1095 



Tliis impact program involves more than j)roviding for OCS ex- 

 ploration and development pressures on the coastal zone. Any energy 

 activity, which by its very nature and technical requirements, must be 

 carried out along the coast, is also included. In other words, activities 

 involving the transportation, storage, or conversion of liquefied natu- 

 ral gas, and the transportation of oil, natural gas and coal, are within 

 the program. For examj^le, the impacts from the operation of a deep- 

 water port would be eligible for impact assistance, as well as the 

 increased demands on the Great Lakes States for the transportation 

 of coal. 



Although the coastal energy impact program in this legislation has 

 received the most attention, I would like to note that the bill also makes 

 a number of significant and strengthening changes in the basic coastal 

 zone management act. Existing authorizations are increased and ex- 

 tended, matching funds for assuring access to public beaches are pro- 

 vided, interstate coordination and coastal management research and 

 training are funded, local governments are provided further protec- 

 tions, the Federal share of development and administrative grants is 

 increased from 66% percent to 80 percent, and a new interim period 

 allowing the States to move more smoothly from planning to admin- 

 istration is established. 



Consequently, this legislation does not only address the energy 

 problem. It also reinforces and strengthens the basic program, while, 

 at the same time, provides protection for the enormous energy-related 

 pressures which are occurring, and will continue to occur, along our 

 Nation's coasts. 



Finally, I would like to note that this Congress has been criticized 

 for not doing enough in the field of energy. S. 586 is, in part, an answer 

 to those criticisms. When this bill is signed into law, our OCS activity 

 will be expedited by a new spirit of cooperation between the Federal 

 Government and the States. Congress has shown, through the devel- 

 opment of this legislation, that it can be responsive to both the energy 

 and environmental needs of this Nation. And, I can assure you, that 

 we will continue to be responsil)le in other energv-related areas also. 



I would like to take this opportunity to thank my colleagues on 

 the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee — and those who par- 

 ticipated in our conference committee — for their diligence and interest 

 in this significant legislation. In particular, I would like to thank our 

 chairman, Lee Sullivan, who will be leaving the Congress at the end 

 of this session. All of us on the Merchant Marine and Fisheries Com- 

 mittee will miss her legislative leadership and experience, and Con- 

 gress will not be the same without her. 



I want to take a moment to pay special tribue to the efforts of a 

 number of persons Avho have over the months labored to make this 

 legislation possible. Mr. du Pont has very alily represented the minor- 

 ity side duT'ing the subcommittee deliberations and later before the 

 full Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee and during our con- 

 ference discussions with the Senate. Our colleagues fi'om Louisiana 

 who have worked on this bill, Messrs Breaux and Treen, deserve a 

 word of thanks for their willingness to cooperate on this bill even 

 though its final provisions do not contain eveiything they would like 

 for their State. 



