meant to downplay the importance of the issue. Two particulars with which I am concerned are: first, will the reorganization in fact add another layer of bureaucracy to the Bureau. In terms of funtioning the question may be rephrased: Will papers have to cross one more desk for additional approval and will chains of command and reporting get longer? The second particular is the apparent concentration of other agency funding in the National Engineering Laboratory of the reorganized structure.

I have been told that the units which will be made part of the National Engineering Laboratory obtain eighty percent of their funding from other agencies. If this is indeed the case, the ability of that Laboratory to maintain a stable program must be questioned.

That completes my prepared remarks, Mr. Chairman. Let me offer my compliments to you again for the performance of your Subcommittee. These hearings on the National Bureau of Standards are very much needed. I hope the questions I have suggested will be helpful to you.

Senator STEVENSON. Now we will turn to S. 2615, the authorization bill for the Standard Reference Data Act. Our final witness this morning is Dr. Ambler, the Director of the Bureau.

You might start by identifying the persons that you brought with you, Dr. Ambler.

STATEMENTS OF ERNEST AMBLER, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS, AND DONALD R. JOHNSON, DEPUTY DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMS (DESIGNATE), NATIONAL MEASUREMENT LABORATORY; ACCOMPANIED BY DAVID R. LIDE, JR.

Dr. AMBLER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I am accompanied today by Dr. Donald Johnson, immediately on my right, who will provide details of the standard reference data program after I conclude my statement. I am also accompanied by Dr. David Linde, who is chief of the standard reference data program.

As I have testified previously before this committee, NBS conducts a broad variety of scientific, technical, and engineering investigations. The product of much of our work, and the work of scientists in laboratories around the world, is new information. A great deal of this information involves data, data that often is published in the open literature so that others may use them.

So many papers are published each year that it is practically impossible for scientists to keep abreast of the new data in their field of interest. The mere publication of data is no guarantee that it is accurate, and in most cases individual readers are unable to make a sound judgment concerning the reliability of published data.

In 1968 Congress provided NBS with a specific mandate through passage of the Standard Reference Data Act. That act calls for the "collection, compilation, critical evaluation, publication, and dissemination of standard reference data." That is a charge that we take most seriously, Mr. Chairman, for we are convinced that standard reference data are of great value to American scientists, engineers, and decisionmakers.

Such important activities as basic scientific research, industrial quality control, development of new and improved processes, development of new materials, and measurement and correction of environmental pollution depend on standard reference data of the highest quality. At this point, let me cite one example of the importance of standard reference data.

The chemical known as ethylene represents a $3 billion industry in the United States; many companies produce it and many more companies, both large and small, buy it as a raw material. It is used in the manufacture of plastics, automotive antifreeze, and many other products. Despite the usefulness of ethylene, its properties were not well known over a broad range of temperature and pressure. This lack of data led to problems in custody transfer through pipelines, in underground bulk storage, and in design for a multitude of processes in which ethylene is used.

At the request of industry, we undertook a two-step response to the data problem. First, we analyzed the world literature and for interim use selected the best available data. Then, we initiated measurement projects to produce data needed in selected areas. This program, in which seven ethylene producers are sharing the costs with us, will result in a data base that should satisfy industrial needs for many years.

Our total standard reference data program serves an extremely broad and diverse community. For example, engineers in chemical plants, technicians in hospitals, and research students in universities use the data that we produce. In carrying out this program, we work closely with other Federal agencies, scientific and engineering societies, industrial trade associations, and international organizations. In passing the Standard Reference Data Act, Congress intended that NBS become the national focus for all of these institutions which are concerned with physical property data. I feel that we do provide such a focus, and I personally support the continuation of a strong program. The Secretary has transmitted to the President of the Senate, and to the Speaker of the House, a draft bill together with a statement of purpose and need to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 1979, 1980, and 1981 for the standard reference data program. This bill authorizes appropriations of $3.152 million for fiscal year 1979. I support this bill and urge its favorable consideration by the committee. The House Committee on Science and Technology has amended the bill, adding specific authorizations of $3.75 million for fiscal year 1980, and $4.5 million for fiscal year 1981.

Dr. Donald Johnson will now review for you the operation of our program, the progress made since our last hearing, and our plans for the future.

Senator STEVENSON. Fine. Thank you.

Please proceed, Dr. Johnson.

Dr. JOHNSON. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I welcome the opportunity to testify before you today. I have been personally very close to the standard reference data program for many years and with the new NBS organizational structure I now have management oversight for this program.

Mr. Chairman, I would like, with your permission, to make a brief oral statement and submit a more extensive statement for the record. Senator STEVENSON. The statement will be entered in the record. Dr. JOHNSON. Thank you, sir.

Let me begin by clarifying the term "data" for you. Data in the context of the Standard Reference Data Act of 1968 refers to numerical values for physical or chemical properties of well-characterized materials. The measurements which generate this kind of information are made as part of the normal scientific research and development work

performed daily by scientists and engineers around the world. The data are reported along with other research results in thousands of journals and technical papers each year.

Unfortunately, data in the form available in the primary scientific literature varies widely in quality and often does not cover the range needed for a given application. Potential users of data are hard pressed to find the specific numbers they seek or, having found them, to assess their applicability.

Our job starts with the retrieval of data in a specified subject area from the primary scientific literature. We evaluate these data for accuracy and consistency, supplement the data to cover the full range which users require and finally prepare and distribute tabulations for general use.

This kind of analysis requires considerable experience and it is an expensive time-consuming process. It goes far beyond the mechanical operation of collecting the data. It involves detailed comparison of experimental values with theory in order to develop techniques for prediction or extrapolation into new regions. Occasionally a limited number of measurements must be made to test the theory or the quality of the predictions.

The final product of such an effort is a complete set of data, well documented and of known accuracy, which can be used for a wide variety of applications in research, engineering, and industry. Typical users will include industrial engineers, quality control engineers, and researchers in chemistry, physics, engineering, and biology. Applications are as esoteric as plasma diagnostics in energy production and as commonplace as the design of street lights.

In passing the Standard Reference Data Act, Congress recognized the traditional role of NBS as the Nation's foremost measurement laboratory, where responsibility for the quality and reliability of technical data could best be placed. It was also recognized that NBS could help consolidate the results of the Federal Government investment investment in research and make those results more useful to science and technology. In accomplishing that end, the SRD program has been very successful and we feel we can be justifiably proud of our achievements over the past 10 years.

Our own Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data is now in its sixth year of publication and has evolved into a major outlet for SRD compilations. The journal currently has 1,200 subscribers, including subscriptions in 44 foreign countries, and has sold over 19,000 individual offprints of articles in the past 6 years.

It is interesting to note that the journal has gained wide acceptance in libraries in the academic community; 54 of the 55 leading physics departments in the United States currently subscribe to the journal and at least one State university in each of the 50 States is now a subscriber. On the industrial side. 9 out of the 10 top corporations of the Fortune 500 list subscribe to the journal; 18 of the 20 chemical companies whose sales exceeded $1 billion in 1976 also subscribe. And I think most importantly, the librarians tell us that the Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data is one of the most frequently used journals on their shelves.

During the last 10 years a unique management style has evolved for the SRD programs. We have found that critical evaluations are

most successfully carried out by experts who are able to keep up to date in their own specialty. We have therefore physically located our data projects in active research environments in a variety of different institutions. This allows us to take advantage of the available talent and also assures that the knowledge of the most advanced laboratory techniques can be factored into the evaluation process,

The core of the program is a set of 22 countinuing data centers; 14 of them are located in the technical divisions of NBS, and 8 are located at universities and other private institutions. Each has a welldefined technical scope, in an area where we can foresee a long term demand for data.

We also have short-term projects that permit us to respond rapidly to newly emerging needs for data. Such projects have a more narrow scope than the continuing centers and often produce a single compilation or critical review on a 1- or 2-year time scale. Most of our contracts are small, ranging from $5,000 to $100,000. In many cases we obtain appreciable contributions in kind from the institution involved, which greatly increases the leverage of our directly appropriated funds.

A list of the 22 continuing data centers and the 31 currently active short-term projects has been attached for the record. Together, these projects which include work at 27 universities and private institutions are referred to as the national standard reference data system, and they are managed through the Office of Standard Reference Data at NBS. This Office arranges for publication of all of the products of the NSRDS efforts. A complete listing of these publications has also been included in the record.

One of the most difficult tasks that we face in managing NSRDS is to assess needs for data compilations and to allocate resources to meet these needs. Clearly, the amount of data reported worldwide each year is many times larger than we can handle, and we therefore must establish priorities.

Projects which address needs in important national programs are given highest priority. We also favor projects whose outputs will be useful to several different user groups. The availability of an appropriate theoretical framework upon which to base the work is another important factor. Of course, the willingness of other parties to help support the work, either by joint funding or assistance in kind, gives us a good indication of the urgency. In this context we are currently collaborating on a number of projects with other Federal agencies, professional societies, industrial trade associations, and a variety of international organizations. These organizations provided a total of $2 million in fiscal year 1977 to help support our standard reference data efforts.

Using these general guidelines to set priorities, we have looked at the needs for new data activities in a wide range of the economy. We have identified five areas that we consider to be highest in priority. Thermal data for the organic chemical and fossil fuel industries, physical reference data for medicine and biology, data on stability of alloys and ceramic materials, data on fracture properties of structural materials, and data for chemical modeling of water pollutants.

Let me give you some detail on the first two of these areas to convey the flavor of what might be possible. The organic chemicals and fos

performed daily by scientists and engineers around the world. The data are reported along with other research results in thousands of journals and technical papers each year.

Unfortunately, data in the form available in the primary scientific literature varies widely in quality and often does not cover the range needed for a given application. Potential users of data are hard pressed to find the specific numbers they seek or, having found them, to assess their applicability.

Our job starts with the retrieval of data in a specified subject area from the primary scientific literature. We evaluate these data for accuracy and consistency, supplement the data to cover the full range which users require and finally prepare and distribute tabulations for general use.

This kind of analysis requires considerable experience and it is an expensive time-consuming process. It goes far beyond the mechanical operation of collecting the data. It involves detailed comparison of experimental values with theory in order to develop techniques for prediction or extrapolation into new regions. Occasionally a limited number of measurements must be made to test the theory or the quality of the predictions.

The final product of such an effort is a complete set of data, well documented and of known accuracy, which can be used for a wide variety of applications in research, engineering, and industry. Typical users will include industrial engineers, quality control engineers, and researchers in chemistry, physics, engineering, and biology. Applications are as esoteric as plasma diagnostics in energy production and as commonplace as the design of street lights.

In passing the Standard Reference Data Act, Congress recognized the traditional role of NBS as the Nation's foremost measurement laboratory, where responsibility for the quality and reliability of technical data could best be placed. It was also recognized that NBS could help consolidate the results of the Federal Government investment investment in research and make those results more useful to science and technology. In accomplishing that end, the SRD program has been very successful and we feel we can be justifiably proud of our achievements over the past 10 years.

Our own Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data is now in its sixth year of publication and has evolved into a major outlet for SRD compilations. The journal currently has 1.200 subscribers, including subscriptions in 44 foreign countries, and has sold over 19,000 individual offprints of articles in the past 6 years.

It is interesting to note that the journal has gained wide acceptance in libraries in the academic community; 54 of the 55 leading physics departments in the United States currently subscribe to the journal and at least one State university in each of the 50 States is now a subscriber. On the industrial side. 9 out of the 10 top corporations of the Fortune 500 list subscribe to the journal; 18 of the 20 chemical companies whose sales exceeded $1 billion in 1976 also subscribe. And I think most importantly, the librarians tell us that the Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data is one of the most frequently used journals on their shelves.

During the last 10 years a unique management style has evolved. for the SRD programs. We have found that critical evaluations are