369 



lie will not run for reelection this year, I already have a profound feel- 

 ing of personal loss that he will not be here in the 93d Congress. All of 

 us on the Merchant INIarine Committee will especially feel this loss. He 

 has accomplished here a very solid, creative record of great importance 

 to our Nation, in addition to very effectively, conscientiously represent- 

 ing the interests of his own district. Al Lennon is greatly respected by 

 all of us as a truly distinguished legislator's legislator. I say again, 

 xVl, we are going to miss you very, very much. 



Also, Mr, Chairman, as I said on an earlier occasion, all of us are 

 also going to miss the loss of the gentleman from Washington (Mr. 

 Pelly) in much the same way as I have just mentioned the loss of the 

 gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Lennon). Our committee is 

 going to be seriously handicapped by the loss of these two gentlemen. 



Mr. Chairman, Congressman Lennon has just explained the many 

 ramifications of this complex legislation. Since the days that both he 

 and I were privileged to serve on the Stratton commission during 

 the early part of the 91st Congress, he has worked diligently for the 

 enactment of this legislation which is of such vital importance to the 

 continued well-being of our economically and environmentally impor- 

 tant coastal zones. To a great degree, his tireless energy and dedica- 

 tion to the problems of the coastal zone over these many years has 

 proved fruitful by the consideration, and hopefully, ultimate passage 

 of this vital piece of legislation which we are considering today. 



The coast of the United States, certainly including the so-called 

 fourth coast, the Great Lakes, is in many respects the Nation's most 

 valuable geographic feature. There are some 99.600 miles of American 

 shoreline, and 30 million people turn annually to those shoreline areas, 

 for swimming, boating and other recreational purposes; 40 million are 

 projected by 1975. Sport fishing attracts 11 million people now and the 

 number should increase to 16 million by 1975. By 1975, park and rec- 

 reation areas in the coastal zone will be visited by twice as many people 

 as now, and the number is expected to increase way fold by the year 

 2000. 



But, of course, recreation is only one of our many important uses 

 of the coastal zone. Extremely iniportant are the many commercial 

 uses, including the many forms of commercial fishing, and these are 

 rapidly expanding. 



All of us should be aware that a huge proportion of our American 

 population is crowding into the coastal zones. 



So, Mr. Chairman, it is no wonder that the uses of valuable coastal 

 areas have generated issues of intense national, State, and local 

 interest. 



Navigational military uses of the coasts and waters offshore are 

 direct Federal responsibilities; economic development, recreation, and 

 conservation interests are shared by the Federal Govenmient and the 

 States. 



Rapidly intensifying commercial uses of coastal areas has outrun 

 the capabilities of local governments to plan their orderly develop- 

 ment and to resolve conflicts on a larger State and regional basis. The 

 division of responsibilities among several levels of gov^ernment is 

 today unclear and knowle<:lge and procedures for fornuilatiug sound 

 manacement and utilization decisions are lacking. 



