4 OCEANOGRAPHY 



eludes geodesy, oceanography, seismology, and geomagnetism. The Coast and 

 Geodetic Survey as a Government agency primarily resi>onsible for surveys in 

 these fields has experienced a rapidly inci-easing demand for its services in con- 

 nection with these activities. Many of these requests require data relating to 

 geographical locations and geophysical phenomena which can be obtained only 

 from surveys, observations, measurements or investigations outside the United 

 States, its Territories and possessions. Under the geographical restrictions set 

 forth in the 1947 act, the Coast and Geodetic Survey is unable to collect through 

 its own field parties such data and regardless of the necessity in the national 

 interest for precise data is forced to rely upon other sources for the necessary 

 observations, surveys, measurements and investigations with no control over 

 methods, standards of accuracy or priorities to be established for the various 

 projects. 



The oceanographic program as proposed by the National Academy of Sciences, 

 National Research Covuicil, which is now being considered by the Congress, 

 recommends that the Coast and Geodetic Survey be responsible for half of the 

 deep-ocean surveys. The inclusion of the geographical restrictions in the 1947 

 act poses a question as to whether or not the Coast and Geodetic Survey has 

 the legal authority to conduct hydrographic and oceanographic surveys on the 

 high seas. This question is raised by the ambiguity of the phrase ( "including 

 surveys of offlying islands, banks, shoals, and other offshore areas)" in section 

 1(1) of the act. 



A question is also raised by the inclusion of the geographical limitations in 

 section 1 as to whether or not the Coast and Geodetic Survey has the authority 

 to conduct the activities enumerated in that section in areas outside the United 

 States, its territories and possessions as a reimbursable project for another 

 department or agency in accordance with section 601 of the Economy Act of 

 1932 (31 U.S.C. 686). 



The proposed legislation would authorize the Coast and Geodetic Survey to 

 carry out its activities without regard to geographical limitations whenever the 

 head of an executive agency determines the project to be essential to the na- 

 tional interest. 



Since the enactment of the enclosed draft bill would not, in the forseeable 

 future, entail annual expenditure of appropriated funds in excess of $1 million 

 the provisions of Public Law 801, 84th Congi-ess, are not applicable. 



Department of the Navy, 



Office of the Secretary, 

 Washington, D.C., August 12, 1959. 

 Hon. Warren G. Magnuson, 



Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 

 U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 



My Dear Mr. Chahiman : Your request for comment on S. 2482. a bill to re- 

 move geographical limitations on activities of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, 

 and for other purposes, has been assigned to this Department by the Secretary 

 of Defense for the preparation of a report thereon expressing the views of the 

 Department of Defense. 



The act of Congress approved August 6, 1947 (61 Stat. 787), pertaining to the 

 functions of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, limits the activities of the Survey 

 to the United States, its Territories, and possessions. The Congress considered 

 this limitation proi)er inasmuch as surveying, mapping, and charting functions 

 covering areas outside the United States, its Territories and possessions are 

 being carried out by the charting and mapping agencies of the Army. Navy, and 

 Air Force. The responsibilities of the Hydrographic Office of the Department 

 of the Navy in this connection are defined in United States Code, title 10, section 

 7391^. 



In support of the above functions, national repositories have been established 

 at the Hydrographic Office, the Army Map Service, and the Aeronautical Chart 

 and Information Center containing information worldwide in scope, in the fields 

 of hydrography and oceanography; geodesy and topography, and aeronautical 

 charting, respectively. These repositories, uniqiie in scope, contain classified 

 and unclassified surveying, mapping, and charting data produced throughotit the 

 world. Through its military attacht''S the Dei)artnient of Defense is constantly 



