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OCEANS PROGRAMS AND TO DETERMINE WHAT MANAGEMENT'S INFORMATION NEEDS 
REALLY ARE- JHIS ASSESSMENT OF EXISTING INFORMATION RESULTED IN THE 
DEVELOPMENT OF A MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN EPA’S PROGRAM OFFICE 
AND THE NARRAGANSETT LABORATORY: THIS MOA PROVIDES FOR COOPERATIVE 
EFFORTS ON A PROGRAM OF RESEARCH TO IDENTIFY THE HEALTH OF THE MARINE 
ENVIRONMENT, CHANGES TO THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT AT TEST SITES WHERE 
WASTES ARE DISPOSED AND AT CONTROL SITES, AND TO VERIFY LABORATORY 
TESTS ACCORDING TO THE RESULTS OF THE FIELD SURVEYS- QuR NARRAGANSETT 
LABORATORY IS ALSO WORKING CLOSELY WITH THE NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES 
Services (NMFS). THIS COOPERATIVE EFFORT HAS ALREADY BEGUN IN THE 
NORTHEAST ATLANTIC COAST INCLUDING THE NeW YorRK BIGHT AREA, AND IS 
PROGRESSING ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE- NIMFS HAS ALREADY ISSUED A VALUABLE 
REPORT ON THE HEALTH OF THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT OF THE N-E- ATLANTIC 
CONTINENTIAL SHELF- AS THESE STUDIES CONTINUE, MORE INFORMATION WILL 
BE PROVIDED TO MEET MANAGEMENT S NEEDS- 
THUS, FEDERAL RESEARCH PROGRAMS ARE ALREADY PRODUCING TIMELY 
SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION NECESSARY FOR GOOD MANAGEMENT OF THE OCEAN 
PROGRAMS: AS WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR PROGRAMS AND WORK MORE CLOSELY 
WITH THE RESEARCH ARMS OF THE GOVERNMENT, WE WILL BE ABLE TO DIRECT 
RESEARCH PROGRAMS ALONG MANAGEMENT ’S INFORMATION NEEDS- THE FIRST 
STEP, APPLYING THE EXISTING RESEARCH ALREADY DONE TO REGULATORY 
PROGRAMS, HAS BEEN TAKEN- FUTURE STEPS WILL INCLUDE IMPROVING 
REGULATORY PROCEDURES AND MONITORING TO ENSURE THAT THE PROPER 
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS ARE BEING MADE- 
