87 



from reallocations realized by closing or consolidating obsolete, 

 unneeded, or inefficient ARS research facilities. 



The UAB also recommended that if a university or a state 

 believes such a facility is vital to agriculture in its area of 

 the country, ARS should transfer, lease, or loan that facility to 

 a local research body. In this way, ARS can more properly 

 concentrate on research activities and initiatives that have 

 national significance. 



We urged in the 1990 February report that repair and 

 maintenance costs for all facilities be assessed realistically, 

 and funding levels be adjusted to ensure, at the very least, that 

 these major facilities do not deteriorate any further. We said 

 we did not support new facilities unless a comprehensive review 

 of present facility options shows that a cost-saving 

 consolidation would result. We also recommended that ARS and 

 Congress not continue to add new facilities if present facilities 

 are not fully utilized. 



The February 1991 report asked ARS to develop standards of 

 operation for its facilities, and to close or consolidate those 

 facilities that fail to meet such standards. These standards 

 would be spelled out in the ARS 6-year strategic plans, but 

 preferably with a 10-to 15 year outlook. These plans should also 

 include the amount of funding necessary to keep facilities of 

 long-term importance in good repair. 



In 1988 the UAB recommended closing 20 Agricultural Research 

 Service research facilities in FY 1989 and another 20 in FY 1990. 

 The UAB has argued that consolidation of ARS would generate 

 millions of dollars in savings which could be reallocated to 

 upgrade remaining facilities and to invest in base and 

 competitive funding. 



In 1990 the UAB recommended that the system be overhauled 

 using an External Peer Review Panel which I will describe in 

 detail momentarily. 



In 1992, the UAB once again urged the reform of facilities 

 and stressed the importance of providing adequate maintenance of 

 key facilities at the Beltsville, Maryland Agricultural Research 

 Center, the Plum Island Animal Research Center in New York, and 

 the National Animal Disease Control Center in Ames, Iowa. 



The Administration and Congress have failed to act on any of 

 the UAB recommendations I have briefly described. 



./I 



