438 



In addition, there were other successful means of contact which re- 

 sulted in a continuous flow of information. The wide diversity of 

 sources and methods used has been briefly described in the introduc- 

 tion to the study, and is more fully delineated in the outline in ap- 

 pendix A. The outline also further indicates the importance of the 

 public meetings in reaching various group. 



There were, of course, many other sources of information used that 

 made particular efforts to gain the views and ideas of both the public 

 and private sectors. The report by the panel on management and devel- 

 opment of the coastal zone is an excellent example. This panel of the 

 Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources held eight 

 informal hearings in various parts of the Nation at which a total of 

 126 persons testified. The panel, in addition, interviewed or corre- 

 sponded with over 600 persons. 



The results of the above panel studies are discussed in greater detail 

 in another chapter ; they are noted here because of their importance as 

 sources of public contract. 



SECTioisr 2. Planning and Condtict of the Public Meetings 



In order to bring the planning of the public meetings as close as 

 possible to potential witnesses, this responsibility was delegated to 

 the six regional offices of the Federal Water Pollution Control Ad- 

 ministration involved with the coastal States. 



To reach as many people as possible, and to allow for the broadest 

 possible representation, invitations were sent to organizations, business 

 and industrial concerns and groups, and State and local government 

 bodies ; and announcements were made in the local press and on local 

 radio stations, in an effort to encourage individual citizens to attend 

 and speak. 



Each meeting was presided over jointly by the regional director 

 and by the Governor's representative to the national estuarine pollu- 

 tion study. 



Because of the high degree of interest shown by the people in at- 

 tendance, transcripts of the meetings, including written submissions, 

 were prepared and sent to the participants and other interested 

 persons. 



Between January of 1968 and February of 1969, 30 meetings were 

 held. A map showing the meeting locations appears in appendix B, 

 and the schedule of these meetings appears in appendix C. 



The meetings reached a total of 2,868 persons and groups in attend- 

 ance, with 1,069 statements presented for the record. Attendance and 

 participation involved many different types of organizations, gov- 

 ernment and nongovemmenl institutions, business, and individuals. 



Transcripts frequently ran to 350 pages, and included a number of 

 technical reports on the effects of pollution and on the general condi- 

 tion of specific estuaries, among other things. 



Because the transcripts are a permanent part of the study, it is 

 possible to analyze them for a number of features, and report the 

 results. 



Section 3. Method of Analysis 



Perhaps the hallmark of the public meetings was the tremendous 

 volume of information and recommendations presented by the various 

 representaJtives of national organizations and their local affiliates, of 



