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nate the activities of its respective departments and agencies; to define 

 the Federal role to be established and maintained with State, inter- 

 state, and local governments as well as with a wide variety of public 

 and private interests ; to identify Federal jurisdictions in the estuarine 

 and coastal zones, and to relate these jurisdictions to those of State, 

 interstate, and local governments to exercise its jurisdictional re- 

 sponsibilities to prevent the destruction and misuse of the resources 

 of the estuarine and coastal zones ; to evaluate the impact of Federal 

 and federally supported water and related land resource projects upon 

 the downstream estuaries and coastal areas, especially for interstate 

 and international river basins ; to perform the functions that are ex- 

 clusively Federal in nature in such a manner as to establish a leader- 

 ship example for other governmental, public, and private interests. 



NATIONAL INTERESTS 



These responsibilities coupled with the role that follows make up a 

 rather thorough and detailed picture of the national interest in the 

 estuarine and coastal zones. 



THE RECOMMENDED FEDERAL ROLE 



The role described herein includes what is now being carried out by 

 Federal agencies and that which must be done, in addition, to dis- 

 charge Federal responsibility in achieving comprehensive and effective 

 management of the Nation's estuaries and coastal areas. It is important 

 to stress that the Federal role is not the primary one in this regard, 

 let alone the exclusive one. It is rather one of sharing authority over 

 resources over which the States exercise primary jurisdiction. Nor is 

 the Federal role, in general, new, much of it having developed through 

 the years. 



Wliat is increasingly evident, however, is that the national program 

 directed toward achieving the best use of estuarine and coastal re- 

 sources requires also a strengthening of the role of the Federal Govern- 

 ment in that program. 



Viewed against that backdrop, the Federal role should be to : 



(1) Provide the impetus for the initial establishment, and pro- 

 gressive improvement, of the national program by the enactment 

 of Federal legislation enunciating a national policy and providing 

 grants to States for the development and implementation of 

 comprehensive estuarine and coastal zone management plans. 



(2) Provide continuing support and guidance to the States 

 through : 



(a) Grants to State, interstate, and local programs for the 

 purposes of : 



[1] Development of use and management plans for 

 specific estuaries and coastal areas. 



[2] Selective acquisition and development of estuarine 

 and coastal sites for recreation and preservation purposes. 



[3] Eesearch, study, and training in estuarine and 

 coastal problems. 



[4] Inventory activities in the States' estuarine and 

 coastal zones. 



[5] Administration of State (including special intra- 

 state districts created by the State) and interstate 



