364 



Working from the information presented in the table there follows 

 a discussion as to the adequacy of the programs in meeting the require- 

 ments of national interest and Federal responsibility and a review of 

 the current state of coordination, 



ADEQUACY OF PROGRAMS 



The national interests in the estuarine zone in relation to Federal 

 programs are protection and development of natural resources, com- 

 merce, navigation, and national defense. 



First, in regard to the protection and development of the natural 

 resources of the estuarine zone, the Department of the Interior very 

 likely has the strongest effect here since it has broad interests and 

 management responsibilities in the use, preservation, development, 

 and study of our living and nonliving marine and related land 

 resources in the estuarine zone. At the same time, the Department 

 is also interested in the equitable and reasonable exploitation of these 

 areas for all manner of business and commercial activities. Through 

 its permit review activities in connection with the Corps of Engineers, 

 definite action goes on with particular emphasis on the protection of 

 the vital fish and wildlife habitats and prevention of water pollution. 

 In general, Interior's programs meet objectives. A serious weakness 

 lies in financial limitations. What is being done is good but not enough 

 can be done. This is particularly apparent in the need for estuarine 

 zone or coastal zone research laboratories devoted to the problems and 

 the resources of the estuaries and adjacent coastal areas. 



The permit control activities of the Corps of Engineers under the 

 Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899, the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 

 Act, as amended, and the Interior-Arm^^ memorandum of under- 

 standing of 1967, act directly in the protection and development of the 

 estuarine resources. Army policy requires permit applicants to seek 

 State approval before its own consideration of the application. The 

 Corps issues public notices and holds public hearings when there is 

 appropriate demand. The permit control activities are effective and 

 cover a large part of the preservation or protection problem, but there 

 are two weaknesses. First, the authority of the Corps to deny a permit 

 on any grounds except impediment to navigation has been successfully 

 challenged in Federal court. Second, there is the matter of policing 

 or enforcement. The Corps simply does not have sufficient facilities 

 and personnel to police the Nation, thus change and alteration may 

 take place without Corps authorization. 



The licensing activities of the Atomic Energy Commission (not in 

 the chart) now cover only radiological safety — ^this by statute. They 

 do not take into account environmental effects, thus can supply only 

 limited protection to estuarine natural resources. 



The routine activities of the Departments of Agriculture, Health, 

 Education, and Welfare, and Housing and Urban Development, as 

 can be seen from the chart, contribute to the protection of natural 

 resources for the overall public good. Their effect is not always a direct 

 one but, nevertheless does make a strong and continuous contribution. 

 Like those of Interior the programs are effective. With more funds 

 and facilities they would naturally increase their effects. 



