36 OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 



In 1956, this law was amended to peiniit Federal aid also to privately 

 owned shores provided there was public interest involved, such as 

 protection of nearby public property or when the beach is open to 

 public use even though privately owned. 



I do not suppose that you have much idea of the total scope of the 

 program to date since Federal aid was first authorized and I thought 

 you might be interested in a few figures in that respect. 



We have 68 projects now that have been authorized by the Congress. 

 Those are located in 17 States. The total estimated cost of the au- 

 thorized improvement is $110 million approximatel3\ 



The total Federal share of that $110 million is $27 million which 

 is slightly less than a full one-third. Some of these projects do not 

 involve entirely public interest but also benefit private interest and 

 the Federal aid is modified accordingly. 



The interesting thing to us is that of those 68 projects authorized, 

 26 are actually completed as of now. Twenty more liave been started 

 and are in various stages of completion. 



The first project was authorized in 1950, less than 10 years ago, so 

 that the advancement, you might say, of consmnmation of these 

 authorized works has been quite rapid in our viewpoint in comparison 

 with programs of this nature that the Federal Government aids in. 



Also the local people, as you can see, must bear a very large part of 

 the cost of these works which in general indicates the degree of interest 

 that is evident in making these improvements. 



I might say, too, that our program at this moment is larger than it 

 has been at any time in the past in terms of studies that are in progress. 

 We have at tlie present time 34 studies, 34 cooperative studies under- 

 way which may lead conceivably to additional projects. These are 

 located in 15 States and in Puerto Rico. 



We have also in addition to those studies four reports awaiting 

 action now in Congress, all of them favorable to Federal projects, and 

 four more completed but not yet actually transmitted to Congress. 

 Local interests, incidentally, pay half the cost of these cooperative 

 studies. 



This is on the basis of the 1930 law. 



The local people, in order to obtain a study simply apply to the 

 District Engineer of the Corps of Engineers within whose locality the 

 problem area is situated. The district engineer prepares an estimate 

 of cost of the cooperative study and the staff of the Beach Erosion 

 Board assists in programing the study If the local people have their 

 funds and the Federal Government has its funds, the study is accom- 

 plished as quickly as possible and the report is made to Congress. 



I think that answers Congressman Oliver's question. 



Mr. Oliver. If I may interrupt, does this procedure also apply 

 under the Flood Control Act? 



Mr. Eatox. Under the Flood Conti'ol Act all studies are authorized 

 directly by the Congress in an authorization bill. 



Mr. Oliver. In this case, does the community have to contribute 

 one-half of that cost of the survey? 



Mr. Eaton. In the case of Hood control, no, sir. The United Slates 

 pays the whole cost. Tliis applies also to navigation studies. 



iVIr. Miller. To the studies but not the actual work itself. 



There is a contribution by the beneficiary governnuuital agency in 

 some cases? 



