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is no mechanism for interchanging information rapidly and 

 efficiently at the working level so that programs of mutual 

 benefit can be readily established. 



The program recommended here should not compete with existing 

 monitoring programs, but through providing a valuable service, 

 should stimulate the interest of other Federal, State, local, 

 and private entities in working cooperatively toward a nation- 

 wide program that will make use of the full capabilities of 

 existing monitoring activities. 



A nationwide environmental monitoring system can exist only if 

 there is centralized knowledge of the program associated with 

 responsibility and authority for implementation. The routine 

 data collection efforts of Federal agencies, particularly within 

 the Department of the Interior, can be organized into a unified 

 nationwide estuarine monitoring system and coordinated with 

 similar State efforts through amalgamating into one organiza- 

 tion the necessary responsibility and authority for carrying out 

 such a program without interference with the assigned missions 

 of any agency, either Federal or State. 



Within the framework of a unified sampling network, an effective 

 nationwide estuarine monitoring program can be developed from 

 existing monitoring programs by combining with this activity the 

 centralized authority to supplement ongoing programs by: 



