Commission on Marine Science, 



Engineering and Resources, 

 Washington, D.C., January 9, 1969. 



John W. McCormack, 



Speaker of tlie House of Eep7-esentatives, 



Washington, D.G. 



Dear Mr. Speaker: 



I have tlie honor to present the final report of the Commission on 

 Marine Science, Engineering and Resources, the establisliment of which 

 was authorized by Public Law 89^54, enacted by Congress on June 17, 

 1966. The members of the Commission were appointed by the Presi- 

 dent on January 9, 1967. 



In response to its mandate, the Commission has undertaken an inten- 

 sive investigation of a broad array of marine problems ranging from 

 the preservation of our coastal shores and estuaries to the more effective 

 use of the vast resources that lie within and below the sea. The recom- 

 mendations which have emerged from this study constitute a program 

 which we believe will assure the advancement of a national capability 

 in the oceans and go far towards meeting the inevitable needs of the 

 future. 



These recommendations are the product of nearly two years of study 

 and discussion, and they express the combined judgment of the entire 

 Commission. On all major issues there has been unanimous concurrence, 

 although in formulating recommendations relating to government orga- 

 nization it has seemed proper for tliree members of the Commission to 

 abstain — Undersecretary of the Navy, Charles F. Baird; Assistant 

 Secretary, Water Pollution Control, Department of the Interior, Frank 

 C. DiLuzio; and the Administrator, Environmental Science Services 

 Administration, Department of Commerce, Robert M. White. These 

 members were apjjointed as representatives from the Government but 

 served on the Commission in their individual capacities as specified by 

 statute. Their knowledge and experience in governmental and organiza- 

 tional problems were freely drawn upon by the Commission in its 

 deliberations. However, recognizing that the organizational proposals 

 of the Commission vitally affect the departments which they serve in 

 their official roles, they have abstained from taking a position with 

 respect to the final recommendations on these i^articular proposals as 

 outlined in Chapter 7 and summarized or mentioned elsewhere in 

 the report. 



2t£,^^ (2. yd^cjO^c^ 



J. A. Stratton 



Chairman 



January 9, 1969 



