# Presentation: 024282

## 4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental and Energy Research and Education

- Scott Rayder
- Chief of Staff
- National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
- March 26, 2007

- Council of Environmental Deans and Directors

## Outline

- The Budget
- Ocean Action Plan
- Legislative Priorities for the 110th Congress
- The Way Forward

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
Good morning, and thank you for inviting me to speak to you today.

  I intend to devote the majority of my time to discussing what I know is at the forefront of most of your minds: the budget.
I would like to share my thoughts on the FY 07 budget and the outlook for FY 08, both on a NOAA-wide and how we look in terms of providing opportunities for grants and opportunities to university-based research programs, such as the ones most of you represent. 

  Next, I will discuss the Ocean Action Plan as it relates to NOAA and how we plan to meet its obligations under the Plan.

  Then, I’d like to highlight NOAA’s legislative priorities for the 110th Congress. 

  Finally, I will address NOAA’s vision for moving forward. 

## NOAA BudgetIncluded House & Senate Marks

- NOAA BudgetIncluded House & Senate Marks

**In FY’03, the House did not report or pass an SJC appropriations bill. The House-Introduced bill total is used here.*

***($ in Billions)***

*****

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
The numbers:
The President’s request for FY 2007 totaled close to $3. 68B; about 5.9% less than the FY 2006 enacted amount
On June 26, 2006, the House passed H.R. 5672, appropriating almost $3.38B for NOAA, 8.2% less than the President’s Request.  This bill would cut funding for every line office, with the exception of the National Weather Service.
On July 13, 2006, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved H.R. 5672 after appropriating $4.43B for NOAA, approximately 20.3% more than the requested amount and 13.3% above the FY 2006 enacted level.
On February 14, 2007 the Senate passed Joint Resolution 20, funding the Federal government through September 30, 2007.
Signed into law on February 15th, JR 20 funds NOAA at the FY 06 Enacted level.
NOAA’s budget has grown to respond to public demand for mission critical products and services. 

The President’s Budget has grown at a steady rate, but the Congressional Budget has remained flat since FY 2005.

Gap continues between the President’s Budget and the Congressional Budget.
FY 08 Request is $96.1M below the FY 2006 Enacted

The FY07 CR has presented some challenges for our operating plan.  For example, with grant-making, which is nearly one third of NOAA’s budget:
in the 1st Q of FY07 we issued 19 awards for $15M
that is 80% less awards, at nearly half the dollar value when compared with the 1st Q of FY06 (100 awards for $28M), because we are unable to exercise our full discretionary spending authority.
This means will are likely to have to do roughly 85-90% of the funded grants workload in the last 6 months of the fiscal year, which affects our customers and our people.

For 3 years NOAA has been funded at $3.9 billion (request keeps rising, but enacted budget does not). 

## Summary by Strategic Goal

| Goal$ are obligations(incl. mandatory) | FY 2006 Enacted
FY 2007 Blue Book Amount | FY 2007 President’s Budget | FY 2008 Net Changes | FY 2008 President’s Request | Percent Change
over ‘07 PB |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Ecosystems | $1,239 | $1,055 | $95 | $1,150 | 9.0% |
| Climate | $251 | $226 | $14 | $240 | 6.2% |
| Weather & Water | $933 | $877 | $46 | $923 | 5.2% |
| Commerce & Transportation | $182 | $159 | $6 | $165 | 3.8% |
| Mission Support | $1,401 | $1,503 | ($24) | $1,479 | (1.6%) |
| Financing | ($95) | ($136) | ($6) | ($142) | — |
| Total | $3,911 | $3,684 | $131 | $3,815 | 3.4% |

- ($ in millions)

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
Modest increases in most mission goal areas:

Largest growth area is in Ecosystems, reflecting the need to support the U.S. Ocean Action Plan through Ocean Research and Monitoring, Fisheries Research and Management, and Habitat Restoration

The balance of NOAA’s portfolio reflects minor growth:

Climate includes increases for drought prediction and warning activities, and to support further use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems.

Weather and Water increase will cover the need for operational costs for hurricane data buoys received in the 2006 Hurricane supplemental

Commerce and Transportation increases will support ocean and National Water Level Observing Network (NWLON) sensors.

Mission Support includes some minor increases for O&M for NOAA Vessels, and the Pacific Region Office & Science Center, as well as several decreases in the Satellite program that result in an overall reduction in mission support.

## Summary by Line Office

| Line Office$ are obligations(incl. mandatory) | FY2006 Enacted | FY 2007 President’s Budget | FY 2008 Net Changes | FY 2008 President’s Request | Percent Changeover ’07 PB |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| NOS | $590 | $413 | $55 | $468 | 13.3% |
| NMFS | $804 | $737 | $59 | $796 | 8.0% |
| OAR | $380 | $349 | $20 | $369 | 5.7% |
| NWS | $848 | $882 | $21 | $903 | 2.4% |
| NESDIS | $952 | $1,034 | ($56) | $978 | (5.4%) |
| PS/OMAO | $491 | $406 | $36 | $442 | 8.9% |
| Financing | ($154) | ($137) | ($4) | ($141) | — |
| Total | $3,911 | $3,684 | $131 | $3,815 | 3.4% |

- ($ in millions)

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
Largest growth is in NOS, primarily to support IOOS and management of the new NW Hawaiian Islands Marine National Monument, as well as ocean research and coastal land conservation.

NMFS increases support Limited Access Privilege Programs for commercial fishers, implementing Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization requirements, working with partners to restore the Penobscot River to rebuild Atlantic salmon stocks, and advancing domestic aquaculture.

OAR increases support hurricane intensity research, further use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, and assessment of Atlantic ocean circulation influences on abrupt climate change.  

NWS increase includes O&M funding for weather data buoys and emergency back-up systems received in the hurricane supplemental, and support to further strengthen the U.S. Tsunami Warning Program.

NESDIS decrease is related to planned reductions in the funding for GOES and NPOESS.

Program Support increases, including that for Marine and Aviation Operations, includes funds to continue construction of the Pacific Islands Center and design the replacement laboratory for the La Jolla Fisheries facility, as well as operational costs for NOAA vessels and new P-3 aircraft.

## FY 07 Continuing Resolution

- Joint Resolution 20 signed into law on February 15th, 2007
- Funds the Federal government through September 30th, 2007
- Joint Resolution provides NOAA with continued funding at the FY06 Enacted level ($3.9 billion)
- Possible small upward adjustments to some items
- FY 2007 spending plan is on the hill

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

## FY 2008 Budget Context

- NOAA Services Crucial to Our Nation’s Competitiveness
- Increasing Need to Preserve Ocean and Coastal Resources
- Severe Weather Impacting Our Economy and Public Safety
- Understanding Climate Change to Manage Resources Better
- NOAA Environmental Information Key to Millions of Decisions
- Fiscal Environment Requires Careful Resource Decisions

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
These points highlight the context in which NOAA is operating and the agency’s highest priorities for the coming fiscal year. 

## FY 2008 Budget Highlights

- Request of $3,815.4M is $131.3M or 3.4% above the FY 2007 President’s Budget
- Request is $96.1M or 2.5% below the FY 2006 Enacted Level
- Reflects the Administration’s Guidance on Discretionary Spending
- Supports Core Mission Services
- Includes $51.5M for Adjustments to Base and $79.9M in Program Increases
- Supports President’s U.S. Ocean Action Plan

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
FY06 Enacted:  $3,911.4M ($4,088M w/ supplemental)
$177M (broken down into $128M for fish, $20M for marine debris & hurricane infrastructure, and $25M for the Pascagoula Lab). 
FY07 PB:  $3,684.1M
FY07 CR $3,387.0M
FY08 PB:  $3,815.4M

## U.S. Ocean Action Plan 

- U.S. Ocean Action Plan

- Administration’s Response to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy
- U.S. Ocean Action Plan (OAP)
- December 17, 2004
- Executive Order: Committee on Ocean Policy
- U.S. Ocean Action Plan
- _[http://ocean.ceq.gov](http://ocean.ceq.gov/)_
- OAP Implementation Update
- January, 2007
- _[http://](http://ocean.ceq.gov/)__[ocean.ceq.gov](http://ocean.ceq.gov/)_

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
U.S. Ocean Action Plan
On December 17, 2004, President Bush submitted the “U.S. Ocean Action Plan” to Congress in response to the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommendations.
The U.S. Ocean Action Plan:
  summarizes the Administration’s ongoing actions to advance ocean policy as the Commission deliberated;
  identifies additional near-term actions that provide direction for ocean policy;
  outlines comprehensive, long-term actions for the future; and
  improves governance between Federal, state, local and tribal authorities

Implementation Update
In January 2007, the U.S. Ocean Action Plan Implementation Update was released.  The Update details the administration’s progress in addressing and achieving the goals outlined in the OAP and demonstrates the critical role state, local, territorial, and tribal partners have played in implementing the Plan. NOAA has played a key role in OAP implementation, acting as lead or co-lead on roughly half of the 88 assigned items in the plan.  Among the notable successes are:
Reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Act:  
  Congress reauthorized MSA in December. It was signed into law by President on January 12, 2007.
  MSA is the foremost bill that governs fishery management activities in federal waters.
  Enactment of this bill is one of the top priorities of the Ocean Action Plan.
  Reauthorized MSA strengthens NOAA’s ability to end overfishing, rebuild fish stocks, and work collaboratively on conservation.
Designation of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands National Monument:
  The monument encompasses nearly 140,000 square miles of U.S. waters, making it the largest marine conservation area on Earth. 

## U.S. Ocean Action PlanFY 2008 President Budget Increases over FY 2007

| Ocean Science and Research | $60 |
| --- | --- |
| Ocean Research Priorities Plan Implementation | $20.0 |
| Integrated Ocean Observing System | $16.4 |
| Vessel Time and Equipment for Ocean Science | $9.0 |
| Mapping the Extended Continental Shelf | $8.0 |
| Saltonstall-Kennedy Competitive Fisheries Research Grants (mandatory funds) | $3.5 |
| Right Whales Research | $2.0 |
| Ocean Health Initiative | $1.0 |
| International Polar Year—Marine survey in the Antarctic | $0.6 |
|  |  |
| Protecting and Restoring Sensitive Marine and Coastal Areas | $38 |
| Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Monument | $8.0 |
| Penobscot River Restoration | $10.0 |
| Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation | $15.0 |
| Gulf of Mexico Collaboration | $5.0 |
|  |  |
| Ensuring Sustainable Use of Ocean Resources | $25 |
| Magnuson Stevens Implementation | $20.2 |
| Aquaculture | $3.0 |
| Marine Mammals and Sound | $1.8 |
|  |  |
| NOAA Total | $123 |
|  |  |
| Support Implementation of Ocean Research Priorities Plan (ORPP)—NSF/DOI | $20 |
| Total | $143 |

- ($ in Millions)

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

## Supporting the U.S. Ocean Action Plan

| 

 | Request Amount | Program Change |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Integrated Ocean Observing System | $16.4 | +$16.4 |
| Aquaculture Program | $4.1 | +$3.0 |
| Unmanned Aircraft Systems | $3.3 | +$3.3 |

- Coastal and marine waters generate over $63B annually in goods and services

- ($ in millions)

- U.S. Ocean Action Plan &Potential Relevance to Climate & Environmental Systems

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
Ocean Action Plan activities potentially relevant to the topic of this session: Climate Environment System

Integrated Ocean Observing System 
FY ’08 Budget Includes +$2.5M for Data Management and Communications 
Interoperable data enables new products & decision support tools, improved storm surge models & hazard warning systems.
Enables NOAA to integrate 11 out of 20 core variables collected from NOAA observing platforms interoperable by 2012 (first 3 by FY08, first 5 by FY09)
FY06:  $7.4M; FY07:  $0M;  FY08:  $2.5M
Includes +$11.5M for IOOS Regional Observations 
Supports development of regional component of IOOS through competitive grants and contracts to 11 IOOS regions. 
NOAA is standing up an IOOS program office—Zdenka Willis in NOS

Aquaculture Program +$3.0M
Annual seafood trade deficit is nearly $8B, with 40% of imported seafood coming from aquaculture
$3.0M to develop the regulatory program called for in the Administration’s National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005; hires an Aquaculture Scientist & Aquaculture Coordinator to develop regulations and standards for permit approval & monitoring
FY06:  $1.0M; FY07:  $1.0M;  FY08:  $3.0M

Unmanned Aircraft Systems +$3.3M
UAS Platforms will be deployed as part of NOAA’s weather research, science and technology infusion acceleration program to address critical weather and climate observation gaps in regions important to the US – Central Pacific Ocean and the Artic.
$3.0M will be used to test and evaluate UAS platforms, payloads and applications.  Specific applications that will be explored include:
Climate: will test two important climate issues.  Climate models show that Upper atmosphere over the Artic Ocean should have warmed by 3 deg F by late in the current decade, existing measures are inadequate at measuring comparison of temperatures at the same location over time.  By dropping sondes at locations chosen during the IPY, these models will be addressed; Change of water vapor in the upper and lower atmosphere over the tropics is crucial to evaluating climate models.  The ability for UAS’s to monitor atmospheric rivers, which currently are poorly observed will be a key aspect to understand both the global water budget and weather prediction
$0.3M will be used to analyze data from UAS’s from the Artic Test Base in an international context.

## Legislative Priorities—110th Congress

- NOAA Organic Act
- National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Amendments Act of 2007
- Cooperative Conservation of Marine, Estuarine, Coastal, and Riverine Habitats Act of 2007

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

**Notes:**
NOAA Organic Act 
The NOAA Organic Act provides a basic foundation of authorities to conduct the activities needed to meet the missions of the agency. While there are dozens of single laws authorizing some of NOAA’s activities, there is no central authority that lays out the mission and general functions of the agency.
National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007
The National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 provides the necessary authority to the Secretary of Commerce for the establishment, implementation, and enforcement of a comprehensive regulatory system for offshore aquaculture in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone. Right now, most U.S. marine aquaculture products come from shellfish, which are grown onshore or in coastal areas. Offshore aquaculture development can help meet the growing demand for seafood and create jobs that contribute to economic development.
Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Amendments Act of 2007
In 2000, Congress enacted the Coral Reef Conservation Act (CRCA), which provided NOAA the authority to undertake a number of activities to understand, manage and protect coral reef ecosystems.  The Coral Reef Ecosystem Conservation Amendments Act of 2007 will reauthorize the CRCA for five years and make changes to improve the ability of the NOAA’s Coral Reef Conservation Program to allow the most effective and efficient protection of coral reef ecosystems.
Cooperative Conservation of Marine, Estuarine, Coastal, and Riverine Habitat Act of 2007
The proposed legislation will promote marine, estuarine, coastal, and riverine habitat conservation through cooperative partnerships and regional planning. Executive Order #13352 (August 2004) entitled “Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation” directs several cabinet agencies, including the Department of Commerce, to implement laws relating to environmental and natural resource stewardship in a manner that promotes cooperative interactions with stakeholders, with an emphasis on local inclusion.  Working cooperatively with constituents and others to achieve stewardship goals is routine within NOAA and predates the issuance of the Executive Order.  However, by ensuring clear and flexible statutory authority for current NOAA programs that generally are authorized under several different authorities NOAA’s cooperative conservation efforts will be enhanced.

## Summary

- NOAA Services Are Critical to the Nation
- FY’08 Budget Request Funds NOAA’s Highest Priorities
- Support from Our Constituents and Congress is Critical

- Council of Environmental Deans & Directors—4th Annual University Federal Dialogue on Environmental & Energy Research & Education

## Questions?