45 



ernment before taking a position with regard to which organization 

 would be most appropriate. 



Mr. Lennon. On page 1 of chapter 7, and I read it: 



Present Federal Marine activities have grown over the years largely without 

 plan to meet specific situations and problems, and are scattered among many 

 Pederal agencies. 



Would you agree or disagree with that? 



Dr. White. I agree with that statement, sir. 



Mr. Lennon. "Imbedded within many Federal departments are 

 important activities which relate only marginally to the central 

 missions of the Department." 



Do you agree with that statement? 



Dr. White. Yes; I do. 



Mr. Lennon. Reading now from page 4 of chapter 7, beginning 

 on line 12: 



Many of the scattered marine programs are too small to have impact. Equally 

 important, their isolation from each other, which coordinating mechanisms are 

 never able to overcome, has caused an inevitable degree of insularity, overlap, 

 and competition. But perhaps most significantly, their isolation has made it very 

 difficult to launch a comprehensive and integrated program to remove the 

 obstacles that stand in the way of full utilization of the oceans and their resources. 



Do you agree with that? 



Dr. White. This would be a matter of degree, Mr. Chairman. I 

 think there is some of that. I don't know as I would phrase it exactly 

 that way. 



Mr. Lennon. It so happens you are the only member of the Com- 

 mission here this morning from the Federal Government and I would 

 like to get this for the record. 



I read further from page 5 of chapter 7, line 10: 



It is our conviction that the objective of the National Ocean Program recom- 

 mended by this Commission can be achieved only by creating a strong civil 

 agency within the Federal Government with adequate authority and adequate 

 resources. No such agency now exists, and no existing single Federal agency pro- 

 vides an adequate base on which to build such an organization. For the National 

 Ocean effort we propose, unified management of certain key functions is essential. 



How do you feel about that statement? 



Dr. White. I agree with that. 



Mr. Lennon. On page 22 of the highlights, second paragraph: 



The size and scope of the program recommended by the Commission requires 

 that NOAA, at least initially, be an independent agency reporting directly to 

 the President. In getting a major and diverse effort under way the case for in- 

 dependent status is compelling. 



Would you comment on that? 



Dr. White. This is the kind of thing I feel I should reserve my 

 position on until I see the proposals as to how these efforts might be 

 brought together or managed in an effective way. 



Mr. Lennon. Thank you very much, Doctor. That is a very frank 

 and fine statement. 



You may continue, Mr. Downing. 



Dr. Stratton. You asked about what other agencies were con- 

 sidered. I said we had considered the relations of the Corps of Engi- 

 neers, of the Geological Survey. At times, naturally, the resources of 

 NASA were considered. NASA does have extraordinary facilities and 

 we would hope that the new agency would find ways of taking ad- 

 vantage of those facilities by interchange. 



