17 



Ms. JosEPHSON. We do have problems at that lab. As the GAO 

 report points out, NOAA has problems in many of its facilities, as 

 do many other of the research agencies. We have proposed as part 

 of our fiscal year 1995 budget process, a more robust program to 

 deal with these issues and it remains to be seen exactly how we 

 fare in the budget that comes up to you. 



In the case of fisheries that would include the fisheries labs. We 

 do not have any specific plan to relocate that lab, but we hope to 

 be able to incorporate in our construction account resources to deal 

 with the problems in our labs, including that lab. But the specifics, 

 I cannot speak to at the moment. 



Mr. Green. Well, thank you — oh, one more question from Con- 

 gressman Weldon. 



Mr. Weldon. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



Congressman Fields wanted to be here but could not, but he 

 asked me to raise an issue with you, which I would ask you to re- 

 spond to. 



Would NOAA support an extension of the coastal zone manage- 

 ment program development grants, which I understand expired re- 

 cently — last year, actually — to allow States like Texas and Ohio to 

 enter into the CZM program? 



Ms. JosEPHSON. Can I respond for the record? I am not aware 

 that they cannot apply. 



Mr. Weldon. Evidently, the grant authorization expired last 

 year, and he would like to know if that could be extended so States 

 like Texas and Ohio could apply. 



Ms. JosEPHSON. OK, I will respond for the record. 



Mr. Weldon. OK, thank you. 



[The following information was supplied by Ms. Josephson subse- 

 quent to the hearing:] 



Section 305 of the CZMA provides for 2 years of development funds to States to 

 develop a coastal zone management program. After 2 years, if a State has not sub- 

 mitted an approvable program, funding is the State's responsibility to continue pro- 

 gram development. 



NOAA recognizes that 2 years is a very short amount of time to develop a coastal 

 zone management program with all its necessary elements. NOAA w^ould consider 

 relief from this 2-year limitation to allow the States which have made substantial 

 progress toward completing their CZM Programs, additional time to complete pro- 

 gram development. 



The concurrent development of a coastal nonpoint program presents a challenge 

 to States developing coastal zone management programs. The fact that §305 States 

 are not authorized to receive §6217 funds for the development of coastal nonpoint 

 programs limits the ability of such States to produce both a coastal zone manage- 

 ment program and a coastal nonpoint program within the limited time frame. 

 NOAA looks forward to discussing with Congress ways of addressing the statutory 

 problem creating this inequity. 



Mr. Green. Thank you, no other questions. This concludes the 

 testimony for this hearing. 



Ms. Josephson, I want to thank you for the hearing and for shar- 

 ing your testimony and insights with us today. The testimony and 

 discussions we have had are particularly useful to the Subcommit- 

 tee as we draft the reauthorization for NOAA's ocean and coastal 

 programs. 



As you know, the Congress is now demanding that programs be 

 authorized, and points of order have been raised against budgets 

 for entire agencies. We do not want to have to enter into yearly 



