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to solve this problem at the Federal level concerning Federal oceano- 

 graphic matters. 



During the creation of our comprehensive coastal zone use plan, to 

 insure tliat we maintain good communications at all levels within the 

 State, we have asked that not only the county commissioners in the 

 coastal counties meet with us, but that representatives from the Federal 

 agencies also be designated, that are located in North Carolina, for 

 example, the Corps of Engineers, Soil Conservation Service, Bureau 

 of Commercial Fisheries, and Bureau of Sports Fisheries and Wildlife. 



As a result of our request, individuals of these Federal agencies have 

 been designated to work with us. In addition, the industries that are 

 located in the coastal zone could either be helped or harmed by any 

 comprehensive plan. If we do not have a consensus of all parties who 

 have a vested interest in the coastal zone, any plan that we put together 

 would be an exercise in futility. 



This means we must communicate. We must take into consideration 

 and cooperate with all groups, agencies, and the people in general in 

 the coastal zone who will be influenced by this comprehensive plan. 

 Were this not accomplished, any plan we put together will be, in my 

 opinion, an exercise m futility, and will not stand a chance of being 

 enacted by our State legislature. 



The third factor in our program is funding. We have received, rela- 

 tively speaking, excellent funding at the State level to conduct our 

 coastal zone study planning activities and regulatory activities. 



However, the State is limited in the amount it can allocate in this 

 large-scale operation. It is impossible for the State to carry the full 

 financial load alone. We must seek financial aid from the Federal 

 Government. 



However, North Carolina has not stood idly b}^ awaiting the arrival 

 of Federal gravy trains and waiting for Federal funds to come to us 

 before we do anything. We have put our money where our mouth is. 

 The States must partially foot the bill. North Carolina has. 



The brief outline I have presented is the approach that the State of 

 North Carolina is taking. The need is there, and we realize there is a 

 need. 



The regulations that I have mentioned will be influenced by infor- 

 mation obtained from local, State, Federal, and industry representa- 

 tives. Without a plan which will be acceptable to a majority of these 

 interests in our coastal zone, the plan will be an exercise in futility and 

 will be wasted efforts. 



However, I think that due to the response that we have received so 

 far, we are going to continue to get the cooperation. I am confident 

 that in 4 jears we will have a workable plan. The State of North 

 Carolina will be able to more fully realize the benefits from the tremen- 

 dous assets they have in 2,500 square miles of salt water bays and 

 sounds, 15,000 square miles of continental shelf offshore, 265 nautical 

 miles of intracoastal waterways, and 220,000 acres of coastal marsh- 

 lands. 



We have a valuable resource here. The people realize this and are 

 interested in doing something about it. We are beginning to make 

 progress in the right direction by planning for the future use and 

 development of these valuable resources. 



I believe that the people of North Carolina are mtelligent enough 

 to have both conservation and development at the same time in their 



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