335 



H.E. 2492 and H.R. 2493 would both amend the Marine Resources 

 and Engmeerino; Development Act of 1966 (33 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) by 

 adding a new title III, to be cited as the "Coastal and Estuarine Area 

 Management Act" and the "National Coastal and Estuarine Zone 

 Management Act of 1971", respectively. Consistent with a congres- 

 sional declaration that there is a national interest in the effective man- 

 agement, beneficial use, protection, and development of the Nation's 

 coastal and estuarine zone, the Administrator of the National Oceanic 

 and Atmospheric Administration (H.R. 2492) of the Secretary of 

 Commerce (H.R. 2493) would be authorized to assist coastal States 

 in the development and administration of an approved management 

 plan and program. No such program could be approved without a 

 findin,^ that the coastal State has legal authority and institutional 

 organization adequate for the management of its coastal zone. H.R. 

 2492 would authorize grants not to exceed 50 percent of 2 years' oper- 

 ating expenses for a coastal authority, and a like percentage annually 

 for long-range plamiing or implementation of a management pro- 

 gram. H.R. 2493 would authorize cost-sharing grants of 66% percent 

 for development and subsequent administration of an approved man- 

 agement program. 



Both bills would provide for bond and loan guarantees to facilitate 

 land acquisition, land and water development, and restoration projects. 

 In addition, H.R. 2493 provides for appointment of a 15-member 

 advisory committee and Federal assistance in the States' acquisition 

 of estuarine sanctuaries. 



H.R. 3615 would amend the so-called Estuary Protection Act of 

 August 3, 1968 (16 U.S.C. 1221 et seq), by adding a second title, the 

 "National Estuarine and Coastal Zone Management Act of 1971". 



The Secretary of the Interior would make grants not to exceed 50 

 percent of costs for program development and operation, and would be 

 directed to develop a comprehensive Federal plan for that portion of 

 the coastal zone beyond the territorial sea. There is provision, too, for 

 the appointment of advisory committees to "consult with and make rec- 

 ommendations to the Secretary on matters of policy concerning the 

 coastal zone". 



As the result of two studies conducted by this Department and the 

 Stratton Commission report, this administration recommended that 

 the 91st Congress enact legislation similar in concept to H.R. 2492. 

 H.R. 2493 and H.R. 3615. We believed then, as we believe now, that 

 the finite resources of our coastal and estuarine areas are threatened 

 by population growth and economic development. At the Federal 

 level, this Department had already been directed by the Estuary Pro- 

 tection Act of 1968 to conduct a study and inventory of the Nation's 

 estuaries. As we reported to the committee during the last Congress, 

 it was a conclusion of our study and others that effective management 

 of land and water resources could best be promoted by encouraging 

 the States to accept a broadened responsibility for land use planning 

 and management. 



In its first annual report, the Council on Environmental Quality 

 last August recognized "a need to begin shaping a national land use 

 policy". In February of this year, the President urged that we "re- 

 form the institutional framework in which land use decisions are 

 made", and recommended enactment of a proposed "National Land 



