FROM THERE TO HERE

AND

THE FUTURERobert M. White

NOAA Leadership Seminar

August 25, 2004

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

A Proud History of Service and Science

1807 Coastal Survey

1870 Weather Bureau

1871 Fisheries Commission

(Bureau Commercial Fisheries)

1965 ESSA, Environmental Science Service

Administration

1970 NOAA

Half Century of U.S.Environmental Progress

1960 JFK elected President

1962 Silent Spring, Rachel Carson

1968 Stratton Commission on Oceans “Our Nation and the Sea”

1968 National Environmental Policy Act

Half Century of U.S. Environmental Progress II

1970 Environment Institutionalized by Nixon (NEPA, NOAA, EPA)

2003 Pew Ocean Commission

2004 Watkins Ocean Commission

The Making of NOAA

• Stratton Commission• ESSA, Department of Commerce• Bureau of Commercial Fisheries,

Department of Interior• Ocean Data Center, U.S. Navy• Great Lakes Survey, Corp of Engineers• Sea Grant Program, National Science

Foundation

The Making of NOAA II

• Marine Minerals Technology Center, Department of Interior

• National Data Buoy Project, U.S. Coast Guard

• Recommendations not included

• Independent Agency

• Coast Guard

An Environmentally Integrated Agency

“Science, Service and Stewardship”

National Missions:

• Weather and Climate Observations and Predictions

• Hydrological measurements and predictions

• Nautical charts

• Aeronautical charts

• Marine advisory services

An Environmentally Integrated Agency II

• Fisheries management

• Protection of marine resources

• Environmental science and technology

• Others

Unique Facilities

• Fleet of ships

• Fleet of aircraft

• Computer facilities

• Earth Orbiting Satellites

• National radar network

• National hazard warning radio network

Policy and PoliticsLegislative Authority

• 1970 Reorganization Plan #4• 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act• 1972 Coastal Zone Management Act• 1972 Marine Protection Research &

Sanctuaries Act• 1976 Coastal Energy Impact Act• 1978 Ocean Pollution Act• 1978 National Climate Program Act

Technological Underpinnings of Service

• Digital electronic computer- Mathematical Modeling

• Remote Sensing technology-Radar- Severe storms- Charting

• Earth Orbiting Satellites• Global Communications- The Internet

NOAA Services Fundamental Rationale

• Weather– Agricultural, Aviation, Weather Hazards

• Climate– Energy, Agriculture, Health

• Navigation Charts– Nautical, Aeronautical

• Hydrology– Observations, Drought, Floods

• Ocean Prediction– Sea level, Tides, Currents

NOAA Stewardship Preserving Our Environmental

Future

• Ocean sanctuaries and restricted areas

• Fisheries management

• Air and ocean pollution

• Coastal Zone management

NOAA’s Global ReachLead Agency

• World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

• UNESCO (IOC)

• International Whaling Commission (IWC)

• United Nations Environment Program (UNEP)

• Fisheries Agreements

International Programs

1963 World Weatherwatch WMO

1960’s Global Atmospheric Research Program WMO

1965 International Hydrological Decade UNESCO

1970’s International Decade Ocean Exploration UNESCO

1970 Integrated Ocean Station System IOC & UNESCO

1972 Earthwatch-Observing the Earth UN/UNEP

1989 International Decade for Natural Hazard reduction UN

NOAA’s Future

• Global Earth Observation System• Ocean and Coastal Stewardship• Ecosystem Fisheries Management• Climate Observations Prediction & Impact• Hazardous Weather & Environmental Prediction• Ocean Observation and Prediction• Environmentally Sustainable World

Proposed New Organic ActsJuly 1-15, 2004

• HR4546 – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act – Vern Ehlers (R-MI)

• HR4607 – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Organic Act of 2004 – Bush Administration

• S2647 National Ocean Policy and Leadership Act – Ernest Hollings (D, SC), Ted Stevens (R-AK) et al