1193 
The subject of marine and atmospheric science and the general 
subject of environmental science and technology generally are not, 
however, brandnew areas of endeavor. There is a long history of 
national interest and activity in regard to the oceans and in regard 
to the weather and the atmosphere and with regard to other environ- 
mental matters. 
Many departments and agencies of Government have naturally 
been assigned important responsibilities in these areas, some of which 
have been carried forward actively and effectively for many, many 
years. There are, in fact some 22 bureaus in 11 departments and 
agencies which now have responsibilities in the marine science effort, 
in each case the effort being closely related to the overall mission of 
the agencies or departments concerned. 
It happens there are also 22 bureaus in nine departments and 
agencies engaged in water resource activities and 16 bureaus in 13 
departments and agencies involved in atmospheric science. 
At first sight this appears to be an undesirable fragmentation of 
effort, and consolidation of Federal efforts appears to be a very 
attractive goal. However, it must also be kept in mind that reogani- 
zation of agencies to consolidate activities related to one objective or 
area of endeavor may, at the same time, result in fragmenting activ- 
ities that are concerned with another objective. 
As just one example, the Department of Transportation would 
have no link to marine transportation without the Coast Guard. It 
is quite clear that there is no easy solution to the problems of Federal 
organization in the case of broad areas such as marine science, atmos- 
pheric science, or water resources. 
I understand that the Stratton Commission, in its recommenda- 
tions, sought to consolidate those activities that it regarded as not 
being integral to the basic mission of the departments and agencies 
from which they would be transferred. 
It is not clear, however, whether this rationale does in fact extend 
to the recommendation for including the Coast Guard in the pro- 
posed new organization, and there are other examples. In any case, 
it must be recognized that the surgery which is required to extract 
bureaus and agencies from existing departments with long tradi- 
tions of work in the field may constitute more disruption than 
coordination when one attempts to fit these agencies with different 
traditions and different purposes into a single unit. 
I am reminded of the many suggestions which have been made 
that the government create a new Department of Science to coalesce 
all the multifarious activities of our Government in the science and 
engineering fields. I have opposed such a proposal, at least in any 
form so far suggested, since I think it is very proper that many 
agencies be concerned with scientific and engineering matters. 
This is not to say that some reorganization of our efforts in marine 
science is not desirable, and I am sure that this matter will be given 
careful consideration by the Ash Council, and of course by the 
Congress. 
I would only remark, finally, that even the NOAA proposal! does 
not include all of the governmental work in either the oceans or the 
atmosphere, and of course it does not pretend to include many closely 
related problems of the environment and the relations between the 
