effort from chemists, physicists, petroleum engineers, and other scientists with specialized abilities. It is estimated that this program will cost $115,000. 2. Petroleum resources and fact finding surveys In view of the importance of Rocky Mountain liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon resources to the total national capacity, and because of the interest in a national fuels policy as it relates to Rocky Mountain resources, it is proposed to begin a major investigation of an engineering, economic, and fact-finding nature on the future reserves and capacity to produce Rocky Mountain petroleum, natural gas, and oil shale. At present there are no studies of a continuous and comprehensive nature being made within the Federal Government. It is contemplated that a 10-year national program, beginning in the Rocky Mountain area, will provide the needed fundamental research. It is estimated that this program will cost $110,000. 3. Studies of petroleum asphalts and related substances The proposed program is designed to provide the means of most efficient manufacture and use of the asphaltic products needed throughout the country. Asphalts from typical crude oils will be characterized in terms of chemical composition. Composition then will be correlated with existing specifications and both in turn will be correlated with type of crude oil, processing history, and ultimately with the properties and service characteristics of finished asphaltic products. Such information will provide the basis needed to manufacture and apply asphaltic products tailored to meet realistic and uniform specifications that adequately represent desired service conditions. The estimated cost of this program is $180,000. 4. Relationships of chemical composition of fuels to their stability characteristics and engine performance It is proposed to make intense efforts in studies of the chemical changes that occur in fuels upon oxidation at various temperatures of use, ranging from normal atmospheric temperature in the case of ordinary motor fuels to several hundred degrees in the case of jet engine fuels for supersonic flight. Oxidation has been shown to be an important factor in deterioration of fuels, but, as in the case of hydrogenation, what happens chemically is not well understood. Again, such understanding promises to be a key to solution of many instability problems. The estimated cost of this program is $45,000. 5. Laboratory-scale research on oil shale and shale oil It is planned to exert intensive effort in the following areas of basic research: (a) Chemical and instrumental investigations to define the composition and properties of shale oil and of kerogen, the oil-forming component in oil shale; (b) studies of the pore and crystal structure of oil shale; and (c) studies of the reactions and physical phenomena involved in conversion of kerogen to oil, with emphasis on the mist-forming step that appears to be extremely important in effective recovery of the oil; (d) investigation of the byproduct potential of a oil-shale industry, such as making chemicals, fertilizers, and specialized metallurgical raw materials like electrode carbons and reductant cokes. The estimated cost of this program is $150,000. FERROUS METALS There are large resources of chromite in Montana and in other areas of the Northwest that should be investigated further to delineate deposits, grades of ore, and to provide engineering and economic data for their efficient utilization. Although recent Bureau studies have demonstrated the technical feasibility of producing commercial grade chromium products from the high-iron chromites in the Stillwater complex in Montana, new and lower cost smelting techniques should be investigated and the chromite-bearing materials in the fringe areas of the deposits should be delineated and more efficient methods for concentrating the materials should be developed. Research on the theory and application of sampling methods should be conducted and statistical methods applied to determine the tonnage and average grade of the deposit within prescribed limits. The estimated cost of this program is $200,000. NONFERROUS METALS Many of the copper, lead, and zinc mines are encountering serious difficulties in mining at increasing depths because of ground control and operational problems. These problems can be solved through basic research investigations in the physics of rocks and rock structure and studies in systems analysis methods. The determination of the in place mechanical properties of rock and their relationship to the structure and mining methods employed will point out the areas of greatest stress concentration and indicate means by which they can be controlled. Application of statistical methematics to problems of ore search, exploration, development, and extraction will aid in lowering costs in all phases of the mining operation. The estimated cost of this program is $200,000. NONMETALLIC MINERALS High temperature refractories and abrasive materials are being utilized in greater quantities, whereas our higher grade resources are dwindling. A resource appraisal of high-alumina minerals, superduty fire clays, kyanite minerals, and hard and abrasive minerals is proposed. Nonmetallic minerals for building purposes abound in the Rocky Mountains, yet little is known of their quantitative reserves. A study should be initiated of these resources including lightweight aggregate from pumice, perlite, and expandable shales and other resources of the entire Rocky Mountain area. Improved methods of extracting minerals from the earth are essential for improvement in the economic position of the domestic industry. This improvement can be obtained through mining research in ground stabilization and control and drilling and breaking of the rock. Research in breaking will be directed toward controlling the shock wave and air vibrations in urban areas. Ground stabilization research will be concerned with the determination and control of stress concentrations around room and pillar openings, which is the predominant underground mining method of the nonmetallic minerals. The estimated cost of this program is $200,000. SQUATTER PROBLEM ALONG LOWER COLORADO Chairman HAYDEN. I have two or three questions of my own to ask you. What progress are you making in regard to those persons who are taking up land along the lower Colorado River without legal deed? Secretary UDALL. Senator, we announced a new program yesterday or today. We are opening an office out on the river the 1st of May. We are laying out a general program which I think some of you have been advised of and have been interested in in the past, whereby we are going to attempt to secure the cooperation of the people there in a short transition program and clear these lands and dedicate those for public use which should be used publicly and get the lands properly classified and solve the squatter problem. We are tackling it. Chairman HAYDEN. The details remain to be developed? MORATORIUM ON APPLICATIONS FOR USE OF NONMINERAL LANDS Chairman HAYDEN. Not long after you became Secretary you announced a moratorium on applications for the use of nonmineral lands. What has been the public reaction to the moratorium and do you expect that all of the current backlog of land applications will be gone by the end of the moratorium period? Secretary UDALL. Our experience under that program consists of 2 months to the present. The reaction has been very good. We have had uniformly favorable reaction from people who have had dealings with the land offices. I would say already that we can feel the influence where our people can get down to work in clearing out this backlog. There is more of it coming into our offices to act on. are hoping that we cannot only clear out the backlog, but we are sending up a series of recommendations to streamline and modernize these laws. We OWNERSHIP OF LAND AS HEDGE AGAINST INFLATION Chairman HAYDEN. There seems to be an idea throughout the United States that if you own some land it is a hedge against inflation. Therefore, any kind of land you could lay hands on is the way to protect yourself. I don't know how long that idea will prevail. RESEARCH SCIENTISTS UNDER PUBLIC LAW 313 I note that the House has approved your request for a staff assistant to advise and assist in carrying out the Department's responsibilities for coordination and administration of the research activities of the program. I would be interested to know how many research scientists you have now authorized to give compensation rates permitted under the so-called Public Law 313 provisions. If you haven't the information here, the statement can be inserted in the record explaining that. Secretary UDALL. Senator, I do have the answer but I will insert in the record a more detailed statement on this subject. We have authorization for five, in those programs that have scientific activities, which is one of the lowest authorizations in the Government. We only have four filled. We are asking for 25 more. (The information referred to follows') The question "Has the United States of America the material means to sustain its civilization?" would never have occurred to men 50 or 60 years ago Now the question takes on real meaning and an honest answer is of major importance. Whether the use of resource materials is for the defense of our Nation or for the preservation of our national economy and way of life is of small moment if there are no materials. Even a casual assessment of our resources to meet the necessities of our Nation and the free world in the years ahead gives cause for concern. We are in an age of soaring demands while at the same time our resources are shrinking. There is a profound shift in the basic materials position of the United States a worsening relationship between our requirements and our means of satisfying them. The Department of the Interior as the principal conservation agency of the Federal Government has been charged with the responsibility for the discovery, development, and conservation of our natural resources. To meet the increased demands of the present and the immediate future and with a look to the next 20 years or so we must immediately accelerate our research activities. We must give added impetus to the more effective development and use of the resources with which we as a Nation have been so richly blessed. Commodities once thought to be unlimited are now recognized as being in critical short supply. Either new sources of these must be discovered or we must develop substitute materials to adequately supplant those in short supply. The Department of the Interior through the Geological Survey is conducting research in the earth's geologic structure through investigations of mineral and water resources. Of signal importance is the Survey's topographic and geologic mapping service in which extensive research is required in the development of improved techniques, methodology, and instrumentation. Through the Bureau of Mines we are engaged in research in improved mining techniques, and in the extraction of urgently needed minerals. We are also developing through research new alloys and discovering substitute materials for those now in short supply. We are also performing necessary research in fuels (solid, liquid, and gas), in discovery, production and conservation. Water is of prime importance to the survival of our people and our Nation. Many sections of our country are already faced with water shortage problems and these problems give promise of becoming more widespread and more acute in the days ahead. The water situation is rapidly developing into one of the most critical in the natural resources field. Part of the solution may be found in more effective water storage facilities on the surface and replenishment of underground supplies, to conserve for beneficial use a greater portion of the presently unused runoff. A few years ago there was created in the Department an Office of Saline Water to provide research into and practical means for the economical production, from sea and other saline water, of water for agricultural, industrial, municipal, and other beneficial consumptive uses. Some significant progress has been made under this program. Much more needs to be done. Last year the Congress, in recognition of the critical conditions in the coal industry enacted legislation establishing in the Department an Office of Coal Research to encourage and stimulate the production and conservation of coal through research and development in new and more efficient methods of mining, preparing, and utilizing coal. Not the least of the research programs of the Department concerns the improvement in the fish and wildlife resources of the Nation. In 1956 the Congress created in the Department a Fish and Wildlife Service comprised of two bureaus. The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries has as its objectives (1) to increase and maintain forever for the people of the United States a fishery resource capable of yielding the maximum annual product, and (2) to strengthen and maintain a vigorous fishery program. The Bureau conducts biological research on commercially important species of fish, shellfish, and mammals off all coasts of the United States, in the high seas and in waters adjacent to territories and possessions. This research extends into the field of meteorology and oceanography. The Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife is responsible for the conservation of migratory birds, mammals, and sport fish. Research is conducted on the nutrition and disease factors that affect hatchery raised fishes and the factors that affect their survival and growth. If we are to keep pace with the advancements being made in science and technology in other areas, it is imperative that our research programs concerning natural resources be accelerated. Time is of the essence in undertaking the necessary research and development functions which are now so vital in the resources fields. Any undue delay could produce disastrous results. Section 12(c) of Public Law 85-462, approved June 20, 1958, authorized the Secretary of the Interior to establish and fix the compensation for five scientific and professional positions generally known as Public Law 313-type positions. This number is totally inadequate for us to undertake and to accomplish the vast amount of highly diversified research and development functions devolving upon the Department. Interior has the fewest Public Law 313-type positions among the departments and agencies having research as a part of their responsibilities. It compares with other agencies as follows: The Department of the Interior as the major agency of the Federal Government having responsibility for the conservation and development of the natural resources of this country needs to give sharply increased attention to research during the next decade if we are not to lose forever the priceless resources which have made this country great. The importance of this was emphasized by the President in his message to the Congress on natural resources. It has been repeatedly stressed in numerous magazine and newspaper articles. There is an increasing awareness throughout the country of the desperate need to make substantial progress in this field before it is too late. We have an urgent need for 25 new positions of this type for a total of 30-an extremely modest request which was made only after the most careful analysis of the immediate needs of the Department. The important contributions in the resource area expected of Interior can be realized only if competency can be provided in the form of highly skilled scientific and professional personnel. Our request for 25 additional for a total of 30 Public Law 313 positions in the Department is the minimum number of positions necessary to our needs. It is strongly urged, therefore, that a total of 30 such positions be authorized. NEED FOR COMPETENT SCIENTISTS Secretary UDALL. A program like saline water requires the best scientific brains we can get. It is a matter of coordinating a whole range of activity, including a lot of basic research. In addition to that we have coal research and we have all these problems in the Bureau of Mines, oceanography, the Geological Survey. The President's science adviser has strongly urged us, so we can have proper liaison with him and with the White House, to have someone to coordinate all these activities and someone to ride herd on them. We are hoping we can get a really outstanding scientist to take that assignment. But the thing that I was surprised to find out is that as compared to the Department of Agriculture, which has twice as many as we do, and the Department of Commerce with more than Interior, which has a lot of scientific activities, that we have so few. We are asking for 25 more from the Civil Service Commission, as are some of the other departments. This is an area where we need strength. Chairman HAYDEN. This question is based upon the fact that I sit as a member of the subcommittee appropriating money for agriculture and all kinds of assistance of that kind is provided. Apparently, the Department of Interior needs it in its field just as much as other departments do. PROGRAM PLANNING STAFF Secretary UDALL. Yes. Senator, this suggests to me one other point that I intended to mention and did not. And that is the research staff for the Department, the so-called technical review staff, which we have asked to have strengthened and restored to its former strength. I want to explain why this staff is so important and I found it almost invaluable. With a new administration coming in, not only laying out new policies but familiarizing yourself with new things, staff of this kind is important. My concept of the function of this staff is this. It has been called in recent years technical review staff, as though their job is simply to sit around and potshot the work of others and be sharpshooters. I conceive it as a program planning staff, looking ahead. This should be the main function, and not just for the Secretary but for the entire secretariat. For all of our programs, such as Senator Magnuson's statement a while ago with regard to fisheries research, we have to be planning ahead. If we don't we will lose some of these things merely by default. This is why we have requested restoring the level of this staff to its former high level. I do consider this very vital to the proper functioning of our Department. APPROPRIATIONS COMPARED WITH RECEIPTS Chairman HAYDEN. Thank you. I have here a table entitled, "Appropriations compared with receipts," to be entered in the record. If there are no further questions, we thank you, Mr. Secretary. Secretary UDALL. Thank you very much. |