XII 
Recognizing the development of the National Oceanic and Atmos- 
pheric Administration’s family of national environmental data and 
information centers and of the Smithsonian Oceanographic Sorting 
Centers (SOSC), 
Noting further the existing and developing Federal environmental 
data management policy statements and the interagency environ- 
mental data management agreements, 
Endorses the concept and value of such policy statements and inter- 
agency agreements and 
Strongly urges the members of ICMSE, as a matter of interagency 
marine science and engineering policy, to: 
a. Work actively with the Environmental Data Service of NOAA 
toward establishment of bilateral marine environmental data manage- 
ment agreements which provide or identify the mechanisms and 
resources whereby marine physical, chemical, geological, geophysical 
and biological data or their inventories and indices are promptly and 
properly archived. 
b. Work actively with the Smithsonian Institution toward estab- 
lishment of bilateral agreements as to the mechanisms, procedures 
and/or resources whereby the data information on marine collections 
are properly archived and, as appropriate, biological and geological 
specimens are properly sorted, curated and managed for optimal 
utilization. 
c. Promulgate within their agency, or at the departmental level if 
considered appropriate, a marine environmental data, sample and 
information policy which embodies the principles established above, 
identifies the procedures and responsibilities within the agency, ‘or 
department, as to development and implementation of inventories and 
serves as a broad general policy framework for interagency data 
management coordination. 
