832 



(Mr. Young of Alaska asked and was given permission to revise 

 and extend his remarks. ) 



Mr. Young of Alaska. Mr. Chairman, H.R. 3981, the Coastal Zone 

 Management Act Amendments of 1975, is vital to the coastline of 

 Alaska, as well as to all of this Nation's coastal area. 



In 1972, the Congress had the foresight to pass the Coastal Zone 

 Management Act dealing with the conservation of our coastal re- 

 sources, as competition for the use of these coastal areas increased. 

 So far, the program has proven highly successful. 



Now our States, and Alaska in particular, are being confronted 

 with new and accelerated pressures on their coasts. The effort to move 

 this Nation toward energy independence, by developing Outer Conti- 

 nental Shelf oil and gas is creating a tremendous burden on local 

 government and local officials. These governments must bear the costs 

 of a sudden population influx, an immediate need for public facilities 

 and tax money to pay for it. 



The provisions of this legislation would do much to alleviate these 

 burdens. This legislation would provide to State and local government 

 assistance for planning for energy facilities located in the coastal zone. 

 Furthermore, it would mitigate to some degree the adverse socio- 

 economic and environmental effects of the location and operation of 

 these same energy facilities. 



In addition, this measure would provide assistance to State and 

 local communities that are being adversely impacted because of Outer 

 Continental Shelf oil and gas exploration and development. 



In the case of Alaska, my State has a coastline of approximately 

 34,000 miles which is 35.6 percent of the entire coastline of the United 

 States. Alaska is already contributing its share to the energy deficit 

 by moving forward as quickly as possible with the construction of the 

 Alaska pipeline. If and when the OCS lease sales are effected, there 

 will be a tremendous need for planning and public facilities, such as 

 water and sewer treatment plants. There will be a tremendous need 

 to protect our fishing industry and its support services in the coastal 

 areas, as the new oil and gas related industries take hold. 



Similarly, Mr. Chairman, up and down the coast of the United 

 States, particularly in the Atlantic, there will be new pressures, new 

 demands and drastic changes. These activities will result from this 

 Nation's attempt to produce energy on an accelerated and expanded 

 scale. We in the Congress call it in the national interest. If we are 

 acting in the national interest, we have an obligation to assist State 

 and local governments, in shouldering the burdens in the interest and 

 for the welfare of all of the people of this great Nation, 



Therefore, I urge my colleagues to support today, H.R. 3981, a 

 measure tremendously important to the State of Alaska as well as the 

 Nation at large. 



The Chairman. The time of the gentleman from Alaska (Mr. 

 Young) has expired. 



Mr. Du Pont. ]\Ir. Chairman, I yield 1 additional minute to the 

 gentleman from Alaska (Mr. Young). 



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



Mr. Young of Alaska. I yield to the gentleman from California. 



Mr. Ketchum. I thank the gentleman for yielding. 



