822 



H.R. 3981 takes a realtistic approach to a realistic problem. In 1972, 

 the Congress enacted the original Coastal Zone Management Act, 

 which sought to allow States to develop plans for the orderly develop- 

 ment of coastal areas. The 1972 law promotes the preservation of 

 areas of great beauty for the enjoyment and recreational use of the 

 people who live there. It provides for the representation of local, State, 

 and regional interests, as well as an overall national interest, in the 

 development of coastal zone management plans, and in the making 

 of decisions affecting the coastal zone areas. And perhaps most im- 

 portantly, it provides for the preservation of estuarine sanctuaries and 

 biologically active wetlands — the subtle and complicated functions of 

 which are only now beginning to be understood. 



The current legislation addresses a need not foreseen in the 1972 

 legislation — that of energy development on the Outer Continental 

 Shelf and in the coastal zone. As distasteful as the prospect of pipe- 

 lines, refineries, powerplants, navigational canals, and tankf arms in the 

 coastal zone is, these are some of the prospects we face. This type of 

 industrialization will mean population increases in the areas affected, 

 expanded need on the local level for sewers, sidewalks, schools, roads, 

 recreation facilities, fire protection, and social services. "While much of 

 these needs can be financed through increases in the tax base resulting 

 from the energy activities, neither the Congress, nor the adminis- 

 tration can say with certainty that such an expanded tax base will 

 obsorb all of the costs. Thus, the current legislation. 



Enactment of H.K. 3981, in conjunction with legislation to protect 

 our fisheries and marine resources, and with the current oil pollution 

 liability and compensation measure awaiting further action by the 

 Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee, will provide the Con- 

 gress with the opportunity to move decisively to deal with the prob- 

 lems of protecting the marine frontier from hasty, careless develop- 

 ment. 



We all know that our Nation's long-term energy needs have neces- 

 sitated expanded Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas development. 

 But we also know that failure to deal now with the contingencies 

 which may arise from these operations, failure to address the grave 

 problems of pollution, environmental balance, and the needs of the 

 human ecosystem which will be affected by these energy operations, 

 will mean that the Congress has not lived up to its responsibility to 

 ensure the health, safety, and quality of life of the citizens w^ho have 

 elected us. 



Mrs. Sullivan. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may consume 

 to the distinguished chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman 

 from New York (Mr. Murphy) . 



Mr. Chairman, may I just make one remark. I want to thank the 

 gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Mosher) because I think he was instru- 

 mental in initiating our decisions that perhaps we sliould turn over 

 some of these problems to the newer Members. He has been a diligent 

 worker all the time that he has been on our Committee on Merchant 

 Marine and Fisheries, and it has been a delight to work with him and 

 I wish him and Mrs. Mosher all the best in his retirement. 



Mr. Chairman, I also thank the gentleman from Delaware (Mr. du 

 Pont) for his comments, and I do hope that all of the Members miss 

 me after my retirement. 



