Summary of Findings and Recommendations 



The coastland of the United States is, in many 

 respects, this Nation's most important and valu- 

 able geographic feature. It is at the juncture of the 

 land and sea where industrial development is 

 heaviest and the greater portion of our trade takes 

 place. The shoreline is the most popular locale for 

 residence and recreation. The waters off the shore 

 are among the biologically most productive regions 

 of the Nation. The uses of valuable coastal areas 

 generate issues of intense local interest. Yet the 

 effectiveness with which we use and protect the 

 resources of the coastal zone is also a matter of 

 National importance. Economic development, rec- 

 reation, and conservation interests are shared by 

 the Nation and the States. 



In view of the many important uses served by 

 these waters and the growing pressures on them, 

 intelligent management of this vital National re- 

 source is imperative. It will require application of 

 many kinds of tools and techniques, ranging from 

 fundamental research to regulatory changes and 

 pubUc education. A National pohcy for the man- 

 agement of our coastal environment is urgently 

 needed. 



This panel's recommendations are summarized 

 under five categories: 



—The Need for Planning and Management 



—The Need for Research and Training 



—The Need for Federal Surveys and Projects 



—The Need for a Systematic Approach to Waste 

 Management 



—The Need for Immediate Action 



I. THE NEED FOR PLANNING AND MANAGE- 

 MENT 



Man's past actions affecting estuaries and shore- 

 lines have been poorly and incompletely planned, 

 often unimaginative and frequently destructive. 

 Present priorities in uses of the coastal zone often 

 do not reflect the best interests of the pubhc. 

 Many State and Federal agencies have overlapping 

 and fragmented authority. The limit of State and 

 local responsibility is often obscure; the author- 



ities are often without real power. Under such 

 circumstances it is particularly difficult for plans 

 to be designed, made authoritative, and enforced. 

 Viable mechanisms to manage these areas must be 

 estabhshed both at the Federal and State levels. In 

 general. State leadership is to be favored. Each 

 coastal State should develop a strong organization 

 which can deal with the powerful and often 

 conflicting local interests and with the many 

 Federal agencies with interests in the coastal zone. 



Recommendations: 



1 . Federal legislation should establish State Coastal 

 Zone Authorities whose functions shall include 

 planning, regulation, (including zoning where nec- 

 essary), funding, acquisition, development, and 

 enforcement. 



2. The Coastal Zone Authority should be a State 

 agency. The form of the agency may be left to the 

 discretion of the States, but its guidelines must 

 meet Federal standards and approval to be eligible 

 for Federal assistance. 



3. The Federal role should be to establish stand- 

 ards based on National surveys; to provide tech- 

 nical assistance; to provide matching Federal 

 grants for coastal land acquisition, research, devel- 

 opment, and enforcement; to assist State acquisi- 

 tion and development through bond guarantees; 

 and to review Federally flnanced State programs 

 for standards of performance. Further, Federal 

 funding should be initiated to provide aimual 

 assistance to State Coastal Zone Authorities in the 

 following amounts: $2.5 million for plarming and 

 operation, $2 million for enforcement, and $25 

 million for coastlands acquisition. 



4. Interstate problems should be solved by the 

 appropriate State Coastal Zone Authorities acting 

 through interstate and regional commissions and 

 compacts. The Federal Govenmient should act as a 

 mediating and review authority in interstate mat- 

 ters. 



5. Marine sanctuaries or preserves should be estab- 

 lished to protect and manage endangered areas 



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