628 



be accorded the privileges of the floor during t]ie consideration of this 

 bill : David Keto, Gerald Kovachs, Michael Spaan, Arthur Pankopf , 

 Steven Perles, and George Jetts. 



The Presiding Officer. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

 Mr. HoLLiNGS. Mr. President, I take great pride and pleasure, on 

 behalf of the Committee on Commerce, in bringing to the floor of the 

 Senate S. 586, amending the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972. It 

 is with particular emphasis that I state the need for these amendments 

 in the face of both increasing pressures upon our Nation's coastal zone 

 and increasing recognition and awareness of the importance of the 

 mechanism of the Coastal Zone Act in dealing with such conflicts and 

 their resolution. 



Passage of the Coastal Zone Management Act in 1972, culminated 

 years of increasing concern about the destruction of valuable coastal 

 wetlands and beaches. The public first became aware that the coastal 

 areas of the country, including the Great Lakes, represent some of 

 our most valuable national assets. At that time scientists published 

 reports describing the amazing productivity of estuarine areas. Ke- 

 :searchers found these coastal waters to be 5 or 10 times more biologi- 

 cally productive than average agricultural lands. Estuaries, it was 

 noted, provide the breeding ground for most of the important com- 

 mercial fisheries in the country and are habitats for many species of 

 wildlife. 



Demographic trends putting special pressures on the coastal zone 

 also continued during the 1960's. More than ever, the coastal regions 

 proved to be a magnet drawing both people and industry. 



Althou'^li only 8.5 percent of the Nation's total land area is usually 

 considered to be within the coastal zone, the coastal share of the total 

 TT.S. jiopulation rose from 40 percent to 50 percent between 1940 and 

 1970. Current projections place the coastal population share as high as 

 80 percent by 2000, and current and future numbers must be adjusted 

 upward seasonally to account for the millions of people who vacation 

 on the seacoast and the Great Lakes shores each year. Furthermost, in 

 1970 the coastal zone supported almost half of the Na^^ion's industrial 

 work force. 



S. 586 is a bill to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 — 

 Public Law 92-58-S. Its major provisions are desijrned to assist those 

 States facing OCS oil and gas development or other energv-related 

 developments affecting the coastal zone. Other sections provide funds 

 for research and technical assistance to coastal States: for interstate 

 compacts or other entities to facilitate interstate coordination of coastal 

 zo7ie management polif^ios and rsrooframs: for land acnuisition to estab- 

 lish estuarine sanctuaries and to encourage preservation of and public 

 access to beaches, islands, and other critical areas ; and for expanded 

 flpvelnnmnr+ •-!>-' "^ ni^r,ipntation grants under section 305 and ?)06 

 of the act. The Federal share of CZJM funding under these sections 

 would rise from the present 66% percent to 80 percent to bring it into 

 line with other Federal grant projects. The Office of Coastal Zone Man- 

 agement would henceforth be directed by an Associate Administrator 

 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, appointed 

 bv the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. 



