LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL 



U.S. Department of the Interior, 



Office of the Secretary, 

 Washington^ D.C.^ Noverriber 13^ 1969. 

 Hon. Spiro T. Agnew, 

 President of the Senate^ 

 Washington^ D.G. 



Dear Mr. President : We are pleased to transmit the enclosed re- 

 port of the National Estuarine Pollution Study pursuant to section 

 of Public Law 89-Y53 which law was originated by the Committee on 

 Public Works of the U.S. Senate. Also enclosed is a draft of proposed 

 legislation to amend Public Law 89-753, the Federal Water Pollution 

 Control Act, as amended, consistent with the findings of the study. 

 The bill f)rovides for the establishment of a national policy and com- 

 prehensive national program for the management, beneficial use, pro- 

 tection and development of the land and water resources of the 

 Nation's estuaries and coastal zone. We recommend that the report 

 together with the proposed bill be referred to the appropriate com- 

 mittee for consideration and we recommend that the proposed bill be 

 enacted. 



Section 5(g) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as 

 amended, directed the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a compre- 

 hensive study of the Nation's estuarine and coastal zones and to make 

 recommendations regarding their management and the respective roles 

 of Federal, State, and local governments. The study, which extended 

 over a 3-year period, was conducted in cooperation with the Corps of 

 Engineers, Water Resources Council, and every other Federal agency 

 and office involved with estuaries ; with all coastal States, and many 

 concerned public and private organizations. Extensive public hearings 

 were held in all coastal States; regional conferences were held with 

 State administrators and State officials. 



The Department of the Interior is broadly concerned with the whole 

 area of natural resources and their most effective management. No- 

 where is the need for effective management more noticeable than in 

 the estuarine and coastal zone. Here is a situation where many uses 

 compete, be they commercial uses, such as industrial and transporta- 

 tion, as against commercial fishing and outdoor recreation. Added to 

 this are such intensive uses as offshore mining, particularly for sand, 

 gravel, oil, gas and sulphur, as well as the discharge of wastes. 



The enclosed draft bill establishes a national policy for the effective 

 management and protection of the coastal zone. To accomplish this 

 policy, the bill will add a new section 19 to the Federal Water Pollu- 

 tion Control Act, as amended, to provide for a cooperative program 

 between the Federal and coastal State Governments. Federal grants 



(V) 



