XII. PRESIDENT'S REMARKS AND STATEMENT ON SIGN- 

 ING THE COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT ACT AMEND- 

 MENTS OF 1976, JULY 26, 1976 



Coastal Zone Management Act Amendments of 1976 



THE president's REMARKS UPON SIGNING S. 586 INTO LAW. JULY 26, 19 7 6 



Seci^etary Richardson, distinguished Members of the House and 

 the Senate, Frank Zarb. and guests: It's a great privilege and pleasure 

 to have you all here this morning. And I especially wish to thank the 

 Members of the Congress for working on this legislation and cooper- 

 ating with the administration in putting together what I think is very 

 excellent legislation. 



I am here this morning with all of you to sign into law the Coastal 

 Zone Management Act Amendments of 1976. These amendments in- 

 clude many of the principal elements of the proposal that I sent to 

 the Congress in February, which were designed to assist communities 

 significantly affected by 'the development of federally owned energy 

 resources. 



These amendments will provide a basis for long-term planning by 

 the coastal States, so that they can better balance the needs for 

 energy development, urban growth, of resource conservation, and 

 recreational use. These amendments also include a good balance be- 

 tween Federal, State, and local interests in the very sensitive areas 

 of coastal land and water uses and energy development. 



By creating a coastal energy impact program with funds of $1.2 

 billion over the next 10 years, we recognize a national responsibility 

 to help coastal States and communities that are affected as we speed 

 up exploration and production of oil and gas from the Outer Conti- 

 nental Shelf. 



At the same time, these amendments rightly limit the extent to 

 which the Federal Government will become involved in decisions that 

 should be made at State and local levels. I see this bill as a very en- 

 couraging sign for the future, first, because it represents the kinds of 

 progress that can be made when the Congress and the administration 

 work together — and I repeat what I said at tho' outset, I am very 

 grateful for the cooperation of both the House and the Senate — and 

 second, because it shows that two issues high on our national agenda — 

 the need for enersrv and the need for environmental protection — can 

 indeed be reconciled. 



So, it's with pleasure that I have the opportunity of signing this 

 bill this morning and thank all of you for coming on this fine day 

 for a rather historic occasion. 



Thank you all very, very much. 



Note. — Thp President spoke at 11 :15 a.m. at the slRninp: eeremony In the East Garden 

 at the White House. 



As enacted, the bill (S. 586) is Public Law 94-370, approved July 26, 1976. 



(1111) 



