NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHrC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 375 



No other industry would be directly threatened to the degree that is possil)le 

 under certain pi-ovisions of the bills before you. The sections providing for 

 direct Government participation in, or financing of, offshore mineral exploration 

 and development could operate to force withdrawal of private investment fr(jra 

 this activity. 



We therefore recommend that the specific field of exploration for, and produc- 

 tion of oil, gas, and sulfur, on the Continental Shelf and other submerged lands 

 to which U.S. jurisdiction might attach, be specifically excluded from the provi- 

 sions of any bill which this subcommittee may recommend. 



S. 944, the proposed Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 

 19(i;j, recently passed by the Senate, has as one of its expressed purposes : 

 "encouragement of private investment enterprise in exploration, technological 

 development, marine commerce and economic utilization of the resources of the 

 marine environment." (Sec. 2(3).) With this stated purpose we agree. 



We also note with satisfaction that the report which accompanied S. 944 

 (S. Rept. 528) stresses the importance of private enterprise in the development 

 of marine resources. To quote from that report. 



"While rhere are important areas involving marine science activity which 

 properly fall within the scope of the Federal Government, the real potential for 

 use and development of marine resources must be brought to fruition by American 

 private enterprise." 



We applaud those words and firmly believe that, insofar as the petroleum in- 

 dustry is concerned, they should be spelled out in whatever legislation you may 

 recommend. 



Attached to our statement is a second addendum suggesting language which 

 could accomplish this. 



Our recommendation is not a plea for permission to operate on the Outer 

 Continental Shelf under other than existing conditions. You are aware that 

 the petroleum industry's activities there are regulated and supervised by a 

 number of Federal agencies. Among these are the Bureau of Land Manage- 

 ment, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Coast Guard, 

 Department of Defense, and Federal Aviation Agency. We should anticipate 

 no basic changes in the roles of these various agencies whose efforts have made 

 possible the accommodation of both petroleum activities and other necessary 

 uses of offshore waters. 



In conclusion, we would add that the provisions of the variou.s bills regarding 

 the administration of oceanographic matters, be it by a Cabinet-level depart- 

 ment. Federal council or commission, is a matter which can best be decided by 

 the Congress and has not been specifically studied by us. 



We appreciate the opportunity you have afforded us to submit our views 

 and make a recommendation. Please be aware of our extreme interest in these 

 proceedings and of our continued desire to be helpful in your efforts to develop 

 acceptable legislation from the various proposals before you. 



Addendum 

 suggested amendments to h.r. 7849 



On page 2, insert the word "marine" before the word "resources" in lines 

 3, 5, and 15. 



On page 4, add to line 5 the following definition : 



"(5) The term 'marine resources' means all physical, chemical, geological and 

 biological resources other than sulfur, crude oil, natural gas, condensate, tar 

 sands, shale and associated hydrocarbons." 



On page 13, in lines 10 and 11, delete the words "physical, chemical, geological 

 and biological" and substitute the words "the marine". 



On page 13, in line 16, add the words "marine resources of the" before the words 

 "Continental Shelf". 



On page 13, in line 19, after the word "development" add "of the marine re- 

 sources of the Continental Shelf". 



SUGGESTED AMENDMENTS TO S. 944 



In section 2(1) strike the period after the word "environment", insert a 

 comma and add the words "other than sulfur, crude oil, natural gas, conden- 

 sate, tar sands, shale and associated hydrocarbons." 



In section 3(f) (2) after the word "environment" insert the following: "other 

 than sulfur, crude oil, natural gas, condensate, tar sands, shale and associated 

 hydrocarbons,". 



