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effect a comprehensive national program for wise management of the 

 coastal zone of the Nation, involving Federal, State, and local gov- 

 ernments, and public and private interests in an appropriate manner. 

 Its aim should be to permit the optimum use of this vital resource 

 by recognizing the existence of competing uses and accommodating 

 them through appropriate m.anagement, and further, to conserve these 

 resources in such a manner as to keep open the options for various 

 uses in the future and not foreclose them. 



This management system should recognize the primary role of the 

 States in managing their resources, as well as the role of the Federal 

 Government in protecting the wider national interest. 



I cannot in such a brief period develop the overall implementation 

 of such a program. It should contain at least the following elements : 

 A national policy. 



Legislative authorization to carry out the program's functions. 

 Development of the basic knowledge necessarj^ for effective 

 management. 



Provisions for comprehensive planning and implementation. 

 Active administration in terms of regulation, control, and co- 

 ordination. 

 Financial and manpower resources. 

 Public awareness and acceptance. 



The States have primary authority in the control and use of their 

 coastal resources. Therefore, there is little doubt that they must play 

 the key roles in any management program. The proper role for the 

 Federal Government is, in my judgment, primarily to provide initia- 

 tive, guidance, and support to the States in managing these resources. 



By virtue of the numerous activities of the bureaus and offices in 

 the Department of the Interior, the Department already has a deep 

 involvement in efforts to achieve wise management of the estuarine 

 and coastal zone. Interior's programs are planned and managed to 

 meet expanding national needs for material, esthetic, and environ- 

 mental resources and qualities afforded by the estuarine and coastal 

 areas. 



The Department of the Interior is the major civilian agency in 

 oceanic affairs. A conservative estimate of our budget for marine pro- 

 grams is about $80 to $100 million, which is 35 to 40 percent of the 

 total civilian budget for oceanography. 



If seashore land acquisition for public recreation is included, and 

 we add also all activities of the Water Pollution Control Administra- 

 tion that relate in any way to the marine environment, the Depart- 

 ment's total marine resources budget is at least twice the amount 

 quoted. More than a dozen bureaus and offices in the Department have 

 marine resource responsibilities. 



These very broad and diverse responsibilities require close coordi- 

 nation. Differences can arise between commercial and sport fisheries. 

 Development of marine oil and gas resources, if not carefully planned 

 and managed, can create conflicts with fisheries and recreation, and, 

 I might add, even sometimes when carefully planned and nianaged. 



Water pollution threatens other uses of the marine environment. 

 Interior's experience in resolving such conflicts, and in coordinating 

 its diA^erse interests in the environment, has made this Department 

 especially qualified to resolve resource-use conflicts. We are learning 



