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ever possible, intending to provide information on resources develop- 

 ment, water quality, and environmental factors to assist State autliori- 

 ties and others in coastal management. Existing facilities will be 

 strengthened and consolidated as necessary to provide capabilities to — 

 Develop a basic understanding and description of the region- 

 ally differentiated ecology of our 13,000-mile coastline : 



Anticipate and assess the impact on the ecology of Jilternative 

 land uses, of pollution, and of alterations to the land-water 

 interfaces ; 



Operate coastal monitoring networks ; and 



Perform analyses needed for these State-managed coastal 

 authorities. 



Establishment of these capabilities will be phased with the devel- 

 opment of coastal management plans to foster State access to environ- 

 mental data and research capabilities. 



With regard to the Great Lakes, the step that is being proposed now 

 is to examine the feasibility of restoring the (xreat Lakes with tech- 

 nological as well as with regulatory mechanisms by a pilot study 

 using a lake of manageable size. Existing environmental technology' 

 and techniques will be tested, including pollution measuring devices, 

 methods of artificial destratification by aeration, mixing, and thermal 

 upwelling techniques, thermal pollution control and enrichment, arti- 

 ficial bottom coating, filtering, harvesting of living plants and ani- 

 mals, and restocking of fishery resources. 



The program is intended to reinforce current investigations, and 

 bring together additional competence from industry, academic insti- 

 tutions, and Federal laboratories. 



The fourth one I realize is of interest to just one State but neverthe- 

 less concerned with coastal ecology. It is focused on the arctic environ- 

 ment. Here is a program directed to understanding better the polar 

 icepack, including its impact on transportation and global weather 

 and climate; the polar magnetic field and its effects on communication ; 

 geological structures underlying the arctic lands and polar seas both 

 as potential mineral sites and as hazards to construction and resource 

 development; balance of the arctic ecosystem; the presence of perma- 

 frost; and slow degradation of liquid and solid wastes under arctic 

 conditions. 



Behavior and physiology of man in this environment also will re- 

 ceive increased attention. Initial emphasis will be on strengthening 

 and broadening arctic research capabilities. Consideration will also 

 be directed to formulating an overall policy framework for arctic- 

 related activities. 



The administration has fui'ther determined that these programs are 

 not just desirable, not just important, but they are urgent. The ad- 

 ministeration is studying the Commission's proposal to establish a new 

 independent agency, but it was decided not to wait for that resolution 

 before proceeding with the development of these programs and as a 

 consequence the responsibilities for planning these programs on an 

 interim basis until this issue on NOAA is determined have been as- 

 signed within the Government on a lead agency basis, responsibility 

 for drafting legislation for the State authorities with the Department 

 of the Interior; pre])aration of plans for coastal laboratories with the 

 Department of the Interior; the preparation of plans for the pilot 



