Consolidated accounts and central services financed by benefiting activities

Services, supplies or equipment which are in common need by two or more activities are, for efficiency and economy, reported in consolidated accounts. Charges initially made to these accounts, are ultimately charged to the activity benefited, and are justified in the budget for those activities. The actual costs of these accounts for 1960 and the estimates for 1961 and 1962 are summarized below:

Financial support for these accounts and services is summarized as follows:

Mr. NOLAN. I have a statement which I can read or place in the record.

Chairman HAYDEN. If it is not too long, you may read it.

Mr. NOLAN. It is my privilege again to meet with this committee to discuss the programs of the Geological Survey.

The Survey is fundamentally concerned with the natural resources of the Nation. You are all aware of the serious and complex resource problems which face this Nation today. Unsettled conditions throughout many parts of the world spotlight the fact that the United States continues to be dependent on uncertain foreign sources for some critical minerals-minerals whose availability will, to a large extent, determine our rate of progress in this space age. Continued technological advances can be assured only by unremitting efforts to increase our basic knowledge of the factors controlling the formation and occurrence of the essential mineral raw materials.

In view of the recent report of the Senate Select Committee on Water Resources, I hardly need to emphasize the seriousness of water resource problems resulting from the impact of expanding urban areas and increasing water demands in the face of limited local water supplies and increasing pollution. Recent floods also have emphasized

the need for more data on the frequency and magnitude of floods for planning protective works and for proper zoning of flood plains.

FUND FOR ADMINISTRATIVE IMPROVEMENT

Increases approved by the House will contribute toward the timely execution of the Survey's natural resource and mapping program as well as provide increased knowledge of our resource base for future planning and economic growth. However, our budget request for a modest increase in funds to support general administration was not approved. The increase requested was intended to provide for the strengthening of our internal audit and inspection programs and for other long deferred improvements in administrative services which have been urged upon us in GAO audit reports and by other investigative groups. In addition, approximately one-fourth of the requested increase is required for periodic step increases and wage board increases over which the Survey has no control.

Chairman HAYDEN. Do you have any way of absorbing those increases?

Mr. NOLAN. They have to be taken care of from existing funds. The determination to make wage board increases is made by a committee outside of the Survey.

ABSORPTION OF INCREASES

Chairman HAYDEN. In many instances they can be absorbed and in other places they cannot be.

Mr. NOLAN. In the absence of additional funds we will not be able to absorb them within the amounts available for general administration except by decreasing staff, thus cutting down on an already very severely contracted administrative program.

We continually strive to keep administrative costs to the lowest possible level consistent with efficient operations. The relationship of the amount requested for support of the general administration activity in 1962 fiscal year to the total appropriation is approximately the same as in previous years. The reduction imposed by the House on our budget request would further compound the difficulties that we have been experiencing in providing adequate and necessary support to the program activities. I strongly urge the restoration of the requested increase of $109,000.

The House disallowed $556,000 requested to cover pay act costs being absorbed during the current year.

PARTIAL RESTORATION REQUESTED

Chairman HAYDEN. You are only asking for a partial restoration? Mr. NOLAN. Yes, sir; a partial restoration for the amount that had been allocated to the water resources investigations and the administrative programs. I urge the restoration of $220,000 in pay act costs. in order to maintain the Federal-State cooperative water resources program at the budget level and to avoid absorption of this part of the pay act costs by the Federal water program.

Chairman HAYDEN. Every year as far back as I can remember, some State came in late and the demand by the States for that service has been continuing to increase.

Mr. NOLAN. Yes; it is continuing to increase.

REASON FOR CONCERN OF STATES

Chairman HAYDEN. Is this realization that water is becoming scarce one of the causes for the demands on the part of the States?

Mr. NOLAN. I am sure it is. It is a combination of not only increasing scarcity of water but also the increasing need for water of a standard and high quality; water problems include not only human pollution but also pollution by sediment. Higher and higher standards of water quality are being required, particularly in industrial processes. The quality and quantity of water are matters of very great importance all over the entire country.

Chairman HAYDEN. Certainly the country is interested in water. There is no question about that at all.

Mr. NOLAN. We have been particularly concerned about water resources investigations and administrative activities. Regarding the latter, I would like to mention that for the past 2 or 3 years, as I believe you know, there have been reviews and studies made not only by the General Accounting Office in its normal practices, but recently by a committee of the House. Recently we have had, as well, a series of reviews by such groups as the Civil Service Commission. In all of these studies recommendations have been made that call for material increases in the administrative staff, notably in the internal audit functions. As a result of these recommendations, we have within the last few months moved to strengthen the internal audit staff along the lines recommended by the GAO and other advisers, so we would be in a particularly difficult position if the House action

FUNDS FOR INTERNAL AUDIT FUNCTIONS

Chairman HAYDEN. How much would be required for that particular purpose?

Mr. NOLAN. I do not have those figures at hand precisely but my impression is that it would amount to something on the order of $50,000 or $60,000 for that activity alone. There are four individuals involved and travel. This compares with an annual expenditure of about $15,000 heretofore.

GEOLOGIC MAPPING OF KENTUCKY

Chairman HAYDEN. Is any part of the increased money to be used to match funds supplied by Kentucky for its geologic mapping program which was begun last year?

Mr. NOLAN. Yes, sir. The House approved our request for the increase in the geologic item and that will provide for the increased money that Kentucky is providing.

Chairman HAYDEN. What other States, if any, have entered into an agreement with the Geological Survey to participate in geologic mapping such as Kentucky has done?

Mr. NOLAN. I would like to put that into the record to be precise. My recollection is that there is somewhere between 15 and 20 States that are cooperating on geologic work.

Chairman HAYDEN. That may be included in the record. (The information referred to follows:)

The following States are participating in cooperative geologic and mineral resource surveys and mapping programs in fiscal year 1961:

COLORADO RIVER BASIN INVESTIGATIONS

Chairman HAYDEN. Does this year's budget estimate include funds for the Geological Survey to perform investigations in the lower part of the Colorado River Basin? If so, please indicate the amount and the plan of the work.

Mr. NOLAN. There are funds being expended for the lower Colorado, and if I might I would like to put the precise figures and the detailed plans into the record.

(The information referred to follows:)

The investigation of the lower Colorado River area was begun in July 1960 by the Geological Survey. It encompasses the river valley and the adjoining area in Arizona and California below Davis Dam and includes the Imperial and Coachella Valleys in California, which are irrigated with Colorado River water. The general purpose of the study is to determine the hydrologic relations in the area to provide an adequate base for efficient management practices. An appraisal will be made of the quantity and quality of surface and ground water available for use in the area, including water originating from precipitation in the area as well as that derived from the Upper Colorado River Basin. The fulfillment of this objective requires a comprehensive appraisal of the consumptive use by vegetation, evaporation from water surfaces, and the ultimate disposition of local and imported water supplies of the area.

A project headquarters has been established at Yuma, Ariz. A reconnaissance survey of wells has been made and observations of water levels in several areas have begun to supplement the water-level programs by irrigation districts and other governmental agencies. One large well is being drilled under contract, in the area south of Yuma, to explore the nature and water-bearing properties of the subsurface materials there. Available data on quality of water is being assembled. Additional measuring facilities are being installed on several wasteways and drains. Instruments for the measurement of evaporation from the Salton Sea have been installed and observations begun, in collaboration with the Atomic Energy Commission. Plans have been made for the construction, in collaboration with the Bureau of Reclamation, of several evaporation tanks to determine the use of water by arrowweed, saltbush, carizzo cane, and tules.

In 1962 work will be continued on the collection of data as begun the first year. Some preliminary analysis and interpretive work will be started. Subsurface exploration by power auger, contract test drilling and pumping, and electrical logging will be emphasized. This work is critical because in much of the area there is no information on either geology or water levels.

The increase in Federal program funds requested for 1962 will provide an increase in the support from the present level of $210,000 to $325,000. With funds as approved by the House the total allocated to this project in 1962 would be not more than $275,000. The plan of investigation for 1962 envisions giving major emphasis to subsurface exploration.