Transport and Trade 



The Corps has 56 coastal channel and harbor improvement projects 

 currently underway, for which the total Federal costs are estimated to be 

 $870 million." Congress has authorized (but not funded) another 70 proj- 

 ects/^ to cost an estimated $780 million. 



Even with these planned improvements, however, many existing chan- 

 nels will not be adequate to accommodate the deeper-draft tankers and dry 

 bulk vessels now operating. These newer vessels and further technological 

 advances that can be expected will necessitate new or improved channel 

 and harbor facilities. In some cases these can be effected by deeper dredging 

 of existing channels. In others, however, dredging to greater depths is im- 

 practical. For example, substantial costs are associated with cutting through 

 rock at fairly shallow depths. Also, dredging can result in salt-water intrusion 

 or damage to fish and wildlife. The need for such dredging may be reduced 

 by selective development of ports on a regional system basis, or by construc- 

 tion of ofF-shore terminal facilities. 



New Initiatives 



In view of the importance of maritime activities to the economy and to 

 international leadership in marine science and technology, the Marine Sci- 

 ences Council selected three areas for priority attention during FY 1969 

 and made specific recommendations concerning: 



— development of a national plan for navigation ; 



— programs for preventing and ameliorating the effects of accidents 



involving oil and other hazardous substances; 



— planning for a broad approach to port development and 



redevelopment. 



1. Navigational Aids and Other Supporting Research. A national plan 



for navigation is being developed by the Department of Transportation 



(Coast Guard and Federal Aviation Agency). The plan will consider the 



development and operation of aids to navigation to serve the current and 



future needs of aviation and maritime commerce. Navigation satellites and 



advanced ground-based systems will be considered. The plan will identify 



areas of Federal responsibility for navigation services, and the technology — 



current and projected — to carry out these responsibilities. It will then specify 



^" Major individual projects are in New York Harbor, the Delaware River, the 

 Mississippi River at the Gulf outlet, the Sacramento River, and connecting channels 

 in the Great Lakes. 



" Total includes several non-coastal projects on navigable rivers. 



85 



