67 



Tjie low, flat wetlands of tlie estuaries provide a cheap source of land 

 for building. And the short-term adv^antages of dredged and fill opera- 

 tions for development often takes place at the expense of the natural 

 functioning of the estuaiine system. 



The local government's control on land use for tlie most part lias 

 been zoning. Historically, zoning j^owers and other forms of private 

 land-use regiilations, have been delegated by the States to the local 

 county and city govermnents. Out of fear of loss of revenue, they resist 

 new restrictions on zoning authority. 



Consequently, given the usual tendency of local government to in- 

 crease the value of land for tax purposes, the zoning authority exer- 

 cised over these lands too often encourages misdirected development. 



In preserving scenic, recreational, and wildlife areas, the Federal 

 Government has developed a land acquisition program. But that is an 

 expensive process because land value typically increases so rapidly be- 

 tween the time that purchase of an area is authorized until the funds 

 are actually available. 



I stress that I am not saying local zoning is bad or that acquisition 

 is necessarily inetfective. What I am saying is that either measure by 

 itself is not enough — something new is needed noAV. 



The purpose of the administration's legislation is not to impose 

 Federal regulation. And it is not merely to provide more money for 

 more planning, for the sake of more planning. It is to encourage and 

 assist the State governments of the coastal zone to manage their own 

 land and water resources effectively. 



The thrust of our proposed legislation is on State management of 

 these resources. The States cover a wide enough geographic area for 

 effective regiilation of competing uses. The States possess traditional 

 legal authority over wetland alternation, as well as powers over zon- 

 ing. And our State governments have existing agencies already 

 equipped to deal with a number of activities in the coastal zone. 



Finally, the States are not as subject to immediate shoi-t-term eco- 

 nomic pressures as are local governments. However, the States are still 

 much closer to many of these problems than is the Federal Government. 



The administration's bill, S. 3183, would provide grants to the States 

 for the development and operation of coastal zone management pro- 

 grams. To qualify, the coastal States would be required to agree to 

 these functions : 



The preparation of comprehensive plans for the development and 

 preservation of its estuarine and coastal zone. 



The ability to regulate alterations in the submerged lands and wa- 

 ters, and the authority, either directly or through partnership with 

 local governments, to see that local zoning conforms with a statewide 

 plan. 



The purpose of this approach is to develop effective regulatory 

 powere, based on and implementing careful planning. In the past, 

 regulation has often lacked effective planning, and much planning has 

 lacked regulation. We must establish procedures to make sure our land 

 and water is devoted to its highest and best use in the interests of 

 so('iety as a whole. Our bill was designed to do just that. 



We have been encouraged by the public response to this bill, and 1 

 am pleased we have received suppoil for the approach from many 

 coastal States. 



