637 
Policy Study, as well as a number of other studies related to national 
and international aspects of ocean policy. Among the latter are a 
study on the Third Law of the Sea Conference, on Soviet Activities 
in the Oceans, on the Economic Value of Ocean Resources to the 
United States, a study on ocean pollution, and staff reports. 
Following the studies on Outer Continental Shelf development and 
coastal zone management in the United States, the Senate introduced 
S. 521, amendments to the Outer Continental Lands Act, and S. 
586, amendments to the Coastal Zone Management Act. 
With the establishment of the National Ocean Policy Study and 
its commitment to review the adequacy of the current organization 
of Federal ocean programs and their effectiveness to meet national 
needs, Congress has once again taken the initiative to study the need 
for reorganization of Federal ocean activities and to take legislative 
action to strengthen U.S. ocean policy. 
WHERE Do WE STAND Now? 
NOAA is clearly the Federal lead agency for ocean affairs, but 
the lack of an inclusive and definitive policy statement to guide NOAA 
and shape its evolution, together with the increasingly rapid growth 
of many uses of the oceans, has led to continued fragmentation of 
important ocean functions. There are still many other agencies with 
jurisdiction over ocean affairs.?8 
1. The Maritime Administration (MARAD) administers subsidy pro- 
grams for American shipbuilders in order to offset the disparity 
between domestic and foreign shipbuilding costs. MARAD, which is 
also involved in R. & D., is part of the Commerce Department. 
2. The Coast Guard (Department of Transportation) is charged 
with preservation of safety of life and property at sea, and enforcement 
of maritime laws and treaties (especially marine pollution and fish- 
eries). 
3. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is charged with mineral 
resources assessment. As most future large oil provinces are expected 
to be found in offshore areas, USGS’s role in the oceans has greatly 
expanded. It has become the repository of a greatly increased set 
of responsibilities for evaluation, regulatory, and advisory functions 
on the OCS, with a significant role in directing the resource develop- 
ment activities there. The Survey is part of the Interior Department. 
Its tasks are: 
(a) gathering of geological and geophysical information needed 
to evaluate the tracts to be leased; 
(b) collecting and evaluating critical environmental baseline 
data in areas scheduled for accelerated leasing. As much of this 
28 Ash Council Recommendations Relating to Oceans Programs. 
Soon after the establishment of NOAA, a proposal for further consolidation of ocean programs in 
the executive branch was transmitted to Congress by the Nixon Administration. The plan, submitted 
to Congress on Mar. 25, 1971 was designed to consolidate the programs of seven Cabinet depart- 
ments into four new departments. It included a Department of Natural Resources containing five 
major administrations. One of these would be the Oceanic, Atmospheric and Earth Sciences Adminis- 
tration, which was to consist of NOAA and the Geological Survey (currently part of the Department 
of the Interior). The purpose of the proposed consolidation was to create an administration with ex- 
clusive research, monitoring, surveying and data collection functions. The Ash Council also argued 
that there was no compelling logic to locate NOAA in any specific department, because its services 
were so widely used. The Council suggested, however, that both would fit very well in the proposed 
Department of Natural Resources. The reorganization efforts have not received much attention in 
Tecent years. 
