The Subcommittee went on to make the following specific recommendations: 



1. That a permanent interagency committee be established by the Federal Council 

 to implement, coordinate, and review a national program in oceanography. 



2. That the Federal agencies concerned develop ten-year plans for expansion of 

 their existing programs in oceanography consistent with the national objective. 



In late 1959 the Federal Coimcil for Science and Technology accepted and endorsed 

 the recommendations of the Subcommittee. Oceanography was recognized as an 

 important field recjuiring additional emphasis in the national interest. The Inter- 

 agency Committee on Oceanograjjhy (ICO) was established in February 1960 as a 

 permanent committee, charged to pro\ide the essential direction and coordination by 

 preparing annuallv a National Oceanographic Program, incorporating the Committee's 

 judgement as to balance and emphasis in terms of both long-range scientific needs 

 and requirements of government agencies. Represented on the ICO were those Federal 

 agencies with statutory responsibilities in\c)l\ing the marine en\ironment, and observers 

 from NASCO and the Bureau of the Budget. 



Ten-year plans were prepared by each of the member agencies and synthesized into 

 a long-range national oceanographic plan for the period 1963-1972 {Oceanography, 

 The Ten Years Ahead, ICO Pamphlet No. 10). Approved by the President in 1963, this 

 plan (1) addressed itself to oceanographic problems of national interest, and (2) out- 

 lined the goals toward which a national oceanographic program must be directed 

 to meet national needs. In effect, the plan pro\ ides a means by which Federal, academic, 

 and industrial members of the oceanographic comminiit\ can look ahead together by 

 providing a perspective in which thev can see theii" \arious programs in relation to 

 each other and to the national goals the\ support. 



In developing its annual programs since 1964, ICO has been guided by, but not boimd 

 to, the long-range plan. The annual program is based on the recommendations and 

 findings of seven special ICO panels* which reflect skills and competence found in the 

 agencies and provide a means for expression of many points of view. In planning the 

 program, panel members identify technical needs in \arious areas, devise programs 

 and measures to meet these needs, identify desirable allocations of technical effort 

 among the agencies, and suggest the assignment of technical leadershijD. 



The Interagency Committee on Oceanography reviews these panel recommendations 

 and findings to assure an appropriate division of technical effort among the agencies 

 as well as a meaningful balance of oceanographic effort. It examines the adequacy of 

 the overall program and the manpower base required for its implementation. Finally, 

 it recommends policies to impro\e the quality and vigor of the national effort. 



The Committee's recommended program is in turn reviewed by the staff and con- 

 sultants of the Office of Science and Technology, which forwards its comments to the 

 Federal Council for Science and Technology for final review and approval. 



The recommended program is then integrated into the agency piograms through 

 normal agency channels. The agencies themsehes retain lesponsibility for accepting 

 or rejecting specific projects, for de\eloping or conducting their own auTiual programs, 

 and for defending them indi\iduallv before Congress. 



This process helps reduce competition for stich resoinces as skilled manpower and 

 funds and piomotes their most effective use, encourages centralized planning and joint 

 cooperative enterprises, promotes communication among key members of the oceano- 

 graphic community, fosters a realistic and effective balance of effort among ])aiticipating 

 agencies and institutions, prevents needless duplication of work, and makes possible 

 an orderly progression toward goals imjiortant to the national interest. 



*ResearLh, Otean Enginceiing, Surve\s, Iiisti uiiicni.ition and F.icililies, Ships. M.inpowci , Iiiteriiational Piojrrains. 



iv 



