MARINE SCIENCE 165 



Office of the Seceetaby of the Teeasubt, 



Washington, April 25, 1960. 

 Hon. Wabben G. Magnuson, 



Chairman, Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce, 

 U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. 



My Dfae Me. Chaieman : Reference is made to your request for the views 

 of this Department on S. 2692, to advance the marine sciences, to establish a 

 comprehensive 10-year program of oceanographic research and surveys ; to pro- 

 mote commerce and navigation, to secure the national defense ; to expand ocean 

 resources ; to authorize the construction of research and survey ships and 

 facilities ; to assure systematic studies of effects of radioactive materials in 

 marine environments ; to enhance the general welfare ; and for other purjwses. 



The Department is not in a position to state whether new legislation is neces- 

 sary to carry out the proposed program of oceanographic and marine research 

 or whether it could be carried out by the departments and agencies si)ecified in 

 the bill under their existing authority. However, the Department would like 

 to point out that the bill fails to recognize important interests that the CJoast 

 Guard has in many phases of the proposed research program. For example, 

 the Coast Guard is charged with the enforcement of all applicable Federal laws 

 upon the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States 

 and the administration of a safety program upon these waters covering all mat- 

 ters not specifically delegated by law to another Federal agency (14 U.S.C. 2). 

 The Coast Guard, in its management of the international ice patrol service, con- 

 ducts oceanographic surveys of the ocean areas in the North Atlantic and 

 collects and disseminates ocean data (46 U.S.C. 738a(d) ). Coast Guard vessels 

 serving on ocean station duty collect and furnish limited oceanographic data to 

 the U.S. Navy Hydrographic Office (14 U.S.C. 90). Icebreaking vessels are 

 maintained and operated by the Coast Guard as one of its primary duties (14 

 U.S.C. 2, Executive Order 7521). The Coast Guard also has responsibility for 

 regulating the carriage of explosives and other dangerous articles by vessels (46 

 U.S.C. 170). 



Inasmuch as the Coast Guard already has authority to conduct programs in 

 oceanography, it would not seek further authorization for these programs. How- 

 ever, should your committee take favorable action on this bill, the Department 

 would suggest appropriate recognition of the oceanographic activities of the 

 Coast Guard, along with those of other agencies. 



The Department has been advised by the Bureau of the Budget that there is 

 no objection to the submission of this report to your committee. 

 Very truly yours, 



A. GnxMOEE Flues, 

 Acting Secretary of the Treasury. 

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