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the estuarine and coastal zone. Moreover, as interrelated parts of 

 a single governmental system, the Federal, State, and local govern- 

 ments in this country share in the exercise of most domestic 

 functions. It is not surprising, therefore, that the Nation's 

 approach to the management of its estuarine and coastal resources 

 also has been characterized by important involvement by the Federal 

 Government. This involvement has reflected not only the primary 

 authority of the Federal Government in the areas mentioned and its 

 paramount authority over the use of estuarine and coastal waters for 

 navigation and commerce. It also reflects numerous decisions by the 

 Congress, supported by the Supreme Court, that the Federal Government 

 too has a major responsibility to promote and protect a broad vari- 

 ety of other beneficial uses of the resources of this zone. 



The resulting activities of the Federal Government today in partici- 

 pating in the management of these resources are extensive and fall 

 into five broad categories. 



First, the Federal Government regulates, either directly or in 

 support of regulatory activities by the States: (1) the use of 

 estuarine and coastal waters for the disposal of various wastes; (2) 

 the placing of structures over and in navigable waters; (3) the 

 designation of navigable waters as danger zones and for certain uses 

 such as fishing grounds; (4) the establishment of harbor lines; and 

 (5) the use of estuarine and coastal waters for the generation of 

 electric power. 



