Mr. CLARK. Yes, sir. (The following letter was subsequently submitted for inclusion in the record :) AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE, Hon. ALTON LENNON, DEAR CONGRESSMAN: The petroleum industry welcomes the opportunity to present its views on the broad subject of oceanography. Our economic stake in the marine environment gives us a vital interest in legislation dealing with the oceans. The petroleum industry has been very active in many phases of this science for many years and the American Petroleum Institute, also, has done research in this area for 35 years. As a result of your request to Mr. D. E. Clark, who appeared before your committee on August 12, we assembled a group of petroleum experts who reviewed the various bills on oceanography which are currently before Congress. Several of the proposed bills contain provisions for the centralizing of all oceanographic activities in one agency in the Federal Government. We do not believe that creation of such an agency would be for the best interest of the country. Oceanography is a name that can be applied to any branch of science if it happens to have application in a marine environment. As has been brought out in your hearings, there are a great number of Government agencies that must use one or more phases of oceanography. To attempt to remove these activities and centralize them in one group would be like trying to take all the activities in physics away from those agencies that apply physies in pursuit of their missions and centralize them in a single group. You will recall that some time ago there was an attempt to set up a U.S. Department of Science. Objections were raised to this idea since science is used by most departments and agencies of the Government and, therefore, to strip these groups of their scientific activities would cripple their ability to undertake some of the missions for which they have a primary responsibility. We believe the same reasoning argues against the creation of a single department to handle oceanographic activities. Some of the proposed bills, including S. 944 as passed by the Senate, would create a new organization to try to coordinate all of the oceanographic activity in the Federal Government. While improved coordination is undoubtedly desirable, we think a new organization would only duplicate or replace the present coordinating committee and activity which is currently being handled by the President's Office of Science and Technology. Our industry favors actions designed to provide basic information about the oceans in the belief that such knowledge will be highly useful to many segments of the national economy. If your committee, however, wishes to propose legislation bearing more directly upon specific oceanographic programs and their administrative direction, we think it important that the science of oceanography be clearly distinguished from the technology employed in its application. This basic science for example could involve the complex relationships of ocean currents, marine biology, temperature and salinity variables, meteorology, etc., and is properly a sphere for Federal programs. On the other hand, technological developments in this environment, and most specifically commercial exploitation of mineral and other resources, have been and should remain an important field for private investment. We would encourage increased Federal programs in oceanography focused on scientific inquiry. It would be expected that the obtained data would be utilized by industry and other agencies in the development of the needed technology. You are aware of the substantial investment of the petroleum industry in the exploitation of subsea mineral resources. Future years hold every prospect for continuation and expansion of these efforts not only in oil, gas, and sulphur production but to an enlarged list of minerals and chemicals. This enlarged search will not be, of course, exclusive to our industry. It will be based, however, upon the continuation of economic incentives and protection of proprietary rights in discovery and development in an ever increasing geographic area. We believe that a constant review of Federal law in this field is desirable and wonld expect such to be part of the studies of the Public Land Law Review Commission. International law and agreements in this field will be of increasing importance. The American Petroleum Institute heartily subscribes to the proposition that the Federal Government's role in oceanography is important and necessary. The question that follows is how can this role properly be played. We regard the existing framework as adequate to meet the current needs. The President's Office of Science and Technology appears to us as the most appropriate vehicle for initiating comprehensive programs and coordinating the vast numbers of programs and missions in oceanography underway in various agencies of the U.S. Government. For example, within this Office is the ICO which was established specifically for the purpose of coordination. Its endeavors should be permitted to continue by strengthening its staff and providing proper funding. We believe that the bill proposed by you, H.R. 2218, would strengthen the current activity of the President's Office of Science and Technology, and will insure that the country's activities in this important field are better guided and coordinated, and will obtain surveillance at the highest level. Also, we like the provision which calls for annual reporting of the status of the oceanography program to Congress. We would recommend, however, that the definition of oceanography contained in section 6 be modified as follows: "SEC. 6. As used in this Act the term 'oceanography' is defined as the acquisition, assembling, processing, and dissemination of all scientific and technological marine and related environmental data, including, but not limited to, physical, chemical, geological, biological, fisheries, hydrographic and coastal survey, meteorological, climatological, and geophysical data with the object of comprehending the world ocean, its boundaries, its properties, and its processes, and of encouraging the use of this comprehension in the national interest, in the enhancement of our security, our culture, our international posture, and our economic growth." Our definition places stress upon the Federal Government's encouraging and participating in the development of basic research for dissemination to the private sector. By dissemination of basic data to the public at large, the Government is contributing to the advancement of science, and its application for useful purposes. Applying this basic research data is a job for which the private sector is admirably fitted and given the opportunity it can do so as history amply indicates. In the development of both marine science and technology, there will be numerous areas of joint interest in Federal and industry programs, especially relating to matters of national defense. The petroleum industry would expect to cooperate fully with governmental departments having need of any special expertise in marine operations or equipment, and in particular, we would be happy to be represented on the Advisory Committee provided in your bill H.R. 2218 or on the Commission provided in S. 944. Similarly, these skills may be made available in assisting research in specific Federal programs such as the Mohole project. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to explain further the petroleum industry's ideas concerning oceanography. If we can be of further assistance, we hope you will call on us. Sincerely, Mr. LENNON. Counsel? FRANK N. IKARD. Mr. DREWRY. Of all the people engaged in oceanography in the sense that we are trying to lead to, the oil industry is paramount. It is doing more and has done more, spent more money at it, and is making more money out of it than anybody else. The interest and the knowledge of the oil industry, if it could be brought to bear and give the Congress the benefit of its experience and knowledge that they have developed, I think could be very helpful to us in any concept of a national program of oceanography. It would seem to me that the oil and gas industry should be definitely a participant in it if anybody is, and that was the thought behind my suggestion to the chairman that he ask you whether you could get a broader position and a more detailed position than the slightly negative one that you presented today. Mr. CLARK. Yes; I appreciate that. Mr. DREWRY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. LENNON. Captain Bauer? Captain BAUER. Mr. Clark, would it be all right to include in your thinking other minerals such as some of the oil companies owning or leasing gold right and so on and so forth on the Continental Shelf off Alaska. Just petroleum products, it seems to me, might be too narrow. We might include all minerals? Mr. CLARK. Yes, sir; there should be a general exclusion, I believe, in those areas of technology in which companies operating today and are investing money. This is true; there have been gold applications in lakes. In fact, on a worldwide basis one of the companies was interested in diamonds off South Africa. There have been phosphate leases off California. There are other things involved; yes, sir. So this could be expanded. The reason that point was not picked up is, we did not feel that was exclusive to us and we were pointing at our prime area of emphasis. We thought others would possibly pick that point up. Captain BAUER. That is all I have, Mr. Chairman." Mr. LENNON. Thank you. I want to again express our appreciation for the attendance of so many people here today. Mr. Reinecke, I believe you said you pass? Mr. REINECKE. Yes, sir. Mr. LENNON. And say to you, Mr. Gillean and Mr. Chapman, that I cannot be here tomorrow, but the committee will meet tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock in this room. The committee is now adjourned. (Whereupon, at 12:10 p.m., the hearing was recessed, to reconvene at 10 a.m., Friday, August 13, 1965.) NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PROGRAM LEGISLATION FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1965 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY OF THE Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., in room 1334 Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Bob Casey, presiding. Mr. DOWNING. The committee will come to order. Our first witness this morning will be Mr. James M. Gillean, president, San Diego Chamber of Commerce. He is accompanied by Mr. Finn Claudi-Magnussen, chairman, Oceanographic Committee, San Diego Chamber of Commerce. Gentlemen, we are pleased to have you here this morning. STATEMENT OF JAMES M. GILLEAN, PRESIDENT, SAN DIEGO Mr. GILLEAN. Yes, I have, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and distinguished committee members. First let me say it is a pleasure for us to appear here and we appreciate very much the opportunity you have afforded us to attend. I do have a prepared statement which I should like to read. Mr. DOWNING. We appreciate your taking the time to come here and make this contribution, and it is a very valuable contribution. Mr. GILLEAN. Thank you, sir. 60 Mr. DOWNING. If you will go ahead. Mr. GILLEAN. First I should like to very briefly trace the history of the interests of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce in oceanography. The San Diego Chamber first became interested in oceanography some years ago, in 1905, when it spearheaded a drive to raise funds for purpose of constructing the original building to house the then Marine Biological Sciences Institute which became absorbed as part of the University of California in 1912, known today, of course, as the famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography. the Some 2 years ago the San Diego Chamber of Commerce organized its oceanographic committee which uses the title "Oceanographic" in the popular sense but directs its attention to all aspects of marine science and development, particularly as they relate to San Diego. Because of the community's preeminence in this great new field of exploration and activity we were able to attract to the committee men of great capability, nationally and internationally recognized as experts in all facets of oceanographic research, development, and production. I thought it would be interesting for the members of your committee to know who these men are and I am providing each member with a roster of that particular committee, which, incidentally, numbers almost 50 persons of preeminence in this field. That appears in the brochures which we have distributed. The first task which our committee assumed was to identify and catalog all educational, governmental, research and development, military, commercial and industrial agencies and firms in the San Diego area working in the marine field. Of the more than 50 identified, in excess of 30 are engaged in developing and building components, instruments, and hardware for scientific, military, and commercial uses. The committee has published a brochure, Oceanography in San Diego, Calif., which we believe is the first produced by any community in the United States. It describes pictorially and editorially San Diego's ocean environment, its natural resources, its technical, educational, research, library, and support facilities, its firms with experience, its human resources-in short, San Diego's present inventory and potential capacity in the oceanographic field. The committee has also cooperated with the famous Scripps Institution of Oceanography of the University of California and the Navy Electronics Laboratory in identifying San Diego as an oceanographic center of worldwide interest and prestige. The Naval Electronics Laboratory was first established in 1906. The present name, of course, is derived from its activities much, much better than that. Oceanographic enterprises are growing rapidly in San Diego. Recent additions include Sealab (the Navy's underwater living experiment) and the Navy's Deep Sea Submergence Group, General Dynamics Marine Technology Center, Lockheed's Ocean Science Center, Kennecott Copper Co.'s Special Projects Office, the Westinghouse Deep Star oceanographic submarine, and Marine Science International. Add these to the list which appears in the brochure we are providing for the members of the committee and I feel certain that you will know why we felt impelled to come to Washington to share with you in these hearings our thoughts on the kind of Federal legislation we think would best implement the national oceanographic program. Rather than address ourselves to the details of the specific bills which are under study, we present to you our recommendations for the principles we feel should influence the nature of the legislation to be adopted and for the type of organization which could best implement the most effective national program. Here to present the recommendation of the San Diego Chamber of Commerce Oceanographic Committee is its chairman, Mr. Finn ClaudiMagnussen, director, planning and marketing, Whittaker Corp., Narmco Research & Development Division. Mr. Claudi-Magnussen and his company are currently designing and building structures for deep sea use. Mr. CASEY. Proceed, Mr. Claudi-Magnussen. |