334 



Yjews of principally affected Federal agencies prior to liis approval 

 of the States' plans. In either case, the committee may wish to set a 

 specific time limit within which principally affected Federal agencies 

 must submit their views. 



Section 310, page 17, authorizes the Secretary to enter into agree- 

 ments with coastal States to underwrite, by guaranty thereof, bond 

 issues or loans for the purpose of land acquisition or land and water 

 development and restoration projects. We believe that the bill should 

 prescribe the terms and conditions of the bond issues or loans that 

 may be guaranteed by the Secretary and the rights of the Federal Gov- 

 ernment in the case of default. Section 310 also states that the aggre- 

 gate principal amount of guaranteed bonds and loans outstanding at 

 any time may not exceed $140 million. We believe that the bill should 

 further specify an aggregate amount of such guarpaiteed bond issues or 

 loans available to each State. We also note that the bill does not iden- 

 tify the source of the Federal funds that would be needed in the event 

 of any defaults. 



Section 311, page 17, authorizes the Secretary to establish a coastal 

 and estuarine zone management advisory committee composed of not 

 more than 15 persons designated by the Secretary. The section does not 

 (1) specify the term of service of the members, and (2) provide for 

 tlie designation of a chairman. The committee may wish to provide 

 for (1) the term or terms of service and (2) the selection of a chairman. 



It is suggested that section 316, page 22, be preceded by the caption 

 "penalties." 



The committee may wish to provide captions for the sections in title 

 IV of the bill other than section 401. 



Section 402(d), page 25, states that the Secretary shall submit a 

 report annually to the Congress setting forth a comprehensive review 

 of his actions under the authority under this section. The committee 

 may wish to set a specific date for the submission of this report. 

 Sincerely yours, 



E. F. Keller, 

 Acting Comptroller General 



of the United States. 



U.S. Department of the Interior, 



Office of the Secretary, 

 Washington^ D.C., June 11, 1971. 

 Hon. Edward A. Garmatz, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, House of 

 Representatives, Washington, B.C. 

 Dear Mr. Chairman : This responds to your request for our com- 

 ments on H.R. 2492, H.R. 2493, and H.E. 8615, similar bills to assist 

 the States in their establishment of coastal zone management plans 

 and programs. 



Because we recognize a real and urgent need for comprehensive land 

 use planning, which would include the coastal zone and estuaries, we 

 recommend the enactment of this Administration's National Land Use 

 Policy Act of 1971, now pending as H.R. 4332, H.R. 4337, H.R. 4569, 

 and H.R. 5504, in lieu of H.R. 2492, H.R. 2493, or H.R. 3615. 



