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ticular State agency as State contact, for instance, for the estuarian 

 activities of the Department of Interior. 



The Governor has since designated the council as the State contact 

 for the estuarian programs of the Department of the Interior. We have 

 requested that Secretary Hickel do likewise within his office so that 

 the State of Texas can work with one body within the Department of 

 the Interior. This is the approach that we are using in our State. 



Very importantly, the last session of the Texas Legislature passed 

 five very significant coastal bills. The first one declared our own mora- 

 torium on the sale or lease of the surfaces of our beaches, islands and 

 submerged tidelands, a 4-year freeze on these three. 



The next piece of legislation set up a system of State bloc grants 

 to coastal counties for the maintenance of public beaches. 



The next bill created legislation to permit the establishment of beach 

 park boards by counties along our coast. 



The fourth bill stipulated criminal penalties for the denial of access 

 to public beaches. 



Our fifth bill now requires State permits for aU coastal mineral and 

 earth excavations. 



The Texas Legislature appropriated to the Governor's office money 

 for the program coordination of our State coastal program. 



What we propose is to mesh together the estuarian activities of eight 

 State agencies into one united approach. 



Frankly, gentlemen, we think we could have both economic develop- 

 ment with conservation. Fortunately, in Texas, much of our coastline 

 is still virgin. 



This is the direction we are heading into and this is why we are now 

 coming to the Federal Government to say, "Look, this is what we are 

 doing. How will you react to this?" 



The Governor lias decided that our State should take a lead in this. 

 We want to very much cooperate with our sister States and also cooper- 

 ate in fostering a State-Federal partnership to utilize the resources of 

 the oceans. 



Mr. Clingaist. Thank you very much. 



I thank you all. 



We remind you that there is a reception at 5 o'clock. If you haven't 

 picked up the invitations, you can do so at the desk. 



We will recess, to reconvene at 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. 



(Whereupon, at 4 :30 p.m. the subcommittee recessed, to reconvene at 

 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 29, 1969.) 



