V-41 



research laboratories devoted to the problems and the resources of 

 the estuaries and adjacent coastal areas. 



The permit control activities of the Corps of Engineers under the 

 Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 

 Act, as amended, and the Interior-Army Memorandum of Understanding 

 of 1967, act directly in the protection and development of the 

 estuarine resources. Army policy requires permit applicants to 

 seek State approval before its own consideration of the application. 

 The Corps issues public notices and holds public hearings when 

 there is appropriate demand. The permit control activities are 

 effective and cover a large part of the preservation or protection 

 problem, but there are two weaknesses. First, the authority of the 

 Corps to deny a permit on any grounds except impediment to naviga- 

 tion has been successfully challenged in Federal Court. Second, 

 there is the matter of policing or enforcement. The Corps simply 

 does not have sufficient facilities and personnel to police the 

 Nation, thus change and alteration mav take place without Corps 

 authorization. 



The licensing activities of the Atomic Energy Commission (not in the 

 chart) now cover only radiological safety — this by Statute. Thev do 

 not take into account environmental effects, thus can supply only 

 limited protection to estuarine natural resources. 



The routine activities of the Departnents of Agriculture; Health, 

 Education, and VJelfare; and Housing and Urban Development, as can be 



