ADVANCEMENT OF MARINE SCIENCES 99 



The Bureau of the Budget advises there is no objection to the sub- 

 mission of this report from the standpoint of the administration's 

 program. 



Sincerely yours, 



Edward Gudeman, 

 Under Secretary of Commerce. 



U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, 



Washington, D.C., May 11, 1961. 



Dear Senator Magnuson: The Atomic Energy Commission is 

 pleased to have this opportunity to comment on S. 901, a bill to 

 advance the marme sciences, to establish a comprehensive 10-year 

 program of oceanographic research and surveys, and to achieve other 

 worthwhile purposes relating to marine environments. 



While the Commission is in accord with the purposes and intent 

 of the proposed legislation, we believe enactment of the bill unneces- 

 sary. This opinion is based on our belief that the balanced and flexible 

 overall national program of oceanography recommended by the Pres- 

 ident in his letter of March 29, 1961, to the President of the Senate 

 will provide for the best use of resources available for oceanography 

 in general and those available to the Commission in particular for 

 discharging its responsibilities in the field of oceanography. 



With respect to sections 9(c), 11, and 12 of the proposed legislation 

 wherein certiiu studies and regulatory programs relating to radio- 

 active waste disposal are authorized, the Atomic Energy Commission 

 has, under the provisions of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954, as 

 amended, authority and responsibility for both the research and reg- 

 ulating aspects of the spheres of activity covered by the aforemen- 

 tioned sectioiis of this bill. Furthermore, m fulfilling these responsi- 

 bilities, the Commission has put into efl'ect an extensive regulatory 

 and research and development program hi this field which will extend 

 beyond the 10-year limit contemplated by S. 901. 



We have been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there is 

 no objection to the transmission of this report from the standpoint 

 of the administration's program. 

 Sincerely yours, 



John S. Graham, 



Acting Chairman. 

 Hon. Warren G. Magnuson, 



Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 

 U.S. Senate. 



