24 



TESTIMONY OF 



DR. JAMES BAKER 



UNDER SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE 



NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION 



U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 



BEFORE THE 



SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY, GULF OF MEXICO 



AND THE OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF 



COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES 



U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 



AUGUST 4, 1993 



Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee: 



The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

 sincerely appreciates the opportunity to testify on this most 

 important and timely matter. We believe the dual use concept 

 offers potential for fundamental advances in many aspects of 

 ocean research generally, and to NOAA missions specifically. The 

 "eyes and ears" developed and operated at considerable expense to 

 help defend our Nation can give us an unprecedented view of our 

 own ocean environment - - three-quarters of the Earth - - 

 potentially improving our management of living marine resources, 

 prediction of natural disasters, knowledge of climate change, and 

 information on a host of other critical issues. 



Much still must be done to prove this potential. Some 

 significant steps have already been taken, and many scientists 

 feel the promise is good. We must now: (1) identify the systems 

 and technologies most likely to have environmental applications; 

 (2) test and prove the most promising concepts; (3) resolve 

 security and classification concerns about civilian use; and 



