PAGENO="0001"
INTERIOR NOMINATION
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON
INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
UNITED STATES SENATE
NINETIETH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
ON
THE NOMINATION OF MAX N. EDWARDS TO BE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
DECEMBER 14, 1967
VERNMFNT DEPOSITORY
aJLLEGE OF SOUTH JRSEy~B~~T~/
CAMDEN, N. J. 08102
JAN 2919~
0
Printed for the use ef the
Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
~Q~-~85 WASHINGTON 1968
~1y
rn
`71 /9L;~~
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COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
HENRY M. JACKSON, Washington, Chairmalj
CLINTON P. ANDERSON, New Mexico THOMAS H. KUCHEL, California
ALAN BIBLE, Nevada GORDON ALLOTT, Colorado
FRANK CHURCH, Idaho LEN B. JORDAN, Idaho
ERNEST GRUENING, Alaska PAUL I. FANNIN, Arizona
FRANK E. MOSS, Utah CLIFFORD P. HANSEN, Wyoming
QUENTIN N. BURDICK, North Dakota MARK 0. HATFIELD, Oregon
CARL HAYDEN, Arizona
GEORGE MCGOVERN, South Dakota
GAYLORD NELSON, Wisconsin
LEE METCALF, Montana
lEERY T. VERELER, Sthff Directo~r
STEWART FRENCH, Chief Counsel
E. LEWIS REID, Minor ity Counsel
Ii
PAGENO="0003"
NOMINATION OF MAX N. EDWARDS TO BE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1967
U.S. SENATE,
COMMITTEE ON INTERIOR AND INSULAR AFFAIRS,
Washington, D.C.
The committee met, pursuant to call, at 9:30 a.m., in room 3110,
New Senate Office Building, Senator Henry M. Jackson (chairman
of the committee) presiding.
Present: Senators Henry M. Jackson, of Washington, Clinton B.
Anderson, of New Mexico, Alan Bible, of Nevada, Frank E. Moss,
of Utah, Quentin N. Burdick, of North Dakota, Lee Metcalf, of
Montana, Len B. Jordan, of Idaho, and Mark 0. Hatfield, of Oregon.
Also present: Senator Edmund S. Muskie, of Maine, and Senator
Joseph M. Montoya, of New Mexico.
Staff members present: Jerry T. Verkier, staff director; Stewart
French, chief counsel; James H. Gamble, professional staff member;
William J. Nan Ness, Jr., special counsel; and Lewis E. Reid, minority
counsel.
The CHAIRMAN. The committee will come to order.
This is an open public hearing on the nomination by President
Johnson of Mr. Max N. Edwards to be Assistant Secretary of the
Interior.
Mr. Edwards' biographical sketch is before the committee and,
without objection, I will direct that it be printed in full at this point,
in our hearing.
(The document referred to follows:)
PERSONAL Hisro~r R~sUM~ or MAx NIXON EDWARDS
Address: 4201 Cathedral Avenue, NW., Washington, D.C. 20016.
Telephone: A.C. 202, 244-8190.
Personal Information:
Date of birth, December 4, 1921. Place of birth, Wichita, Kansas.
Marital status, married.
Children: One daughter, Karen, age 13, by previous marriage.
Height, 5' 10~/~ inches.
Weight, 180 pounds.
Citizenship, United States.
Special Award: Distinguished Service Award, Department of the Interior,
December 12, 1967.
Security Clearance: Top Secret.
Education: Graduated from Prescott High School, Prescott, Arizona, 1940.
Graduated from Dartmouth College in 1947 with A.B. degree. Graduated from
College of Law, University of Arizona, with LL.B. degree in 1949.
Professional Practice:
January 30, 1961 to present: Assistant to the Secretary and Legislative
Counsel of the Department of the Interior. In this position, serves as confi-
dential adviser and aide to the Secretary~on all legislative matters affecting
1
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2 INTERIOR NOMINATION
the programs of the Department. This includes representing the Secretary
before the Congress, at the White House and the Bureau of the Budget, and
before other governmental agencies. In originating and formulating the legis-
lative program of the Department, supervises the preparation of executive
communications reports on pending bills, and the drafting of bills for
Members of Congress.
January 1953 to January 1960: Partner in the law firm of Edwards and
Reese, Hobbs, New Mexico.
January 1951 to January 1953: Assistant District Attorney of the Fifth
Judicial District of New Mexico.
July 1950 to January 1951: In general practice of law in Hobbs, New
Mexico.
Special Assignment: General Counsel ta New Mexico State Senate, 24th
Legislative Session, 1959.
Military Service: Entered active service as Private, U.S. Army, in May 1943.
Basic training, Armored Force, Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Commissioned 2nd Lieu-
tenant, Infantry, Ft. Benning, Georgia, on January 5, 1945. 1st Lieutenant,
Infantry, Procurement Claims Officer, AFWESPAC Headquarters. Discharged
at Camp Beale, California, July 1946.
Professional Associations: Member of Bar Associations of the U.S. Supreme
Court, the State of Arizona, and the State of New Mexico.
The CHAIRMAN. I will call on Senator Anderson, the senior Senator
from the State of New Mexico, which is Mr. Edwards home of record,
to make the first statement. I understand that Senator Montoya, of
New Mexico, also has a statement in support of Mr. Edwards.
Senator ANDERSON. Mr. Chairman, I welcome the opportunity to
speak in behalf of a fellow New Mexican, especially one who has given
unselfishly of his time and talent to Government service. I knew Max
Edwards when he was praticing law in Hobbs, N. Mex.
He left private law practice in 1961 to become an assistant to Secre~
tary of the Interior Stewart Udall. In that capacity he has taken on a
number of responsibilities, including that of adviser and legislative
counsel.
Max Edwards has worn many hats in fulfilling his duties. He repre-
sents the Secretary before the Congress, at the White House, and be-
fore the Bureau of the Budget. He has had a hand in formulating most
of the legislative landmarks of the past 7 years which, in my judgment,
will make a significant contribution to the cause of conservation for
years to come.
This experience has served him well and qualifies him to hold the
position of an Assistant Secretary of the Interior for which he has been
nominated. As one intimately involved in the legislative and executive
process, Max Edwards comes highly recommended. I am sure he will
be of great help to Secretary Udall, Members of Congress, and his
colleagues.
The Distinguished Service Award presented him by the Department
of the Interior earlier in the week gives further evidence of his dedi-
cated public service. I was happy to learn that he had been recognized,
and I certainly approve the President's decision to appoint him to this
important resources position.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Anderson.
Mr. Edwards, I think it would be helpful if you would just give us
a biographical statement at this time. Also, of course, your comments
with reference to your new appointment.
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INTERIOR NOMINATION 3
STATEMENT OF MAX N. EDWARDS, ASSISTANT TO THE SECRE-
TARY OF THE INTEEIOR AND LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL, NOMINEE
~OR OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF THE INTERIOR
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, Senator
Muskie, as always it is a pleasure to appear before this committee.
I do not have a prepared statement. I thought it might be pre-
sumptuous on my part in such a short period of time to indicate that
I might have found all of the problems which I know I am going to be
confronted with, or any defipitive answers about the magnitude of
the problem.
Essentially my early background in the law is that of a country
lawyer, I suppose. I practiced law in Hobbs, N. Mex., from 1950 until
1960. I was the prosecuting attorney for 2 years. In 1959, I was general
counsel to the New Mexico State Senate.
Since I have been with Secretary Udall, I have been assistant to
the Secretary and legislative counsel. My division has been responsible
for implementing the Department's legislative program and, in effect
handling the legislation for more than 20 separate bureaus.
I have developed a keen, and I think, devoted interest in the de-
velopment and conservation of our natural resources. I am concerned
over what I consider one of the most acute problems of a domestic
nature that this country faces; that is, the wise and proper develop-
ment of our water resources. I think we all agree that this is an area
where we are now paying for the sins of the past. I think it is high
time, since we do have the legislative and scientific tools, that we get
busy and do something about correcting these things; that we indeed
move forward with an aggressive campaign to clean up the polluted
rivers, lakes, and streams of the country and that we keep them
clean.
The CHAIRMAN. Does that complete your statement?
Mr. EDWARDS. These are my off-the-cuff remarks; yes, sir. I might
just add that I consider this new opportunity to be a genuine chal-
lenge and that I will look forward to it if the Senate confirms me.
The CHAIRMAN. I want to ask you a question with reference to
legislation passed recently providing for the dual purpose facility
in connection with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern
California on Bolsa Island.
We know this is a cooperative project involving not only the Office
of Saline Water and the Atomic Energy Commission but also the
Metropolitan Water District and, of course, municipally owned and
privately owned utilities.
What do you feel should be the Federal role in this kind of joint
venture?
Mr. EDWARDS. Senator Jackson, I think that this is the very keen
result of the program that the Congress first directed in 1952 to be
carried out by the Office of Saline Water in the Department of the
Interior.
I think that this is the ultimate goal. I predicate this upon the
scientific assumptions that we will be producing water at a cost of
from 22 to 25 cents for 1,000 gallons.
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4 INTERIOR NOMINATION
I talked to Frank Di Luzio and Frank is very, very confident.
He is a scientist, himself, and I have great and high regard for his
knowledge and ability. He tells me with all confidence that the price
of water at the end of the project will be 22 to 25 cents for 1,000
gallons, and this is a tremendous, tremendous reduction from anything
we have experienced heretofore.
I consider the Officer of Saline Water to be basically a research
agency but I think that this is a proper role I or the Department and
at 22 to 25 cents, when industry takes over I know that with their
skills they can bring the price of water down another 10 cents, perhaps.
Now, at 22 cents, you have water at $72 an acre-foot and if I am
informed correctly I believe that the Feather River project will
bring water to southern California at a cost of $80.
The CHAIRMAN. What are your feelings concerning better coordina-
tion between the various agencies of Government and private in-
dustry involved in this whole area of water pollution and salinity
control? Needless to say, so many agencies of the Government are
involved that it presents a formidable task if you look ahead.
I have specific reference, of course, to what is emerging now in
the nuclear reactor field, the construction of nuclear powerplants,
to provide electricity. Over half of the thermal plants that have been
ordered this year are to be nuclear.
Do you have any comments about how we can better coordinate
the various problems and difficulties that are within the scope of
authority of many agencies? I think you have the prime responsibility,
but there are a lot of departments involved in this.
Mr. EDWARDS. Mr. Chairman, I fear that at this particular moment
I don't have any fresh ideas, but I certainly can sympathize with
the inclination to criticize a structure and a superstructure and a
bewilderment about where various responsibilities lie.
I would hope that, as soon as I can get my feet on the ground,
if the Senate would deem me worthy of the President's nomination,
to make a genuine and thorough investigation of these responsi-
bilities, to make some effort to truly coordinate the responsibilities,
so that one agency will know what another is doing; .that. there will
not be an overlapping of responsibilities nor a failure of action on
the part of any Federal agency when the interest of the Nation is
at stake.
rfhe CHAIRMAN. I have several other questions but I will defer so
that my colleagues may also have an opportunity to ask questions.
Senator Montoya has arrived. I am sure Senator Montoya would
like to make a statement with reference to the nomination.
Senator MONTOYA. Yes; I certainly would. Thank you, Mr. Chair-
man and members of the committee.
I am delighted to have the chance to add my enthusiastic endorse-
ment of Mr. Max Edwards for the position of Assistant Secretary of
the Interior for Water Pollution Control.
Not only is he a fellow New Mexican-an important point in his
favor-but he is a fellow member of the New Mexico bar.
I have known Max Edwards since the early 1950's when I was
Lieutenant Governor and he was a practicing attorney in my State.
In those days, he was held in high esteem by all who worked with him
and even by those who worked against him. In 1960 I had
the privilege and pleasure of moving Max Edwards' admission to the
Supreme Court of the United States.
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INTERIOR NOMINATIO~'1 5
More important, however, for our purposes here today, is the fine
record Max Edwards has built in public service. I have had frequent
dealings with him in his capacity as assistant to the Secretary and
legislative counsel to the Interior Department, a post he has held with
distinction for 7 years. He brought to this difficult job ability and
training as well as that essential ingredient, character,
I am sure that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle share my
belief that the outstanding success of Interior's legislative program
owes much to his efforts. I have found him well informed, forthright,
and extremely helpful in my work with him.
I am convinced Max Edwards will make an equally fine record as
an Assistant Secretary. I am fully aware of the enormity of the prob-
lems he faces in that post and their importance to the Nation. The
same qualities which have served him so well in the past will stand
him in good stead in the future.
It is with confidence and pleasure, Mr. Chairman and members of
the committee, that I add my support to the recommendation that
Max Edwards be favorably reported from this committee as Assistant
Secretary for Water Pollution Control.
I thank the committee for this privilege.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Montoya.
Senator Jordan.
Senator JORDAN. Mr. Edwards, I am impressed by your background
and by your record of public service. It has been very satisfactory,
I think.
You are aware of the activities of the Public Land Law Review
Commission that are going on at the present time; are you not?
Mr. EDWARDS. I am, sir.
Senator JORDAN. What do you think about them?
Mr. EDWARDS. I think that this investigation is perhaps long
overdue. I am not familiar with the inner workings of the Com-
mission, itself. I think it would take a lawyer only one search through
the records to try to identify what the law is on a given public land
problem.
To comment on the work of the Commission is impossible for me
because I just don't know how well they are progressing. I have talked
from time to time with some of the staff members. I think they are
confident that they are coming along well. As far as defining the ob-
vious goals of the legislation, I would be the first to support it.
Senator JORDAN. Since the Public Land Law Review Commission
has started its activities, there seems to be an unusual zeal in the
Department of the Interior to reclassify the lands and get them
stashed away in one particular classification or another. How do you
feel about that?
Mr. EDWARDS. I don't know, Senator Jordan, that there is such
a zeal to reclassify the lands. I suppose in some instances that criticism
is fairly well directed.
Senator JORDAN. It wasn't a criticism; it was just a question.
I wondered if there was any tie-in between what I think was an
unusual zeal on the part of the Department of the Interior to reclassify
these lands and the fact that they are under study by the Public Land
Law Review Commission.
Mr. EDWARDS. I am afraid I am not able to comment any further
on that.
PAGENO="0008"
6 INTERIOR NOMINATION
I think a certain amount of reclassification, of course, is necessary.
I think Congress, in passing the Classification Act along with the
Public Land Law Review Commission Act, felt that this was necessary.
Senator JORDAN. In your new job, what will you have to do with
Indian affairs?
Mr. EDWARDS. Only as Indian affairs relate to water pollution
control and the desalinization program which is being pursued in the
Office of Saline Water.
Senator JORDAN. Thank you.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Anderson, do you have any questions?
Senator ANDERSON. I only wish to say I know Mr. Edwards very
well indeed and I appreciate his services to the country.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Bible.
Senator BIBLE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I share the views expressed by the Senator from Idaho on the ques-
tion of the Public Land Law Review Commission and the reclassi-
fication problem.
I am not completely clear as to whether this falls within your pur-
view from here on out and I don't know whether it did in the past.
But I believe that the Bureau of Land Management, which I think is
under Assistant Secretary Anderson, has gone quite far afield in trying
to make many of these reclassifications and retentions permanent
where the enabling legislation makes it temporary and interim. I have
so expressed myself forcefully to the Secretary of the Interior and
suggested that he take a look at the statute under which he is sup-
posed to be operating and keep these classifications in their proper
perspective, which is temporary and interim.
I do not know that this has been in your administrative area, but I
do want to pay particular tribute to you because you have, in my
judgment, been a troubleshooter for the Department of the Interior
and if ever a department needed a troubleshooter it is the Depart-
ment of the Interior. They have more problems, it seems to me, each
day than any other department, with the possible exception of the
Internal Revenue Service, and I think they run them a close second.
During the time of your troubleshooting, you have performed ex-
tremely well.
I want to compliment the President in sending your name forward
for this important position replacing a man who has done a great,
great service in this field, and that man is Frank Di Luzio. I am
frankly sorry to see him retire. I understand the reasons for it. I am
happy to know that he is coming to my State because he is a man of
tremendous capability and ability. You will have your work cut out
for you to fill his shoes.
We have two problems-we have more than two, but two that I
think definitely fall under your jurisdiction in the State of Nevada.
At the present time, there is a real critical problem at Lake Mead,
and you are familiar with Lake Mead; I have been there with you,
myself. There is a definite pollution problem there. Frank Di Luzio
started woi~king on it but I am sure that much more work needs to
be done.
I urge you to give this the highest possible priority. Lake Mead is
becoming more and more polluted. There is algae in the area around
the marina. This lake back of Hoover Dam is a great, significant,
recreational area.
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INTERIOR NOMINATION 7
Through September of this year there have been 6 million visitors
to the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This is one of the
great recreationaF'areas. It has problems. It has problems in the field
of pollution. There has been some controversy between the State and
the Federal Government.
I don't expect you to know those answers right now but I hope
before you take over your new duties you can spend sufficient time
with Frank Di Luzio to give me a report as to a suggested method of
attacking the problem. You may know more about it than I think
you do. I don't know whether you are familiar with the problem of
Lake Mead or not.
Mr. EDWARDS. I can only comment to this extent, Senator Bible:
First of all, it will certainly have top priority. I think that nutrient
and phosphorous pollution is the most insiduous kind because some-
times you can have a potable, clear water and still have it contain
nutrients which will feed algae and create the situation which you are
describing at Lake Mead. Certainly we do not want that to happen.
The same situation is developing at Lake Tahoe. That has to be
stopped, because in no place in the country, I suppose, is there a
finer body of water than Lake Tahoe.
To have the scientific knowledge and the legislative equipment that
we have and not do something about these problems is sinful. So,
you have my assurance that we will work hard on it.
Senator BIBLE. I appreciate that.
You mentioned a second problem area, among other things which
I had reference to, which falls directly into your jurisdiction. That is
Lake Tahoe. As you know, this is two-thirds in the State of California
and one-third in my State of Nevada.
Again, we have a very, very bad problem there and it is intensifying
and worsening. It is caught between the various municipalities in the
two States. They are having a special session of the legislature to try
to enter into some compact to solve this problem. I am sure that the
Federal Government can be extremely helpful here. Again, I urge
you to give that top priority.
I have no problem at all, Mr. Chairman, in supporting this nomina-
tion. I think Mr. Edwards does outstanding work and I think we
will keep him busy in the new area to which he is going.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Bible.
Senator Moss.
Senator Moss. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to say that since I have been in the Senate and on this
committee I have had occasion to work with Max Edwards very
closely and I consider him a most competent and able administrator
and public servant. Therefore, I feel that he can perform the duties
of this assignment with exceptional ability.
I would like to confirm what has been said by my colleagues, that
we have problem areas all around us. You are going to be under
pressure to perform perhaps what seems to be beyond the abilities
of the manpower under your control or the appropriation moneys
available, but there is no possibility of relaxing your efforts because
of this burgeoning problem of pollution in so many areas.
I served on the Public Works Committee where we worked out the
first bill that caused the creation of this department that you now
will head upon confirmation. I am aware of the tremendous problems
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8 INTERIOR NOMINATION
that we face as we have grown to 200 million in population, and as
we concentrate more and more of our efforts around urban areas
to create pollution without adequate steps to nerttralize it and to
deal with the problem.
I look forward to working with you, Max, and I am sure you will do
a good job. You have a tough one to do.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Moss.
We are very pleased to have with us this morning Senator Muskie,
who chairs the subcommittee of the Committee on Public Works which
handles legislation related to water pollution.
Senator Muskie.
Senator MTJSKIE. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I deeply appreciate your courtesy in inviting me to come. I realize
the confirmation of Mr. Edwards does not come within the jurisdic-
tion of any committee of which I am a member. Nevertheless, I am
deeply interested and I do appreciate this courtesy.
I think this is an excellent appointment. I sometimes have reserva-
tions about expressing approval lest events that follow may indicate
that the approval wasn't justified in this field but I have no hesitation
really in expressing approval of Mr. Edwards, as I have already stated
to the President.
I am not going to get involved in any questions at this point. I
think Mr. Edwards is well aware of my interest and specifically of my
concerns with respect to the water pollution control program.
I might touch on two or three of those to refresh his awareness.
I am not entirely satisfied that your predecessor was delegated
sufficient authority to deal with the water pollution problem or
program. You have responsibility in the public mind and in the
congressional mind for the success of this water pollution control
program but I am not satisfied that your predecessor had the necessary
authority, and perhaps this is an organizational problem that exists
throughout the Department.
Since the Department is not under the jurisdiction of any commit-
tee of which I am a member, I am not competent to comment on that.
I do think this is an important problem. I do think, because of
your background and your abilities, you ought to be given a strong
leadership role. It is a little difficult for us to hold you to the responsi-
bility unless you have that role and that authority. I wanted to say
that for the record here, hoping that that comes to the attention of
the proper people.
Second, I am concerned about the thermal pollution problem which
Senator Jackson has mentioned already. I think it is of increasing
concern to us. I know it is in my area of New England. We are on the
threshold, if the private power companies have their way, of tre-
mendous expansion of nuclear power capacity that will be built on
rivers that are already carrying a heavy load in many ways. So,
we are concerned about thermal pollution.
I am disturbed that the Atomic Energy Commission does not con-
sider that it has the authority, nor the responsibility, to consider the
design stage of these plants, let alone to go beyond that point. I think
that the Congress has to provide for this consideration through the
appropriate committees.
The third point I would like to touch on is the progress of the water
quality standards program. I am disturbed about some of the reports
PAGENO="0011"
INTERIOH WOMIWATION 9
I get about policy considerations that are being discussed in the
Department. It is possible that some mistakes are going to be made,
but I hope not.
I do not want to expose any controversies at this point because I
prefer to give you an opportunity to come to grips with them. I will
discuss them with you later when you are in a better position to do so.
But the water quality standards program is the big challenge to the
Department. As you know, I had some real reservations about the
proposal to transfer this program to the Department of the Interior.
It did not reflect upon the competence of any member of the Depart-
ment, but I just didn't feel this was the place to put it at that time.
I think that the Department has yet to meet the challenge of the
water quality standards program. I am not going to go into any
further detail but this is a challenge and it is a test. 4
The State water quality standards were submitted to the Depart-
ment as required by law prior to July 1 of this year. I think not more
than 12-unless I have missed some recent ones-have been approved
in whole or in part. There is a big job yet to be done. What is done
will be the basis for our water quality control effort for years to come.
It is terribly important and I hope and I know that you will address
yourself to it as one of the first priority tasks with which you will be
confronted.
I think the best way I could express my confidence in your ability
to deal with this is to express that confidence in the context of this
discussion of the very difficult problems with which I think you are
going to have to grapple.
The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Senator Muskie.
Senator Burdick.
Senator BURDICK. Mr. Chairman, I want to echo again the senti-
ment expressed by my colleagues.
I, too, have known Mr. Edwards very favorably these past 6 or 7
years. I have found him to be a man of great competence.
I am sure you are aware, Mr. Edwards, of the magnitude of your
job. I think you have one of the toughest jobs in the country right
now, We not only have polluted rivers and polluted lakes-and large
lakes-but we have 10,000 lakes in one State alone in various stages
of putrefaction. I am referring to the fresh water lakes in the northern
regions of our country.
Civilization came to some of those areas less than 100 years ago, yet
they are in various stages of becoming boggy and actually drying up.
I certainly hope you also will give your attention to the small fresh
water lakes of this country.
We have had a program whereby the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation
builds swimming pools and does many things to provide recreation
for the additional leisure time enjoyed in this country. Here we have
natural lakes. We can't sit by and let them die out. They are one of
our great national assets. I hope you will spend some time on that
feature of your job, too.
Mr. EDWARDS. I certainly will, Senator Burdick.
The CHAIRMAN. Senator Metcalf.
Senator METCALF. Mr. Edwards, I can only concur with my
colleagues. -
I have appreciated your ability and initiative and yoij~vithef~ in
the job you have performed. I congratulate the Presid~t on sending
PAGENO="0012"
10 INTERIOR NOMINATION
your name up for this most imporant job and I know that you will
devote the same ability, initiative, and energy to the real challenges
you have.
I am as concerned, as is Senator Muskie, about the various aspects
of water pollution that he has outlined. I was a member of the com-
mittee for a while and participated in hearings. As you know, I have
been concerned about the pollution problem for many years-one of
our greatest national problems. Senator Muskie has outlined, some of
the problems and various other Senators on this committee have
outlined other problems.
I also want to remind you-and I will remind you frequently after
you are confirmed-that the greatest pollutant of the waters of
American is the Federal Government, itself. We have to get busy. It
is going to be your job to get busy and see that the Park Service, the
Forest Service, the Atomic Energy Commission, the Federal Power
Commission, and others institute corrective measures. In my State,
the Forest Service is the greatest pollutant of water of all the Federal
agencies. The National Park Service is the principal pollutant of the
lake in Yellowstone National Park.
I am delighted that you are taking over. I know of your ability and
your capacity. Believe me, I am going to give you some real challenges
in the years ahead.
Thank you.
The CHAiRMAN. Thank you, Senator Metcalf.
The Chair would like to state that Mr. Edwards has filed a financial
statement. We will go into executive session to consider this state-
ment, but before we do I want to thank you and compliment you,
Mr. Edwards, for your responses here to the questions promulgated
this morning.
Mr. EDWARDS. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
(Whereupon, at 10:10 a.m., the committee proceeded to other busi-
ness.)
0