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ing to ocean pollution research, development, and monitoring. Expenditures for 

 these projects are projected to be $188 million in fiscal year 1980. 



The first 5-year plan is complete and work is already well underway for revisions 

 in 1981. We believe that the Act has made a positive contribution to improved 

 planning in this area, but much more needs to be done. Consequently, the Adminis- 

 tration supports reauthorization of the Act for fiscal years 1981 and 1982. I believe 

 we have sent a bill to the Congress for that purpose. 



I would now like to review for you our efforts to carry out the provisions of the 

 legislation, and to outline our plans to improve the Plan and our programs. 



Section 4 — The plan 



The Act requires the preparation of a 5-year plan which includes a detailed 

 inventory of existing Federal programs, an assessment and ordering of national 

 needs and problems, an analysis of the extent to which existing programs assist in 

 meeting these priorities, recommendations for changes in the overall Federal effort 

 where necessary and a report on budget coordination efforts. The Administrator of 

 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was named to lead this 

 effort, in consultation with other Federal agencies having ocean pollution, research, 

 development, and monitoring responsibilities. 



An interagency committee was established. I chair that Committee and Dr. Ste- 

 phen Gage, Assistant Administrator for R&D at the Environmental Protection 

 Agency is Vice Chairman. Using subcommittees, a task force, and several work- 

 shops, the first Five- Year plan was developed along with a catalog of Federal ocean 

 pollution research, development, and monitoring programs for fiscal years 1978-80. 

 These documents have been provided to this Subcommittee. 



The several hundred individual statements of ocean pollution research, develop- 

 ment, and monitoring needs and problems set out in the Plan form the framework 

 within which the priorities required by the Act were established. They reflect the 

 many facets of the ocean pollution problem. National needs and problems were 

 identified through an extensive review of agency missions by the Interagency Com- 

 mittee and through workshops involving industry, state, and local government 

 representatives, environmental groups and other interested constituencies. As called 

 for in Section 4 of the Act, initial priorities were established for major ocean use 

 activities that may cause pollution. High priority areas included land use practices, 

 outfalls of municipal sewage, disposal of industrial waste, disposal of radioactive 

 waste, steam electric powerplants, disposal of dredged material, oil and gas devel- 

 opment, marine transportation, and the control and mitigation of pollution. 



These initial priorities are not intended to replace those of individual depart- 

 ments and agencies. Rather, they are intended to be used (1) as guidance in assuring 

 that all of the areas of most critical concern are addressed somewhere in the 

 Federal effort, (2) as the primary criteria for financial assistance to be made under 

 Section 6 of the Act, and (3) as an additional tool to be used in the evaluation of 

 mission-related activities. 



The Plan recommends a number of tasks to improve the overall effectiveness and 

 efficiency of the Federal effort. Important research areas are identified in which 

 more emphasis should be placed within existing resources to a large degree, includ- 

 ing: 



Effects of synthetic organics on human health. 



Identification of critical habitats for living marine resources. 



Determining the potential impact of pollution on marine recreation. 



The cumulative effects of coastal land use practices. 



Specific pollution problems related to industrial waste disposal and municipal 

 sewage outfalls. 



Specific problems related to the control and mitigation of ocean pollution, and in 

 particular, improved tools for assessing the damage from oil spills. 



The need for long-term studies on natural, unpolluted areas in order to distin- 

 guish natural variations from pollution-caused changes. 



Development of an improved capability to assess the social and economic conse- 

 quences of pollution. 



Better methods and approaches to identify potential pollutants and to evaluate 

 risks. 



Both NOAA and the Interagency Committee has taken important steps to imple- 

 ment recommendations of the first Five-Year Plan. To provide a national focal point 

 for coordinating Federal efforts on a day-to-day basis, NOAA has established the 

 National Marine Pollution Program Office within its Office of Policy and Planning. 

 This new office, which is staffed by NOAA and interagency representatives, is 

 responsible for updating the Plan every two years, implementing the recommenda- 

 tions and providing staff support to the Interagency Committee. 



