355 



we do not have a clear idea at the present time of our total respon- 

 sibilities under the Act or of what the Environmental Protection 

 Agency might assign us in addition to that. 



So we feel that we can start up on our current resource base and 

 build from there. The monitoring activities, of course, are going for- 

 ward at present under our general responsibility to gather oceano- 

 graphic data. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Are you saying, then, that you are not going to ask 

 for additional resources initially in regard to this particular program ? 



Mr. Beggs. Not this year. That is correct. 



Mr. DiNGELL. Well, let us take Alaska, because that is the area, be- 

 cause of my study up there, I am perhaps the most familiar with, 



I am of the flat opinion that your resources up there are grossly in- 

 adequate to the mission that is assigned to the Coast Guard at this 

 particular time. I am curious as to how you are going to take on any 

 additional responsibilities in that area. 



I am satisfied that you are no better off in the rest of the United 

 States. 



If I were to take the trouble to go through on an item-by -item basis, 

 discussing different Coast Guard facilities as listed in your statement, 

 which the Chair will at this time insert by unanimous consent re- 

 quest at the appropriate point in the record, I am satisfied that each 

 and every one of those would be hopelessly inadequate to the missions 

 ]3resently assigned to them, let alone discussing the additional respon- 

 sibilities which this statute is going to impose. 



I say this without criticism, because it is very clear in my mind that 

 tlie Coast Guard is doing an outstanding effort under almost hopeless 

 circumstances, almost hopelessly limited in terms of equipment, to 

 cari-y out their existing responsibilities. 

 . Yet this legislation would overlay a broad additional responsibility. 



You are indicating to the committee that with this understaffed, 

 undermaned, very fine agency you propose to take on additional very 

 broad responsibilities. 



I cannot look with much comfort on your statement that you think 

 you are going to be able to do it initially. They will certainly try, but 

 lam not satisfied that they ^ill be able to do it. 



1 would like your comments. It would help the committee and the 

 record. 



Mr. Beggs. I agree with j^ou, Mr. Chairman. We are very proud 

 of the Coast Guard and the way they have handled all of the challenges 

 thrown at them. They have done a magnificent job. 



Mr. Dingell. The Bureau of the Budget does not seem to appreciate 

 their work. I am not sure w^hether the Department of Transportation 

 does. 



I have not observed whether you good folks are at fault in this mat- 

 ter or not. I know where the major jDart of the responsibilities lies. 

 That is in the laps of the Bureau of the Budget. 



We have not gotten around the fact that you are hopelessly under- 

 equipped to carrv out your responsibilities. 



Mr. Beggs. We have augmented the Coast Guard budget to some 

 extent over the past 2 years for surveillance of oil pollution. There is 

 additional money in the 1972 budget. We have added to the Coast 

 Guard budget each of the last 2 years for additional equipment. 



