145 



Commerce want to lielp with this issue. If the rresidoiit and his ad- 

 visors decide they would like us in the Department of Commerce to 

 do it, we would be deli^-hted to do it. If it turns out that some other 

 course is required, we will support that. 



However, I think within the Department there are a lot of people 

 Avho have had a long concern with the ocean, a long history of involve- 

 ment with it, and vrould be delighted to have it in the Department of 

 Commerce, just as the Department of the Interior. That is about as 

 good an answer as you can get today, given the decision situation. 



j\ir. PoRRo. How about the Department of Transportation ? 



Mr. Beggs. We would be delighted. 



Mr. PoRRO. No one disputes that each one of the departments here 

 today has effectively made a role as part of an overall time, the point 

 being that if we break it up into segjnents I think those segments have 

 been well represented in the individual departments. But what we 

 are saying is that now the problem of the oceans, the problem of the 

 coastal zones as a whole system has, at least on the factual matter that 

 has been presented in the report, gained the status of being a whole 

 subject matter. 



I don't think there is a soul that is saying that as a result of achieving 

 this status, all other departments should be stripped as to the particular 

 segments, and that they particularly should perhaps retain this. But 

 I think it is a very weak subject to say that what is needed is some 

 further coordination. My view of it is that just strictly a coordinating 

 type of group is a very weak group. 



Dr. Chapman. Thanlv 7/ ou very much. 



Mr. Edwards. I might say I am secretary of the Oregon Senate and 

 have a committee on submerged and submersible lands planning and 

 coastal zoning. We share many of our problems with an area to the 

 north which seceded and became a State in 1889 — Washington. We 

 have the same estuarine and also share the same boundaries. I think 

 Oregon is unique, and maybe singularly, in that we are a State where 

 the public owns the beaches. 



Oregon also is undertaking a kind of do-it-yourself program. In 

 1969 it set up this study committee. They also enacted a law for coastal 

 and State zoning. They gave the committee responsibilities that were 

 plain but money that was little. 



We have heard very learned expert identification of all of the prob- 

 lems of the. coastal zone. We have heard enlightened practitioners, lead- 

 ers and scientists in Government discuss solutions. Many of them have 

 been on the same track, some almost repetitive. We haven't heard any- 

 one talk about any avenues to get funds to commence now to finish the 

 job. 



We do hear about NOAA, maybe like the ark that is goiiig to float 

 a long time before it comes to land. The question I have, which 1 ppse 

 to everyone up there, is this : Do you have any department or division 

 that a State like Oregon, which is undertaking this kind of a program, 

 or any other State, could submit a proposal for funding and aid? 



In "view of the fact that the Federal Government is interested I 

 want to know if they are interested financially and what can be done 

 at this time. 



Mr. Tribus. I don't know the particulars in Oregon, as to whether 



