983 
pheric Agency and the Department of Defense would be clearly 
delineated. 
H.R. 13247 proposes further that the testing and calibration of 
instruments are functions assigned to the National Oceanic and Atmos- 
pheric Agency. This would apear to duplicate work being done by the 
recently established National Oceanographic Instrumentation Center. 
The Center is under the administrative control of the Commander, 
Naval Oceanographic Office and guided by an advisory board repre- 
senting 15 interested agencies. 
The Center’s mission is to serve as the national focal point for 
knowledge of technology related to testing, evaluation, and calibra- 
tion of sensing systems for ocean use, to enhance the quality of such 
systems by the dissemination of operational results and technical infor- 
mation, in order to serve the national oceanographic community. How- 
ever, broader national benefits might result from incorporation of this 
center into the proposed National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency. 
Mr. Lennon. Right at that point, Mr. Secretary, when was the 
National Oceanographic Instrumentation Center established ? 
Dr. Froscu. Tt was established formally as a national group some- 
time last spring, if I recall correctly, but 1t had been in existence as a 
Navy instrumentation center which was fully providing services to 
the oceanographic community at large for some number of years. 
Mr. Lennon. Who established this, the National Council ? 
_ Dr. Froscu. Originally it was established by the Navy. The Nation- 
al Council recommended that it be converted into a national center 
and suggested that the agencies that had an interest could get together 
to establish it, and that is what was done. The agencies themselves 
agreed upon a mechanism for designating it a national center and 
agreeing on the funding arrangements. 
Mr. Lennon. Did the Navy go along with that recommendation of 
the National Council ? 
Dr. Froscu. Yes, indeed, it did. 
Mr. Lennon. Or did it prefer to continue it as it was before? 
Dr. Froscu. No, we went along with it, and in fact I was in favor 
of it at the time and saw some considerable advantages in doing it that 
way. 
Mr. Lennon. You are saying that the Nay at every level was en- 
thusiastic about it? Is that what you are saying ? 
Dr. Froscu.: It is impossible to say of any proposal that the Navy 
at every level is enthusiastic about it, but at the senior level, sir. 
Mr. Lenyon. I have information to the contrary. 
Dr. Froscu. There were certainly people opposed. One can pick any 
given proposal and say that of it. 
Mr. Lennon. All right. Go ahead. 
Dr. Froscu. The bill would transfer the U.S. Coast Guard from the 
Department of Transportation to the proposed agency with the pro- 
viso that the Coast Guard shall operate as a part of the Navy in time 
of war or when the President shall so direct. 
However, it is the concern of the Department of Defense that the 
Coast Guard may not be maintained in an adequate state of readiness 
as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States if its forces are 
“combined” with the other elements of the proposed agency as rec- 
