12 



provide. We also feel that the reauthorization of ERDDA would 

 provide EPA with a less fragmented and more cohesive framework 

 within which we can conduct environmental research. 



We support the provisions that are provided in the bill. As I said, 

 we look forward to working with the committee on this. 



I am available to answer questions. 



Senator Reid. Thank you very much. 



Dr. Schaefer? 



STATEMENT OF MARK SCHAEFER, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR FOR 

 THE ENVIRONMENT, OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 

 POLICY, EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 



Dr. Schaefer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



I will summarize my prepared remarks. 



Senator Reid. Without objection, your prepared statement will 

 appear in the record. 



Dr. Schaefer. I am the assistant director for environment in the 

 Office of Science and Technology Policy and I appreciate the oppor- 

 tunity to meet with you this morning to discuss the Administra- 

 tion's efforts to enhance Federal environmental and natural re- 

 sources R&D programs. The Administration is fully committed to 

 working with Congress to improve these programs. 



I would like to describe some of our interagency activities with 

 respect to environmental R&D. Dr. Foley has taken the lead in dis- 

 cussing the specifics of the bill. 



Given the increasing complexity, scope, and linking of local, re- 

 gional, and global environmental issues facing our Nation and the 

 globe, significant changes are needed in the Federal environmental 

 and natural resources R&D system. The classical single agency/sin- 

 gle scientific discipline approach to problem-solving needs to be 

 transcended by a more coordinated multi-agency interdisciplinary 

 approach. 



As you know, several recent reports have criticized the way the 

 Federal Government does its environmental R&D. They raise is- 

 sues with respect to lack of leadership, inadequate links between 

 agencies, no comprehensive national environmental research plan, 

 and imbalance between our intramural and extramural programs. 

 We feel that these criticisms are based in fact. We are taking them 

 seriously and have put in place a number of initiatives to try to 

 rectify them. 



The Administration has demonstrated its leadership and commit- 

 ment to a strong, integrated, and comprehensive Federal program 

 for environmental R&D. In particular, the Committee on Environ- 

 ment and Natural Resources within the new National Science and 

 Technology Council is leading an effort to coordinate these pro- 

 grams and to improve the links between the scientific and policy 

 components of the Executive Branch. 



A unique aspect of the new CENR is that the subcommittees are 

 organized around key environmental policy areas. The subcommit- 

 tee structure was created recognizing that coordinated, inter- 

 disciplinary, multi-agency R&D efforts are required to respond ef- 

 fectively to complicated environmental problems. 



The Administration is committed to formulating an environment 

 and natural resources R&D strategy through the CENR. The 



