OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 381 



Mr. McIvERNAN. Not in 1960. You see, our 1960 budgets were 

 submitted a good deal before this particular study was completed. 



Mr. Oliver. So, so far as the budgetary recommendations of the 

 committee of scientists are concerned, your Bureau's appropriations 

 for 1960 will not reflect those recommendations. 



Mr. McKernan. The original budget for 1960 will not reflect those 

 recommendations, but we nevertheless are attempting to w^ork with 

 other departments of Government to reorient our oceanographic pro- 

 gram within the limitations of our budget and with the limitations 

 that Congress imposes upon us for the expenditure of our funds. 

 Within those limitations we are attempting to reorient our program 

 to use to the maximmn the recommendations which have been sub- 

 mitted in this report. 



Mr. Oliver. Was any increased appropriation requested by your 

 Bureau through the Department to the Bureau of the Budget? 



Mr. McKernax. ]Mr. Oliver, I do not believe that I am permitted 

 to disclose information on preliminary estimates by our budget, but 

 I think it fair to say that our Bureau has been aware for a number 

 of years of the need for increased oceanographic research, and we have 

 been attempting consistently to reorient our program along these lines. 

 We have done so within the limits of our authority. 



Mr. Oliver. I am sure, Dr. McKernan, there is no need for me to 

 stress to you the importance of increased oceanographic research. You 

 are fully aware, far more than I, of the implications involved in not 

 doing what you should be doing. What bothers me is whether or not 

 we are waiting until 1961 or 1962 or 1972 before we do the things 

 which we know should be done as soon as possible. 



I am concerned about what I think to be the fact, that various bu- 

 reaus and departments of the Government wliich have a direct interest 

 in this perliaps are not doing what should be done to get the impor- 

 tance of these necessary appropriations stressed elfectively enough to 

 get the actual money and clo the job. That is all I wanted to deter- 

 mine. Thank you very much. 



Mr. Miller. Mr. Curtin. 



Mr. Curtin. Tliank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Doctor, as you know, recently there was published a list of proposed 

 disposal points for nuclear wastes in the sea and in the gulf. Was 

 your agency contacted and did you discuss with the National Academy 

 of Sciences these locations before this publication was made? 



Mr. McKernan. Yes, Mr. Curtin. Dr. Walter Chipman was a 

 member of the group whicli finally came up with those recommenda- 

 tions, and Mr. Howard Eckles of our staft' right in the Washington 

 office was a consultant. So our Bureau had ample opportunity to 

 express our views with respect to those recommendations. 



Mr. Curtin. Certain of the spots seem to be very close to or in the 

 middle of rather popular fishing grounds. Was that taken into con- 

 sideration when these discussions were held ? 



Mr. McKernan. Yes, it was. It is my understanding that these 

 recommended locations are not final by any means. Is that correct, 

 Dr.McHugh? 



Mr. McHuGH. That is correct. 



Mr. McKernan. There still will be opportunity and still must be 

 opportunity for further study and review of the possible effects on 

 any of our resources, not only fislieries, but others as well. 



