376 



I tend to feel the public will accept this with as much enthusiasm 

 as the national space effort — perhaps with even more enthusiasm, since 

 it is not hard for even the layman to see the possibilities of almost im- 

 mediate economic returns from exploitation of the oceans. 



STAFFING BY SHIFTING OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES INTO NCAA 



In general, I support the recommendatioss of the Commission in 

 staffing the agency by shifting other related Government agencies 

 into the new organization. 



However, I would suggest that, first, the Congress authorize and 

 establish NOAA with at least the level of funding now being spent by 

 the Government in oceanography. 



This agency would then be charged by Congress to first review the 

 recommendations of the Commission and suggest modifications they 

 feel make a better national program. 



Once a sound program has been established and authorized by the 

 Congress, the matter of staffing would be a proper consideration. After 

 this is thoroughly considered by the Administrator and his staff, 

 ISTOAA could then recommend to the Congress which Government 

 agencies or segments of such agencies would best fit their plans to 

 carry out the program planned. 



The Congress could then act on the recommendations of the NOAA 

 as they see fit. 



I feel that this would be a better plan than the immediate shift of 

 the specific Government agencies recommended by the Commission. It 

 would give the NOAA Administrator a voice on the composition of 

 the various task groups to carry out the program for which he has the 

 ultimate responsibility. 



DEVELOPMENT OF BASIC OCEAN COMPONENTS FIRST 



I differ somewhat from the report of the Commission in that I be- 

 lieve a large amount of the initial program should be directed at de- 

 veloping the basic components for man's occupancy and exploitation 

 of the sea. In short, develop the tools before you try to do the job. 



The main components which need intensive and massive research 

 and development are : 



(a) Stable sea structures, or sea buildings. 



( h ) High-speed surface and subsurface transportation. 



(c) Ocean robots. 



(d) Communications. 



(e) Primary power sources. 



While the programs suggested by the Commission are excellent and 

 do to some extent recommend development of deep submersibles and 

 nuclear power, I believe the scope suggested could be expanded. 



I believe that a wide range of these basic components mentioned 

 above should be developed first. If this were done, I believe that some 

 of the programs they suggest and others that will come up in the future 

 could be accomplished more efficiently and faster. 



These basic components or "tools" would eventually enable man to 

 work in the sea with almost as much facility as he now does on land. 



