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of the Committee on Commerce which gave impetus to the creation 

 of this concept. During the 89th Congress, there was created the 

 National Commission on Marine Science, Engineering, and Resources. 

 This blue ribbon panel of experts — often described as the Stratton 

 Commission — produced the landmark report known as Our Nation 

 and the Sea. Part of this overall report was the section on "Man- 

 agement of the Coastal Zone." 



Senator Magnuson introduced the bill, S. 2802, which incorporated 

 the recommendations of the Commission. Subsequently, the Com- 

 mittee on Commerce has conducted 11 days of hearings over the 

 space of 2 years on the various coastal zone proposals. The Sub- 

 committee on Oceans and Atmosphere, which I am privileged to chair, 

 has compiled a remarkable record of testimony in favor of coastal 

 zone management. And last September, the committee ordered its 

 bill, S. 582, re]:>orted to the floor. However, during the last year, many 

 Members of the Senate as well as the administration have become 

 convinced that the United States needs a broad-based policy of land 

 use management. There were some who felt that certain provisions 

 within S. 582 were in conflict with the proposed land use policy 

 legislation now pending before the Committee on Interior and Insular 

 Affairs. Additionally, it was felt that many municipalities in coastal 

 States have done an outstanding job of area management, and that 

 S. 582 did not give them the opportunity to participate fully in man- 

 agement programs. Finally, there was concern about conflicts between 

 existing Federal, State, and local matters within the coastal zone. 

 Was too much authority being exercised by the Secretary of Com- 

 merce without the opportunity for full hearings and mediation for 

 all parties involved ? 



Mr. President, these were substantial concerns, and the Com- 

 mittee on Commerce recognized that S. 582 did contain several 

 sliortcomings as a result of developments which altered some of the 

 circmnstances under vfliich the bill was drawn. 



Therefore, on March 14, at my request, S. 582 was recommitted 

 to the Committee on Commerce, For the past month, we have worked 

 over the entire bill in order to accommodate it to present needs and 

 circumstances. This, in brief, is what we have done : 



First. The committee has created a bill which will dovetail with 

 the proposed land use legislation. Our definition of the geographic 

 boimdaries of the coastal zone itself has been tightened. 



Second. We have attempted to make full provision for coopera- 

 tion and coordination between States, local governments, areawide 

 aofencies and interstate agencies. All of these f notions must work 

 together in both the planning and the managing phase of the 

 program. Additionally, States can delegate to local governments 

 some or all of the responsibility under this act. 



Third. Finally, we have created a National Coastal Resources 

 Board to handle disputes within the management program^ area. 

 The board can coordinate programs of various Federal agencies. It 

 can mediate differences between anv Federal agency and a coastal 

 State at the development stage of a program. And finally, the 

 board can provide a forum for appeals by any areawide planning 

 entity or unit of local government from any decision or action of 

 the Secretary or the management agency of the State or local area. 



