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7/3/75 - National Environment Research Center
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1252387
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7/3/75 - National Environment Research Center
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President's Speeches and Statements Reading Copies (Ford Administration)
Reading Copies of Presidential Speeches and Statements
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1975
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The original documents are located in Box 11, "7/3/75 - National Environment Research
Center" of the President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford
Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Gerald Ford donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Digitized from Box 11 of President's Speeches and Statements: Reading Copies at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
PRESIDENTIAL REMARKS
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENT RESEARCH CENTER
THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1975
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
THANK YOU RUSS (RUSS TRAIN INTRODUCES YOU)
GOVERNOR RHODES (PROBABLY WILL ATTEND)
SENATOR TAFT
DISTINGUISHED MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
REPS: BILL GRADISON
DONALD CLANCY
GENE SNYDER
CHUCK WHALEN (PROBABLY WILL NOT ATTEND)
CLARENCE BROWN
JOHN BRECKINRIDGE
PRESIDENT BENNIS (PRESIDENT OF UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI)
RUSS PETERSON
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
- I -
(ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS)
IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE TO BE HERE IN CINCINNATI AGAIN.
AT A TIME WHEN so MANY ASPECTS OF TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION
ARE BEING QUESTIONED AND CHALLENGED - -- IT'S GOOD TO BE IN A
CITY WHERE EVERYBODY IS FOR A BIG RED MACHINE!
- la -
LET ME SAY JUST ONE THING ABOUT THE CINCINNATI REDS.
ANY ORGANIZATION THAT COULD GO MORE THAN TWO WEEKS WITHOUT
MAKING AN ERROR, SHOULD FORGET ABOUT SPORTS.
WE COULD USE THEM IN GOVERNMENT!
AT THE VERY LEAST, THEY SHOULD BE MAKING CORNERSTONES.
- 2 -
THE DEDICATION OF THIS NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
RESEARCH CENTER IS AN EVENT OF GREAT SIGNIFICANCE --
TO CINCINNATI AND TO OUR NATION.
IT IS A MESSAGE
214 MILLION AMERICANS ARE SENDING TO FUTURE GENERATIONS
OF AMERICANS.
- 3 -
IT IS 30 MILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF LABORATORIES
RESEARCH
FACILITIES,
EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING CAPACITY, SAYING TO OUR
CHILDREN AND THEIR CHILDREN:
WE CARE.
WE CARE ABOUT
THE AIR YOU WILL BREATHE.
\
THE WATER YOU WILL DRINK,
\
THE LAND
YOU WILL NEED.
IT IS A MESSAGE ABOUT OUR ENVIRONMENT
THAT SAYS TO ALL:
AMERICA -- HANDLE WITH CARE!
- 4 -
THE RESEARCH FACILITY WE DEDICATE TODAY IS A MAJOR
ACHIEVEMENT IN REALIZING AN ENVIRONMENT THAT WILL ADD TO OUR
LIFE EXPERIENCE RATHER THAN SUBTRACT FROM OUR LIFE SPAN.
IT IS ONE OF THE MOST ADVANCED LABORATORIES OF ITS KIND IN THE
WORLD.
BUT CINCINNATI IS NO STRANGER TO LANDMARK
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH.
- 5 -
OVER SIXTY YEARS AGO, THE VERY FIRST ENVIRONMENTAL
HEALTH ACTIVITIES ON A NATIONAL LEVEL WERE BEGUN HERE WHEN THE
U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE SET UP A STREAM POLLUTION
INVESTIGATION STATION IN 1913.
SINCE THEN, THE QUEEN CITY
HAS BECOME INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN AS A RESEARCH CENTER
FURTHERING A WIDE VARIETY OF ENVIRONMENTAL DISCIPLINES.
- 6 -
IT IS PARTICULARLY FITTING THAT MY GOOD FRIEND, BOB
TAFT, THE DISTINGUISHED SENIOR SENATOR FROM OHIO, IS HERE
WITH US TODAY.
HE CARRIES ON THE COMMITMENT AND
PRINCIPLES OF HIS FATHER IN THESE VITAL AREAS OF ECOLOGICAL
CONCERN.
- 7 -
THE ROBERT A. TAFT SANITARY ENGINEERING CENTER -- NAMED IN
HONOR OF BOB'S FATHER WHO so ABLY SERVED THE STATE OF OHIO
IN THE SENATE FOR FOURTEEN YEARS -- WAS DEDICATED IN 1954 AND
FOR TWO DECADES HAS CONTRIBUTED IMPORTANT NEW RESEARCH IN
THE AREAS OF RADIATION,
AIR POLLUTION,
AND SOLID WASTE.
- 8 -
THE FACILITY WE DEDICATE TODAY WILL EXPAND STILL
FURTHER THE CAPACITIES OF CINCINNATI'S EFFORTS IN
THIS FIELD.
- 8A -
BUILT ON TWENTY ACRES OF LAND DONATED BY THE CITY OF CINCINNATI
AND WITH READY ACCESS TO THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI --
THIS CENTER WILL HELP PROVIDE THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT so
URGENTLY NEEDED TO ONCE AGAIN RECONCILE THE NEEDS OF OUR SOCIETY
AND NATURE.
- 9 -
IN A TIME OF RECONCILIATION, I WOULD PROPOSE ONE
MORE AREA FOR GREATER UNDERSTANDING.
I WOULD SUGGEST A
DETENTE WITH NATURE.
SPINOZA ONCE SAID, "THE POWER
OF NATURE IS THE POWER OF GOD."
- 10 -
WE HAVE TOO LONG TREATED THE NATURAL WORLD AS AN ADVERSARY,
RATHER THAN AS A LIFE-SUSTAINING GIFT FROM THE ALMIGHTY.
IF MAN HAS THE GENIUS TO BUILD, HE MUST ALSO HAVE THE
ABILITY AND THE RESPONSIBILITY TO PRESERVE.
- II -
WE STAND BEFORE ONE OF THE INSTRUMENTS NECESSARY TO
ACHIEVE THIS PRESERVATION.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ARE
THE FOUNDATION OF ANY EFFORT TO PROTECT AND SECURE THIS
ENVIRONMENT.
- 12 - -
THROUGH RESEARCH, WE ACQUIRE THE ESSENTIAL UNDERSTANDING
OF THE IMPACT OF POLLUTION ON THE HEALTH OF MAN AND ON THE
FUNCTIONING OF NATURAL SYSTEMS.
- 13 -
RESEARCH PERMITS US TO DEVISE AND DEVELOP AT
MINIMUM COST TO THE CONSUMERS THE NECESSARY TECHNOLOGIES
TO CONTROL POLLUTION.
SUCH RESEARCH WILL BE ACTIVELY
PURSUED WITHIN THE WALLS OF THIS BUILDING.
- 14 -
THE CONSTRUCTION OF THIS NEW FACILITY BY YOUR GOVERNMENT'S
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SYMBOLIZES THE GROWTH AND
MATURING OF OUR ONGOING POLICY TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE
AMERICA'S PRECIOUS AIR
LAND AND WATER.
- 15 -
WHEN THE DECADE OF THE SEVENTIES BEGAN, WE MADE THE
ACHIEVEMENT OF A CLEANER AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT A MATTER
OF THE HIGHEST NATIONAL PRIORITY.
WE ACHIEVED STEADY AND
SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS TOWARD THAT GOAL.
- 16 -
AND YOU HAVE MY PLEDGE THAT THIS COUNTRY WILL REMAIN FIRMLY
COMMITTED TO CONTINUING THAT PROGRESS.
AS LONG AS I
HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT, THIS COUNTRY'S SYMBOL WILL
NEVER BE AN EMPTY BEER CAN IN A RIVER OF GARBAGE.
- 17 -
WITH THE FORMATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
COUNCIL AND THE CREATION OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY, THIS NATION TOOK A MAJOR STEP IN ESTABLISHING A NEW
ENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA.
SINCE 1969, WE HAVE SEEN THE
PASSAGE OF SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE THE TOOLS TO
KEEP AMERICA / THE BEAUTIFUL.
- 18 - -
AND, WHEN CONGRESS RETURNS FROM THIS FOURTH OF
JULY RECESS, I WILL SUBMIT A PROPOSAL. TO ESTABLISH A
COMPREHENSIVE AND UNIFORM SYSTEM FOR FIXING LIABILITY AND
SETTLING CLAIMS RESULTING FROM OIL POLLUTION DAMAGES IN
AMERICAN WATERS AND COASTLINES.
- 19 - -
MY PROPOSAL WILL ALSO IMPLEMENT TWO INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTIONS, NOW UNDER CONSIDERATION BY THE CONGRESS,
DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF OIL POLLUTION CAUSED BY TANKERS
ON THE HIGH SEAS.
- 20 - -
I CONSIDER THIS INITIATIVE TO BE OF GREAT NATIONAL
IMPORTANCE.
AMERICA'S ENERGY NEEDS REQUIRE THE
ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT OF OUR OFFSHORE OIL AND GAS
RESOURCES AND THE INCREASED USE OF DEEP WATER PORTS.
- 21 -
THIS PROPOSAL WILL ALLOW US TO PROCEED WITH
DETERMINATION, BUT IN A MANNER THAT IS ENVIRONMENTALLY
ACCEPTABLE AND SOUND.
WE ASK ALL CITIZENS AND GROUPS CONCERNED WITH THE
QUALITY OF AMERICA'S ENVIRONMENT TO JOIN WITH US IN
SEEKING NEW WAYS TO PRESERVE IT.
- 22 - -
THIS IS NOT A FEDERAL CONCERN ALONE.
IT IS THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AND EACH
INDIVIDUAL - ALL THE WAY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE TO YOUR
HOUSE.
WE ALL BREATHE THE SAME AIR
t
OR SMOG.
IT'S UP TO US.
- 23 -
I AM CONVINCED THAT AN ACTIVE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL AGENCIES IS THE PROPER FORMULA FOR
ASSURING THE FUTURE SUCCESS OF OUR ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS.
THIS IS NOT IDLE THEORIZING.
SUCH COOPERATION HAS
ALREADY BROUGHT ABOUT, IN MANY AREAS OF OUR COUNTRY, A
REMARKABLE IMPROVEMENT IN AIR AND WATER QUALITY.
-24-
GREAT RIVERS AND LAKES ONCE GIVEN UP AS "DEAD" HAVE SHOWN
DRAMATIC NEW LIFE.
LAKE ERIE, THE BUTT OF MANY A JOKE
WAS VIRTUALLY WRITTEN OFF BY SOME AS UNSALVAGEABLE.
IT NOW
SHOWS SIGNS OF A HEALTHY RECOVERY.
- 24A - -
EVEN MORE ENCOURAGING, SALMON HAVE REAPPEARED IN THE
CONNECTICUT AND HUDSON RIVERS.
THEY COUGH A LOT,
BUT THEY HAVE REAPPEARED.
- - 25 -
COOPERATION AND PRUDENT SELF-INTEREST HAS ALSO
MADE FOR OTHER SOLID ADVANCES.
NEARLY 80 PERCENT OF
ALL MAJOR "STATIONARY SOURCES" OF AIR POLLUTION - -- UTILITY
PLANTS,
\
FACTORIES, LARGE BUILDINGS -- ARE NOW COMPLYING
WITH EMISSION REGULATIONS OR ARE MEETING AN ABATEMENT
SCHEDULE.
- 26 - -
THE RESULT OF THESE AND OTHER CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS
IS APPARENT.
THE CITIZENS OF MANY GREAT CITIES HAVE
ALREADY BENEFITED FROM THE LIFE-GIVING IMPROVEMENT IN THE
PURITY OF THEIR AIR.
THERE IS MUCH MORE TO BE DONE BUT
LET US NOT BE INDIFFERENT TO WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN
ACCOMPLISHED.
- 27 - -
AS YOU KNOW, I HAVE ALWAYS RETAINED A SPECIAL
INTEREST IN SPORTS ACTIVITIES.
I LIKE TO SWIM, TO GOLF,
TO SKI, TO PLAY TENNIS -- TO TAKE WALKS IN AN ATMOSPHERE
THAT RENEWS AND RETURNS PERSPECTIVE.
I CHERISH THE
OUTDOORS AND I STAND WITH THOSE WHO FIGHT TO PRESERVE
WHAT IS BEST IN OUR ENVIRONMENT.
- 28 -
BUT AS PRESIDENT,
\
I
CAN NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF
ANOTHER INSISTENT ASPECT OF OUR ENVIRONMENT -- THE
ECONOMIC NEEDS OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
YOUR SECURITY
AND WELL-BEING MUST ENTER INTO EVERY DECISION I MAKE --
AND IT DOES.
- 29 - -
I PURSUE THE GOAL OF CLEAN AIR AND PURE WATER BUT I MUST
ALSO PURSUE THE OBJECTIVE OF MAXIMUM JOBS AND CONTINUED
ECONOMIC PROGRESS.
UNEMPLOYMENT IS AS REAL AND AS
SICKENING A BLIGHT AS ANY POLLUTANT THAT THREATENS THIS
NATION.
- 30 -
IF ACCOMPLISHING EVERY WORTHY ENVIRONMENTAL
OBJECTIVE WOULD SLOW DOWN OUR EFFORT TO REGAIN ENERGY
INDEPENDENCE AND A STRONGER ECONOMY, THEN I MUST WEIGH
ALL FACTORS INVOLVED.
- 31 -
MY DECISION MUST REFLECT THE NEEDS OF THE FUTURE, BUT ALSO,
THE DEMANDS OF THE PRESENT.
I WILL DO MY BEST TO
NEG LECT NEITHER.
- 32 -
THE BUILDING WE DEDICATE TODAY IS IMPOSING PROOF
OF OUR COMMITMENT TO TOMORROW.
WITHIN ITS WALLS AND
WITHIN THE LABORATORIES OF OTHER SUCH FACILITIES, PROBLEMS
WILL BE DEFINED AND SOLUTIONS WILL BE FOUND.
WORKING
TOGETHER, WE AMERICANS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE
DIFFICULT ANSWERS.
- 33 - -
HERE IN CINCINNATI, I KNOW YOU WILL FIND YOUR
SHARE OF THEM.
OURS IS A BOUNTIFUL LAND.
LET US
RESOLVE TO LIVE IN IT, AT ONE WITH MAN, WITH NATURE,
AND WITH GOD.
END OF TEXT
THE PRESIDENT HAS SEEN
CLEARANCE FORM FOR PRESIDENTIAL SPEECH MATERIAL
TO:
THE PRESIDENT
VIA:
ROBERT HARTMANN
FROM:
PAUL A. THEIS
SUBJECT:
National Environment Research Center Speech
TIME, DATE AND PLACE OF PRESIDENTIAL USE:
12:40 p.m., Thursday, July 3, 1975, Cincinnati, Ohio
SPEECHWRITER: Bob Orben
EDITED BY: Paul Theis
BASIC RESEARCH/SPEECH MATERIAL SUPPLIED BY:
EPA, Domestic Council, Research Office
CLEARED BY (Please initial):
(X) OPERATIONS (Rumsfeld) RBC (see note p.7+8)
(X) CONGRESSIONAL/PUB LIC LIAISON (Marsh)
(X) PRESS (Nessen) RHN
(x) LEGAL (Buchen) KL for PB
(X) ECONOMIC POLICY BOARD (Seidman) has
(X) OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET (Lynn)
(X) DOMESTIC COUNCIL (Cannon) M.Duval
( ) NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL (Scowcroft)
(X) RESEARCH (Waldron) gp
(x) JERRY WARREN (FYI)
(X) ENERGY RESOURCES COUNCIL (Zarb) John Hill's ofc.for for 2arb
(X) Alan Greenspan R
( )