484 



The reasons include the already-mentioned "on scene" relationship 

 and its effect on the ability of local government to sense and respond 

 to unique conditions, and also its ability to mobilize the support and 

 cooperation of local civic and private interests. But they also include 

 the value which the American people attach to self-government, to 

 decentralization of governmental authority and responsibility, and to 

 local experimentation and innovation in developing new national 

 programs. 



In brief, therefore, the role of local government in the National 

 Estuarine Management Program should be to carry out, with State 

 and Federal support and assistance, and under the State's supervision, 

 the estuarine and coastal management functions delegated or assigned 

 to it by each State. This conclusion recognizes that the resulting local 

 role may vary from State to State. Thus, in some States, a review of 

 the present combined State-local management capability and effective- 

 ness may conclude that local governments should continue to exercise 

 substantially the same functions as they now do, but also recommend 

 improved supervision by the State. In others, a review may recommend 

 that the State government assume and itself directly exercise im- 

 portant components of estuarine and coastal management authority 

 and responsibility now delegated to its local governments. 



What is essential in most States, if not all, is a better State-local 

 division of authority and relationship which will enable these two 

 levels of government together more effectively to discharge the State's 

 primary responsibility for achieving balanced development, conserva- 

 tion, and preservation of estuarine and coastal resources. 



Role of the Federal. Government 



SUMMARY 



Under the Constitution, the Federal Government possesses the pri- 

 mary authority to conduct foreign affairs and to maintain the national 

 security, a consideration obviously of major importance in managing 

 the estuarine and coastal zone. Moreover, as interrelated parts of a 

 single governmental system, the Federal, State, and local govern- 

 ments in this country share in the exercise of most domestic functions. 

 It is not surprising, therefore, that the Nation's approach to the man- 

 agement of its estuarine and coastal resources also has been character- 

 ized by important involvement by the Federal Government. This in- 

 volvement has reflected not only the primary authority of the Federal 

 Government in the areas mentioned and its paramount authority over 

 the use of estuarine and coastal waters for navigation and commerce. 

 It also reflects numerous decisions by the Congress, supported by the 

 Supreme Court, that the Federal Government too has a major respon- 

 sibility to promote and protect a broad variety of other beneficial uses 

 of the resources of this zone. 



The resulting activities of the Federal Government today in par- 

 ticipating in the management of these resources are extensive and fall 

 into five broad categories. 



First, the Federal Government regulates, either directly or in sup- 

 port of regulatory activities by the States: (1) the use of estuarine 

 and coastal waters for the disposal of various wastes; (2) the placing 

 of structures over and in navigable waters; (3) the designation of 



