139 



Fundamentally, we believe that land use is perhaps the most critical 

 and pressing environmental problem that we are faced with today, 

 and we should take the jump, go all the way and look at all the en- 

 vironmentally critical areas, recognizing at the same time that the 

 coastal zone which this committee has so rightfully emphasized is the 

 most important of these environmentally critical areas. 



llr. ]\IosiiER. Mr. Chairman, may I m.ake a comment ? 



Mr. Lennon. Surely. 



The gentleman from Ohio. 



^ir. I^IosiiER. I would like to salute the administration for taking 

 the broad view and emphasizing the ultimate necessity for an overall 

 national land use policy. 



Dr. SiacDonakl has used the word the ideal arrangem.ent. I agree- 

 that the administration should look to the ideal and the ultimate ; but 

 at the same time I wonder about the practicalities. 



The chairman has emphasized the fact that no hearings have been 

 held on the administration's bill, and yet Dr. MacDonald has said that 

 the coastal zone problems are critical. They do deserve special atten- 

 tion, and so I would like to ask Dr. MacDonald how he sees the prac- 

 tical situation here on Capitol Hill. 



We in this committee have tended to feel that we could provide a 

 very useful, practical service, by looking ahead, where other com- 

 mittees are not likely to move in this session, and begin to get this job 

 moving toward the ultimate and the ideal. 



That is why we are so interested in the bills that are before us. 



N'ow, do you see merit in taking the partial steps of moving part 

 way ? 



Dr. ^IacDoxald. It is very difficult to respond in a negative tone 

 to what I think are very helpful comments, but I really must. 



I think that by taking a partial step we may prejudice the final 

 outcome. 



We may, as I mentioned in my testimony, set up at the State level 

 .a fragmented institutional base for the longer term development while 

 we fully agree with the need to protect the coastal zones. 



As you know, the administration did put forward legislation for 

 this goal. 



Ilowever, we feel that we would like to press very hard a long way 

 further than just a partial solution so as not to prejudice a long term 

 outcome. 



]Mr. IMosHER. Let me ask you, do you expect hearings to be held on 

 the administration's bill in the other committee ? 



Dr. MacDonald. As ^ve imderstand it, the House Committee on 

 Interior and Insular Affairs has given its fii-st priority to examination 

 of the public lands as a result of the Public Land Law Eeview Com- 

 mission report, but we also understand that the committee intends 

 to hold hearings on the administration's proposal, and when that 

 would happen, we do not know. 



]Mr. MosiiER. Do you see strong support there in the committee, a 

 real probability that that committee will move ahead on the aclmin- 

 istrtition-s legislation ? 



Dr. ;?JacDonald. We have met with members of that committee, and 

 at least on the Republican side, I think there is a strong interest in the 

 administration's proposal. 



