366 



Coordmation at the State level 



As the table shows, perhaps the strongest means of coordination is 

 that of working directly with State counterparts in the development 

 and administration of various programs. Through the administration 

 of grants and subsidies the Federal agencies also must work closely 

 with appropriate State and local agencies. The granting of permits 

 and licenses is normally done in conjunction with State agencies. The 

 Corps of Engineers, for example, desires and usually obtains State 

 approval of permits before granting the Federal permit. The Coast 

 Guard in its law enforcement activities works in close conjunction 

 with State authorities in inland and coastal waters. These are but a 

 few of many examples. There is also coordination at the State level 

 through the river basin commissions and interagency organizations 

 under the aegis of the Water Resources Council since the States are 

 members of these organizations and participate with various Federal 

 agencies in the planning studies. 



The fact that there is this coordination at the State and local level 

 supplies an important component of coordination to the Federal pro- 

 grams since the States must attempt to integrate these Federal pro- 

 grams into their own activities. The great weakness is that all too 

 frequently Federal agencies deal only with their particular State 

 counterparts and thus work with the States does not tend to pull the 

 Federal programs together. In those cases where there is a compre- 

 hensive Stat© management plan for the estuarine zones and coastal 

 area and there is a State agency implementing this plan, there could be 

 much stronger and more effective coordination. 



Coordination at the Federal level 



Coordination of Federal programs in the estuarine zone takes place 

 through several of the previously listed methods in addition to that 

 which results from the extensive coordination at the State level. Mem- 

 orandums of understanding are one of the most used methods and 

 are particularly applicable to the joint reviews of applications in the 

 administration of grants and subsidies. In regulatory activities there 

 is a continuous series of joint reviews or permits and licenses. The 

 1967 Memorandum of Agreement between Interior and Army which 

 calls for Interior review of permits from the standpoint of environ- 

 ment and natural resources results in coordination of Interior and 

 Corps of Engineers activities. The enforcement of water quality stand- 

 ards brings about a form of coordination since Federal programs must 

 be reviewed and considered to determine their effect. Passage of such 

 legislation as S. 7 or H.R. 4148 would bring an even stronger control 

 and coordination mechanism into play, in that State certification of 

 the fact that an applicant's facility would not cause violation of water 

 quality standards would be required prior to granting a permit or 

 license. 



Under statutes, Executive orders and Bureau of the Budget circu- 

 lars, there is a continuous routine of coordination required. For 

 example, Bureau of the Budget Circular A. 95 furnishes guidance to 

 Federal agencies for added cooperation with States and local govern- 

 ments in the evaluation, review, and coordination of Federal assistance 

 programs and projects. 



