NATIONAL OCEAN'OGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 353 



draft legislation which could be discussed and crit icized and improved. 



The problem proved to be far too complex and too difficult for this 

 straightforward approach. One of the objectives of the proposed 

 commission would be to do precisely this task, after weighing with 

 considerable care the conflicting demands of the interests involved. 



So, I agree with you completely, sir, that w^e do not wish to be nega- 

 tive, but we wish to be positive and creative. But we also wish to 

 recognize the magnitude of this task and not proceed prematurely to 

 draft legislation. 



Mr. Lennon. In other words, you say in your statement there is no 

 hope through legislation at this time to obtain the objectives that you 

 say are needed, that we are going to have to study this thing for at least 

 a year or two'^ 



i)r. Clark. This is correct. 



Mr. Lennon. Through a commission established by legislation. 

 Then let that commission analyze the findings of their subpanels and 

 committees and then come up with a recommendation. 



Dr. Clark. Eight. 



Mr. Lennon. What do you think of the method that is now being 

 used by the Federal Council, and then down through the ICO, Doctor? 



Dr. Clark. Well, first, I want to add my compliments to those of 

 others to the work of the ICO itself, to Dr. Abel and his people. 



Mr. Lennon. The ICO you are talking about ? 



Dr. Clark. Kight, in turning out very valuable information to those 

 of us who work with the oceans. 



Mr. Lennon. But you say in your statement, as I read it, that none 

 of this information is available. You complain that the data and the 

 information secured is not available. 



Now, I was imder the impression that we did have a data center. 



Dr. Clark. Right. 



Mr. Lennon. That is a center from which oceanographic informa- 

 tion which certainly from the Government was f unneled into — which 

 did not have a national security connotation, which was available to 

 the industry and to the public, too. 



Dr. Clark. Eight; this is scientific data. And my complaint is 

 concerned with the engineering data which are simply not under the 

 assignment of the ICO and its associated organizations. 



Mr. Lennon. Now, what agencies of the Federal Government are 

 engaged in or concerned with the engineering data ? The Corps of 

 Engineers is, for one, I would think. 



Dr. Clark. Eight. 



Mr. Lennoist. Now, what other agencies? How about the Coast 

 and Geodetic Survey ? 



Dr. Clark. Very much so. 



Mr. LENNOisr. They are? 



Dr. Clark. They are concerned ; so is the Bureau of Mines. 



Mr. Len-iston. Is that data available ? 



Dr. Clark. Their data are available insofar as they are funded to 

 obtain them. 



Mr. LENNOisr. I am sorry. 



Dr. Clark. Their data are available insofar as they are funded to 

 obtain them — engineering-oriented information. 



