phlet No. 10). Approved by the President in 1963, this plan (1) ad- 
dressed itself to oceanographic problems of national interest, and (2) 
outlined the goals toward which a national oceanographic program 
must be directed to meet national needs. In effect, the plan provides 
a means by which Federal, academic, and industrial members of the 
oceanographic community can look ahead together by providing a 
perspective in which they can see their various programs in relation 
to each other and to the national goals they support. 
In developing its annual programs since 1964, ICO has been guided 
by, but not bound to, the long-range plan. The annual program is 
based on the recommendations and findings of seven special ICO 
panels * which reflect skills and competence found in the agencies 
and provide a means for expression of many points of view. In 
planning the program, panel members identify technical needs in 
various areas, devise programs and measures to meet these needs, iden- 
tify desirable allocations of technical effort among the agencies, and 
suggest the assignment of technical leadership. 
The Interagency Committee on Oceanography reviews these panel 
recommendations and findings to assure an appropriate division of 
technical effort among the agencies as well as a meaningful balance 
of oceanographic effort. It examines the adequacy of the overall 
program and the manpower base required for its implementation. 
Finally, it recommends policies to improve the quality and vigor of 
the national effort. 
The Committee’s recommended program is in turn reviewed by the 
staff and consultants of the Office of Science and Technology, which 
forwards its comments to the Federal Council for Science and Tech- 
nology for final review and approval. 
The recommended prograin is then integrated into the agency pro- 
grams through normal agency channels. The agencies themselves 
retain responsibility for accepting or rejecting specific projects, for 
developing or conducting their own annual programs, and for de- 
fending them individually before Congress. 
This process helps reduce competition for such resources as skilled 
manpower and funds and promotes their most effective use; encour- 
ages centralized planning and joint cooperative enterprises, promotes 
communication among key members of the oceanographic community ; 
fosters a realistic and effective balance of effort among participating 
agencies and institutions, prevents needless duplication of work, and 
makes possible an orderly progression toward goals important to the 
national interest. 
*Research, Ocean Engineering, Surveys, Instrumentation and Facilities, Ships, 
Manpower, International Programs. 
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