NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 195 



Mr. KoGERS. Now, what else is left? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. There are a number of things, then, which each 

 agency, in my view, ought to carry on for its particular benefit. I 

 won't pretend to enumerate them, but I will give you some examples. 



We charge HEW with work about pollution. How do we remove 

 the pollutants of the atmosphere and of the estuaries? I think they 

 should continue to do so, and call upon the other two groups for tests 

 or techniques to carry out their mission. I don't think that mission 

 should be taken away because we are worrying about pollution of the 

 streams, and say, "All right, some central agency should have it. It 

 is charged to HEW ; they should maintain it." 



The Atomic Energy Oonmiission has an interest in oceanography. 

 It has to worry about where it disposes of radioactive wastes. That 

 is a very special kind of thing. In order to do that, you need to know 

 a great deal about ocean currents and diffusion which the other agen- 

 cies can provide, but special studies would be required for their par- 

 ticular mission, and they should carry on those studies for their 

 purposes. 



Mr. KoGERS. Well, now, suppose the Department of Commerce in 

 a study on physical oceanography finds that if they put atomic energy 

 wastes down off Florida it is going to pollute Maine, but the Atomic 

 Energy doesn't agree with you. Who makes the decision? 



Dr. HoUomon. I believe that that is the responsible decision of 

 the Atomic Energy Commission who is charged with that responsi- 

 bility to make the final decision about the radioactive wastes. 



Mr. Rogers. Even though your research might show that they were 

 wrong. 



Dr. HoLLOMON. Let me give you an example. 



In the case of the radioactive tracer levels, here is an exactly anal- 

 ogous situation, where we in the Weather Bureau have the responsi- 

 bility of trying to predict as the winds blow, and so forth, what the 

 radioactive tracer levels will be. If there is a disagreement, this 

 fijnally has been resolved at the highest levels in the Government. 



This occurs if there is a real disagreement between the experts in 

 the Weather Bureau and the experts in the Atomic Energy Com- 

 mission, but the Atomic Energy Commission is charged with re- 

 sponsibility for nuclear testing. 



Mr. Rogers. Now, does your interagency committee come in here? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. In that instance, they participate in the health levels 

 that are established ; yes, sir. 



Mr. Rogers. Well, would they help make this decision ? 



Dr. HoLLOMON. They provide guidance to the Atomic Energy Com- 

 mission in the same way. There is a Federal Radiation Council for 

 this very purpose. 



Mr. Lennon. Would you let me interrupt you just a minute, please. 



Mr. Dan Markel, of the Senate staff on commerce, an oceanography 

 consultant. 



Mr. Markel, can you hear the colloquy between the witness and 

 the members? 



Mr. Markel. Very well. 



Mr. Lennon. Are you having any trouble hearing the colloquy and 

 questions between the witness and the members ? 



Mr. Markel. No. I am doing pretty well so far. 



