7. Definition of plant water requirements in relation to supply-derivation and computation of pertinent risk factors for planning increases in world food supply. 8. Satellite cloud distribution and surface water temperature in relation to ground observation-effect on weather systems. 9. Evaluation of economic and social effects of weather modification-application of weather knowledge to engineering agricultural and industrial problems such as electrical "brown-out", construction of roads and buildings, and operating snow making and snow removal systems. 10. Atmospheric turbulence diffusion studies over Narragansett Bay related to offshore incinerator ship operation. 11. Air-sea interaction energy balance study-depth of the mixed layer in the ocean as a function of wind, atmospheric heat balance, and temperature and salinity structure of the ocean. None of the research activity performed by the Environmental Data Service is considered as "basic" research. Approximately 90% is classified as "applied" research, 5% as technology development and 5% as technology assessment. QUESTION 5: List your current research projects on ecosystem structure and function, if any. National Marine Fisheries Service Current research projects in the National Marine Fisheries Service dealing with ecosystem structure and function are as follows: 1. Effects of temperature, salinity and radiation on physiological processes (mainly respiration) on abundant finfish (menhaden, pinfish and croaker) and shellfish. 2. Cycling of trace elements (manganese, iron, zinc, copper and mercury) among sediments, biota and water and distribution of atomic fallout in estuarine waters. 3. Interaction of hydrological, chemical, and biological processes that affect fishery production in estuarine waters. 4. Physical, chemical and biological factors affecting shrimp production in Gulf of Mexico estuaries. 5. Composition and interaction of physical, chemical and biological factors in natural, modified and managed estuarine ecosystems. 6. Basic inventory of Gulf estuarine system. Sea Grant The Office of Sea Grant is currently sponsoring through its grant program a selected number of locally oriented research projects which deal with the following aspects of ecosystem structures: 1. Ecological studies of specific fisheries and certain algae including the characteristics of organic substances in tidal marshes and in the shoal benthic environment. 2. Circulation and diffusion studies in selected estuarine waters including the fate of pollutants. 3. Prevention of pesticide pollution from coastal insect control programs. Environmental Data Service Current research projects on ecosystem structure and function include the following: 1. Climatic change due to both natural and inadvertent human influence. 2. Water temperature change due to power generation. 3. Definition of plant water requirements in relation to supply-derivation and computation of pertinent risk factors for planning increases in world food supply. QUESTION 6. How much of your environmental research is conducted at your own facilities? How much is done by contract to other institutions? Please indicate the proportion of contract work assigned to each of various types of institutions (university, independent research firm, industry, etc.) Environmental Research Laboratories Approximately 98 percent of the research in the Environmental Research Laboratories is performed at its own facilities. The grants program for out-ofhouse research covers the balance (2%). The proportion of out-of-house research is approximately 80 percent to universities and 20 percent to independent research institutions. National Marine Fisheries Service About 92 percent of the research in the National Marine Fisheries Service is conducted at its own facilities, with 7 percent used as grant-in-aid to States for research. In addition, approximately $100,000 is contracted to cooperative universities for pesticides monitoring. National Environmental Satellite Service Approximately 54 percent of the research conducted in the National Environmental Satellite Service is performed at its own facilities. The proportion of out-of-house research is 7 percent to universities, 38 percent to industrial groups and 1 percent to other Department of Commerce organizations. Sea Grant All of the research performed under the Sea Grant program is conducted outof-house. Approximately 85 percent is done by universities, 5 percent by inde pendent research firms, 5 percent by industry and 5 percent by state agencies. Assistant Administartor for Environmental Systems All of the research of the Marine Minerals Technology Center is conducted at its own facilities. Environmental Data Service Approximately 80 percent of the research in the Environmental Data Service is conducted at its own facilities, with 15 percent conducted by universities and 5 percent by other government agencies. QUESTION. 7. What mechanism, if any, do you have for identifying and addressing large-scale environmental questions by interdisciplinary teams? What mechanism do you have for coordinating your activities with the Environmental Protection Agency? Please include copies of any memoranda or letters of agreement which detail your coordination mechanism. NOAA's Office of Ecology and Environmental Conservation is the focal point for external contacts with individuals, firms, and agencies concerned with ecological and conservation matters. The office is also responsible for initiating NOAA staff actions responsive to issues and problems raised. NOAA's Assistant Administrator for Plans and Programs has a multi-discipline staff and is responsible for studying the major environmental problems and questions facing NOAA to identify the issues and needs involved and recommend policy-level actions. Multi-year NOAA program plans such as “Geophysical Monitoring for Climatic Change" are then prepared and coordinated with other concerned agencies. Interagency coordination of environmental activities are carried out through a variety of mechanisms. The more significant of the formal mechanisms in which NOAA participates or from which NOAA derives guidance are discussed below. The Council on Environmental Quality is a source of policy guidance and NOAA provides substantial supporting information for the Council's use. The Interdepartmental Committee for Atmospheric Sciences of the Federal Council for Science and Technology coordinates research and development in this discipline with emphasis on basic or fundamental research and technology. Meteorological services and supporting research are coordinated under the Federal Coordinator for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research as chartered by BOB Circular A-62. Annual plans outlining coordinated Federal programs are issued as are multi-year program plans covering various functions such as weather radars and support to air pollution control activities. Marine environmental prediction and relevant research and development are coordinated under the Federal Coordinator for Marine Environmental Prediction in accordance with directions of the Vice President acting as Chairman of the Marine Science Council. Annual plans and multi-year functional plans are issued similar to those for meteorology. Pesticide problems and actions are coordinated through the Working Group on Pesticides, Subcommittee on Pesticides of the Cabinet Committee on the Environment. Coordination of activities related to other contaminants, particularly heavy metals, is through an ad hoc Inter-Agency Working Group on Contaminants. NOAA and EPA are active participants in all of these coordination mechanisms and NOAA is the lead agency for coordinating Meteorological Services and Supporting Research and Marine Environmental Prediction. The following relevant documents are attached: BOB Circular A-62, dated November 13, 1963. Letter from Vice President, dated November 7, 1969. Federal Plan for Marine Environmental Prediction, fiscal year 1972. Federal Plan for Meteorological Services and Supporting Research, fiscal year 1972. [ATTACHMENTS TO QUESTION 7] [Circular No. A-62] EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, BUREAU OF THE BUDGET, Washington, D.C., November 13, 1963. To the Heads of Executive Departments and Establishments. Subject: Policies and procedures for the coordination of Federal meteorological services. 1. Purpose and coverage.-This Circular prescribes policy guidelines and procedures for planning and conducting Federal meteorological services and applied research and development to improve such services. The guidelines are designed to improve organizational arrangements and procedures for the planning and conduct of Federal meteorological programs with the objective of meeting essential user requirements most effectively and economically. The guidelines (a) reaffirm the central role of the Department of Commerce with respect to basic meteorological services; (b) clarify the respective responsibilities of the Department of Commerce and the user agencies for basic and specialized meteorological services; (c) establish procedures to facilitate coordination and the timely resolution of outstanding issues; (d) provide for evaluating user requirements within the context of a balanced and integrated Federal plan; and (e) fix responsibility for continuing and systematic review of meteorological services and supporting research. Policies and procedures with respect to basic research in meteorology are not within the purview of this Circular because such research is only indirectly related to improvement of weather services and often has other objectives. The Federal Council for Science and Technology will continue to have cognizance over basic research in the atmospheric sciences, which includes meteorology. This also includes the supporting applied meteorological research, as defined herein, in terms of its dependence upon and contribution to the atmospheric sciences. 2. Statement of meteorological services and requirements.—For purposes of this Circular: (a) "Basic meteorological services" include all activities, that are possible within the given state of meteorological science, required to produce or complete a description in time and space of the atmosphere. In general the products of this process are meteorological in nature and are not necessarily useful in such form for the operational needs of users. These services also include those activities required to derive from raw data the products needed by the general public in their normal everyday activities and for the protection of their lives and property. The general functions involved in providing basic meteorological services include: (1) Measurement of the meteorological characteristics of the atmosphere, made with sufficient density and frequency to meet the needs of the general public and the common needs of all users. (2) Collection of these measures for processing. (3) Analyses and prognoses of meteorological variables, including estimates of their probable error distribution, and interpretation of the analyses and prognoses for meeting the needs of the general public. (4) Distribution of these meteorological analyses and prognoses to outlets for subsequent interpretation for the operational needs of all users, and the distribution and display of operational products to meet the needs of the general public. (b) "Specialized meteorological services" include those activities, derived generally from the output of the basic meteorological services, which produce those products needed to serve the operational needs for particular user groups. These user groups include, among others: aviation, agriculture, business, commerce, and industry. The general functions involved in providing these services include: (1) Establishment of parameters needed to serve solely a particular operational purpose. (2) Collection of data from specialized measurements which conform with the established parameters. (3) Analysis of the data obtained from specialized measurements. (4) Interpretation of the analyzed data and the making of prognoses to meet the operational needs of users. (5) Distribution and display of these specialized products to meet the needs of individual users or groups. (c) "Supporting research" includes those applied research and development activities whose immediate objectives is the improvement of the basic and specialized meteorological services as defined herein. (d) “User agency" is an agency whose mission requires meteorological services either for its internal operations or as part of its direct services to a clientele group. "Mission requirements" include those requirements directly related to the primary mission of the agency. When such mission involves direct service to a clientele group requiring the provision of meteorological services it is included within the terms of this definition. Also, when the agency has no such clientele relationships but its internal operations require the provision of meteorological services, its mission is included within the terms of this definition. (e) "Common requirements of other agencies" include the needs for basic meteorological services necessary to support their specialized meteorological services. Such requirements also include those needs for specialized meteorological services common to two or more agencies. 3. Coordination of meteorological services.-(a) The Department of Commerce, with the advice and assistance of other agencies concerned, will establish procedures designed to facilitate a systematic and continuing review of basic and specialized meteorological requirements, services and closely related supporting research. The Department will undertake such reviews with the objectives of (1) establishing, and revising as appropriate, needed basic services, and (2) advising other agencies on the need for and organization of specialized services. The objectives of these continuing reviews are to assure a timely identification of need for new or revised services and to develop those services, either basic or specialized, that most efficiently meet the need. (b) The Department of Commerce, to the maximum extent practicable and permitted by law, will provide those basic meteorological services and supporting research needed to meet the requirements of the general public or the common requirements of other agencies. The Department of Commerce will arrange for the conduct of such services by the Department, by other agencies, or by non-Federal organizations, depending upon the most effective and economical arrangements. (c) User agencies still arrange for specialized meteorological services and suporting research when their mission requirements cannot be effectively accommodated through the basic services and supporting research. Before supporting specialized meteorological services and research, the user agency should obtain the views of the Department of Commerce as to whether its requirements can be met satisfactorily through the basic meteorological services and supporting research, including appropriate adjustments therein. The Department of Commerce will, to the extent consistent wtih effective and economical use of resources, conduct the specialized services that support the mission requirements of user agencies. (d) The above provisions will not apply to (1) the division of responsibilities between the Department of Commerce and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for development of meteorological satellites; and (2) meteorological activities involving special military security considerations. Arrangements wth respect to the foregoing activities will be set forth in separate determinations. 4. Development of a Federal plan.—(a) The Department of Commerce will prepare and keep current a plan, and obtain periodic information on its implementation, for the efficient utilization if meteorological services and supporting research. The purpose of such planning is to achieve the maximum integration of current and future services and research consistent with the effective and economical accomplishment of mission requirements. The plan should include: (1) all civilian meteorological services and supporting research, and (2) those meteorological services (basic and specialized) and supporting research programs of the military which are significantly affected by, or which affect, civilian meteorological services and supporting research. The plan will be directed towards relating such meteorological services and research to requirements, as established by the user agencies. It will also serve to develop the coordinating arrangements needed for the optimal use of the basic and related specialized meteorological services and supporting research in an efficient overall system. (b) Planning should be directed towards the establishment of both long-range and intermediate agency objectives and the development of programs related to both sets of objectives. The Department of Commerce should assure that the plan, relating proposed programs to fiscal year and longer range objectives, is available for the annual preview of the various agencies' budgets for Fiscal Year 1966 and thereafter. The plan should clearly identify planning assumptions, any unresolved interagency issues, and the views of the agencies concerned with respect thereto. (c) In preparing and revising the plan, the Department of Commerce will obtain the advice and assistance of the principal agencies providing or utilizing meteorological services. To this end the Department should establish appropriate arrangements for obtaining continuing advice from the principal agencies concerned. The Department should exercise leadership in assuring that differences of opinion are resolved expeditiously. The division of responsibilities among agencies for provision of meteorological services and supporting research will, insofar as practicable and permitted by law, conform with the guidelines set forth under section 3 above. 5. Overall review procedures.-When major differences among agencies cannot be resolved through consultation, the head of any agency concerned may refer the matter to the appropriate agency within the Executive Office of the President for consideration. The Presidential staff agencies will keep each other currently informed of meteorological issues and will cooperate in achieving their timely resolution. KERMIT GORDON, Director. THE VICE PRESIDENT, Washington, November 7, 1969. Hon. MAURICE H. STANS, DEAR MAURY: Your comments on the Administration's proposed initiatives in marine science have indeed been helpful, and I am pleased to report to you the President's decision to support urgent elements reflected in the five-point program. To provide for effective management and coordination pending completion of the marine organization study, lead agency responsibilities have been assigned. I should, therefore, like to confirm designation of the National Science Foundation as lead agency for the International Decade of Ocean Exploration and for the extension of Arctic research, and the Department of the Interior as lead agency for coastal management and associated coastal laboratories. ESSA has been assigned lead agency responsibility for mapping, charting, geodesy, and data storage, and for environmental observations and predictions. Responsibility for the lake restoration project will be assigned later. While these assignments are intended to strengthen our Government-wide program, they in no way affect your statutory responsibilities or your responsibility for appropriate budgetary support. The five initiatives constitute the Administration's priority program for marine science this year. However, the Bureau of the Budget has indicated that the merits for increase or the needs for decrease of other agency projects would be considered in the course of the normal budgetary review. Fiscal Year 1971 funding for the proposals outlined in my October 6, 1969, letter will be "new funds," in that they will be above the FY 1970 levels for the program elements described in that letter. Again, my thanks for your interest in marine science affairs and for your continued support. Sincerely, TED. |