314 



During the 91st Congress, several bills were introduced in both 

 Houses of the Congress relating to legislative proposals for solving 

 the coastal zone management problem. On the House side were in- 

 cluded H.R. 14730, H.R. 14731, H.R. 14845, and H.R. 15099. Similar 

 bills were introduced in the other body. While differing in detail, the 

 various bills provided for the implementation of the basic Marine 

 Science Commission recommendation. In view of the delays attended 

 upon the creation of a National Oceanic and Atmosphere Adminis- 

 tration and a desire to resolve that organizational problem prior to 

 enacting coastal zone legislation, only preliminary hearings were held 

 on any of the House bills. In the other body, a series of hearings was 

 held from March through May 1970. Various bills similar to the House 

 bills were all considered, and a new version was introduced early in 

 the 92d Congress. In the House, additional bills were introduced in 

 the 92d Congress, and of those bills, H.R. 9229, in particular, reflected 

 many of the views elicited during the previous Congress. 



The Subcommittee on Oceanography held hearings on H.R. 2492, 

 H.R. 2493, and H.R. 9229 on June 22, 23, and 24, August 3, 4, and 5, 

 and November 1 and 9, 1971, with the primary attention being devoted 

 to the provisions of H.R. 9229. Twenty- four witnesses appeared be- 

 fore the subcommittee, and additional statements were received from 

 various organizations as well as departmental reports from eight de- 

 partments and agencies. On March 21, 22, and 23, 1972, the Subcom- 

 mittee on Oceanography met in executive session to consider the bills 

 in question and completed its executive sessions by unanimously ap- 

 proving H.R. 9229 with various amendments. It reported its action to 

 the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries in the nature of a 

 clean bill, H.R. 14146. 



Your committee met in executive session to consider H.R. 14146 

 on April 12, 18, and 26, 1972. On April 26, H.R. 14146, with an amend- 

 ment, was ordered reported b}'^ your committee unanimously. 



The information developed during the course of the hearings on this 

 legislation was remarkably consistent with the findings of all the 

 precedessor groups that have considered the problem. Witnesses rep- 

 resenting the National Governors' Conference, the National Legisla- 

 tive Conference, the Coastal States' Organization, individual State 

 governments, and various conservation and public interest groups, 

 were uniformly concerned for the deteriorating condition of the coastal 

 zone and were united in their support for early legislative action. Sim- 

 ilar support was indicated in letters from various States and public 

 organizations which were unable to furnish witnesses during the 

 hearings. 



For 2 successive years, the National Governors' Conference has 

 established a strong policy position relating to coastal zone policy, 

 planning, and management. Underscored has been the need for a bal- 

 anced approach to conservation and development through appropri- 

 ate administrative and legal devices. At its 1971 meeting in San Juan, 

 Puerto Rico, the following statements were included in the Gover- 

 nors' policy positions : 



States must assume primary responsibility for assuring that the public interest 

 is served in the multiple use Of the land and waters of the coastal zone. * * * 



Coastal States, because of imique conditions existing along their shorelines, 

 have advantages in coping with coastal zone planning and management thnt the 

 Federal Government does not have. The Federal Government, however, should 



