a number of vital elements now missing in a satisfactory coastal zone 

 management system. Among the more important of these are: 



• the articulation of national policy regarding the management of the 

 coastal zone, and an effective means of governmentwide coordination 

 in its implementation ; 



• the identification of nationally significant coastal zone areas, the spec- 

 ification of uses suitable for these areas, and initiative, including 

 purchase, to assure appropriate development; 



• for the remaining areas, the establishment of standards, criteria, and 

 priorities of use \vithin which lower levels of government can act 

 on their own initiative; 



• protection or compensation for private property owners against costs 

 disproportionate to benefits; 



• regulatory procedures, including procedures for appeal, that are uni- 

 form, reasonable, direct, and centralized; 



• the provision, through support of appropriate research and services 

 programs and institutions, of accessible, responsible, and competent 

 technical expertise available to all levels of decision makers. 



Since 1965, the major studies on ocean affairs, particularly the Stratton 

 Commission Report, emphasized the importance of a prompt attack on 

 coastal zone problems. Many of these recommendations are apparent in 

 the U.S. oceanographic program today. A particular example is the Sea 

 Grant Program supporting several institutions which are developing a 

 capability to assist State and local governments in technical aspects of 

 coastal problems. Basic legislation in coastal zone management is over- 

 due both at the State and national levels. Some forward-looking states 

 have made considerable progress in the areas, but the Federal Govern- 

 ment is lagging badly. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



In this chapter NACOA has discussed the basic elements that national 

 coastal zone legislation should encompass and encourage. 



The Senate has unanimously passed the Magnuson Coastal Zone Man- 

 agement Act — S. 3507, introduced by Senator Rollings — which largely 

 satisfied the requirements we have put forward. A similar bill — H.R. 

 14146 — has been introduced by Representative Lennon in the House. 

 NACOA strongly recommends the passage and enactment of one of 

 these bills. 



There are competing legislative proposals which would have the effect 

 of absorbing coastal zone management into a much larger national land 

 use program (H.R. 7211 and S. 992). We do not support this approach 

 for a number of important reasons : ( 1 ) The problems of the coastal 

 zone have been very well defined by the work of earlier national and 



