| |
U.S. Antarctic Program External Panel
March 12, 1997
At the hearing of the House Committee on Science on
March 12, 1997, Norman R. Augustine, Chairman of the
U.S. Antarctic Program External Panel, reported to
the Committee on the External Panel's recommendations
to improve the U.S. research facilities in the Antarctic.
Full Committee Chairman, Rep. James Sensenbrenner,
Jr. (R-WI), Acting Ranking Member, Rep. Bart Gordon
(D-TN) and other members of the Committee praised
Mr. Augustine for the quality of the External Panel's
work and recommendations.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Augustine summarized the
recommendations of the panel and indicated that the
Panel's final report will be ready in April, 1997.
Mr. Augustine highlighted the geopolitical importance
of continued U.S. presence in the Antarctic. He also
made a strong case for the maintenance of all three
Antarctic stations, McMurdo, South Pole Station and
Palmer, as each contributes uniquely to the overall
research and logistics program. He commended the quality
of the science and the management by the National
Science Foundation (NSF) of the logistical, as well
as research program in the Antarctic. Furthermore,
he recommended that the U.S. continue to pursue international
cooperation in research, but maintain full responsibility
for maintaining the research facilities. Finally,
he suggested that the Department of State or other
federal agency develop a plan for managing the burgeoning
tourism in the Antarctic and that transfer of many
of the Navy's traditional support functions to civilian
contractors continue.
The remainder of Mr. Augustine's testimony was devoted
to the External Panel's recommendation that South
Pole Station be upgraded to ensure satisfactory health
and safety standards are met. The External Panel has
estimated that a total of $145 million over five years
was needed to adequately upgrade the Antarctic facilities,
including $125 million dollars over five years to
upgrade South Pole Station, $5 million immediately
to bring the facility up to satisfactory condition
until the more extensive upgrade could be made, and
$15 million to upgrade Palmer and McMurdo. The Panel
has identified $30 million from cost reductions through
greater efficiencies and $20 million from the reduction
of science until the health and safety upgrades are
met, leaving a total of $95 million in new funds needed
to bring the facility into satisfactory condition.
The National Science Foundation has requested $25
million in this fiscal year's budget request, but
will need an additional $70 million more over the
next five years.
In addition to a discussion of how the science program
will be reduced until the upgrades are completed,
much of the question and answer period centered on
the ability of the private sector to capitalize on
their contributions to the Antarctic research program
by advertising that their products can withstand the
harsh realities of the Antarctic. During the Rep.
Barton's line of questioning with regard to the private
sector's ability to advertise the use of their products
in Antarctica, Mr. Augustine pointed out that the
private sector could contribute to the Antarctic program
through product donations, industry-university partnerships
and the privatization of logistics. With regard to
concerns about the science program reductions, he
clarified for the Committee that the number of people
at the site in the winter would remain the same, while
the summer camps could still support the overflow
in the summer. He also cited the Panel's recommendation
that the National Science Foundation's peer review
system take into account, not only the quality of
the science at the Antarctic, but the potential costs
as well. Finally, he agreed that, given the geopolitical
importance of the U.S. presence in Antarctica, it
might be useful to look to other federal agencies,
in addition to the National Science Foundation, to
share the burden of the costs to upgrade the Antarctic
facilities.
|
|
