Affairs report, develop a the proposed commission was to help Congress "rational legal framework from the current inconsistent and inappropriate coverage of the insular areas in Federal laws which inhibits economic expansion, creates inequi- ties, denies otherwise recognized Federal responsibilities and frustrates the objectives of well intentioned federal and insular programs." So far, none of these proposals have been enacted. Department of Interior review of laws In late 1981, when it became apparent that a comprehensive federal laws commission was not obtaining sufficient support, Interior's Office of the Solicitor began a study of the applicability of laws to the U.S. territories and Trust Territory. According to the study leader, a former Director of the Office of Territorial Affairs, Puerto Rico is not included in the pre- sent analysis However, after its because she said current that it study is outside Interior is plans Interior's to completed prepare which will application of federal laws to Puerto Rico. The objective of jurisdiction. the study is to examine all an addendum detail federal the . laws and provide a legal analysis of the respective statutes, including what the statute does, where it is applicable, and any particular problems it presents. As of August 1984, 10 legal areas involving fishing, shipping, transportation, bankruptcy and banking had been studied. The results of the analyses have been circulated to the territorial governments and cognizant federal agencies for comment. It is anticipated that legislative propoSals will be submitted to Congress based on the results of the analysis. October Interior 1986. believes the review may be completed by National Marine Fisheries Service study ; fie In response to concerns raised by officials from the Paci- territories, NMFS adversely affected tories. ies and conducted a review fisheries development NMFS reported that most federal fisheries development were ". . . mainland laws and as 9000241 wish either to be exempt 34 federal the laws Pacific that terri- laws concerning fisher- such sitive to special Island needs. ers of in are insen- Island lead- from such laws