Components of NASA involved in remote sensing activities include 

 the Earth Resources Research Data Facility (ERRDF), the Goddard Space 

 Flight Center (GSFC), the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (LBJSC) , and 

 the Wallops Flight Center (WFC). An Ocean Dynamics Advisory Subcom- 

 mittee (ODAS) provides advice on the applications of satellite tech- 

 nology to ocean research. In 1976 it launched a Laser Geodynamics 

 Satellite (LAGEOS) to obtain maximum geocentric coordinates of points 

 on the Earth's surface in order to determine global plate tectonic 

 motions, polar motions, and other phenomena of importance to geo- 

 dynamics. 



416. NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION: NSF 



Established in 1950, NSF promotes the progress of science 

 through the support of research and education. Its major emphasis 

 is on basic research for the improved understanding of the fundamental 

 laws of nature, and it supports these activities through grants, con- 

 tracts, and other awards to universities and other research organiza- 

 tions. 



The Assistant Director for Astronomical, Atmospheric, Earth, and 

 Ocean Sciences (AAEO) is responsible for the overview of these pro- 

 grams and receives support and advice from the Advisory Panel for 

 Oceanography (APO) and the Advisory Committee on Polar Programs (ACPP). 

 Programs relating to environmental systems and resources, social 

 systems and human resources, advanced technology applications, and 

 exploratory research and problem assessment come under a collective 

 program titled Research Applied to National Needs (RANN). 



NSF supports the Arctic Offshore Program (AOP), the U.S. 

 Antarctic Research Program (USARP), the International Decade of Ocean 

 Exploration (IDOE), and the Ocean Sediment Coring Program (OSCP), 

 which includes the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP). It also supports 

 the U.S. contributions to Global Atmospheric Research Program (GARP) 

 and supported the U.S. contributions to the discontinued International 

 Biological Program (IBP). It lends financial support to the Univer- 

 sity National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS); the National 

 Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) operated by the University 

 Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR) ; and the Polar Ice Core 

 Office (PICO) at the University of Nebraska which is responsible for 

 planning and coordinating ice-core drilling programs. 



417. NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION: NRG or NUREG 



An independent regulatory agency, NRC was established in 1975 

 succeeding to the licensing and related regulatory functions assigned 

 to the former Atomic Energy Commission (AEC). 



Among NRC's responsibilities is the regulation of proposed and 

 existing nuclear plants located in the coastal zone or in offshore 

 waters. It requires in-depth environmental reports for the pre- and 

 post-operational phases of these sites and prepares draft environ- 

 mental impact statements (DEIS) based on the information submitted. 

 These reports contain a wealth of environmental data regarding the 

 marine environment in the vicinity of the sites. 



A computerized information system. Information on Nuclear Site 

 Data System (INSITE), was developed by the Argonne Laboratory to 

 support NRC's efforts to develop guidelines for site evaluation. 



418. SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION: SI 



Created in 1846, the Smithsonian, an independent trust estab- 

 lishment, perfoms research and publishes the results; preserves for 

 study, reference, and exhibition millions of items of historical, 

 social, or scientific interest; conducts educational programs; and 



94 



