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cling of toxic substances in the Great Lakes ecosystem, estuarine pollutant trans- 
port (Puget Sound); and the impacts of estuarine degradation on striped bass in San 
Francisco Bay. 
In the extramural program, in fiscal year 1981 NOAA committed a total of 
$1,600,000 in support of 18 research projects carried out in 11 different universities 
and private sector research organizations around the country. A listing of these 
projects can be made available to the Subcommittees, if that is desired. 
Funding for the Long-Range Effects Research Program will not be affected by the 
President’s fiscal year 1983 budget. 
OTHER ELEMENTS OF THE NOAA PROGRAM 
Public Law 95-273.—NOAA has responsibility for implementing the various pro- 
visions of the National Ocean Pollution Planning Act of 1978 Public Law 95-273, as 
amended. This includes preparation of a Federal Plan every two years and the co- 
ordination of agency implementation of each plan. An interagency committee has 
been established to oversee this effect and a small office, the National Marine Pollu- 
tion Office, has been set up in NOAA to carry out the necessary staff work. Most of 
the activity during the Fiscal Year 1982 period involved preparation and clearance 
of the first two federal Plans. 
Section 6 of the Act authorizes NOAA to provide financial assistance in the form 
of grants or contracts for research, development, and monitoring projects or activi- 
ties needed to meet priorities set forth in the Federal Plans. In fiscal year 1981, six- 
teen research projects totalling approximately $1,300,000 were approved by NOAA 
for funding. 
Finally, under Section 8 of the Act, NOAA has responsibility for ensuring that 
the data and information produced from the Federal Program is disseminated in a 
timely manner and useful form for users. The major accomplishments in this area 
include: the establishment of what is called the Central Coordination and Referral 
Office; and a contract initiated to design the Ocean Pollution Data and Information 
Network (OPDIN). 
Current funding for all Public Law 95-2738 activities is $3,000,000. We are request- 
ing the same funding in the fiscal year 1983 budget. 
The Hudson-Raritan Estuary Project (HREP) was developed as a result of the 
findings from the New York Bight Project (1973-81), which identified the estuary as 
the major source of pollution impacting the Bight. Planning for HREP began in 
fiscal year 1980 and initial studies were carried out in fiscal year 1981 with funds 
reprogrammed from the New York Bight Project. 
In the Hudson-Raritan Estuary, we are studying how contaminants move through 
and out of the Estuary and how they become available to organisms. We are also 
examining which parts of the Estuary contain the most contaminants in the sedi- 
ments, and how long it takes the Estuary to react to increases or decreases in con- 
taminant input. Field studies will probably begin in fiscal year 1982. 
A second regional project has been carried out in Puget Sound since 1975. The 
purpose of the Project is to develop an understanding of the environmental impacts 
of human activities, primarily the introduction of chemical contaminants, upon the 
living resources of selected environmentally stressed subsystems of Puget Sound 
and, thereby, permit predications of the probable ecological consequences of those 
activities. 
A major portion of Project resources is allocated to studies characterizing the 
sources, fates, and effects of synthetic organic chemical compounds and, to a lesser 
extent, petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals. Biological abnormalities and 
mortalities associated with contaminant stress are included in research objectives 
with a view toward ultimately establishing cause/effect relationships. The Project is 
currently focussing its studies on Elliott Bay (near Seattle) and Commencement Bay 
(near Tacoma). 
The Administration proposes to conclude this Project this fiscal year since the es- 
sential objectives of the Project have been achieved. Therefore, early closure of this 
Project Office will have a minimal effect on programmatic objectives. Any addition- 
al work needed in this region that is in the national interests could be conducted by 
the National Marine Fisheries Service facilities in Seattle and the Northwest Office 
of the Office of Marine Pollution Assessment. 
The Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) was established in 
1974 in Ann Arbor, Michigan to provide a focus for NOAA’s research in that region. 
Approximately 40 percent of GLERL’s budget is related to lake pollution problems. 
Basically this laboratory’s effort in lake pollution includes: development of models 
to stimulate the cycling and transport of selected toxic organic substances, studies of 
