CONGRESSIONAL RECORD -- SENATE

June 12, 1969

Page 15567

S. 2393 -- INTRODUCTION OF THE MARINE RESOURCES PRESERVATION ACT OF 1969

Mr. MUSKIE. Mr. President, on behalf of myself and Senators ANDERSON, BAYH, BIBLE, COOPER, CRANSTON, DODD, HART, INOUYE, JAVITS, MONDALE, MCCARTHY, PACKWOOD, RIBICOFF, SMITH, SPONG, TYDINGS, WILLIAMS of New Jersey, YARBOROUGH, and YOUNG of Ohio, I introduce the Marine Resources Preservation Act of 1969.

Recent oil spills from giant tankers, the blowout of the drilling rig in the Santa Barbara Channel, and burgeoning sales of coastal lands have focused national attention on the importance of applying our Nation's conservation ethic to the resources of the sea as we have to the resources of the land.

The exploitation and development of our oceans is still in its earliest stages, and we have an opportunity to assure continuing public access to these resources. Although exploitation of beaches and marshlands has progressed more rapidly, there is still time to regulate the uses of some of these areas for the benefit of all Americans. We have a chance to avoid repeating the mistakes we have made with respect to so many of our resources and so much of our environment.

At the present time there is no way that portions of our tidelands and outer Continental Shelf can be set aside for research, recreation, or other specific purposes. And as far as beaches and shorelines are concerned, the alternatives are limited to strict conservation with no development of any kind or open and relatively uncontrolled exploitation. Unless we find ways to encourage the balanced, multiple use of our marine resources, future generations will be faced with the same staggering problems of restoration and reclamation that we now face with our land, our air, and our waters.

The Marine Resources Preservation Act would constitute an effective first step in planning the uses of the sea. The bill authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to recommend the best means of establishing portions of our tidelands, Outer Continental Shelf, seaward areas, Great Lakes, and adjoining shorelines as marine preserves. It also directs the Secretary to enter into agreements with affected State or local governments for the purpose of establishing regulations concerning the uses of areas designated by the Congress as marine preserves.

Through this mechanism, I feel that we will have the opportunity to preserve our marine resources for ourselves and future generations. A haphazard policy of laissez-faire will only lead to the forfeit of this part of our environment.

I ask that the text of the bill and a Summary of its provisions be printed in the RECORD at this point.

The VICE PRESIDENT. The bill will be received and appropriately referred; and, without objection, the bill and summary will be printed in the RECORD.

The bill (S. 2393), to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to Study the most feasible and desirable means of protecting certain portions of the tidelands, Outer Continental Shelf, seaward areas, Great Lakes of the United States, and the adjoining shorelines thereof as marine preserves and for other purposes, introduced by Mr. MUSKIE (for himself and other Senators), was received, read twice by its title, referred to the Committee on Commerce, and ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows: