1048 
This bill, H.R. 13247, speaks directly to the major problems which 
face the United States in the conservation and use of the ocean re- 
sources. Properly, the bill emphasizes those policies and objectives 
which will provide a framework for action programs, at both the 
national and State levels. 
California endorses these policies and objectives—their iumplemen- 
tation will go a long way to insure U.S. leadership in marine resource 
development and conservation. Perhaps, with reference to the term 
“conservation,” it might strengthen the bill to make specific reference 
to conservation and wise use of the ocean’s resources, and to the main- 
tenance or enhancement of environmental quality, on page 2, line 15, 
and again on page 4, as a further objective of the bill. 
This is implied in the present language; however, in view of the 
major emphasis on these points in the Commission report, and the 
high level of public concern for legislative action with respect to prob- 
lems of recreational and environmental quality, we feel that some ex- 
plicit reference and stronger emphasis should be in this bill concerning 
these points. 
One of the major areas of discussion in the report, “Our Nation 
and the Sea,” had to do with the quality of the environment in which 
we live. The report considered pollution from all sources, and the 
problem was seen to be so staggering that a recommendation was 
made for a total integrated approach to the problem of air, land 
and water pollution, including the establishment of a national 
commission. 
The marine pollution problem is, of course, part of a larger prob- 
lem—the distribution through water and air of pesticides, lead com- 
pounds, sewage, combustion products and other effluvia, will result 
ultimately in the degradation of the marine environment. 
California calls for specific effort to maintain and improve the qual- 
ity of this marine environment. Creation of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Agency, as proposed, is not in itself an adequate recogni- 
tion of the special importance of the ocean as the ultimate cumulative 
repository for the waste of every human and industrial act, wherever 
conducted. 
Consider that in particular the activities of the National Oceanic 
and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA) itself, through its charge of 
development and use of resources in the ocean, may lead to a major por- 
tion of potential environmental degradation. Therefore, we recom- 
mend that a special provision be included in this bill which will direct 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Administration (FWPCA) to 
review and approve all actions of NOAA which may involve environ- 
mental modifications. This is not inconsistent with a present executive 
order requiring FWPCA review of Federal projects, and it may be 
well to further emphasize the role of the FWPCA in this bill. 
Perhaps there could be a restructuring of the FWPCA—the creation 
of an Office of Marine Pollution, similar to the Office of Saline Water 
now in the FWPCA, a review body to specifically focus attention and 
effort toward solving marine pollution problems in cooperation with 
NOAA. 
The FWPCA review and approval process should be coordinated 
with the coastal States in such a way that the States own processes of 
review and approval of marine-oriented projects are included and en- 
hanced, not diminished. 
