268 



In this connection, we agree with the Council on Enviromnental 

 Quality that regulatory authority should be vested in an agency whose 

 chief role is the enforcement of environmental standards. 



Amendment of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as several 

 bills, propose, would tend to disperse the regulatory authority and to 

 discourage eifective coordination with air and water quality programs 

 already administered by EPA, and, of course, since the loss by the 

 Interior Department of the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and 

 FWQA, an amendment of the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act 

 would not at this time appear to be very productive, especially in view 

 of the possibility of further reorganization of the executive branch of 

 the Government. 



That concludes a summary of my formal statement, Mr. Chairman, 

 and I am prepared to answer questions if I can. 



Mr. DiNGELL. The Chair thanks you for a very helpful statement, 

 Mr. Loesch. 



Mr. DiNGELL. The Chair notes also that we have the reports from 

 your agency, which the Chair wdthout dbjection directs the staff to 

 insert into the record at a place appropriate, together with such other 

 reports as may be received from the agencies of the executive branch. 



There is also a letter from the Attorney General relative to this 

 matter, which the Chair without objection directs the staff to insert 

 in the record at the appropriate point. 



Mr. Pelly? 



Mr. Pelly. Mr. Secretary, you support this bill without equivoca- 

 tion, and I am going to quit while I am ahead. 



I don't want to invite any questions which might in any way cause 

 you to weaken as far as your support is concerned. I think you made a 

 fine statement, and we are very happy to have it. 



Mr. LoESCH. I hope, Mr. Pelly, that any questions you might ask 

 would not have that effect. 



Mr. Pelly. Thank you. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Thaiik you very much, Mr. Pelly. 



Mr. Loesch, the Chair wishes you and your able associate there, 

 Dr. Linduska, to direct your attention very carefully to the Fish and 

 Wildlife Coordination Act, and to the agreement that was executed 

 by and between your agency and the Department of the Army rela- 

 tive to dredging, filling and dumping. 



Would it be too much to ask that you submit to us a copy of that 

 agreement which I am satisfied is in the files of your agency for pur- 

 poses of inclusion in the record at this particular point ? 



Mr. LoESCH. I am sure we can do so. 



( Document referred to follows : ) 



Memorandum of Understanding Between the Secretary of the Interior and 

 THE Secretary of the Army 



In recognition of the responsibilities of the Secretary of the Army under sec- 

 tions 10 and 13 of the Act of March 3, 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403 and 407), relating to 

 the control of dredging, filling, and excavation in the navigable waters of the 

 United States, and the control of refuse in such waters, and the interrelationship 

 of those responsiblities with the responsibilities of the Secretary of the Interior 

 under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 466 

 et scq.) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act, as amended (16 U.S.C. 661- 

 666c), and the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956, as amended (16 U.S.C. 742a 



