338 



of their land management responsibilities. Further, absent charifica- 

 tion, the proposed title IV is in conflict with the mineral leasing pro- 

 visions of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331- 

 1343). 



The Office of Management and Budget has advised that there is no 

 objection to the presentation of this report from the standpoint of the 

 administration's program. 

 Sincerely yours, 



Harrison Loesch, 

 Assistant Secretary of the Interior. 



Environmental Protection Agency, 



Washington^ D.C.^ June 23^ 1971. 

 Hon. Edward A. Garmatz, 



Chaiivnan., Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries^ House of 

 Representatives^ Washington^ D.G. 

 Dear ISIr. Chairman : This is in response to your request for the 

 comments of the Environmental Protection Agency on H.R. 2492, 

 H.R. 2493, H.E. 3615, and H.R. 6605, bills relating to protection of 

 coastal and estuarine areas. 



H.R. 2492 



H.R. 2492 would amend the Marine Resources and Engineering De- 

 velopment Act to authorize the Administrator of the National Oceanic 

 and Atmospheric Administration to make grants to "coastal author- 

 ities" established by States and having a broad interest in the develop- 

 ment of coastal areas. Such grants would be authorized to pay up to 

 50 percent of the costs of operation of such an authority for the first 

 2 years of its existence. Further grants at the 50-percent-level would be 

 authorized upon the submission and approval of a proposal for long- 

 range planning with respect to coastal and estuarine area manage- 

 ment, or for the implementation of such a plan. In evaluating such 

 proposals, the NOAA Administrator would be required to consider 

 the extent to which they identified important areas, fostered multiple 

 uses, and provided methods for conflict resolution with respect to such 

 uses, established machinery such as zoning, easements, or land acquisi- 

 tion to ensure compliance with plans, provided for public participa- 

 tion and coordination with other agencies and organizations and 

 fostered research on shoreline and estuarine resources. Five million dol- 

 lars annually would be authorized for operation and planning grants. 



The Administrator of NOAA would also be authorized to enter into 

 agreements to underwrite loans or bond issues, and to pay for a 5- 

 year period up to 25 percent of amortization charges or loan interests, 

 with respect to such loans or issues, for the purpose of land acqui- 

 sition, water development, or restoration projects in connection with 

 the implementation of an approved plan. Two million dollars ($2,000,- 

 000) per year would be authorized for this purpose. 



Grant funds would be allocated among coastal States according to 

 regulations based on the populations of such States, the size of the 

 coastal or estuarine areas, and the respective financial needs of the 

 States. 



