fronts of coastal cities, and protect our coastlines from accidental oil 

 spills and other forms of pollution. 



We need to establish a firmer legal framework for ownership and 

 use of coastal and offshore lands. Above all, the commission concluded, 

 the pressures for multiple use of these limited coastlands require an 

 organized approach in order to coordinate the separate plans and 

 activities of Federal, State, and local government agencies and of 

 private corporations and persons. 



Dr. Knauss in just a moment will amplify on the recommendations 

 which were made by the commission in reference specifically to the 

 coastal zone. Tom thought that it might be useful if I were to fill in 

 the background on the commission's overall assignment and the man- 

 ner in which it went about it in its proposal for a national ocean 

 program . 



The legislation which established the commission designated as 

 Public Law 89-454, was enacted in June, 1966. This law set the over- 

 all policy framework for an expanded marine effort; called upon 

 the President, aided by a Cabinet-level council, to make immediate 

 improvements in the Federal Government's planning and program- 

 ing for marine affairs; and provided that the President should ap- 

 point a public commission to provide a firmer basis for planning over 

 the longer term. More specifically. Public Law 89-454 gave the com- 

 mission four major tasks: 



To examine the Nation's stake in the development, utilization, and 

 preservation of our marine environment. 



To review all current and contemplated marine activities and as- 

 sess their adequacy in reference to the overall goals established in the 

 1966 act. 



On the basis of these studies, to formulate a comprehensive, long- 

 term national program for marine affairs, and finally — 



To recommend a plan of Government organization for such a 

 program's implementation, together with estimated costs. 



The commission was a temporary body composed of 15 members 

 under the chairmanship of Dr. Julius Stratton of the Ford Founda- 

 tion and previously the president of ^Massachusetts Institute of Tech- 

 nology. Membership was drawn from Federal and State Governments, 

 industry, and the universities, and it had a very broad geographical 

 base. I think it was a truly representative commission. All of the mem- 

 bers assumed their duties as commissioners in addition to their other 

 responsibilities. 



Yet it was a working commission, one that spent 2 to 4 days every 

 month, and many of the members much more time than that, in pre- 

 paring the studies and report. 



The commission's final report to the President and the Congress 

 was submitted last January after 2 years of intensive inquiry, ex- 

 pressed the commission's unanimous conclusion that the Nation's 

 marine interests required major strengthening of existing programs 

 and initiation of certain new activities (such as coastal management) 

 under the leadership of a new National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

 Agency. 



Throughout its work, the commission enjoyed the close and cordial 

 cooperation of the national council, yet the two bodies were independ- 

 ent of one another and each separately reached its own judgments 



