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5. Generally speaking, yes. 



6. Although I would like to say yes because it would increase CMRC's budget, I don't believe 

 equitable fiinding will work. Some regions are larger and more difficult in which to conduct 

 undersea research than others, or a specific expensive piece of equipment might be needed by 

 one center and not another. Realistically, much of the individual centers' budgets have been 

 dictated by the interests of their Congressional delegations. As NURP has been zero funded by 

 the Administration over the past 1 1 years. Congress has played a major role in NURP's survival. 

 I don't believe that attempting to equate centers' funding would be acceptable or practical. 



7. No. I believe that it is fairly common knowledge among researchers that they can submit a 

 proposal to the center responsible for their region of interest, regardless of the center's 

 homebase. I also believe, however, that a larger geographic network of centers with new 

 funding would generate more proposals because of a wider area of research interests, and it 

 would also increase funding for undersea research in general. 



8. Yes. Legitimizing NURP would increase our chances of getting in the Administration's 

 budget as a line item. It would also set guidelines for future directions and, I believe, basically 

 give NURP a new and much needed positive image internally. 



9. No. There is some undersea research supported by Sea Grant. NSF's support is tied direcdy 

 to their science proposals and I am not aware of any duplication of their scientific efforts with 

 NURP's programs. The Navy also does some civilian science. Last year it coordinated its 

 SeaCliff program with NURP but was not productive. 



Coordination with other programs, institutions or governments first requires a strong, well 

 recognized undersea program that will provide the focus and leadership for longterm undersea 

 research. NURP does not presently serve that role at the level necessary. If legislation and 

 adequate funding are provided along with strong support from NOAA and the Secretary of 

 Commerce, leadership in the field of undersea research and interprogram coordination should 

 follow. 



10. It might help to hold a hearing on deep submergence research this year. If the results of the 

 hearing are positive toward further pursuit of deep submergence research, then Committee 

 support for an appropriation to conduct a preliminary study of a 6-7000-meter system next year 

 (as recommended in the report "New Directions for NOAA's Undersea Research Program," 

 April 1986) would be very helpful. This kind of positive action can go a long way to help 

 facilitate a full deep submergence research program in the future. 



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