en-
tire lake.
"In summary, dissolved oxygen values in the bottom
waters of the central basin of Lake Erie appear to have de-
creased during the past 35 years from about 5 mg/1 to less
than 2 mg/1 with many parts near zero.
"This DO deficit is caused largely by lake enrichment.
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244
When this is coupled with a physical phenomenon called thermal
stratification, the mechanism is established through which
oxygen is consumed in the bottom waters. As explained earlier,
the lake is enriched by the introduction of such materials as
nitrogen and phosphorus that encourage plant growth. Thermal
stratification occurs when the upper layer of lake water be-
comes one temperature, a lower layer of water becomes a dif-
ferent temperature, and a third layer of water called the
thermocline is sandwiched between them. The thermocline is
the layer where a sharp temperature differential exists.
"During summer stratification, the upper water layer
is as much as 16 C higher than the bottom layer. Almost all
lakes stratify thermally, but dissolved oxygen deficits occur
only in those lakes where large amounts of oxygen-consuming
materials and nutrients have been introduced. These materials
may be introduced directly as sewage or certain industrial
wastes, or indirectly by nutrients that accelerate algal
growth. Suspended organic materials are scattered over a wide
area by winds and lake currents, settle to the bottom, and ex-
ert an oxygen demand during decay. The crop of suspended
algae that grow in great numbers in a fertile lake is ever
changing. Cells die off and settle slowly to the bottom.
During their descent, they are attacked by decay organisms
and exert an oxygen demand. Thus, in a fertile lake, oxygen
is being removed by the bottom muds and by the suspended
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245
organic matter In the water above. Lake Erie is susceptible to
damage from these happenings, especially in its central basin.
"The western basin does not become stratified except
during 6 to 7 day periods of calm because it is so shallow that
wind-induced turbulence creates thorough mixing from surface to
bottom."
"Both the central and eastern basins do become strati-
fied, usually from June to October. A serious dissolved oxygen
deficit does not develop in the eastern basin because it is much
deeper than the central basin. The thermocline, or middle layer
of water, lowers in the central basin as stratification becomes
well established until it is about 50 feet below the surface.
At this time, the lower layer of water in the central basin
becomes thin, on the order of 8 to 10 feet thick. At the same
time, the eastern basin, which is about 150 feet deep, may have
a bottom layer 100 feet thick.
"The central basin is adjacent to the western basin
where there are large inputs of wastes and where the heaviest
growths of suspended algae occur. The overall easterly move-
ment of water may carry some of this material to the quieter
waters of the central basin where it settles to the bottom..."
As stated previously, inputs of phosphates are pri-
marily responsible for the biological problems of Lake Erie.
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245A
"Phosphorus, in Its inorganic form of orthophosphate
is an essential element of biological life. It is used
extensively as an agricultural fertilizer. All animals and
plants require phosphate for normal growth and reproduction.
"Because phosphate is so important to biological life
it can become a controlling factor in the rate of growth or
size of crop, and under conditions of limited abundance as pre-
vails in Lake Erie it is the one factor most easily controlled.
"The pollution caused by phosphate in Lake Erie re-
sults in uncontrollable production of algae followed by decay
of this organic matter produced in the Lake. The decay, in
turn produces zones of oxygen depletion, as has been evidenced
by studies in the past and the recently revealed zone of
serious oxygen depletion of 2600 square miles of the central
basin. The productivity and decay that caused this tremendous
loss of oxygen was of massive proportions. In 1964 it produced
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an oxygen deficit estimated at 270,000,000 pounds. The total
of all oxygen consuming wastes from man-made sources now en-
tering the lake is only a small portion of the oxygen demand
causing this deficit.
"Phosphate inputs from principal sources are presented
in Table 8," which I am going to read. We didn't do this at the
first conference at Cleveland, but I think it is illuminating.
It's the last table in the report, page 50. It is entitled
"Soluble Phosphate Inputs to Lake Erie." If you will follow
on the map from west to east, you may get a better vision of
what's being introduced in the way of phosphates0
"TABLE V-8
SOLUBLE PHOSPHATE INPUTS TO LAKE ERIE
Source
MICHIGAN
Discharge from Lake Huron
Municipal
Industrial
Tributaries
Huron River
Raisin River
OHIO
Municipalities
Toledo
Sandusky
Lorain-Avon
Lakewood
Cleveland Westerly
Cleveland Easterly
Euclid
Industrial--Direct Discharge
Tributaries
Maumee River
Portage River
Sandusky River
Pounds/Day
11,800
70,000
10,000
2,000
900
8,400
1,000
2,600
1,100
5,400
14,900
2,100
unknown
11,000
1,100
6,000
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247
Source Pounds/Day
Black River 3,100
Rocky River 3,400
Cuyahoga River 3,500
Chagrin River 300
Grand River
Ashtabula River 100
PENNSYLVANIA
Erie 2,600
Other Sources 2,900
NEW YORK
Buffalo River 2,300
Other Sources 2,500
CANADA (est.-Municipal) 5,000
Sum of Major Known Sources 174,000
Discharged at Niagara River 24,000
"Of the total of 174,000 pounds of soluble phosphate discharged
from known sources daily, 67 per cent is from municipal and in-
dustrial sources discharging directly to the Lake, and 33 per
cent from tributaries (including the St. Glair River), and
other small sources. The St. Clair River input is 6.8 per
cent of this total. All other sources are amenable to some
degree of control.
"A 65 per cent reduction of phosphate inputs can be
achieved through secondary sewage treatment, operated to effect
optimum phosphate removal. Secondary treatment provides ad-
ditional benefits through greater reduction of oxidizable
organic matter, disease-causing organisms, phenolics, nitro-
gen, and other waste materials.
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248
"The major controllable sources and the amount of re-
duction that can be achieved by the secondary treatment de-
scribed above are listed below:
Detroit 45,500 pounds per day
Toledo 2,900
Sandusky 700
Lorain-Avon 1,700
Lakewood 600
Westerly 3,500
Easterly 6,800
Euclid 1,300
Erie 1,300
64,300"
If the one large Michigan source were reduced 80 per-
cent, this would give us another 8,000 pounds per day reduction,
for a grand total of 72,300 pounds per day reduction.
"Thus, at least 40 per cent of present PO^ input can
be reduced by secondary treatment at the principal waste
sources. This alone would significantly reduce algae growths
in the Lake. Therefore, the first requirement for phosphate
pollution control in Lake Erie is the construction of secondary
treatment plants where they do not now exist and improved treat-
ment techniques for those plants that now practice secondary
treatment.
"These reductions, based on present day factors, must
be constantly improved in order to account for increases in
phosphate loadings resulting from population, industrial and
agricultural growth.
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"Even with the institution of secondary treatment, and
operation of treatment plants for optimum phosphate removal, the
reduction in phosphate inputs will require several years, and no
sudden or dramatic reductions in Lake algal productivity can be
expected. Therefore, top priority must be given to the earliest
construction and operation of those plants at which the highest
removals can be achieved; namely Detroit, Toledo, Cleveland, and
Erie. After these treatment practices are in operation it can be
reasonably expected that significant improvement in the water
quality in Lake Erie will be observable within a few years. At
that time, the effects of these measures should be reevaluated
to determine if further reduction of nutrients by additional
treatment will be necessary."
Mr. Stephen Megregian will present Part 3 of the re-
port, covering Pennsylvania and New York.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We will call for questions and com-
ments on this after Mr. Megregian has read his report if that
is agreeable. All right, Mr. Megregian.
MR. MEGREGIAN: Chairman Stein, conferees, ladies and
gentlemen, I am Stephen Megregian, the Deputy Project Director
of the Great Lakes Illinois River Basins Project.
Mr. Cook has presented Part 1. Part 2 was presented
in Cleveland which covered the Michigan, Indiana and Ohio por-
tions of the basin, and I will now present Part 3, which covers
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the Pennsylvania and New York portion of the Lake Erie Basin,
Part 3 of the Federal Report.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: You're going to summarize this,
aren't you, Mr. Megregian?
MR. MEGREGIAN: I will eliminate certain portions of
the report, I will indicate the pages as I go along.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: We can put this whole thing in the
record, as read. How long will this take - about a half hour?
MR. MEGREGIAN: It shouldn't take me more than a half-
hour - probably a lot less.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: O.K.
MR. MEGREGIAN: Part 3, Chapter 2, Pennsylvania. I
will begin by reading "Sources of Wastes," page 106.
"The principal sources of pollution in the basin are
municipal sewage from treatment plant effluents, combined sewer
overflows, and industrial wastes. Other wastes, discharged in-
termittently, also have severe, though temporary effects.
Among these are accidental spills from vessels or industries,
and wastes from lake vessels.
"The major sources of municipal wastes are Erie,
Girard, Lake City, and North East. All major treatment plants
in this basin provide secondary treatment and remove an average
of 85 per cent of the BOD. North East and Erie chlorinate
their sewage treatment plant effluents. Lake City and Girard
are enlarging their treatment plants and plan to include
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251
chlorinatlon, as required by the State of Pennsylvania.
"Bacterial tests of Mill Creek and Garrison Run indicate
that they are receiving domestic wastes. Samples collected in the
harbor off Mill Creek in 1964 revealed high coliform bacterial
counts.
"Lake City and North East have separate sewers for
domestic wastes and stormwater runoff. Girard has a combination
of separate and combined systems. Erie is served by a combined
system, mainly in the downtown area.
"Industrial Wastes
"One industry, Hammermill Paper Company, contributes 90
percent of the total oxygen demand loading to this area's water."
This demand is about 120,000 pounds per day of BOD. "This part
of Hammermill's waste will soon be largely removed with the in-
stallation of deep well disposal. However, this will not alle-
viate the problem caused by the discharge of tannins and lignins
from spent pulping liquors. These wastes cause the water to
foam, turn brownish black in appearance, and produce a strong odor.
"Other industries having discharges with a more local-
ized effect are Gunnison Brothers, Interlake Iron Corporation,
General Electric, and Parker-White Metal. Noticeable quanti-
ties of oil and iron have been observed on Fourmile Creek.
"Effects of Wastes on Water Quality and Water Uses
"Various communities along the lakefront have indi-
vidual pollution problems. Beaches to the west of Presque
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252
Isle have maintained good quality, while those to the east, in-
cluding Beach 11 on Presque Isle, have at times been severely
polluted. The pollution problems at the beaches have been both
bacterial and esthetic.
"Fish kills have occurred sporadically in the history
of the lakeshore area and the various tributaries. Many of the
fish kills were caused by industrial waste discharges. A com-
bined effort by State and local officials and wildlife organi-
zations has helped to curb illegal industrial discharges.
"As Erie Harbor is enclosed by Presque Isle and has
only a small opening into Lake Erie, flow in and out is re-
stricted. Water color in the harbor and along the east shore
is a deep brownish-tan, caused by pulp and paper wastes. Tur-
bidity is relatively low in the harbor. Filamentous green
algae (Cladophora) is present in most areas of the harbor where
the depth is less than six feet. Bottom deposits in the harbor
are a brownish black combination of mud, silt and detritus (in-
cluding wood fiber).
"The waters of Erie Harbor near downtown marina fa-
cilities and docks, and off Mill Creek, had high eoliform bac-
teria densities. They ranged from 1,000 to 500,000 organisms
per 100 ml near Mill Creek and in the ship channel. The source
of this pollution is probably Mill Creek, where eoliform densi-
ties of over 1,000,000 organisms per 100 ml occurred and from
other local sources of pollution. Enteric pathogens of the
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Salmonella group were isolated from 80 per cent of the samples
collected in both Mill Creek and the Harbor. This same organism
was found in Erie's sewage.
"The Hammermill Paper Company's waste outfall is lo-
cated just east of the mouth of Erie Harbor. With the prevailing
winds in the area from the west, Hammermill"s effluent affects
the water quality and esthetic appearance of beaches and boating
areas for 10 to 20 miles eastward. This line of foam and foul
/
smelling colored water is normally visible at Sixteenmile and
Twentymile Creeks, and hinders the development of the eastern
portion of the basin as a water supply source and as a recrea-
tional area. It also reduces the usefulness and Value of lake-
front property. When the wind is from the east, these wastes
make parts or all of the beaches on Presque Isle unusable for
water contact sports.
"In addition to their adverse esthetic effects, these
discharges cause severe problems with tastes and odors in do-
mestic water supplies which require costly additional treatment*
In the spring of 1964, for a period of 5 to 10 days, when the
wind was from the east, the City of Erie had high tannin concen-
trations in its water intakes. Periodically, Erie is forced
to close its eastern intake to avoid such high tannin concen-
trations.
"In the summer of 1964, the Erie County Health Department
carried out an intensive microbiological examination of the
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254
beaches at Presque Isle State Park. Presque Isle State Park
officials, the U. S. Public Health Service, the Pennsylvania
Department of Health, and the City of Erie cooperated in this
study. A summary of the data collected in the summer of 1964
from over 4,000 separate tests appears below:
"MICROBIOLOGICAL RESULTS FROM PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK
SUMMER 1964
Total Coliform Density* Fecal Streptococcus
% Greater Density*
Beach Median Than 1,000 Median
Presque Isle
Presque Isle
Presque Isle
Presque Isle
- 1
- 8
- 10
- 11
36
23
20
700
4%
0%
07,
38%
10
7
4
5
* Count per 100 ml - preliminary evaluation, 1964 data, Millipore
Filter Technique.
"The data in the above table indicate that Beach 1
on the west end of the park has a source of occasional pollu-
tion which diminishes as it progresses along the beach, whereas
Beach 11 on the eastern tip is affected by larger and more con-
sistent sources of pollution.
"Preliminary analyses indicate that, except for short
periods, all of the beaches except Beach 11 are relatively free
from pollution. Beach 11 was closed as a precautionary measure
several times this past summer by Park officials while all
western beaches remained open at all times."
I won't read the recommended actions until later.
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255
Part III, Western New York, beginning on page 112 -
Principal Sources of Wastes.
"Excluding the summer population at two state parks,
two cities provide secondary treatment for the wastes from
12,300 people. There are 20,500 people served by three primary
treatment plants. Eighteen thousand people are not served by
municipal sewerage systems."
Eleven industries discharge wastes to the area's wa-
ters. Welch Grape Juice Co., Inc., discharges pressing and
process wastes and storage tank wash waters at Brocton and
Westfield. Seneca Westfield Main, Inc. and Growers Cooperative
Grape Juice Co. discharge similar wastes in Westfield. In
Dunkirk, Niagara-Mohawk Power Corporation discharges heat and
flyash; Twin Cities Asphalt Company discharges solids; Great
Lakes Color Printing Company discharges ink and cleaning solu-
tions.
"Effects of Wastes on Water Quality and Water Uses
"Grape juice processing wastes discharged by four
firms in Brocton cause problems of appearance, odor, and oxygen
depletion in their receiving waters. Brocton also discharges
raw and partially treated domestic sewage to Slippery Rock
Creek.
"The main pollution problem at Dunkirk is that of
flyash from the Niagara-Mohawk power plant. The flyash is
dumped as land fill behind the plant but is washed into the
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harbor during rains. In sections of the harbor, flyash deposits
were as much as two feet deep.
"Dunkirk harbor has problems with algae, especially
Cladophora. Storms break them loose and they are washed onto
the beaches of the area where they decompose, producing a foul
odor. Dunkirk's harbor is shallow and rooted aquatic weeds and
algae grow abundantly, making boating almost impossible.
Cladophora growths are heavy outside the breakwater.
"A heavy black slick occurs below Great Lakes Color
Printing Company. Brown discoloration and suspended solids are
found near the Twin Cities Asphalt Company discharge.
"In the summer of 1964, the City of Dunkirk conducted
an extensive study of its two major bathing areas. Total coil-
form densities ranged, from 8 to 500,000 organisms per 100 ml.
The mean coliform density exceeded the recreational objectives
of 1,000 organisms per 100 ml for 34 per cent (Point Gratiot)
and 49 per cent (Wright Park) of the time sampled. The beaches
are now closed for one to ten days after rainfall or strong
winds.
"Silver Creek
"Walnut Creek and Silver Creek are polluted by raw
sewage discharged from Forestville and Silver Creek and by
wastes discharged by the Silver Creek Preserving Company.
This pollution renders the area unsuitable for any water con-
tact sports."
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Chapter IV, Erie-Niagara: Begin on page 117,
Principal Sources of Wastes - that's page 118 in your book.
"Raw or inadequately treated wastes discharged by in-
dustries and municipalities are the principal sources of pol-
lution in this area. Other wastes, which have serious effects,
are accidental spills from vessels or industries, land runoff,
and wastes from lake vessels.
"The estimated total municipal discharge for the
Erie-Niagara basin is between 900,000 and 1,000,000 population
equivalent (PE). This represents a net reduction in BOD by
treatment of only 37 per cent. Individual cities vary from
Attica (90%), Arcade (90%) , and Orchard Park (87%) to Buffalo
(22%) , and Tonawanda Twp. (12%) removal. Improved treatment
and collection facilities are needed in many areas.
"Cities in the Erie-Niagara Basin have relatively
long histories. Many cities were founded in the early 1800's,
and have inherited the antiquated combined sewer systems of
early days. Quantities of sewage and industrial wastes are
discharged to the waterways whenever excess storm runoff oc-
curs. There are over 30 overflows on the Buffalo River alone.
There are areas such as Gowanda and others which continually
discharge untreated sewage. Corrective action is needed to
remove these sources of pollution.
"Industrial Wastes
"There are two significant sources of industrial
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pollution in the Cattaraugus Creek drainage basin. These in-
dustries are the Peter Cooper Corporation and the Moench
Tanning Company. Each discharges wastes having a high oxygen
demand and considerable quantities of suspended solids. The
industrial waste data (I960) for these industries are sum-
marized below:
"Cattaraugus Creek - Industrial Waste Data
Flow BOD Suspended Solids
mgd Ibs/day P.E. Ibs/day
Peter Cooper Corp. 3.59 25,800 155,000 9,580
Moench Tanning Co, 1.67 8,730 52,400 7,600
Total 5.26 34,530 207,400 17,180
"The estimated population in the Cattaraugus Creek drainage
basin is 36,000 people; these two industries discharge wastes
equivalent in oxygen demand to more than five times this number.
"Smokes Creek flows through the City of Lackawanna
and the Bethlehem Steel Company property before it empties in-
to the Lake. An indeterminate but large amount of industrial
waste is discharged to the Creek by Bethlehem before it enters
the Lake." These wastes are composed of acid, ammonia, BOD,
cyanides, iron, oil, phenols, sewage and solids. "Bethlehem
Steel Company also discharges wastes to the Lakeshore and the
harbor areas. Bethlehem Steel is one of the major sources of
pollution in the Smokes Creek area, but detailed data con-
cerning its discharges have not been made available by the
State.
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"There are five major industries on the Buffalo River.
They use the Buffalo River as a source of water supply and also
for waste transport. The section of the river where these in-
dustries are located is grossly polluted. The type of wastes
discharged by each industry is tabulated below:
"Buffalo River - Industrial Waste Discharges
Industry Type
National Aniline Synthetic Dyes
Socony Vacuum Oil Co. Oil, phenolics , cyanides
Donner-Hanna Coke Co. Phenolics, cyanide, Ammonium,
oil, Solids, and BOD
Republic Steel Corp. Phenolics, cyanide, oil, and solids
General Chemical Inorganic
"Details of quantity and types of waste discharged by
each firm have not been made available. These five industries
have jointly formed a corporation with the specific purpose of
obtaining a suitable water supply. A multi-million dollar
project is presently under construction to obtain a water supply
from Lake Erie. The project will have a capacity of about 200
mgd and will be used primarily to furnish cooling water. The
industries propose to use this water on a once through basis,
returning it directly to the River. This increased flow will
flush wastes from the Buffalo River into Lake Erie, but it
will not in itself reduce the input of wastes to the Lake.
"Sedimentation is a problem in several areas in the
Basin. High sediment loads are related to heavy rainfalls or
snow melts, and last for only short periods of time. The
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average annual sediment load for all areas except the upper
Buffalo and Tonawanda areas ranges from 100 to 1,500 tons per
year per square mile.
"Over 100,000 tons of sediment must be dredged from
the Buffalo River yearly to keep its navigation channel open.
Data indicate that some of this sediment originates from in-
dustrial wastes discharged in the river.
"Effects of Wastes on Water Quality and Water Uses
"Waste discharges in the Erie-Niagara Basin affect
the immediate receiving stream, the shoreline, and the eastern
side of the Niagara River.
"In the summer of 1964, an extensive microbiological
study of the major public beaches was conducted by the Erie
County Department of Health. Beaches were examined from
Evangola State Park on the west to Beaver Island State Park on
the east. It was found that in most cases there was a direct
correlation between rainfall and high or gusty winds and coli-
form densities. Several of these beaches are now automatically
closed to the public after rainfall and/or high winds, for one
to three days. The beaches were affected by nearby streams
carrying wastes, by sewage treatment plant discharges, and by
combined sewer system overflows.
"Cattaraugus Creek
"Raw domestic sewage, toxic wastes, oil, organic
loadings are poured into Cattaraugus Creek in the vicinity of
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Gowanda by Peter Cooper Corp., Moench Tanning Co., and the
Village of Gowanda. Dumps are located along the creek banks.
Above these outfalls the stream is clear; below them the
stream becomes a virtual cesspool during low flow months.
Damage to fish and wildlife and recreation by pollution occurs
in that part of the basin below the outfalls.
"Eighteenmile Creek is relatively free from pollution
except in the vicinity of Hamburg, while Big Sister Creek has
been grossly polluted and was only 30 per cent sewered. With
the recent construction of two new sewage treatment plants in
the area, water quality in Big Sister Creek should improve.
Both of these streams have a potential as fish and recreation
areas.
"Buffalo-River System
"The Buffalo River Basin is composed of the Buffalo
River and its tributaries of Cazenovia Creek, Cuyuga Creek, and
Buffalo Creeko
"Under prevalent conditions of sluggish flow, the
lower Buffalo River resembles a vast septic tank, with no dis-
solved oxygen and high biochemical oxygen demand during criti-
cal periods, and with oil, color and exotic waste materials.
Following heavy rainfall combined sewer overflows and bottom
scourings threaten the quality of the water supplies of the
City of Buffalo and other municipalities. The Buffalo River
is too grossly polluted to support fish, bottom dwelling
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animals, or attached algae.
"Except for high coliform densities, the water in
Cayuga Creek above Lancaster and Depew is good in quality. At
low flow, Cayuga Creek becomes septic below the Depew Sewage
Treatment Plant, Oil discharges have been noted in the lower
seven miles of the Creek.
"The West Branch of Cazenovia Creek is of good sani-
tary quality; so is the East Branch except for its last two
miles which have a high BOD loading from the East Aurora Sewage
Treatment Plant. Cazenovia Creek's water quality remains rela-
tively high until the stream reaches West Seneca. The stream
supports a well-balanced population of bottom dwelling animals
which include many pollution-sensitive forms.
"Pollution from sewer discharges in the lower six
miles of the stream degrade the water quality until, near the
mouth, the DO at times becomes zero."
Mr. Cook will read the recommended actions that were
presented in Part 1, and I will complete it.
MR, COOK: This is page 1 of part 1 of the report.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Mr. Cook, in the interests of
saving time, we will leave out Part I of the report - I read
that this morning, as ratified by the conferees. I wonder if
we could just do the specialized portion, because in view of
the Cleveland session, that might be a little out of date.
All right, I think we can move down from that.
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MR. MEGREGIAN: Recommended actions for the
Pennsylvania area.
'"The recommendations for pollution abatement set
forth in Chapter I, Part 1 are to be adopted where applicable
in the Pennsylvania Basin. In addition, it is recommended that
the following specific actions be taken:
"1. The Erie metropolitan area develop a plan which
will outline the steps to be taken to provide solutions to
pollution created by combined sewer overflows.
"2. The following industrial plants take the
necessary actions listed:
Industry Necessary Action
Hammermill Paper Company - Reduction of Solids and Spent
Cook Liquors
Interlake Iron Company r Reduction of Phenols and
Solids
Electric Materials Co. - Reduction of Heavy Metals
Erie Brewing Co. - Reduction of BOD
Erie Reduction Co. - Reduction of BOD
Kaiser Aluminum Co. - Reduction of Heavy Metals."
For the Western New York Basin, recommended actions.
"The recommendations for pollution abatement set forth
in Chapter I» Part 1, are to be adopted where applicable in the
Western New York Basin. In addition, it is recommended that
the following specific actions be taken:
"1. The following industrial plants take the necessary
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actions listed:
Industry Necessary Action
Niagara Mohawk Power
Company - Keep flyash out of Lake
Silver Creek Preserving
Company - BOD reduction
Welch Grape Juice
Company, Inc. - BOD reduction
Seneca Westfield Maid,
Inc. - BOD reduction
Growers Cooperative
Grape Juice Co. - BOD reduction"
For the Erie-Niagara Area, the recommended actions
are as follows:
"The recommendations for pollution abatement set forth
/
in Chapter I, Part 1 are to be adopted where applicable in the
Erie-Niagara Basin. In addition, it is recommended that the
following specific actions be taken:
"1. The Buffalo metropolitan area develop a plan
which will outline the steps to be taken to provide solutions
to water pollution created by combined sewer overflows.
"2. Necessary action be taken to eliminate oil and
debris in the Lake, tributaries, and harbor waters.
"3. The following industries provide waste treatment
or reduction of waste at its source to eliminate water pollution:
Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation, General Chemical Division;
Allied Chemical & Dye Corp., National Aniline Division;
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Bethlehem Steel Co.; Donner-Hanna Coke Corporation; Hanna
Furnace Corporation; Moench Tanning Co.; Penn-Dixie Cement Co.;
Peter Cooper Corp.;. Republic Steel Corp.; Socony-Vacuum Oil
Company; Union Plating Works,"
Thank you.
CHAIRMAN STEIN: Thank you. Are there any comments
or questions?
If there are a considerable number of questions,
we'd better wait for the morning. Most of you plan to be here
tomorrow, don't you?
We will stand recessed until 9:30 tomorrow morning,
same place.
(CONFERENCE RECESSED AT 4:15 P.M.)
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE t 1966 O - 216-714
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