821 



I call special attention to a very important addition to the Coastal 

 Zone Act, which we propose here.It would provide research and tech- 

 nical assistance to the National Coastal Zone Office, and the State and 

 local coastal agencies. In the past, coastal zone managers have been 

 able to rely in part on the various sea grant programs in individual 

 States to assist them in obtaining specific support data for the develop- 

 ment of their programs, but sea grant has not been able to meet all of 

 the needs adequately, because of its inadequate budget. 



Therefore, the bill before us today would authorize $5 million for 

 use by the National Coastal Zone Office, and $5 million for allocation 

 to State and local entities for research purposes. The National Ad- 

 visory Committee on Oceans and Atmosphere recommended this addi- 

 tion in the research section in their 1974 annual report to the Congress, 

 and, after investigation, our committee has concurred with NACOA. 



Mr. Speaker, in summary, it is my belief that the Coastal Zone Man- 

 agement Act of 1972 has proven its worth over the past 3 years — it is 

 working successfully in all our Nation's coastal States. 



If we are to move forward our goal of energy self-sufficiency, w^e are 

 going to have to do so with the full cooperation of the State and local 

 governments. These Coastal Zone Management Act Amendments of 

 1975 would allow us to do just that — it would provide the necessary 

 mechanisms for a Federal, State, and local cooperative effort to de- 

 velop our energy resources in an expedient and responsible manner. 



I urge strong support for H.R. 3981. 



Mr. Lent. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield ? 



Mr. Du Pont. I yield to the gentleman from New York. 



(ISIr. Lent asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 

 remarks.) 



Mr. Lent. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding. 



I Avould like to join with the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. du 

 Pont) in supporting this legislation and at the same time to commend 

 the outstanding manner in which the chairman of our subcommittee, 

 my colleague, the gentleman from New York (Mr. Murphy) , has con- 

 ducted the hearings and the development of this very important piece 

 of legislation. 



Mr. Chairman, the battle I and many of my coastal States colleagues 

 have waged against the Federal Government's efforts to expand off- 

 shore oil and gas development has, realistically, been lost. In the or- 

 derly workings of our Government, the issue of ownerehip of the Outer 

 Continental Shelf has been decided. Congress long ago authorized ex- 

 ploitation of offshore mineral and oil deposits. 



We who live and work in our Nation's coastal areas may soon expect 

 the pylons and derricks of offshore oil and gas rigs. We may expect 

 the risks of pollution, boom-and-burst growth, and industrialization 

 which will accompany this oil and gas development. 



But in the orderly process of government which characterizes our 

 political life, the Congress has accepted the situation which faces us, 

 and has acted to provide our citizens with the wherewithal to meet 

 the challenge posed to the Nation's coastal environment by these oil 

 and gas operations. 



I am pleased to have been able to work with Chairman Murphy and 

 the Oceanographic Subcommittee, and with the full Committee on 

 Merchant Marine and Fisheries to draft the legislation before us. 



