208 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



done before the final report is issued. We will have an opportunity to 

 discuss with all the members of that Committee their recommendations. 



Air. Keith. The thing that concerns me is that our bill, that is, 

 Senator Bible's bill, and Congressman Kivers' bill, and my bill, spe- 

 cifically calls for an appropriation of substantial amount to exploit 

 or to study and exploit the means of exploitation of these resources, 

 and I think that the Commerce Department and perhaps the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior, and perhaps the Xavy, should come up with some 

 kind of means of accomplishing the objectives of my bill, which has 

 not received too much recognition, insofar as I can observe in the testi- 

 mony that you have offered. 



Dr. HoLLOiiON. Air. Keith, I should like to make one point clear, 

 on which you and I are in full agreement, and that is this country 

 should take adequate steps, and I am not saying what those steps are, 

 to be sure that we preserve the rights and have full exploitation of 

 the resources of the Continental Shelf. You and I are not in any dis- 

 agreement on that general principle. I believe that to be the case, 

 and I think we should insure that we do so. We should do it to what- 

 ever degree is required, to assure that the resources which are available 

 and the descriptions which are necessary of the Continental Shelf are 

 carried out. On this principle, there is no disagreement. 



I think the question is, which I tliink is an appropriate thing for this 

 committee to examine, the appropriate means of doing that, and I 

 don't have any disagreement withyou on the national need. 



Mr. Lennox. Would the gentleman yield to me at that point? 



Mr. Keith. Certainly, Mr. Chairman. 



Mr. Lennon. If you have there, and I know you have it before you, 

 a compilation of the oceanography bills, if you will, turn to page 83, 

 in a letter dated July 29, 1965, addressed to the chairman of the full 

 committee, Mr. Bonner, signed by the Acting General Counsel of the 

 Department of Commerce, you will find on page 85 in the first para- 

 graph the following language, which I believe is directly related to 

 the colloquy between you and the Secretary. I quote : 



"The Secretary of Commerce presently has the authority, which he 

 has delegated to the Environmental Science Services Administration 

 (ESSA), to survey and map the Continental Shelf. ESS A has the 

 competency, through its Coast and Geodetic Survey, for these activ- 

 ities. From its surveying activities, ESSA obtains knowledge about 

 the Continental Shelf including the locations of its mineral resources. 

 Furthermore, ESSA cooperates with the Department of the Interior 

 and other agencies while surveying the Continental Shelf so that min- 

 eral, biological, and other resources can be located in the same 

 operation." 



So, I would say, Mr. Keith, that in commenting, and your bill was 

 what, 7894 ? I think it was. 



Mr. Keith. I think so. 



Mr. Lennon. That the General Counsel, or the Acting General 

 Counsel of the Department of Commerce says that the Department 

 of Commerce has the authority, which it in turn has delegated to the 

 Environmental Science Services Administration of the Department 

 of Commerce, to do specifically and exactly what your bill calls for. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. A piece of that. 



