436 



The potential contributions that the compact instrument can make to 

 improved management of estuarine resources are important, never- 

 theless. They fall broadly into two categories. 



1. Regulation of use and modification of interstate estuarine re- 

 sources through, first, the enunciating or developing of a binding 

 agreement among the signatories on basic policies which are to govern 

 the use of those resources; and, second, the implementation of such 

 policies by the compact agency through a variety of means, including 

 action to induce or compel compliance by others with these policies 

 and the direct management and operation of estuarine sites and fa- 

 cilities by the agency itself. 



2. Performance of services supporting the use of estuarine resources 

 or their management by the signatories. 



The use of the compact instrument which this chapter has suggested 

 in the case of the Chesapeake Bay is an example of each contribution. 



For a compact device to contribute to improved management of in- 

 terstate estuaries, it must meet two requirements : 



1. The authority and resources of a compact agency must be com- 

 mensurate with its basic mission. It is especially essential, if a compact 

 authorizes the sigriatories' joint agency to develop and implement the 

 basic policies which are to govern the use of the estuary, that each 

 member State in fact should subordinate its authority to that of 

 the compact agency. 



2. The compact cannot be allowed to supersede or diminish the Fed- 

 eral Government's responsibility and authority to view the problems 

 and needs of each estuary from a national perspective and to act ac- 

 cordingly within the limits of its authority. 



