579 



Hearings 



The problem of onshore impacts was not the only issue relating to 

 acceleration of Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas drilling. Major 

 policy issues involved separating Outer Continental Shelf exploration 

 from development activities, alternative leasing systems, operating 

 practices for safety and environmental protection, and the handling of 

 industry information by Federal authorities. 



Joint hearings on amendments to the Outer Continental Shelf 

 Lands Act of 1954 and the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 were 

 held by the Senate Committees on Interior and Insular Affairs, and 

 Commerce. These hearings on March 14, 17, 18, 1975 ^ and April 8 

 and 9, 1975 •* were held pursuant to S. Res. 45, the "National Fuels and 

 Energy Policy Study," and Senate Resolution 222, the "National Ocean 

 Policy Study." 



In these 5 days of hearings 54 statements and 114 communications 

 were received by the committees from representatives of Federal, 

 State, and local governments, as well as industry and private organi- 

 zations. Dominating the hearings were the issues of possible impacts 

 and the Federal-State relationship in Outer Continental Shelf mat- 

 ters. Clearly there was concern for future impacts from Outer Con- 

 tinental Shelf operations on the coastal zone and for the distribution 

 of Outer Continental Shelf revenues to coastal States. 



The House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Subcom- 

 mittee on Oceanography held hearings on bills to amend the Coastal 

 Zone INIanagement Act.^ Outer Continental Shelf policy issues such as 

 the separation of exploration from development were not dealt with 

 in these hearings. Like the Senate hearings, representatives from gov- 

 ernment, industry, and the private sector voiced their concerns for 

 future impacts from accelerated Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas 

 activities. 



Actions 



The Senate reported its bill, S. 586 on July 11, 1975. Its report (S. 

 Rept. 94-277) gave special emphasis to the provisions on Federal 

 consistency, the coastal energy facility impact program, interstate 

 coordination, research and training, and funds for public access to 

 beaches and the preservation of islands. Five days after the bill was 

 reported out, the Senate considered and passed (73-14) S. 586 on 

 Julv 16. 1975. Accepted before passage were amendments to clarify 

 and strengthen the automatic grants provision, to allow that any grant 

 made would not be considered a major Federal action under the Na- 

 tional Environmental Policy Act, to provide entitlement to gi'ants 

 and loans to States which have experienced net adverse impacts within 

 e3 years prior to the enactment of the bill, to provide for equal repre- 

 sentation of State and Federal interests on the Coastal Impact Review 

 Board, to provide that a larger share of the funds derived from pro- 



^U.S. Consress. Senate. Committee on Interior .ind Insular Affairs and Committee on 

 Commerce. Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments and Coastal Zone Manage- 

 ment Act Amendments. Hearings. 94th Cong., 1st sess. Pt. 1. Washington, U.S. Govern- 

 ment Printing Office. 107.5. fino p. 



* T'.S. Contrress. Senate. Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs and Committee on 

 Commerce. Outer Continental Shelf I>ands Act Amendments and Coastal Zone Manage- 

 ment Act Amendments. Hearincrs. 94th Cong.. 1st sess. Pt. 2. Washington, U.S. Govern- 

 ment Printing Office. 197.5. 690-17.56 p. 



'■ U.S. Congress. House. Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries. Coastal Zone 

 Management. Hearings, 94th Congress, 1st session. Wa^shington, U.S. Government Printing 

 OfRce, 1975. .-^O.-^p. 



