496 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



would have important implications not only for these important national respon- 

 sibilities, but also for the development and coordinatin of all scientific activities 

 and responsibilities of the Federal Establishment. This should provide maxi- 

 mum assurance that the objectives of the legislation you are considering here 

 today would be met in the most effective manner. 



The position of the executive branch of the Government is that H.R. 2218 might 

 be enacted, but that enactment of any of the other bills would be premature at 

 this time. This position is based on the premise that the President's Science 

 Advisory Committee has set up a special Panel on Oceanography which is now 

 making a study of the kind contemplated in H.R. 9064. When this Panel com- 

 pletes its study and submits a report, the Congress can decide whether additional 

 legislation is necessary ; and, if so, what legislation would be appropriate. It is 

 possible that additional studies similar to those proposed in H.R. 9064 would then 

 be deemed advisable. 



We understand that during the present hearings before your committee a pro- 

 posal has been made to provide standby auhority for the establishment, in the 

 discertion of the President, of a self-liquidaing commission, such as proposed by 

 S. 944. We think that this proposal merits serious consideration. If your com- 

 mittee adopts this approach, we would like the opportunity to offer suggestions 

 on the provisions of the legislation. 



Mr. MoEjERNAisr. In the Department of the Interior we have at 

 least four bureaus with a deep interest in oceanography. The Geo- 

 logical Survey and the Bureau of Mines are concerned with the 

 composition and structure of the ocean floor and margins and with the 

 geological resources, including minerals and the methods of mining 

 them. 



The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries and the Bureau of Sport 

 Fisheries and Wildlife have an interest in the livmg resources and 

 their environment. 



Certain other bureaus and offices in Interior, such as the Office of 

 Saline Water, have an interest in the ocean. Even within our own 

 Department we find it difficult to coordinate these interests to the 

 satisfaction of everyone. 



The problem is considerably more difficult when the diverse mis- 

 sions of several departments and specialized agencies are involved. 



Of course, you are personally very much aware that in order to 

 coordinate this complex series of programs the Federal Council for 

 Science and Technology established the Interagency Committee on 

 Oceanography, which was formed to help coordinate the diverse func- 

 tions of these 6 departments and 3 independent agencies, which in- 

 clude the activities of 22 operating bureaus and offices. 



I have been a member of the ICO, Mr. Chairman, since its first 

 formation, so I am quite familiar with its general operation. 



None of the members of the 100 is a policy head of the department 

 which he represents. 



Decisions of ICO are subject to separate policy review by several 

 department heads. Within the departments having interest in 

 oceanography, decisions may be subject to review by several bureaus 

 or office heads. In some of these bureaus or offices, oceanography may 

 be a minor part of the total responsibility, as it may be also within 

 most de]:)artments. 



ICO members do not devote the major part of their time to ICO 

 responsibilities; they meet at infrequent intervals and they devote 

 only a few hours each month to this coordinating function. 



Tlie staff of ICO, as the chairman has pointed out, is loaned and 

 receives budget support from various agencies ; it therefore has diffi- 



