69 



to forge a partnership between those who do the research and those who apply it 

 to real-world situations. 



Answer. The NWS and OAR, in accordance with the interagency plan for the U.S. 

 Weather Research Program, are continually improving the resolution and accuracy 

 of its weather forecasting models. Improvements in short-term forecasting are a goal 

 of the NWS modernization and recent successes in longer range climate predictions 

 should directly benefit U.S. agriculture. These improvements along with an increase 

 in agrometeorological training of NWS forecasters will lead to better products and 

 services. The AWSC program will increase the interaction between NWS meteorolo- 

 gists and USDA and land grant university agronomists, thus fostering regionally 

 specific applied research in agrometeoroloey. Many WFOs will be co-located with 

 universities, and our goal is to nave all AWsCs associated with a land grant univer- 

 sity. The development of robust NOAA/USDA/state/private partnerships is a key to 

 future services to farmers. 



Moreover, the NWS is planning to issue seasonal and annual forecasts of climatic 

 conditions on an operational basis beginning in 1995. These longer-term prediction 

 products could be of significant benefit to the agricultural community when used in 

 conjunction with the improved short-term weather forecasts resulting from the NWS 

 modernization. 



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



Question. Last year, NOAA attempted to consolidate the Pacific Hydrographic 

 Section at Sand Point, Washington with the Atlantic Hydrographic Section in Nor- 

 folk, Virginia. Fortunately, Congress rejected the reprogramming request and the of- 

 fice remains open and operational. I was very critical of the proposal to close this 

 ofiice. Can you assure me that NOAA has abandoned all plans to close or consoli- 

 date the Sand Point Office? 



Answer. A number of factors have changed since the NOAA proposal to consoli- 

 date the Pacific and Atlantic Hydrographic Sections in Norfolk, Virginia. Through 

 retirements and other attrition, the staifing at both sections has been substantially 

 reduced. Previously identified opportunities to eliminate redundant administrative 

 and management structure are no longer available to the same extent. The data 

 processing infrastructure has been redesigned to be personal computer based rather 

 than reliant on central Harris computers. Thus the savings identified from the 

 elimination of duplicate computer facilities and the attendant maintenance costs are 

 no longer achievable. Finally, the functions of the two processing centers have been 

 altered, making each specifically responsible for the processing of fundamentally dif- 

 ferent data sets. For these reasons, the savings achievable through a consolidation 

 to a single facility have greatly diminished. However, mandatea personnel reduc- 

 tions and continuing funding difficulties make it necessary that NOAA management 

 continue to have available for consideration all alternatives whereby program re- 

 sponsibilities can be restructured for more efficient and effective operation. There- 

 fore, it is not possible, regardless of how unlikely a consolidation now appears, to 

 assure you that future consideration or proposal of a consolidation of the two proc- 

 essing centers will not occur. 



Question. The Department of Commerce has approved a plan to establish Individ- 

 ual Fishery Quotas in the halibut/blackcod fishery in the North Pacific. There have 

 been reports that NOAA does not have the financial resources to fully implement 

 the plan. Since every year of delay results in more loss of life, it is imperative to 

 begin the EFQ program as soon as possible. What is the status of the development 

 of the IFQ plan? 



Answer. Implementation of the halibut/blackcod individual fishing quota (IFQ) 

 program is proceeding and is on schedule. Based on the Fiscal Year 1995 Appropria- 

 tions Act, NOAA has sufficient funds to implement the IFQ plan for Alaska. Initial 

 allocations of quota shares are in the process of being issued. An appeals process 

 is in place for those who wish to contest the allocations based on National Marine 

 Fisheries Service records of individual catch history. Three hundred fifty (350) card 

 "swipje" machines have been delivered and the necessary individualized cards, soft- 

 ware testing, and installation will be done during November and December. Fishing 

 under the IFQ program will begin in the spring of 1995. 



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