297 



eries, in reporting favorably on a bilF^ to protect cstu- 

 arine areas which was later enacted into law." As 

 a result of the effective operation of the Interdepart- 

 mental Memorandum of Understanding, the Interior 

 Department and the Committee concluded that it was 

 not necessary to provide for dual permits from Interior 

 and Army. 



The intent of the three branches has been unequivo- 

 cally expressed: The Secretary must weigh the effect 

 a dredge and fill project will have on conservation 

 before he issues a permit lifting the Congressional ban. 



22IL Rept. 989, 90Ui Cong., Ist scss., to accompany H.R. 25, pp. 4-5. 



See also S. Rcpt No. 1419, July 17, 1968, 90th Cong., 2d sess.. 



Senate Committee on Connnerce, reporting on S. 695 and H.R. 



25, pp. 13-14. H.R. 25 with revisions became the Act of August 



3, 1968, 82 Stat. 625 (Pub. L. 90-454). 

 Z3 "As a result of the hearings and the discussions 



which ensued from the cuxularized draft proposal — 

 particularly with respect to the permit provision for 

 dredging, filling, and excavation — a memorandum 

 of understanding was entered into between the Secre- 

 tary of the Interior and the Secretary of the Army. 

 This agreement set forth the policies and procedures 

 to be followed regarding the control of dredging, 

 filling, and excavation in the navigable waters of the 

 United States, which would include many of our Na- 

 tion's estuarine areas. 



On August 2, tlie Department of the Interior filed 

 a supplemental report on the bill. In its report to 

 the committee, the Department stated that we believe 

 that this memorrndimi of understanding provides an 

 effective administrative solution to llie problem of 

 preventing unreasonable impaiiinciit of the natural 

 resources of the Nation's v/atcrv.'ays and related ea- 

 vironment, and preventing the pollution of the waters. 

 In our opinion, the agreement makes ,tlie legislative 

 approach set forth in II.R. 25 . . . for control for dredg- 

 ing, ct cetera, unnecessary . . . (Omissions by tlie Com- 

 mittee.)" 



62-513 O - 71 - 20 



