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to testify on this project and we should like to associate the National Wildlife Federation with the concern expressed by the Indiana Conservation Council, Inc. Devils Jumps, Kentucky-Tennessee. This project would get $100,000 for general investigations. The funds would be used to complete a joint study on the desirability of this project, with a report due within a few months. Frankly, we are of the opinion that preservation of this unique stream is in the highest public interest and benefit when compared to use of the site for power generation. And, we believe the study will result in this conclusion, so we do not oppose it. Asotin Dam, Idaho-Washington.-It is our understanding that $75,000 originally w as proposed for advanced engineering and design, but this now has been deleted. We believe this project should be deferred indefinitely because of the danger to recreation, fish and wildlife resources. Our organization went on record in detail about this project, and others, in the annual convention earlier this year and a copy is attached (No. 2, 1969, Columbia River).

Big Sioux River, Iowa-South Dakota.-Our organization, in March, 1969, also adopted a resolution which urges that the Big Sioux canalization project be deauthorized and abandoned (copy attached). Consequently, we hope that no funds will be appropriated for it.

Oakley Reservoir, Illinois.-A budget request of $1 million for land acquisition has been cut back to $500,000. We are sure that the Subcommittee is aware of the great and mounting local opposition to the portion of this project which relates to inundation of the Allerton Park natural area. Now, we have been informed that local opponents of the project have uncovered other problems and we hope that acquisition of lands can be deferred until some of these difficulties are resolved.

Dickey-Lincoln School, Maine.-This project has been the subject of much de bate and some acrimony, largely centered upon the issue of public vs. private power. Again, we would like to call the Subcommittee's attention to a resolution on the subject adopted by the National Wildlife Federation in 1968. This discusses other values and recommends an independent study (see attached copy). In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, we again offer our thanks for the opportunity of making these comments.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION RESOLUTION NO. 2

COLUMBIA RIVER

WHEREAS, waters of the Columbia River Basin constitute a natural resource of tremendous value, particularly to the Pacific Northwest but also to the entire Nation; and

WHEREAS, many major changes are being wrought in the Columbia River System through the construction of dams and other facilities and through water pollution; and

WHEREAS, evidence indicates that certain additional developments in por tions of the Columbia Basin may result in permanent losses of recreation, fish and wildlife resources, including Chinook salmon and steelhead trout;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual convention assembled February 28-March 2, 1969 at Washington, D.C., hereby expresses these convictions with respect to the Columbia River Basin:

1. No additional dams should be licensed by the Federal Power Commission on the main stem of Snake River or its tributaries downstream from Hells Canyon Dam.

2. Construction of Asotin Dam on Snake River, authorized for construction by the Corps of Engineers, be deferred indefinitely.

3. No additional dams be authorized for construction on the main stem of Clearwater River or its principal tributaries: (Middlework-Lochsa-Selway and Southfork Rivers.)

4. No dam be licensed by the Federal Power Commission or authorized for construction on the stretch of the main stem, Columbia River, wherein the proposed Ben Franklin D m would be located.

5. Construction of thermal electric generating plants must not be permitted in any area of the Pacific Northwest, or elsewhere, whose construction and operation would degrade any part of the environmental spectrum. 6. Sufficient funds be appropriated annually, by Congress, to allow full capacity use of Columbia River hatcheries supported by the Department of

Interior.

7. No water should be diverted from the Columbia River System into other watersheds.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION RESOLUTION NO. 22

BIG SIOUX RIVER PROJECT

WHEREAS, the Corps of U.S. Army Engineers is developing plans for the canalization of the Big Sioux River for thirty-five miles from its confluence with the Missouri River; and

WHEREAS, the program is opposed by large segments of people in both Iowa and South Dakota; and

WHEREAS, the proposed canalization of the Big Sioux River would create a biological desert in some of the region's most scenic wildlife habitat; and

WHEREAS, canalization of the Big Sioux River would create a long and expensive legal entanglement over boundary lines between the States of Iowa and South Dakota;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the National Wildlife Federation in annual convention assembled Feb. 28-March 2, 1969, at Washington, D.C., hereby urges that the project be deauthorized and abandoned.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION RESOLUTION No. 19

DICKEY DAM

Whereas, the existing proposal for the Dickey-Lincoln hydroelectric project would commit a vast area of northern Maine to an irrevocable pattern of use, and Whereas, there has been no comprehensive evaluation of potential alternative uses of the resources of this region, and

Wheres, it appears to the National Wildlife Federation that the destruction of any natural resources without a complete evaluation of all alternatives may well constitute a waste of resources, and

Whereas, the National Wildlife Federation has seen no conclusive evidence that construction of the dam would result in the best use of this region;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the National Wildlife Federation, in anal convention assembled March 8, 1968, at Houston, Texas, hereby urges that an authoritative and exhaustive study of the various resources of the upper St. John River area be undertaken by an agency with an independent viewpoint and strongly recommends that Congress take no additional action on funding the the Dickey-Lincoln project until such a study evaluating all alternatives has been completed, until all interested parties have been given ample opportunity to review the findings, and until public hearings have been held in Maine and elsewhere in the Northeast.

NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION RESOLUTION No. 22

UMPQUA RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT

Whereas, the Umpqua River in Douglas County, Oregon, is the largest river system in the State without complete, comprehensive, multi-purpose development plans or authorized Federal projects; and

Whereas, the capability of the stream to provide maximum human benefits in fisheries, wildlife, and recreation and water supplies for domestic use and for irrigation is limited without the control of destructive floods and augmentation of low flows in the summer; and

Whereas, with proper development, giving due regard to all beneficial uses, including the maintenance of water quality, this fine stream can be made to furnish more outdoor recreational opportunities and water for other human needs, thereby benefiting the economy and other facets of the lives of people residing in its watershed;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the National Wildlife Federation, in annual convention assembled March 8, 1968, at Houston, Texas, hereby urges the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife to accelerate the completion of reports and plans necessary for the authorization of suitable development projects and, subsequently, the proper funding of them.

DIVISION OF STATE AND LOCAL PROGRAMS, CONSTRUCTION GRANTS AND ENGINEERING BRANCH, EVALUATION

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Mr. KIMBALL. May I add my words of support to those of Senator
Muskie, Senator Boggs, and Governor Mandel. They are perhaps even
more articulate than any of us in expressing the viewpoints of the
citizens that are interested in heading up our Nation's water supply.

Speaking for my own organization, the National Wildlife Federa-
tion, we engaged the Gallup public opinion organization months ago
to survey the people of the United States in an effort to determine
what concern they had for the continuing deterioration of our environ-

ment. The results of that survey showed that 86 percent of the people of this country are concerned about the water and air pollution problems in our country, particularly.

I think the significant factor, the significant question that was asked the citizens of our country was whether or not they would be willing to pay additional taxes to accomplish the purpose in the light of the already burdensome taxes that they bear for many of the other necessary functions of Government service. The fact that 75 percent or three out of four of these same people-and this was a cross section of the whole country-indicated that they were willing to pay the additional taxes providing that that money could be earmarked or set aside in some way that it would be used solely for that purpose.

It seems to me that the citizens become frustrated, Mr. Chairman, when we have that much interest or concern in a problem, a willingness to foot the bill, so to speak, and yet we are unable to convert that interest into meaningful action on the part of Government to accomplish the desired results.

Many of the citizens that you will hear this afternoon were in the forefront of attempting to encourage the Congress to enact Federal water pollution control laws, which are now on the books. We spentor the Government has spent-considerable amounts of money to derelop a Federal water pollution control administration and all of the technicians and administrators are involved in agency. They have a standard system now which most of the States have developed, and submitted to the Secretary of the Interior, and those are in the process of now being approved so that we have a standard to clean up our Nation's water supply.

FUNDING FOR THE BUILDING OF TREATMENT PLANTS

All of this, in my view, will be for nought unless the funding is provided for the final step, and that is for the building of treatment plants, standards and a desire to do something does not accomplish clean water. The key is whether we build these treatment facilities to take our domestic sewage and industry affluents and treat them.

Someone had said we could use $600 million. This was the Secretary of the Interior Hickel's comment, I think to the Congress that he could use this much now, and yet there is two and a quarter billion dollars worth of requests from the various States before Federal Water Pollution Control Administration right now. These are formal plans that have been submitted that if the Federal shares were available that it actually be spent on construction grants and construction could begin to really do the job of cleaning up our Nation's water.

So I think we are here to plead with the committee to complete the program. Congress stimulated public's interest in doing something about the continuing degradation of our environment: 86 percent of the people in this country are desirous of doing something; 75 percent are willing to pay the bill-and we are here pleading-or to ask that the committee provide the funds to build the plants.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Senator ELLENDER. Thank you, sir.

STATEMENT OF DOUGLAS A. MERRIFIELD, MAYOR OF ST. JOSEPH, MO., NATIONAL LEAGUE OF CITIES AND THE U.S. CONFERENCE OF MAYORS

FEDERAL ASSISTANCE

Senator ELLENDER. You may proceed, Mr. Merrifield.

Mr. MERRIFIELD. Mr. Chairman, I appear before you today representing the 14,600 members of the National League of Cities and the U.S. Conference of Mayors with an urgent appeal for assistance. The Nation's municipalities are facing a crisis in the financing of waste treatment facilities to control water pollution. Only with a substantial increase in Federal support can we meet the goals set by Congress in the Water Quality Acts of 1965 and 1966. Without increased Federal support, many local finance structures may be thrown into complete disarray, making financing of all municipal capital improvements more difficult and forcing some municipalities to the brink of bankruptcy.

LOCAL LEVEL

We at the local level are caught in a crossfire of priorities. On the one hand we have Federal and State agencies setting mandatory standards in such areas as water pollution, highway safety, and ambulance services; on the other hand, we have local taxpayers demanding action to control crime, feed the hungry, and eradicate urban blight. All these issues are important. All demand a greater commitment of resources than has been available. But at the point of financing, they compete in the priority scale for the very limited local resources that are available, forcing difficult choices when local taxpayers demand one order of priorities, but Federal and State standards mandate another.

There are figures that relate to the national level. I cannot support these. These were supplied by the two organiaztions that I represent, but I will miss stating those at this particular time.

ST. JOSEPH WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS

I will talk about St. Joseph. In the past few years, St. Joseph has placed in operation or put under construction nearly $7 million worth of water and sewer improvements. I am proud of this record, and believe it exemplary of the effort of municipalities around the Nation. The city is currently pushing ahead on another $2,512,000 of construction. For this program we have been advised that a grant of $1,290,000 is approved as a reimbursable grant if waste treatment funds are appropriated. In good faith, the city is underwriting this new construction and advising our citizens that the Federal Government, in due time, will reimburse us for a portion of the improvement costs. St. Joseph has planned another ambitious project, costing about $3 million, to complete its primary treatment program. However, it will be very difficult for us to finance this project unless increased Federal aid to provide the 50-percent matching share is assured.

The unexpected low level of Federal support and resulting substantial demands upon municipalities to finance waste treatment facilities have come at a time when all municipal capital financing programs are facing unprecedented difficulties because of high interest rates and growing problems in marketing municipal bonds. Many

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