349 



must be given to the need for marine sanctuaries. However, decisions 

 of a complex nature will be involved in determining scientifically,, 

 economically, and politically (1) which areas should be delineated as 

 marine sanctuaries, (2) the effect of the establishment of such areas 

 upon competing biological and commercial uses; and (3) the posture, 

 vis-a-vis international law, of such sanctuaries located beyond the 3- 

 nautical-mile limit. For this reason, the matter of establishing marine 

 sanctuaries may warrant special consideration on its own merits and, 

 very likely is the proper subject of a separate bill. Further, it might 

 be useful to delay specific legislation until some of the planned inter- 

 national conferences, dealing with law and the ocean environment, 

 have been completed in order to determine the type of legislation 

 needed in the light of such agreements as may emerge from these 

 conferences. 



The Office of Managment 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, 



S. Dillon Ripley, Secretary. 



Smithsonian Institution, 



Washington^ D.C.., June 24, 1971. 

 Hon. Edward A. Garmatz, 



Chairman^ Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries^ House of 

 Representatives^ Washington,, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Chairman : Thank you for the opportunity to cormnent 

 on H.R. 2492, a bill "To provide for the effective management of the 

 Nation's coastal and estuarine areas," and H.R. 2493, a bill "To assist 

 the States in establishing coastal and estuarine zone management plans 

 and programs." Essentially, H.R. 2492 would empower the Adminis- 

 trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 

 (NOAA) to make grants, subject to certain limitations, to State coastal 

 authorities for the purpose of developing long-range planning and 

 management of their respective coastal and estuarine areas. Further, 

 the Administrator would be authorized to underwrite a guarantee, 

 bond issue, or loan obtained by a coastal State for land acquisition, 

 water development, or restoration projects undertaken pursuant to 

 a coastal or estuarine area management plan. Such plans would re- 

 quire approval by the Administrator as one condition to the making 

 of a grant or underwriting loans, etc. 



H.R. 2493 also would encourage coastal States to develop effective 

 management plans for coastal and estuarine areas subject to com- 

 petitive uses. Encouragement would assume the form principally of 

 grants by the Secretary of the Department of Commerce to such 

 States for the purpose of assisting in the development and adminis- 

 tration of management plans and programs. The Secretary also would 

 be authorized to underwrite bond issues or loans incurred by coastal 

 States for the purpose of land acquisition, or land and water devel- 

 opment and restoration projects accomplished in accordance with 

 approved management plans and programs. The Secretary would be 

 required to submit an annual report to tlie Congress, through the 

 President, setting foith the undertakings and programs in the admin- 

 istration of this legislation. Finally, effective interagency coordina- 



