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the Budget. I am not in a position to state a position on the merits at — 
this time because there has not been such an overall consideration as 
yet within the Federal Government. 
Mr. Mosurr. Your opposition to the bill, then, at this time, does 
not indicate that you are unalterably opposed to the creation of any 
such new agency as NOAA ? It merely extends the statement made on 
page 4 that this needs to be considered further ? . 
Mr. Train. No, sir. I think it fair to say that, looking at this pro- 
posal from the standpoint of the Department of the Interior and its 
responsibilities, and I am trying to be careful to identify what I am 
about to say as a view simply from one department uncoordinated 
and without resolution of any interagency differences of opinion, but 
from the standpoint of the Department of the Interior, we would view 
with very grave concern an approach to the management of marine 
resources which was predicated upon a formal organizational sepa- 
ration of the marine environment from what we consider to be the 
very closely and intimately associated land and coastal zone. 
Mr. Mosnuer. Nevertheless, in the Department of the Interior, accord- 
ing to your testimony, you do recognize the validity of many of the 
deficiencies in our present uses of the seas and our policies and or- 
ganization for the use of the seas. You do recognize the validity of 
many of the deficiencies to which the Commission pointed 4 
Mr. Traty. Absolutely, sir. 
Mr. Mosuer. And, therefore, in order to meet those deficiencies you 
certainly recognize that if we don’t create a new agency to coordinate 
the job and to meet those deficiencies, then we have to consider alter- 
natives. 
The chairman of this subcommittee earlier today indicated our belief 
that the Stratton Commission did consider many alternatives before 
they recommended creation of NOAA. Now, that leads us to a question 
as to what alternative or alternatives the Department of the Interior 
proposes. 
Tn your testimony you mention designating an Assistant Secretary 
for Fish and Wildlife, Parks and Marine Resources, underlining the 
words marine resources, and by the creation of that new Office, the 
designation of that new Assistant Secretary, are you suggesting that 
that is a sufficient alternative to the creation of NOAA ? 
Mr. Trarn. No, sir. I think very clearly not. I think within the 
Department we consider that that step was just that, simply a step, 
a beginning step to evidence, symbolize, if you will, the increased em- 
hasis which the Department believes should attach to marine affairs. 
T think that leaving that particular question, the Department of 
the Interior, and [ know the Secretary, feels this way, very strongly is 
convinced that far stronger emphasis must be placed upon ocean mat- 
ters. This means a whole variety of things, better programs at the 
State and Federal levels, better opportunity for the private sector to 
be involved in oceanic development, better funding, better research. 
There does need to be a much greater national commitment. 
Mr. Mosner. And you are suggesting that the Department of the 
Interior is the logical agency to take this lead and to provide the coor- 
dination that is necessary as an alternative to NOAA ? 
Mr. Tratn. I don’t believe that we are ready as yet to propose cate- 
gorically an organizational structure to you. I would like to say this 
