136 



the confusion to State and local governments that two separate Fed- 

 eral programs would undoubtedly create. 



Unified Federal legislation would also discourage the establishment 

 of special State land-use agencies for the coastal zone with different 

 goals and objectives, duplicating on the State level the local frag- 

 mentation which we are seeking to overcome. 



This committee has given considerable attention to the land-use 

 problems of the coastal zone in your conference in October of 1969, and 

 in these hearings. We share your concerns for protecting our coastal 

 lands, and particularly the wetlands. 



However, we believe that the most effective institutional reform that 

 the Federal Government can encourage at the State level is one which 

 would involve the States in addressing the coastal lands in the context 

 of a fundamental reform affecting critical environmental lands 

 throughout the State. 



Thank you. 



jVIr. Lennon- Thank you, Doctor. We are delighted to receive your 

 •statement. 



I am reminded of the fact that the Council of Environmental Qual- 

 ity was invited to participate in the hearings of this committee which 

 are definitively H.R. 2492, H.E. 2493, and H.E. 9229 which the com- 

 mittee is considering at this time. 



We, of course, have been very much interested in your cormnents on 

 a bill that is not even pending before tliis committee. 



I remember however, this last year, the Council did project tliink- 

 ing with respect to coastal zone management. 



Now, this year they have sort of broadened the scope to national 

 land-use management. 



Doctor, what is the title, symbol, or name of the National Oceanic 

 und Atmospheric Agency, what does it mean to you ? 



Dr. MacDonald. Well, it means a highly competent, very effective 

 institution witliin the Federal Government with the responsibilities 

 for monitoring, studying, providing of a vast variety of services to the 

 people of the United States and in a broader context, to the world, 

 as a whole. 



I would point out that at the present time that agency does not have 

 major responsibilities within the area of land use or land-use 

 management. 



Mr. Lennon. They do not have the expertise and capability, or can- 

 not acquire it, is that what you are saying ? 



Dr. MacDonald. At present, both that specific organization and 

 the department in which it resides do not have major responsibilities 

 in the regulation or regulatory processes concerned with land u^. 



Mr. Lennon. What about water use ? 



Dr. MacDonald. The agency, particularly in its oceanographic ac- 

 tivity is very much focused on the oceans, its views in the coastal zone 

 as it is presently constituted, I would say is from the coastal zone 

 outward. 



It does not have the same sort of interest from the coastal zone 

 inward. 



We believe because of this, and as is stated in H.R. 4332, that these 

 responsibilities at the Federal level should reside with the Department 

 of the Interior, or with the Department of Natural Resources, when 



