133 



Urban renewal and the recognition of potential benefits in planned 

 use of waterfront property is necessary for corrective action and re- 

 quires interagency action. The Department of Transportation through 

 the Coast Guard, Railroad Administration, Urban Mass Transporta- 

 tion Administration, and the Highway Administration is directly 

 concerned with this area of major interface between transportation 

 modes. 



The Arctic is a developing area of major concern to the Department 

 of Transportation as well as to other Federal agencies. The petroleum 

 discoveries in the Prudhoe Bay and the achievement of the "Man- 

 hattan" in transiting the Northwest Passage have focused attention on 

 the resource potential of the Arctic and sub-Arctic portion of the 

 United States. 



The State of Alaska has a very large proportion of our coastal zone, 

 most of which is as yet untarnished by the hand of man. Here we have 

 an excellent opportunity to take advantage of the many errors that 

 we have made in the "Lower Forty-Eight." It is clear that Alaska has 

 a tremendous potential which will be exploited. 



What we must do is assure that the exploitation is wisely planned 

 and carried out. In the Department of Transportation we have made a 

 number of studies concerning various aspects of the matter because 

 transportation is the key to Alaskan development. 



We have worked closely with other agencies on these studies and will 

 continue to do so in the future. We are exploring the concept of trans- 

 portation corridors in order to minimize adverse impacts on the ecol- 

 ogy. We are exploring alternative transportation modes seeking a 

 balanced and effective mix. 



We are examining the problems involved in the establishment of 

 ports where none have existed before. It is obvious that the other uses 

 of the coastal zone must be taken into account in the developm_ent of 

 Alaska, and having a clean slate to work on, the opportunity is present 

 now to do a good job of it. 



In directing the Department to coordinate and promote transporta- 

 tion development in the United States, the Congress was not unmind- 

 ful of the need to develop transportation in a manner consistent with 

 environmental considerations. For example, section 4(f) of the Depart- 

 ment of Transportation Act declares it to be the national policy that 

 "special effort should be made to preserve the natural beauty of the 

 countryside and public park and recreation lands, wildlife and water- 

 fowl refuges, and historic sites." 



In line with this responsibility, Secretary Volpe has established 

 within the Department the Office of the Assistant Secretary for En- 

 vironment and Urban S3^stems. It is the responsibility of that office, 

 among other thinsrs, to assure that procedures are established for the 

 systematic consideration of the environmental aspects of all trans- 

 portation activities carried out within the Department. 



Wliile the Department can influence the direction of transportation 

 development to take account of environmental considerations, its in- 

 fluence is definitely limited. Much transportation development is either 

 undertaken privately or at the initiative of State or local Govern- 

 mental agencies, in some cases with a relatively small amount of Fed- 

 eral assistance. 



Wliile all of the Federal aid programs administered by the Depart- 



