12 PROVIDE A COMPREHENSIVE PROGRAM IN OCEANOGRAPHY 



The insertion of a comma on page 4, line 16, between the words 

 "meteorological" and "climatological" is to correct a typographical 

 error. 



DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS 



As heretofore noted, H.R. 12601 is a clean bill which supersedes 

 H.R. 4276. H.R. 12601 reflects the conclusions of your committee 

 on the basis of extensive hearings held on H.R. 4276 and other aspects 

 of the problem of establishing and maintaining a national program 

 of oceanography, as well as careful consideration by your committee 

 of S. 901 as passed the Senate and referred to your committee. 



There are hereafter set forth the departmental reports on H.R. 

 4276 and S. 901. 



Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 



June 26, 1961. 

 Hon. Herbert C. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Mr. Chairman: This letter is in response to your request 

 of February 15, 1961, for a report on H.R. 4276, a bill to expand and 

 develop the aquatic resources of the United ^States including the oceans, 

 estuaries, ancl rivers, the Great Lakes and other inland waters, to 

 enhance the general welfare, and for other purposes. 



The bill would establish the National Oceanographic Council, com- 

 posed of the Secretaries of the Treasury, Defense, Interior, Commerce, 

 and the Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission, and the Direc- 

 tor of the National Science Foundation, among whom the President 

 is to appoint the Chairman ; direct the Council to establish a National 

 Oceanographic Data Center or centers, and a National Instru- 

 mentation Test and Calibration Center; and assign their functions. 

 The Council is directed to develop long-range plans for research, 

 development, studies, and surveys of aquatic environment and to 

 coordinate the efforts of Federal agencies; the Council is authorized 

 to delegate any of its functions to any Federal agency head and to 

 provide for full utilization of Federal agencies' facilities and personnel. 

 In addition, the bill authorizes and directs the Smithsonian Institution 

 to conduct specific taxonomy programs and authorizes necessary 

 appropriations. 



Tills Department is a member of the Interagency Committee on 

 Oceanography. Our interests in oceanography are in consideration of 

 tlie importance of the vast estuarine and inshore ocean waters and 

 areas as a future major resource for municipal, industrial, and recrea- 

 tional water supplies and our attendant concern as to their use for 

 disposal of municipal and industrial wastes ancl the berthing of 

 nuclear-powered sliips. We arc similarly concerned with the use of 

 selected areas in the open ocean for the disposal of radioactive wastes 

 and the use of the ocean fishery r-^sources as they relate to the health 

 of the people of the United States and of the world's underdeveloped 

 countries which this Nation is aiding. 



If a National Oceanograp]-ic Council is establislied, we suggest that, 

 in recognition of our interests outlined above, the Council's composi- 

 tion be modified to include the Secretary of this Department. We 

 contemplate actively contributing to the operation, and utilizing the 



