66 



The negotiations resulted in the December 1993 issuance to employees in all field 

 ofiices of the attached ^^WS Human Resources and Position Management Plan 

 which summarized and outlined most of the significant personnel and human re- 

 sources activities expected to occur throu^out the transition. The plan answers the 

 vast majority of the personnel-related NWS modernization questions of field employ- 

 ees at the time they were surveyed by the NRC. 



Questions Asked by Senator Kerry and Answers Thereto by Dr. Baker 

 advanced weather interactive processing syctem (awips) 



Question. The centerpiece of National Weather Service (NWS) modernization is 

 the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS), an information sys- 

 tem that will acquire and process information from weather observation systems 

 such as satellites and radars. I understand that there are now problems with the 

 AWIPS procurement. What is the nature of the problems and what steps are you 

 taking to correct them? If there is a delay in the current schedule, what impact will 

 this delay have on the costs and future schedule of AWIPS, and what are the impli- 

 cations for NWS modernization? 



Answer. The problems with the AWIPS contract stem from contractor failure to 

 make progress in its detailed design of AWIPS. This problem caused the Govern- 

 ment to reject a key design document delivered by the contractor. 



In order to correct these problems, the Government commissioned an independent 

 team of experts to identify any underlj^ng causes of the design problems and to pro- 

 pose corrective action. As a result of the review, the Government plans to restruc- 

 ture the contract to more closely track the contractor's progress bv increasing the 

 intervals at which the system is delivered, by redefining the capabilities in the first 

 delivered system, and by requiring an increased use of proven NWS weather fore- 

 casting applications. The latter minimizes the overall schedule impact of these con- 

 tract changes upon the contract and the modernization program and provides the 

 earliest possible delivery of systems to field ofiices. Management changes have been 

 made both at PRC and NOAA to improve the management of AWIPS acquisition. 



A firm schedule for the completion of the Development Phase is not possible at 

 this time. Therefore, cost estimates are not available at this time; however, it should 

 be noted that the major program costs under the current contract are associated 

 with the procurement of systems in the deployment phase. When the restructure is 

 completed, we will be in a better position to estimate the costs to the AWIPS pro- 

 gram and associated impacts to the modernization. 



ROLES OF NMFS AND SEA GRANT IN AQUACULTURE 



Question. NOAA is responsible for conservation, management and wise use of the 

 Nation's living marine resources, promoting healthy ecosystems, and strengthening 

 coastal economies. Aauaculture has the potential to be an important component of 

 this responsibility. What are the current roles of the National Marine Fisheries 

 Service (NMFS) and the National Sea Grant College Program (Sea Grant) in aqua- 

 culture? 



Answer. In Fiscal Year 1993 the National Sea Grant College Program supported 

 almost 100 research projects with $7 million in Federal and matching funds. Sea 

 Grant addresses aquaculture in three time dimensions — immediate, mid-term, and 

 long-term — through activities in its traditional triad: research, education, and out- 

 reach or technology transfer. The research component focuses primarily on systems 

 development, genetics, physiology and endocrinology, nutrition, disease, policy, and 

 economics. Sea Grant research, education, and outreach have led to the establish- 

 ment or enhancement of scores of businesses. 



In Fiscal Year 1993, aquaculture research conducted by NMFS was funded at $3.2 

 million while NMFS provided outside support for research or hatchery operations 

 of almost $17 million. NMFS presently funds the operation of 25 major salmon 

 hatcheries in the Columbia River Basin through the 1938 Mitchell Act which was 

 established to mitigate loss of salmon runs because of construction of hydroelectric 

 projects. The Mitchell Act hatchery program is the largest federally-funded marine 

 fisheries enhancement program in the United States. 



Several NMFS-administered state/federal and industry grant programs have ad- 

 dressed aquaculture development in response to industry needs ana state manage- 

 ment priorities. In the last five years, the Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program has 

 provided funding for commercial aquaculture projects of between $500,000 and $1.7 

 million annually, with a trend to increased funding. In Alaska, since ratification of 



