Andrus Calls Government Resource Policy Wasteful

Secretary of the Interior Cecil D. Andrus said yesterday evening reorganization of federal natural resource agencies is necessary if the United States is to achieve a balance between development and conservation.

Andrus told an audience of about 125 people at the ARCO Forum of Public Affairs at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, the life of a nation is similar to the life of a person. "In our youth we can be wasteful, but we have to correct our mistakes before it's too late," he said.

"Our federal policy must be well organized to be fully efficient, comprehensive and coordinated," Andrus said, adding "presently our managing of natural resources is scattered, cumbersome, and wasteful."

Confusion

The former governor of Idaho said right now the division between federal departments and agencies results in the duplication of effort and inefficiency.

"To continue this fragmentation is gross irresponsibility on the part of the public officials of America," Andrus added. "It must stop soon," he said.

Alleviation

He said the plan that President Carter has proposed to Congress, which would create a department of natural resources including the U.S. Forest Service, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the other agencies within the Department of the Interior, would alleviate the problem.

Andrus said Carter's proposal would eliminate problems such as the current battle between the Department of the Interior and the Department of Commerce over the jurisdiction of sea territory.

Alaska, Here I Come

Andrus discussed oil drilling in Alaska. "We can't stop the exploration needs of America because we need the energy," he said. He added, however, "Protection and development must accelerate together in this matter."

"All the people in the United States own that land in Alaska and I'm going to see to it that it's protected. If they don't like it, that's tough," he said.

Andrus said his department will try to convince Americans that they can "make their mark in the world without making a mark on the world."