1034 
Doctor, that was a most appropriate speech, and even a more ap- 
propriate place for now President Nixon to have raised those ques- 
tions, and to give the answers to those questions which he did. He could 
not have done it at a more effective time, or a more effective place. 
I think it moved on up to my State, too, the State of North Carolina. 
I recognize the distinguished gentleman from Oregon. 
Mr. Detienpacn. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. 
I join the Chairman, Dr. Galler, in expressing appreciation for your 
coming. 
The more I learn about the Smithsonian, the more I realize how 
much I don’t know about it, and the more impressed I become at its 
broad range of contributions. 
There are two things that I would ask you about briefly. 
You commented directly on this also in the Secretary’s full testi- 
mony. On page 8, he commented on the inseparability not only of the 
atmosphere in the sea, but of the land. You talk in terms of the full 
planetary environment. 
So far as the legislation which is before this subcommittee is con- 
cerned, what impact would this feeling about the inseparability of the 
entire planetary environment be, so far as this bill is concerned? 
Do you have any comments on this idea of NOAA, in view of what 
you have now testified to ? 
Dr. Gatier. The principal comment that I can offer, sir, is the ex- 
pressed hope of the Secretary that either this bill or any bill that Con- 
egress sees fit to pass and the President to sign will take note of the 
inseparability of the environment and the atmosphere, including the 
atmosphere both of the land and sea, and encourage a closer coordi- 
nation of both the science and the technology that today tend to be 
somewhat separated in many agencies both in and out of Government. 
Dr. Dretrenpack. Do you view that to be desirable, to take what is 
oftentimes today quite fragmented research in individual aspects of 
the land, individual aspects of the sea, and individual aspects of the 
atmosphere, and to a degree bring together the work that is being done 
in these fields? Would it be beneficial if they were working more 
closely together ? 
Dr. Gautier. Undoubtedly, sir, it would be highly beneficial, and in 
the best interests of our country, and in the best interests of mankind. 
We are encouraged by the establishment by the President of the 
United States of this Council on Environmental Quality. I believe that 
is in recognition of the need to draw these pieces together, and to plan 
a coherent national policy and program. 
Mr. Detienpack. Recognizing that if we really took the entire 
planetary environment and tried to wrap up in a single package every 
conceivable aspect of the entire environment, it would become a tre- 
mendously complex thing that would embrace a great deal more than 
the bill which is before this subcommittee embraces, could you see 
advantage to going as far initially as NOAA proposes to go to bring 
together at least some aspects of this; not going as far, certainly, as we 
might ultimately go, and in any way thinking about departmentaliza- 
tion that will cut it off from that which is not within the grouping, but 
do you see value in the type of amalgam which NOAA consists of ? - 
Dr. Gatier. With your permission, sir, I would like to respond in 
a somewhat circumferential way. 
