TESTIMONY OF
DR. D. JAMES BAKER
UNDER SECRETARY AND ADMINISTRATOR
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
BEFORE THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 29, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and members of the Subcommittee, for this opportunity to testify on the President's FY 2001 Budget Request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) atmospheric programs.

I am accompanied today by Scott B. Gudes, Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Jolene Lauria Sullen, Deputy Chief Financial Officer.

Let me begin by saying that NOAA's responsibilities in the environmental assessment and prediction realm include issuing advance short-term warning and forecast services, providing seasonal to interannual climate forecasts, predicting and assessing decadal to centennial change, and promoting safe navigation.

The comprehensive system for acquiring our observations–-from satellites and radars to ships and submersibles–-provides critical data and reliable information needed for the safe conduct of daily life and the basic functioning of a modern society.

NOAA continues to play an invaluable role in contributing to the Nation's economic and environmental health. Our products and services include short-term weather forecasts, seasonal climate predictions, long-term global change prognoses, environmental technologies, nautical charts, marine fisheries statistics and regulations, assessments of environmental changes, hazardous materials response information, and stewardship of the Nation's ocean, coastal, and living marine resources.

Summing up, we want you to know that NOAA continues to be a world leader in weather and climate research and forecasts, environmental monitoring and research. This subcommittee, by approving investments in these key areas, has helped us maintain that lead. In FY 2001, this proposed budget is GOOD--good for NOAA, good for the Department of Commerce, and good for America!

This year marks the 30th anniversary of our Agency, and our slogan for this event, "Our seas and our skies – 30 years of excellence at NOAA," captures the essence of who we are and what we do. By tackling challenges from the deep ocean to the surface of the Sun, NOAA is helping to make America and the world a healthier place to live.

I would like to begin my budget presentation with the following observation: in an era of smaller and leaner budgets, we believe our FY 2001 budget request is solid. Our request of $2.9 billion in total budget authority not only provides the financial means to achieve our mission, but also reflects our ongoing commitment to programs you, our constituents, and our Nation have deemed necessary and most valued.
The FY 2001 Budget Request for NOAA reflects $2.9 billion in total budget authority, a 20% increase over the FY 2000 enacted budget authority. Most notably to the interests of this subcommittee, the budget request:

includes the following initiatives: the Natural Disaster Reduction Initiative; the Climate Observations and Services Initiative; and building the capacity of the Nation's Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs).

includes funding for increased recurring lease and/or operations costs at NOAA facilities such as the David Skaggs Research Center in Boulder, Colorado.

includes adjustments-to-base for pay related and inflationary cost increases to the National Weather Service, as well as some funding for the FY 2001 pay raise for the remaining Line Offices.

includes funds to continue to replace outdated observing equipment in order to maintain continuity of core data and services and provides funds for continuing technology infusion for systems developed for the Weather Service Modernization;

includes a $17.0 million increase to expand and strengthen educational training relationships through a joint partnership with a consortium of Minority Serving Institutions(MSIs). These efforts would not only result in the education of new marine, atmospheric and environmental scientists, but would also assist many coastal communities in the development of new business and environmental engineering alternatives to support sustainable economic development; and,

includes funds to implement the Commerce Administrative Management System (CAMS), which is critical to meeting NOAA's financial management requirements.

At NOAA, we know that PERFORMANCE is what counts! Therefore, our FY 2001 budget request includes measures which will track results to the level of public investment.
The request is predicated on the need to ensure the continued delivery of essential science, technology and services to the Nation. The President's Budget Request also allows NOAA to perform an essential role in a number of Departmental, interagency and Presidential initiatives, including the following initiatives within this Subcommittee's jurisdiction.
Let me take a moment to say a few words about some of these important activities.

NATURAL DISASTER REDUCTION INITIATIVE (NDRI)

Natural hazards related to severe weather or geophysical activity threaten lives, property and the stability of local and regional economies throughout the United States. A large and diverse group of partners continues to depend on NOAA and DoC to provide leadership to reduce costs and risks associated with natural disasters. We continue to make progress in providing advanced warning for both tornadoes and flash floods.

Strengthen Weather Services and Research ($36.2 Million)

NOAA's FY 2001 request includes $14.7 million in adjustments-to-base (ATBs) essential to sustaining a modernized National Weather Service (NWS). The ATBs include funding for the mandatory federal pay raise and projected inflationary increases in non-labor categories such as maintenance and service contracts. Since 70% of the NWS base operations is committed to labor costs, this funding is vital.

The NDRI request also includes a base increase of $1.0 million for NESDIS's Environmental Observing Services.

Also included in the FY 2001 request is $8.4 million to sustain base operations within the National Weather Service; an increase of $6.8 million for the NWS Systems Operations and Maintenance (O&M), $2.3 million to sustain and modernize the co-operative observer (COOP) network; and $2.0 million for the Weather Forecast Office (WFO) Maintenance. The request also includes a total of $1 million to continue implementation of the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction System (AHPS) in the Mississippi and Ohio River basins.

Included in the FY 2001 request is an increase of $1.0 million within Oceanic and Atmospheric Research(OAR) for the U.S. Weather Research Program (USWRP).

Enhance Satellite Coverage and Disaster Information

To ensure the sustainability of NOAA's satellite coverage and disaster information, the Administration has requested $54.1 million in new funds for FY 2001.

Included in this request are funds for both the current and future series of NOAA's Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) ($25.2 million) and new funds for NOAA's Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites (POES)($6.5 million). The FY 2001 budget request for polar satellites will support the NOAA-M satellite launch planned for FY 2001 and NOAA-N and N' to be launched in the future.

For NOAA's award winning, Federal tri-agency National Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellite System (NPOESS) Program, our FY 2001 budget request provides $16.9 million in new funding. The convergence of the NOAA Polar program and the Department of Defense's Defense Meteorological Satellite Program into a converged NOAA/DoD/NASA Program will save the United States Government approximately $1.8 billion dollars over the life of the program by developing a satellite system that meets the needs of each of these agencies.

NOAA's FY 2001 request also includes $5.5 million to create an integrated Global Disaster Information Network (GDIN). The GDIN is an interagency effort to improve all phases of disaster management and response by building a collaborative, public/private partnership to develop an information system to aid emergency managers and those affected by disasters.

These funds will be used to improve coordination of and access to disaster information; to assure the reliability of Federal internet and other communication channels during disasters; and to standardize data sets, data access and data analysis tools.

Apply New Technology to Reduce Natural Hazards

The NDRI request also includes funding to apply new technology to reduce natural hazards. The increase of $19.7 million is targeted for the acquisition and improvement of major systems associated with Advance Short Term Warnings and Forecasts. For FY 2001, this includes new increases to upgrade and improve the Next Generation Radar (NEXRAD) ($1.3 million); develop and deploy new sensors for the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS)($1.3 million); and continue software (Build 5.0) improvements and provide catastrophic backup for the AWIPS System ($1.4 million).

The NDRI request also includes an increase of $2.0 million to maintain the Class VIII Supercomputer at the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP),$2.0 million to procure additional computing capacity to issue improved Climate Products, $6.2 million to expand NOAA Weather Radio coverage and improve voice transmissions; and $5.5 million to install a Doppler radar in Evansville, Indiana. In addition, the President's request also includes a total of $7.0 million to continue replacement of the Radiosonde Network which is critical to sustain upper air observations.

CLIMATE OBSERVATIONS AND SERVICES INITIATIVE

In the last few years, demand has significantly increased from the private sector, the academic research community, government agencies, and the general public to provide timely data and information about climate variability, climate change and trends in extreme weather events.

To respond to these needs (as several recent National Research Council reports have pointed out), NOAA must take immediate steps to repair its deteriorating data and observational systems. At the same time, NOAA must find funds to pay for new observations and develop more efficient and timely data infrastructure capabilities.

In FY 2001, NOAA requests $28.0 million in increases for the Climate Observations and Services Initiative. This initiative will support transitioning our current research efforts and knowledge into operational systems and products. To do this, NOAA will focus its efforts to address key deficiencies in its observation and data management systems, implement new ocean observations, and develop a broad spectrum of new forecast products.

Climate Reference Network

To ensure NOAA's capability to monitor decadal to centennial changes of temperature and precipitation, a climate reference network consisting of a few hundred stations must be developed by making use of the historical data from the best sites in the network of 11,000 cooperative observing sites.

This climate reference network will build on data from stations identified as those with the longest environmentally stable records, most dedicated observers, and most reliable data with few interruptions. These records have been used to identify past trends, variations, and changes in climate but are now degrading at an intolerable rate.

A climate reference network of about 250 stations will be identified with adequate spatial coverage to monitor temperature and precipitation trends across the USA. This will ensure long-term and bias-free monitoring, including validation of NOAA's satellite monitoring capabilities.

Using the $6.0 million requested for the climate reference network in FY 2001, NOAA will select the first 100 sites; place instrument types for temperature, precipitation, and soil moisture at a subset of the reference network; implement a means to electronically communicate all data collected in the reference network; develop a quality control package for observed data that includes checks for both random and systematic errors; and evaluate periods of concurrent data using old and new instruments to ensure a seamless transition to the new reference stations.

Improving the Availability of Climate Data and Information

As observational capabilities increase and observing networks expand, it is essential that data management and dissemination systems are in place to make the resulting data and information widely and easily accessible to public and private sector decision makers. NOAA must develop the required infrastructure to assemble, develop, and rapidly transmit data, information, and knowledge about past trends and future expectations of climate and weather events.

In FY 2001, NOAA requests $10.0 million in new funding, spread among the following infrastructure elements:

$1.0 million for the NWS Climate Prediction Center to translate an enhanced capability to monitor global climate variability and insights about climate fluctuations gained from better observing systems into operational practice. How will we do this? Through improvements to climate forecast models, better assimilation of observational data, and development of a broad spectrum of new forecast products that emphasize risks of high-impact weather events in the context of climate variability.

$4.0 million in the Procurement, Acquisition and Construction (PAC) account for the National Environmental Data Archive and Access System (NEDAAS) to acquire new generation storage devices that will improve access by public, private industry, decision-makers, and scientists to the large volume of space-based and ground-based data, such as Doppler radar, polar and geostationary satellites.

These new resources will make NOAA's data management activities more efficient for both in situ and satellite data, drive down NOAA's costs of data management per data set, and improve user services by providing access to data that is presently too costly to access for most users.

• $1.0 million to develop and implement real-time operational updates to NOAA's premier research quality long-term ocean and atmospheric reference data sets. The Nation's highest quality long-term peer-reviewed data sets are being used in a research mode, but are now ready for exploitation by private industry, decision-makers, and the general public.

These funds will be used to develop the infrastructure necessary to update routinely these data sets in real-time and ensure access to the data.

$2.5 million to improve observation network performance by ensuring that key in-situ and satellite observing networks systems adhere to the principles and guidelines for Long-term Climate Monitoring as articulated by the U.S. National Academy of Sciences.
The new funding will be used to monitor the performance of these networks using performance indicators to identify problems early enough to prevent serious degradation; provide for overlapping coverage when new instruments are introduced; ensure the data are used in national and international assessments to help evaluate the data quality; and provide for adequate metadata (information about the operation the network and related algorithms used for processing the data). Improving the overall performance of these networks will allow NOAA to avoid reconstructing entire historical data sets because of problems uncovered long after initial observations.

$1.5 million for observations and analysis in linking climate and extreme weather events critical to the general public and decision makers. Of particular importance is how climate variations such as El Niño, the North Atlantic Oscillation or long-term trends influence the probability of occurrence of extreme weather events.

An observational and analysis effort is proposed to better forecast high-impact weather on both short and long time scales; localize the predicted area of impact with high-resolution nested modeling and field programs; develop new tools for risk evaluation and prediction of extreme or significant weather types; and understand better the underlying physical processes that govern the unique weather of topographically complex regions.

Baseline Observatories

In FY 2001, NOAA requests $3.0 million to upgrade and expand operations at NOAA's remote manned Global Atmospheric Baseline Observatories at Barrow, AK; Mauna Loa, HI; American Samoa; and the South Pole, Antarctica. These observatories measure more than 250 different atmospheric parameters relevant to the study of climate change, including CO2 and O3.

Moreover, they are critical to the collection and continuity of the world's longest atmospheric time series, supplying the scientific community with information on the state and recovery of the ozone layer, global carbon dioxide, and other trace gases impacting the global climate.

Funds are needed to rehabilitate the aging Barrow, Mauna Loa, and Samoa observatories by upgrading the equipment and facilities; upgrading the Dobson ozone spectrometer equipment; and upgrading 11 continuous surface radiation sites across the U.S.. Routine aircraft flask profile measurements of trace gases and aerosols also will be expanded to cover the continental U.S. and the Pacific basin, and enhanced sampling from ships and buoys will be undertaken.

Finally, funds are requested to expand the gas and aerosol baseline measurements of effluents flowing from the Asian mainland to Hawaii, and North America.

Ocean Observations

Improved understanding of ocean circulation and physics is fundamental to our ability to predict climate variability. Finer measurements of ocean data are needed to track climate shifts, understand the interaction of oceans and atmosphere and predict severe weather and the regional impacts of climate variability.

This component of the initiative requires $9.0 million for NOAA to complete the U.S. portion of the global array of profiling floats (ARGO) for temperature and salinity. NOAA, with its international partners, will use these resources to construct, deploy and operate an array of profiling floats for data collection in the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. It will also deploy additional surface drifting buoys in the Southern Hemisphere and other under-sampled regions to complete the Global Drifter Array and improve and increase sampling from Voluntary Observing Ships (VOS).

NOAA will build upon current U.S. (NASA) and French (CNES)satellite altimetry programs, TOPEX and JASON, to ensure their continuity through the next decade. Studies of satellite systems and ground systems architecture, including orbits, will be performed that will ensure effective assimilation of altimetry into ocean models.

In conjunction with this, NOAA will upgrade global sea-level stations for satellite altimeter drift calibration and for monitoring of long-term trends. Most of these funds (up to $7.5 million) will be managed through the National Ocean Partnership Program (NOPP).

MINORITY SERVING INSTITUTIONS
As part of a Commerce-wide capacity building effort, NOAA requests $17.0 million to expand and strengthen educational training relationships through a joint partnership with a consortium of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). These efforts will not only result in the education of new marine, atmospheric and environmental scientists, but also assist many coastal communities in the development of new business and environmental engineering alternatives to support sustainable economic development.

There are four components of this Initiative:

$10 million for the creation of three Cooperative Science Centers, one each in atmospheric, environmental and oceanic sciences.

$5 million for the Environmental Entrepreneurship Program to provide funds to MSIs to support research for sustainable management in natural resource-depleted environments.

$1 million for the Graduate Scientist Program. This program will focus on recruitment of minorities and provide funding for full-time academic training in atmospheric, environmental, and oceanic science.

$1 million for the Student Fellowship Program. This Program, a component of the larger DoC Student Fellowship Program, will target MSI students in their junior year who have an interest in these areas. The program will provide scholarships during the junior and senior years to students who make a commitment to obtain degrees in the natural resources science and related management fields. Internships will be available at NOAA during their Junior and Senior year academic breaks.

In addition, NOAA will help develop capacity at the consortium MSIs and allow these institutions to train a greater number of resource scientists and managers. This effort will provide the Department with a broader and more diverse pool of potential employees. Having additional trained, natural resource managers will expand the overall scientific community and provide NOAA with additional sources of scientific data that would allow the agency to more effectively carry out its mission.

NOAA also has other programs of note that are important to meet immediate programmatic needs and longer-term strategic goals. These activities are not covered in the initiatives I have discussed.

SEA GRANT
Congress established the National Sea Grant College Program to enhance the development, use, and conservation of the Nation's marine and Great Lakes resources. Sea Grant provides the major source of support for applied marine science research, including coastal and ocean engineering and management, fisheries and aquaculture, and marine-related social sciences and law. Its university-based network of 29 programs conduct scientific research, provide education and training, and facilitate technology transfer to ensure stewardship and responsible use of our resources.

Through Sea Grant, NOAA forges a major link to the external academic community where a strong infrastructure and talented pool of scientists, engineers, educators, and outreach specialists can be tapped to meet Agency and Departmental missions. Such partnerships support the Administration's goal of a sustainable economy and environment.

In FY 2001, NOAA requests a $.6 million increase for the National Sea Grant College Program.

Not only is NOAA the national leader in oceans and atmospheric science, but we strengthen our knowledge through involvement in international organizations such as:

GLOBAL LEARNING AND OBSERVATION TO BENEFIT THE ENVIRONMENT (GLOBE)
Aimed at improving the quality of science education for the next generation of American scientists, the GLOBE Program is a worldwide network of students, teachers, and scientists working together to study and understand the global environment. Students and teachers from over 8,000 schools in more than 85 countries are working with research scientists to learn more about our planet.

NOAA's FY 2001 budget requests an increase of $2.0 million for the GLOBE Program.

SUITLAND/INFRASTRUCTURE
One of NOAA's priority programs relates to our infrastructure needs for NESDIS satellite operations. The space currently occupied at the Suitland Federal Center, Federal Building #4, has significant asbestos problems. In addition to the asbestos concerns, water-testing results confirmed the presence of harmful substances in the water (coliforms), thereby warranting the use of bottled water for consumption. Also, due to the age of the facility, numerous roof leaks and other building system failures constitute threats to NOAA's critical infrastructure activities housed in the building.

Consequently, an Advanced Appropriation of $15.2 million is requested to be available October 2001 to construct a new satellite operations facility. This facility is needed to address severe environmental deficiencies in the NESDIS Suitland facility. This Advance Appropriation supplements the FY 2000 final appropriation amount of $2.7 million that is providing the necessary funds to initiate the facility planning and design process. In addition, $3.0 million is requested as an Advanced Appropriation to be available on October 1, 2002 for furnishings and move-in expenses.

COMMERCE ADMINISTRATIVE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CAMS)
The full funding of CAMS is essential for NOAA to establish a sound financial accounting system and to meet its statutory obligations under the Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) and the Chief Financial Officer Act (CFO Act).
CAMS is also essential in making NOAA's programs successful. NOAA requests $15.8 million for CAMS in the PAC Account in order allow for continued production support. These funds will support the Accounts Payable, Small Purchases, and the Travel Modules.

NOAA's Total Budget Authority ATBs for all accounts in FY 2001 are $54.3 million.

Our highest priority continues to be to ensure that critical services are provided and that employees are given the support necessary to meet their personal career goals as well as the NOAA mission.

I would like to take this opportunity to applaud one such NOAA scientist, Susan Solomon, whom the White House recently awarded the 1999 National Medal of Science. She is the first NOAA scientist to be awarded this medal.

GEOPHYSICAL FLUID DYNAMICS LABORATORY (GFDL) SUPER COMPUTER
NOAA's FY 2001 request includes an increase of $2 million to support the full year lease and to provide software support for a supercomputer to be located at the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory in Princeton, N.J. This will be the second year of the procurement. The computer will be used full-time to attack some of the most difficult, but critical obstacles to developing and testing new and more realistic models for predicting climate variability, climate change, and forecasting hurricanes.

In conclusion, the challenge of investing strategically in the Nation's future is accompanied by the requirement to be more effective, to identify and realize opportunities for savings, and to focus the efforts of all levels of Government on what matters most to the American people. Our citizens are increasingly demanding proof of performance – documentation of the "bang for the buck" and NOAA's FY 2001 budget request includes measures which track results to the level of public investment.

Success in the complexities of the 21st Century, will depend more and more on partnerships and cooperative ventures that link business, industry, and universities with Federal, State and local governments and international parties. NOAA will continue to develop those associations that most efficiently and economically leverage resources and talent, and that most effectively provide the means for successfully meeting program requirements.

The FY 2001 budget is an investment for the 21st century, a step toward a more viable, economically sound, and ecologically sustainable future... where environmental stewardship, assessment and prediction serve as keystones to enhancing economic prosperity and quality of life, better protecting lives and property, and strengthening U.S. trade.

Thank you again for the opportunity to appear. I would be pleased to respond to any questions members of the Subcommittee may have.