161 



Now, in this same letter from wliicli I am quoting, we go on to say 

 that we have long expressed departmental concern about the environ- 

 mental effects of ocean dumping and that we strongly reconmiend that 

 dumping be regulated through enactment of H.R. 4723. 



We recommend against enactment of title III for the reasons stated 

 and at the same time we have demonstrated our concern for the 

 environment by the suspension, as you are aware, of extraction activity 

 in the Santa Barbara Channel, and the recommendation to Congress 

 that the area be set aside as a national energy preserve, 



I regi-et that we did not receive the opportunity to comment on H.R. 

 9727 before it was reported. We do not think that title III is appropri- 

 ate and that is the only portion of the bill that we object to. 



Mr. Lennon. "Well, if title III of tlie ocean dumping bill — do you 

 think it ought to be mider the coastal zone manageuient regulation 

 rather than coastal dumping, or are you just opposed to it — period? 



Secretary Loesch. Well, my report to the chairman under date of 

 June 23 on H.R. 9229 says this : 



The Marine Sanctuary concept proposed in H.R. 9229, as a new title for the 

 Marine Resources Engineering and Development Act of 1966 is deserving of care- 

 ful study and treatment in a separate bill. 



It vpould be inappropirate, we believe, to embark upon the Federal regulatory 

 scheme required by sections 412 and 413 within the context of legislation designed 

 to assist the coastal states in the exercise of their land-management respon- 

 sibilities. 



Xow, that, of course, is the departmental position. 



Mr. Lennojst. Well, j\Ir. Secretary, as you well know, the Secretary 

 of Commerce, through the Administrator of !MOAA, must consult 

 with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, tlie Secretary of 

 the Interior, the Secretary of Transportation, and tlie Administrator 

 of EPA before he can designate any area as a marine sa.nctuary. 



I will say this to you, that there are amendments pending which 

 will be offered for consideration with H.R. 9727 that would deny the 

 right to the Secretary of the Interior to issue permits for exploration 

 for gas, oil, or anj^thing else; and I and tlie chairman of the other 

 subcommittee that conducted the hearings on this legislation are ada- 

 mant in our opposition to those amendments. 



I think it would preempt the Secretary of the Interior from going 

 forward with the contracts that you may now have or are now nego- 

 tiating for the purpose of leasing offshore lands for tlie development 

 of oil or gas, minerals, or whatever it may be. 



I think it is the wrong philosophy and that is the reason I think this 

 is a moderate, in-between bill. Many Members of Congress would desig- 

 nate all areas, if they could, as marine sanctuaries. I think we have 

 struck a happy balance with tlie language we have written into this 

 bill. It requires the Secretary of Commerce to take many steps, public 

 hearings at the local level, and the local communities, the counties, the 

 State, the Governors, and everybody else is involved before a decision 

 can be made. 



I think it is a matter of record that I would have preferred that this 

 title III go into the coastal zone management bill, and that was tlie 

 consensus of the coastal States and the National Legislative Council. 

 Their thinking was it ought to go in the coastal zone bill. However, 

 the majority of the two subcommittees wanted to put it in the ocean 

 dumping bill, trying to keep it as moderate as we can and to protect 



