50 



The assessment of the information generated continues. A great 

 deal of work remains, however. Frankly, baseline information is 

 lacking in many areas. That is why Arctic monitoring programs are 

 so essential. Our domestic agencies work in a coordinated fashion 

 through the National Science Foundation-chaired interagency Arc- 

 tic Research Policy Committee and internationally within the 

 framework provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency 

 and the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program. 



But again, Mr. Chairman, I have to note that the IAEA is a U.N. 

 institution, and thus, it is within the target area as funding for 

 U.N. agencies is slashed. Also, the new IAEA programs, such as 

 the present Arctic work, must be done through voluntary contribu- 

 tions and there is likely to be less of that in the days ahead. Our 

 support for AMAP, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program, 

 has largely been via a dedication of U.S. agency personnel and the 

 small grants program that my bureau in the State Department has 

 administered since fiscal year 1992. Unfortunately, that program 

 may not exist in fiscal year 1996. 



The Arctic cannot be monitored for free. The administration and 

 the Congress need to work together to see how that might best be 

 done. We have made a start by developing a coordinated Arctic re- 

 search budget, as called for several years ago by P.L. 101-609 and 

 reaffirmed in the administration's policy review. However, funding 

 remains inconsistent, fragmented, and in some cases nonexistent. 



In closing, Mr. Chairman, there is no lack of enthusiasm within 

 agencies or internationally in establishing programs to tackle these 

 issues, but we are all struggling with very real budget constraints 

 and prioritization must occur among the many needs that we all 

 have. The big question we face, frankly, is just where do these is- 

 sues of Arctic contamination really stand in that priority list. 



Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity. I do have about a 

 half hour and I would be happy to wait. 



[The prepared statement of Ambassador Colson follows:! 



