342 



zone. H.E. 6605, however, calls for a study of these areas, and would 

 eventually result in recommendations for further action, including 

 legislation, which would be necessary to enforce the recommended 

 conservation measures. 



EPA believes that the time for studies of the coastal zone is past. 

 Two major studies have already been completed of these areas which 

 document in detail the actions which would be required to protect 

 them. The ''National Estuarine Pollution Study," which was developed 

 for the Secretary of the Interior by the Federal Water Quality Ad- 

 ministration, now a component of EPA, concluded that urbanization 

 and industrialization, combined with unplamied development in the 

 estuarine zone, have resulted in severe damage to the estuarine eco- 

 system. In addition, the "National Estuary Study," developed for the 

 Secretary by the Fish and Wildlife Service, identified the need for a 

 new thrust on the side of natural and esthetic values in the Nation's 

 estuarine areas. Clearly, we need to insure that enviromnental values 

 are adequately protected in such areas. In this connection, however, 

 we are aware that land use planning can affect all areas, not simply 

 estuarine areas, and that adequate planning for preservation of estu- 

 rine and coastal areas can only be effective if the full range of alterna- 

 tives to development in such areas can be considered. In other words, 

 estuarine and coastal planning must be considered within the larger 

 context of land use planning statewide. 



Accordingly, EPA does not recommend the enactment of legisla- 

 tion which would deal only with development and other activities in 

 the coastal zone. Controls are needed over all aspects of land use which 

 can afl'ect delicate or endangered areas of environmental concern. Such 

 controls would be provided by H.R. 4332, the administration's pro- 

 loosed "National Land Use Policy Act of 1971." 



H.R. 4332 would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to make 

 grants of up to 50 percent of cost to assist the States in developing 

 and managing land use programs. Programs would be required to in- 

 clude methods for inventorying and exercising control over the use of 

 land within areas of critical environmental concern, including coastal 

 zones and estuaries. States would also be required to develop a system 

 of controls of regulations to insure compliance with applicable en- 

 vironmental standards and implementation plans. 



EPA favore the approach embodied in H.R. 4332, which incorpo- 

 rates provisions for the protection of the coastal and estuarine areas 

 into its more comprehensive scheme. At the same time, we recognize 

 that the coastal zone is an area of special concern, where prompt and 

 effective action is required. Heavy pressures for further development, 

 coupled with the fragility of coastal and estuarine areas, make it im- 

 l)erative that we move immediately to protect these areas. The system 

 authorized by H.E. 4332 will permit a high priority for costal zone 

 planning within its larger context of land use planning and programs. 

 We therefore urge prompt congressional approval of H.R. 4332, and 

 recommend that the bills discussed previously not be enacted. 



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, 



William D. Ruckelshaus, 



Administrator, 



