349 



water quality standards for the 50 States, three territories, and the 

 District of Columbia ; 



(2) completion of the oil pollution report and a completion and im- 

 plementation of the national multiagency oil and hazardous materials 

 contingency plan ; and 



(3) in conjunction with the Geological Surve}^, the agency is cur- 

 rently using STORET as a data storage and retrieval system. Its use 

 will expand as funds permit. 



Geological Survey 



The Geological Survey has been describing and interpreting the en- 

 vironment for nearly a century, a prerequisite for intelligent efforts 

 to shape, control, or preserve it. It maps the physical, hydrologic, and 

 cultural features of the land and by aerial photographs provides a 

 record of changes over timCj thus, forming a basis for land-use plan- 

 ning and interpretation. This structural and historical geology of the 

 Nation provides a guide to useful minerals and fuels, and is basic to an 

 understanding of soils. Reliable knowledge about water is necessary 

 for inland navigation, flood control, power development, irrigation, 

 municipal and industrial water suj)plies, pollution abatement, fish 

 and wildlife, and recreation. Geological research plays a supporting 

 role for many Federal agencies. State programs, and private enter- 

 prises on land, at sea, and in space. It should be noted that much of 

 the survey's activity is of a research nature and some of it is of a 

 planning and coordinating nature. 



Recent program accomplishments include the changes made in Outer 

 Continental Shelf (O.C.S.) rules. 



On February 17, 1969, an amendment was published in the Federal 

 Register making the pollution prevention section of the Geological 

 Survey (O.C.S.) regulations more restrictive. It also established that 

 companies operating on the shelf shall be liable without proof of fault 

 for pollution resulting from their operations. These particular changes 

 apply to operations on the entire shelf all around the country. On 

 March 21, the Secretary announced that certain California O.C.S. 

 orders were changed. (O.C.S. orders are issued by Geological Survey 

 Regional Oil and Gas Supervisors and they apply only to those parts 

 of the shelf within the specific region under each supervisor's juris- 

 diction.) These changed orders provide for more strict control of oil 

 drilling and production operations in all Federal waters off the entire 

 State of California. Also, on March 21, the Secretary directed that a 

 2-mile wide permanent ecological preserve be established off Santa 

 Barbara immediately seaward of the 3-mile limit of the State of Cali- 

 fornia. He also directed that all unleased areas south of this permanent 

 preserve will be held as an additional buffer zone where no oil drilling 

 or production operations will be permitted. 



Bureau of Reclmnation 

 Although the Bureau programs in the 17 Western States have little 

 direct involvement in the estuarine zones there is opportunity for its 



