263 



and specifically NOAA. These are arguments that did come up in our 

 committee at one time or another. 



One of these arguments is that existing agencies can do the job. 



It can be argued that a major increase in Federal funding could pro- 

 duce much of what we need even without a change in management 

 structure. Indeed, it is NASCO's opinion that often existing programs 

 are held back by the level of funding. As our statements also point 

 out, we do not need a modified management structure so much to co- 

 ordinate and correlate the things being done now as to undertake the 

 things that are not being done. A major increase in our capacity to do 

 things in the ocean demands a specific management attention to doing 

 things in the ocean. 



We must expect that the agencies with major missions that are not 

 specifically to develop ocean science and technology will rightly feel 

 that their first responsibility is to carry out their primary mission. To 

 act otherwise would be contrary to the will of Congress and the public 

 trust assigned to these agencies. Therefore, we cannot and should not 

 expect the top executive of a non-ocean-oriented agency to be the 

 strong advocate for ocean science and technology development that 

 the Nation needs. 



Mr. IQ.RTH. Mr. Chairman, may I interrupt ? 



Mr. Lennox. Yes. 



Mr. KIarth. Are you specifically referring to the Department of the 

 Interior ? 



Dr. Calhoun. No, this is a general statement that we are making. 



Mr. Karth. Would you feel that this paragraph hits the Depart- 

 ment of the Interior? 



Dr. Calhoun. I am not singling out any particular agency. It seems 

 to me that you can't expect an 'agency whose mission is not necessarily 

 to develop the oceans to take on that task. 



Mr. Karth. And Interior's is not, is it ? 



Dr. Calhoun. I don't think there is any agency in the Federal Gov- 

 ernment that has the responsibility and the stated mission to develop 

 the technology of the oceans. That is the point we are making here. 



Mr. Karth. I think you are right. That includes all of them. 



Dr. Calhoun. That includes all of the agencies. 



Mr. Lennon. I think we could add the Department of Transporta- 

 tion. That is not their total mission. 



Mr. Karth. I would suggest to the doctor that he be not too reluc- 

 tant, Mr. Chairman, to be more specific. 



Dr. Calhoun. No, sir ; I simply don't believe it would be fair. 



Mr. Lennon. You recall last week, gentlemen, we had the Chairman 

 of the Committee on Oceanography of the National Academy of En- 

 gineering, and they took no position except in the broad scope. They 

 didn't file a report. So when I received your letter late the same after- 

 noon that the gentleman testified, I got on the phone about 6 o'clock 

 and read it to counsel, and I said, "Now I am going to write to this 

 gentleman and send him your letter and ask, if you folks are taking 

 a position, why couldn't the National Academy of Engineering take a 

 position. You are all housed in the same building and there must be 

 dialog between you." 



We wiU come back to that later. Go ahead. 



