JUSTIFICATION OF ESTIMATE

EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND MANAGEMENT

(a) Office, Chief of Engineers

The Chief of Engineers is responsible for carrying out a comprehensive civil works program in accordance with the directives of the Congress. The organization to implement these directives is decentralized in 38 districts and 11 division offices and a number of separate boards. In order that proper direction, administration, coordination, and policy guides may be furnished these offices, it is essential that sufficient numbers of highly specialized technical and administrative employees be provided in the Office, Chief of Engineers in Washington. During the past several years, the administration of the Civil Works program has required an increasing amount of detail in connection with its presentation to the Congress, the Bureau of the Budget, and the Secretary of the Army, and the program has increased and become more complex as a result of increased authorities and the problems connected with comprehensive basin planning. These factors have imposed a large additional workload on the Office, Chief of Engineers and it is essential that adequate personnel be provided to carry out these additional functions satisfactorily.

The amount of $5,350,000 required for fiscal year 1965 will provide an increase of $80,000 over the appropriation allocation of $5,270,000 for fiscal year 1964. Personnel compensation.-$4,440,000 would be applied to the payment of salaries of personnel employed on technical, administrative, and clerical functions in carrying out the civil works program. This amount represents an increase of $80,000 over the amount of $4,360,000 contained in the appropriation allocation for fiscal year 1964 and is necessary to provide for cost of pay raise granted by the Federal Salary Reform Act of 1962 (Public Law 87-793) approved October 11, 1962, for presently authorized positions.

Other expenses.-$910,000 is required during fiscal year to provide for personnel benefits, travel, communications, office supplies and equipment, printing and reproduction, and service contracts for the Office, Chief of Engineers. This is the same amount contained in the appropriation allocation for fiscal year 1964.

(b) Division offices

Division offices provide the administrative and technical direction required by the Chief of Engineers for the proper supervision of subordinate district offices in carrying out the civil works program. The executive direction and management activities are decentralized to 11 division offices throughout the United States. One of these, the New England division, is an operating division and is not presently supported from general expense funds. Based on a continuing analysis of the workload and utilization of personnel in division offices, the minimum requirement for the operation of the 10 division offices supported from general expense funds in fiscal year 1965 is $8,193,000. This amount is $346,000 greater than the amount appropriated for fiscal year 1964 of $7,847,000.

The increase requested will provide

Pay increases for positions now authorized..

For 10 new positions_

For support costs of the 10 additional positions_.

$246,000 90,000 6,000

For increased cost for travel, printing and reproduction, supplies and materials, equipment, and other services_.

4,000

Total

346,000

Additional technical personnel are needed due to the increased workload resulting from the largest and most complex survey, planning, construction, and and maintenance program in the corps' history. This program has been steadily increasing from year to year with relatively negligible increases for division office expenses. In order that division engineers may increase their technical staffs to insure that the direction and execution of the program is carried out with effectiveness, the funds requested are considered the minimum necessary.

2. RIVER AND HARBOR BOARD

The Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors was authorized by section 3 of the River and Harbor Act approved June 13, 1902. The act provided for the organization in the Office of the Chief of Engineers, by detail of a board of five

(increased to seven by 1913 act) engineer officers from the Corps of Engineers. The act directs that all reports on authorized surveys of river and harbor projects shall be referred to the Board for consideration and recommendation prior to submission of the reports by the Chief of Engineers with his recommendations to Congress. This directive was subsequently amended to apply to flood control reports. Section 6 of River and Harbor Act approved March 3, 1909, provides that the Board shall consider and approve and recommend to the Chief of Engineers plans for modification and reconstruction of any lock, canal, canalized river or other work for use and benefit of navigation. Public Law 88-172, 88th Congress, November 7, 1963, abolished the Beach Erosion Board and added the additional function of review of beach erosion control reports to the Board's functions.

The Chief of Engineers has assigned to the River and Harbor Board the duties of (1) of the compilation and publication annually of useful statistics, data, and information concerning the volume and type of commerce moving on the inland waterways, on the Great Lakes, and through all ocean ports; (2) the compilation and publication annually of a report listing and describing all U.S.-flag self-propelled and non-self-propelled vessels engaged in commerce, including the principal trade in which they are engaged and their zone of operations; (3) the publication periodically of port series reports containing narrative and tabular information on all facilities available to shipping at the principal U.S. ports. The expense of item (3) is paid from funds provided for the River and Harbor Board activity; the expense of items (1) and (2) is paid from commercial statistics funds allotted to the Board.

The estimate of River and Harbor Board expenses for fiscal year 1965 is $642,000. The increase of $57,000 above the amount of $585,000 for fiscal year 1964 is required (a) $10,000 to provide for a full year funding of two transferred Beach Erosion Board positions; (b) $29,000 for increase in personnel compensation and benefits for two civil engineer positions; (c) $14,500 for pay increase, and (d) $3,500 for increased costs of travel, printing and reproduction, and supplies and equipment.

3. U.S. ARMY COASTAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH CENTER

The Coastal Engineering Research Center was establishd by an act of Congress (Public Law 172) approved November 7, 1963. The act directs that the Beach Erosion Board, established by section 2 of the Rivers and Harbors Act approved July 3, 1930, as amended (33 U.S.C. 426), be abolished. It further provides that there shall be established under the Chief Engineers, U.S. Army, a Coastal Engineering Research Center which (except for the review of reports of investigations made concerning erosion of the shores of coastal and lake waters, and protection of such shores), shall be vested with all the functions of the Beach Erosion Board, including the authority to make general investigations and publish reports thereon as provided in section 1 of the act approved July 31, 1945 (59 Stat. 508) and such additional functions as the Chief of Engineers may assign. In addition, the act provides that the functions of the Coastal Engineering Research Center shall be conducted with the guidance and advice of a Board on Coastal Engineering Research, constituted by the Chief of Engineers in the same manner as that of the former Beach Erosion Board. The research function of the Beach Erosion Board, now transferred to the Coastal Engineering Research Center, requires that general investigations be carried out on methods of controlling erosion of beaches, sand movement, inlet stabilization, and other hydraulic problems for the purpose of developing improved shore protection techniques, and that useful information on the results thereof be published. Direct costs of this research program are funded under a separate appropriation. The Chief of Engineers has assigned to the Coastal Engineering Research Center the function of reviewing for technical adequacy studies, plans, and specifications for beach erosion control and other coastal engineering works, and also requires that it provide specialized consulting services, as directed, to other elements of the Corps of Engineers. These administrative expenses, including travel, per diem and emoluments of civilian Board members, and the maintenance and operation of the Center's establishment, is funded from general expense.

Funds in the amount of $180,000 are requested for the Coastal Engineering Research Center expense for fiscal year 1965. This amount is the minimum re

quired to pay the present administrative staff and maintain existing facilities which will be fully utilized on the technical support and general investigations program planned for fiscal year 1965.

4. COMMERCIAL STATISTICS

This activity consists of the collection of domestic waterborne commerce statistics pertaining to rivers, harbors, and waterways and the compilation and publication of such data in conformance with the River and Harbor Act of September 22, 1922. This activity includes the collection and reporting of necessary statistical data by district offices and the collection, processing, compiling, and annual publication of such statistical data and information on waterborne commerce and vessels moving on inland waterways, the Great Lakes, and through all ocean ports as performed by the four regional statistical offices of the Corps of Engineers and by the River and Harbor Board. In addition to the funds to be expended for collection, compilation, and publication of data on domestic waterborne commerce, the amount requested for this activity includes funds to reimburse the Bureau of the Census for costs incurred in furnishing the Chief of Engineers complete port and waterway data on the foreign waterborne commerce of the United States. This arrangement was instituted under the sponsorship of the Bureau of the Budget in 1947 to eliminate duplication of collection and compilation of foreign commerce data.

The amount requested for commercial statistics in fiscal year 1965 is $1,030,000. The increase of $45,000 above the appropriation of $985,000 for fiscal year 1964 is required to meet pay increases enacted by the Congress, to meet the increases in charges by Census Bureau for providing data on foreign traffic of U.S. ports and waterways as well as the additional demands of this activity resulting from the rapid growth of waterborne commerce in the United States during the past few years.

5. SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS

This item provides for the expense of (1) special investigations and reports of nominal scope prepared pursuant to congressional and other special request from sources outside the Corps of Engineers for information relative to projects or other activities which have no funds; (2) similar work of detailed scope as specifically authorized by the Chief of Engineers; (3) the review of Federal Power Commission licenses; and (4) review of reports of other agencies. Among the investigations paid for from these funds are reconnaissance investigations relating to flooding potential and flood damages, bank erosion, drainage, harbor improvements, anchorages, and development of navigation channels. The costs of making investigations of this nature and preparing reports thereon vary widely, and the Chief of Engineers cannot anticipate the number or extent of requests that may be received to which prompt and full compliance should be given.

Funds in the amount of $180,000 are requested for special investigations expenses in fiscal year 1965. This amount is the minimum required to meet pay increases enacted by Congress, and to provide for the increased demands upon this activity resulting from the larger civil works program.

FLOOD CONTROL, HURRICANE, AND SHORE PROTECTION EMERGENCIES

Mr. BOLAND. Please explain the new separate item of flood control, hurricane, and shore protection emergencies. What is this item? This is something new.

Colonel DENISON. This is a transfer of this item from the old operation and maintenance, general funding category to a separate item. The principal reason is that the Flood Control Act under Public Law 99 authorized these funds for emergency flood fighting and repair purposes. It has been a misnomer to carry this under the operation and maintenance category for some time. This is a continuation of the same program and singles it out as a separate line item.

Mr. BOLAND. You are asking for what amount for 1965?
Colonel DENISON. $4,150,000, sir.

Mr. BOLAND. Are there any questions on these items?

Thank you very much. Please insert the justifications at this point. (The justifications follow:)

JUSTIFICATION OF THE ESTIMATE

The budget estimate provides $4,150,000 for emergency activities pursuant to Public Law 99, 84th Congress, as amended by section 206, Flood Control Act of 1962. The following work is undertaken pursuant to that authority whenever and wherever required: flood emergency preparation; flood fighting and rescue operations; emergency repair and restoration of flood control works such as levees which are threatened or destroyed by flood; emergency protection of existing Federal hurricane and shore protection works; and the repair or restoration of Federal hurricane shore protective structures damaged or destroyed by wind, wave, or water action of other than an ordinary nature. Authorized emergency work is financed from an emergency fund also authorized by the above-cited law, in the amount of $15 million to be replenished on an annual basis.

For the fiscal year 1964, $9,849,930 is available in the emergency fund. Of that amount, an estimated $2,050,000 will be obligated for presently known requirements; and the balance of $7,799,930 will be available for obligation for additional emergency activities. During the remainder of the current fiscal year, it is estimated that $4,949,930 of that balance will be obligated with $2,850,000 remaining available for requirements during fiscal year 1965.

A schedule pertaining to the emergency fund authorized by Public Law 99, as amended, follows:

The following appropriations shall be expended under the direction of the Secretary of the Army and the supervision of the Chief of Engineers for authorized civil functions of the Department of the Army pertaining to rivers and harbors, flood control, beach erosion, and related purposes:

"GENERAL INVESTIGATIONS, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, CIVIL

"For expenses necessary for the collection and study of basic information pertaining to river and harbor, flood control, shore protection, and related projects, and when authorized by law, surveys and studies of projects prior to authorization for construction, [$19,115.000] $19,760.000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That $210,000 of this appropriation shall be transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for studies, investigations, and reports thereon as required by the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (72 Stat. 563-565) to provide that wildlife conservation shall receive equal consideration and be coordinated with other features of water-resource development programs of the Department of the Army. (33 U.S.C. 426-426c, 540, 541, 701; Public Works Appropriation Act, 1964.)"

"CONSTRUCTION, GENERAL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, CIVIL

"For the prosecution of river and harbor, flood control, shore protection, and related projects authorized by law; and detailed studies, and plans and specifications, of projects (including those for development with participation or under consideration for participation by States, local governments, or private groups) authorized or made eligible for selection by law (but such studies shall not constitute a commitment of the Government to construction); [$827,146,500] $880,143,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That no part of this appropriation shall be used for projects not authorized by law or which are authorized by law limiting the amount to be appropriated therefor, except as may be within the limits of the amount now or hereafter authorized to be appropriated: Provided further, That $500,000 of this appropriation shall be transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for studies, investigations, and reports thereon as required by the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act of 1958 (72 Stat. 563-565) to provide that wildlife conservation shall receive equal consideration and be coordinated with other features of water-resource development programs of the Department of the Army. (16 U.S.C. 661-666, 756; 33 U.S.C. 511-523, 540, 701; 55 Stat. 638; 66 Stat. 635, 732; Public Works Appropriation Act, 1964.)"

"OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE, GENERAL, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, CIVIL

"For expenses necessary for the preservation, operation, maintenance, and care of existing river and harbor, flood control, and related works, including such sums as may be necessary for the maintenance of harbor channels provided by a State, municipality or other public agency, outside of harbor lines, and serving essential needs of general commerce and navigation; financing the United States share of the cost of operation and maintenance of the remedial works in the Niagara River; activities of the California Debris Commission; administration of laws pertaining to preservation of navigable waters; surveys and charting of northern and northwestern lakes and connecting waters; clearing and straightening channels; and removal of obstructions to navigation: [and emergency flood control and shore protection activities; $154,000,000】 $158,676,000, to remain available until expended. (16 U.S.C. 661-666, 756; 33 U.S.C. 1, 414, 415, 441-451, 540, 603a, 661, 701, 705; 66 Stat. 596; 72 Stat. 301, 302; Public Works Appropriation Act, 1964.)”

"FLOOD CONTROL, HURRICANE AND SHORE PROTECTION EMERGENCIES, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, CIVIL

“For expenses necessary for emergency flood control, hurricane and shore protection activities, as authorized by section 5 of the Flood Control Act approved August 8, 1941, as amended, $4,150,000, to remain available until expended: Provided, That the unobligated balance of funds heretofore appropriated for the foregoing purposes shall be merged with this appropriation. (33 U.S.C. 701n.)”

"GENERAL EXPENSES, CORPS OF ENGINEERS, CIVIL

"For expenses necessary for general administration and related functions in the Office of the Chief of Engineers and offices of the Division Engineers; activities of the Board of Engineers for Rivers and Harbors and the [Beach Erosion Board] Coastal Engineering Research Center; commercial statistics; and miscellaneous investigations; [$15,000,000 $15,575,000. (22 U.S.C. 266; 33 U.S.C. 426-426h, 541, 701, 703, 704; Public Works Appropriation Act, 1964.)"

"FLOOD CONTROL, MISSISSIPPI RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES

"For expenses necessary for prosecuting work of flood control, and rescue work, repair, restoration, or maintenance of flood control projects threatened or destroyed by flood, as authorized by law (33 U.S.C. 702a, 702g−1), [$77,862,000] $71,860,000, to remain available until expended. (Public Works Appropriation Act, 1964.)"