[Senate Hearing 110-1162]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 110-1162
OVERSIGHT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2008
BUDGET FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANS, ATMOSPHERE, FISHERIES, AND COAST GUARD
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
JUNE 28, 2007
__________
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii, Chairman
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West TED STEVENS, Alaska, Vice Chairman
Virginia JOHN McCAIN, Arizona
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts TRENT LOTT, Mississippi
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
BARBARA BOXER, California OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine
BILL NELSON, Florida GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada
FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire
MARK PRYOR, Arkansas JIM DeMINT, South Carolina
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware DAVID VITTER, Louisiana
CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
Margaret L. Cummisky, Democratic Staff Director and Chief Counsel
Lila Harper Helms, Democratic Deputy Staff Director and Policy Director
Christine D. Kurth, Republican Staff Director and General Counsel
Kenneth R. Nahigian, Republican Deputy Staff Director and Chief Counsel
------
SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANS, ATMOSPHERE, FISHERIES, AND COAST GUARD
MARIA CANTWELL, Washington, OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine, Ranking
Chairman TRENT LOTT, Mississippi
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon
BARBARA BOXER, California JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire
BILL NELSON, Florida JIM DeMINT, South Carolina
FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey DAVID VITTER, Louisiana
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Hearing held on June 28, 2007.................................... 1
Statement of Senator Cantwell.................................... 1
Statement of Senator Nelson...................................... 19
Statement of Senator Snowe....................................... 3
Witnesses
Lautenbacher, Jr., Vice Admiral Conrad C., (U.S. Navy, Ret.),
Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), U.S.
Department of Commerce......................................... 5
Prepared statement........................................... 7
Appendix
Inouye, Hon. Daniel K., U.S. Senator from Hawaii, prepared
statement...................................................... 29
Response to written questions submitted to Vice Admiral Conrad C.
Lautenbacher, Jr. by:
Hon. Maria Cantwell.......................................... 29
Hon. John F. Kerry........................................... 44
Hon. Bill Nelson............................................. 45
OVERSIGHT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2008
BUDGET FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
----------
THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2007
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and
Coast Guard,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:09 a.m. in
room SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Maria
Cantwell, Chairman of the Subcommittee, presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. MARIA CANTWELL,
U.S. SENATOR FROM WASHINGTON
Senator Cantwell. Good morning. The oversight hearing of
the Fiscal Year 2008 budget for NOAA, Oceans, Atmosphere,
Fisheries, and Coast Guard Subcommittee will come to order.
We're going to hear from Vice Admiral Lautenbacher, but,
before that, we'll make opening statements, for any members
that would like to make opening statements.
I'd like to thank all of you for being here this morning to
have this hearing on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's Fiscal Year 2008 budget.
I want to thank Admiral Lautenbacher for being here today,
and for your detail to attention on these important budget
priorities.
NOAA has been in the spotlight over the last several years
as the Nation has paid increased attention to our oceans and to
our atmosphere, and events such as the tragic Boxing Day
tsunami of 2004 and the hurricanes of Katrina and Rita have
shown that better understanding of our oceans and atmosphere
saves lives.
NOAA scientists have played a key role in understanding
climate change and measuring ocean acidification, two key
environmental challenges we face in our country and around the
globe.
We have also had two national commissions on ocean policy.
They have made recommendations for transforming the way we
manage, study, govern, and make policy on our oceans and marine
resources. More than half of all Americans live in coastal
communities, and an increasingly dense coastal population
requires better understanding of how people, the oceans, and
the atmosphere interact.
Tsunamis, sea-level rise, more intense hurricanes, and
rising demand for seafood all require a strong Federal
investment in research and new approaches to ocean governance.
Quite frankly, Admiral, in the light of the challenges I
see, particularly as it relates to good information and the use
of technology as an investment for NOAA to play that vital role
in protecting all of us, I am concerned to see a flat budget
request from NOAA for the third year in a row. The NOAA FY 08
budget request of $3.8 billion is 2 percent below 2007. The
National Ocean--that is, the enacted level, I should say--the
National Ocean Services took an especially large cut, 21
percent down, from the $468 million of--compared to where it
was in 2006. In contrast to the Administration's request, the
Joint Ocean Commission Initiative recommended a funding level
of $4.5 billion. We need to recognize that--the challenges in
improving, understanding, and management of our oceans and
atmosphere, and the investments that it will take to reflect
that.
Admiral as you know, there has been a lot of attention of
late to our rapidly aging system of weather, hurricane,
climate, and ocean monitoring satellites. We rely on this
technology for accurate weather predictions, which is
especially important as we enter hurricane season. But these
satellites are reaching, or have surpassed, their expected
service lives. While I understand that NOAA has made replacing
these satellites a priority, I am concerned that it does not
have the funds or a plan to--in place--to resolve this
situation.
Despite the growing threats caused by climate change, I see
that funding for climate change research took a 9 percent cut
this year, and I'm particularly troubled to see that the Abrupt
Climate Change Research Program again zeroed out in this year's
budget request. I am pleased to work with Senators Snowe and
Collins on an amendment that we had in this year's energy bill
that would direct increased funds to NOAA to research the
pressing issue of abrupt climate change. I hope this amendment
will ensure that, in the future, the Administration will stop
the blocking of this vital resource.
This year, again, the President's request for the Pacific
Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund was disappointing, and--at a low
$67 million. Between its establishment, in 2000, and 2005,
average appropriations to this fund were $87 million. This fund
goes to states and tribes who are on the front line of salmon
recovery.
And, Admiral, as we had a chance to discuss yesterday in my
office, I think some of the proactive work done by a
collaboration of interests in Washington State--tribes,
fisheries, agricultural interests, water resource management
concerns--have all shown, in the shared recovery plan, more
effective results than, I would say, as another hearing that I
chaired recently as a--the Subcommittee of the Energy
Committee, on Energy Water Resources--on a San Joaquin
settlement, after many, many years of court battles, and
continued court battles, and continued court battles, a
proposed settlement. So, having the resources to do salmon
recovery, and the willingness of all of the interested parties,
although they have conflicts, to work together in advance, I
think, are yielding great results. So, I hope that we will fund
the Salmon Recovery Plan at its full need.
I'm also disappointed to see the funding for NOAA's
education program take a 50 percent cut. And, finally, I'd like
to observe the Marine Mammal Initiative that--the Nonpoint
Pollution Grants and the Marine Debris Removal Program were
also zeroed out from this year's budget. So, I look forward to
hearing your comments on that, and working with my colleagues
to restore that.
I understand that you are operating in tight fiscal times,
and I appreciate your attention to the juggling of those
issues, but I know that--working with the full Committee and
working with Senator Snowe, that we still have lots of work to
do. And, while I won't go into detail, there are many other
issues, as it relates to the Northwest, that I just, if I have
a chance, will continue to bring up--the Puget Sound, Southern
Resident orca population, and our recovery plan, NOAA's Pacific
Marine Environmental Labs and the research that they are doing
on both acidification and tsunami detection, and making sure
that the detection program works, and works effectively. It is
not a matter of whether we are going to have another tsunami in
the Northwest--we will have one--the question is, how well
prepared will we be? And obviously we want to continue to work
with a variety of programs through our university system to
make sure that we are ready for that.
So, with that, I will turn it over to my colleague, the
Ranking Member, Senator Snowe, for her opening comments.
STATEMENT OF HON. OLYMPIA J. SNOWE,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MAINE
Senator Snowe. Thank you, Madam Chair. And thank you, as
well, for convening this hearing today to have the opportunity
to review the budget request of NOAA.
It's been nearly 3 years since the U.S. Commission on Ocean
Policy released its final report, and since the President's
response, with his Ocean Action Plan. And some of those
recommendations have been implemented, most notably the
reauthorization, finally, of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, but we
have much left to accomplish, and our success hinges on
securing adequate funding for existing and future ocean
initiatives.
I want to welcome you, Admiral Lautenbacher, to the hearing
here today, and to discuss some of the key programmatic and
budget issues that are confronting your agency. Your insight
and leadership must drive our Nation to improve the management
and conservation of our ocean and coastal resources, and we
rely on you to ensure that these vital programs receive
adequate fiscal support.
Like the Chair, I, too, am very much concerned about the
level of budget requests for your agency. And we had an
opportunity to discuss that yesterday. But clearly it is a
reduction. While--I know that it's a proposal--the $3.9 billion
request represents an increase of 3.4 percent over the
President's budget in 2007, it still represents a 2.5 percent
decrease from the amount that Congress actually appropriated
for Fiscal Year 2007. If Congress were to enact the
Administration's budget, we would see a net effect of 30
percent decline in funding for ocean monitoring programs, such
as the Nation's Ocean and Coastal Observing Systems, a 47
percent reduction in cooperative fishery research programs, so
essential to our industries at a time in which I know the
groundfish industry is struggling in the State of Maine and
throughout New England. Operation of lean streamlined ocean
management programs, I know, is an admirable goal; but these
reductions are more than just trimming the excess fat, they cut
to the bone of some of these vital programs. So, clearly, we're
going to have to examine these issues.
The establishment of an Integrated Ocean Observing System
was among the Ocean Commission's top recommendations, and
number six on the Joint Ocean Commission's initiative top-ten
list of priorities for Congress. I sponsored bills, that were
supported by the Chair, that have passed in each of the past
two Congresses, to authorize such a system, and, just
yesterday, our legislation was passed by the full Committee.
Data from Ocean Observing Systems alerts mariners to
hazardous conditions and contributes to weather and climate
forecasting that leads to vast cost savings. A study, in fact,
by the scientists at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute
estimated that the Gulf of Maine Ocean Observing System
returned $6 to the regional economy for every dollar that was
invested. The Ocean Commission recommended initial funding for
the Ocean Observing System of $138 million in its first year,
escalating to a half a billion dollars, and yet, your 2008
budget request, $2.5 million for an office within NOAA, and
$11.5 million for the regional associations, is barely a tenth
of the Ocean Commission's recommendation, and more than 33
percent less than the enacted funding level for Fiscal Year
2007. So obviously, these are issues that we're going to have
to examine as we proceed.
And finally, as you're aware, fishery management is another
integral issue to my state, certainly to the Chairman's state
and to this country. In recent years, we've seen a precipitous
decline in the catch and landing of species--whether it's cod,
flounder, or bluefin tuna--that have traditionally formed the
lifeblood of our commercial fisheries. If we are to recover
these stocks and to bring them back from the brink, we will
require significant investments in fishery research to ensure
we're using the best available data and science, and producing
stock estimates that allow us to achieve the maximum
sustainable yield, while preventing overfishing from occurring.
Cooperative fishery research has proven extremely successful in
Maine, bringing scientists and commercial fishermen together,
not only to collect better data, but also to develop
relationships, allowing scientists to benefit from fishermen's
knowledge, and fishermen to see that the research is being
carried out effectively. Cuts to these programs on the level
that this budget proposes, will certainly have a far-reaching
impact on the development of effective regulations, not to
mention the ability of fishermen to comply in devastating their
own livelihoods.
So, these are issues, Admiral, that hopefully we can
examine and explore in greater detail here this morning in
questioning. I do want to thank you for the $10 million request
to fund an unprecedented dam removal program in the State of
Maine, in the Penobscot River, that will restore nearly 1,000
miles of habitat for the Atlantic salmon. This is a historic
project, and I know it's going to produce tremendous dividends
to the species and to the State of Maine. I think it's a great
model for what we can do across this country to restore
different habitats and species. So, I want to thank you for
your leadership in that regard.
I hope that we have the opportunity to discuss all of these
issues and more, and thank you for your responsiveness and
attentiveness to many of the issues that I and the Chair have
raised. And I'm looking forward to working with you.
Thank you.
Senator Cantwell. Admiral Lautenbacher, thank you very much
for being here. We'll allow you to make your statement.
STATEMENT OF VICE ADMIRAL CONRAD C. LAUTENBACHER, JR., (U.S.
NAVY, RET.), UNDER SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE AND
ADMINISTRATOR, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
(NOAA), U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Admiral Lautenbacher. Thank you very much, Madam Chair,
Senator Snowe, distinguished members of the staff. I appreciate
very much this opportunity to come before the Committee to
discuss our Fiscal Year 2008 budget request. I particularly
appreciate your leadership and your continued support for our
programs. I know that we work together with the same goal in
mind, to improve our products and services and do the best for
the American people.
Before I go into my short oral remarks, I would like to
request that my written statement be included, in its entirety,
in the record.
Senator Cantwell. It will be. Thank you.
Admiral Lautenbacher. Thank you.
Before I give you some details on the budget request, I'd
like to highlight some of our accomplishments, which I think
are very important and represent the kind of work that we've
done together to try to improve the NOAA performance with the
public.
First of all, last year the President designated the
Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a Marine National Monument.
It's now known as the Papahanaumokuakea. It encompasses 140,000
square miles. It is the largest protected marine area in the
world, larger than the Greater Barrier Marine Reef, has 4,500
square miles of relatively undisturbed coral reef habitat, home
to more than 7,000 species. For the first time in history, NOAA
will play a leading role in managing a national monument. It's
an exciting and important opportunity for NOAA.
NOAA also designated essential fish habitat area covering
150,000 square miles off the coasts of Washington, Oregon, and
California. The regulations under this plan prohibit fishing
methods, such as bottom-trawling, that can cause long-term
damage to the ocean floor, and are aimed at replenishing fish
stocks.
NOAA has greatly increased the security of our Nation's
people living along our coastlines, through a combination of
new tsunami buoys and around-the-clock warning capability,
thanks to support from Congress. NOAA now has 28 special buoys
around the U.S. Coast and around the Pacific Coast. Plans call
for this U.S. Tsunami Warning System to include 39 buoy
stations by spring of 2008, with 32 in the Pacific and seven in
the Atlantic. There are five in place in the Atlantic, by the
way. NOAA has achieved full 24-by-7 operations of the two--
Nation's two Tsunami Warning Centers located in Alaska and
Hawaii. They provide warnings and alerts to the Nation and the
Pacific Rim that are now serving the Indian Ocean for the
amount of--for the number of sensors that we have there.
NOAA collaborated with Federal partners to place a NOAA
weather radio in every public school in America--that's more
than 97,000 radios--to add in protecting our children. The NOAA
weather radios provide automatic alerts for severe weather,
manmade disasters, such as chemical spills and terrorism
threats, as well as AMBER Alerts for missing children.
My written testimony has more details, but, basically, the
priority areas for our budget this year were, first of all,
sustaining critical operations. We had to do that. That's
number one. The other four items are--not in any particular
order, but are very important: first of all, supporting the
U.S. Ocean Action Plan, as indicated in your opening
statements; improving weather warnings and forecasts; climate
monitoring and research; and critical facilities investment.
The FY 08 request is $3.8 billion. It provides modest new
investments in our priority areas, while maintaining critical
services. To sustain those critical operations, over $54
million in net increases to--will support our workforce and pay
for the cost of doing business--regular inflation costs--to
keep our core businesses and core operations in full operation.
I request the support on that as the top priority.
Continued implementation of the President's Ocean Action
Plan, which is the response to the two committees that have
been mentioned in the opening statement--is a priority for the
Administration. The 2008 Budget Request for NOAA has $123
million in increases to support the plan over the President's
budget increase for 2007. This includes $60 million to advance
ocean science and research, $38 million to protect and restore
marine and coastal areas, and $25 million to ensure sustainable
use of ocean resources. Specifically, the budget request
includes over $16 million for an Integrated Ocean Observing
System, or IOOS, for development of regional systems--this is
the first time that we have had a line item to support that
system--as well as improved data management and communications.
It also includes $8 million for enforcement and management
activities in the newly designated Marine National Monument in
Hawaii.
NOAA is actively supporting a number of efforts focused on
restoring ecosystems in fisheries. The budget request, nearly
$13 million, for our Community-Based Restoration Program, and
through that program we will award funds to build upon our
efforts with local partners, such as in the Puget Sound area,
where we are working to restore this vital ecosystem and the
fisheries and services that it supports.
The 2008 budget also requests $10 million for the Penobscot
River Restoration Project in Maine, as mentioned in the opening
statements. The project will restore a run of over 10,000 adult
salmon, 1.5 million shad, and roughly 8 million river herring
to the Gulf of Maine and beyond. It's the single most important
project that we have to support Atlantic salmon.
To improve weather warnings and forecasts, our budget
increase--requests an increase of $5 million to support
operations and maintenance of hurricane data buoys and research
on hurricane intensity, that will save lives. Over $6 million
more will go in--go toward hurricane modeling efforts and
hiring employees to support the newly refurbished P-3
``hurricane hunter'' aircraft, which increases our force from
two to three.
To support climate monitoring and research, NOAA is moving
forward with an increase of $3 million in funding to support
the use of unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS. We will continue
to evaluate the benefits of using UAS to conduct long-endurance
flights for weather observations, atmospheric composition, and
climate monitoring, and gathering critical data for input into
hurricane models.
The 2008 budget supports critical facility investments,
with a request of over $20 million for continued construction
of the NOAA Pacific Regional Center on Ford Island. By bringing
our programs together into this new and expanded facility, we
expect to realize benefits in improved operations and mission
performance. In March, two NOAA ships arrived at their new home
port at Ford Island, with a third NOAA ship to follow later
this year. Getting them into their new home port is a major
milestone, and I thank Senator Inouye and other members of this
Committee and the Senate who have supported these efforts.
In closing, let me just mention that there are some very
important legislative priorities that go along with our budget
for 2008. The Administration has sent Congress draft
legislation on aquaculture, coral reefs, and hydrographic
services, among others. We are also working on draft
legislation for a NOAA Organic Act and reauthorizing the
National Marine Sanctuaries Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act,
and Sea Grant. We appreciate the introduction of the initial
bills that I have mentioned, and the support from this--that
this Committee has provided for these very important
legislative initiatives. We wish to work together with you to
ensure their passage.
Thank you, again, for this opportunity to present the 2008
budget request for NOAA, and I'm happy to stand by to answer
any questions you may have.
[The prepared statement of Admiral Lautenbacher follows:]
Prepared Statement of Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr. (U.S.
Navy, Ret.), Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and
Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
U.S.
Department of Commerce
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, before I begin my
testimony I would like to thank you for your leadership and the
generous support you have shown the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA). Your continued support for our programs is
appreciated as we work to improve our products and services for the
American people. Thank you for the opportunity to testify on the
President's Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Budget Request for NOAA.
The FY 2008 President's Budget supports NOAA's priority to advance
mission-critical services. The FY 2008 request is $3.815 billion, which
represents a $131 million or 3.4 percent increase over the FY 2007
request. This request includes the level of resources necessary to
carry out NOAA's mission, which is to understand and predict changes in
the Earth's environment, and conserve and manage coastal and marine
resources to meet our Nation's economic, social and environmental
needs. At NOAA we work to protect the lives and livelihoods of
Americans, and provide products and services that benefit the economy,
environment, and public safety of the Nation. Before I discuss the
details of our FY 2008 budget request, I would like to briefly
highlight some of NOAA's notable successes from the past Fiscal Year
(2006).
FY 2006 Accomplishments
President Designates Largest Fully-Protected Marine Area on Earth
Recognizing the continuing need for resource protection, President
Bush designated the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands as a marine national
monument on June 15, 2006. Encompassing nearly 140,000 square miles,
the monument covers an area larger than all of our national parks put
together, including 4,500 square miles of relatively undisturbed coral
reef habitat that is home to more than 7,000 species. The creation of
the largest fully-protected marine area in the world is an exciting
achievement and recognizes the value of marine resources to our Nation.
Successful Launch of NOAA Satellite GOES-13 and New Satellite
Operations Facility Ensure Continuity of Improved Data
Collection
On May 24, 2006, officials from NOAA and the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration (NASA) confirmed that a new geostationary
operational environmental satellite, designed to track hurricanes and
other severe weather impacting the nation, successfully reached orbit.
Upon reaching final orbit, the satellite was renamed GOES-13. This is
the first in a new series of satellites featuring a more stable
platform enabling improved instrument performance. NOAA instruments
were also launched on the European MetOp-A polar-orbiting satellite in
October 2006. Combined with NOAA and Department of Defense (DOD)
operational satellites, MetOp-A will help provide global data for
improving forecasts of severe weather, disaster mitigation, and
monitoring of the environment. This launch ushered in a new era of
U.S.-European cooperation in environmental observing.
In 2006, NOAA satellite operations and data processing groups began
moving into the new NOAA Satellite Operations Facility (NSOF). The NSOF
will house the NOAA satellite command and control functions and data
and distribution activities that are central to NOAA's mission. The
NSOF will also house the U.S. Mission Control Center for the Search and
Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking (SARSAT) program and the National Ice
Center (NIC), a joint NOAA/DOD mission to track ice floes and issue
warnings to the Nation's maritime force. The NSOF officially opened on
June 11, 2007.
Enhancements to NOAA's Fleet of Ships and Aircraft
Significant progress is being made in modernizing NOAA's fleet.
NOAA took delivery of the Fisheries Survey Vessel (FSV) HENRY B.
BIGELOW, the second of 4 new FSV, on July 25, 2006. The BIGELOW has
high-tech capabilities that make it one of the world's most advanced
fisheries research ships. These ships will be able to perform hydro-
acoustic fish surveys and conduct bottom and mid-water trawls while
running physical and biological oceanographic sampling during a single
deployment--a combined capability unavailable in the private sector
that will enable research and assessment to be carried out with greater
accuracy and cost efficiency. NOAA also took delivery from the Navy of
a ``retired'' P-3 aircraft in response to the hurricane supplemental
bill attached to the FY 2006 Defense appropriations legislation.
Rehabilitation of the P-3 is expected to be completed by the start of
the 2008 hurricane season.
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act Reauthorized
Congress reauthorized the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (MSA) in December, 2006, and it was signed into law by
President Bush on January 12, 2007. The MSA is the guiding legislation
that authorizes fishery management activities in Federal waters.
Enactment of this bill was one of the top priorities of the U.S. Ocean
Action Plan. The reauthorized MSA strengthens NOAA's ability to end
overfishing, rebuild fish stocks, and work collaboratively on
conservation.
U.S. Tsunami Warning System Improved
NOAA designed easy to deploy Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of
Tsunamis (DART)-II technology, which provides two-way communication
between the buoys and NOAA facilities. This technology allows engineers
to troubleshoot these systems from the lab and repair the systems
remotely when possible. This functionality can minimize system downtime
and save money by not requiring a ship be deployed to make minor
repairs. The U.S. Tsunami Warning Program also created tsunami impact
forecast models for nine major coastal communities, providing
information for inundation maps. With the December 11, 2006 deployment
of DART #23 in the Western Pacific Ocean, NOAA achieved initial
operating capability (IOC) of the planned expanded U.S. Tsunami Warning
Program. NOAA also achieved full 24/7 operations of the Nation's two
Tsunami Warning Centers. Plans call for the U.S. Tsunami Warning
Network to total 39 DART-II buoy stations by mid-summer 2008 (32 in the
Pacific, 7 in the Atlantic).
NOAA also continued to monitor sea height through a network of
buoys and tide gauges, collecting information critical to understanding
the time of arrival and the height of tsunami waves. In 2006, NOAA
completed the installation of eight new National Water Level
Observation Network (NWLON) stations to fill gaps in the detection
network, bringing the two-year total to 15. The 15 stations were
installed in California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Puerto Rico, and
the Virgin Islands. These and other new stations brought the NWLON to
200 stations by the end of calendar year 2006. In addition, NOAA
continued to upgrade the entire NWLON to real-time status by replacing
over 50 data collection platforms.
Red Tide Monitoring Protects Human Health and Coastal Economics in New
England
In the wake of the 2005 New England red tide crisis that forced the
closure of most shellfisheries in the region, NOAA provided additional
emergency funding in 2006 to provide timely and critical information to
state managers to build upon long-term research supported by the
Ecology and Oceanography of Harmful Algal Bloom, and Monitoring and
Event Response for Harmful Algal Bloom programs at the Woods Hole
Oceanographic Institution, as well as other partner institutions. In
the spring of 2006, NOAA-sponsored monitoring detected rapid
escalations of the bloom, which subsequently closed shellfisheries in
Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine. Additional NOAA efforts allowed
New England managers to make more strategic sampling and shellfish bed
closures/openings to protect human health and minimize the economic
impacts of harmful algal blooms.
National Estuarine Research Reserve System Adds 27th Reserve
On May 6, 2006, Commerce and Congressional officials dedicated the
newest site in the National Estuarine Research Reserve System in Port
Aransas, TX, bringing the total to 27 reserves. This new reserve
introduces a new biogeographic area type into the system, and adds
185,708 acres of public and private land and water. The reserves are
Federal-state partnerships, where NOAA provides national program
guidance and operational funding. These reserves serve as living
laboratories for scientists and provide science-based educational
programs for students and the public.
Wide Application Potential of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Demonstrated
In 2006, NOAA worked with Federal and private sector partners to
successfully demonstrate Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) technology.
NOAA is interested in UAS as a tool to explore and gather data to help
us reach new heights in our ability to understand and predict the world
in which we live. Use of UAS could help NOAA achieve our mission goals
and provide cost-effective means to: enforce regulations over NOAA's
National Marine Sanctuaries, conduct long endurance flights for
weather, conduct research over areas that pose significant risks to
pilots, validate satellite measurements, provide counts of marine
mammal populations, monitor atmospheric composition and climate, and
hover above hurricanes and gather critical data for input into
hurricane models. NOAA will continue to examine how UAS can assist in
the collection of environmental data.
Protecting Habitat Essential to Fish
In 2006, over 500,000 square miles of U.S. Pacific Ocean habitats
were protected from damage by fishing practices, particularly bottom-
trawling. Combined, these areas are more than three times the size of
all U.S. national parks. The historic protections, implemented by NOAA
with the support and advice of the regional fishery management
councils, fishing industry, and environmental groups, made the
protection of essential fish habitat and deep coral and sponge
assemblages a significant part of management efforts to conserve
fisheries in the Pacific Ocean.
NOAA Continues Efforts to Assist with Gulf Coast Recovery Following
2005 Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
In addition to providing the forecasts and immediate response
assistance in 2005, following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, NOAA has
continued to assist with Gulf Coast recovery efforts in FY 2006.
NOAA ships and aircraft provided critical response and recovery
capabilities in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. NOAA Ship
THOMAS JEFFERSON completed obstruction surveys in the Gulf of Mexico so
that busy ports and shipping lanes could be re-opened to traffic.
NOAA's Citation aircraft flew post-storm damage assessment surveys
along the coasts of the Gulf States. This imagery was downloaded on the
NOAA website, enabling emergency managers, local officials and average
citizens to inventory damage and prioritize recovery efforts.
NOAA mounted a multi-pronged effort to address fishery-related
impacts in the Gulf of Mexico in FY 2006. In August, 2006, NOAA awarded
$128 million to the Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission to reseed
and restore oyster beds and conduct fisheries monitoring in the Gulf.
In addition, NOAA Ship NANCY FOSTER conducted a seafood contamination
survey for NOAA Fisheries near the Mississippi Delta to spot potential
safety issues. This research monitored the seafood coming in from the
Gulf to ensure it was safe for public consumption (free of PCBs,
pesticides, and fossil fuels).
Collaboration Enables a NOAA Weather Radio to be Placed in Every Public
School in America
NOAA and the Departments of Homeland Security and Education worked
to get 97,000 NOAA weather radios placed in every public school in
America to aid in protecting our children from hazards, both natural
and man-made. In many cases, local Weather Forecast Office staff
provided expertise in programming the radios to select specific hazards
and geographic areas for which the school wanted to be alerted. This
multi-month effort required close collaboration between the Departments
of Homeland Security, Education, and Commerce (NOAA). This effort
enabled schools to connect to part of the Nation's Emergency Alert
System and greatly increases environmental situational awareness and
public safety.
World Ocean Database 2005
NOAA's National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC) released a major
upgrade to its World Ocean Database product. World Ocean Database 2005
(WOD05) is the largest collection of quality-controlled ocean profile
data available internationally without restriction. All data are
available on-line for public use. Data are available for 29 ocean
variables, including plankton data. The database includes an additional
900,000 temperature profiles not available in its predecessor. The
database provides the ocean and climate science communities with
research-quality ocean profile data sets that will be useful in
describing physical, chemical and biological parameters in the ocean,
over both time and space. This database is a crucial part of the
Integrated Ocean Observing System and the Global Earth Observation
System of Systems.
New Arctic Observatory Established for Long-Term Climate Measurements
NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, in
conjunction with our Canadian counterparts, established a research site
located on Ellesmere Island to make long-term climate measurements of
Arctic clouds and aerosols. This observatory supports NOAA's activities
for the 2007-2008 International Polar Year.
NOAA Scientists Identify Carbon Dioxide Threats to Marine Life
A report co-authored by NOAA research scientists documents how
carbon dioxide is dramatically altering ocean chemistry and threatening
the health of marine organisms. The research also uncovered new
evidence of ocean acidification in the North Pacific. The report
resulted from a workshop sponsored by NOAA, the National Science
Foundation, and the U.S. Geological Survey.
First Operational Satellite Products for Ocean Biology
In June, 2006, NOAA began to process and distribute ocean biology
products for U.S. coastal waters, using satellite observations. This
activity represents a successful transition of NASA research to NOAA
operations. These products (e.g. chlorophyll concentration) represent
the first satellite-derived biological products generated by NOAA for
coastal and open ocean waters. These products are useful in detecting
and monitoring harmful algal blooms, assessing regional water quality,
and locating suitable habitat for fish and other important marine
species. Development of these products prepares NOAA for generating and
distributing ocean biology products in the global ocean after 2010.
FY 2008 Budget Request Highlights
Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan
Coastal and marine waters help support over 28 million jobs, and
the value of the ocean economy to the United States is over $115
billion. The commercial and recreational fishing industries alone add
over $48 billion to the national economy each year. The FY 2008
President's Budget requests $123 million in increases for NOAA to
support the President's U.S. Ocean Action Plan. This oceans initiative
includes $38 million to protect and restore marine and coastal areas,
$25 million to ensure sustainable use of ocean resources, and $60
million to advance ocean science and research.
New investments in ocean science are aimed at monitoring and better
understanding marine ecosystems. Increased funding of $16 million is
included for the Integrated Ocean Observing System to enhance models
and information products through development of regional systems and
improved data management and communications. A total increase of $20
million is provided for NOAA research on four near-term priorities
established through the national Ocean Research Priorities Plan. An
additional $8 million will support exploring and defining areas of the
continental shelf that are adjacent to, but currently outside of, U.S.
jurisdiction. This work will enable a U.S. claim to these areas and the
potential $1.2 trillion worth of resources they are estimated to
contain.
The FY 2008 President's Budget builds on NOAA's strong record of
investing in projects that embody the spirit of cooperative
conservation. Projects to protect and restore valuable marine and
coastal areas include funding of $8 million for enforcement and
management activities in the recently designated Northwestern Hawaiian
Islands Marine National Monument, and $10 million for a project to
restore nearly 1,000 stream miles of habitat for endangered Atlantic
salmon and other fish species. A total of $15 million is provided for
the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program, to assist state
and local partners in the purchase of high priority coastal or
estuarine lands or conservation easements. Increased funding of $3
million is also included to support Klamath River salmon recovery
projects. Finally, an increase of $5 million will support competitive
grant programs focused on the Gulf of Mexico Alliance coastal resource
priorities, as identified in the Governors' Action Plan for Healthy and
Resilient Coasts.
Finally, the FY 2008 NOAA budget provides support to ensure
sustainable access to seafood through development of offshore
aquaculture and better management of fish harvests. The Administration
will propose legislation to establish clear regulatory authority and
permitting processes for offshore aquaculture. An increase of $3
million is included to establish the regulatory framework to encourage
and facilitate development of environmentally sustainable commercial
opportunities. In addition, $20 million in increases are provided to
improve management of fish harvests, including $6.5 million in
increases to implement the new and expanded requirements of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization
Act of 2006, $3 million for observer programs, and $6 million for
market-based approaches to fisheries management. Market-based
approaches--such as Limited Access Privilege Programs (LAPPs) that
provide exclusive privileges to harvest a quantity of fish--move
fisheries management away from cumbersome and inefficient regulatory
practices and have been shown to lead to lengthened fishing seasons,
improved product quality, and safer conditions for fishermen. The
Administration has set a goal of doubling the number of LAPPs in use by
the year 2010, and the increased funding of $6 million for LAPPs in
this request supports that goal. Finally, an additional $2 million in
funding is provided to meet the management challenges of assessing and
mitigating the impacts of sound from human activities, such as national
defense readiness and energy exploration and development, on marine
mammals.
Sustaining Critical Operations
As always, I support NOAA's employees by requesting adequate
funding for our people, infrastructure, and facilities. NOAA's core
values are science, service, and stewardship, as well as people,
ingenuity, integrity, excellence, and teamwork. Our ability to serve
the Nation and accomplish the missions outlined below is determined by
the quality of our people and the tools they employ. Our facilities,
ships, aircraft, environmental satellites, data-processing systems,
computing and communications systems, and our approach to management
provide the foundation of support for all of our programs.
Approximately $54.6 million in net increases will support our workforce
inflation factors, including $44.9 million for salaries and benefits
and $6.6 million for non-labor related adjustments such as fuel costs.
This year, we focus on the operations and maintenance of NOAA
vessels and necessary enhancements to marine safety, facility repair,
and modernization. A funding increase of $8.3 million will be used to
support marine operations and equipment, including $5.6 million for new
vessel operations and maintenance and $1.7 million to implement a more
effective maritime staff rotation and safety enhancements. This funding
will support the operations maintenance for the OKEANOS EXPLORER,
NOAA's first dedicated Ocean Exploration vessel. Increased funding of
$5.5 million will support operations and maintenance for NOAA's third
P-3 aircraft. NOAA is also moving forward this year with increases in
funding for unmanned vehicles, with $0.7 million in support of
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUV) and an increase of $3 million in
funding to support the further use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).
With this increase, NOAA will evaluate the benefits and potential of
using UAS to collect data crucial for climate models, weather research,
fisheries enforcement, and coastal zone studies.
The backbone of the NOAA infrastructure is our integrated Earth
observation effort. NOAA, NASA and the Office of Science and Technology
Policy (OSTP) serve as the lead agencies for the Federal Government in
developing our U.S. integrated Earth observing strategy. In addition, I
serve as one of four intergovernmental co-chairs of the effort to
develop the Global Earth Observation System of Systems. Building and
maintaining state-of-the-art satellite programs is an important
component of NOAA's integrated observation efforts. An increase of $25
million in the Polar Operational Environmental Satellite (POES) program
continues support for development and acquisition of polar-orbiting
weather satellites to improve weather forecasting and our understanding
of the climate. This increase will allow NOAA to complete acquisition
of this series of polar satellites and install and maintain instruments
important to U.S. Government interests on the European MetOp partner
satellite. Following the completion of the POES program, it will be
replaced by the tri-agency National Polar-orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). This transition is expected in
2013. We will continue to partner with the Europeans on their MetOp
satellite as NPOESS replaces our current POES satellites.
Improving Weather Warnings and Forecasts
Severe weather events cause $11 billion in damages and
approximately 7,000 weather-related fatalities yearly in the United
States. Nearly one-third of the economy is sensitive to weather and
climate. Realizing this, NOAA seeks to provide decisionmakers with key
observations, analyses, predictions, and warnings for a variety of
weather and water conditions to help protect the health, lives, and
property of the United States and enhance its economy. Increased
funding of $2 million will accelerate research to improve hurricane
intensity forecasts through targeted research for new models and
observations. Another $3 million will support the operations and
maintenance of 15 hurricane data buoys in the Caribbean, Gulf of
Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean. Finally, NOAA continues to strengthen
the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program with an increase of $1.7 million to
deploy additional deep ocean buoy (DART) stations. Strengthening the
U.S. Tsunami Warning Program provides effective, community-based
tsunami hazard mitigation actions including required inundation flood
mapping, modeling, forecasting efforts and evacuation mapping, and
community-based public education/awareness/preparedness for all U.S.
communities at risk.
Climate Monitoring and Research
Society exists in a highly variable climate system, and major
climatic events can impose serious consequences on society. The FY 2008
Budget Request contains investments in several programs aimed at
increasing our predictive capability, enabling NOAA to provide our
customers (farmers, utilities, land managers, weather risk industry,
fisheries resource managers and decisionmakers) with assessments of
current and future impacts of climate events such as droughts, floods,
and trends in extreme climate events. NOAA is building a suite of
information, products and services to enable society to understand,
predict, and respond to changing climate conditions. These activities
are part of the U.S. Climate Change Science Program and are being
conducted in collaboration and coordination with our important
interagency partners including NASA, NSF, and the Department of Energy.
We will continue to expand and improve access to global oceanic and
atmospheric data sets for improved climate prediction and development
of climate change indicators. NOAA will support the critical National
Integrated Drought Information System with increases of $4.4 million to
develop an integrated drought early warning and forecast system to
provide earlier and more accurate forecasts of drought conditions. This
request also supports the Administration's efforts to create a U.S.
Integrated Earth Observation System. With an increase of $0.9 million,
we will support research on water vapor to refine climate models. In
support of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan, NOAA will enhance our
understanding of the link between ocean currents and rapid climate
change with an increase of $5 million in support of research on this
topic. Finally, an additional $1 million in funding will provide
additional computational support for assessing abrupt climate change.
Critical Facilities Investments
The FY 2008 President's Budget Request also includes important
increases for critical facilities, necessary to provide a safe and
effective working environment for NOAA's employees. Of particular
importance this year is the $3 million funding increase to begin design
of a replacement facility at the La Jolla Southwest Fisheries Science
Center. NOAA is also requesting $20.3 million for continued
construction of the new Pacific Region Center on Ford Island in
Honolulu, Hawaii. This increase in funding will allow NOAA to complete
the exterior renovation of one of the Ford Island buildings, a crucial
next step in the construction process.
NOAA's Legislative Initiatives
We appreciate the Committee's interest in reauthorizing the
Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, and we thank Senators Inouye and
Stevens for introducing S. 1584 on behalf of the Administration. We
support enactment of S. 1584, the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act
Amendments of 2007, and look forward to working with the Committee to
reauthorize this important legislation.
The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act (HSIA) was first enacted
in 1998 and amended in 2002. The Administration's proposed bill to
reauthorize the HSIA was drafted to better ensure safe, efficient, and
environmentally sound marine transportation, and to enhance and promote
international trade and interstate commerce vital to the Nation's
economic prosperity via the Marine Transportation System. The
Administration's bill clarifies the importance of NOAA's hydrographic
data and services not only to navigation but also to habitat
conservation, coastal resource management, emergency response, and
homeland security.
NOAA provides the Nation with nautical charts, as well as
information on tides, sea surface water levels, and shoreline and
geodetic positioning. NOAA's primary area of responsibility for
charting is the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, an area including 3.4
million square nautical miles and 95,000 miles of national shoreline.
NOAA's hydrographic and shoreline mapping programs deliver precise
depths and positions of coastal features. The remote sensing
technologies used reveal hazards to navigation such as rocks, wrecks
and changes in man-made features. To aid 21st Century navigation, NOAA
is now building a suite of Electronic Navigational Charts comparable to
the paper nautical charts for U.S. waters. NOAA's tide and current
measurements along with Physical Oceanographic Real Time Systems and
coastal ocean forecasts inform mariners about changing weather and
navigation conditions. NOAA's work on high accuracy positioning, using
the Global Positioning System, delivers centimeter-level accuracy to
navigate hazards and avoid overhead obstructions, such as bridges.
Should an emergency occur, such as a hurricane or vessel collision,
NOAA responds rapidly with surveys to find navigation hazards and
reopen ports to maritime traffic, and with scientific support for
hazardous material spill response and remediation.
The purpose of the Administration's bill is to reauthorize the HSIA
for 5 years, and make changes to better ensure safe, efficient, and
environmentally sound marine transportation and commerce. The marine
transportation system is becoming increasingly congested, with the
volume of international maritime commerce expected to double within the
next 20 years. The programs and activities authorized by the HSIA also
play an important role in the national response to natural and man-made
disasters. For example, NOAA experts discovered the submerged wreckage
of TWA Flight 800, took some of the first aerial images of Ground Zero
after 9/11, and provided a substantial and vital response to hurricanes
Katrina and Rita, including surveying affected waterways to facilitate
the reopening of 13 major ports to commerce and relief efforts.
In addition to the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments
of 2007, the Administration, through the Department of Commerce, has
also transmitted two additional legislative proposals: the National
Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 and the Coral Reef Ecosystem
Conservation Amendments Act of 2007. Again we thank Senators Inouye and
Stevens for introducing these bills on behalf of the Administration, as
S. 1609 and S. 1583, respectively. Enactment of each of these bills is
a priority for NOAA and the Department of Commerce. We appreciate the
actions taken by Members of the Committee to begin work on these pieces
legislation and look forward to working with you to enact these
important pieces of legislation in the 110th Congress.
Conclusion
NOAA's FY 2008 Budget Request provides essential new investments in
our priority areas while maintaining critical services, reflecting
NOAA's vision, mission, and core values. The work NOAA accomplished in
2006 impacted every U.S. citizen. We will build on our successes from
last year, and stand ready to meet the challenges that will surface in
FY 2008 and beyond. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security
and national safety through research and accurate prediction of weather
and climate-related events, and to providing environmental stewardship
of our Nation's coastal and marine resources. That concludes my
statement, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the opportunity to present
NOAA's FY 2008 Budget Request. I am happy to respond to any questions
the Committee may have.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you, Admiral Lautenbacher. And I
know my colleagues--we have a busy morning here, with an
upcoming vote--but I'm sure it's delaying some of my
colleagues, but they will have the opportunity to submit
questions for the record, and, if you could help us in
answering those, we appreciate it very much.
I wanted to talk, first, about the National Weather Service
CONOPS program, which is the Concept of Ocean--I mean, a
Concept of Operation Initiative. Now, I understand there has
been a lot of discussion and controversy around what was
originally a proposal to consolidate some of the weather
service resources, that led some to be concerned that that
consolidation might lead to less staff and less ability to
track impending severe weather situations. Can you elaborate on
where we are with that, and what the budget reflects, and what
your management of that particular program reflects, as far as
a priority?
Admiral Lautenbacher. Yes, thank you, Madam Chair.
I--as soon as it--this was brought to my attention, I
initiated a review of progress on that initiative, what the
goals were, where it was, and where it stood. I reviewed it
with independent folks, and looked at it, and we have since
stopped all work on that program. I believe that some of the
concepts, at the beginning of it, to try to improve our
products and services, were well thought out, but some of the
issues that came up, in terms of trying to deal with it, were
not well thought out and constructed. So, it is--has been
canceled. I've put out a very firm directive that that is not
to be discussed in the terms that it was built in before. We
are commissioning a study from the NRC to look at expanding
technologies and new services, and having an unbiased outside
scientific body look at that. We expect that report to be
available next January.
Senator Cantwell. One of the points of your budget request
is actually a plus-up in this area--I think, about a 22 percent
plus-up--but I think that--I don't know if that's a reflection
of that technology, but one of the things that have been
pointed out in this proposed consolidation, I think, of
resources, was a staffing issue, particularly for over-the-
night observations. And I think what's at stake here is that
minutes, in a warning system, can save hundreds of lives. So,
we're not--you're sure that there is no continued discussion of
programs that would leave some of these severe weather
observation programs with only one resource, someone to
constantly do data entry, and leave less on the observation
side.
Admiral Lautenbacher. I can assure you that, after years in
the Navy, I do not believe in ever having one person on duty to
do anything. So, there is no intention on my part to approve
anything that will ever cut down on the ability to have viable
backups and viable forecasting capability on station 24 hours a
day, and that's what I have told the National Weather Service.
Senator Cantwell. So, just to clarify, you believe in
acquiring data, but also in having observation staff.
Admiral Lautenbacher. Absolutely. Remember, forecasting is
an art, not a science. It--the forecasts that you get, from
hurricanes to tornados, come from forecasters, not out of
computers.
Senator Cantwell. Thank you.
I want to ask about the satellite situation and investment
in satellite capabilities, moving forward. I think we're at a
little bit of a disagreement, from a budget perspective, of
where we need to go to implementing that. You and I also had a
conversation about just the amount of information and
responsibility already with weather and NOAA and potentially
other things that the agency could be doing as it relates to
climate change. But one of these opportunities means making
sure that we have the right technology. And the geosatellite
system that you have now, we're concerned about making sure
that we have, in the coming years, a more sophisticated
technology than we have today. So, where are we in getting that
budget request, to make sure that that upgrade in capabilities
is there, not just for today's responsibility, but for what we
think is a potential for NOAA to play an even greater role in
severe weather change, climate change, and its impacts on the
oceans?
Admiral Lautenbacher. Yes, thank you.
The satellite systems that we have, I want to assure the
Committee and the American public that we have satellite
systems in place today that are robust, complete, and have
backups, and are ready to support all of the needs that we have
for weather forecasting, from tornados to hurricanes to
flooding.
We have--there are two main systems that we use. The one is
the geostationary system. There are two satellites in orbit
that are relatively new. There is an on-orbit backup in that--
in position. There is also a secondary backup from a satellite
that is still operating. So, we have very robust geostationary
satellites on station today. That's the most important piece
that we have. The lower-orbit satellite system, called POES,
has on-ground backups, is operating today, and provides--that
provides 90 percent of the information that goes into our
models for hurricanes and for other weather forecasting. That
system is robust and working.
We have requested from Congress, for the last few years,
money to support the next generation of those two systems. And
I appreciate the mark. I believe the mark that came in supports
the development of those systems. And they are designed to come
online when the current systems run out of backups. If we can
continue the funding and the progress on the programs that we
have set up today, there is no issue with maintaining the basic
satellite coverage and improving the position.
Now, there has been discussion of a satellite called
QuikSCAT----
Senator Cantwell. But, without gaps in----
Admiral Lautenbacher. Without gaps.
Senator Cantwell. OK.
Admiral Lautenbacher. Without gaps. There are no gaps in
our basic systems. The plans and the money and all of the
backup that we have sent up allow us to continue our continuous
coverage and improve technology for these two basic satellite
systems.
The issue that we've seen in the paper recently is
something about a satellite called QuikSCAT, which is an
experimental satellite that NASA funded a number of years ago,
which we are learning to use in our forecasting of hurricanes,
at this point. In the last year, our forecasters have come and
said, ``This looks like, really, a promising technology. We
would like to pursue it.'' We started, immediately, to look at
ways to introduce this technology into our current system. We
have, right now, spent money, as soon as we got it from
Congress, to start preliminary studies, to look at how to
incorporate this technology, either as a free-flyer--a separate
satellite system--or incorporated into these two systems that
I've just talked about. So, we're very concerned, involved, and
supportive of providing the latest technology for the American
public.
Senator Cantwell. Senator Snowe----
Senator Snowe. Thank you.
Senator Cantwell.--turn it over for your round.
Senator Snowe. Thank you.
Admiral Lautenbacher, in looking at the budget again it
does represent a major decrease and, as the Chair indicated,
you're talking about 3 years of consecutive decline, so it
really does have a cumulative impact.
If you look at the inflationary factor, that would be more
than 6 percent, when you compare this year's costs versus what
we can estimate for the future. So, how do you expect to
implement your budget programs with a 2 \1/2\ percent decrease
from the level enacted in Fiscal Year 2006, not even accounting
for inflation? Furthermore, in looking at the Joint Ocean
Commission's Initiative, they recommended $747 million in
funding for NOAA above the 2006 level, which would be $4.6
billion versus the $3.9 billion that you have proposed, and
that does represent a 2 \1/2\ percent decrease from last year.
So, how do you expect that your level of funding will
adequately cover the responsibilities that you are obligated
for?
Admiral Lautenbacher. Let me add a little perspective to
that. We have been able to, each year, increase the President's
budget, so our requests to Congress have been increasing. And
this year it was increased over $100 million. And that's an
important benchmark.
I realize--and I think we all realize--that, in the end,
the budget is a compromise between what the President requests
and what Congress believes is the right level for funding.
Now, we will have difficulties with inflation and cost of
doing business, and I don't--I can't dispute that. Part of the
reason is that our actual budget that we've been spending has
been capped at around $3.9 billion for the last 3 years, for a
variety of reasons. But the good news is that, at least as
we've been able to find money and support, working through our
programs, we've raised the level, which is very close to what
Congress approved last year. The marks that were approved this
year are actually not that much different. I think we are doing
better, in terms of arriving at something that is a national
consensus on the levels of funding for NOAA. I will continue
to--as you all know, I'm an enthusiastic advocate of every
program we have, and I will work hard to continue to try to get
the funding to ensure that we can promote and provide the
programs the public needs.
Senator Snowe. I understand. And obviously we're in a cost-
cutting era, and we have to look at where we can achieve those
savings. It just seems to me that, given what Congress actually
proposed, over and above what the administration did last year,
the level of decrease is going to have an impact on some of
these programs, without question. Looking at the Ocean
Observing System, for example, the Ocean Commission recommended
$138 million to initiate the National Ocean Observing System,
escalating to a half a billion dollars within 5 years. And I
recognize that that may be an extraordinary amount, at this
point in time. But your request is for $2.5 million for the
implementation system, and then, in addition, $11.5 million for
the regional observations.
So, how exactly is that going to work adequately in
supporting this system? That seems to be a small amount,
comparatively speaking, to the Ocean Commission's proposals.
Admiral Lautenbacher. It is--it is a relatively small
amount, but it is better than zero. We--which is what we have
had for the last 4 years--we've been able to, first of all,
develop an architectural plan that people will support, which
requires a great deal of effort. We need to have regional
associations which are fairly consistent in how they work
together so we can have a national setup. And I think this
takes some pressure off of Congress to look at extra funding--
extraordinary funding mechanisms to help us move forward. It
represents a beginning of a coalescence of agreement on the
need for an Integrated Ocean Observing System, which we know is
strongly supported by the Ocean Commissions, and is now
supported by the Administration.
And so, I look forward to working with you in the future,
and in this budget, to try to improve our ability to bring that
system online.
Senator Snowe. Well, I guess the point is that the
Administration has relied on Congress to increase the budget.
That's exactly what we did last year. Now the Administration
has come in with a budget that's less than what we provided for
last year. So, that's the position we find ourselves in. Now,
we do that year in and year out, but I think it is important
for the agency to indicate what is critical for more funding in
the areas that it requires. The Ocean Observation System
achieves savings, in the final analysis. Report after report
has indicated that. We saw that in the Pacific Ocean, they did
a report recently, and it saved a billion dollars annually, and
the Woods Hole study, which I mentioned in my opening comments.
The shipping industry saved, based on the report, $300 million,
by revising their weather-based routing system in response to
the real-time data that they were able to get. Not only from a
financial standpoint, it represents a savings to the
government, but also, in terms of lives saved, as well. And so,
we have to make sure in this instance, that we give the kind of
support to get this system underway, particularly now that we
have the authorization. Hopefully, we can get it through the
entire Congress. We have managed to get it through the Senate
unanimously, but not in the entire Congress. Hopefully that
course will reverse itself.
I thank you for the support in getting it included in the
agency's budget, and I hope that we can do more to make sure
that we solidify this critical program for the entire country.
It may be regionally based, in terms of where the systems are
located, but it is to benefit the entire country and what we
can anticipate for changes in climate and weather forecasting
and conditions. So, I thank you for that.
New England groundfishing, as you know, is very critical.
As you know, we're in some extremely dire and challenging
times. And this is another area that I think warrants
tremendous support from NOAA, in terms of investments in
cooperative research, for example, that I think is absolutely
vital to serve as the underpinnings for any course of action
that's taken. Now, the New England Fishery Management Council,
last week, decided to table proposals that could have replaced
the existing Days-at-Sea program, or at least examine it. I
don't think the industry had--you know, they were looking at
different proposals. The point systems, for example, was, you
know, one proposal, and area management was another.
The groundfishermen have an average of just 40 days at sea,
and estimates suggest that levels could be reduced up to an
additional 30 percent under Amendment 16 in 2009, leaving
fishermen with just 33 days to make a living. Well, if the
groundfishing industry is in a crisis, that will become a
catastrophe, without question.
So, I guess, what I am concerned about is: why don't we
have any existing programs within the agency, given the
magnitude of the impact of these regulations they're going to
impose on the industry, and people's livelihoods? Why aren't
there any existing programs within NOAA that could support
additional research and also do an evaluation and examination
of alternatives to days at sea, so that we have more
information, better information, with which we can make these
decisions?
Now the Council delayed any decision, deferred it, because
they didn't have enough time. But we don't have enough data,
and I think that we should be doing everything that we can to
examine potentially preferable systems to days at sea. Now,
maybe there aren't any, but we don't know. And when you get an
industry in a crisis, clearly it demands looking at ways in
which we can find alternatives, and investing a sense of
urgency in this situation, that certainly could help other
situations across the country. Do we have any programs that
could help in this regard, in a timely fashion? I'm not talking
about years, here, because they're now contemplating Amendment
16, in 2009, and they're devastated as they are. I mean, we're
talking about 47 days at sea. I mean, it has really been having
a major impact on the industry.
Admiral Lautenbacher. I agree with everything you said. It
does have a major impact, and it's very important.
We have, in this budget, about $6 million to look at the
research and the needs to try to devise these kinds of programs
you're talking about, which are different than days at sea. So,
this is an attempt to try to get more emphasis on it.
We have a commitment to try to double the number of what's
euphemistically known as the ``Limited-Access Privilege
Programs'' across the Nation. We also have added some funding
to increase the scientific staffs of the--or access to
scientific information from the councils so that we can
expedite some of the groundwork that's needed to do, to
understand what those plans mean and how they would be brought
into effect.
So, I'm just as interested in doing this as--in an urgent
fashion as you are, Senator, and we'll continue to try to do
that.
Senator Snowe. What would be the timeframe, for example, to
get this type of information and analysis and assessment of
alternatives? I mean, because that, number one, is critical.
Second, you know, the Council indicated that they had to table
their decision, because they had to implement a decision before
the deadline. Do we have any flexibility in the deadline?
That's another question that I'd like to ask, because I think
this is truly having some devastating consequences. And we want
to look at other alternatives to see if there are any
possibilities other than days at sea, so that we have examined
an array of options, and we know what is available, what isn't
available. I understand that $6 million is targeted for the
Limited-Access Privilege Programs, not non-IFQ programs. Is
that true, too?
Admiral Lautenbacher. I'm sorry, I missed the last----
Senator Snowe. The 6 million is----
Admiral Lautenbacher. It's for----
Senator Snowe.--targeted for Limited-Access Privilege
Programs, not non-IFQ programs. The $6 million that you
referred to.
Admiral Lautenbacher. Yes, but that money is--can be--could
be used to try to work on alternative schemes to what we have
today. So, when I used that euphemistically----
Senator Snowe. OK.
Admiral Lautenbacher.--that's what I mean. So, I don't--I
can't give you--the Council just had their action. We're going
to--we're going to review it and see what----
Senator Snowe. OK.
Admiral Lautenbacher.--we can do to help them get the
resources they need, because we would like them to get through
their analysis as quickly as possible, obviously. And so, let
me get back to you----
Senator Snowe. OK.
Admiral Lautenbacher.--on what a----
Senator Snowe. I would appreciate----
Admiral Lautenbacher.--timeline would be for the results
from this latest action, which just occurred.
Senator Snowe. No, I appreciate that. And you understand
the urgency----
Admiral Lautenbacher. I do.
Senator Snowe.--of the circumstances. Thank you.
Admiral Lautenbacher. Thank you, sir--ma'am.
Senator Cantwell. Senator Nelson?
STATEMENT OF HON. BILL NELSON,
U.S. SENATOR FROM FLORIDA
Senator Nelson. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Senator Snowe, we are going, in July, to have a hearing--
and I think Chairman Inouye is going to do it at the full-
Committee level--on the overall question of the Earth Observing
Systems, particularly with regard to the--with regard to the
weather. We are trying to get that set for the date of July the
11th. And, with your interest in this area, if you could be
there with us, Chairman Inouye, in my capacity as the Space
Subcommittee Chairman, is asking me to chair the meeting--and,
of course, with Chairman Cantwell, as well--if you all could
participate in that--because it goes far beyond just the narrow
question of space, it goes to some of the questions I'm going
to ask right now of the Admiral.
Admiral of course we've got the problem with QuikSCAT.
What's NOAA's plan for--well, let me say what QuikSCAT is, for
everybody. It has been up for about 8 years. It has a 4-year
life, and it has lived 4 years longer. It is operating today,
giving us wind at the surface, which is a component of
determining the direction and ferocity of a hurricane--of an
inbound hurricane. It is one of the computations that is used.
And, of course, from the satellite position, as opposed to a
buoy--a buoy would get certain measurements, but right there.
But you don't have thousands of buoys out there. We tried to
get NOAA to have additional buoys. The satellite gives you
those data points all over the ocean, which then go into their
computers that make up the model.
So, this little thing is like the Energizer Bunny, it just
keeps going and going, but you never know when it's going to go
on the blink. And, years ago, NOAA planned to have a
replacement, called NPOES, N-P-O-E-S. NPOES was going to be
many things to many people, and that's the problem. They loaded
it up too much, and then they found that it wasn't going to
work, and it got delayed, it got overpriced, et cetera, et
cetera. And now, NPOES is somewhere in the middle of the next
decade, like 2015-2016.
So, Admiral, why don't you share for the Committee--What
are NOAA's plans for a replacement of QuikSCAT, the quick
satellite that is the scatterometer?
Admiral Lautenbacher. Yes, thank you, Senator.
As I--let me just mention again that the primary satellite
systems that we have for weather forecasting or hurricane
forecasting are online with adequate backups, and are working,
and plans to continue these with increased technology are in
place and on track. We are, as you mentioned--you asked the
question about QuikSCAT, which is the experimental satellite
that's been put up to try to use data from a scatterometer,
which you mentioned, to improve our hurricane forecasting. We
have found out, in the last year, from our forecasters, who
have spent several years trying to learn how to use the
information, that it is valuable. When we found that out, last
June, we started an investigative Committee to look at
replacing or incorporating that technology, which was not the
preferred technology before that point, into the next systems,
either as a free-flyer, which we think is the more interesting
option, rather than incorporated on satellites which are
passive satellites. The QuikSCAT is an active satellite, which
needs to be--ensure that you don't over-flood the receptors on
the satellites that are passive receivers.
We have put in place a--as soon as we got money, we put in
place a study with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to give us
options on how to replace the current QuikSCAT as quickly as
possible. And that----
Senator Nelson. And when is that? We have a limited time,
we're going to vote on the cloture----
Admiral Lautenbacher. I'm sorry. OK. We----
Senator Nelson.--we're going on the cloture motion on the
immigration bill, so----
Admiral Lautenbacher. We're going to get----
Senator Nelson.--when are you going to have a replacement?
Admiral Lautenbacher. We're going to have the study in
January of the next year, and then we're going to make a
decision. If there's a good--it's--and we don't want to do--
have another NPOES, which you've talked about, so we've got to
make sure that what we do is correct. We will make a decision,
based on a JPL and the expertise that we get from the reviews,
on whether to replace that satellite with--as it is----
Senator Nelson. That a----
Admiral Lautenbacher.--or go to another technology.
Senator Nelson. OK. But that's a long way to get around to
answering my question, which is, when are we going to have a
replacement?
Admiral Lautenbacher. It will take 3 to 5 years to replace
the satellite, as it is. Now, what I want to mention is that we
have--that satellite has just--is in good operating condition.
We just talked with Mike Griffin the other day. It--we expect--
--
Senator Nelson. Let's----
Admiral Lautenbacher.--it to last another----
Senator Nelson. Knock on wood. Let's hope----
Admiral Lautenbacher.--to 4 years, but----
Senator Nelson.--it keeps going.
Admiral Lautenbacher.--but we also have in place, in orbit
today, another scatterometer. It's on the Joint U.S.-European
Polar Orbiting Satellite System. That scatterometer will be in
operation through the year 2018 to 2019.
Senator Nelson. And does that scatterometer replace, fully,
this scatterometer?
Admiral Lautenbacher. It has slightly different
specifications on it, but neither scatterometer actually meets
the needs of our forecasters.
Senator Nelson. It's----
Admiral Lautenbacher. It's all below the levels.
Senator Nelson. It does. Does the data that goes into the
computers from the QuikSCAT, which is 4 years beyond its life--
its planned life--does what you have up there now replace that?
Does it replace it by half? Does it replace it a quarter? What
does it replace?
Admiral Lautenbacher. We don't----
Senator Nelson.--in the determination, at the end of the
day, to get the data for accuracy for the National Weather
Service and the National Hurricane Center, to predict the path
and intensity of a hurricane.
Admiral Lautenbacher. We don't know the answer to that
question yet, because that instrument was just launched a few
months ago. I have directed the Hurricane Center and our
researchers to take the information and start putting it into
the models, as we have had to do with QuikSCAT, to try to find
out how much it does replace, or doesn't replace. We don't know
the answer to that question. We do know we have a scatterometer
that's going to last for another 10 years, should there be a
problem with the one that we have today. We are also looking at
other ways to--and remember, this is data to one model we're--
we're talking about model. The forecast is done by forecasters
looking at whole sets and varieties of information.
Senator Nelson. Admiral, there is a huge debate in the
weather community over what you said is accurate, or not. You
are representing one point of view. There is another point of
view. You just stated that it was going to take 3 to 5 years,
once you decide to build another replacement for QuikSCAT. You
said, earlier, that you're going to have a study, and then
decide, then you've got to come and get the appropriations
here, it's got to go through that process. So, we're in
hurricane season 2007. At the earliest, we could get the money
in 2008, and another 3 to 5 years, you're now looking at 2013,
if the decision was, in fact, made. And the question is, Is the
Nation unprotected by NOAA having flubbed the dub with NPOES?
And are we in a situation that we are in an unprotected
position? And what are we going to do about it?
Admiral Lautenbacher. We are clearly not in any position
like that, Senator. We have very good satellite systems that
are up there today. They produce 90 percent of the information
that goes into our models and our predictions. We have, in
process, a set of satellites that are going to replace those,
that are working. NPOES is on schedule, it's back on track.
Until a year ago, the technology that everybody wanted was
conical microwave imaging to get the wind field on the surface
of the Earth. In the last year, people have decided that maybe
the scatterometer will work better, so now we are looking at
both, we are going to build--we are going to build a microwave
imager, as well, to put on the NPOES satellite, and there is
also a WINDSAT up there today, which has that technology on it,
which is being tested. I've also directed that that be put into
the models, as well, to look at--see what's going on with it.
So, we have a number of backups in place to help us
continue our progress. We--you have to look at the progress on
hurricane forecasting. It's improved 3 \1/2\ percent year--per
year for the last 20 years, because of a variety of
observational inputs--and thanks to Congress for helping us for
those inputs--our aircraft, which make up the most important
part of determining the track, and our modeling, which--where
we've been able to use higher-power computers, better
representations of the physics of the formation of vortices
that begin the hurricane. So, we have had improvements over 20
years, and I suspect that we're going to have an improvement
this year to--thanks to the buoy systems you've talked about
and the new instruments and the new aircraft that we're putting
up, as well.
So, there's a variety of--defense-in-depth, I would call
it, from a military point of view, that we have. And no one is
unprotected, at this point, Senator.
Senator Nelson. Admiral, I represent a state that cannot
afford a mistake, to have the very best data in accuracy of
predicting the path of a hurricane. And I'm going to ride this
one hard. There's no excuse for NOAA and the other agencies to
have goofed, as they have with NPOES. NPOES could not even be
considered before 2015. If we're going to get a satellite up--
when, by the way, do you think that you will have the
recommendation and the plan for replacing QuikSCAT? When can
you come to the Congress so that we can go to work on that?
Admiral Lautenbacher. I'm hoping that we can have something
for the 2009 budget. And I have enough money to continue that
process to ensure that we can make a--what I would call a
reasoned decision that we're not wasting money, and we're
providing the best protection that we can get.
Senator Nelson. Thank you, Madam Chairman. And let me just
say that I can't tell you the intensity--Admiral, you and I
have discussed this privately--I've shared with you,
privately,--the intensity of the feeling of the people that
live in the path of a hurricane to have the most reliable and
accurate data.
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Senator Cantwell. Well, thank you, Senator Nelson, for your
line of questioning and for arranging for a full-Committee
hearing on this. Prior to you arriving, both of us--Senator
Snowe and I had brought this issue up. Admiral Lautenbacher
assured us that we weren't going to see any gap in service
during that time period. So, I think having a much more
illuminating hearing, just specifically about the technology,
is vitally important. We want to make sure that not only is it
the right technology and robust enough, that its deployment is
at a time and an implementation that does leave no gap in
service.
So, we will look forward to participating in that, I
believe, July 7--or----
Senator Nelson. It's the eleventh.
Senator Cantwell.--the eleventh--July 11 hearing, and
discussion on that.
And, plus, I also believe that the implementation and
technology decisions, given tight budget times--we can't make
mistakes, either, in finding out later that there was something
that was more robust--leaves us without the ability to go back
and make that acquisition, too. So, let's make sure we're
getting it right and getting it implemented. And so, I applaud
you for your concern.
Admiral Lautenbacher, if I could go through a couple of
other issues. You and I had a chance to talk, in my office,
about the Tsunami Warning System and its buoys and its
upgrades, and I will not go further on that, although I think
we probably will have some more conversations, to make sure
that that system is reaching its--with the second version of
deployment of what I'm calling ``smart tsunami buoys''--
reaching its achieved performance, and that we aren't seeing,
again, gaps in--or, let's say, breakdowns in buoys that have
been deployed, and then aren't working, and then aren't giving
communication and data back. So--but, at some point, maybe you
and I--we can have, in a--follow-up written questions, answers
to that.
But radar is an important issue. And can you explain why
the coastal regions of Washington and Oregon have significantly
worse radar coverage than the rest of the continental United
States? And what can we do to protect the fishermen in those
areas who are obviously practicing their trade and rely on that
important system for information?
Admiral Lautenbacher. There are radar shadows, obviously,
on the Pacific--on the Olympic Peninsula Coasts. So, while we
have radar coverage, they are altitude-limited by the shadows
that the mountains cast.
Our systems were set up to cover what I would call the most
populated, important areas of where people--most of the people
live, and where our airports are. So, there are some places
that don't have complete coverage. The options could be smaller
radar systems, such as the weather channels use today, to put
in place, that have smaller coverage. That's about the only
thing that could be done, at this point, is to have some kind
of another radar system put in place for a smaller area, beyond
the shadow of those mountains.
Senator Cantwell. And that's something that NOAA could do
within its budget?
Admiral Lautenbacher. We do not have that planned in our
budget, at this point, no.
Senator Cantwell. Well, I think we need to look at making
sure that there aren't gaps in service, particularly in--we
don't, in the Northwest, have as severe a weather forecast as
my colleague from Florida was talking about, but I think we
need to understand where there are gaps in services, and how
those are being met with, and, I think, figuring out whether
smaller systems can add to full coverage. So, we'll look
forward to trying to resolve that issue with you.
I see many participants from the salmon recovery efforts in
the Northwest in the audience, and wanted to ask you about the
proposed plan to meet the BiOp--the Federal BiOp requirements
on endangered salmon and steelhead, and to make sure that we
are going to continue to execute that plan, working with a
variety of parties. I know that you've submitted a preliminary
plan. Obviously, we have a Federal court review, wanting to see
that we have an adequate plan on salmon recovery, or we're
going to end up back in the courts on this issue. So, how are
we proceeding in making sure that all parties are participants
in the development of what will meet a Federal standard for
salmon recovery?
Admiral Lautenbacher. We have funding to continue to
support our partnership with the various entities in the
Northwest, and we continue to work on the BiOp that we have to
ensure that we can--and we're looking at the Congressional
review after the late--or judicial review after the latest
Supreme Court decision. This continues to be an extremely
important facet of our Northwest issues, and we will continue
to work to provide whatever funding we can in the partnership,
and develop recovery plans, and meet the needs of the recovery
plan.
Senator Cantwell. I think you just said the optimum words,
though. With the reduced funding, do you think that you can
meet and come up with a plan that will meet----
Admiral Lautenbacher. I----
Senator Cantwell.--Federal requirements? That's my
question.
Admiral Lautenbacher. Yes. I believe we have enough funding
in our budget to meet the requirements that will come up, and--
--
Senator Cantwell. Even though we've seen a significant
decrease in those funds in the last several years.
Admiral Lautenbacher. And I would--I don't--I hesitate to
point out that that was--that cut was originated by Congress,
originally, so it was very hard for me to go back and get any
more money in the Salmon Recovery Fund, if you're--if that's
what you're talking about, the State money that's distributed.
So, we have been able to meet----
Senator Cantwell. I'm talking about overall budget
requests, from where they've been, say, over 7-8 years.
Admiral Lautenbacher. The Salmon Recovery Fund is at the
levels that Congress set it at a couple of years ago, and it
continues to be supported at those levels.
Senator Cantwell. I think that there's a difference of
numbers, but we'll get back to you----
Admiral Lautenbacher. OK.
Senator Cantwell.--as it relates to--it's been historically
funded at a much higher rate than we are currently funding it
at, and my point is that the--below historical lows, that--the
question is, what does it take for us to meet that Federal
mandate on coming up with a concrete plan?--or we'll be back to
a much more aggressive Federal process for salmon recovery. I
think that, as I mentioned in--earlier, that things are working
well with a collaborative effort, but they need to have the
resources, at the local level, to implement that plan. So?
We are looking forward to seeing your recovery plan for the
orca whale population. Do you have sufficient funds and the
critical research information to provide that? And when will we
see that particular recovery proposal?
Admiral Lautenbacher. We do believe there is sufficient
money to complete that recovery proposal. We're expecting that
it will be finalized by the end of this year.
Senator Cantwell. The integration of that plan with other
Federal agencies--I understand that the Navy is planning an
exercise off the coast, to test their sonar capabilities. In
the past, we have seen that those sonar capabilities have an
impact on the orca population. Will your mitigation plan
include discussion and recommendations on the Navy's sonar
system?
Admiral Lautenbacher. I can't sit here and prejudge what
the exact plan will look like, but I can----
Senator Cantwell. But will it----
Admiral Lautenbacher.--assure you that it is taking into
account the issues of sonar transmissions, because that is part
of the public record and part of what we're going to deal with
as we look at the plan. So, that will be specifically taken
into account----
Senator Cantwell. And you will----
Admiral Lautenbacher.--in the plan.
Senator Cantwell.--give us a recommendation, one way or
another? I'm not saying--I'm not prejudging what that
recommendation is, but you will address----
Admiral Lautenbacher. We will address it.
Senator Cantwell.--what have been the concerns of many
about the sonar impact on that population.
Admiral Lautenbacher. We will address that--that fact--
directly.
Senator Cantwell. And, last--I don't know if my colleague
has further--well, let's--I know we have a vote, so I'll let
Senator Nelson jump in, here.
Senator Nelson. Admiral, on a different subject, the NOAA
budget cut the research on red tide from $21 million to $10
million--$21 million was back in 2005, and it's down to $10
million--in extramural research. We've had a phenomenon, the
last several years, particularly on the west coast of Florida,
of enormous problem with all kinds of physical, medical effects
on people from the red tide. And I want to know if there's any
way, in these harmful algal blooms, that we can get that
research up.
Admiral Lautenbacher. The harmful algal bloom budget, and
the program, is very important to us. We have a number of
efforts going on--in west Florida, in particular--to try to
deal with it. I believe our budget that we have today can
continue those efforts. We have been given some funds,
occasionally over the years, on special projects that Congress
has considered very important, and, obviously, we want to work
with you on--in any way we can deal with those issues. But we
have funds in there today to help continue the program. We
have--first of all, we put out month--or weekly bulletins to
all the managers up and down the coast. We provide ``harmful
algal bloom'' forecasts. So, we're at the point now where we
can tell people when it's going to happen, warn people. We also
have programs that are looking at the research onto what it
takes to find out how they got started, to begin with, the
causes, and then look at trying to mitigate that in some way,
so we can eventually work to the process where we don't have
these things. But that's going to require more in-depth
research for the causes and for mitigation effects. But there
are several projects that are funded in the budget that will do
that.
We also look to expanding these ``harmful algal bloom''
forecasts throughout the Gulf into the Texas region, as well,
given--with the funding that we have.
Senator Nelson. So, you want to stick with the $10 million
in that extramural research, instead of increasing.
Admiral Lautenbacher. I'm here to support the President's
budget, Senator.
Senator Nelson. Thank you.
Senator Cantwell. Admiral Lautenbacher, one more question
about operationalizing climate change and the science and
information. How can NOAA play a larger role on that?
Admiral Lautenbacher. I think that there is a need to have
what I would call definitive climate information from a source.
There has been much talk over the years about a National
Climate Service and what that would entail. I think we're
matured to the stage--we didn't talk about more of the
satellite issues, but we also have climate sensors to put on
satellites, as well. The climate needs to be defined in a way
that we have reliable, verifiable government information that
comes from one agency, or whatever is decided, that is
operational, that is something--this is the Government Climate
Forecast, whatever it is. Today, we have a consortium of
agencies that work on it, which is important, and we've done a
lot of good work--with NASA, with Energy, with Agriculture,
with Interior, with the Commerce and NOAA--working together on
the research end of it. What I'm suggesting is that it's
probably time to think about an operational component that
provides regular, verifiable reports, which are government
data, in which I'm subject to the questioning of the Committee.
It's open. It becomes something that's public record and can be
believed and trusted by everyone.
Senator Cantwell. And you think NOAA could play a larger
role in that.
Admiral Lautenbacher. I think that NOAA is certainly--would
be a good candidate to look at ways to work on this, and I'm
certainly always--I have been interested in this for a long
while.
Senator Cantwell. Well, thank you, Admiral Lautenbacher,
for your testimony today and answering our questions. As you
can see, the Committee members that showed up have very intense
regional issues, but they are national in scope, as well. So,
we'll look forward to continuing to work with you on this
budget authorization legislation.
This Subcommittee meeting is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:15 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
A P P E N D I X
Prepared Statement of Hon. Daniel K. Inouye, U.S. Senator from Hawaii
This year the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the creation of its U.S.
Coast and Geodetic Survey, or the ``Survey of the Coast'' as it was
called when created by President Thomas Jefferson in 1807. As our
Nation's first scientific agency, this agency provided nautical charts
to the maritime community, and laid the foundation for the standard set
today for safe navigation of our waterways.
Ironically, for the past several years, the budget for hydrographic
services has been insufficient, and at the current rate, the backlog of
surveying critical areas will not be complete until 2020. This year's
budget proves no different. Unfortunately, the budget for hydrographic
services is simply a reflection of the systemic underfunding of NOAA's
critical programs during the past several years.
Senator Stevens and I have been longtime supporters of NOAA and
have spent our careers working to improve its capabilities and advance
its service to the Nation. NOAA is a remarkable, national resource,
particularly when one compares the accomplishments of its missions
against the agency's budget.
Whether it is accurate forecasting for landfall of a hurricane, or
weather forecasting of early freezes, all of which have significant
impact on personal safety and the economy, or fisheries management, or
climate research, these are all missions that have an impact on society
today and for future generations. Meanwhile, NOAA's budget has remained
stagnant; specifically, this is the third year in a row that the NOAA
budget reflects level funding.
The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative released a report card
earlier this year to assess how well we are collectively doing to
implement the recommendations of the U.S. and Pew Ocean Commissions.
They once again rated progress in increasing ocean funding as an ``F.''
It is clear that we are at a crossroads. The growing number and
severity of problems compromising the health of our coasts and oceans
is obvious. The science of global warming is clear.
The delays and cost overruns of our satellites are unacceptable. I
look forward to hearing Admiral Lautenbacher's assessment of how all of
these developing needs can be addressed given current budgetary trends.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Maria Cantwell to
Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr.
General Budget
Question 1. While I understand that you support the President's
budget, does this year's FY08 budget request give you the funding you
need to do all the things required of NOAA by Congress? If not, what do
you estimate you would need?
Answer. The FY 2008 President's Budget Request provides a
sufficient amount of funds for NOAA to carry out its statutorily
mandated responsibilities while addressing our highest priorities.
Question 2. Admiral, we understand that the appropriations
subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science marked up a spending
bill this week that would provide NOAA with $4.2 billion for FY 2008.
We further understand that up to $795 million of this would be used to
implement the recommendations of the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative.
Can you please tell me how NOAA would prioritize implementing these
recommendations?
Answer. The priorities outlined in U.S. Ocean Action Plan are
NOAA's top priorities. NOAA is requesting a total of $123 million in
spending directly related to the U.S. Ocean Action Plan in the FY 2008
President's Budget, including $60 million for enhanced ocean science
and research, $38 million for protection and restoration of marine and
coastal areas, and $25 million for sustainable use of ocean resources.
The increases will allow NOAA to continue to implement several priority
management goals, including vessel tracking and enforcement, and
ecosystem characterization for the recently designated
Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. Funding is included to
implement a number of requirements of the recently reauthorized
Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act, including
improvements in data collection of recreational fishing information,
and the development of Limited Access Privilege Programs that provide
exclusive privileges to harvest a quantity of fish. The President's FY
2008 budget request also includes funding that will allow NOAA to
develop initial operating capability for regional components of the
Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS). To date, 73 of the 88 actions
from the U.S. Ocean Action Plan have been met, and a key factor in
implementing the U.S. Ocean Action Plan actions has been NOAA's
commitment to invest in moving the plan forward.
Satellites
Question 1. As our current climate and ocean monitoring satellites
age and begin to fail, how does NOAA plan to mitigate the loss of the
critical weather-related and climate data they provide?
Answer. NOAA has a continuous planning process to develop its next
generation satellites to provide data on weather, satellite
oceanography, and climate. NOAA's plan is to provide uninterrupted
satellite data through at least 2026 from the next generation
geostationary satellites, known as the Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite R-Series (GOES-R), and the next generation
polar-orbiting satellites, known as the National Polar-orbiting
Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). Through the NPOESS
and GOES-R systems, NOAA has been working closely with the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and, where applicable, the
U.S. Air Force to satisfy requirements of the National Weather Service,
National Ocean Service, and the NOAA Climate Program.
In response to a request from the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP), NOAA has been working with NASA to identify
options to mitigate the loss of climate sensors from the Nunn-McCurdy
certified NPOESS program. NOAA and NASA requested assistance from the
National Research Council (NRC) Space Studies Board to assess the state
of Earth observations, including the impact of the 2006 changes to the
GOES-R and NPOESS programs. A special NRC group of experts has assessed
the impact on climate monitoring capability of the NPOESS Nunn-McCurdy
certified program. NOAA and NASA are currently preparing a mitigation
assessment for the Executive Office of the President.
Question 2. Does the current state of the NOAA satellite program
pose a threat to our ability to research, monitor, and understand
climate change in the coming years?
Answer. The current state of NOAA's satellite programs does not
pose a near-term threat to our ability to research, monitor, and
understand climate change. NOAA's Polar-orbiting Operational
Environmental Satellites (POES) continue to provide invaluable global
data to support climate monitoring. A major improvement in the quality
of data to measure select climate parameters will occur with the launch
of the National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite
System (NPOESS) Preparatory Project (NPP) in 2009 and the first NPOESS
satellite in 2013.
In addition to using POES, NOAA is currently making full use of
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) research
satellites, the Department of Defense's Defense Meteorological
Satellite Program, and international agency collaborations to satisfy
the climate data requirements. NOAA continues to work with NASA to
implement a plan to minimize the gap in climate data record, including
preparing a mitigation assessment for the Executive Office of the
President. As discussed in the joint NOAA-NASA July 10, 2007 report
submitted to Congress pursuant to Pub. L. 109-155, NOAA and NASA are
examining re-establishing the Operational Satellite Improvement Program
to refine instrument requirements and plan for future NOAA operational
missions that build on NASA research activities.
Climate Change, Hurricanes, and Ocean Acidification
Question 1. Can you please detail specifically how the proposed 9
percent cut to NOAA's climate change programs would be implemented and
specifically what programs would be affected? Why exactly were these
cuts made?
Answer. In FY 2008, NOAA has requested $239.8 million for climate-
related activities. This figure is 8.3 percent less than the $261.5
million NOAA will spend on climate-related activities in FY 2007. It is
important to note that the President's FY 2008 Budget request for
climate-related activities reflects an increase of $13.3 million over
the President's FY 2007 request.
Examples of the major programs funded in the FY 2007 spend plan
that are not included in the FY 2008 President's Budget include
approximately $15 million for satellite climate sensors. The
Administration included this funding in FY 2007 to maintain some
options while evaluating whether climate sensors that had been
demanifested (removed) from the Nunn-McCurdy certified NPOESS program
should be restored. The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)
coordinated a joint NOAA-National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) study to assess the impact of the demanifested sensors. NOAA and
NASA are preparing a mitigation assessment for the Executive Office of
the President.
In addition, in FY 2007, approximately $4 million in one-year
funding was included for the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS)
climate sensors. The remainder of the additional FY 2007 funding was
for climate-related grants and contracts. The President's FY 2008
budget also includes a $1.3 million reduction to base funding for the
Global Climate Observing System to partially offset the climate-related
increases requested, and no other cuts to climate funding were made.
The FY 2008 budget request includes $239.8 million for climate-
related activities, and this figure includes:
$20.5 million for drought-related activities, $8.4 million
of which is specifically for the National Integrated Drought
Information System (NIDIS) in support of the NIDIS bill signed
by the President in December 2006;
NOAA's contribution for the Climate Change Science Program,
of which $46 million is for programs that directly support the
Climate Change Research Initiative; and
$11.2 million for understanding and predicting abrupt
climate change, which includes a $5 million increase for
studying the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, i.e.,
the ``ocean conveyor belt''.
Question 2. Can you elaborate on what NOAA is doing to develop a
clear, coherent strategy, for improving our understanding of the
science underpinning the interactions of ocean and climate? Will parts
of this strategy address how we equip Federal, state and local managers
to mitigate the impacts of climate change in coastal areas?
Answer. The Administration's U.S. Ocean Action plan provides the
foundation to advance the next generation of ocean, coastal, and Great
Lakes policy. The National Science and Technology Council's Joint
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology (JSOST) recently completed
Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the Next Decade: An Ocean
Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy, which presents
research priorities focusing on the most compelling issues in key areas
of interaction between society and the ocean. One of the major themes
of Charting the Course for Ocean Science is the ocean's role in
climate. In particular, the President's FY 2008 budget request for NOAA
includes $5 million for research to assess the Atlantic Meridional
Overturning Circulation and its role in climate variability in support
of one of the four near-term priorities outlined in Charting the Course
for Ocean Science. This research is an integral part of NOAA's strategy
to address how to equip Federal, state and local managers to mitigate
the impact of climate change in coastal areas. This request will
support the development of now-casting capabilities and experimental
products critical to predicting the current and future state of the
Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation as well as support an
assessment of potential impacts of rapid Atlantic Meridional
Overturning Circulation changes on ecosystems, regional sea-level
changes, regional climate, and socioeconomic systems. These
capabilities and products will be a valuable resource for understanding
the impacts of potential abrupt climate change.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment
Report's Working Group II report entitled ``Climate Change 2007:
Climate Change Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability'' identifies
several potential impacts of climate change on the people and natural
systems of coastal regions as a result of rising sea levels, coastal
erosion, changes in sea surface temperature, and increased flooding.
The report also identifies the importance of human pressures and
behavior in shaping the vulnerability and adaptive capacity of coastal
regions. Given NOAA's coastal science and management mandates, the
agency has a key role to play in supporting adaptive capacity of
communities and ecosystems in coastal regions.
Numerous NOAA offices and programs involved in coastal efforts are
actively considering the implications of climate for their stakeholder
communities and partners, and several have initiated or are expanding
existing courses of action to address the issue. NOAA recently convened
a highly successful workshop on Climate Science and Services: Coastal
Applications for Decision Making through Sea Grant Extension and
Outreach in Charleston, South Carolina (April 10-12, 2007). The
workshop marks an important step in the development of an expanded
partnership among NOAA's climate and coastal programs in an effort to
provide enhanced support and services for national, state, and local
constituencies concerned with coastal resource management and planning
in the face of a dynamic climate system. Another example is the efforts
of NOAA's Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management, which over
the past year has been working in partnership with the Coastal States
Organization in leading a visioning exercise involving coastal managers
and stakeholders on the future direction of coastal zone management. By
far, the foremost topic among emerging issues identified at the
visioning forums has been the need to anticipate the impacts of climate
change through enhanced technical assistance, planning and management.
Question 2a. How can we operationalize climate change science to
provide the information products local communities and managers need?
Answer. There are several NOAA programs that provide climate
information and products to local communities and managers. One example
of a program that demonstrates how NOAA operationalizes climate change
science to provide these information products is the Regional
Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) program. The RISA program
supports integrated place-based research across a range of social,
natural, and physical science disciplines to expand the options of
decisionmakers in the face of climate change and variability at the
regional level. The RISA program does this in a manner that is
cognizant of the context within which decisionmakers function, and the
constraints they face in managing their climate-sensitive resources.
RISA teams are comprised of researchers from the physical, natural,
engineering and social sciences who work together and partner with
stakeholders in a region to determine how climate impacts key resources
and how climate information could aid in decisionmaking and planning
for those stakeholders. This effort often includes analyses of
adaptation options in the face of a varying and changing climate.
Because RISA teams conduct research, assessments (e.g., develop
white papers, newsletters, and/or seasonal outlooks) and stakeholder
interactions (e.g., workshops, focus groups, extension activities) on a
continual basis, they are being called upon more and more to act as a
bridge for bringing climate impact information to decisionmakers. These
teams also work with the climate services networks within their region,
such as, state climatologists, National Weather Service offices,
Regional Climate Centers, and other Federal agencies working on climate
impact information. Topics covered by individual RISA's depend on
regional interests. Examples include: agriculture, wildland fire, water
resources, drought planning, fisheries, public health, coastal climate
impacts, and transportation.
Another example of a program that provides climate information and
products to local communities and managers is the Climate Dynamics and
Experimental Prediction (CDEP) Program. The CDEP program supports
NOAA's efforts to improve global climate predictions on seasonal to
interannual timescales, and brings the science of climate forecasting
into policy and decisionmaking. In particular, NOAA plans to improve
its operational intraseasonal to seasonal drought and climate forecast
capability by using ensembles of multiple state-of-the-art coupled
climate models to better quantify forecast uncertainties and reduce
forecast errors. NOAA also plans to increase the scope and
applicability of its operational climate forecasts by developing new
and improved drought forecast products to meet the needs of
decisionmakers.
Another example is the National Integrated Drought Information
System (NIDIS). NOAA's vision for NIDIS is a comprehensive, user-
friendly, web accessible system to serve the needs of policy and
decisionmakers at all levels concerned with drought preparedness,
mitigation, and relief/recovery. Water resource managers, ranchers,
farmers, hydropower authorities, municipalities and state agencies will
have more comprehensive and timely information to inform their
decisions regarding allocation of water, or planting and purchasing
feed for livestock. NIDIS is supported by NOAA's current operational
drought monitoring and outlook products and NOAA's applied climate
research. In June 2007, the NIDIS Implementation Plan was published,
which outlines the governance structure, priorities, and operational
requirements needed to meet the objectives of the program.
The Transition of Research Applications to Climate Services (TRACS)
Program is another program designed to operationalize climate change
science. The TRACS program supports the transition of well-developed
research and prototype products, processes and policy tools that will
expand the use of climate information by regional decisionmakers (e.g.,
private sector, agriculture, state and local government). The TRACS
program seeks not only to support the implementation of these
transitions, but also to learn from users how we can better accomplish
technology transition in the future, for public goods applications and
improved risk management. TRACS works with universities, NOAA
laboratories and operational units, and stakeholder groups.
Question 3. While reducing emissions of CO2 to ensure
that climate change remains in check is an incredibly important effort,
the fact remains that climate change is already happening. Our local
managers need to have the tools to cope and adapt in the face of the
changes we're seeing and are likely to see. Admiral, are NOAA managers
factoring climate change into their management strategies in order to
ensure species remain resilient and able to adapt?
Answer. NOAA is both the Nation's climate information provider and
also a consumer of that information, with respect to managing the
effects of climate change in marine and coastal environments. Resource
managers at the Federal level are now beginning to factor climate
change into their management strategies and planning. In addition,
through partnerships with NOAA, state and local resource managers are
being provided with the information needed to do the same.
NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program provides a variety of tools
and information to help NOAA and other managers incorporate climate
change as a factor when developing management strategies to promote
resilient coral reef ecosystems. NOAA's Coral Reef Watch program
provides reef managers and others around the world with near real-time
warnings of coral bleaching events. These warnings allow managers to
mobilize targeted monitoring efforts to assess impacts and identify
areas of high resilience to bleaching events, keep users and the public
informed of reef conditions, and take management action to reduce other
stressors on the reef.
In 2006, NOAA and its partners produced A Reef Manager's Guide to
Coral Bleaching, which articulates the state of knowledge on the causes
and consequences of coral bleaching, provides information on responding
to mass bleaching events, and highlights how to develop bleaching
response plans and other management strategies. The guide helps reef
managers increase the resilience of coral reefs and related ecosystems
to expected changes in the global climate system. NOAA and its partners
are conducting trainings for coral reef managers on use of the guide in
2007-2008. In addition, coral reef managers in Hawaii, Guam and
American Samoa have developed Local Action Strategies to address
impacts of climate change on coral reef ecosystems as part of a U.S.
Coral Reef Task Force initiative. NOAA is helping to support
implementation of these plans and development of similar plans in other
U.S. coral reef regions.
With assistance from the Federal Coastal Zone Management (CZM)
Program, several state CZM programs have already undertaken initiatives
to identify and adapt to climate change and sea level rise. Among those
initiatives:
The Maryland CZM Program (MCZMP) has developed a Sea Level
Rise Response Strategy for the state of Maryland, acquired high
resolution elevation data for coastal areas, and funded a
state-wide reassessment of shoreline change and erosion rates.
The work of the MCZMP was instrumental in the development and
issuance of an Executive Order establishing a State Commission
on Climate Change. The MCZMP is leading the State Commission's
Adaptation and Response Working Group that will develop a
Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Maryland's Vulnerability to
Climate Change.
The San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development
Commission (BCDC) is conducting a climate change study to
identify the impacts of climate change, update policies that
may pertain to climate change effects, and organize a regional
program to address climate change. BCDC is working with the
NOAA Climate Program's Regional Integrated Sciences and
Assessments Program to obtain data to develop maps of San
Francisco showing the impacts of a one-meter rise in sea level.
The New Jersey Coastal Management Program is preparing
guidance for establishing buffers to allow wetlands to migrate
in response to sea level rise.
The North Carolina Division of Coastal Management has been
an active partner with the NOAA Ecological Effects of Sea Level
Rise Research Program. The State has provided invaluable input
on planning the pilot project for North Carolina, designing the
research, and the use of modeling tools.
NOAA also has the Climate Regimes and Ecosystems Productivity
program designed to understand and predict the consequences of climate
variability and change on marine ecosystems. The goal of the program is
to develop forecasts of changes in fishery, coastal, and coral reef
resources in response to climatic changes. The forecasts provide users
and managers of ocean and coastal resources information, such as the
Fishery Management Councils and Coastal Zone Managers, the information
they require to adapt to changing climate regimes. Specifically, the
program focuses on climate change and ecosystems in the North Pacific.
Presently, the only U.S. fishery that explicitly uses climate data
in its management plan is the Pacific sardine. For this fishery, a
variable fraction of the population is allowed to be harvested
depending on the average ocean temperature for the preceding three
seasons. This management approach allows more of the stock to be
harvested when conditions are conducive to high sardine productivity,
while less is harvested when conditions are less conducive to sardine
productivity. This management strategy thus ensures adequate stock size
for reproduction for future years by factoring climate information into
the management plan.
A number of NOAA's research programs have begun to consider how
climate change, and specifically ocean acidification scenarios, may
impact other regulated species--particularly bivalve mollusks,
crustaceans, and species dependent on shallow-water coral reefs. Over
50 percent of the value of U.S. fisheries derives from clams, scallops,
and oysters, and various species of shrimp, crab, and lobster. These
shellfish are thought to be particularly vulnerable to the effects of
reduced levels of calcium carbonate in the oceans due to increasing
acidity. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service has initiated a few
pilot studies to attempt to understand these impacts.
Ocean Governance
Question 1. In implementing the recommendations of the U.S. Ocean
Action Plan, which do you believe is the larger hurdle--obtaining the
necessary funding for oceans programs, or overcoming the inadequacies
of our current system of ocean governance?
Answer. The Administration responded to ocean governance issues
with an Executive Order that established, within the White House, the
Committee on Ocean Policy and mandated coordination among Federal
agencies including coordination and consultation with local and foreign
governments and the private sector. The Committee on Ocean Policy and
its associated governance structure (including the Interagency
Committee on Ocean Science and Resource Management Integration, the
Subcommittee on Integrated Management of Ocean Resources, and the Joint
Subcommittee on Ocean Science and Technology) are facilitating the
development and implementation of common principles and goals for
governmental activities, as laid out in the U.S. Ocean Action Plan. The
overarching goal is to improve the collection, development,
dissemination, and exchange of information across agencies, and reduce
fragmented management and policy approaches.
NOAA is requesting a total of $123 million in spending directly
related to the U.S. Ocean Action Plan in the FY 2008 President's
Budget, including $60 million for enhanced ocean science and research,
$38 million for protection and restoration of marine and coastal areas,
and $25 million for sustainable use of ocean resources.
NOAA believes these are bold steps in the right direction toward
the intent of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the U.S. Ocean
Action Plan. Ocean and coastal governance is benefiting from more
systematic collaboration and better interagency coordination across
Federal agencies as a result of the Committee on Ocean Policy, and
associated governance structure.
Question 2. The Administration has suggested an organic act for
NOAA. It is my understanding that NOAA's responsibilities are spread
out among over two hundred separate statues. Do you think passage of an
organic act should be a priority for this committee and for Congress?
How would it help NOAA better accomplish its mission of protecting and
restoring our oceans and coasts?
Answer. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy stated that Congress
should ``solidify NOAA's role as the Nation's lead civilian ocean
agency through the enactment of a NOAA organic act that codifies the
agency's establishment within the Department of Commerce, clarifies its
mission, and strengthens the execution of its functions.'' The U.S.
Commission on Ocean Policy and the Administration, as stated in the
U.S. Ocean Action Plan, agree that the single most important step that
can be taken to ensure NOAA meets its operational goals and fulfills
mission responsibilities is the enactment of a NOAA Organic Act. We
believe enactment of a broad organic act that provides basic agency-
wide authorities would allow NOAA to more efficiently conduct the
activities needed to meet its statutory requirements. The
Administration transmitted a NOAA Organic Act to Congress in 2005, and
has plans to transmit a bill again in the 110th Congress.
Weather Radar Coverage on the Northwest Coasts
Question 1. I understand from Washington state fisherman and
mariners that there is little useful weather radar coverage over
Northwest coastal waters. Unfortunately, in contrast to the rest of the
country, this means that Northwest weather forecasters lack crucial
information about dangerous weather features such as heavy
precipitation and strong winds. Do you think additional radar
information could help improve coastal search and rescue operations in
that region and potentially save lives?
Answer. The radar coverage over the coastal waters off and along
the Pacific Northwest coast was improved with the installation of the
Weather Surveillance Radar-1988, Doppler (WSR-88D/NEXRAD) network.
NOAA's National Weather Service (NWS) weather forecasters use data from
several sources including buoys, satellites, surface reports, and
spotter reports, in addition to weather radar data, to prepare weather
forecasts and warnings. In March 2005, the NWS completed a study
titled: Objective Methodology and Criteria to Assess Requirements for
Additional Weather Radars. We applied this methodology to the west
coast of Washington and determined NWS has no requirement for an
additional WSR-88D radar in western Washington.
We agree with the recommendations from the National Research
Council study Flash Flood Forecasting over Complex Terrain: With an
Assessment of the Sulphur Mountain NEXRAD in Southern California
(National Academies Press, 2005), stating all available Federal radar
data should be made accessible to the NWS, as well as local television
station Doppler radars and operational radars from other organizations.
The study recommends, ``The NWS should consider augmenting the NEXRAD
network with additional short-range radars to improve observation of
low level meteorological information.'' NOAA is addressing these
recommendations by accessing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Terminal Doppler Weather Radars (TDWR) and FAA radars supporting air
traffic. In addition, we are working with the University of
Massachusetts and the National Science Foundation's Center for
Collaborative Adaptive Sensing of the Atmosphere program to determine
the feasibility of integrating a number of small-scale Doppler radar
technologies into our observing systems in the future.
Question 2. I understand that offshore military operations would
also greatly benefit from this crucial weather information. As a former
Navy Admiral, do you concur with this assessment?
Answer. The Department of Defense (DOD) requirements for weather
radar coverage along the Pacific Northwest coastal waters were met with
the installation of the original NEXRAD network installation. I am
unaware of any new DOD requirements.
Magnuson-Stevens Act Implementation
Question 1. I'm concerned that NOAA does not have adequate
resources budgeted to meet many of its congressional mandates. In
particular, I'm concerned about funding for implementation of the
Magnuson-Stevens Act, which we passed just last year. The Congress and
the Administration were very clear--Magnuson was supposed to end
overfishing in this country. NOAA requested $6.5 million for Magnuson
Implementation in the President's FY 2008 budget request. This request
will help initiate the implementation of MSA but is nowhere near the
estimated $70 million it will take to fully implement MSA requirements
or the $348 million MSA authorized for FY 2008 alone. We have a long
way to go on this. I understand that approximately $1 million of the
$6.5 million requested would be used to establish Annual Catch Limits,
a key part of ensuring we don't overfish. However, there are 530 stocks
that need an Annual Catch Limit and NMFS currently has only 150
prepared.
Admiral, what is your plan and time-table to fully implement the
Magnuson-Stevens Act?
Answer. NOAA has developed a plan and time-table to implement the
revised Magnuson-Stevens Act. The plan's priorities are based on
provisions with Congressionally-mandated deadlines.
Including:
Fishery management plans meet annual catch limit
requirements (2010 and 2011)
Revise procedures for compliance with NEPA and MSA 2006
(Jan. 2008)
Establish a program to improve the data currently generated
by the Marine Recreational Fisheries Statistics Survey (Jan.
2009)
Submit the first international report and certification
procedures for Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported fisheries
(Jan. 2009)
Establish a Bycatch Reduction Engineering Program (Jan.
2008)
Publish guidelines on limited access program referenda for
New England and Gulf Councils (Jan. 2008).
The Agency provides a publicly-available tracking report of
implementation progress. This report shows the status of thirty one
activities required under the reauthorized Act. (http://
www.nmfs.noaa.gov/msa2007/implementation.htm)
Question 2. Do you have the resources you need to achieve this?
Answer. To implement requirements of the reauthorized Magnuson-
Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSRA), the President
requested an increase of $12.5M in his FY 2008 Budget. This included
$6M to facilitate the development of market-based approaches to
fisheries management, and $6.5M to implement other aspects of the MSRA,
including initiating development of annual catch limits (ACLs),
improving the marine recreational fishery survey, reducing illegal,
unregulated, and unreported fishing, improving the scientific review
process, and working on the Pacific Whiting Treaty. NOAA continually
evaluates its resource requirements with the Administration through the
budget process.
In FY 2007, NMFS spent approximately $360M on programs authorized
by MSRA, including fisheries research and management, stock
assessments, salmon management activities, survey and monitoring of
habitat and fish stocks, grants to Fishery Management Councils and
states for fisheries management and research activities, efforts to
reduce bycatch, law enforcement and surveillance, providing fisheries
observers and sustainable habitat management.
Question 3. How do you expect to establish Annual Catch Limits for
530 fish stocks when only about $1 million in this year's budget will
go toward accomplishing that? What is your time-table for establishing
these Annual Catch Limits?
Answer. The $1 million identified in NOAA's funding request is a
first step toward establishing annual catch limits (ACLs). NOAA's
funding needs for ACLs will change over time. How these needs will be
met will be determined in the context of the Administration's annual
budget formulation process. ACLs will be designed to end and prevent
overfishing in the Nation's fisheries. Approximately 139 stocks
currently have adequate stock assessment data with which to establish
ACLs. As resources become available or reprioritized, NOAA will
continue to improve stock assessment data and address ACLs for
additional stocks.
To implement effective ACLs by 2010 (for stocks subject to
overfishing) and 2011 (for all other stocks), the Agency must define
and explain the statutory provisions related to ACLs and accountability
measures (AMs). NOAA solicited public comments to identify issues to
consider addressing in potential guidance on ACLs and AMs between
February 14, 2007 and April 17, 2007. NOAA is currently considering
these comments and the scope of issues to address in guidance on ACLs
and AMs. NOAA is working on formal ACL guidance that will revise
National Standard 1 and plans to have proposed and final rules
published in early 2008. This will allow the Regional Fishery
Management Councils time to develop fishery management plan (FMP)
amendments or proposed regulations and time for NOAA to implement the
measures, if approved, or take a separate action. In addition, NOAA is
also in the process of evaluating current FMPs to identify fisheries
that will need new or improved measures. Last, NOAA plans to develop
technical guidance by the spring of 2008 for the Regional Fishery
Management Councils and their Scientific and Statistical Committees
(SSCs) to use as they implement annual processes for setting ACLs.
Reduction of Funding for Marine Mammals
Question 1. In the FY 2008 President's budget, funding for the
Marine Mammal Initiative is terminated and marine mammal funding in the
Protected Species Research and Management program is reduced by
$991,000. Could you please describe the specific impact that these
reductions, if implemented, would have on existing NOAA marine mammal
programs?
Answer. The reduction of $991,000 to the Marine Mammals line refers
to the difference between the President's Budget request for FY 2008 of
$39,221,000, and the FY 2006 enacted funding level of $40,212,000. The
net decrease is the result of a series of offsetting increases (such as
the respread of the Alaska Composite and $1.0 M to increase the North
Pacific Southern Resident Orca) and the termination of Congressionally
directed projects, including the Marine Mammal Initiative.
The largest reduction in marine mammals is associated with
unrequested funding which has been used for the Marine Mammal
Initiative (MMI) which has provided for marine mammal conservation and
recovery work since 2005. Congress provided $9,856,134 in unrequested
funding in FY 2005, and $4,931,204 in unrequested funding in FY 2006.
NOAA has allocated $4,961,882 in FY 2007 for base activities such as
stranding and unusual mortality event (UME) response coordination;
collection and analysis of samples from Strandings/UMEs; stock
assessments; and Take Reduction Team activities. This funding supports
the highest priority needs of the marine mammal program.
Tsunamis
Question 1. In your opinion, where are the most vulnerable gaps in
our tsunami warning system as it currently stands?
Answer. The FY 2008 budget request continues the Administration's
commitment to strengthen the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program. While the
overarching focus of this larger effort embraces the three integrated
components of the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation Program (improving
tsunami warning guidance, improving tsunami hazard assessment,
improving tsunami mitigation), NOAA's initial efforts in strengthening
the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program have been on improving tsunami warning
guidance. This has included expanding NOAA's DART station network,
expanding and upgrading NOAA's sea-level reporting network, expanding
and upgrading NOAA's seismic networks, and upgrading the operations of
NOAA's two Tsunami Warning Centers to 24/7 operations. While NOAA has
also expanded and accelerated its tsunami inundation, mapping, modeling
and forecast efforts as well as its TsunamiReady and tsunami
preparedness programs, the number of at-risk communities justifies
continued involvement in these important areas, as requested in the
President's FY08 budget.
Question 2. I'm pleased to see the Administration following through
on the $37.5 million pledge to get the Nation moving in the right
direction with respect to tsunami preparedness. What have the last
several years of funding bought us in terms of preparedness? I'm
wondering if you can give specific examples of how these funds have
been spent to reduce the risk to human life from tsunamis.
Answer. Since FY 2005, NOAA has made dramatic improvements in its
efforts to strengthen the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program. As of July 31,
2007, 32 operational Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami
(DART) stations have been deployed, with seven more to be deployed by
March 31, 2008. There are now 42 TsunamiReady communities, up from 11
at the beginning of 2005. We completed 17 of 75 tsunami inundation
mapping and forecast models, with nine more to be completed by the end
of this fiscal year.
For FY 2008 NOAA is requesting $23.2 million to continue
strengthening the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program. With this request, we
will achieve full operating capability in FY 2008. The FY 2008 Budget
Request supports funding to:
Complete the deployment of the planned 39 DART Station
Network;
Continue NOAA's tsunami inundation mapping, modeling, and
forecast efforts, by completing 9 additional models (for a
total of 35) of 75 planned tsunami inundation mapping and
forecast models;
Continue NOAA's tsunami education/outreach activities,
including support for NOAA's TsunamiReady program, for all U.S.
communities at risk;
Continue 24/7 Operations at the Pacific Tsunami Warning
Center and the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center; and
Continue funding for the National Tsunami Hazard Mitigation
Program.
Question 2a. Where are we in our efforts at evacuation and
emergency preparedness preparation?
Answer. Since the December 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, NOAA has been
working with its partners to identify at-risk coastal communities and
accelerate and expand its tsunami community preparedness activities,
including the TsunamiReady program. A key element driving the success
of this program is the willingness of the at-risk coastal communities
to voluntarily participate in the program. NOAA is committed to working
with each at-risk coastal community to ensure that they, and their
emergency management officials, fully understand the tsunami hazard and
take appropriate preparedness actions. These actions include a well-
designed tsunami emergency response plan. NOAA's goal is to recognize
all at-risk coastal communities as ``TsunamiReady'' communities.
Law of the Sea
Question 1. The President recently stressed the importance of
accession to the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea as one of your
top ten priorities. You cite the global nature of addressing the
declining health of our oceans, as well as the need for the U.S. to
assert international leadership and enhance our own security and
economic needs. The U.S. Navy and the Coast Guard have testified that
joining the convention will strengthen our freedom of navigation, and
all major U.S. industries support accession to the convention. Can you
please tell us, from the NOAA perspective whether you believe the
Senate should act on this important treaty?
Answer. NOAA strongly supports favorable Senate action on U.S.
accession to the Law of the Sea Convention during this session of
Congress. Accession is a key priority of the U.S. Ocean Action Plan and
just this past May, the President issued a statement urging the Senate
to approve the Convention.\1\ Accession to the Convention is important
to NOAA because it provides the basic legal framework for marine
protection and utilization.
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\1\ ``President's Statement on Advancing U.S. Interests in the
World's Oceans'' (May 15, 2007) available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/
news/releases/2007/05/20070515-2.html.
Question 2. Is the Administration fully implementing our rights
under UNCLOS to protect our coastal and ocean resources?
Answer. Since 1983 it has been official U.S. policy, as stated by
President Reagan, to recognize and abide by the all of the provisions
of the Convention except for the deep seabed mining provisions.\2\
However, until the U.S. accedes, we cannot fully implement the rights
afforded Convention parties to protect our coastal and ocean resources.
For example, as a non-party, we do not have access to the Commission on
the Limits of the Continental Shelf and cannot maximize the legal
certainty concerning the outer limit of the U.S. continental shelf
beyond 200 nm from the baseline (commonly termed the ``extended
continental shelf'').
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\2\ The United States' concerns with the Convention's deep seabed
mining provisions were subsequently addressed by an agreement concluded
in 1994 that modified the objectionable provisions governing seabed
mining. The United States was actively involved in the negotiation of
this agreement (the Agreement Relating to the Implementation of UNCLOS
Part XI), and signed it in July 1994.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The U.S. extended continental shelf is estimated to be among the
world's largest, encompassing thousands of square miles of seabed and
subsoil. It is difficult to estimate the value of the area because
research to date has been extremely limited and the values of the
resources are subject to market fluctuations. However, a 2000 study
estimated that the global value of the non-living resources in all the
offshore areas that may be claimed by coastal states at $11,934
trillion (at 2001 raw commodity prices).\3\) Beyond non-living
resources, a variety of sedentary species hold commercial and ecosystem
values. Until the U.S. accedes to the Convention, our exclusive
sovereign rights to manage the natural resources of the extended
continental shelf would be open to challenge.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\3\ Murton, B.J., Parson, L.M., Hunter, P. and Miles, P.R. Global
Non-Living Resources on the Extended Continental Shelf: Prospects at
the year 2000. Proceedings of the Meeting on Non-Living Marine
Resources Beyond 200 Nautical Miles. International Seabed Authority
Technical Report No. 1.
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As a non-party, our ability at international fora to influence
other countries to be as protective of shared living marine resources
(e.g., straddling fish stocks) is limited.
Question 3. If not, what are some of the additional measures, from
NOAA's perspective, that should be taken?
Answer. To conserve and manage its ocean and coastal resources, the
U.S. should accede to the Convention during this session of Congress.
In addition, Congress should fully fund the President's FY 2008 budget
request to allow NOAA, in cooperation with the State Department and
other Federal agencies, to collect and analyze all relevant data, and
to prepare the necessary documentation, to establish the outer limit of
the U.S. extended continental shelf in accordance with international
law.
Question 4. What impact would that have on NOAA and the work that
your agency does?
Answer. Accession to the Convention would allow NOAA to fully
implement, affirm, and codify U.S. rights to sustainably manage living
marine resources in our Exclusive Economic Zone and on our continental
shelf, conduct marine scientific research, and support mining of the
deep seabed by U.S. industry. Accession would also enhance NOAA's
ability to persuade other coastal nations to better conserve and manage
their natural resources and protect the marine environment across a
wide range of international programs and engagements it carries out.
Federal Columbia River Power System (FCRPS) Biological Opinion (BiOp)
Question 1. Last month the Federal agencies in the ongoing Columbia
River Power System BiOp remand in Judge Redden's Court in Oregon
submitted their latest Proposed Action to recover salmon and steelhead
in the Federal Columbia River Power System. This Proposed Action is the
result of well over a year of collaboration among Federal agencies,
states, and tribes, which began in October 2005 when Judge Redden
directed NOAA to revise the 2004 BiOp. When NOAA submitted the 2004
BiOp to Judge Redden, it did so without involving the sovereigns and
used a completely new approach that was a surprise to all the parties.
That is when Judge Redden directed NOAA to work collaboratively with
the sovereigns to achieve regional consensus and using the best
available science in revising the 2004 BiOp. With this current Proposed
Action, what is NOAA's plan to continue to coordinate with the
sovereigns and the collaborative Policy Working Group in putting the
2007 BiOp together to achieve regional consensus and using the best
available science?
Answer. NOAA will continue to coordinate and collaborate with the
sovereigns and the Policy Working group through the completion of the
BiOp. In August the FCRPS agencies will submit their Biological
Assessment and a comprehensive analysis that will further describe
their proposed Reasonable and Prudent Alternative (RPA). The August
version will be a refinement of that submitted to the court and parties
in May 2007, reflecting the results of further collaboration with the
region's sovereigns. NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service
contributed significantly to this ongoing sovereign collaborative
process through which the Federal agencies are developing their
proposed RPA for the FCRPS. In writing our biological opinion, we will
follow the proposed RPA and utilize the same analytical methods
developed in the sovereign collaborative process to evaluate the
effects of the RPA on the affected salmon and steelhead. On October 31,
2007, we will provide the sovereigns and Policy Working Group a draft
biological opinion for their consideration and comment to further
inform our final biological opinion.
Question 2. NOAA and the Federal agencies have been working for
nearly 10 years to craft a plan for operating the Federal Columbia
River Power System that will also recover endangered salmon and
steelhead. The courts have struck down past plans that were inadequate
and there have been many delays in crafting a viable plan. In the
recent status conference in the ongoing BiOp remand, Judge Redden gave
the agencies an October 31, 2007 deadline for issuing a BiOp that has
regional consensus and is based on the best available science. What is
NOAA's plan to ensure that there is adequate staffing in place to
achieve the October 31 deadline without any further delays?
Answer. The Court-ordered October 31 deadline is for NOAA's
issuance of a draft biological opinion which will mark the beginning of
a comment period for regional sovereigns and parties to the litigation.
A deadline for issuance of a final biological opinion will be set by
the Court after the draft biological opinion is available. NOAA is
committed to meeting the court's deadline. Compliance with Judge
Redden's order is a priority, and resources will be found, even if
other activities are delayed. A significant number of staff are
currently assigned to this effort and using Fiscal Year 2007 FCRPS
Biological Opinion funding we have contracted with additional support
staff that will assist with document organization, editing and data
management.
Question 3. In the BiOp remand, Judge Redden directed NOAA to
conduct a life-cycle analysis for each endangered fish species that
considers all 4 ``H's''--Hydro, Habitat, Hatchery, and Harvest. Since
NOAA is conducting a life cycle analysis for the Columbia River Power
System 2007 BiOp, what implication does this have for other BiOps? Is
NOAA going to use the same life cycle analysis for the ``harvest'' BiOp
in the U.S. v. Oregon BiOp, which is due in December?
Answer. Whenever NOAA issues a biological opinion, including those
for harvest actions, it must take into account the current status of
the threatened or endangered salmon and steelhead. NOAA must determine
how that status has been affected by future actions that have already
been found, in an ESA consultation, to satisfy the ESA standards of
avoiding jeopardy and adverse modification of critical habitat. Thus,
the effect of the FCRPS RPA will become the baseline for future Federal
actions in the same area, such as U.S. v. Oregon, after NOAA completes
its ESA consultation. An equally important factor for NOAA is the
judicial interpretation of the ESA and its application. Thus, future
biological opinions will conform to the decisions of the Ninth Circuit
Court of Appeals in the NWF v. NMFS and related litigation, affirming
Judge Redden's decisions.
Question 4. Earlier this month, Seattle Federal Judge John
Coughenour issued a ruling that flatly rejected the idea that if enough
salmon can be produced in hatcheries, then there is little need to
protect wild stocks. Judge John Coughenour ruled that the Endangered
Species Act has a ``central purpose of preserving and promoting self-
sustaining natural populations.'' What are the implications of this
ruling on the hatchery portion of the Columbia River Power System 2007
BiOp?
Answer. The ruling from Judge Coughenour emphasized the intent of
the ESA to protect naturally self-sustaining salmonid populations and
the habitats they rely on. While the challenge was to a listing
decision and not a biological opinion, the judge's ruling is consistent
with NOAA's past application of the ESA, including the analysis of
biological effects of proposed actions, and development of biological
opinions.
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service has never suggested, in a
listing decision or a biological opinion, that ``if enough salmon can
be produced in hatcheries, then there is little need to protect wild
stocks.'' In his Order, Judge Coughenour stated in part: ``NMFS has
interpreted the ESA to focus on the protection and promotion of
naturally self-sustaining populations. . . .'' (ORDER at 29)
The ruling in this case set aside NOAA's Hatchery Listing Policy
and reinstated the endangered listing of Upper Columbia steelhead. The
holding in this case pertains to the listing process described in
Section 4 of the Endangered Species Act. As such, it does not directly
affect biological opinions described in Section 7(a)(2).
NOAA intends to continue using the best available science regarding
hatcheries, including their effects on natural populations, in the
FCRPS Biological Opinion. NOAA will draw on the work of the Hatchery
Science Review Group (HSRG), the technical recovery teams, and other
technical experts to assess the effect of the proposed action on listed
species. The proposed action includes hydropower, habitat, hatchery and
harvest elements and NOAA's biological opinion will evaluate the
effects of all of those elements on each of the thirteen listed species
in the Basin.
Salmon Recovery in the Pacific Northwest (in general)
Question 1. I understand NOAA is continuing to work hard to develop
salmon recovery plans for the Columbia River Basin. These recovery
plans serve as foundations for Federal agency BiOps and blueprints for
recovering endangered salmon and steelhead basin-wide. To help achieve
this goal, I have worked with my colleagues to ensure that the Pacific
Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund is sufficiently funded so that these plans
will in fact recover endangered salmon and their habitat. What is the
schedule for getting the recovery plans done in the Columbia River
Basin?
Answer. Significant progress has in fact already been made in
completing recovery plans for ESA listed salmon and steelhead. The
Washington portion of the Lower Columbia was completed in 2005. The
recovery plan developed under Washington's ``Shared Strategy'' for
Puget Sound was completed in December 2006. The Hood Canal chum
recovery plan was completed in May 2007.
Question 1a. How is NOAA going to oversee the implementation of
these plans when they are going to be executed by multiple parties?
Answer. The current schedule for additional recovery plan
completion is as follows:
Upper Columbia Chinook and steelhead plan: Fall 2007.
Snake River plans: Early 2008.
Mid Columbia steelhead plan: Summer 2008
Entire Lower Columbia (incorporating the already-completed
Washington plan with Oregon's plan): Summer of 2008.
Willamette plan: Late 2008.
Question 1b. How is NOAA going to oversee the implementation of
these plans when they are going to be executed by multiple parties?
Answer. The ESA statute directs NOAA Fisheries to ``develop and
implement'' recovery plans. Most plans are multi-``H'' in scope,
addressing impacts of habitat changes, hatchery management, harvest and
the region's hydro system. Also, most plans were developed locally to
ensure local, state and tribal participation and to enhance buy-in. As
a result, there is considerable pride-of-ownership in the plans
completed to date and high expectations that they will be implemented
by the appropriate agencies.
NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service has two fundamental
obligations for implementing ESA recovery. The first is to promote
recovery, which will entail the use of recovery plans to inform
regulatory and non-regulatory mechanisms. While the recovery plans are
not regulatory documents, they do provide the best available science on
recovery goals, viability criteria, limiting factors, threats, and
priority actions. The plans will guide NOAA Restoration actions through
the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund and NOAA Restoration Center
and will also be used to implement actions by other agencies, state and
local governments, local organizations and tribes. NOAA will use the
plans to communicate information about recovery at regional and local
scales and to use recovery information when implementing our
responsibilities and additional mandates to provide for sustainable
fisheries and meet our treaty and trust obligations to the tribes.
NOAA's second fundamental obligation is to measure progress toward
recovery under ESA sections 4f and 4g. Meeting this obligation requires
knowing the status of listed fish, the threats that endanger them, and
the progress of actions undertaken to assist recovery. This, in turn,
requires us to assume a leadership role in developing and coordinating
cost effective research, monitoring, evaluation (RME), adaptive
management, and reporting processes. Perhaps the most important use of
these results will be in making decisions pertaining to the species'
listed status. These results will be provided periodically to the
Administration, Congress, and public through 5 year status reviews,
biennial reports, and other mechanisms.
The National Marine Fisheries Service's Northwest Regional Office
assigned its staff to geographically based teams in order to aid local
recovery planning efforts. We will continue to work with the NOAA
Fisheries Science Center and local teams to integrate recovery
implementation and RME programs with the region's regulatory and non-
regulatory activities.
Question 1c. What is NOAA's plan to ensure that its salmon recovery
policies are in line with the funding levels of the Pacific Coastal
Salmon Recovery Fund?
Answer. NOAA has consistently worked to align PCSRF funding with
West Coast salmon recovery. The Administration's budget request over
the past 3 years has contained language designed to target additional
resources toward recovery of ESA listed salmon populations and their
habitat and to support tribal treaty rights. Congress has not enacted
this language. Under the terms of the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007, NOAA was able to apply additional resources to the
above priorities and better align funding with recovery needs. Absent
Congressional direction, NOAA will continue to apply resources to high
priority needs based on competitive grant applications. Once grants are
awarded, recipients are encouraged to increase the amount of effort
targeted at addressing those factors that are limiting the recovery of
ESA listed salmon.
Question 2. The Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund provides grants
funding to western states and tribes to assist state, local, and tribal
efforts to conserve and recover Pacific salmon and their habitat. The
Fund is being used to make significant progress in protecting and
restoring these important species of fish, which are critical to the
economic, ecological, and cultural well being of the Pacific Northwest.
Between its establishment in 2000 and 2005, average appropriations for
the Fund were about $87 million per year. In FY 2006, despite Senate
efforts to ensure that the Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund included
appropriations above historical levels at $90 million, the final
appropriation for the Fund was cut to $66.5 million. In your testimony,
you indicated that Congress, despite Senate efforts to the contrary,
and not the Administration chose to impose the recent funding cuts to
drop the Fund below historical appropriation levels. Yet, in FY 2007
and FY 2008, the Administration has not requested to restore the Fund
to historical levels, requesting only $67 million for each fiscal year.
Whereas in those fiscal years, the Senate restored the Fund to
historical appropriation levels at $90 million. Does the Administration
support the historical average appropriation level for the Pacific
Coast Salmon Recovery Fund at or above $87 million per year?
Answer. The Administration has not supported funding PCSRF at its
historical average of $87 million. In FY 2007 and 2008, NOAA has
requested $67 million in the Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund,
which is consistent with the FY 2006 enacted level. NOAA's requests for
PCSRF funds have proposed language to distribute funding based on the
priorities of ESA salmon recovery, tribal treaty rights, and habitat
protection and restoration to ensure the funds are used for projects
that will provide most return on investment. The Administration
believes that NOAA can achieve the same gains for the recovery of
listed pacific salmon at the requested level of $67 million rather than
at the historical average of $87 million, if resources were targeted to
priority areas of salmon recovery.
Question 2a. What salmon recovery and restoration work is not being
done due to Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Fund appropriation levels
below their historical average?
Answer. The Administration's budget request for PCSRF does not
define a distribution of funds among the eligible states or tribes. In
FY 2006, funds available for ESA listed salmon recovery work were
reduced for the states of OR, CA, and ID and the tribes through
Congressional direction. The Administration believes that NOAA can
achieve the same gains for the recovery of listed pacific salmon at the
requested level of $66.8 million rather than at the historical average
of $87 million, if resources were targeted to priority areas of salmon
recovery. As such, with the funds available in FY 2007, funding was
allocated to work that supported the three priority areas for recovery
and NOAA expects an increase in the efficiency of the program to
address ESA salmon recovery with the funds provided.
Enhancing Stewardship
Question 1. Highlight the elements within your agency's 2008 budget
request that address the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy's research
priorities of enhancing the stewardship of natural and cultural ocean
resources and improving ecosystem health. In particular, please address
the following:
Explain how this effort will enable the management of West
Coast groundfish stocks to move toward a more ecosystem-based
approach.
Answer. NOAA's Ecosystem Approach to Management (EAM) has been
encouraged by the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Reauthorization Act of 2006 (16 U.S.C. 1882, 406 f(1-2)), the U.S.
Ocean Action Plan (2004) and An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century
(2004). In response, NOAA's FY08 request includes $5M for the
Comparative Analysis of Marine Ecosystem Organization (CAMEO) program,
a priority of the Administration's Ocean Research Priorities Plan.
CAMEO will support the development of advanced marine ecosystem models
as well as research to improve the effectiveness of marine protected
areas (MPAs) as management tools. While the program will be national in
scope, it is likely that some resources will be directed to research
that will help to advance ecosystem approaches to management in the
California Current ecosystem.
West Coast groundfish comprise a diverse assemblage of more then 80
species utilizing a wide range of habitats in the California Current
ecosystem. Conditions in this ecosystem are strongly driven by climate,
which is known to have a significant influence on the survival and
productivity of several species, and is suspected to influence the
biology of many other commercial, recreational and forage species.
Given the highly dynamic features of the ecosystem, it is widely
recognized that improved data and models are needed to improve further
the management of West Coast groundfish.
Recently, NOAA Fisheries has initiated pilot projects that will be
important to an ecosystem-based approach to management. These efforts
include testing of advanced technology for surveying habitat not
accessible to conventional survey methods; compilation of coast-wide
marine habitat data into a dynamic, web-based system that allows
overlay of habitat with biological data; initiating development of a
California Current scale ecosystem model; and initiating the inclusion
of ecosystem considerations into selected stock assessments of
groundfish species. These are some of the key needs to move toward and
implement an ecosystem approach to management. The requested FY08 funds
will allow the pilot projects to continue at their current pilot level.
Question 1a. Highlight budget elements that support greater state
and tribal participation in the stewardship of natural and cultural
ocean resources.
Answer. NOAA has several programs working with states. The Office
of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM) conducts the Coastal
and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) to provide states with
grants to preserve many important coastal and estuarine lands. OCRM
also implements the Coastal Zone Management Act in coordination with
states, and partners with states in developing the National Estuarine
Research Reserve System (NERRS), which has 27 reserves across the
Nation. The National Marine Sanctuaries program collaborates with
states on sanctuary designation and management. The National Centers
for Coastal Ocean Science have labs in several states and fund
extramural research at academic institutions to address important state
coastal issues such as harmful algal blooms and coral conservations
research. In addition NOAA is developing a National Height
Modernization program to fund the establishment of accurate geodetic
positioning in states. Accurate geodetic provides for safe and
efficient transportation and commerce, understanding climate change and
mitigating damage from coastal storms by measuring and monitoring sea
level rise, information to enable emergency response deciders to plan
for and respond to natural disasters.
NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) works closely with tribes on
stewardship of natural and cultural ocean resources through the
National Marine Sanctuary Program, the Office of Ocean and Coastal
Resource Management, the Office of Response and Restoration, and the
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science.
National Marine Sanctuary Program:
The Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary (OCNMS) signed a
Memorandum of Agreement with the state of Washington and four coastal
tribes--the Makah Tribe, Hoh Tribe, Quileute Tribe and the Quinault
Nation--in January 2007, creating an Intergovernmental Policy Council.
The Intergovernmental Policy Council's goal is to bring together state,
Federal, and tribal governments in a forum for efficient communication
and discussion of the management of marine resources and activities
within the boundaries of the OCNMS. The OCNMS supports tribal cultural
activities such as an annual tribal canoe journey and tribal festivals
with vessel support and educational and outreach programming.
The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary (CINMS) works in
partnership with a variety of Chumash Indian people and some Chumash
organizations to accomplish projects of mutual interest, such as canoe
(tomol) voyages and development of a documentary film about the
sanctuary. CINMS has created a non-governmental Chumash Community seat
on its Sanctuary Advisory Council, reflecting its policy that the
Chumash people are important advisers to the sanctuary and deserve a
seat at the table.
Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management (OCRM):
The OCRM Marine Protected Area (MPA) Center works with tribes to
develop a national system of MPAs as directed by Executive Order 13158.
This involves notification of all federally-recognized tribes on key
milestones associated with the development of the MPA system, and
active outreach to tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes
responsible for co-management of marine and Great Lakes resources.
Over the years, OCRM has coordinated with numerous tribes on
Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) Federal consistency issues between
states and Tribes, and has mediated CZMA disputes between tribes and
states.
Office of Response and Restoration:
NOAA's Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration
Program (a collaborative program among the Office of Response
and Restoration, the National Marine Fisheries Service
Restoration Center, and NOAA General Counsel for Natural
Resources) maintains ongoing partnerships with numerous tribal
governments. As natural resource trustee agencies under the
authorities granted them by the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and Liability Act and the Oil Pollution
Act, NOAA and tribes collaborate to evaluate and resolve
liability for injury to natural resources from releases of oil
and hazardous substances, and also from vessel groundings in
National Marine Sanctuaries. In addition, we work together to
oversee restoration of natural resources. Particularly in the
Western United States, where treaties have established the
rights of tribes to use their traditional fishing grounds, NOAA
and tribes have mutual interests to protect and restore natural
resources in coastal areas.
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science:
The National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science have several
projects that involve Tribal communities and/or resources. Projects
include:
Creating an Approach to Utilizing Traditional and Local
Ecological Knowledge in Resource Management (AK--Native Village
of Port Graham & the Chugach Regional Resources Commission)
engages native communities to help document their traditional
knowledge of the coastal environment.
The National Status and Trends Mussel Watch Program worked
with the second chief (James Kvasnikoff) of Nanwalek, AK to
collect mussels for an expanded Mussel Watch Project in Alaska
and specifically to sample and analyze marine food items that
are used by subsistence fisherman.
Monitoring Domoic Acid in Marine Food Webs and Water to
develop sensitive, cost effective detection methods for domoic
acid (DA), the toxin produced by harmful diatoms. One goal of
the research is, ultimately, to transfer the technology to
local tribes and state health officials.
Olympic Region Harmful Algal Bloom (ORHAB) Project is
investigating the origins of harmful algal blooms off the
Olympic Coast of Washington State. The ORHAB project brings
knowledge to the local communities on the Olympic peninsula of
the Washington coast, empowering local tribes and state
managers to make scientifically-based decisions about managing
and mitigating harmful algal bloom impacts on coastal fishery
resources.
NOAA Corps
Question. The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998, as
amended, contains language authorizing up to 299 officers in the NOAA
Corps. Given the increasing demands on the NOAA Corps, is this level
sufficient for meeting NOAA's operational needs well into the future?
Answer. In FY 2007, under the present authorization of 299
officers, NOAA will be able to meet operational needs into the near
future. Beyond that, future NOAA Corps staffing needs are dependent on
the size of the fleet, the ratio of officers in shore-based billets to
sea/air billets, and the Corps ability to respond to national
emergencies such as hurricane response and recovery, man-made
disasters, etc.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. John F. Kerry to
Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr.
Question 1. As the result of the 2006 re-scoping of the National
Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System, 7 of the
sensors needed for monitoring essential climate variables were either
``de-manifested'' entirely or will be used at decreased capacity
levels. A report to the White House Office of Science and Technology
Policy by senior scientists at NOAA and NASA spelled out in detail how
this rescoping will undermine our future monitoring of climate change,
sea-level rise, and other essential related variables. This problem was
raised at a hearing on climate science held by this committee on
February 7 of this year. Admiral Lautenbacher, the administration did
not request funds in the FY2008 budget to rectify this situation. You
have not committed to developing the needed sensors, including the
solar irradiance sensor (TSIS), the Earth radiation budget sensor
(ERBS) and the Ocean Altimeter sensor (ALT). How do you justify this
decision?
Answer. NOAA remains committed to its responsibilities to develop
and implement a robust climate program. The Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP) coordinated a joint NOAA-National Aeronautics
and Space Administration study to assess the impact of the demanifested
sensors. NOAA and NASA are preparing a mitigation assessment for the
Executive Office of the President.
Question 2. The National Research Council has warned that the
Nation's long-term satellite monitoring system is at risk of
``collapse.'' Given NOAA's role in studying climate change, are you
concerned about the state of our current satellite program? What steps
would you take to strengthen it?
Answer. NOAA has a continuous planning process to develop its next
generation satellites. NOAA's plan is to provide uninterrupted
satellite data through at least 2026 from the next generation
geostationary satellites, known as the Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellite R-Series (GOES-R), and the next generation
polar-orbiting satellites, known as the National Polar-orbiting
Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS). Through the NPOESS
and GOES-R systems, NOAA has been working closely with the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and, where applicable, the
U.S. Air Force to satisfy requirements of the National Weather Service,
National Ocean Service, and the NOAA Climate Program.
In response to a request from the White House Office of Science and
Technology Policy (OSTP), NOAA has been working with NASA to identify
options to mitigate the loss of climate sensors from the Nunn-McCurdy-
certified NPOESS program. NOAA and NASA requested assistance from the
National Research Council (NRC) Space Studies Board to assess the state
of Earth observations, including the impact of the 2006 changes to the
GOES-R and NPOESS programs. A special NRC group of experts has assessed
the impact on climate monitoring capability of the NPOESS Nunn-McCurdy
certified program. NOAA and NASA are preparing a mitigation assessment
for the Executive Office of the President.
Question 3. In real dollars, the Federal research budget for
climate change science has fallen since the mid-1990s. In your opinion,
have these budget cuts decreased the ability of Federal climate
scientists to do their jobs? Does NOAA need more money to adequately
understand climate change risks?
Answer. The President's Budget Requests for NOAA, in both FY 2007
and FY 2008, have included program increases for climate-related
activities. NOAA has a diverse mission ranging from managing fisheries
to predicting severe weather to increasing our understanding of the
Earth's climate. The Administration's requests over the past several
years have focused on a balanced set of priorities to sustain NOAA's
core mission services and address its highest priority program needs.
NOAA continues to move forward with research to better understand
the risks associated with climate change. Some examples of NOAA's
recent contributions to climate change science are as follows:
NOAA's climate scientists have continued to make substantial
contributions to our understanding of the Earth's climate and
climate change. The expertise and contributions of NOAA climate
scientists were evident in the recent Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change 4th Assessment Report. NOAA scientists made
valuable contributions to the reports of both Working Group I
(The Physical Science Basis) and Working Group II (Impacts,
Adaptation and Vulnerability) reports. NOAA climate scientists
co-chaired a report and coauthored chapters, and NOAA-sponsored
research made enormous contributions to the assessment.
NOAA led the 2006 International Ozone Assessment, which
tracked the outcomes of the Montreal Protocol and indicated the
protocol is working. For the first time, the assessment shows
that ozone depleting substances in the atmosphere have
decreased.
NOAA also released the National Integrated Drought
Information System (NIDIS) Implementation Plan: A Pathway for
National Resilience in hardcopy in June 2007. NIDIS will enable
users to determine the risks associated with drought and
provide supporting data and tools to inform drought mitigation.
The Plan describes how accessible and usable drought
information will be developed, deployed, and utilized to
facilitate informed decisionmaking by resource managers and
others.
Question 4. The effectiveness of fisheries management depends in
large part on having reliable and accurate data on the resource. NOAA
has for 25 years conducted a survey of sea scallop abundance throughout
the range of the fishery. That data set is extremely valuable to the
management process, particularly given the duration and continuity of
the survey.
The research vessel at the New England Fisheries Science Center in
Woods Hole, MA, the ALBATROSS, has been the platform used to conduct
the scallop survey. The ALBATROSS is about to be replaced by the new
research vessel, the BIGELOW. NOAA has indicated that they have no
plans to continue the scallop survey on the BIGELOW once the ALBATROSS
is retired.
The continuation of this survey is extremely important to the
continued health of this important fishery, which is valued at $500
million in direct landings, and makes about a $2 billion total
contribution to the economy. Will NOAA continue the survey once the
ALBATROSS is retired?
Answer. The Northeast Fisheries Science Center intends to maintain
the 25-year survey time series for Atlantic sea scallops. We have a
plan that addresses the retirement of the R/V ALBATROSS IV and the
transition to a replacement survey platform. In 2008, the R/V ALBATROSS
IV and her survey scallop dredge will be inter-calibrated with a
program-funded charter vessel, either a UNOLS (University-National
Oceanographic Laboratory System) research vessel or a commercial
fishing vessel, along with a new improved scallop dredge designed with
industry advice. In 2009 and subsequent years, we will support the sea
scallop time series with a program-chartered vessel and the newly
calibrated survey dredge.
Question 5. I am concerned about the erosion of the budget for
Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary over the past several years.
The condition report released earlier this year finds that habitat
quality is degrading in the Sanctuary and recommends a series of
management actions to improve water quality and habitat conditions. The
declining budget since 2005 does not support these efforts. How do you
justify this budget decline in the face of degraded conditions in the
Sanctuary?
Answer. Since FY 2002, the Stellwagen Bank National Marine
Sanctuary has been provided $9.2 million. In FY 2005, the National
Marine Sanctuary Program (overall) was appropriated $50.3 million (in
ORF) and in FY 2006, $35.1 million (in ORF). Funding for each site is
based on the overall National Marine Sanctuary Program appropriation.
Thus, in FY 2005, $1.7 million was provided to the Stellwagen Bank
National Marine Sanctuary and in FY 2006 $1.5 was provided.
______
Response to Written Questions Submitted by Hon. Bill Nelson to
Vice Admiral Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr.
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia
Question 1. Last year, concerns about funding for harmful algal
blooms (HABs) research were a high priority through the continuing
resolution. Extramural, competitive research funds were requested and
assurances were given that this area would be a high priority. In fact
discretionary funds were released from higher echelons of NOAA
management to NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
for this specific research subject. It has been brought to my attention
that funds were then redirected away from its intended HAB research. If
top leadership of NOAA is receptive to concerns on certain issues and
dedicate monies from the discretionary fund for this, and those funds
meant for harmful algal bloom research are then diverted within
National Ocean Service and NCCOS, how can NOAA top leadership be more
explicit when they send funds down the line with specific research
intentions? How can we ensure that funds meant for certain research
areas in NCCOS are not reprogrammed away from this important national
issue?
Answer. NOAA's FY 2008 President's Budget Request expresses our
priorities. While NOAA agrees that harmful algal blooms are important,
we must be able to find a balance among all NOAA's needs and
requirements, including our priorities in the Gulf of Mexico.
Question 2. For many years now organizations, universities,
research institutes and Members of Congress have been concerned with
the funding levels of Harmful Algal Blooms research. It is very
difficult that the President's budget is continually static at $15.8
million. This year the House and Senate reported Commerce, Justice and
Science appropriations bills fund HABs research at $15 million and
$17.5 million respectively. With an understanding of the pressing need
for research into this marine issue, how can you better exert your
influence to regain numbers in this line item to where they were just a
few years ago?
Answer. In total, we expect to spend approximately $8.9 million on
research related to Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and hypoxia. This $8.9
million provides the tools necessary for managers to respond and
predict HAB and hypoxia events such as those affecting the New England,
Florida, Pacific Northwest and California coasts, as well as the Great
Lakes, every year. HAB and hypoxia events threaten human health, kill
marine animals, impact fisheries, and cost millions of dollars each
year. Multi-year research programs in New England, Florida, the Pacific
Northwest and the Great Lakes are also yielding tools and forecasts
that are helping coastal communities to mitigate the impacts of harmful
algal bloom in these areas.
For example, NOAA has developed the Gulf of Mexico HAB Bulletin,
which produces daily information and twice weekly forecasts that are
used to determine the current and future location and intensity of
harmful algal blooms and the likely impacts to the environment. An
addition $5 million is also requested for a near-term priorities
project in Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the Next Decade: An
Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation Strategy to develop
sensors for marine ecosystems. This effort will include work to develop
in situ sensors for rapid detection of pathogens, harmful algae and
their toxins in coastal areas. In addition, some of the $5 million
requested for Gulf of Mexico Partnerships may be used to support
coastal communities in their efforts to address harmful algal blooms
and hypoxia events through competitive grants.
National Undersea Research Program
Question 1. Undersea habitats have evolved from a time of testing
if and how humans could live and work under the sea, to today where we
can effectively use saturation diving and undersea habitats for
critical ocean science, education, and technology testing.
The AQUARIUS reef base program in Key Largo, Florida is a unique
and state-of-the-art NOAA facility especially well suited for in situ
experiments on climate change impacts on coral reefs, sensor
development and testing for ocean observing, long-term monitoring of
coral reefs and to engage the public's imagination and interest. In
situ experiments that can be done at AQUARIUS are critical if we are
going to understand the impacts of problems such as climate change,
ocean acidification, coral reef decline, and ecological shifts in the
ocean.
Why has NOAA not taken better advantage of their assets at AQUARIUS
to conduct research on ocean science topics that are critical to this
Nation, such as the impact of climate change on reefs, sensor
development and testing for ocean observing capabilities, or education?
Answer. NOAA has taken advantage of the AQUARIUS facility to
conduct research on ocean science topics that are critical to the
nation, in balance with the other ocean research priorities.
NOAA has operated the AQUARIUS undersea laboratory, located near
Key Largo, Florida, since 1987, enabling scientists to live under the
sea and conduct valuable studies that have contributed to our
understanding of coral reefs and underwater dynamics. Recent additions
of advanced information and communications technology has enabled the
AQUARIUS to provide 24/7 observing capabilities in an environment
monitored by humans, and to reach students, scientists, and the public
in real time, allowing virtual participation and observation of
missions on-going at the laboratory.
The AQUARIUS now has an expanded network of cabled and non-cabled
observing system capabilities, advanced communications capability, deep
refill stations, and remote vehicle capabilities. The new capabilities
have enabled the AQUARIUS complex to meet a wide range of national
needs, including coral studies and exciting education and outreach
initiatives. In addition, NOAA works with the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration (NASA) to provide the AQUARIUS to NASA for space
analog training and testing missions.
Question 2. In the proposed merge of Ocean Exploration and the
National Undersea Research Program what will be the balance of
expeditionary science with research that is focused on important
science topics along our coasts from field stations, e.g., in Florida
on topics such as climate change and reefs? And how will the balance be
assured?
Answer. The programs are being merged to enhance the linkage and
effectiveness of NOAA's undersea research and ocean exploration
activities.
The balance of expeditionary science and research is interdependent
and will be determined by the Office of Ocean Exploration and Research
as advised by consultations within NOAA, with extramural NOAA partners,
and with the NOAA's Science Advisory Board's Ocean Exploration Advisory
Working Group. A Strategic Concept of Operations has already been
developed for the merged Office of Ocean Exploration and Research which
describes the functions and priorities of the new organization as
exploration; advanced technology development; research to support both
including focused research on extreme and unique environments,
continental shelf ecosystems, new ocean resources, and ocean dynamics;
operations in support of exploration and technology development; and
education, outreach, and data management. These priorities are based on
national priorities identified in the Joint Subcommittee on Ocean
Science and Technology's Charting the Course for Ocean Science in the
Next Decade: An Ocean Research Priorities Plan and Implementation
Strategy, the NOAA 5-year Research Plan, the NOAA Strategic Plan, and
NOAA 20-year Research Vision. In order to increase the focus of
investment in these areas, some research areas previously supported by
the National Undersea Research Program that are well addressed in other
NOAA program areas (i.e., climate, corals) will be de-emphasized.
National Windhazard Reduction Program
Question 1. In October of 2004 Pub. L. 108-360 was signed into law
creating the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP),
creating a first time authorization for NOAA, NIST, FEMA and the NSF to
undertake an interagency effort to coordinate Federal wind hazard
programs and also to empanel a group of 11 to 15 non-Federal wind-
hazard experts and interests to consult with the interagency group. The
3 main responsibilities of the interagency group are to improve
meteorological understanding of windstorms, measure windstorm impact
and identify and promote cost-effective measures to reduce windstorm
impact. Is this a reasonably correct summary of the NWIRP?
Answer. Yes.
Question 2. A similar interagency coordination program, focused on
earthquakes, known as the National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program
(NEHRP) has been in operation since about 1977, correct?
Answer. The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP)
was established by the U.S. Congress when it passed the Earthquake
Hazards Reduction Act of 1977. At the time of its creation, Congress's
stated purpose for NEHRP was ``to reduce the risks of life and property
from future earthquakes in the United States through the establishment
and maintenance of an effective earthquake hazards reduction program.''
Since NEHRP's creation, it has become the Federal Government's
coordinated long-term nationwide program to reduce risks to life and
property in the United States that result from earthquakes.
Question 3. Are you sufficiently familiar with the NEHRP program to
venture an opinion about its utility and effectiveness in coordinating
Federal agency science on earthquakes and earthquake mitigation, and
the role of its public panel in advising the agencies and disseminating
understandings of Federal science in earthquake mitigation?
Answer. NOAA's expertise and responsibilities does not extend to
earthquake research and mitigation and we defer to our colleagues at
the National Institute for Standards and Technology (NIST) for an
opinion on the NEHRP.
Question 4. Since its enactment in late 2004, can you tell me
roughly how much has been done to establish the NWIRP, which was
fashioned after the NEHRP?
Answer. The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC)
established a working group for Wind Hazard Reduction with
representatives from NOAA, National Science Foundation, National
Institute for Standards and Technology, Federal Emergency Management
Agency (all included in the NWIRP Act), and Federal Highway
Administration. The NSTC completed the Windstorm Impact Implementation
Plan within the first year (2005), and the Windstorm Impact Reduction
Program Biennial Progress Report for Fiscal Years 2005-2006 is
undergoing interagency review prior to being submitted to Congress. A
representative from academia has also presented some ideas on needed
research to the working group.
Question 5. Since the enactment of NWIRP in 2004, what major
hurricanes/windstorms have impacted the United States?
Answer. Between October 24, 2004, when the National Windstorm
Impact Reduction Act of 2004 became law, and March 31, 2007--3,789
major hurricane/windstorm events have impacted the United States. Of
these events, 48 were hurricane/typhoon events, 1,241 were tornado
events, and 2,500 were high wind events. These totals include all
hurricane and typhoon events of Category 1 strength or greater on the
Saffir-Simpson hurricane scale (winds 74 mph or greater), all tornado
events greater than F0 on the Fujita Tornado Damage Scale (winds
roughly 73 mph or greater), and high wind events of 74 mph or greater.
This information was queried from NOAA's Storm Data which is an
official publication of NOAA. Storm Data documents the occurrence of
storms and other significant weather phenomena having sufficient
intensity to cause loss of life, injuries, significant property damage,
and/or disruption to commerce. Within NOAA's Storm Data, events are
reported on a per county or forecast area basis, which means for a
hurricane/typhoon which passes through 4 counties there will be 4
separate event reports. This applies to tornadoes and wind events as
well.
Question 6. I'll ask you whether you have reviewed the report,
called the ``Windstorm Impact Implementation Plan'', which was issued
by OSTP after the particularly devastating impact of Hurricanes Rita
and Katrina? It observes that the focus on understanding and predicting
of windstorm hazards and risks by any one Federal agency is ``minimal''
at this time, and makes recommendations on implementing a plan to
create the interagency working group that was authorized. Do you agree
that the program of work outlined in the OSTP plan should be
undertaken? If not, which of its recommendations do you suggest should
be abandoned? Some may find it ironic that the combined spending
authorization for the four principle agencies in the NWIRP is only just
over $20 million.
Answer. As a member of the interagency working group for wind
hazard reduction, NOAA contributed to the drafting of the Windstorm
Impact Implementation Plan and has reviewed the completed plan. NOAA
agrees that the aspects of the program of work outlined in the
Windstorm Impact Implementation Plan that NOAA would have
responsibility for should be undertaken; NOAA defers to the National
Institute for Standards and Technologies (NIST),the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, and the National Science Foundation to comment on
the appropriateness of the aspects of the program of work that are not
under NOAA's purview.
NOAA supports a number of activities related to measuring and
predicting windstorms and their impact and under the President's FY08
request NOAA would continue to do so. Past work has included analyzing
hurricane surface wind data using NOAA's H*WIND product to the State of
Florida for their Public Hurricane Loss Projection Model, public
outreach and education on protecting oneself and structures against
high wind with a focus on tornados, and several wind resiliency
activities with university partners including education on building
codes and wind resilient building. NIST includes specific funding in
its budget for the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program and NOAA
partners with NIST on windstorm reduction impact activities.
Question 7. Under the NWIRP NOAA is authorized to undertake
approximately $2 million in work annually, correct? And would the
agency do so if directed to use FY 2008 appropriations for that
authorized work?
Answer. The National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004
provides the authority for establishing a National Windstorm Impact
Reduction Program and NOAA is authorized to be appropriated $2.2
million in FY 2008 for carrying out such a program.
If NOAA is directed in enacted FY 2008 appropriation legislation to
use appropriated funds as authorized in the National Windstorm Impact
Reduction Act of 2004, NOAA would comply.
NOAA supports a number of activities related to measuring and
predicting windstorms and their impact and under the President's FY08
request NOAA would continue to do so. The National Institute for
Standards and Technologies (NIST) includes specific funding in its
budget for the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program and NOAA
partners with NIST on windstorm reduction impact activities.