358 



fulness to man. Amon^ the many objectives of such planning is a con- 

 sideration of appropriate regional institutional arrangements neces- 

 sary to implement the comprehensive plans. It also advises the Presi- 

 dent on national water policy, maintains a continuing assessment of 

 national water supply needs, and coordinates the activities of Federal 

 water resources agencies. The Council also oversees the execution of 

 congressionally authorized comprehensive water and related land re- 

 sources planning projects for specific river basins. Existing Federal- 

 State river basin commissions under the aegis of the Council are 

 organized and functioning in 15 of the 30 coastal States, and alterna- 

 tive Federal-State planning coordination mechanisms are organized in 

 all the remaining coastal areas under the general leadership of the 

 Water Resources Council. 



National Cowncil on Marine Resources and Engineering Development 

 The Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 1966 

 (Public Law 80-454) established two complementary bodies : The Com- 

 mission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources and the Na- 

 tional Council on Marine Resources and Engineering Development. 

 The latter provides for the development, encouragement, and mainte- 

 nance of a comprehensive long-range and coordinated national pro- 

 gram in marine science. The national program applies to oceanographic 

 and scientific endeavors and disciplines, engineering, and technology in 

 and with relation to the total marine environment. The report of the 

 Commission with respect to multiple use of the coastal zone will be 

 discussed in some detail in a later chapter. 



The Atomic Energy Commission 



The interests and operations of the Atomic Energy Commission 

 ( AEC) regarding the estuarine zone lie almost completely in the effects 

 of radiological and thermal wastes as polkitants in estuarine zones. 

 Research programs and projects of the Commission most directly re- 

 lated to the estuarine system are conducted through contracts, with an 

 emphasis on nuclear safety. Such board programs include — 



( 1 ) Disposal of radioactive wastes — ^their effects and movements 

 through estuarine zones ; 



(2) Accumulation of radionuclides in wildlife and sediments of 

 these zones and their relation to the ecology of the zone ; 



(3) Use of radionuclides in pollution study and the detection of 

 pollution, and in some cases, the abatement of pollution ; and 



(4) Thermal effluents from atomic plants. 



The AEC licenses nuclear plants from the standpoint of radiologi- 

 cal safety only. This important licensing authority unfortunately 

 does not now require consideration of other environmental effects, 

 particularly those of thermal effluents. 



