SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION Hon. EDMUND S. MUSKIE, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, U.S. Senate, Committee on Public Works, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR MUSKIE: In your letter of May 14, 1971 you asked a series of questions regarding the Smithsonian Institution's research activities in the environmental sciences. The questions were in furtherance of hearings on S. 1113, a bill to establish a series of National Environmental Laboratories. Although the Smithsonian is an independent establishment for the "increase and diffusion of knowledge," rather than a Federal agency, as such, we have cooperated with various Federal agencies in projects concerned with the environment. A number of our activities may be relevant to your inquiry. Question 1.-The Office of Environmental Sciences is the office in the Smithsonian Institution under which the major programs directly concerning the environment are coordinated. Directly under the Office of Environmental Sciences is the Chespeake Bay Center for Environmental Studies. This Center conducts field research relating to land use and its effect on the adjacent estuary. However, almost every bureau of the Institution conducts research which has at least an indirect bearing on the subject, and the information from this research is regularly brought to bear on the environmental programs: The Radiation Biology Laboratory, in conjunction with the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, conducts research on measurements of solar radiation and the effects on living plants and animals. The Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, located in the Canal Zone in Panama, is concerned with all aspects of the tropical evinronment and parts of its program serve as a comparison with the temperate conditions being investigated at the Chesapeake Bay Center. The National Museum of Natural History houses and curates the national collections of plants, animals and the ecological data relating to them which form the core of all the aforementioned research. The National Zoological Park is concerned with the role of animals as secondary influences on the environment, especially of forests. While each of these bureaus are separate, they participate in certain Institution-wide programs which are administered under the auspices of the Office of Environmental Sciences. The Office of Environmental Sciences employs 70 people including professional, technical, secretarial and other supporting personnel. The Radiation Biology Laboratory employs 42 people representing the same categories. There are 304 employees of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, 51 at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, 224 in the National Zoological Park, and 300 at the National Museum of Natural History. Question 2.-With very few exceptions our scientific staff members hold Ph.D.'s in their respective fields. These include Zoology, Botany, Ecology, Geology, Anthropology, Physics, Astrophysics, Astrochemistry and the mineral sciences. Most have specializations under these headings viz. genetics microscopy, physiology, etc. Question 3.-In a special analysis forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (Fall 1971), we indicated that the Institution would spend about $10,400,000 on environmental research and related activities. The basic legislation under which the Institution conducts its environmentally oriented activities is found in Chapters 3, 4 and 5 of Title 20 of the United States Code, which includes the original charter of the Institution "for the increase and diffusion of knowledge among men." 20 U.S.C. Sec. 41. Question 4.-The basic research programs of the Instituton which relate to the environment include the systematics of plants and animals, their adaptations to ecological niches and the direct and indirect influences of the environment on the evolution of organisms. With the exception of a few federal grants for (1256) studies of specific problems, all of our research can be defined as basic in ac cordance with the definition you have put forward. A minor portion of our effort is devoted to technological development. This includes the development of instrumentation for the measurement of environmental factors. This instrumentation is often useful in monitoring programs undertaken by industry and governmental agencies. We consider all of our research, however, directly applicable to the identification and solution of environmental problems. Question 5.-Two of our research programs examine ecosystem structure and function: The Coral Reef study of the International Decade of Oceanographic Exploration; and the study of the Rhode River Watershed of the Chesapeake Bay. Question 6.-All of our research is conducted at our own facilities as described in the response to question one. Under our Foreign Currency Program, however, we have been able to make grants to United States institutions for research abroad, often in collaboration with scientific specialists at foreign universities. Question 7.—Being primarily a basic research organization, we have not addressed ourselves to large-scale environmental questions. Discussions were initiated sometime ago with the scientific staff of the Environmental Protection Agency to identify ways in which the activities of our individual research units (mentioned above) might be pertinent to such programs. Question 8.-Our very broad range of research activities are based on the competence and interest of our staff members. As in the case of most other basic research establishments, our efforts continue to be hindered by inadequate support-funds, space and personnel. I trust that this brief review is of assistance to you. If you wish, I will be very happy to enlarge on any aspect of our program. Sincerely yours, S. DILLON RIPLEY, TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY, Hon. EDMUND S. MUSKIE, Chairman, Subcommittee on Air and Water Pollution, Committee on Public Works, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR MUSKIE: This is in reply to your letter of May 14, 1971, requesting information concerning TVA's environmental research and development program to be included in the Hearing Record on S. 1113. TVA has engaged in environmental research and development activities for many years. Our efforts have included development of air and water pollution abatement methods as well as studies of the interrelationships of various environmental control technologies. We have conducted extensive investigations on the effects of water resource development projects on water quality and reservoir ecology and on the atmospheric dispersion of emissions from fossil-fired power plants and their environmental effects, as well as on the manner and methods of effectively reclaiming lands stripmined for coal. In cooperation with the U.S. Public Health Service, we designed, constructed, and operated a demonstration plant for composting and utilizing municipal refuse and sewage sludge. Although these activities have been carried out as a part of TVA's overall mission of resource development and the maintenance of a quality environment in the Tennessee Valley, much of this work has had results that are applicable in other parts of the Nation. The Tennessee Valley region comprises a natural laboratory where processes of urban, industrial, and agricultural change affecting the environment are in early stages relative to the extent and character of changes already evident in some other parts of the country. We believe that TVA is in a unique position ot utilize this laboratory for research and demonstration which would contribute further to development of needed solutions of national environmental problems. TVA has under unified management the most extensively integrated river control system in the world: one of the Nation's largest power systems with many types and sizes of generating plants (i.e., hydroelectric, fossil fuel, gas turbine), together with nuclear plants under construction; a variety of techniques for controlling the environmental effects of heated water discharges at its thermal power plants; chemical fertilizer research, development, and demonstration facilities; and a national outdoor recreation demonstration project. TVA's experience has demonstrated that an interdisciplinary approach provides the best solution to problems of resource development as well as those of environmental quality improvement. We believe TVA's history over the past three and one-half decades stands as a unique example of what can be accomplished by such an approach. We are glad to respond to the subcommittee's questions and hope the information given in the enclosure will be useful to you. Sincerely yours, AUBREY J.WAGNER, Chairman. TENNESSEE VALLEY AUTHORITY ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT A STATEMENT PREPARED FOR THE SENATE SUBCOMMITTEE ON AIR AND WATER POLLUTION Question 1.-What is the organization structure of your environmental research program? How many separate laboratories or installations in your agency are engaged in this research? What is the size and composition of the staff of each? Answer.-TVA has a congressional mandate to plan and carry out the integrated development of all the resources of a major watershed. Its staff is, therefore, accustomed to viewing and seeking solutions to environmental problems in an interdisciplinary fashion. The chart marked Appendix A shows TVA organizations involved directly or indirectly in environmental research and development. The Tennessee River system, most completely developed in the world, is a ready-made, full-scale laboratory for conducting water-related research. TVA's precise control of the huge reservoir system makes it a natural research tool. TVA's operating fossil-fuel plants and nuclear power plants under construction-part of the largest power production system in the Nation-give TVA a responsibility for air and water pollution control as well as the facilities (1258) needed for broad research and development. The chemists, engineers, agronomists, and other researchers at TVA's National Fertilizer Development Center at Muscle Shoals and in its Office of Health and Environmental Science are highly skilled in technology and approaches needed for pollution control research and development. They have a large body of information concerning such problems in the region and are already at work, in cooperation with other Federal agencies, the states, and with industry, on pollution control programs. TVA's Office of Health and Environmental Science, through its Division of Environmental Research and Development, coordinates all of TVA's environmental research activities. The organizational structure and program responsibilities of this office and division are described in Appendix B. Because of TVA's interdisciplinary approach, its environmental research is not centered in a single laboratory but is supported by numerous field facilities and the following six major laboratories: Industrial Hygiene and Air Quality Laboratory. 7 119 Engineering Laboratory (diversified engineering research in fields of water and gas flow).. 22434 20 16 83 14 National Fertilizer Development Center (chemical and agronomic research and chemical engineering development).. Total.. 195 198 393 Question 2.-What are the fields of specialization of the scientific investigators in your laboratories? What advanced degrees do they hold? Answer. The following list shows the fields of specialization and degrees of the professional staff of TVA having advanced degrees and concerned with environmental research and testing. This staff is either in the laboratories listed above in the answer to question 1 or administers such laboratories. In addition to these staff members, there are other professional employees in TVA with advanced degrees who might upon occasion take part in some specialized aspect of environmental research. Question S.-What is your present level of funding for environmental research? What is your present level of authorization for environmental research? For how many years? Answer. Under the definition of research and development as prescribed by the National Science Foundation for its statistical report series "Federal Funds for Research, Development, and Other Scientific Activities," the estimate for environmental research and development financed by TVA from appropriations in fiscal year 1971 is $1.0 million. In addition, TVA estimates that $1.0 million will be used on other projects that will contribute significantly to pollution control or abatement or to environmental enhancement although performed for another primary program objective. TVA conducts monitoring and surveillance operations for environmental quality control. These activities add to scientific knowledge and are of value in research and development activities. Its programs of water resources development, forestry and agricultural development, fish and wildlife investigations, strip mine reclamation, recreation, and tributary areas development have contributed greatly to protecting and enhancing the quality of the environment. Beyond these activities financed from funds appropriated to TVA, environmental research and development work performed for the Environmental Protection Agency on a reimbursable basis is estimated at $3.5 million in fiscal year 1971. All TVA program activities are authorized by the Tennessee Valley Authority Act of 1933, as amended, without limitations on time or funding levels. Question 4.-What kinds of problems are you addressing under the category environmental research? What proportion of this work would you consider basic research, defined as research producing fundamental, theoretical knowledge which was not sought for immediate problem-solving purposes? What proportion is devoted to technology development? To technology assessment? Answer. The following list includes major areas in which environmental research is conducted by TVA and a partial listing of specific projects either under way or planned. Water Quality-Research into causes, effects, and control methods for eutrophication in streams and reservoirs, including studies of fertilizer runoff and effects thereof; effects of heated water discharges upon aquatic life and possible beneficial uses of such discharges; feasible methods for reaerating water low in dissolved oxygen released from reservoirs during warm months; determination of distribution and possible duration of mercury in reservoirs and aquatic life; determination of role of surface and other mining on water quality; and improved treatment for liquid wastes from industrial, domestic, and municipal sources. Air Quality-Sources, effects, and control methods for air pollutants; recovery of sulfur and removal of sulfur oxides in effluents from fossil-fuel-burning plants: improved removal of particulates from industrial stack gases; and environmental effects of cooling towers. Herbicides and Insecticides-Research into sources, effects, and fate of insecticides and herbicides used for agriculture, forestry, and reservoir ecology control. Solid Wastes Disposal-Development of methods and approaches for collection, disposal or reuse of solid wastes generated in both urban and rural areas. Radioactive Wastes--Application of mathematical models to determine the distribution of radioactive discharges from nuclear power plants within aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Allocation of TVA's current research efforts by categories identified in the above question as follows: Character of work Basic Research____ Technology Development Technology Assessment--. Percent 10 30 60 Question 5.-List your current research projects on ecosystem structure and function, if any. Answer.-Wildland Resources Allocation-Procedures are being developed by which computerized mathematical models are used to guide landowner decision making to achieve optimum balance of wildland resources, including timber, wildlife, waterfowl, and fish. |