92 



NOS response, DMA takes action to satisfy the requirement. 

 DMA may contract NOS to allow them to put some of their 

 reserve assets back into service, or may task the Navy to 

 carry out the survey, as it did for the one of Vieques • 

 Island. 



Defense needs for charts or hydrographic data are not 

 always for surface navigation, the main purpose for which NOS 

 and most other nautical charts are designed. We must support 

 submarine navigation, mine countermeasures, mine warfare, 

 anti-submarine warfare and other activities. When these 

 other military applications drive a survey requirement in 

 U.S. waters, the circumstances, particularly security 

 classification, of each project dictate the preferred data 

 collection means, but usually the initial request will be 

 made to NOS. We are now in discussions with NOS on 

 establishing real-time systems for tidal current forecasting 

 in specific ports to meet Navy home-porting needs, and on 

 detailed surveys required to ensure safe training areas for 

 Navy ships as they prepare for a coastal warfare contingency. 

 We expect both of these efforts to be joint ventures, and all 

 collected data will be shared. 



In general, NOS has provided adequate support to DoD's 

 requirements. When DoD requires products which involve NOS 

 survey data collection, major NOS recompilation, or 

 compressed schedules beyond NOS ' s ability to program and 

 budget, then DMA, if resources permit, establishes a 

 contractor relationship with NOS and reimburses them to 

 satisfy the requirement. We would, of course, prefer that 

 NOS, through some means such as the existing but currently 

 untouchable Harbor Trust Fund, be allowed resources adequate 

 to meet that agency's responsibilities in support of the 

 Department of Defense. 



