610 NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION 



American Society op Oivil Engineers, 



liew York, N.Y., July 23, 1965. 

 Hon. Herbert 0. Bonner, 



Chairman, Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, 

 U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C. 



Dear Congressman Bonner: It is appreciated that opportunity has been 

 given for comment from the American Society of Civil Engineers pertaining 

 to the several bills under study currently, intended to provide a comprehensive, 

 long-range and coordinated national program in oceanography. (H.R. 3352, etc.) 

 With my earlier letter. May 12, 1965, I expressed the interest of this society in 

 such legislation. Now the hearings are scheduled, more detailed comments are 

 offered. 



Such comments will be directed to three points : the need for the program ; 

 the inclusion of engineering studies in the program ; the nature of coordination 

 of the program. 



Oceanographic studies have lagged behind geographic studies, yet both are 

 essential to the orderly development of resources in the service of mankind. In 

 very recent years, the pace of studies of the oceans has quickened. In this 

 effort, many disciplines have been involved. This interrelationship of different 

 kinds of specialists was recognized in the policy report issued by the Federal 

 Council for Science and Technology, in June 1963. Anticipating significant en- 

 gineering contribution to the studies, this Council proposed increasing support 

 by the Federal Goverment for a program "to comprehend the world ocean, its 

 boundaries, its properties, and its processes, and to exploit this comprehension 

 in the public interest, in enhancement of our security, our culture, our inter- 

 national posture, and our economic growth." 



Specifically, more information is required to increase safety and improve 

 reliability of navigation on the surface of the oceans. By comparison with geo- 

 graphic studies, the vast undersea regions remain practically unknown. Civil 

 engineers have been immersed in studies of the coastal areas, with many ques- 

 tions yet to be answered. It appears that there is little question regarding the 

 need, per se, for studies. It is the extent of such studies, and the directing, co- 

 ordinating and financing of such studies which need to be brought into focus. 

 Legislation, such as embodied in H.R. 3352, and similar bills, would provide 

 needed coordination. 



For effective coordination of studies, it appears that the legislation should 

 have more specific reference to engineering involvement. In this effort, it is not 

 possible to separate engineering from science, yet science has been given the 

 emphasis in this legislation. One example of engineering involvement is in 

 the need to know more about the interaction of sea and land. Coastal engineer- 

 ing has matured as a field of practice, yet the need for extended studies in this 

 relationship is evident. Another example is the impact of pollution on resources 

 of the ocean. Pollution abatement is a field of extensive engineering develop- 

 ment, which needs to be extended to oceanographic studies. In another re- 

 lationship, the services of surveyors and mappers need to be extended, sO' that the 

 nature of bottom topography can be better understood. 



Specifically, it appears that the program of continuing systematic research 

 must include engineering research. Also, the work of the Advisory Committee, 

 which would be established by legislation, would be facilitated with the addition 

 of civil engineers, knowledgeable in subject areas such as those listed briefly. 



Finally, the coordination of work undertaken by Federal agencies, or financed 

 directly by Federal grants does not include all of the effort being extended, or 

 to be extended, in the proposed program in oceanography. Extensive work is 

 being done by industry, or by research organizations financed privately. Thus, 

 it appears that the coordinating program should be "national" in scope, to pro- 

 vide free interchange of information between all involved, to give encourage- 

 ment to the Federal Establishment, but at the same time make the best pos- 

 sible use of other studies, through systematic coordination of all involved. 

 Respectfully yours, 



William H. Wisely, 



Executive Secretary. 



