Testimony for the Record

submitted by

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Before the

Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans

U.S. House of Representatives

May 13, 2004

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is pleased to have the opportunity to provide these comments on H.R. 4027 and H.R. 4158. H.R. 4027 would allow NOAA to transfer certain property to the University of Miami, and H.R. 4158 provides for the transfer of the NOAA ship WHITING to the Government of Mexico. NOAA supports these efforts, but would request additional flexibility on H.R. 4027, as explained below.

H.R. 4027

H.R. 4027 would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to make available to the University of Miami (UM) property under the administrative jurisdiction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Virginia Key, Florida, for use by the University for a Marine Life Science Center. The bill would also authorize the Department to lease facilities constructed by the University on the property.

The University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Research is a valuable partner to NOAA and works collaboratively with the NOAA Marine Fisheries Service and Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research. NOAA has an active presence at the Virginia Key location, with approximately 198 employees and 87 contractors working at two facilities on this site, the Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, and the Southeast Fisheries Science Center.

NOAA is aware of the University of Miami’s desire to expand its marine science campus and, over the past several years, has been involved in exploratory discussions about the possibility of developing a joint NOAA-UM campus on Virginia Key to advance collaborative efforts in interdisciplinary regional, environmental and fisheries research, and educational/outreach activities. We believe that it would be in the best interests of both parties for NOAA to continue working with the University to frame the long-term facilities solution to meet mutual needs.

NOAA believes, however, that the bill could be amended to increase the flexibility of possible transactions and thereby, better safeguard the interests of the Federal government, as well as those of the University. NOAA is concerned that, as currently written, the bill may limit NOAA’s options for future expansion and/or replacement of existing facilities on Virginia Key by having to lease space from the University to meet future needs.

The land under NOAA’s jurisdiction is very limited in terms of building sites, both because of naturally occurring low areas, and because of coastal management regulations prohibiting new construction in close proximity to shorelines. These site constraints, combined with pressure to expand and/or replace facilities, require thorough land use analysis and a comprehensive campus design before considering a proposal for University of Miami facility development and construction.

NOAA has not yet conducted a comprehensive evaluation of NOAA’s needs and a development plan for its property on Virginia Key. We believe that NOAA should complete a comprehensive development plan, taking into consideration both NOAA’s needs and the interests of the University.

Therefore, we believe that it would be in the best interests of both NOAA and the University of Miami to continue collaborative planning efforts, with all possible options on the table. In sum, NOAA supports the goals of the legislation, but would desire additional flexibility in pursuing its relationship with the University. We look forward to discussing these matters with the Committee as the process moves forward.             

H.R. 4158, Transfer of NOAA Ship WHITING to the Government of Mexico

It is in the interest of the U.S. Government to transfer the decommissioned NOAA hydrographic survey vessel WHITING to the Government of Mexico. NOAA and Mexican Navy recently established a bilateral Charting Advisors Committee (CAC) to collect and exchange hydrographic data, cooperatively produce charts, and exchange technical expertise and personnel to enhance safety of navigation in boundary waters of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. Marine commerce is economically important to both nations and vessel traffic is increasing in the Gulf region. Accurate nautical charts of Mexican waters are critical for safe passage of U.S. citizens, cargo and cruise ships. NOAA has enjoyed a similar decades-long relationship with Canada, which has eliminated duplication of effort by sharing chart production responsibilities and resulted in more efficient use of resources and improvement of each other’s capabilities.

Mexico’s hydrographic surveying and nautical charting efforts have been hindered by a lack of dedicated hydrographic vessels. At present, acquisition of critical, up-to-date hydrographic information is accomplished in part by sharing time, as available, on Mexico’s oceanographic research vessels. The result has been the inability to develop and maintain a suite of navigational charts within their waters in a timely manner with the potential for adverse impact on the safe and efficient transit of vessels in the region. In addition, these oceanographic vessels are not outfitted with the technology and equipment necessary to acquire complete and accurate hydrographic data. At present, the U.S. Navy has a cooperative agreement with Mexico to help them survey critical Mexican ports and waterways. Strengthening Mexico’s capacity to conduct their own surveys would lesson the burden on Navy’s limited resources as well.

The WHITING had been in service since 1963, conducting hydrographic surveys along the U.S. East and Gulf coasts and the Great Lakes. Decommissioned in May of last year, WHITING has been a well designed and reliable vessel and has provided NOAA with many years of valuable service. NOAA considers the transfer of WHITING to Mexico an ideal solution to the question of her future disposition. It would be very gratifying to know that she would continue in honorable service as a hydrographic survey platform and contribute to chart production and safety of navigation within Mexican waters.

The Mexican Navy is very enthusiastic about this possibility and has the resources budgeted to support and maintain WHITING. NOAA representatives were in Tampico, Mexico, just a few weeks ago to celebrate the first ever joint hydrographic survey between the two agencies in the Gulf of Mexico. Technical exchanges of hydrographers and cartographers have already begun. The proposed transfer of WHITING presents an ideal opportunity to solidify NOAA’s nascent cooperative arrangement with Mexico as well as to assist with the more expeditious production of vital navigational products for both countries.