VI-205 

 The Need for Public Planning and Regulation 



The public sector must take the initiative by developing plans and 

 enforceable regulations to deal with increasing demands for altera- 

 tion of land, water, and estuaries, a demand now largely in the hands 

 of the private sector. Strong and competent organizations, such as 

 State or interstate compact authorities, are required to administer 

 these areas, with Federal financial assistance where appropriate, 

 and always on the basis of sound scientific, legal, economic, and 

 social criteria. In most cases, such machinery is not available, 

 nor is the data base on which such machinery must function. Such 

 organizations must be staffed with people competent to analyze and 

 develop quantitative environmental models for evaluating alternatives 

 capable of developing comprehensive plans for carrying out complete 

 regional programs, or must have ready access to such skills through 

 a core of consultants, either Federal, multi-State, or private. 



The Need for Estuarine Criteria 



A system of criteria must be developed to encourage adequate stan- 

 dards throughout the country covering the allowable extent and 

 conditions of further physical or other alterations of estuarine 

 natural values. Such Federal criteria might well employ the con- 

 cept used in the development of our water quality standards. In 

 other words, the Federal Government could judge the adequacy of 



