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As called for in the Act, NOAA is working with EPA to determine 

 what the agencies can accomplish with current resources and the 

 agencies are working to develop a comprehensive strategy 

 identifying the activities required to implement a comprehensive 

 coastal monitoring program. This strategy is being reviewed 

 within NOAA and EPA and will be submitted to Congress following 

 Administration review. In addition, NOAA is using this strategy 

 to guide the implementation of its existing national coastal 

 monitoring program, the National Status and Trends Program 

 (NS&T) , so that it meets, as much as possible, the goals of the 

 Act. Initial planning is now being conducted to use the results 

 from the NS&T Program, from EPA's Environmental Monitoring and 

 Assessment Program (EMAP) , and from other NOAA, EPA, and DOI 

 programs to develop a report to Congress to describe the 

 condition of the Nation's coastal ecosystems as also called for 

 under the Act. 



Question 4: Rep. Unsoeld has introduced legislation to move 

 NOAA's ocean and coastal programs to other agencies. What 

 reasons can you give to justify keeping these progreuns within the 

 Department of Commerce? 



Answer: NOAA's oceanic and atmospheric missions are closely tied 

 to the goals of economic growth and environmental protection 

 emphasized by this Administration, and NOAA's location in the 

 Department of Commerce fosters both goals. NOAA conducts 

 objective and valued scientific research covering many areas, 

 such as fisheries management, which underlie our policies 

 concerning trade and the environment. NOAA's location within the 

 Department allows its scientists to work more closely with other 

 components of the Department to this end. In addition, 

 separating the interrelated oceanic and atmospheric functions of 

 NOAA could likely diminish the overall level of scientific 

 research being conducted. 



Transferring portions of NOAA from the Department could send a 

 signal, albeit incorrect, that this Administration is not serious 

 about the need for close coordination between our Nation's 

 environmental and industrial communities. Housing NOAA within 

 the Department of Commerce is an important reminder of the need 

 for such coordination. In addition, the Unsoeld bill appears to 

 divert resources from NOAA's scientific research to fund the 

 administrative tasks inherent in an interdepartmental transfer 

 that is not justified. 



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