V-326 



nationwide system of estuarine areas; and the Corps 

 of Engineers' national shoreline erosion survey 

 authorized by Congress in Public Law 90-483. 

 (2) On the second front of required Federal action, the 

 Congress should enact legislation establishing the 

 National Estuarine Management Program. Purposes of this 

 legislation should be three: 



(a) To establish the basic policies and objectives 

 which are to guide that program at all levels of 

 government. 



(b) To provide the Federal incentives which will act 

 as an impetus for needed action by the States under 

 that program. 



(c) To authorize the new actions which that program 

 should require from Federal administrative agencies. 



The legislation's statement of policies and objectives 

 should stress the national interest in the balanced multi- 

 purpose development, conservation and preservation of 

 estuarine and coastal resources over both the short and 

 long range. In setting this as the objective, it also 

 should emphasize the importance of giving priority con- 

 sideration to non-renewable resources and to maintaining 

 those resources and uses which are estuarine dependent. 

 While affirming the States' primary management 



