Showing posts with label NOAA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NOAA. Show all posts
Friday, December 16, 2011
The Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Act of 1954; No Permanent Appropriations?
S-K programs are funded through a permanent appropriation and no periodic re-authorization is required. In addition, no recent congressional oversight hearings have been held to review the activities conducted under S-K authority or how S-K funds are allocated; this is wrong as the monies used could be going into the pockets of the regional councils or into whatever NOAA wants. I demand a review of this fund. We the People demand a review of this fund! The Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Act of 1954 was created to provide consistent funding for commercial fisheries research and development. Funds are derived through the permanent appropriation of a portion of fishery import duties. A congressional oversight hearing needs to be set in motion to make sure the funds are being appropriated as was intended, as it would seem with the introduction of Catch Shares, they may have found deep pockets!
Saturday, December 10, 2011
My Letter to Congressman Buchanan
As you may very well know, I am "Testing the Waters" US Senate Fl 2012 against the pack & Bill Nelson. I am just a Joe living day to day on a severe limited income and finally said, enough is enough, especially when Mr. Nelson was a NO SHOW at our rally earlier this year to which 1000 or more of his constituents were present. So too were many of yours? I Fish, I Vote as we are concerned of over regulatory burdens of NOAA/NMFS & its Czar councils. This year, 70,000 pages of new regulations have been added to the books from agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Labor Relations Board, oftentimes without any compelling justification for their existence. The last thing job creators in America need is more uncertainty from a powerful government agency like the CFPB that will receive a blank check for a half billion dollar budget with virtually no input from Congress. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ; sounds like a waste of money to me. Richard Cordray to be Director if lip service from above gets his way, as this is who Obama wishes to command such a post. I say, why not, if he can recite from memory all 700 pages and to what each means to us, the general public; the mob wants to know also! What is the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? President Obama promised that “transparency and accountability will be a hallmark of my administration”; I believe I heard that one the last time he ran for office, see where it got us? Too many questions in this article, I'm getting confused! Would love to know your responds to all of this as the RFA to the FRA are in unison when it comes to our Florida fisheries and too job discrimination of overseas products vs Fresh Florida Fish. I hope I get a answer back that is in first person and not a multiple responds as this note, along with any answer, if any will appear in my blog: http://thepoliticalsandbox.blogspot.com/ I thank You and best wishes, Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year...Gary A. Anderson
Well, AS EXPECTED, I got back a blah, blah, blah answer from the Congressman. I could have ask him his favorite brand of toilet paper as this is the answer to my above request, including the toilet paper, now:
Congressman Vern Buchanan rep.vern.buchanan@mail.house.gov to me
Thank you for your email. Your questions, comments, and views are very important to me.
I appreciate learning of your thoughts. As the 112th Congress moves forward on the many important challenges facing our Nation, I will certainly keep your views in mind.
In the meantime, I encourage you to take some time and familiarize yourself with my congressional web-page by visiting www.buchanan.house.gov. You can find additional information about current topics of debate in the Congress, information about Florida's 13th Congressional District, and other services and assistance my staff can offer to you. I hope that you find it useful.
Sincerely,
Vern Buchanan
Member of Congress
GEE VERN, Thanks for the answer, it relieves me in knowing you give a damn!
Well, AS EXPECTED, I got back a blah, blah, blah answer from the Congressman. I could have ask him his favorite brand of toilet paper as this is the answer to my above request, including the toilet paper, now:
Congressman Vern Buchanan rep.vern.buchanan@mail.house.gov to me
Thank you for your email. Your questions, comments, and views are very important to me.
I appreciate learning of your thoughts. As the 112th Congress moves forward on the many important challenges facing our Nation, I will certainly keep your views in mind.
In the meantime, I encourage you to take some time and familiarize yourself with my congressional web-page by visiting www.buchanan.house.gov. You can find additional information about current topics of debate in the Congress, information about Florida's 13th Congressional District, and other services and assistance my staff can offer to you. I hope that you find it useful.
Sincerely,
Vern Buchanan
Member of Congress
GEE VERN, Thanks for the answer, it relieves me in knowing you give a damn!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
NOAA REQUESTS $54 MILLION TO REDUCE FISHING EFFORT
NOAA REQUESTS $54 MILLION TO REDUCE FISHING EFFORT
RFA Says Agency Seeking Congressional Aid to Destroy Fishing Communities
In a bold attempt to take control of our nation's coastal resources, NOAA Fisheries has asked Congress for an additional $54 million in funding for catch shares, while simultaneously turning their back on the agency's scientific deficiencies in managing marine fisheries.
While Atlantic and Gulf Coast fishermen and legislators have openly rallied in opposition to this particular takeover scheme, NOAA Fisheries, led by an agenda-driven ideology to reduce fishing participation, continues to run roughshod over coastal constituents in clear violation of legislative order.
Appearing before a House Resource Committee hearing on October 26th in Washington, Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) executive director Jim Donofrio blasted the NOAA administration for failing to adequately fund scientific efforts in coastal fisheries management. "NOAA claims they don't have enough money to do the stock assessments on the species they manage," Donofrio said in his official testimony, explaining how there are boats tied to the dock in coastal communities throughout the United States right now, unable to access healthy, rebuilt fisheries due to lack of science.
When the Magnuson Stevens Act was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate in 2006 and signed by President Bush in 2007, it required NOAA fisheries to overhaul their Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey (MRFSS) by a time-specific deadline of January 1, 2009. Donofrio said NOAA officials have publicly stated on several occasions that a new Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) has not yet been implemented, despite the requirements set forth by Congress.
"Right now we don't have a data collection program that Congress mandated in the 2007 Reauthorization for marine recreational statistics, the new MRIP program," Donofrio told Congress in October, adding "they're still using the MRFSS data and they're shutting down fisheries based on the MRFSS data."
Despite the woeful lack of science and analytical data needed to properly manage fisheries, NOAA has apparently gone to key members of the House and Senate in asking for additional funds for catch share programs which by design cap fishing participation by trading away ownership of fish stocks to select groups and individuals. Earlier this year, NOAA's administration under the leadership of Dr. Jane Lubchenco had attempted to misappropriate several million dollars away from NOAA's scientific budget to allocate towards catch shares, a move which was stymied by an act of Congress.
In February, the House voted 259-159 to cut off funding for future catch share programs which would've opened the door to commodities trading of fisherman’s catch allocations - or worse, a complete buy-out of angler access by preservationist groups. The bipartisan budget amendment tied to NOAA's proposed catch share funding was sponsored by Republican Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, as well as a pair of coastal Democrats in Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey.
"We've heard from Congressman Jones this week who says that NOAA is courting legislators, asking for more money for catch share programs," Donofrio said. "These are the same programs that have driven Massachusetts legislators to seek $21 million in directed economic relief from Washington to give to displaced fishermen, specifically because of these failed catch share policies enacted under the present NOAA administration."
A letter co-signed on October 31 by 19 bipartisan coastal members of the House of Representatives calls on ranking members of the House to ensure that language is included in the 2012 appropriations bill which would restrict the use of funds for development or approval of new catch share programs for any fishery under the jurisdiction of the New England, Mid Atlantic or South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.
"The last thing the American government should be doing in these economic times is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to expand programs that will be put even more Americans out of work," the letter says, explaining that that is exactly what NOAA is attempting to do by requesting $54 million it its 2012 budget, "to accelerate implementation of new fisheries catch share programs across the U.S."
Donofrio said the RFA has already spoken to ranking members of the Senate who will be cosigning their support of the letter, and added that he and fellow fishermen will be reaching out to legislators in the Gulf of Mexico to rally support in opposition to catch share programs which take monies away from scientific efforts in that region.
"By commoditizing a public resource and placing share distinctions on individual fishes, what the catch share policy would do is give big corporations and wealthy non-profit groups the ability to buy up all the harvest for themselves, leaving individual anglers and coastal communities standing at the dock with nothing," Donofrio said. "This whole orchestrated effort by Dr. Lubchenco and her friends at Environmental Defense Fund is nothing more than a resource grab which will destroy our marine industry and take away access for millions of Americans."
"I can't fathom how Dr. Lubchenco can claim to support best available science when her Administration is asking Congress for money, not to improve stock assessments and data collection, but for coastal sharecropping schemes which will destroy our mom and pop businesses along the coast," Donofrio said.
(To see if your representative has signed visit www.joinrfa.org/press/CongressCatchShareLetter.pdf)
Find your Representative at www.house.gov/representatives and tell them, "fishermen need money for better science, NOT programs that will put captains, tackle shops and marinas out of business while forcing anglers off the water." Catch shares will only protect the fish by destroying fishermen...it will hand ownership of the resource over to the few, the privileged, the elite, the preservationists and the corporations!!!
JOIN RFA TODAY & HELP US SAY NO TO NOAA!
“As you will see, if you looked to see who signed the letter, LOOK WHO'S NAMES ARE ABSENT of concern? Had I been asked, my name, Gary A Anderson, too would have accompany these distinguished names of call! Those of us in Florida will ravel in the names signed on this document and should not forget, come election time, as to who have come in aid of 'The People' in their time of need. Principles before Party, Personality and Profit with deeds not words.”Gary A. Anderson, Exploratory Candidate US Senate FL
RFA Says Agency Seeking Congressional Aid to Destroy Fishing Communities
In a bold attempt to take control of our nation's coastal resources, NOAA Fisheries has asked Congress for an additional $54 million in funding for catch shares, while simultaneously turning their back on the agency's scientific deficiencies in managing marine fisheries.
While Atlantic and Gulf Coast fishermen and legislators have openly rallied in opposition to this particular takeover scheme, NOAA Fisheries, led by an agenda-driven ideology to reduce fishing participation, continues to run roughshod over coastal constituents in clear violation of legislative order.
Appearing before a House Resource Committee hearing on October 26th in Washington, Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) executive director Jim Donofrio blasted the NOAA administration for failing to adequately fund scientific efforts in coastal fisheries management. "NOAA claims they don't have enough money to do the stock assessments on the species they manage," Donofrio said in his official testimony, explaining how there are boats tied to the dock in coastal communities throughout the United States right now, unable to access healthy, rebuilt fisheries due to lack of science.
When the Magnuson Stevens Act was passed by unanimous consent in the Senate in 2006 and signed by President Bush in 2007, it required NOAA fisheries to overhaul their Marine Recreational Fishing Statistical Survey (MRFSS) by a time-specific deadline of January 1, 2009. Donofrio said NOAA officials have publicly stated on several occasions that a new Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) has not yet been implemented, despite the requirements set forth by Congress.
"Right now we don't have a data collection program that Congress mandated in the 2007 Reauthorization for marine recreational statistics, the new MRIP program," Donofrio told Congress in October, adding "they're still using the MRFSS data and they're shutting down fisheries based on the MRFSS data."
Despite the woeful lack of science and analytical data needed to properly manage fisheries, NOAA has apparently gone to key members of the House and Senate in asking for additional funds for catch share programs which by design cap fishing participation by trading away ownership of fish stocks to select groups and individuals. Earlier this year, NOAA's administration under the leadership of Dr. Jane Lubchenco had attempted to misappropriate several million dollars away from NOAA's scientific budget to allocate towards catch shares, a move which was stymied by an act of Congress.
In February, the House voted 259-159 to cut off funding for future catch share programs which would've opened the door to commodities trading of fisherman’s catch allocations - or worse, a complete buy-out of angler access by preservationist groups. The bipartisan budget amendment tied to NOAA's proposed catch share funding was sponsored by Republican Rep. Walter Jones of North Carolina, as well as a pair of coastal Democrats in Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey.
"We've heard from Congressman Jones this week who says that NOAA is courting legislators, asking for more money for catch share programs," Donofrio said. "These are the same programs that have driven Massachusetts legislators to seek $21 million in directed economic relief from Washington to give to displaced fishermen, specifically because of these failed catch share policies enacted under the present NOAA administration."
A letter co-signed on October 31 by 19 bipartisan coastal members of the House of Representatives calls on ranking members of the House to ensure that language is included in the 2012 appropriations bill which would restrict the use of funds for development or approval of new catch share programs for any fishery under the jurisdiction of the New England, Mid Atlantic or South Atlantic Fishery Management Councils.
"The last thing the American government should be doing in these economic times is spending millions of taxpayer dollars to expand programs that will be put even more Americans out of work," the letter says, explaining that that is exactly what NOAA is attempting to do by requesting $54 million it its 2012 budget, "to accelerate implementation of new fisheries catch share programs across the U.S."
Donofrio said the RFA has already spoken to ranking members of the Senate who will be cosigning their support of the letter, and added that he and fellow fishermen will be reaching out to legislators in the Gulf of Mexico to rally support in opposition to catch share programs which take monies away from scientific efforts in that region.
"By commoditizing a public resource and placing share distinctions on individual fishes, what the catch share policy would do is give big corporations and wealthy non-profit groups the ability to buy up all the harvest for themselves, leaving individual anglers and coastal communities standing at the dock with nothing," Donofrio said. "This whole orchestrated effort by Dr. Lubchenco and her friends at Environmental Defense Fund is nothing more than a resource grab which will destroy our marine industry and take away access for millions of Americans."
"I can't fathom how Dr. Lubchenco can claim to support best available science when her Administration is asking Congress for money, not to improve stock assessments and data collection, but for coastal sharecropping schemes which will destroy our mom and pop businesses along the coast," Donofrio said.
Find your Representative at www.house.gov/representatives and tell them, "fishermen need money for better science, NOT programs that will put captains, tackle shops and marinas out of business while forcing anglers off the water." Catch shares will only protect the fish by destroying fishermen...it will hand ownership of the resource over to the few, the privileged, the elite, the preservationists and the corporations!!!
“As you will see, if you looked to see who signed the letter, LOOK WHO'S NAMES ARE ABSENT of concern? Had I been asked, my name, Gary A Anderson, too would have accompany these distinguished names of call! Those of us in Florida will ravel in the names signed on this document and should not forget, come election time, as to who have come in aid of 'The People' in their time of need. Principles before Party, Personality and Profit with deeds not words.”
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Wasting Your Money; Climate Change/Catch Shares!
Remember just how effective NOAA was during the Gulf Oil Spill? What about its fame to incompetent management through the corrupt and disposition of funds generated by fines and property seizures from fishermen? Climate Change Scares to Catch Share Ponzi schemes sponsored with your money by and for privileged industry like the EDF; why is that? 
Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the environmentalist rock star and former vice chairperson of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), was appointed as the administrator of NOAA by President Obama. She has installed a team of Eco-zealots, and they have a Climate Service Office ready and waiting to proceed ,with only congressional approval standing in their way, too which has not happened even though she has already spent monies in creating the positions needed to run her Czar creation of feudalism on the fisheries. The six regional directors were appointed on 10 September 2010. All the elements promised by Dr. Lubchenco are in place, even though Congress said “NO,” she is ready anyway. Wonder what that is costing us in tax dollars? The FY2011 Continuing Resolution, set by Congress, also prohibits expending funds on specific fisheries management techniques. NOAA’s response: issuing a legalistic Ziggy-zagging on parsing and hairsplitting, to find ways to fund their games.
Remember the article about sea level rise along the Maryland shore? It was another “Best available information” they could get as there was not any scientific data to back up such. A great Shock & Awe or article to catch the human eye of fear in gloom to doom; kudos to a great fiction story but to how many believed this garbage? The article appeared in the Climate Watch Magazine, which is a feature of the NOAA Climate Service web portal.
The apple falls not far from the tree and as Dr. Jane Lubchenco, was, is or whatever still has involvement with EDF, one of her founders and EDF are the extreme of environmentalist positions. EDF tool of choice for fisheries are “Catch Shares” or also referred to as Catch Shares Management and sometimes derisively termed as a cap and trade but to whatever you call them, “Fisheries are depleted and fishermen lose their jobs as “Catch Shares” march forward making monies for those whom are called stock, I mean, stakeholders. Now to those who do not know what a Catch Share is, here is a quote from Wenonah Hauter, of Newsvine.com, “A means to essentially privatize fishing, catch shares divide up the fish in any given region, often granting fishing privileges to a handful of larger corporate interests while pushing out smaller-scale, more traditional fishermen. Since they award those operations that fish the fastest and hardest, they incentivize the use of larger-scale boats, more damaging gear, and wasteful fishing practices that hurt fish stocks and the habitats on which they depend.”
If EDF loves NOAA and its position on its flawed data to best information and science, EDF ought to take it over with in the private sector and Congress could release NOAA from its purse strings, to which they would gladly do except our fearless leader, President Obama to is in bed with this Cap and trade bunch. We must tell Congress not to allow NOAA to regroup and we must make sure President Obama will be what I want to be; a one termed official! He had his time in and his colors are not that of my red, white and blue, as I stand for the American Fisherman, the Constitution and the use of God everywhere freedom rings through-out our Republic! Hell No to Catch Shares and Hell No to those organizations which stand by them. Not in my country, not in my town and not on my oceans are the speech of Americans everywhere. Catch Shares to Climate Change, sell it to China as they may be in need of a Eco-zealot environmentalist rock star, to motivate them into a Catch Shares Management Program, as we here back in America are not into another Cap in Shade deal to steal our rights to jobs to fish for the advancement of board members of the EDF on my dime!
Help Me, Help You achieve this goal because as a team we are unbeatable. God Bless America! “Principles Before Party, Personality, and Profits, with Deeds not Words.”
I am serious! Times are hard, I know, being on Disability, but just a buck, one measly dollar, 100 cents makes sense to reclaiming Florida to America! If everybody who liked my articles to the Sandbox paid one dollar, today, I'd have enough to give a start for a run to save our country. Enough to recruit more volunteers and enough to pay the filing fees; with left overs to go towards our homeless. I have plans for us all. I have a plan for you in stopping the insanity and bringing order back into our lives; just for a buck. Will You Please Donate to our future?
I Fish – I Vote;
Make Your Vote Count!
Gary A. Anderson Exploratory Candidate US Senate FL 2012
In-Kind Pol. Adv., for and approved by Gary A. Anderson,
Exploratory Candidate US Senate Fl. 2012
Dr. Jane Lubchenco, the environmentalist rock star and former vice chairperson of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), was appointed as the administrator of NOAA by President Obama. She has installed a team of Eco-zealots, and they have a Climate Service Office ready and waiting to proceed ,with only congressional approval standing in their way, too which has not happened even though she has already spent monies in creating the positions needed to run her Czar creation of feudalism on the fisheries. The six regional directors were appointed on 10 September 2010. All the elements promised by Dr. Lubchenco are in place, even though Congress said “NO,” she is ready anyway. Wonder what that is costing us in tax dollars? The FY2011 Continuing Resolution, set by Congress, also prohibits expending funds on specific fisheries management techniques. NOAA’s response: issuing a legalistic Ziggy-zagging on parsing and hairsplitting, to find ways to fund their games.
Remember the article about sea level rise along the Maryland shore? It was another “Best available information” they could get as there was not any scientific data to back up such. A great Shock & Awe or article to catch the human eye of fear in gloom to doom; kudos to a great fiction story but to how many believed this garbage? The article appeared in the Climate Watch Magazine, which is a feature of the NOAA Climate Service web portal.
The apple falls not far from the tree and as Dr. Jane Lubchenco, was, is or whatever still has involvement with EDF, one of her founders and EDF are the extreme of environmentalist positions. EDF tool of choice for fisheries are “Catch Shares” or also referred to as Catch Shares Management and sometimes derisively termed as a cap and trade but to whatever you call them, “Fisheries are depleted and fishermen lose their jobs as “Catch Shares” march forward making monies for those whom are called stock, I mean, stakeholders. Now to those who do not know what a Catch Share is, here is a quote from Wenonah Hauter, of Newsvine.com, “A means to essentially privatize fishing, catch shares divide up the fish in any given region, often granting fishing privileges to a handful of larger corporate interests while pushing out smaller-scale, more traditional fishermen. Since they award those operations that fish the fastest and hardest, they incentivize the use of larger-scale boats, more damaging gear, and wasteful fishing practices that hurt fish stocks and the habitats on which they depend.”
If EDF loves NOAA and its position on its flawed data to best information and science, EDF ought to take it over with in the private sector and Congress could release NOAA from its purse strings, to which they would gladly do except our fearless leader, President Obama to is in bed with this Cap and trade bunch. We must tell Congress not to allow NOAA to regroup and we must make sure President Obama will be what I want to be; a one termed official! He had his time in and his colors are not that of my red, white and blue, as I stand for the American Fisherman, the Constitution and the use of God everywhere freedom rings through-out our Republic! Hell No to Catch Shares and Hell No to those organizations which stand by them. Not in my country, not in my town and not on my oceans are the speech of Americans everywhere. Catch Shares to Climate Change, sell it to China as they may be in need of a Eco-zealot environmentalist rock star, to motivate them into a Catch Shares Management Program, as we here back in America are not into another Cap in Shade deal to steal our rights to jobs to fish for the advancement of board members of the EDF on my dime!
Help Me, Help You achieve this goal because as a team we are unbeatable. God Bless America! “Principles Before Party, Personality, and Profits, with Deeds not Words.”
I am serious! Times are hard, I know, being on Disability, but just a buck, one measly dollar, 100 cents makes sense to reclaiming Florida to America! If everybody who liked my articles to the Sandbox paid one dollar, today, I'd have enough to give a start for a run to save our country. Enough to recruit more volunteers and enough to pay the filing fees; with left overs to go towards our homeless. I have plans for us all. I have a plan for you in stopping the insanity and bringing order back into our lives; just for a buck. Will You Please Donate to our future?
I Fish – I Vote;
Make Your Vote Count!
Gary A. Anderson Exploratory Candidate US Senate FL 2012
In-Kind Pol. Adv., for and approved by Gary A. Anderson,
Exploratory Candidate US Senate Fl. 2012
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Halibut - Save the Halibut Charters
Save the Halibut Charters
For years, Alaskans have enjoyed fishing with family and friend aboard charters for halibut. This is in immediate danger! The National Marine Fisheries Service is setting up to further restrict the industry and, in result, will destroy a way of life for thousands.
We all know how interconnected Alaska is and many local economies depend on the halibut charters to bring business. The plan is to not only to create Charter IFQ's but to reduce the halibut bag limit to just one and create a size limit as well. Please click on this link for the petition, fill in out and send it in. Thank you!
Thank You All in Saving a lifetime of anglers to which wish not to have Halibut fishing but a memory of the past, based on a non-scientific value; "the best available science" is not really anything more than the best available guess at the expense of those who make a living taking people fishing. Giving way to a commercial industry where discards, are but fish too small too keep so they are killed out right with no regards to life in general and their IFQ's are tonnes in selling our fish to somebody else. You can personally thank Dr. Jane Lubchenco of NOAA/NMFS for these new ideas and, of course places like Walmart, who stand to make millions off of our fish, all the while putting the little guys and guides out of business. Please fill out the form and mail it in. You will be glad you did in knowing you saved somebodies job, maybe.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
Watch the Archived Hearing Webcast
CLICK HERE!
OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:
"NOAA's Fishery Science: Is the Lack of Basic Science Costing Jobs?"
OPENING STATEMENT:
The Honorable John Fleming
Chairman
WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:
Panel I
The Honorable John Mica (R-FL)
Member of Congress
The Honorable Walter Jones (R-NC)
Member of Congress
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
2:00 p.m.
Status of Fishery Resources Off the Northeastern United States for 1993 (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-101)
CLICK HERE!
OVERSIGHT HEARING ON:
"NOAA's Fishery Science: Is the Lack of Basic Science Costing Jobs?"
OPENING STATEMENT:
The Honorable John Fleming
Chairman
WITNESSES AND TESTIMONY:
Panel I
The Honorable John Mica (R-FL)
Member of Congress
The Honorable Walter Jones (R-NC)
Member of Congress
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, OCEANS AND INSULAR AFFAIRS
1324 Longworth House Office Building
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
2:00 p.m.
Status of Fishery Resources Off the Northeastern United States for 1993 (NOAA Technical Memorandum NMFS-F/NEC-101)
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Dr. Hansimian's Hurricane Forecast; A Chimp is better than a Chump!
Dr. Hansimian's Hurricane Forecast.
Diplomatically essential for articulating and promoting the weather; A Chimp is better than a Chump!
There may be a better way but what the hay, we could save the country over 500 billion dollars a year, in disbanding NOAA. We could reinstate NASA or even balance the budget; what a concept!
...AND then the "Experts"...
And Dr. Jane in her request for more monies from our pool of money designed for Social Security and such stated with her "New satellite system, they could forecast 7 days out." They are 'LUCKY' if they get a three day good guess but when monies are involved; people seem to say anything. Lies to fairy-tales, NASA is on the rocks and NOAA is bending us over without even a reach around. Save the Country and Cut NOAA's Strings!
Diplomatically essential for articulating and promoting the weather; A Chimp is better than a Chump!
There may be a better way but what the hay, we could save the country over 500 billion dollars a year, in disbanding NOAA. We could reinstate NASA or even balance the budget; what a concept!
...AND then the "Experts"...
And Dr. Jane in her request for more monies from our pool of money designed for Social Security and such stated with her "New satellite system, they could forecast 7 days out." They are 'LUCKY' if they get a three day good guess but when monies are involved; people seem to say anything. Lies to fairy-tales, NASA is on the rocks and NOAA is bending us over without even a reach around. Save the Country and Cut NOAA's Strings!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
"Catch Shares A Disaster" Says Mayor Lang; Bedford Mass.
It's Just that Simple; THEY DO NOT WORK but the fisherman do want to work. Why is OBAMA putting them out of business?
Every year, by law, NOAA puts out a fisheries report to the Congress. This is NOAA's chance to show off in the very best light. Table 1 of NOAA's annual report to Congress on the 2009 Status of U.S. Fisheries covers 522 fish stocks. Twenty-three percent of the most important 230 stocks have no data, being termed either "unknown" or "undefined." Is this what we have to show for forty years of effort -- a three-quarter understanding of our important fish stocks? Overall, of the 522 stocks, 51% have no data. No data on over half of the fish stocks, and this is our best available science?
AGENDA 21; A Constitution Killer!
I am but a messenger to the People!
Knowledge is power as is, Power is Knowledge and the more one arms themselves with knowledge, the better one is in fighting off obstacles to which can and will impede upon our Liberties to Freedoms! There are those upon us, to whom would bring us down and wish us to live as they do; not as we do. Freedom must be preserved and fought for in order to keep it. It does come with a price and that price is for you to stand up and support the Constitution of the United States our Bill of Rights and to say no to the Rio Convention of the United Nations, in its attempt to infiltrate our Country through various forms of malignancies which will take away your basic rights and freedoms.
You have heard of it in the past as, Smart Growth,
The 2050 Plan,
Growth Management,
Comprehensive Planning,
Sustainable Growth,
ICLEI
and they all have one thing in common; Agenda 21!
Catch Shares
Sector Separation
Marine Spatial Planning
Coastal Spatial Planning
Again, another chapter with in but still AGENDA 21!
Agenda 21, “Sustainable Development” The Fall of America
“My guns are out and I am taking aim at the UN’s Agenda 21, an initiative which started in 1992. Agenda 21 is a comprehensive plan of action to be taken globally, nationally and locally by organizations of the United Nations System, Governments, and Major Groups in every area in which human impacts on the environment.”
I Fish – I Vote;
Make Your Vote Count!
Gary A. Anderson Exploratory Candidate US Senate FL 2012
In-Kind Pol. Adv., for and approved by Gary A. Anderson,
Exploratory Candidate US Senate Fl. 2012
A new approach to oceans: is marine spatial planning too good to be true?(CURRENTS): An article from: E
Monday, May 9, 2011
Radioactive Glowing Tuna: NOAA says its OK!
Radioactive Tuna-fish; Sandwich, Anyone? NOAA Says Eat UP it high confidence with the best information available which equated to random samplings and a 40% testing of all seafood coming into our ports. 40 PERCENT? No wonder NMFS/NOAA is killing the fishing industry with catch shares and such; they too are now using inadequacy to incomplete data for the consumption of fish products, which could kill you some day?
ACCORDING TO NOAA,FDA & the EPA:
US SEAFOOD SAFE and Unaffected by Radiation Contamination from Japanese
Nuclear Power Plant Incident; U.S. Monitoring Control Strategy Explained
Based on both the information “currently available “ about radiation contamination from the Japanese nuclear
power plant incident and on the control measures in place and monitoring efforts by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have “high confidence” in the safety of seafood products in the U.S.
marketplace or exported U.S. seafood products.
DID YOU READ THAT? THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT TOLD YOU:
“Based on both the information currently available” KEY PHRASE HERE, ( currently available ), tells you nothing but upon reading it, sounds safe but does not say it is safe, instead it says, “High Confidence” in the products; double talk for you eat it but not me.”
The migration of tuna and other species of fish from the coast of Japan to U.S. waters would take days or
months under the best of circumstances, and vessels fishing beyond U.S. waters must also travel several days
to return to port. During that time needed for a fish contaminated by radiation in Japan to migrate, be caught
and reach the market, the level of short‐lived radionuclide such as I‐131 would drop significantly through
natural radioactive decay. To date, no significantly elevated radiation levels have been detected in migratory
species, including North Pacific albacore. Would you take the chance that it might be at a “significant” lower lever of radionuclide 1-131, to serve for your kids lunch box? “There is no safe level of radionuclide exposure, whether from food, water or other sources. Period…. Exposure to radionuclide, such as iodine-131 and cesium-137, increases the incidence of cancer. For this reason, every effort must be taken to minimize the radionuclide content in food and water.” Physicians for Social Responsibility, psr.org
THE SOFT SELL:
But in its news release today, NOAA just told you, my fellow Americans, “During that time needed for a fish contaminated by radiation in Japan to migrate, be caught
and reach the market, the level of short‐lived radionuclide such as I‐131 would drop significantly through
natural radioactive decay. To date, no significantly elevated radiation levels have been detected in migratory
species, including North Pacific albacore.” ANYBODY WANT A TUNA-FISH SANDWICH? NOAA says, eat away as there currently available information, along with the FDA and EPA, all being of compliance, have stated that no significantly elevated radiation levels have been detected
KEY WORDS AGAIN: significantly elevated radiation levels but that means there are radiation levels of a low dosage. Their wording makes the “SAFE SALE” and it sound OK! But according to Forbes Magazine article, some physicians, such as University of Wisconsin Professor Jeffrey Patterson, have insisted “there is no safe level of exposure to radionuclide. These man made isotopes, are among the most dangerous products of nuclear fission to human and animal health. They are “bone-seekers,” chemically similar to calcium, that collect in bone and marrow, where they are known to cause cancer. They are particularly dangerous to the growing bones of fetuses and children.”
Tuna fish Salad, anyone?
FDA is performing field examinations for gamma‐ray emitting radionuclide on approximately 40% of the
seafood products that are being shipped to the United States During the period from March 21, 2011 to April
25, 2011, 3,496 examinations were performed. To date, no field examinations have shown levels above
background. FDA is also randomly sampling selected entries and subjecting them to laboratory analysis.
RANDOM AND 40% FIELD EXAMS< OH I FEEL SAFE?> What about the other 60% not sampled? This is why Americans should demand American Shrimp in the markets. Do you know most all the shrimp and seafood you buy at your favorite shopping store comes from overseas. What about our American fish, shrimp, Lobsters and such. Why do I live in Florida, where Grouper to shrimp are abundant, have to buy Vietnam Grouper and Thailand Shrimp? This warning should be for those who eat canned tuna or by flash frozen fish from now “ short‐lived radionuclide such as I‐131 waters” because, our government regulations to catch shares are putting us out of business! You read right, a 40% study and the FDA, EPA and watchdog NOAA said it is safe. Well good, let them buy it and serve it to our kids! I do not want to eat hot glowing radioactive Tuna fish or other products from the far east.
I WANT AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS,
BY AMERICANS-FOR AMERICANS!
“Principles Before Party, Personality, and Profits, with Deeds not Words.”
In-Kind Pol. Adv., for and approved by Gary A. Anderson,
Exploratory Candidate US Senate Fl. 2012
Content copyright 2011. Gary A Anderson. All rights reserved.
ACCORDING TO NOAA,FDA & the EPA:
US SEAFOOD SAFE and Unaffected by Radiation Contamination from Japanese
Nuclear Power Plant Incident; U.S. Monitoring Control Strategy Explained
Based on both the information “currently available “ about radiation contamination from the Japanese nuclear
power plant incident and on the control measures in place and monitoring efforts by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have “high confidence” in the safety of seafood products in the U.S.
marketplace or exported U.S. seafood products.
DID YOU READ THAT? THINK ABOUT WHAT YOUR GOVERNMENT TOLD YOU:
“Based on both the information currently available” KEY PHRASE HERE, ( currently available ), tells you nothing but upon reading it, sounds safe but does not say it is safe, instead it says, “High Confidence” in the products; double talk for you eat it but not me.”
The migration of tuna and other species of fish from the coast of Japan to U.S. waters would take days or
months under the best of circumstances, and vessels fishing beyond U.S. waters must also travel several days
to return to port. During that time needed for a fish contaminated by radiation in Japan to migrate, be caught
and reach the market, the level of short‐lived radionuclide such as I‐131 would drop significantly through
natural radioactive decay. To date, no significantly elevated radiation levels have been detected in migratory
species, including North Pacific albacore. Would you take the chance that it might be at a “significant” lower lever of radionuclide 1-131, to serve for your kids lunch box? “There is no safe level of radionuclide exposure, whether from food, water or other sources. Period…. Exposure to radionuclide, such as iodine-131 and cesium-137, increases the incidence of cancer. For this reason, every effort must be taken to minimize the radionuclide content in food and water.” Physicians for Social Responsibility, psr.org
THE SOFT SELL:
But in its news release today, NOAA just told you, my fellow Americans, “During that time needed for a fish contaminated by radiation in Japan to migrate, be caught
and reach the market, the level of short‐lived radionuclide such as I‐131 would drop significantly through
natural radioactive decay. To date, no significantly elevated radiation levels have been detected in migratory
species, including North Pacific albacore.” ANYBODY WANT A TUNA-FISH SANDWICH? NOAA says, eat away as there currently available information, along with the FDA and EPA, all being of compliance, have stated that no significantly elevated radiation levels have been detected
KEY WORDS AGAIN: significantly elevated radiation levels but that means there are radiation levels of a low dosage. Their wording makes the “SAFE SALE” and it sound OK! But according to Forbes Magazine article, some physicians, such as University of Wisconsin Professor Jeffrey Patterson, have insisted “there is no safe level of exposure to radionuclide. These man made isotopes, are among the most dangerous products of nuclear fission to human and animal health. They are “bone-seekers,” chemically similar to calcium, that collect in bone and marrow, where they are known to cause cancer. They are particularly dangerous to the growing bones of fetuses and children.”
Tuna fish Salad, anyone?
FDA is performing field examinations for gamma‐ray emitting radionuclide on approximately 40% of the
seafood products that are being shipped to the United States During the period from March 21, 2011 to April
25, 2011, 3,496 examinations were performed. To date, no field examinations have shown levels above
background. FDA is also randomly sampling selected entries and subjecting them to laboratory analysis.
RANDOM AND 40% FIELD EXAMS< OH I FEEL SAFE?> What about the other 60% not sampled? This is why Americans should demand American Shrimp in the markets. Do you know most all the shrimp and seafood you buy at your favorite shopping store comes from overseas. What about our American fish, shrimp, Lobsters and such. Why do I live in Florida, where Grouper to shrimp are abundant, have to buy Vietnam Grouper and Thailand Shrimp? This warning should be for those who eat canned tuna or by flash frozen fish from now “ short‐lived radionuclide such as I‐131 waters” because, our government regulations to catch shares are putting us out of business! You read right, a 40% study and the FDA, EPA and watchdog NOAA said it is safe. Well good, let them buy it and serve it to our kids! I do not want to eat hot glowing radioactive Tuna fish or other products from the far east.
I WANT AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS,
BY AMERICANS-FOR AMERICANS!
“Principles Before Party, Personality, and Profits, with Deeds not Words.”
In-Kind Pol. Adv., for and approved by Gary A. Anderson,
Exploratory Candidate US Senate Fl. 2012
Content copyright 2011. Gary A Anderson. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
A True Oxymoron; Other Mandatory Discretionary Funds: NOAA Files
TOTAL DISCRETIONARY SPENDING FOR NOAA:
$109,015,000.00 That is 190 million, 15 thousand Dollars of Your Money spent on items not really needed; that is why it is called, Discretionary Funds! I want to run for a Political Office. I am a Exploratory Candidate for the US Senate Florida. I Fish, I Vote. I CAN! We, together can put a stop to this out of control spending. Help me, help you put an end to unnecessary spending of your hard earned dollars. Please support my efforts in running as an Exploratory candidate and together we can stop this madness...
Editor's Note: "How, I ask, can anything be of a "Discretionary" act and yet considered Mandatory? Discretionary is an adjective, meaning:
1. having or using the ability to act or decide according to your own discretion or judgment; The commission has discretionary power to award extra funds; discretionary funds; discretionary income; discretionary; Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0; discretionary;
2. not earmarked; available for use as needed. Aah? and
Mandatory as an adjective means to:
1. Be required by rule; in most schools physical education are compulsory; attendance is mandatory; required reading; mandatory; but as a noun
1. the recipient of a mandate
2. a territory surrendered by Turkey or Germany after World War I and put under the tutelage of some other European power until they are able to stand by themselves.
Two words of total opposite meaning, I'm right, it is a Oxymoron; leave it to NOAA to come up with this ignorant statement and they wonder why they cannot get their act together in shutting down fishing as we know it today; the leasing to private foundations and fleets in owning what is not theirs to own in the first place, our oceans to sea shores. Another Oxymoron, at its best! I think just a bunch of Greedy Moron's about sums it up. Also, no editing needed in this budget proposal; all misspellings to grammar at its best, is courtesy of Dr. Jane and her staff, up there at NOAA, in raping you of badly needed dollars we could be using in mending the US Budget to helping out the homeless!"
The Discretionary Social Fund and Money Management (DWP Research Report)
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT FUND
The Coastal Zone Management Fund (CZMF) was established under the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508). The CZMF consists
of loan repayments from the former Coastal Energy Impact Program.
Loans under this program were made prior to 1992, but balances were not
transferred to the General Fund in accordance with the Federal Credit Reform
Act of 1990 (FCRA), even though the account effectively serves as a liquidating
account. To resolve this inconsistency, the Budget proposes to cancel all
balances in the Coastal Zone Management Fund, make future payments to
the Fund subject to FCRA, and eliminate the annual transfer from this account
to the Operations, Research, and Facilities account.
COASTAL IMPACT ASSISTANCE FUND
Congress authorized the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) in 2001
to assist states in mitigating the impacts from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
oil and gas production. Congress appropriated $150,000,000 in FY 2001
to seven coastal states: Alaska, California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, and Florida, to implement this program. Funds were expended
according to Coastal Impact Assistance Plans developed by the states.
NOAA was charged with implementing this program at the federal level. FY
2001 was the only year NOAA received an appropriation for these activities;
however, NOAA continues to receive de-obligations from this grant program,
which are deposited in this account.
FISHERMEN’S CONTINGENCY FUND
The Fishermen’s Contingency Fund (FCF) program minimizes financial
losses of the fishing industry caused by competing uses of the Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) and provides for timely resolution of claims by vessel
owners. The FCF is authorized under Section 402 of Title IV of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978. NOAA compensates U.S.
commercial fishermen for damage or loss of fishing gear, vessels, and resulting
economic loss caused by obstructions related to oil and gas exploration,
development, and production in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf. The
funds used to provide this compensation are derived from fees collected by
the Secretary of the Interior from the holders of leases, exploration permits,
easements, or rights-of-way in areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. The
FCF account is funded solely through user fees. Disbursements can be
made only to the extent authorized in appropriation acts. In FY 2012 NMFS
requests budget authority of $350,000 for the payment of claims filed by
fisherman. These funds should be sufficient to cover the anticipated amount
of claims for FY 2012.
FOREIGN FISHING OBSERVER FUND
The Foreign Fishing Observer Fund (FFOF) is financed through fees collected from owners and operators
of foreign fishing vessels fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the United States (such
fishing requires a permit issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act). This includes longline vessels fishing in the Atlantic billfish and shark fishery and other foreign vessels
fishing in the EEZ. The fund is used by NOAA to pay salaries, administrative costs, data editing and
entry costs, and other costs incurred in placing observers aboard foreign fishing vessels. The observer
program is conducted primarily through contracts with the private sector. NOAA/NMFS places these
observers aboard foreign fishing vessels to monitor compliance with U.S. fishery laws and to collect fishery
management data. Amounts available in the fund can be disbursed only to the extent and in amounts
provided in appropriation acts. In FY 1985, Congress approved the establishment of a supplemental
observer program. The program provided that foreign vessels without federally-funded observers are
required to obtain the services of private contractors certified by the Secretary of Commerce. NOAA
does not anticipate foreign fishing in the U.S. EEZ requiring funds from this account. In FY 2012, NOAA
requests that $350,000 of the unobligated balance available be rescinded.
FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The Fisheries Finance Program (FFP) Account is a national loan program that makes long-term fixed-rate
financing available to U.S. citizens who otherwise qualify for financing or refinancing of the construction,
reconstruction, reconditioning, and, in some cases, the purchasing of fishing vessels, shoreside processing,
aquaculture, and mariculture facilities, and the purchase of individual fishing quota (IFQ). The FFP
operates under the authority of Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended (46 USC 53701);
Section 303(a) of the Sustainable Fisheries Act amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act; and, from
time to time FFP-specific legislation. NMFS requests no increase for the FFP because these loans have
a negative subsidy rate and no appropriated funds are required. However, specific loan ceilings for each
type of loan authority within the FFP must be included in appropriation language or other bill language
regardless of the need for cash appropriations. The FY 2012 budget proposal requests loan authority of
$24 million for IFQ loans and $59 million for FFP traditional loans as authorized by the Merchant Marine
Act. Three benefits will result from this action. First, the IFQ loan program is part of the Northwest Halibut
and Sablefish and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab limited entry fisheries management program
that continues to stabilize these fisheries. This will also support the implementation of the crab IFQ loan
required by the management plan approved by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Second,
FFP traditional lending is harvesting-capacity-neutral and supports qualified established U.S. seafood
companies operating in a sustainable fisheries environment. Last, FFP lending to marine aquaculture facilities
contributes to the development of a promising avenue of seafood production and greater economic
sustainability from U.S. ocean resources.
PROMOTE AND DEVELOP FISHERIES PRODUCTS
The American Fisheries Promotion Act (AFPA) of 1980 amended the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Act to
authorize a grants program for fisheries research and development projects to be carried out with S-K
funds. S-K funds are derived from a mandatory transfer from the Department of Agriculture to NOAA
from duties on imported fisheries products. An amount equal to 30% of these duties is made available to
NOAA and, subject to appropriation, is available to carry out the purposes of the AFPA. The S-K grants
program has provided substantial assistance to address impediments to the management, development,
and utilization of the Nation’s living marine resources. Each year a Federal Register notice is published announcing the program. The annual notice outlines priority areas, such as research on reduction/elimination of bycatch and aquaculture. The remainder of the S-K funds, which are transferred as discretionary funds, are used to offset the appropriation requirements of the Operations, Research, and Facilities account.
PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY FUND
The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) was established by Congress in FY 2000 to address
the listings of Pacific salmon and steelhead populations under the ESA and the impacts of the Pacific
Salmon Treaty Agreement between the United States and Canada. Under the PCSRF, NMFS manages a
program to provide funding to the states and tribes of the Pacific Coast region (Washington, Oregon, California,
Idaho, Nevada, and Alaska) to implement projects that restore and protect salmonid populations
and their habitats. Through FY 2010, over $880 million has been provided to nearly 9 thousand projects
throughout the region that have made important contributions to improve that status of ESA-listed salmonids,
preventing extinctions, and helping to protect currently healthy populations. In addition to the PCSRF
federal funds, states provide significant matching funds through their grant allocation processes. Furthermore,
the federal and state matching funds are supplemented by private and local contributions at
the project level, including additional funding, volunteer time, and other in-kind donations. The FY 2012
President’s Request includes $65,000,000 for this account.
MARINE MAMMAL UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT FUND
An unusual mortality event (UME) is defined under the Marine Mammal Protection Act as “a stranding that
is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate
response.” In recent years, increased efforts to examine carcasses and live stranded animals have improved
the knowledge of mortality rates and causes, allowing a better understanding of population threats
and stressors and the ability to determine when a situation is “unusual.” Understanding and investigating
marine mammal UMEs is important because they can serve as indicators of ocean health, giving insight
into larger environmental issues which may also have implications for human health and welfare.
Marine Mammal Protection Act Section 405 (16 USC 1421d) establishes the Marine Mammal Unusual
Mortality Event Fund. The fund: “shall be available only for use by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Interior to compensate persons for special costs incurred in acting in
accordance with the contingency plan issued under section 1421c(b) of this title or under the direction of
an onsite coordinator for an unusual mortality event; for reimbursing any stranding network participant for
costs incurred in preparing and transporting tissues collected with respect to an unusual mortality event
for the Tissue Bank; and for care and maintenance of marine mammal seized under section 1374(c)(2)(D).”
According to the MMPA, deposits can be made into the fund by the following: “amounts appropriated
to the fund; other amounts appropriated to the Secretary with respect to unusual mortality events; and
amounts received by the United States in the form of gifts, devises, and bequests under subsection (d) of
this section.”
MEDICARE ELIGIBLE RETIREE HEALTH CARE FUND
The FY 2003 Department of Defense Authorization Act requires all uniformed services, including NOAA, to
participate in an accrual fund for Medicare-eligible retirees. Payments into this accrual fund will cover the
future health care benefits of present, active-duty NOAA officers and their dependents and annuitants.
Budget Trends FY 2006-2012
Other Discretionary Funds (BA)
*****Other Discretionary Funds
Fisherman’s Contingency Fund $350,000
Foreign Fishing Observer Fund $350,000
Promote and Develop American Fisheries $66,200,000
Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund $65,000,000
Medicare Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund $1,936,000
Total Discretionary Funds from your TAXES= 13,860,000 Dollars!
OTHER DISCRETIONARY REIMBRUSABLE FUNDS
SANCTUARIES ENFORCEMENT ASSET FORFEITURE FUND
Sanctuaries Enforcement Asset Forfeiture Fund receives proceeds from civil
penalties and forfeiture claims against responsible parties, as determined
through court settlements or agreements, for violations of NOAA sanctuary
regulations. Penalties received are held in sanctuary site-specific accounts
from year to year as the funds are spent on resource protection within the
sanctuary site where the penalty or forfeiture occurred. Funds are expended
for resource protection purposes which may include all aspects of law enforcement
(from equipment to labor), community oriented policing programs,
and other resource protection and management measures such as the installation
of mooring buoys or restoration of injured resources.
FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT ASSET FORFEITURE FUND
Section 311(e)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (MSA) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary)
to pay certain enforcement-related expenses from fines, penalties and
forfeiture proceeds received for violations of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
or of any other marine resource law enforced by the Secretary. Pursuant
to this authority, the NOAA has established a Civil Monetary Penalty/Asset
Forfeiture Fund (AFF). Certain fines, penalties and forfeiture proceeds received
by NOAA are deposited into this fund, and subsequently used to pay
for certain enforcement-related expenses. When Congress established the
AFF it was deemed appropriate to use these proceeds to offset in part the
costs of administering the enforcement program. Expenses such as: costs
directly related to the storage, maintenance, and care of seized fish, vessels,
or other property during a civil or criminal proceeding; reimbursement to
other federal or state agencies for enforcement related services provided
pursuant to an agreement entered into with the Secretary; and other limited
uses as outlined in NOAA’s Asset Forfeiture Fund policy. NMFS Office of
Law Enforcement (OLE) manages the AFF, which is used by OLE and NOAA
General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation (GCEL) to pay for enforcement
activities. NOAA is proposing language in FY 2012 to create this fund
as described above.
*****Other Discretionary Reimbursable Funds
Sanctuaries Asset Forfeiture Fund $1,000,000
Fisheries Asset Forfeiture Fund $8,000,000
For the LAW to hold your forfeited Property= 9,000,000 Dollars
MANDATORY FUNDS!
PROMOTE AND DEVELOP AMERICAN FISHERY PRODUCTS & RESEARCH PERTAINING
TO AMERICAN FISHERIES FUND
The American Fisheries Promotion Act (AFPA) of 1980 amended the Saltonstall-
Kennedy (S-K) Act to authorize a grants program for fisheries research
and development projects to be carried out with S-K funds. S-K funds are
derived from a mandatory transfer from the Department of Agriculture to
NOAA from duties on imported fisheries products. An amount equal to 30%
of these duties is made available to NOAA and, subject to appropriation, is
available to carry out the purposes of the AFPA. The S-K grants program has
provided substantial assistance to address impediments to the management,
development, and utilization of the Nation’s living marine resources. Each
year a Federal Register notice is published announcing the program. The annual notice outlines priority areas, such as research on reduction/elimination of bycatch and aquaculture.
The remainder of the S-K funds, which are transferred as discretionary funds, are used to offset the
appropriation requirements of the Operations, Research, and Facilities account.
FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The mandatory component of the Fisheries Finance Program Account (FFP) Account authority is subject
to the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (FCRA) (2 U.S.C. 661). The FCRA requires estimated loan costs
(FCRA cost) be appropriated in cash at the time Congress authorizes annual credit ceilings. FFP Account
loan activity demonstrates that the FCRA subsidy is negative. Statutory authority is found in 46 U.S.C.
1274 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. FFP Account lending guidelines are found at Title 50, Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), Part 253, subpart B; and tempered by NOAA’s sustainable fisheries policy and by the
practical considerations of a program that has been self-sustaining throughout its credit history.
FEDERAL SHIP FINANCING FUND
This account manages the loan guarantee portfolio that existed prior to the enactment of the Federal
Credit Reform Act of 1990.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT & RESTORATION FUND
The Environmental Improvement & Restoration Fund (EIRF) was created by the Department of Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998 for the purpose of carrying out marine research activities
in the North Pacific. These funds will provide grants to Federal, State, private or foreign organizations or
individuals to conduct research activities on or relating to the fisheries or marine ecosystems in the North
Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean.
LIMITED ACCESS SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FUND
Under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act Section 304(d)(2)(A), NMFS must collect a fee to recover
the incremental costs of management, data collection, and enforcement of Limited Access Privilege (LAP)
programs. Funds collected under this authority are deposited into the “Limited Access System Administrative
Fund” (LASAF). Fees shall not exceed three percent of the ex-vessel value of fish harvested under
any such program, and shall be collected at either the time of the landing, filing of a landing report, or
sale of such fish during a fishing season or in the last quarter of the calendar year in which the fish is harvested.
The LASAF shall be available, without appropriation or fiscal year limitation, only for the purposes
of administrating the central registry system; and administering and implementing the Magnuson-Stevens
Act in the fishery in which the fees were collected. Sums in the fund that are not currently needed for
these purposes shall be kept on deposit or invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by the U.S. Also, in
establishing a LAP program, a Regional Council can consider, and may provide, if appropriate, an auction
system or other program to collect royalties for the initial or any subsequent distribution of allocations. If an
auction system is developed, revenues from these royalties are deposited in the LASAF.
WESTERN PACIFIC SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES FUND
Section 204(e) of the 2006 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act authorizes the establishment of the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund . This fund
serves as a repository for any permit payments received by the Secretary of Commerce for foreign fishing
within the U.S. EEZ around Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, and Jarvis, Howland, Baker and Wake Islands, sometimes known as the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA). Also, in the case of violations
by foreign vessels occurring in these areas, amounts received by the Secretary attributable to fines
and penalties shall be deposited into the fund. Foreign fishing is only allowed though a Pacific Insular
Area Fishery agreement. Before entering into such an Agreement, the Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council must develop a marine conservation plan that provides details on uses for any funds collected.
Marine Conservation Plans must also be developed by the Governors of the Territories of Guam
and American Samoa and of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and approved by the
Secretary of Commerce or designee. Additionally, any funds or contributions received in support of conservation
and management objectives under a marine conservation plan for any Pacific Insular Area other
than American Samoa, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands shall be deposited in this fund.
NOAA CORPS COMMISSIONED OFFICERS RETIREMENT
The retirement system for the uniformed services provides a measure of financial security after release
from active duty for service members and their survivors. It is an important factor in the choice of a career
in the uniformed services and is mandated by Federal statutes under Title 10, United States Code. NOAA
transfers retirement pay funds to the Coast Guard, which handles the payment function for retirees and
annuitants. Health care funds for non-Medicare-eligible retirees, dependents, and annuitants are transferred
to the U.S. Public Health Service, which administers the health care program.
*****Other Mandatory Discretionary Funds
Coastal Zone Management Fund $1,500,000
Damage Assessment & Restoration Revolving Fund $3,000,000
Promote and Develop American Fisheries Products $42,171,000
Fisheries Finance Program Account $5,777,000
Federal Ship Financing Fund $740,000
Environmental Improvement & Restoration Fund $1,467,000
Limited Access System Administration Fund $2,231,000
Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries $1,000,000
NO AA Corp Commissioned Officers Retirement $28,269,000
A True Oxymoron; Other Mandatory Discretionary Funds: $86,155,000 DOLLARS!
TOTAL DISCRETIONARY SPENDING FOR NOAA:
$109,015,000.00
Director's Discretionary Poster Fund Day / NASA Extends JPL Contract / Space Station Freedom Contract Negotiations Concluded / NACA Reunion IV (Astrogram, Volume 31, Number 2, October 21, 1988)
AND IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH GARBAGE TO DIGEST IN ONE SITTING, GO GET SOME POPCORN, SIT BACK, and WATCH THIS THOROUGHLY BORING MOVIE, BROUGHT TO YOU BY NOAA & DR. JANE, IN PERSON: NOAA - NOAA FY2012 Constituent Budget Briefing OPENS IN ITS OWN, SO YOU MIGHT WISH TO OPEN IT IN ANOTHER TAB OR LOSE THE SANDBOX....
In-Kind Pol. Adv., for and approved by Gary A. Anderson,
Exploratory Candidate US Senate Fl. 2012
$109,015,000.00 That is 190 million, 15 thousand Dollars of Your Money spent on items not really needed; that is why it is called, Discretionary Funds! I want to run for a Political Office. I am a Exploratory Candidate for the US Senate Florida. I Fish, I Vote. I CAN! We, together can put a stop to this out of control spending. Help me, help you put an end to unnecessary spending of your hard earned dollars. Please support my efforts in running as an Exploratory candidate and together we can stop this madness...
Editor's Note: "How, I ask, can anything be of a "Discretionary" act and yet considered Mandatory? Discretionary is an adjective, meaning:
1. having or using the ability to act or decide according to your own discretion or judgment; The commission has discretionary power to award extra funds; discretionary funds; discretionary income; discretionary; Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0; discretionary;
2. not earmarked; available for use as needed. Aah? and
Mandatory as an adjective means to:
1. Be required by rule; in most schools physical education are compulsory; attendance is mandatory; required reading; mandatory; but as a noun
1. the recipient of a mandate
2. a territory surrendered by Turkey or Germany after World War I and put under the tutelage of some other European power until they are able to stand by themselves.
Two words of total opposite meaning, I'm right, it is a Oxymoron; leave it to NOAA to come up with this ignorant statement and they wonder why they cannot get their act together in shutting down fishing as we know it today; the leasing to private foundations and fleets in owning what is not theirs to own in the first place, our oceans to sea shores. Another Oxymoron, at its best! I think just a bunch of Greedy Moron's about sums it up. Also, no editing needed in this budget proposal; all misspellings to grammar at its best, is courtesy of Dr. Jane and her staff, up there at NOAA, in raping you of badly needed dollars we could be using in mending the US Budget to helping out the homeless!"
The Discretionary Social Fund and Money Management (DWP Research Report)
COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT FUND
The Coastal Zone Management Fund (CZMF) was established under the
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-508). The CZMF consists
of loan repayments from the former Coastal Energy Impact Program.
Loans under this program were made prior to 1992, but balances were not
transferred to the General Fund in accordance with the Federal Credit Reform
Act of 1990 (FCRA), even though the account effectively serves as a liquidating
account. To resolve this inconsistency, the Budget proposes to cancel all
balances in the Coastal Zone Management Fund, make future payments to
the Fund subject to FCRA, and eliminate the annual transfer from this account
to the Operations, Research, and Facilities account.
COASTAL IMPACT ASSISTANCE FUND
Congress authorized the Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) in 2001
to assist states in mitigating the impacts from Outer Continental Shelf (OCS)
oil and gas production. Congress appropriated $150,000,000 in FY 2001
to seven coastal states: Alaska, California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Alabama, and Florida, to implement this program. Funds were expended
according to Coastal Impact Assistance Plans developed by the states.
NOAA was charged with implementing this program at the federal level. FY
2001 was the only year NOAA received an appropriation for these activities;
however, NOAA continues to receive de-obligations from this grant program,
which are deposited in this account.
FISHERMEN’S CONTINGENCY FUND
The Fishermen’s Contingency Fund (FCF) program minimizes financial
losses of the fishing industry caused by competing uses of the Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) and provides for timely resolution of claims by vessel
owners. The FCF is authorized under Section 402 of Title IV of the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978. NOAA compensates U.S.
commercial fishermen for damage or loss of fishing gear, vessels, and resulting
economic loss caused by obstructions related to oil and gas exploration,
development, and production in any area of the Outer Continental Shelf. The
funds used to provide this compensation are derived from fees collected by
the Secretary of the Interior from the holders of leases, exploration permits,
easements, or rights-of-way in areas of the Outer Continental Shelf. The
FCF account is funded solely through user fees. Disbursements can be
made only to the extent authorized in appropriation acts. In FY 2012 NMFS
requests budget authority of $350,000 for the payment of claims filed by
fisherman. These funds should be sufficient to cover the anticipated amount
of claims for FY 2012.
FOREIGN FISHING OBSERVER FUND
The Foreign Fishing Observer Fund (FFOF) is financed through fees collected from owners and operators
of foreign fishing vessels fishing within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of the United States (such
fishing requires a permit issued under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act). This includes longline vessels fishing in the Atlantic billfish and shark fishery and other foreign vessels
fishing in the EEZ. The fund is used by NOAA to pay salaries, administrative costs, data editing and
entry costs, and other costs incurred in placing observers aboard foreign fishing vessels. The observer
program is conducted primarily through contracts with the private sector. NOAA/NMFS places these
observers aboard foreign fishing vessels to monitor compliance with U.S. fishery laws and to collect fishery
management data. Amounts available in the fund can be disbursed only to the extent and in amounts
provided in appropriation acts. In FY 1985, Congress approved the establishment of a supplemental
observer program. The program provided that foreign vessels without federally-funded observers are
required to obtain the services of private contractors certified by the Secretary of Commerce. NOAA
does not anticipate foreign fishing in the U.S. EEZ requiring funds from this account. In FY 2012, NOAA
requests that $350,000 of the unobligated balance available be rescinded.
FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The Fisheries Finance Program (FFP) Account is a national loan program that makes long-term fixed-rate
financing available to U.S. citizens who otherwise qualify for financing or refinancing of the construction,
reconstruction, reconditioning, and, in some cases, the purchasing of fishing vessels, shoreside processing,
aquaculture, and mariculture facilities, and the purchase of individual fishing quota (IFQ). The FFP
operates under the authority of Title XI of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936, as amended (46 USC 53701);
Section 303(a) of the Sustainable Fisheries Act amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Act; and, from
time to time FFP-specific legislation. NMFS requests no increase for the FFP because these loans have
a negative subsidy rate and no appropriated funds are required. However, specific loan ceilings for each
type of loan authority within the FFP must be included in appropriation language or other bill language
regardless of the need for cash appropriations. The FY 2012 budget proposal requests loan authority of
$24 million for IFQ loans and $59 million for FFP traditional loans as authorized by the Merchant Marine
Act. Three benefits will result from this action. First, the IFQ loan program is part of the Northwest Halibut
and Sablefish and the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands Crab limited entry fisheries management program
that continues to stabilize these fisheries. This will also support the implementation of the crab IFQ loan
required by the management plan approved by the North Pacific Fisheries Management Council. Second,
FFP traditional lending is harvesting-capacity-neutral and supports qualified established U.S. seafood
companies operating in a sustainable fisheries environment. Last, FFP lending to marine aquaculture facilities
contributes to the development of a promising avenue of seafood production and greater economic
sustainability from U.S. ocean resources.
PROMOTE AND DEVELOP FISHERIES PRODUCTS
The American Fisheries Promotion Act (AFPA) of 1980 amended the Saltonstall-Kennedy (S-K) Act to
authorize a grants program for fisheries research and development projects to be carried out with S-K
funds. S-K funds are derived from a mandatory transfer from the Department of Agriculture to NOAA
from duties on imported fisheries products. An amount equal to 30% of these duties is made available to
NOAA and, subject to appropriation, is available to carry out the purposes of the AFPA. The S-K grants
program has provided substantial assistance to address impediments to the management, development,
and utilization of the Nation’s living marine resources. Each year a Federal Register notice is published announcing the program. The annual notice outlines priority areas, such as research on reduction/elimination of bycatch and aquaculture. The remainder of the S-K funds, which are transferred as discretionary funds, are used to offset the appropriation requirements of the Operations, Research, and Facilities account.
PACIFIC COASTAL SALMON RECOVERY FUND
The Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF) was established by Congress in FY 2000 to address
the listings of Pacific salmon and steelhead populations under the ESA and the impacts of the Pacific
Salmon Treaty Agreement between the United States and Canada. Under the PCSRF, NMFS manages a
program to provide funding to the states and tribes of the Pacific Coast region (Washington, Oregon, California,
Idaho, Nevada, and Alaska) to implement projects that restore and protect salmonid populations
and their habitats. Through FY 2010, over $880 million has been provided to nearly 9 thousand projects
throughout the region that have made important contributions to improve that status of ESA-listed salmonids,
preventing extinctions, and helping to protect currently healthy populations. In addition to the PCSRF
federal funds, states provide significant matching funds through their grant allocation processes. Furthermore,
the federal and state matching funds are supplemented by private and local contributions at
the project level, including additional funding, volunteer time, and other in-kind donations. The FY 2012
President’s Request includes $65,000,000 for this account.
MARINE MAMMAL UNUSUAL MORTALITY EVENT FUND
An unusual mortality event (UME) is defined under the Marine Mammal Protection Act as “a stranding that
is unexpected; involves a significant die-off of any marine mammal population; and demands immediate
response.” In recent years, increased efforts to examine carcasses and live stranded animals have improved
the knowledge of mortality rates and causes, allowing a better understanding of population threats
and stressors and the ability to determine when a situation is “unusual.” Understanding and investigating
marine mammal UMEs is important because they can serve as indicators of ocean health, giving insight
into larger environmental issues which may also have implications for human health and welfare.
Marine Mammal Protection Act Section 405 (16 USC 1421d) establishes the Marine Mammal Unusual
Mortality Event Fund. The fund: “shall be available only for use by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation
with the Secretary of the Interior to compensate persons for special costs incurred in acting in
accordance with the contingency plan issued under section 1421c(b) of this title or under the direction of
an onsite coordinator for an unusual mortality event; for reimbursing any stranding network participant for
costs incurred in preparing and transporting tissues collected with respect to an unusual mortality event
for the Tissue Bank; and for care and maintenance of marine mammal seized under section 1374(c)(2)(D).”
According to the MMPA, deposits can be made into the fund by the following: “amounts appropriated
to the fund; other amounts appropriated to the Secretary with respect to unusual mortality events; and
amounts received by the United States in the form of gifts, devises, and bequests under subsection (d) of
this section.”
MEDICARE ELIGIBLE RETIREE HEALTH CARE FUND
The FY 2003 Department of Defense Authorization Act requires all uniformed services, including NOAA, to
participate in an accrual fund for Medicare-eligible retirees. Payments into this accrual fund will cover the
future health care benefits of present, active-duty NOAA officers and their dependents and annuitants.
Budget Trends FY 2006-2012
Other Discretionary Funds (BA)
*****Other Discretionary Funds
Fisherman’s Contingency Fund $350,000
Foreign Fishing Observer Fund $350,000
Promote and Develop American Fisheries $66,200,000
Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund $65,000,000
Medicare Eligible Retiree Health Care Fund $1,936,000
Total Discretionary Funds from your TAXES= 13,860,000 Dollars!
OTHER DISCRETIONARY REIMBRUSABLE FUNDS
SANCTUARIES ENFORCEMENT ASSET FORFEITURE FUND
Sanctuaries Enforcement Asset Forfeiture Fund receives proceeds from civil
penalties and forfeiture claims against responsible parties, as determined
through court settlements or agreements, for violations of NOAA sanctuary
regulations. Penalties received are held in sanctuary site-specific accounts
from year to year as the funds are spent on resource protection within the
sanctuary site where the penalty or forfeiture occurred. Funds are expended
for resource protection purposes which may include all aspects of law enforcement
(from equipment to labor), community oriented policing programs,
and other resource protection and management measures such as the installation
of mooring buoys or restoration of injured resources.
FISHERIES ENFORCEMENT ASSET FORFEITURE FUND
Section 311(e)(1) of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and
Management Act (MSA) authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary)
to pay certain enforcement-related expenses from fines, penalties and
forfeiture proceeds received for violations of the Magnuson-Stevens Act,
or of any other marine resource law enforced by the Secretary. Pursuant
to this authority, the NOAA has established a Civil Monetary Penalty/Asset
Forfeiture Fund (AFF). Certain fines, penalties and forfeiture proceeds received
by NOAA are deposited into this fund, and subsequently used to pay
for certain enforcement-related expenses. When Congress established the
AFF it was deemed appropriate to use these proceeds to offset in part the
costs of administering the enforcement program. Expenses such as: costs
directly related to the storage, maintenance, and care of seized fish, vessels,
or other property during a civil or criminal proceeding; reimbursement to
other federal or state agencies for enforcement related services provided
pursuant to an agreement entered into with the Secretary; and other limited
uses as outlined in NOAA’s Asset Forfeiture Fund policy. NMFS Office of
Law Enforcement (OLE) manages the AFF, which is used by OLE and NOAA
General Counsel for Enforcement and Litigation (GCEL) to pay for enforcement
activities. NOAA is proposing language in FY 2012 to create this fund
as described above.
*****Other Discretionary Reimbursable Funds
Sanctuaries Asset Forfeiture Fund $1,000,000
Fisheries Asset Forfeiture Fund $8,000,000
For the LAW to hold your forfeited Property= 9,000,000 Dollars
MANDATORY FUNDS!
PROMOTE AND DEVELOP AMERICAN FISHERY PRODUCTS & RESEARCH PERTAINING
TO AMERICAN FISHERIES FUND
The American Fisheries Promotion Act (AFPA) of 1980 amended the Saltonstall-
Kennedy (S-K) Act to authorize a grants program for fisheries research
and development projects to be carried out with S-K funds. S-K funds are
derived from a mandatory transfer from the Department of Agriculture to
NOAA from duties on imported fisheries products. An amount equal to 30%
of these duties is made available to NOAA and, subject to appropriation, is
available to carry out the purposes of the AFPA. The S-K grants program has
provided substantial assistance to address impediments to the management,
development, and utilization of the Nation’s living marine resources. Each
year a Federal Register notice is published announcing the program. The annual notice outlines priority areas, such as research on reduction/elimination of bycatch and aquaculture.
The remainder of the S-K funds, which are transferred as discretionary funds, are used to offset the
appropriation requirements of the Operations, Research, and Facilities account.
FISHERIES FINANCE PROGRAM ACCOUNT
The mandatory component of the Fisheries Finance Program Account (FFP) Account authority is subject
to the Federal Credit Reform Act of 1990 (FCRA) (2 U.S.C. 661). The FCRA requires estimated loan costs
(FCRA cost) be appropriated in cash at the time Congress authorizes annual credit ceilings. FFP Account
loan activity demonstrates that the FCRA subsidy is negative. Statutory authority is found in 46 U.S.C.
1274 and 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq. FFP Account lending guidelines are found at Title 50, Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), Part 253, subpart B; and tempered by NOAA’s sustainable fisheries policy and by the
practical considerations of a program that has been self-sustaining throughout its credit history.
FEDERAL SHIP FINANCING FUND
This account manages the loan guarantee portfolio that existed prior to the enactment of the Federal
Credit Reform Act of 1990.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENT & RESTORATION FUND
The Environmental Improvement & Restoration Fund (EIRF) was created by the Department of Interior and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1998 for the purpose of carrying out marine research activities
in the North Pacific. These funds will provide grants to Federal, State, private or foreign organizations or
individuals to conduct research activities on or relating to the fisheries or marine ecosystems in the North
Pacific Ocean, Bering Sea, and Arctic Ocean.
LIMITED ACCESS SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION FUND
Under the authority of the Magnuson-Stevens Act Section 304(d)(2)(A), NMFS must collect a fee to recover
the incremental costs of management, data collection, and enforcement of Limited Access Privilege (LAP)
programs. Funds collected under this authority are deposited into the “Limited Access System Administrative
Fund” (LASAF). Fees shall not exceed three percent of the ex-vessel value of fish harvested under
any such program, and shall be collected at either the time of the landing, filing of a landing report, or
sale of such fish during a fishing season or in the last quarter of the calendar year in which the fish is harvested.
The LASAF shall be available, without appropriation or fiscal year limitation, only for the purposes
of administrating the central registry system; and administering and implementing the Magnuson-Stevens
Act in the fishery in which the fees were collected. Sums in the fund that are not currently needed for
these purposes shall be kept on deposit or invested in obligations of, or guaranteed by the U.S. Also, in
establishing a LAP program, a Regional Council can consider, and may provide, if appropriate, an auction
system or other program to collect royalties for the initial or any subsequent distribution of allocations. If an
auction system is developed, revenues from these royalties are deposited in the LASAF.
WESTERN PACIFIC SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES FUND
Section 204(e) of the 2006 amendments to the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management
Act authorizes the establishment of the Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries Fund . This fund
serves as a repository for any permit payments received by the Secretary of Commerce for foreign fishing
within the U.S. EEZ around Johnston Atoll, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, and Jarvis, Howland, Baker and Wake Islands, sometimes known as the Pacific Remote Island Areas (PRIA). Also, in the case of violations
by foreign vessels occurring in these areas, amounts received by the Secretary attributable to fines
and penalties shall be deposited into the fund. Foreign fishing is only allowed though a Pacific Insular
Area Fishery agreement. Before entering into such an Agreement, the Western Pacific Fishery Management
Council must develop a marine conservation plan that provides details on uses for any funds collected.
Marine Conservation Plans must also be developed by the Governors of the Territories of Guam
and American Samoa and of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and approved by the
Secretary of Commerce or designee. Additionally, any funds or contributions received in support of conservation
and management objectives under a marine conservation plan for any Pacific Insular Area other
than American Samoa, Guam, or the Northern Mariana Islands shall be deposited in this fund.
NOAA CORPS COMMISSIONED OFFICERS RETIREMENT
The retirement system for the uniformed services provides a measure of financial security after release
from active duty for service members and their survivors. It is an important factor in the choice of a career
in the uniformed services and is mandated by Federal statutes under Title 10, United States Code. NOAA
transfers retirement pay funds to the Coast Guard, which handles the payment function for retirees and
annuitants. Health care funds for non-Medicare-eligible retirees, dependents, and annuitants are transferred
to the U.S. Public Health Service, which administers the health care program.
*****Other Mandatory Discretionary Funds
Coastal Zone Management Fund $1,500,000
Damage Assessment & Restoration Revolving Fund $3,000,000
Promote and Develop American Fisheries Products $42,171,000
Fisheries Finance Program Account $5,777,000
Federal Ship Financing Fund $740,000
Environmental Improvement & Restoration Fund $1,467,000
Limited Access System Administration Fund $2,231,000
Western Pacific Sustainable Fisheries $1,000,000
NO AA Corp Commissioned Officers Retirement $28,269,000
A True Oxymoron; Other Mandatory Discretionary Funds: $86,155,000 DOLLARS!
TOTAL DISCRETIONARY SPENDING FOR NOAA:
$109,015,000.00
Director's Discretionary Poster Fund Day / NASA Extends JPL Contract / Space Station Freedom Contract Negotiations Concluded / NACA Reunion IV (Astrogram, Volume 31, Number 2, October 21, 1988)
AND IF THAT WASN'T ENOUGH GARBAGE TO DIGEST IN ONE SITTING, GO GET SOME POPCORN, SIT BACK, and WATCH THIS THOROUGHLY BORING MOVIE, BROUGHT TO YOU BY NOAA & DR. JANE, IN PERSON: NOAA - NOAA FY2012 Constituent Budget Briefing OPENS IN ITS OWN, SO YOU MIGHT WISH TO OPEN IT IN ANOTHER TAB OR LOSE THE SANDBOX....
In-Kind Pol. Adv., for and approved by Gary A. Anderson,
Exploratory Candidate US Senate Fl. 2012
Saturday, March 19, 2011
We the People Shall Save the Nation
We, as Americans, need a true commitment to economic growth, not government growth which is what we are seeing today through agencies such as NOAA which is an dictation of such where as, we need to cut such frivolous spending (over 1.001 Billion) and look forward to appropriately reforming entitlements coupled with a full understanding of budget cuts, matched by policies in promoting growth to prosperity. NMFS conserves, protects, and manages living marine resources to sustain marine ecosystems, 7 In FY 2012, NOAA requests $1.001 billion to support fisheries and protected resource management to ensure an optimal balance between conservation objectives and economic opportunities. NOAA's fisheries programs as Magnuson- Stevens Act requirements have not been met as mandated and therefore we the people can start by saving this first billion dollars on data which is fictitious in nature, to begin with!
The fiscal responsibility of this must go hand in hand with policies that will drive economic growth and create jobs too. Excessive and unnecessary spending, gargantuan debt and out of control deficits call for those nasty words of 'tax increases', increased regulations, government-run health care and anti-growth energy policies. We we need, in this great time of need, is the passage of a sweeping tort reform law and to institutionalize Medicaid costs with management controls and oversight. We need to aid in a delivery of Social Security reform, while reducing spending by curtailing such Acts as the Patriot Act and the up coming REAL ID Bill, needs to be put into its place; out of view, as it violates both the 4th and 10th Amendments of our United States Constitution!
“I wish to ally with people who wish to reform the Social Security system and fix it, as we all should be doing, rather than cutting from it. There are too many other programs, to which need to slide down the hill and go away.”
The Social Security Reform bill is not a large slash to our Americanism but it is a start in a redistribution of growth by gradually raising the retirement age for people age 55 and younger and scale back benefits for the wealthy, as this could keep it out of foreclosure. I would put my foot down in blocking the implementation of the REAL ID Bill. It would require states to sign a new compact known as the Driver License Agreement (DLA) as written by the Joint Driver's License Compact/ Non-Resident Violators Compact Executive Board with the support of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators which would have required states to give reciprocity to those provinces and territories in Canada and those states in Mexico that joined the DLA and complied with its provisions. These databases would include sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, med-alerts and such not covered by the privacy act and thus, such foreign entities are not required to abide by US Law and are free to access or use the sensitive information as they see fit. I oppose the Real ID for reasons involving privacy, identity security, Constitutional sovereignty, the ineffective and wasteful nature of the bill, national security, and it is a waste of funds when we are at a time in slashing funds, not adding to them!
The whole purpose of the Real ID Law and the Convention of the Sea Treaty, along with NOAA in its Marine Spatial Planning is a new direction of New World Order and with such an ID, borders are of no consequence as it is no longer the USA but the North American Federation! Little laws, Acts and slow governmental growth over economic growth will creep into the backdoor and spread through the nation, like a wildfire if not put out now! Winning or losing any election is not what this is about. This is but a message that we must stand firm and not be belittled by anyone into governmental submission, if we wish to stand Free and be Free!
The New World Order is Here!
Gary A. Anderson
Florida Resident & Florida Whig
The fiscal responsibility of this must go hand in hand with policies that will drive economic growth and create jobs too. Excessive and unnecessary spending, gargantuan debt and out of control deficits call for those nasty words of 'tax increases', increased regulations, government-run health care and anti-growth energy policies. We we need, in this great time of need, is the passage of a sweeping tort reform law and to institutionalize Medicaid costs with management controls and oversight. We need to aid in a delivery of Social Security reform, while reducing spending by curtailing such Acts as the Patriot Act and the up coming REAL ID Bill, needs to be put into its place; out of view, as it violates both the 4th and 10th Amendments of our United States Constitution!
“I wish to ally with people who wish to reform the Social Security system and fix it, as we all should be doing, rather than cutting from it. There are too many other programs, to which need to slide down the hill and go away.”
The Social Security Reform bill is not a large slash to our Americanism but it is a start in a redistribution of growth by gradually raising the retirement age for people age 55 and younger and scale back benefits for the wealthy, as this could keep it out of foreclosure. I would put my foot down in blocking the implementation of the REAL ID Bill. It would require states to sign a new compact known as the Driver License Agreement (DLA) as written by the Joint Driver's License Compact/ Non-Resident Violators Compact Executive Board with the support of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators which would have required states to give reciprocity to those provinces and territories in Canada and those states in Mexico that joined the DLA and complied with its provisions. These databases would include sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, home addresses, med-alerts and such not covered by the privacy act and thus, such foreign entities are not required to abide by US Law and are free to access or use the sensitive information as they see fit. I oppose the Real ID for reasons involving privacy, identity security, Constitutional sovereignty, the ineffective and wasteful nature of the bill, national security, and it is a waste of funds when we are at a time in slashing funds, not adding to them!
The whole purpose of the Real ID Law and the Convention of the Sea Treaty, along with NOAA in its Marine Spatial Planning is a new direction of New World Order and with such an ID, borders are of no consequence as it is no longer the USA but the North American Federation! Little laws, Acts and slow governmental growth over economic growth will creep into the backdoor and spread through the nation, like a wildfire if not put out now! Winning or losing any election is not what this is about. This is but a message that we must stand firm and not be belittled by anyone into governmental submission, if we wish to stand Free and be Free!
The New World Order is Here!
Gary A. Anderson
Florida Resident & Florida Whig
Monday, March 14, 2011
NOAA & its FY 2012 BUDGET REQUEST
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
THIS IS DR. JANES OWN REPORT.
She holds a Doctors Degree and one would think she could spell and do correct punctuation? As an Editor for The Online Fisherman dot com, I could edit but since Dr. Jane knows and NOAA knows; why would I?
1
WRITTEN STATEMENT OF
JANE LUBCHENCO, Ph.D.
UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE
AND NOAA ADMINISTRATOR
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
ON THE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S
FY 2012 BUDGET REQUEST
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2011
Chairman Hall and members of the Committee, before I begin my testimony I would like to thank you for your leadership and the support you have shown the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), one of the Nation’s premier environmental science and stewardship agencies. Your continued support for our programs is appreciated as we work to improve the products and services that are vital to supporting America’s businesses, communities, and people. I am honored to be here as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at NOAA to discuss the President’s FY 2012 budget.
Secretary Locke is singularly focused on how the Department of Commerce can help American businesses compete for the jobs of the future. As part of the Commerce Department, NOAA generates value for the Nation by providing the information and services that communities, managers, businesses, and individuals rely on every day to make decisions about their lives and businesses. NOAA touches the lives of every single American; we work 24/7 to keep families safe, property protected, living marine resources vibrant, communities thriving, and businesses strong. NOAA works everywhere, in every state, and from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean. Our research informs our many services and science guides our stewardship of the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.
The President’s FY 2012 budget request promotes innovation and American competitiveness and lays the foundation for long-term economic growth, while making responsible reductions. In particular, the budget recognizes the central role that science and technology play in stimulating the economy, creating new jobs, and improving the health and security of Americans.
FY 2012 BUDGET REQUEST AND FY 2010 HIGHLIGHTS
Secretary Locke has brought a dedicated focus on efficiency and good management to the Department of Commerce. As part of the Administration’s Administrative Efficiency Initiative, an aggressive government-wide effort to curb non-essential administrative spending, NOAA analyzed its administrative costs and reduced non-essential spending by $67.7 million. Beyond 2
administrative savings, NOAA engaged in a rigorous review of its programs and activities and identified additional savings that were achievable. For example, we were able to reduce the cost of operating our current satellite programs, and we restructured our international portfolio of climate research. Further, as a member of the newly established Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force we are working with federal and state agencies to find efficiencies, improve coordination and accountability in restoring Gulf Coast ecosystems.
In short, the FY 2012 budget for NOAA reflects our efforts to focus on program needs, identify efficiencies, and ensure accountability. It sustains core functions and services, and proposes increases for only the most critical programs, projects, or activities necessary to address the growing demand for NOAA’s science, services, and stewardship. The FY 2012 request is $5.5 billion, which is a decrease from the FY 2011 request. The FY 2012 request is an increase above FY 2010 enacted due primarily to our requirements to execute the restructured civil polar satellite program. As I will discuss later, this new generation of satellites is needed to replace satellites that will go out of service in the years to come. They are essential for both routine weather forecasts on which the private weather industry depends, and for storm warnings and watches that only the government can issue. The expenditures on satellites are mission critical for NOAA. People’s lives and property depend on them. This year 21 people have been rescued because of NOAA satellite tracking, and 91 have been rescued since last October. Beyond weather forecasts, fishermen and recreational boaters count on NOAA satellites to keep them safe in the event of an emergency at sea.
The FY 2012 NOAA budget recognizes that environmental and economic sustainability go hand in hand. We learned through the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and other events that we cannot have healthy economies without healthy communities and healthy ecosystems and that good science and stewardship is good business. NOAA’s 2012 budget makes the investments needed to save lives and livelihoods, to understand these critical connections, and to ensure sustainable communities, economies, and ecosystems.
Now I will turn to the details of the FY 2012 budget request and outline areas of significant investment.
Climate Service
The FY 2012 budget request includes a proposed budget-neutral reorganization that brings together NOAA’s existing widely dispersed climate capabilities under a single line office management structure called the Climate Service. The proposed organization mirrors the structure recommended by the National Academy of Public Administration expert panel that, at Congress’ request, completed a study on options for a climate service in NOAA. The principal goal of this budget-neutral reorganization is to better align NOAA’s existing assets under a unified leadership to more efficiently and effectively respond to the rapidly increasing public demand for climate services. The Climate Service would provide reliable and authoritative climate data, information, and decision-support services, and to more effectively coordinate with other agencies, partners, and the private sector. And -- important to this committee and to me -- the proposed structure would strengthen the world-class science for which NOAA is justly known. Without continued advances in the science that supports our mission, the utility of 3
services will degrade with time. Hence, the success of this organization requires attention to strengthening our core science capacity, strengthening the service-provision capacity and strengthening the connections between the two.
NOAA is continually improving our scientific and technological capacity to develop and deliver a range of science and services. For example, NOAA’s improved maximum precipitation predictions have been used to develop new standards for dam design that are being implemented around the Nation to improve dam safety and reliability. Similarly, through collaboration with the National Association of Home Builders and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, NOAA developed an Air Freezing Index that the home building industry estimates saves $300 million annually in construction costs and the equivalent of 9 million gallons of gasoline.
The budget-neutral realignment of resources within the current NOAA budget would not change staffing levels, would not require employee relocations, physical relocation of programs or labs, any new facilities, and would not increase the size of NOAA’s overhead. The Climate Service headquarters would be located in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The NOAA Climate Service, if approved by Congress, would have a budget of $346.2 million. Of this amount, NOAA proposes $3.0 million to support the Regional Climate Centers (RCC) in FY 2012. This funding will maintain support for RCCs as critical NOAA partners in the development and delivery of regional climate services. The RCCs will be aligned with the six NOAA Climate Service Regions and fully integrated as core components of NOAA’s regional climate services partnership. Each center will function as a source of expertise in the region, working to identify stakeholder needs and matching these needs with the emerging science and decision support services flowing from the Climate Service’s core capabilities. For example, this work could improve products for farmers, who already rely on NOAA climate data, particularly in El Niño/Southern Oscillation years, to make smart decisions about what variety of seed to plant and the amount of fertilizer to use. These types of forecasts can potentially provide a $500-$960 million per year benefit to the U.S. agriculture industry.
National Weather Service (NWS)
NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) is the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. NOAA provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, and adjacent waters for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. More sectors of the U.S. economy are recognizing the impacts of weather, water, and climate on their operations and are becoming more sophisticated at using weather-related information to make better decisions. The NWS provides critical information to communities and emergency managers. In 2010, the United States experienced a number of extreme weather events including the historic winter blizzards in the Northeast early in the year, historic flooding in the Midwest and Tennessee, and the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record.
The FY 2012 request for NWS is $988 million. The request envisions using cost-cutting and cutting-edge technologies to better support the programs necessary to achieve NOAA’s vision of 4
delivering more reliable forecasts, reducing weather-related fatalities, and improving the economic value of weather, water, and climate information.
Weather-related air traffic delays cost the U.S. economy over $41 billion in 2007, according to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee. Two thirds of these delays could be avoided with more accurate and better-integrated weather information for decision-making. To meet the rising demands of the air transportation industry, NOAA is involved in a collaborative partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other Federal agencies to create the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). NOAA requests a $26.9 million increase to modernize our aviation weather forecasts and warnings. This funding supports NextGen development activities, allowing for better integration of weather information into decision-making solutions for the FAA – potentially reducing the number of air delays.
Wind shear is hazardous to aviation and critical to hurricane formation and intensity. The Nation’s upper air (UA) network enables unmatched ability to detect this wind shear and enables much improved ability to define the jet stream core by providing approximately 78,000 atmospheric profiles (wind, humidity, temperature, pressure and altitude) per year from ground level to up to 60,000 feet. To improve the UA network, NOAA requests a $5 million increase for new GPS radiosondes to provide a 50 percent improvement in wind measurement accuracy and a 6-fold improvement in vertical resolution. With this investment, NOAA will fully fund the purchase of GPS radiosondes for all 102 UA observing stations, ensuring improvements to weather models.
Large maritime data voids exist where no meteorological or oceanographic data are routinely sampled due to poorly maintained buoys. This lack of data makes it difficult for forecasters to make accurate and timely marine warnings and forecasts and to measure the accuracy of their forecasts. NOAA currently operates 101 moored, weather observation buoys and 49 coastal, marine automated network stations. However, over the last eight years, system performance has trended downward to the current low of 67 percent data availability as of February 2011. This trend will continue downward to 65 percent data availability by 2011 without increased support. NOAA requests a $4 million increase to provide operations and maintenance funding for damaged and destroyed buoys and to comply with new international regulations. Funds will also be used to begin reducing the backlog of deferred maintenance by employing charter vessels to supplement the diminishing availability of U.S. Coast Guard ship time for servicing the weather buoy network.
Finally, the underpinning of NOAA’s products and services mentioned previously is the model-based guidance of NOAA’s operational high performance computing (HPC). HPC provides models and model-based estimates of both current and future states of the Earth’s environment, which are a key component of modern weather forecasts. NOAA requests an $11 million increase towards transitioning NOAA’s HPC to a new contract, as well as continuing regular improvements to our numerical weather prediction modeling.
National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS)
NOAA’s satellites provide the data and information for forecasts that are vital to every citizen in 5
our Nation. From safe air, land, and marine transportation to construction and emergency rescue missions, we all use satellite products in our everyday lives. In FY 2010, our satellite program saw a major milestone accomplished with the launch of Geostationary Orbiting Environmental Satellite (GOES) – 15, the final spacecraft in the latest series. GOES-15 joined three other GOES spacecraft in assisting the Agency’s forecasters to more accurately track life-threatening weather from tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes to solar activity that can impact satellite-based electronics, communications, and power industries. In FY 2010, NOAA satellites also provided key support in the rescue of 281 people throughout and near the United States by providing their location to emergency responders.
The proposed reorganization would also affect some programs within the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), which would be renamed the National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS), as all three of its Data Centers would be transferred to the Climate Service. The FY 2012 budget request for NESS is $2 billion, which we will invest in multiple satellite acquisition programs for the continuity of critical weather, climate, and oceanographic data. NOAA requests an increase of $687.8M for the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), which is NOAA’s responsibility under the former National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program. Polar satellites provide critical weather forecasting for the $700 billion maritime commerce sector and provide a value of hundreds of millions of dollars to the fishing industry. The satellites save approximately $200 million each year for the aviation industry in ash forecasting alone and provide drought forecasts worth $6-8 billion to farming, transportation, tourism and energy sectors. Both civilian and military users will use JPSS data and products, which will continue to fulfill NOAA’s requirements to provide global environmental data used in numerical weather prediction models for forecasts. On behalf of NOAA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will serve as the lead acquisition agent for JPSS, which supports the afternoon mission requirements. The Department of Defense will continue the acquisition of early morning orbit assets. NOAA is committed to working with our partners to complete the transition from the NPOESS program and to assure the continuity of Earth observations from space.
The GOES-R series satellites will provide critical weather observations for severe weather events, such as hurricanes, and also provide key enhancements in observational capabilities for climate, oceans and coasts, and the space environment. This program is the next-generation of geostationary satellites and provides mission continuity through 2036. NOAA continues to support the GOES-R program with a re-phasing, taking us from a two-satellite program to a four-satellite program with the addition of two optional satellites (GOES-T&U), while still providing continued satellite engineering development and production activities for GOES-R and GOES-S.
An uninterrupted climate record is critical to understanding global sea level rise, which directly threatens coastal communities and ecosystems through increased exposure and erosion, more intense storm-surge and tidal flooding, and loss of natural habitat due to drowned wetlands. Therefore, NOAA is requesting an additional $33.0 million to continue development of the Jason-3 satellite, which will provide continuity of sea surface height measurements, ensuring an uninterrupted climate record of over 20 years. The Jason-3 mission is a joint U.S. – European funded partnership. NOAA requests an $11.3 million increase to partner with the Taiwan National Space Organization for the launch of 12 satellites to replenish and upgrade the 6
Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) satellite constellation. This program is a cost effective means of obtaining information about temperature and moisture in the atmosphere around the globe, which will improve forecasting accuracy.
In addition, a requested increase of $47.3 million will support, in cooperation with NASA, refurbishing the existing NASA Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite and its solar wind sensors and developing a Coronal Mass Ejection Imager. The data and information provided by DSCOVR will support the operations of the Space Weather Prediction Center, which generates accurate and timely 1 to 4 day space weather forecasts and warnings. Space observations of geomagnetic storms are vital to reduce negative effects to power grids, GPS, telecommunications, the health and safety of astronauts, and the viability of satellite systems.
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
The major change as a result of the proposed reorganization to create a Climate Service (described above) is that NOAA would also strategically realign its existing core research line office, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), to strengthen the agency’s overall science enterprise and advance the atmospheric and ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research and applied science goals expressed in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. OAR will refocus its work to serve as an innovator and incubator of new science, technologies, and applications, and an integrator of science and technology across all of NOAA.
NOAA is committed to strengthening and integrating NOAA’s science enterprise consistent with the President’s call for science and innovation. NOAA’s request includes $212 million for OAR to continue strengthening core capabilities, such as improving our understanding of ocean acidification and its impacts, and promoting conservation and use of America’s coastal resources through our renowned Sea Grant Program, one of our many direct links to universities, citizens, and communities around the Nation. NOAA will also invest in the future by supporting innovation in weather forecasting science that can inform clean, renewable energy generation, which is related to an MOU with the Department of Energy. In FY 2012, NOAA requests $2 million to support research in targeted wind resource regions across the Nation. Funding will advance weather forecast accuracy and quality to allow for more efficient implementation of wind power usage in the United States.
Another core capability at NOAA is exploration. The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is among the most technologically advanced research vessels and platforms for ocean exploration in the United States. In FY 2012, NOAA is requesting an additional $1.5 million to advance the operations of the Okeanos Explorer with the operation of telepresence technology, which enables scientists, educators, and others to participate and lead ocean exploration missions from remote shore-based Exploration Command Centers; to operate and upgrade the ship’s autonomous and remotely-operated vehicles; provide additional scientific days at sea; and reduce our huge knowledge gap of what lies in the deep ocean.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
NMFS conserves, protects, and manages living marine resources to sustain marine ecosystems, 7 In FY 2012, NOAA requests $1.001 billion to support fisheries and protected resource management to ensure an optimal balance between conservation objectives and economic opportunities. 8
turtles. This requires balancing conservation objectives and economic opportunities, including commercial fishing activities and energy development. Investments in priority research in recovery actions are required to mitigate harm and maximize economic potential. In FY 2012, NOAA will invest an additional $2.5 million dollars to increase NOAA’s capacity for protected species stock assessments that provide the foundation of information for decision makers. We will continue supporting the Species Recovery Grants Program with a requested $8.0 million increase to provide grants to states and tribes to conduct priority recovery actions for threatened and endangered species, including restoring habitat, monitoring population trends, developing conservation plans, and educating the public.
Managing fisheries and protected species to their full biological and economic potential requires additional efforts focused on maintaining habitat and ecosystem functioning. NOAA requests $24 million for the Community Based Restoration Program, including a new $5 million effort to address larger restoration projects. NOAA plans to increase fish passage, spawning, and rearing habitat by implementing large-scale ecological restoration in targeted areas such as wetlands. To support the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay, we request a $5 million increase for regional studies in the Bay. NOAA supports the President’s Executive Order to restore the Chesapeake Bay by providing enhanced understanding of the relationships between the Bay’s living resources and habitat, coordinating protection and restoration of key species and habitats across jurisdictional lines, and supporting a coordinated system of monitoring platforms distributed across the Bay.
National Ocean Service (NOS)
In July 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order Number 13547 that adopted the Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and established the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Oceans, Coasts, and the Great Lakes – reinforcing the notion that “healthy oceans matter.” NOS supports this policy by translating science, tools, and services into action to address coastal threats such as climate change, population growth, port congestion, and contaminants in the environment. A pivotal event in 2010 was the explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20. Within hours, NOAA responded, providing targeted weather forecasts and oil spill trajectory maps and mobilizing personnel and assets to respond to what evolved into the largest oil spill in U.S. history. The Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) played a critical role in our response and is leading our efforts to assess damage caused by the event. Over half of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product is generated in coastal counties,2 and it is expected that the Nation’s coastal population will grow to more than 11 million by 2015 so NOS’ services will become more vital to the coastal environment and economy.3 Increasing population density, growing economies, and increased vulnerability to damages from hazards such as sea level rise or storms, habitat loss, and other threats makes the task of managing coastal resources more difficult. The President’s FY 2012 Budget includes $559.6 million to enable NOAA to continue delivering a dynamic range of nationwide coastal and Great Lakes scientific, technical, and resource management services to meet the vision of being a Nation with safe, healthy, resilient, and productive oceans and coasts.
2 Kildow, J. T., C. S. Colgan, and J. Scorse. 2009. State of the U.S. Ocean and Coastal Economies 2009. National Ocean Economic Program.
3 Population Trends Along the Coastal United States: 1980-2008, NOAA 20049
Human uses of ocean resources (e.g., ocean-based energy, marine aquaculture, commercial and recreational fishery products, shipping and navigation services, and other activities) need to be managed holistically. In FY 2012, NOAA requests $6.8 million to develop an agency-wide capability to conduct and support Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) in U.S. waters. CMSP will help us manage ocean resources in a systematic way by evaluating competing ocean uses, assessing opportunities and potential cumulative impacts, and working with industry, state and local decision makers and other stakeholders, to explicitly make trade-off decisions. CMSP is designed to focus on up front planning. There are no regulations involved. It does not add another layer of government but is designed to be more efficient, effective, and reduce redundancies in decision making. With the new Ocean Policy we are already witnessing efficiencies in our mapping and data collection across the Federal government, with data and information from the Departments of Defense and the Interior, and from Coast Guard, being integrated into a common database, which will be available to the public in the future.
The Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force include a framework for implementing CMSP across the United States in a manner that respects regional variation of issues and priorities. This initiative will significantly advance the Nation’s capability to effectively and transparently match competing human uses to appropriate ocean areas. To further support CMSP and regional ocean governance, NOAA requests $20 million to establish a competitive grants program that will support regional ocean partnerships, such as the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, South Atlantic Governor’s Alliance, and the West Coast Governor’s Agreement on Ocean Health that are vital for advancing effective ocean management. In addition, a proposed increase of $1 million in our mapping program will significantly improve the accessibility of integrated ocean and coastal mapping data.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill is a stark reminder that spills of national significance can occur despite the many safeguards and improvements that have been put into place since the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was enacted. The risk of oil spills remains a concern given increases in marine transportation, pressures to develop domestic areas for drilling offshore, aging infrastructure susceptible to sea level rise and violent storms in U.S. coastal areas, and opening the Arctic to both shipping and oil development. NOAA’s OR&R is the lead trustee for the public’s coastal natural resources and an international scientific leader for oil spill response, assessment, and restoration. NOAA requests $2.9 million to develop an oil spill research and development program within OR&R to advance response technologies and capabilities, especially in deep water and Arctic environments. With this funding, NOAA will support external grants for essential research to provide useful information, methods, and tools for planners, oil spill responders, and assessment practitioners. Also in support of oil spill response, NOAA requests a $5.0 million increase to implement the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Surface Current Mapping Plan using high frequency (HF) radar surface current measurements. HF radar provides information vital to oil spill response, national defense, homeland security, search and rescue operations, safe marine transportation, water quality and pollutant tracking, and harmful algal bloom forecasting.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill made it apparent that the economic and social well being of our coastal communities depends on the environmental suitability of our coastal resources.
Numerous coastal communities, not only in the Gulf but all along our coasts, are being impacted by the loss of fishing opportunities. In FY 2012, NOAA requests $8 million to create a National Working Waterfronts grant program to assist fishing-dependent coastal communities. These grants will assist distressed or at-risk fishing communities by providing resources for planning, capacity building, and other activities to support economic diversity, resource conservation, and economic capital growth.
Program Support
To deliver sound science and services, NOAA must continue to invest in its information technology (IT) infrastructure, the maintenance and construction of NOAA facilities, and the specialized aircraft and ships that complete NOAA’s environmental and scientific missions. A requested $9.1 million increase will reduce the risk of cyber attacks by enhancing security monitoring and response capabilities and consolidate our IT infrastructure into a single enterprise network. This budget includes an additional $10 million to support major restoration and modernization projects to address critical facility condition deficiencies and to improve safety and operating conditions in support of NOAA’s mission. The FY 2012 request ensures that NOAA’s fleet of vessels is able to provide reliable, compliant, and high-quality ship support to NOAA programs through several increases. For example, $3.4 million is requested to support environmental compliance costs, including ensuring that NOAA ships are not contributing to water quality degradation. Efforts to extend and maintain the life of the NOAA ships will be supported through an $11.6 million increase for repair periods.
Also critical to the execution of NOAA’s mission is our investment in the future. Students in K-12 we support today become our workforce of the future; undergraduate and graduate fellowship recipients provide immediate dividends; and each and every citizen touched by our literacy and outreach efforts become stewards of our natural resources. These down payments help to fulfill the President’s commitment to education. The FY 2012 budget includes $20.8 million for NOAA’s Office of Education to implement and manage scholarship programs aimed at fostering competitiveness in science, technology, engineering and math by providing quality educational opportunities.
Conclusion
Overall, NOAA’s FY 2012 budget request reflects the commitment that Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and I have made to the President to out-educate, out-build, and out-innovate our competitors in support of robust economic job growth. We have made tough choices to cut lower priorities and identify cost-savings measures. The resources that are requested in this budget are critical to the future success of meeting our needs in climate, fisheries, coasts, and oceans. I look forward to working with you, the Members of this Committee, and our constituents to achieve the goals I have laid out here through the implementation of the FY 2012 budget. Thank you for the opportunity to present NOAA’s FY 2012 budget request. I am happy to respond to any questions the Committee might have.
THIS IS DR. JANES OWN REPORT.
She holds a Doctors Degree and one would think she could spell and do correct punctuation? As an Editor for The Online Fisherman dot com, I could edit but since Dr. Jane knows and NOAA knows; why would I?
1
WRITTEN STATEMENT OF
JANE LUBCHENCO, Ph.D.
UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE
AND NOAA ADMINISTRATOR
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
ON THE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION’S
FY 2012 BUDGET REQUEST
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 10, 2011
Chairman Hall and members of the Committee, before I begin my testimony I would like to thank you for your leadership and the support you have shown the Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), one of the Nation’s premier environmental science and stewardship agencies. Your continued support for our programs is appreciated as we work to improve the products and services that are vital to supporting America’s businesses, communities, and people. I am honored to be here as the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere at NOAA to discuss the President’s FY 2012 budget.
Secretary Locke is singularly focused on how the Department of Commerce can help American businesses compete for the jobs of the future. As part of the Commerce Department, NOAA generates value for the Nation by providing the information and services that communities, managers, businesses, and individuals rely on every day to make decisions about their lives and businesses. NOAA touches the lives of every single American; we work 24/7 to keep families safe, property protected, living marine resources vibrant, communities thriving, and businesses strong. NOAA works everywhere, in every state, and from the surface of the sun to the depths of the ocean. Our research informs our many services and science guides our stewardship of the oceans, coasts, and Great Lakes.
The President’s FY 2012 budget request promotes innovation and American competitiveness and lays the foundation for long-term economic growth, while making responsible reductions. In particular, the budget recognizes the central role that science and technology play in stimulating the economy, creating new jobs, and improving the health and security of Americans.
FY 2012 BUDGET REQUEST AND FY 2010 HIGHLIGHTS
Secretary Locke has brought a dedicated focus on efficiency and good management to the Department of Commerce. As part of the Administration’s Administrative Efficiency Initiative, an aggressive government-wide effort to curb non-essential administrative spending, NOAA analyzed its administrative costs and reduced non-essential spending by $67.7 million. Beyond 2
administrative savings, NOAA engaged in a rigorous review of its programs and activities and identified additional savings that were achievable. For example, we were able to reduce the cost of operating our current satellite programs, and we restructured our international portfolio of climate research. Further, as a member of the newly established Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force we are working with federal and state agencies to find efficiencies, improve coordination and accountability in restoring Gulf Coast ecosystems.
In short, the FY 2012 budget for NOAA reflects our efforts to focus on program needs, identify efficiencies, and ensure accountability. It sustains core functions and services, and proposes increases for only the most critical programs, projects, or activities necessary to address the growing demand for NOAA’s science, services, and stewardship. The FY 2012 request is $5.5 billion, which is a decrease from the FY 2011 request. The FY 2012 request is an increase above FY 2010 enacted due primarily to our requirements to execute the restructured civil polar satellite program. As I will discuss later, this new generation of satellites is needed to replace satellites that will go out of service in the years to come. They are essential for both routine weather forecasts on which the private weather industry depends, and for storm warnings and watches that only the government can issue. The expenditures on satellites are mission critical for NOAA. People’s lives and property depend on them. This year 21 people have been rescued because of NOAA satellite tracking, and 91 have been rescued since last October. Beyond weather forecasts, fishermen and recreational boaters count on NOAA satellites to keep them safe in the event of an emergency at sea.
The FY 2012 NOAA budget recognizes that environmental and economic sustainability go hand in hand. We learned through the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill and other events that we cannot have healthy economies without healthy communities and healthy ecosystems and that good science and stewardship is good business. NOAA’s 2012 budget makes the investments needed to save lives and livelihoods, to understand these critical connections, and to ensure sustainable communities, economies, and ecosystems.
Now I will turn to the details of the FY 2012 budget request and outline areas of significant investment.
Climate Service
The FY 2012 budget request includes a proposed budget-neutral reorganization that brings together NOAA’s existing widely dispersed climate capabilities under a single line office management structure called the Climate Service. The proposed organization mirrors the structure recommended by the National Academy of Public Administration expert panel that, at Congress’ request, completed a study on options for a climate service in NOAA. The principal goal of this budget-neutral reorganization is to better align NOAA’s existing assets under a unified leadership to more efficiently and effectively respond to the rapidly increasing public demand for climate services. The Climate Service would provide reliable and authoritative climate data, information, and decision-support services, and to more effectively coordinate with other agencies, partners, and the private sector. And -- important to this committee and to me -- the proposed structure would strengthen the world-class science for which NOAA is justly known. Without continued advances in the science that supports our mission, the utility of 3
services will degrade with time. Hence, the success of this organization requires attention to strengthening our core science capacity, strengthening the service-provision capacity and strengthening the connections between the two.
NOAA is continually improving our scientific and technological capacity to develop and deliver a range of science and services. For example, NOAA’s improved maximum precipitation predictions have been used to develop new standards for dam design that are being implemented around the Nation to improve dam safety and reliability. Similarly, through collaboration with the National Association of Home Builders and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, NOAA developed an Air Freezing Index that the home building industry estimates saves $300 million annually in construction costs and the equivalent of 9 million gallons of gasoline.
The budget-neutral realignment of resources within the current NOAA budget would not change staffing levels, would not require employee relocations, physical relocation of programs or labs, any new facilities, and would not increase the size of NOAA’s overhead. The Climate Service headquarters would be located in Silver Spring, Maryland.
The NOAA Climate Service, if approved by Congress, would have a budget of $346.2 million. Of this amount, NOAA proposes $3.0 million to support the Regional Climate Centers (RCC) in FY 2012. This funding will maintain support for RCCs as critical NOAA partners in the development and delivery of regional climate services. The RCCs will be aligned with the six NOAA Climate Service Regions and fully integrated as core components of NOAA’s regional climate services partnership. Each center will function as a source of expertise in the region, working to identify stakeholder needs and matching these needs with the emerging science and decision support services flowing from the Climate Service’s core capabilities. For example, this work could improve products for farmers, who already rely on NOAA climate data, particularly in El Niño/Southern Oscillation years, to make smart decisions about what variety of seed to plant and the amount of fertilizer to use. These types of forecasts can potentially provide a $500-$960 million per year benefit to the U.S. agriculture industry.
National Weather Service (NWS)
NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) is the Nation’s first line of defense against severe weather. NOAA provides weather, hydrologic, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, and adjacent waters for the protection of life and property and the enhancement of the national economy. More sectors of the U.S. economy are recognizing the impacts of weather, water, and climate on their operations and are becoming more sophisticated at using weather-related information to make better decisions. The NWS provides critical information to communities and emergency managers. In 2010, the United States experienced a number of extreme weather events including the historic winter blizzards in the Northeast early in the year, historic flooding in the Midwest and Tennessee, and the third most active Atlantic hurricane season on record.
The FY 2012 request for NWS is $988 million. The request envisions using cost-cutting and cutting-edge technologies to better support the programs necessary to achieve NOAA’s vision of 4
delivering more reliable forecasts, reducing weather-related fatalities, and improving the economic value of weather, water, and climate information.
Weather-related air traffic delays cost the U.S. economy over $41 billion in 2007, according to the Congressional Joint Economic Committee. Two thirds of these delays could be avoided with more accurate and better-integrated weather information for decision-making. To meet the rising demands of the air transportation industry, NOAA is involved in a collaborative partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and other Federal agencies to create the Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). NOAA requests a $26.9 million increase to modernize our aviation weather forecasts and warnings. This funding supports NextGen development activities, allowing for better integration of weather information into decision-making solutions for the FAA – potentially reducing the number of air delays.
Wind shear is hazardous to aviation and critical to hurricane formation and intensity. The Nation’s upper air (UA) network enables unmatched ability to detect this wind shear and enables much improved ability to define the jet stream core by providing approximately 78,000 atmospheric profiles (wind, humidity, temperature, pressure and altitude) per year from ground level to up to 60,000 feet. To improve the UA network, NOAA requests a $5 million increase for new GPS radiosondes to provide a 50 percent improvement in wind measurement accuracy and a 6-fold improvement in vertical resolution. With this investment, NOAA will fully fund the purchase of GPS radiosondes for all 102 UA observing stations, ensuring improvements to weather models.
Large maritime data voids exist where no meteorological or oceanographic data are routinely sampled due to poorly maintained buoys. This lack of data makes it difficult for forecasters to make accurate and timely marine warnings and forecasts and to measure the accuracy of their forecasts. NOAA currently operates 101 moored, weather observation buoys and 49 coastal, marine automated network stations. However, over the last eight years, system performance has trended downward to the current low of 67 percent data availability as of February 2011. This trend will continue downward to 65 percent data availability by 2011 without increased support. NOAA requests a $4 million increase to provide operations and maintenance funding for damaged and destroyed buoys and to comply with new international regulations. Funds will also be used to begin reducing the backlog of deferred maintenance by employing charter vessels to supplement the diminishing availability of U.S. Coast Guard ship time for servicing the weather buoy network.
Finally, the underpinning of NOAA’s products and services mentioned previously is the model-based guidance of NOAA’s operational high performance computing (HPC). HPC provides models and model-based estimates of both current and future states of the Earth’s environment, which are a key component of modern weather forecasts. NOAA requests an $11 million increase towards transitioning NOAA’s HPC to a new contract, as well as continuing regular improvements to our numerical weather prediction modeling.
National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS)
NOAA’s satellites provide the data and information for forecasts that are vital to every citizen in 5
our Nation. From safe air, land, and marine transportation to construction and emergency rescue missions, we all use satellite products in our everyday lives. In FY 2010, our satellite program saw a major milestone accomplished with the launch of Geostationary Orbiting Environmental Satellite (GOES) – 15, the final spacecraft in the latest series. GOES-15 joined three other GOES spacecraft in assisting the Agency’s forecasters to more accurately track life-threatening weather from tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes to solar activity that can impact satellite-based electronics, communications, and power industries. In FY 2010, NOAA satellites also provided key support in the rescue of 281 people throughout and near the United States by providing their location to emergency responders.
The proposed reorganization would also affect some programs within the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), which would be renamed the National Environmental Satellite Service (NESS), as all three of its Data Centers would be transferred to the Climate Service. The FY 2012 budget request for NESS is $2 billion, which we will invest in multiple satellite acquisition programs for the continuity of critical weather, climate, and oceanographic data. NOAA requests an increase of $687.8M for the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), which is NOAA’s responsibility under the former National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) program. Polar satellites provide critical weather forecasting for the $700 billion maritime commerce sector and provide a value of hundreds of millions of dollars to the fishing industry. The satellites save approximately $200 million each year for the aviation industry in ash forecasting alone and provide drought forecasts worth $6-8 billion to farming, transportation, tourism and energy sectors. Both civilian and military users will use JPSS data and products, which will continue to fulfill NOAA’s requirements to provide global environmental data used in numerical weather prediction models for forecasts. On behalf of NOAA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will serve as the lead acquisition agent for JPSS, which supports the afternoon mission requirements. The Department of Defense will continue the acquisition of early morning orbit assets. NOAA is committed to working with our partners to complete the transition from the NPOESS program and to assure the continuity of Earth observations from space.
The GOES-R series satellites will provide critical weather observations for severe weather events, such as hurricanes, and also provide key enhancements in observational capabilities for climate, oceans and coasts, and the space environment. This program is the next-generation of geostationary satellites and provides mission continuity through 2036. NOAA continues to support the GOES-R program with a re-phasing, taking us from a two-satellite program to a four-satellite program with the addition of two optional satellites (GOES-T&U), while still providing continued satellite engineering development and production activities for GOES-R and GOES-S.
An uninterrupted climate record is critical to understanding global sea level rise, which directly threatens coastal communities and ecosystems through increased exposure and erosion, more intense storm-surge and tidal flooding, and loss of natural habitat due to drowned wetlands. Therefore, NOAA is requesting an additional $33.0 million to continue development of the Jason-3 satellite, which will provide continuity of sea surface height measurements, ensuring an uninterrupted climate record of over 20 years. The Jason-3 mission is a joint U.S. – European funded partnership. NOAA requests an $11.3 million increase to partner with the Taiwan National Space Organization for the launch of 12 satellites to replenish and upgrade the 6
Constellation Observing System for Meteorology, Ionosphere, and Climate (COSMIC) satellite constellation. This program is a cost effective means of obtaining information about temperature and moisture in the atmosphere around the globe, which will improve forecasting accuracy.
In addition, a requested increase of $47.3 million will support, in cooperation with NASA, refurbishing the existing NASA Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite and its solar wind sensors and developing a Coronal Mass Ejection Imager. The data and information provided by DSCOVR will support the operations of the Space Weather Prediction Center, which generates accurate and timely 1 to 4 day space weather forecasts and warnings. Space observations of geomagnetic storms are vital to reduce negative effects to power grids, GPS, telecommunications, the health and safety of astronauts, and the viability of satellite systems.
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
The major change as a result of the proposed reorganization to create a Climate Service (described above) is that NOAA would also strategically realign its existing core research line office, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), to strengthen the agency’s overall science enterprise and advance the atmospheric and ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research and applied science goals expressed in the America COMPETES Reauthorization Act of 2010. OAR will refocus its work to serve as an innovator and incubator of new science, technologies, and applications, and an integrator of science and technology across all of NOAA.
NOAA is committed to strengthening and integrating NOAA’s science enterprise consistent with the President’s call for science and innovation. NOAA’s request includes $212 million for OAR to continue strengthening core capabilities, such as improving our understanding of ocean acidification and its impacts, and promoting conservation and use of America’s coastal resources through our renowned Sea Grant Program, one of our many direct links to universities, citizens, and communities around the Nation. NOAA will also invest in the future by supporting innovation in weather forecasting science that can inform clean, renewable energy generation, which is related to an MOU with the Department of Energy. In FY 2012, NOAA requests $2 million to support research in targeted wind resource regions across the Nation. Funding will advance weather forecast accuracy and quality to allow for more efficient implementation of wind power usage in the United States.
Another core capability at NOAA is exploration. The NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer is among the most technologically advanced research vessels and platforms for ocean exploration in the United States. In FY 2012, NOAA is requesting an additional $1.5 million to advance the operations of the Okeanos Explorer with the operation of telepresence technology, which enables scientists, educators, and others to participate and lead ocean exploration missions from remote shore-based Exploration Command Centers; to operate and upgrade the ship’s autonomous and remotely-operated vehicles; provide additional scientific days at sea; and reduce our huge knowledge gap of what lies in the deep ocean.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
NMFS conserves, protects, and manages living marine resources to sustain marine ecosystems, 7 In FY 2012, NOAA requests $1.001 billion to support fisheries and protected resource management to ensure an optimal balance between conservation objectives and economic opportunities. 8
turtles. This requires balancing conservation objectives and economic opportunities, including commercial fishing activities and energy development. Investments in priority research in recovery actions are required to mitigate harm and maximize economic potential. In FY 2012, NOAA will invest an additional $2.5 million dollars to increase NOAA’s capacity for protected species stock assessments that provide the foundation of information for decision makers. We will continue supporting the Species Recovery Grants Program with a requested $8.0 million increase to provide grants to states and tribes to conduct priority recovery actions for threatened and endangered species, including restoring habitat, monitoring population trends, developing conservation plans, and educating the public.
Managing fisheries and protected species to their full biological and economic potential requires additional efforts focused on maintaining habitat and ecosystem functioning. NOAA requests $24 million for the Community Based Restoration Program, including a new $5 million effort to address larger restoration projects. NOAA plans to increase fish passage, spawning, and rearing habitat by implementing large-scale ecological restoration in targeted areas such as wetlands. To support the restoration and protection of the Chesapeake Bay, we request a $5 million increase for regional studies in the Bay. NOAA supports the President’s Executive Order to restore the Chesapeake Bay by providing enhanced understanding of the relationships between the Bay’s living resources and habitat, coordinating protection and restoration of key species and habitats across jurisdictional lines, and supporting a coordinated system of monitoring platforms distributed across the Bay.
National Ocean Service (NOS)
In July 2010, President Obama signed Executive Order Number 13547 that adopted the Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force and established the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Oceans, Coasts, and the Great Lakes – reinforcing the notion that “healthy oceans matter.” NOS supports this policy by translating science, tools, and services into action to address coastal threats such as climate change, population growth, port congestion, and contaminants in the environment. A pivotal event in 2010 was the explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil rig on April 20. Within hours, NOAA responded, providing targeted weather forecasts and oil spill trajectory maps and mobilizing personnel and assets to respond to what evolved into the largest oil spill in U.S. history. The Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R) played a critical role in our response and is leading our efforts to assess damage caused by the event. Over half of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product is generated in coastal counties,2 and it is expected that the Nation’s coastal population will grow to more than 11 million by 2015 so NOS’ services will become more vital to the coastal environment and economy.3 Increasing population density, growing economies, and increased vulnerability to damages from hazards such as sea level rise or storms, habitat loss, and other threats makes the task of managing coastal resources more difficult. The President’s FY 2012 Budget includes $559.6 million to enable NOAA to continue delivering a dynamic range of nationwide coastal and Great Lakes scientific, technical, and resource management services to meet the vision of being a Nation with safe, healthy, resilient, and productive oceans and coasts.
2 Kildow, J. T., C. S. Colgan, and J. Scorse. 2009. State of the U.S. Ocean and Coastal Economies 2009. National Ocean Economic Program.
3 Population Trends Along the Coastal United States: 1980-2008, NOAA 20049
Human uses of ocean resources (e.g., ocean-based energy, marine aquaculture, commercial and recreational fishery products, shipping and navigation services, and other activities) need to be managed holistically. In FY 2012, NOAA requests $6.8 million to develop an agency-wide capability to conduct and support Coastal and Marine Spatial Planning (CMSP) in U.S. waters. CMSP will help us manage ocean resources in a systematic way by evaluating competing ocean uses, assessing opportunities and potential cumulative impacts, and working with industry, state and local decision makers and other stakeholders, to explicitly make trade-off decisions. CMSP is designed to focus on up front planning. There are no regulations involved. It does not add another layer of government but is designed to be more efficient, effective, and reduce redundancies in decision making. With the new Ocean Policy we are already witnessing efficiencies in our mapping and data collection across the Federal government, with data and information from the Departments of Defense and the Interior, and from Coast Guard, being integrated into a common database, which will be available to the public in the future.
The Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force include a framework for implementing CMSP across the United States in a manner that respects regional variation of issues and priorities. This initiative will significantly advance the Nation’s capability to effectively and transparently match competing human uses to appropriate ocean areas. To further support CMSP and regional ocean governance, NOAA requests $20 million to establish a competitive grants program that will support regional ocean partnerships, such as the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, South Atlantic Governor’s Alliance, and the West Coast Governor’s Agreement on Ocean Health that are vital for advancing effective ocean management. In addition, a proposed increase of $1 million in our mapping program will significantly improve the accessibility of integrated ocean and coastal mapping data.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill is a stark reminder that spills of national significance can occur despite the many safeguards and improvements that have been put into place since the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 was enacted. The risk of oil spills remains a concern given increases in marine transportation, pressures to develop domestic areas for drilling offshore, aging infrastructure susceptible to sea level rise and violent storms in U.S. coastal areas, and opening the Arctic to both shipping and oil development. NOAA’s OR&R is the lead trustee for the public’s coastal natural resources and an international scientific leader for oil spill response, assessment, and restoration. NOAA requests $2.9 million to develop an oil spill research and development program within OR&R to advance response technologies and capabilities, especially in deep water and Arctic environments. With this funding, NOAA will support external grants for essential research to provide useful information, methods, and tools for planners, oil spill responders, and assessment practitioners. Also in support of oil spill response, NOAA requests a $5.0 million increase to implement the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS®) Surface Current Mapping Plan using high frequency (HF) radar surface current measurements. HF radar provides information vital to oil spill response, national defense, homeland security, search and rescue operations, safe marine transportation, water quality and pollutant tracking, and harmful algal bloom forecasting.
The BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill made it apparent that the economic and social well being of our coastal communities depends on the environmental suitability of our coastal resources.
Numerous coastal communities, not only in the Gulf but all along our coasts, are being impacted by the loss of fishing opportunities. In FY 2012, NOAA requests $8 million to create a National Working Waterfronts grant program to assist fishing-dependent coastal communities. These grants will assist distressed or at-risk fishing communities by providing resources for planning, capacity building, and other activities to support economic diversity, resource conservation, and economic capital growth.
Program Support
To deliver sound science and services, NOAA must continue to invest in its information technology (IT) infrastructure, the maintenance and construction of NOAA facilities, and the specialized aircraft and ships that complete NOAA’s environmental and scientific missions. A requested $9.1 million increase will reduce the risk of cyber attacks by enhancing security monitoring and response capabilities and consolidate our IT infrastructure into a single enterprise network. This budget includes an additional $10 million to support major restoration and modernization projects to address critical facility condition deficiencies and to improve safety and operating conditions in support of NOAA’s mission. The FY 2012 request ensures that NOAA’s fleet of vessels is able to provide reliable, compliant, and high-quality ship support to NOAA programs through several increases. For example, $3.4 million is requested to support environmental compliance costs, including ensuring that NOAA ships are not contributing to water quality degradation. Efforts to extend and maintain the life of the NOAA ships will be supported through an $11.6 million increase for repair periods.
Also critical to the execution of NOAA’s mission is our investment in the future. Students in K-12 we support today become our workforce of the future; undergraduate and graduate fellowship recipients provide immediate dividends; and each and every citizen touched by our literacy and outreach efforts become stewards of our natural resources. These down payments help to fulfill the President’s commitment to education. The FY 2012 budget includes $20.8 million for NOAA’s Office of Education to implement and manage scholarship programs aimed at fostering competitiveness in science, technology, engineering and math by providing quality educational opportunities.
Conclusion
Overall, NOAA’s FY 2012 budget request reflects the commitment that Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke and I have made to the President to out-educate, out-build, and out-innovate our competitors in support of robust economic job growth. We have made tough choices to cut lower priorities and identify cost-savings measures. The resources that are requested in this budget are critical to the future success of meeting our needs in climate, fisheries, coasts, and oceans. I look forward to working with you, the Members of this Committee, and our constituents to achieve the goals I have laid out here through the implementation of the FY 2012 budget. Thank you for the opportunity to present NOAA’s FY 2012 budget request. I am happy to respond to any questions the Committee might have.
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