There is already in operation a National Security Council Inter- 
agency Task Force on Law of the Sea in which all interested 
agencies actively participate. As the Task Force deals with the 
issues and alternatives, we look forward to the continued advice 
and comments of NACOA on the many problems which must be 
attacked. 
In addition to the above, I am pleased to inform both the 
committee and the Congress that a cabinet-level committee of 
the Domestic Council is being established under my chairman- 
ship to consider a broad range of domestic ocean policy issues. 
The principal function of this committee will be to develop 
policy recommendations and to work closely with the Senate 
Ocean Policy Study Group as it develops the legislative recom- 
mendations. In doing this it will be of assistance to the Law of 
the Sea Task Force. 
COMMENTS ON PROGRAMS AND STUDIES 
The committee has reviewed a number of previous recommen- 
dations and findings to assess progress which has been made in 
carrying them forward. 
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT 
I am gratified that the committee has commented favorably 
on the rapid progress that is being made in implementing the 
National Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. The implemen- 
tation of this Act has been a matter of priority in the Depart- 
ment of Commerce. By the end of fiscal year 1974, 28 of the 34 
coastal states and territories had applied for and been granted 
planning grants under Section 305 of the Coastal Zone Manage- 
ment Act. The total will be increased to 31 when 3 additional 
grants are made in July. In addition, funds for implementation 
of the first estuarine sanctuary at Coos Bay, Oregon, were ap- 
proved. The interest of the coastal states in this program has 
been enthusiastic. 
The committee has noted that data from environmental base- 
line studies of prospective lease areas should be transmitted in 
a timely fashion to the states. In establishing a program to under- 
take such studies in support of lease sales, the Secretary of the 
