V-165 



At about the same time, New York State passed the Long Island 

 Wetlands Act, which provides that the States and localities share 

 the costs on a 50-50 basis of maintaining, operating, and develop- 

 ing county or municipally owned wetlands that have been dedicated 

 to conservation purposes. At present 15,500 acres, mostly in the 

 town of Hempstead^ are protected and authorities plan to extend the 

 Act's coverage to another 31,000 acres. 



Also a government instrumentality has recently been created in 

 recognition of the importance to Long Island of its marine envir- 

 onment. In 1P65 the Nassau-Suffolk Regional Plar,,iing Board created 

 an oceanographic committee which prepared a report of the status 

 and potential of Long Island's marine environment with recommenda- 

 tions on duck and vessel pollution and on regulating marine sand 

 and gravel dredging (V-3-15). The report also recommended a com- 

 prehensive research and planning program to remedy present manage- 

 ment and coordination deficiencies. 



Following the Committee's report, a Regional Marine Resources Council 

 was created by the Planning Board in 1967 to act in an advisory 

 capacity on all matters involving Long Island's marine resources 

 on an ad hoc basis and to formulate a long-rame management plan. 

 The Council serves as an informal coordinating agency and also brings 

 together various nongovernmental and private interests through its 

 bi-monthly meetings. The Council is now funding a research program 

 and has been instrumental in bringing about improved methods for 



