Page images
PDF
EPUB

COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT

TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1971

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,

SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY OF THE

COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES,

Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met in room 1334, Longworth Building, Hon. Alton Lennon (chairman) presiding.

Mr. LENNON. The Chair observes that a quorum is present and under the circumstances we will start our hearing.

The Subcommittee on Oceanography this morning opens hearings on coastal zone management legislation. The specific bills before us are H.R. 2492 and H.R. 2493. In addition, I hope that the witnesses will be able to direct their attention to specific provisions of H.R. 9229, which was introduced last week and which adds additional features to H.R. 2493.

The proposed legislation deals with a problem which we recognize as a very basic one in the field of ocean concerns-how is our Nation to handle the mounting pressures which threaten the rational conservation, utilization, and development of our coastal zone resources? Are we to continue to sit idly by without establishing a national policy on coastal zone management, are we to wait until the problem is resolved through the establishment of a Federal land-use policy covering the entire United States, with coastal zone policy as one element of that policy, or shall we now take action to pass legislation which will provide a rational approach to managing this, perhaps the most threatened area of national concern?

We look forward with interest to the witnesses who will appear before us during the next 3 days. They represent various elements of State and local governments, interested oceanographic and conservation organizations, and departments of the Federal Government. As the hearings develop, it may become apparent that a day or two of additional testimony may be necessary in order to hear all the witnesses that desire to be heard. We will have to decide that issue if and when it arises.

The first witness this morning is Dr. William J. Hargis, Jr., Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Va., representing the Coastal States Organization.

(The bills and departmental reports follow :)

[graphic]
« PreviousContinue »