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ning and development, and to assist the States in establishing coastal 

 zone management programs. 



We find that this legislative proposal does not involve any aspect 

 of transportation safety under National Transportation Safety Board 

 jurisdiction. Accordingly, we do not have any helpful comments to 

 offer. 



Sincerely yours, 



Oscar M. Laurel, 



Acting Chairman. 



u.s. derartment of the interior, 



Office of the Secretary, 

 Washington, D.C., April 16, 1970. 

 Hon. Warren G. Magnuson, 

 Chairman, Committee on Commerce, 

 U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Chairman : This responds to your request for the Depart- 

 ment's view on S. 2802, a bill to assist the States in establishing coastal 

 zone management programs. 



Recently, the Department transmitted to the President of the Sen- 

 ate and the Speaker oft he House a proposed bill to provide for the 

 establishment of a national policy and comprehensive national pro- 

 gram for the management, beneficial use, protection, and development 

 of the land and water resources of the Nation's estuarine and coastal 

 zone. The proposed bill was transmitted witli, and would implement, 

 the report of the National Estuarine Pollution Study. We recommend 

 the enactment of our proposed bill, which is pendiiig in the Senate 

 as S. 3183, in lieu of S. 2802. 



S. 2802 would extend the expiration date of the National Council 

 oin Marine Resources and Engineering Development from June 30, 

 1970 to June 30, 1975 and authorize the Council to provide financial 

 assistance to the States in establishing coastal zone management pro- 

 grams. Such assistance would include grants covering up to 50 percent 

 of the costs of formulating and implementing long-range master plans 

 for the balanced development of the natural, commercial, industrial, 

 recreational, and esthetic resources of the defined coastal zone area 

 (generally land, bays, estuaries, and waters within three miles of the 

 United States Coast). It would also include a guaranty of bond issues 

 or loans for land acquisitions, land and water development, and 

 restoration projects, 



A special marine resources fund would receive $75 million annually, 

 to be derived from revenues obtained under the Outer Continental 

 Shelf Lands Act, as amended (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.), to finance such 

 grants and guarantees. All Federal agencies conducting or supporting 

 research or other activities in a coastal zone would be required to make 

 their activities consistent with any applicable State or interstate 

 coastal planning and development program. In addition, Federal 

 agencies would be prohibited from undertaking any development 

 project in a coastal zone which the responsible State or interstate 

 agency deemed to be inconsistent with such planning and development 

 program unless the council found such project, on balance, to be con- 

 sistent with the general objectives of the bill. Conversely, the council 



