32 



I think that as a result of this and other workshops, the Federal 

 agencies, within the limits of resources that have been made avail- 

 able to them, have focused on the right types of research necessary 

 to address problems of the coastal zone. I think that on an interna- 

 tional basis, this and other workshoi)s have drawn other nations into 

 l)utting more of their resources into studies of ocean pollution as 

 well. 



Senator Hollings. But there have been no NSF grants for research 

 in the coastal waters? 



Dr. Owen. Oh ; yes, sir. I believe Dr. Stever referred to those made 

 under the aegis of our research applications directorate focusing on 

 the Chesapeake Bay, and the Corpus Christi area of Texas, I believe 

 he also referred to the grants to the University of Oklahoma studying 

 the effects of offshore oil production on the coastal environment. 



Senator Holijngs. Are there any new ones other than those? 



Dr. Owen. These have all been made within tlie last year or two, 

 Senator, and are only now beginning to come forth with meaningful 

 information that is being passed on to other Federal agencies. In 

 most cases, these grants involve cooperative action on the part of the 

 States and the regions involved so that they can get the information 

 directly. 



Dr. Stever. May I say one word about the R ANN program ? It is 

 an exploratory program. We try to take on problems that illustrate 

 the nature of a problem. These estuarial problems are different in all 

 areas of the country. We try to pick those that have general features. 

 We can't handle every river estuary by itself. We try to select a few- 

 that are typical of the different kinds of problems. 



Senator Rollings. I know for example the special study, again in 

 the South Carolina area around Fort Victoria, where they employ 

 some special study group. You wouldn't have any knowledge of that, 

 a member of PASF went in, and the Denartment of the Interior got in- 

 volved and they stopped the location of that particular industry. 



Now, the Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. has what they call a non- 

 polluting industry which is going to cause a certain amount of deep- 

 ening of the channel, perhaps, some type of dredging down there. 

 Are you familiar with that ? 



Dr. Stever. I am not. I am sorry, Dr. Eggers is not here. We did 

 not participate in that. 



From time to time we are asked by the other agencies to conduct 

 a piece of research related to these problems, but T don't think we were 

 in on this one. 



Senator Holltngs. What was your position on the administration's 

 position on the Coastal Zone Act, its lack of funding? 



Dr. Stever. The coastal zones are very important, and I think we 

 are going to have to learn through these kinds of programs where 

 Ave should concentrate our resources. 



I think of the NSF as an information-generating agency so that 

 people can better plan their programs, including the Congress and 

 the administration. 



Senator Rollings. The O^IB didn't consult you before the cutback 

 on coastal zones? 



Dr. Stever. No, sir, they didn't. 



Senator Rollings. We appreciate you both appearing here at this 

 time. You have been very helpful to us. Thank you. 



