action to be taken at specific localities o As there has been some con- 

 fusion on this point, it should be stressed that this act does not authorize 

 the study of problems at specific localities at Federal expense and thus 

 supersede cooperative studieSo It does not do thato The cooperative 

 study still is in effect as provided hy the first beach erosion law. 

 Public Law 520, 71st Congress o 



It is worthwhile to point out the enormous importance of the general 

 studies under the Act of 1945, for which the Beach Erosion Board is 

 entirely dependent on allotments from Federal appropriations. Beach pro- 

 tection is a branch of engineering in which the forces involved, wind, 

 waves, and earth movement, are difficult to determine in quality, and 

 still more difficult to measure. The materials upon which they act, notably 

 sand, are elusive. In the present state of the art, it is hard to give 

 exact answers as to the effect at a certain point of a certain improvement. 

 We will increase our knowledge by observance of existing works and by 

 general studies. If existing works fail, -the answers may be as valuable 

 as a good autopsy, but, after all, the patient will be dead. Good general 

 studies give us a better chance of effecting a real curen 



In addition to the principal provision authorizing general investi- 

 gations. Public Law 166 also states that all provisions of existing law 

 relating to examinations and surveys of river and harbor improvemKits 

 shall apply, insofar as practicable, to examinations and surveys and works 

 of improvement relating to shore protection, except that the reports are 

 referred to the Beach Erosion Board instead of to the Hiver and Harbor 

 Board, This provision has been interpreted to provide authority for pre- 

 liminary examinations and surveys of beach erosion problems at Federal ex- 

 pense. Another feature of Public Law 166 is the requirement that the 

 Beach Erosion Board include in its report statements of its opinion on 

 three points; (a) the advisability of adopting the project, (b) what 

 public interest, if any, is involved in the proposed improvement, and (c) 

 what share of expense, if any, should be borne by the United States. 

 River and Harbor acts authorizing preliminary examinations and surveys 

 with a view to shore protection have, so far, also included this require- 

 ment for surveys of that type. 



Public Law 727, 79th Congress , The latest act which has beeA passed 

 on this subject is Public Law 727, 79th Congress, approved 13 August 1946, 

 which authorizes Federal participation in the cost of protecting the 

 shores of publicly-owned property. The act states »±t is hereby declared 

 to be the policy of the United States to assist in the construction, but 

 not the maintenance, of works for the improvement and protection against 

 erosion ty waves and currents of the shore of the United States that are 

 owned by States, municipalities, or other political subdivisions: 

 Provided , That the Federal contribution toward the construction of pro- 

 tective works shall not in any case exceed one-third of the total cost;" 

 " Provided further , That the plan of protection shall have been specifi- 

 cally adopted and authorized by Congress after investigation and study by 

 the Beach Erosion Board under the provisions of Section 2 ,of the River 



