910 
engineering and marine graduate level programs with the maritime 
universities. 
In summary, the Maritime Administration provides a major na- 
tional resource in the technology, design, and procurement of com- 
mercial maritime transportation systems, and has demonstrated its 
ability to interface effectively with commercial developments. 
ORGANIZING A NATIONAL OCEAN EFFORT 
Now I want to come to the matter of how to organize a national 
ocean effort, and I would like to comment on the recommendations of 
the Marine Commission for an organization to carry out its proposed 
national ocean program and also to comment on the organizational 
aspects of H.R. 13247. 
The Commission proposes that there be established a new independ- 
ent agency to be known as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Agency, commonly called NOAA, as the principal instrument within 
the Federal Government for administration of the Nation’s civil 
marine and atmospheric program. 
It is proposed that there be included within NOAA the Coast Guard, 
the Environmental Science Services Administration, the Bureau of 
Commercial Fisheries, the national sea grant program, the U.S. Lake 
Survey and the National Atmospheric Data Center. 
There is no doubt in our minds that the competence in ESSA which 
was created by the Department of Commerce to serve as a national 
focus for our efforts to describe, understand, and predict the state of 
the oceans, the lower and upper atmosphere, and the size and shape of 
the earth, would be invaluable to such a new agency. 
I must state, however, that I have serious doubts as to whether the 
Commission’s recommendation to establish NOAA i is, in fact, the best 
organizational method for marshaling our national efforts in the 
oceans. 
For example, a look at the composition of NOAA leads to the 
conclusion that it is primarily oriented to science and technology. That 
is as it is set forth in the Commission’s report. 
I concur with the statement of Dr. Kavanagh, chairman of the Com- 
mittee on Ocean Engineering, National Academy of Engineering, in 
his testimony before your committee. He stated : 
I believe that the ocean engineering effort in resource utilization must be inter- 
faced with the economic and social goals of the Nation. 
To repeat an often quoted phrase, engineering and science are not 
ends in themselves, but tools to achieve our national goals. Therefore, 
we believe any agency undertaking a national marine program must 
also have the additional capability to act as a sort of “entrepreneur” 
for the Nation in exploiting opportunities in the marine area. 
Accordingly, while we regard the Commission’s concept of NOAA 
as imaginative and thoughtful, it may not be the best vehicle for the 
Nation’s effort in the marine environment. From others who have 
testified, I am sure you are well aware of the action taken by the 
President on the Marine Commission report, and that both re pro- 
gram and organizational recommendations are being seriously studied. 
Therefore, it doesn’t seem proper for me to comment further at this 
time on this aspect. 
