37 



biology and geology of seamounts in the Western Pacific. For the 

 present, the Center concentrates on studies of volcanic 

 processes, marine mineral formation, mapping of marine minerals, 

 and investigating the effects of mineral mining. The Center is 

 also leading a multidisciplinary team in studying Loihi, the 

 newest Hawaiian island, which is an active submarine volcano 

 emerging south of the Island of Hawaii. 



University of AlasXa at Fairbanks 



The National Undersea Research Center at the University of Alaska 

 at Fairbanks (bTORC-UAF) was established in 1990. NURC-UAF is 

 responsible for undersea research in Alaska, the West Coast of 

 the United States, and the Antarctica. The Center utilizes 

 leased submersible and ROV systems. Specific research includes 

 observation of humpback whale behavior, studies of flatfish 

 recruitment, habitat studies of rockfish and disposal on habitat 

 quality, and studies of active methane vents on the Oregon 

 Continental Shelf. 



Rutgers University 

 The newest NURC, the New York Bight National Undersea Research 

 Center at Rutgers University was established in 1992 by language 

 contained in the Fiscal Year 1991 appropriations bill for NOAA. 

 Rutgers oversees NURP-sponsored research for the Mid-Atlantic 

 area. One of the Center's primary concerns is the sewage sludge 

 dumpsite 106 miles offshore of New York. More specifically, 

 these investigations concern whether the sludge is reaching the 

 ocean bottom; where it is carried subsequently; and whether this 

 material affects the animal community within the sludge plume. 



