820 



regions were endangered from excessive uses, plus some uses which 

 definitely were not compatible with the protection of the coastal 

 regions, were instead damaging such areas. 



We learned the amazing productivity of estuarine areas — many 

 coastal waters were found to be 5 or 10 times more biologically produc- 

 tive than average agricultural lands. These estaurine areas, in nu- 

 merous cases, provided essential breeding grounds for many of the im- 

 portant commercial fisheries in our country. 



It was because of such findings that the Commission recommended 

 the establishment of coastal authorities to design and operate com- 

 prehensive management programs. 



Now, we have a new crucial awareness that the national energy crisis 

 requires new initiatives if our Nation is ever to become less dependent 

 on foreign oil producing countries; initiatives that inevitably may 

 add new, serious threats to the well-being of these productive coastal 

 areas. 



One of the major initiatives endorsed by this administration, to 

 produce new energy resources, is an accelerated Outer Continental 

 Shelf leasing program. Coastal States have expressed serious concerns 

 about the added burdens which will be placed upon them as a result 

 of such federally initiated energy development. 



The bill under consideration here today would provide the neces- 

 sary additional mechanisms and programs for such States to deal with 

 adverse consequences in a rational and responsible manner. 



This bill would provide for increased planning grants to all coastal 

 States, including the Great Lakes States, permitting them to develop 

 energy facility planning processes, and to more accurately anticipate 

 and assess the potential impacts such energy development will have 

 upon their coastal areas. 



Our Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries originally felt 

 that energy impact assistance should be provided only to those coastal 

 States which experienced Outer Continental Shelf energy develop- 

 ment. After extensive testimony and considerable debate, we have con- 

 cluded that other types of coastal energy activities also are contribut- 

 ing to national energy goals, and that these activities could also result 

 in net adverse impacts to coastal States and local communities. 



Therefore, the impact assistance fund established in this bill would 

 permit the Secretary of Commerce to consider allocating grants to 

 coastal States based on any clearly demonstrated net adverse impact 

 which occurs as a result of energy activities, even though not OCS 

 related. 



In addition to the impact assistance program various other pro- 

 visions are included in this bill, with a view toward encouraging and 

 expediting development of individual States' coastal zone plans. 



To accomplish this objective, we would increase the Federal share 

 of development and implementation grants from the present 66^. 

 percent to 80 percent, thus reemphasizing the importance with which 

 Congress views this program. 



The bill also would provide additional funding for coastal States 

 to integrate energy facility, public beach access, and shoreline erosion 

 planning processes into their respective coastal zone management 

 plans. 



