Council for Science and Technology through ICMSE and ICAS* and 
that an Ocean Engineering Study is being undertaken by a panel of 
NACOA. We look forward to their completion in good order soon. 
With this report NACOA reports for the first time on an examination 
of the assigned responsibilities of the United States Coast Guard primarily 
in enforcing environmental regulations and the strain on its ability to meet 
those demanding assignments without a commensurate increase in re- 
sources. The Committee also notes the Navy’s unfortunately diminished 
role in oceanographic research vital to that technologically dependent 
service, as well as to the country at large. 
Recommendations are made where we deem it appropriate to do so. 
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT 
It is widely acknowledged that the Nation’s coastal zone is a complex 
system of great importance under severe and growing pressure. The need 
for bringing about a more effective system of management is .recognized. 
Because coastal zone environments, resources, problems, and potential are 
so pervasive, NACOA has had all aspects of coastal zone activity under 
continuous review during the Committee’s three years of existence. 
Work on a national coastal zone management system finally starfed 
up after a troubled beginning and last year has been one of substantial 
progress for coastal zone activities. During the period between passage of 
the National Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (P.L. 92-583) and 
December 1973, at which point funds were first made available, NOAA 
made significant progress in developing guidelines for the state planning 
and estuarine sanctuaries grants. The release of funds allowed the program 
to become active immediately. However, comparison of the specifics of 
the various sections of the Act with the first two years of experience in its 
administration disclose the need for certain improvements. 
First, research and development vital to improved coastal zone manage- 
ment should receive increased attention in several Federal programs. There 
is a wide variety of programs concerned with coastal zone activity. The 
Office of Sea Grant in NOAA, the RANN (Research Applied to National 
Needs) activity of the National Science Foundation, the Corps of Engineers, 
the oil and gas resource activity of the Department of the Interior, and 
the Environmental Protection Agency have reasonably good programs as 
far as their resources permit. Other agencies are active within their 
chartered missions. 
The tenfold increase in lease sales for oil and gas development on the 
Outer Continental Shelf proposed by the President make it imperative that 
adequate R&D be undertaken to produce the data necessary to allow 
* Interagency Committee on Marine Science and Engineering, and Interdepart- 
mental Committee for Atmospheric Sciences. 
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