NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 379 



expect such to be part of tbe studies of the Puiblic Land Law Review Commission. 

 International law and agreements in this field will be of increasing importance. 



The American Petroleum Institute heartily subscribes to the proi)osition that 

 the Federal Grovernment's role in oceanography is important and necessary. The 

 question that follows is how can this role properly he played. We regard the 

 existing framework as adeiiuate to meet the current needs. The President's 

 Office of Science and Technology appears to us as the most appropriate vehicle 

 for initiating comprehensive programs and coordinating the vast numbers of 

 programs and missions in oceanography underway in various agencies of the 

 U.S. Government. 



For example, within this Office is the ICO which was established specifically 

 for the purpose of coordination. Its endeavors should be permitted to continue 

 by strengthening its stafE and providing proper funding. 



We believe that the bill proposed by you, H.R. 2218, would strengthen the 

 current activity of the President's Office of Science and Technology, and will 

 insure that the country's activities in this important field are better guided and 

 coordinated, and will obtain surveillance at the highest level. Also, we like the 

 provision which calls for annual reporting of the status of the oceanography pro- 

 gram to Congress. We would recommend, however, that the definition of ocean- 

 ography contained in section 6 be modified as follows : 



"Sec. 6. As used in this Act the term 'oceanography' is defined as the acquisi- 

 tion, assembling, processing, and dissemination of all scientific and technological 

 marine and related environmental data, including, but not limited to, physical, 

 chemical, geological, biological, fisheries, hydrographic and coastal survey, mete- 

 orological, climatological, and geophysical data with the object of comprehending 

 the world ocean, its boundaries, its properties, and its processes, and of encour- 

 aging the use of this comprehension in the national interest, in the enhancement 

 of our security, our culture, our international posture, and our economic growth." 



Our definition places stress upon the Federal Government's encouraging and 

 participating in the development of basic research for dissemination to the pri- 

 vate sector. By dissemination of basic data to the public at large, the Govern- 

 ment is contributing to the advancement of science, and its application for useful 

 purposes. Applying this basic research data is a job for which the private sector 

 is admirably fitted and given the opportunity it can do so as history amply 

 indicates. 



In the development of both marine science and technology, there will be numer- 

 ous areas of joint interest in Federal and industry programs, especially relating 

 to matters of national defense. The petroleum industry would expect to cooper- 

 ate fully with governmental departments having need of any special expertise 

 in marine operations or equipment, and in particular, we would be happy to be 

 represented on the Advisory Committee provided in your bill H.R. 2218 or on the 

 Commission provided in S. 944. Similarly, these skills may be made available in 

 assisting research in specific Federal programs such as the Mohole project. 



We greatly appreciate the opportunity to explain further the petroleum indus- 

 try's ideas concerning oceanography. 



If we can be of further assistance, we hope you will call on us. 

 Sincerely, 



Fbank N. Ikaed. 



Mr. Lennon". Counsel ? 



Mr. Drewry. Of all tlie people engaged in oceanography in the 

 sense that we are trying to lead to, the oil industry is paramount. It 

 is doing more and has done more, spent more money at it, and is mak- 

 ing more money out of it than anybody else. The interest and the 

 knowledge of the oil industry, if it could be brought to bear and give 

 the Congress the benefit of its experience and knowledge that they 

 have developed, I think could be very helpful to us in any concept of 

 a national program of oceanography. 



It would seem to me that the oil and gas industry should be defi- 

 nitely a participant in it if anybody is, and that was the thought 

 behind my suggestion to the chairman that he ask you whether you 

 could get a broader position and a more detailed position than the 

 slightly negative one that you presented today. 



