172 



STUENGTHENING TMt R*D INKRASTRIICTURE 7S 



af>cncics involved in the Global Change RcNcarch Program and has shaped 

 much of the current debate and information about global clim:.ie change. 

 NOAA also has taken the lead in researching the environmental effects of 

 the Persian Gulf War oil spills on the western shore of the Persian Gulf." 

 and it has sponsored research indicating that CFC substitutes may cause 

 more damage to the stratosphere than originally postulated. -' 



Although NOAA has contributed significantly to atmospheric and 

 (Kcanic science, its separation from other ba^ic research environmental R&D 

 agencies and its location within the Department of Commerce have resulted 

 in less visibility than that of other environmental agencies. Furthermore, 

 its current position has made it vulnerable to budget cuts. 



Weaknesses and Isolation 



Today, NOAA suffers from several weaknesses that are directly related to 

 its location within Commerce and its consequent isolation. First, NOAA's 

 mission includes a comb-nation of research and environmental services. In 

 recent years, its mission has evolved away from basic research to emphasize 

 "environmental services" in business and economics. ^^ This shift in philos- 

 ophy impedes NOAA's ability to plan and carry out environmental R&D. 

 Commerce is a business-oriented department created to help American in- 

 dustry become more competitive, to promote trade and export in American 

 goods and services, and to speed up commercialization of new technologies. 

 As a science agency, NOAA's location within the Department of Commerce 

 makes little sense.'' Although NOAA accounts for more than half the 

 Department's budget, it does not command half the Secretary of Commerce's 

 attention. 



Second, NOAA's funding has fluctiutcd greatly over the past decade. 

 During the 19S0S, for example, the Reagan administration proposed 10 per- 

 cent cuts in NOAA's funding each year. Congress resisted these cuts, and 

 NOAA's budget remained more or less constant throughout the decade. 

 However, because of inflation, its budget in real dollars actually declined.'" 

 Although the recent Global Change Research Program has resulted in a 

 reversal of that trend, the lack of adequate funding during the 19S0S caused 

 NOAA CO defer many capital improvements that were needed to maintain 

 the technical infrastructure that supports its environmental R&D efforts.'* 



Third, NOAA has £uled to establish strong ties to universities and 

 to the pri\'ate seaor.'" Universities and priN-ate businesses could greatly as- 

 sin the agenq- in carr>-ing out its environmental research agenda and in 

 building a strong constitucnq' for the agency. 



