154 



I've talked to some of the appropriators for NASA on this issue 

 who were almost caught offguard, like what is the ocean component 

 of Mission to Planet Earth? 



So I think we have to air those kinds of things and we recognize 

 that with funding problems, it's going to be a problem, but let's 

 start it up. Let's do it even on a modest basis and get it into our 

 system. 



And that's the kind of integration that I think is important with 

 NASA. 



Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Chairman? 



Mr. Weldon. Yes? 



Mr. Kennedy. Mr. Chairman, if I could just interject here. 



Mr. Weldon. Oh, yes. 



Mr. Kennedy. Because it's on this subject. 



Rhode Island was the first to embark on this with the help of Ad- 

 ministrator Goldin and with the Baykeeper in Narraganset Bay. 

 We're going to take the satellite technology that comes from the 

 pictures of the earth and 380 different colors, correspond each of 

 those colors to a different characteristic — salinity, water tempera- 

 ture, the coastal environment — and you've got a holistic picture of 

 the bay, where the most productive areas are for shell fishing and 

 the like, where the currents are coming and going. 



It's just going to do wonders for coastal zone management. It's 

 a unique idea of sharing satellite technology. Mission to Planet 

 Earth, with what we're trying to do with this. I think it's a perfect 

 example. 



In fact, it's only through the initiative of ASA, which is a private 

 company in Rhode Island, that is going to develop the simulation 

 models and make a commercial application of this. 



And I can guarantee you that there's going to be a great commer- 

 cial application for this when you think of all that can be developed 

 from this knowledge of where the best place to harvest aquaculture 

 is, or things of that sort. 



Mr. Weldon. Thank you, Mr. Kennedy. 



Our next questioner is from the Natural Resources Oversight 

 Subcommittee on Ocean Issues and has been a tireless champion 

 since he's been a member of this Congress, and long before that on 

 ocean issues. 



His state is what has given me my sensitivity to the oceans be- 

 cause I spend part of my summers there. The distinguished gen- 

 tleman from New Jersey, Mr. Saxton. 



Mr. Saxton. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just want to note at 

 the outset that Mr. Rohrabacher — I'm sorry he left. I just wanted 

 to let him know that I'm a sailor and a fisherman and a clammer. 



And my staff has determined that I have twice as much coastline 

 as he does. 



[Laughter.] 



Each of you has indicated a commonality, and I might say with- 

 out exception and I think it's actually quite good that many of us 

 are on a common wave of thought relative to where we ought to 

 go with ocean science and environmental research. 



The notions that you have conveyed here this morning I think 

 are particularly important in terms of partnerships and 



