OCEANOGRAPHY 139 



sums for particular areas of science will automatically greatly improve the 

 research situation with respect to such areas. In the case of oceanography, 

 while additional sums are being requested by various Federal agencies, the 

 major problem is to obtain a sufficient number of well-qualified people able to 

 utilize such additional funds in ways which will be of substantial benefit to 

 oceanographic research. We believe that, in view of the particular interest 

 which has been focused on the field of oceanography, more persons will become 

 interested in entering the field. However, until a considerable number of addi- 

 tional persons are trained to do high-quality scientific research in oceanography, 

 the provision of large sums for the support of oceanographic research will not 

 of itself improve the research situation in the field. This is not to say that 

 additional sums are not desirable but merely to provide a word of caution as to 

 the ability of available oceanographers to utilize greatly increased amounts of 

 research money in a useful manner. The National Science Foundation and 

 other Federal agencies are seeking funds of a magnitude which they believe can 

 presently appropriately be utilized for oceanographic research taking into ac- 

 count, of course, needs in other areas of science. 



Subsection (b) of section 7 of this bill would establish within the Department 

 of Commerce a National Oceanographic Records Center which would collect 

 data on oceanography and disseminate it for public use. The desirability of 

 such a center, and its location, if one is to be established, are currently under 

 study within the executive branch and we believe it advisable to await these 

 recommendations before any action is taken in this regard. 



In connection with subsection (c) of section 7, we would like to point out 

 that for the Coast and Geodetic Survey to operate beyond the limits of the 

 Continental Shelf a change in its basic authority will be necessary. H.R. 

 8450, introduced in the first session of the 86th Congress, would provide such 

 authority to the Survey. 



Subsection (f) of section 7 would require the Maritime Administration to 

 construct oceanographic research vessels to be made available to nonprofit re- 

 search centers, to other agencies of the Federal Government, or to State institu- 

 tions engaged in oceanographic research requiring oceangoing ships. We feel 

 that it would be preferable if the Federal agencies concerned with oceanographic 

 research budgeted for such ships when and as they are needed, either for their 

 own use or for use by private institutions. We believe that more appropriate 

 roles for the Maritime Administration in this connection would be to (1) serve 

 as adviser on design studies, (2) undertake construction on the basis of a 

 transfer of funds from the agency concerned, or (3) finance and undertake 

 research and development for oceanographic ships of unusual or novel design 

 on request of user agencies. Such an approach, we believe, would provide 

 greater flexibility and yet permit utilization of the valuable services of the 

 Maritime Administration in connection with the ship construction. 



Section 9 of the bill would authorize the Secretary of Health, Education, and 

 Welfare, through the Office of Education, to provide assistance, in the form of 

 teachers' salaries and equipment, designed to obtain new faculty in oceanog- 

 raphy and the marine sciences. Title IV of the National Defense Education Act 

 authorizes the provision of funds by the Department of Health, Education, and 

 Welfare which may be used by colleges and universities for faculty and equip- 

 ment related to new or expanded fellowship programs undertaken by such 

 institutions. It would appear that the combined authority existing in the 

 National Science Foundation Act of 1950 and in title IV of the National Defense 

 Education Act is fully adequate for the undertaking by executive agencies of 

 providing all of the forms of support contemplated by section 9 of the bill. 



With respect to section 11 of the bill, authorizing the Atomic Energy Com- 

 mission to conduct an intensive 10-year program of control and monitoring 

 of radioactive waste disposal and studies relating to the effects of radioactivity 

 on the marine environment, we understand that the Commission is presently 

 engaged in activities in this area. In addition, we would like to point out that, 

 on August 14. 19.59, President Eisenhower issued Executive Order 10831, estab- 

 lishing the Federal Radiation Council to advise him with respect to radiation 

 standards and the provision of guidance to executive agencies for their use in 

 developing operating rules and regulations for radiological health protection. 

 This Council was given a statutory base by Public Law 36-373, approved Septem- 

 ber 2, 1959. It appears, therefore, that enactment of section 11 of the bill may 

 be unnecessary. 



Finally section 13(f) of H.R. 9361 would authorize and direct the Secretary 

 of the Navy to establish, with the National Science Foundation, or the National 



