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requirements could not be met by a single facility, caused NOAA 

 to reevaluate the MUS&T program. Included in this evaluation was 

 an analysis of the scientific requirements of the research 

 community conducted by the National Research Council's Ocean 

 Studies Board. 



As a result of this review, NOAA replaced MUS&T with the Office 

 of Undersea Research and the National Undersea Research Program 

 (NURP) in 1980. The purpose of this action was to develop an 

 undersea research program, in cooperation with university-based 

 research institutions, which would utilize existing facilities, 

 and would encourage scientists to use underwater tools and 

 techniques such as saturation diving, submersibles, and remotely 

 operated vehicles. The objective of NURP is to support research 

 on processes in the world's oceans and large lake ecosystems and 

 their role in global systems. This objective is addressed by a 

 network of National Undersea Research Centers that serve as 

 extensions of NURP and field programs. 



Current NURP Structure 



As stated above, NURP is one program within the Office of 

 Undersea Research. Headed by a Director, this office reviews 

 research proposals submitted through the National Undersea 

 Research Centers (NtJRC) and acts as a scheduler for NOAA-provided 

 undersea research equipment and vessels. The majority of the 

 funds appropriated for NURP are made available for research 

 conducted through the NURC's. 



Under the current program, there are six NURCs. These centers 

 advance the objectives of NURP by conducting and funding 

 scientific research through a competitive, peer-reviewed grant 

 process. Research is funded in the following areas: (1) global 

 oceanic processes; (2) pathways and fate of materials in the 

 ocean; (3) productivity and habitat characteristics; (4) coastal 

 ocean processes; (5) ocean lithosphere and mineral resources; (6) 

 submersible platform technology; and (7) diving safety and 

 physiology. The NURCs provide underwater research tools 

 including submersibles, remotely operated vehicles, and 

 specialized SCUBA systems through a combination of leased and 

 in-house capabilities. In addition, the centers provide 

 technical expertise in the operation of these tools. This allows 

 scientists access to the newest undersea technologies and 

 methods, as well as guidance in the application of these tools to 

 complex research projects. Each center is primarily responsible 

 for research conducted within a defined geographic area. 

 Attached is a map of existing NURCS (Appendix I) , a brief summary 

 of each center's research missions (Appendix II), and a map 

 highlighting principal regional research themes (Appendix III) . 



FUNDING HISTORY 



A review of funding for the NURP program from 1989 to present is 

 included in Appendix IV. During NURP's first three years (1980 

 through 1982), funds were included in the President's budget. 

 Since that time, the Administration has not supported the 



