[Senate Hearing 107-966]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 107-966
NOMINATION OF DR. JAMES R. MAHONEY TO BE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND
ATMOSPHERE AND DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR
FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
=======================================================================
HEARING
BEFORE THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE,
SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
__________
JANUARY 24, 2002
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
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COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
ONE HUNDRED SEVENTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, South Carolina, Chairman
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii JOHN McCAIN, Arizona
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West TED STEVENS, Alaska
Virginia CONRAD BURNS, Montana
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts TRENT LOTT, Mississippi
JOHN B. BREAUX, Louisiana KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine
RON WYDEN, Oregon SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas
MAX CLELAND, Georgia GORDON SMITH, Oregon
BARBARA BOXER, California PETER G. FITZGERALD, Illinois
JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada
JEAN CARNAHAN, Missouri GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia
BILL NELSON, Florida
Kevin D. Kayes, Democratic Staff Director
Jeanne Bumpus, Republican Staff Director and General Counsel
C O N T E N T S
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Page
Hearing held on January 24, 2002................................. 1
Statement of Senator Kerry....................................... 1
Statement of Senator Wyden....................................... 2
Witnesses
Gregg, Hon. Judd, U.S. Senator from New Hampshire................ 3
Mahoney, Dr. James R., nominee to be Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator for
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration............ 5
Prepared statement........................................... 8
Biographical information..................................... 9
Appendix
McCain, Hon. John, prepared statement............................ 29
Response to written questions submitted to Hon. John McCain by:
Dr. James R. Mahoney......................................... 29
NOMINATION OF DR. JAMES R. MAHONEY TO
BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR OCEANS AND
ATMOSPHERE AND DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR
FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND
ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
----------
THURSDAY, JANUARY 24, 2002
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
Washington, DC.
The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 9:05 a.m. in room
SR-253, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. John Kerry,
presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. JOHN KERRY,
U.S. SENATOR FROM MASSACHUSETTS
Senator Kerry. Good morning. It's my pleasure to convene
this hearing today to consider the nomination of Dr. James
Mahoney to be the Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
and Deputy Administrator for the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
He's joined today, I gather, by his wife, Taya, back there
with his twin daughters, Caitlin and Courtney, and daughter,
Deborah, and sons, James and Robert, who I've just been
informed are good constituents of mine in Massachusetts. So
we're even more delighted to welcome you here.
[Laughter.]
Senator Kerry. I was telling your father a moment ago that,
given his roots in Massachusetts 25 years long, we probably
don't need a hearing, but we're going to do it anyway.
[Laughter.]
Senator Kerry. I really am pleased to have you here.
I'm also very happy to welcome Deputy Secretary of
Commerce, Sam Bodman, also from Massachusetts, and NOAA
Administrator, Admiral Lautenbacher. We're delighted to have
you here, and thank you for taking time to be here in support
of the nominee, which we note.
Let me just say very quickly that we want to try to
expedite the hearing and that Senator Gregg has a pressing
commitment upstairs, so we'll try to move along fast, but I
don't want to shortchange the importance of this job.
NOAA really came into existence due to the great efforts of
our Chairman of this Committee, Senator Hollings, in 1970, and
its purpose was to protect life and property from natural
hazards and also to help us understand the total environment
and lead to intelligent use of our natural resources.
There's an annual appropriation of over $3 billion, which
represents 60 percent of the budget of the Commerce
Department--12,000 employees. Many people, former secretaries,
have come before us--and I think particularly of Ron Brown and
Bill Daley and others in the past--they're always shocked to
learn that the Commerce Department has a Navy as well as this
extraordinary responsibility. More than 30 percent of the gross
domestic product of our country is generated in the coastal
zone, and 40 percent of all the new commercial and residential
development is along the coast.
Predictions are that in about 20 years, 75 percent of all
Americans are going to live in coastal areas, so we have an
enormous burden on us, and the marine-related protection issues
are huge. Even today I think it is as we sit here.
A court case is regrettably going to be argued in the First
District regarding fisheries. Senator Snowe and I would
particularly wish that the councils would be able to manage
these things. That was the purpose of our regime, but it isn't
happening properly. And last year we landed roughly--this is an
extraordinary statistic--we landed 9 billion pounds of fish
with a value of about $3.5 billion. And I'm pleased to say that
New Bedford has returned to its status as the number-one
fishing port, in terms of dockside revenues, with over $146
million in landings.
But we also know that we have enormous risks to our oceans.
The ecosystem is stressed. Many of the world's greatest
fisheries are over-fished. We have troubles in almost every one
of our own fisheries surrounding the United States, from the
salmon in the Northwest to the tuna to the Gulf of Mexico to
the migratory species off the Atlantic coast and obviously,
Georges Bank. Much of it is closed to fishing today, for proper
purposes.
But these are huge missions, Dr. Mahoney. And then on the
outside, you have all of the weather prediction in which, I
must say, NOAA does an extraordinary job. The predictions of
hurricane Michelle were really rather remarkable. They were so
accurate, even as it twisted and turned, giving people notice,
which was important to saving life and property.
So we value these services enormously, and we welcome your
willingness to undertake this. And you come with, I must say, a
terrific background and a terrific set of preparations for it.
So we welcome the nomination.
Let me ask if my colleague has any quick opening remarks.
STATEMENT OF HON. RON WYDEN,
U.S. SENATOR FROM OREGON
Senator Wyden. I do, Mr. Chairman, and I thank you. I think
you've summed it up very well, Mr. Chairman.
And obviously in the Pacific Northwest, where we now have
the highest unemployment rate in the country, we care
tremendously about the issues that Senator Kerry has talked
about. We have got to get the right number of fishers out there
at the right time, catching the right number of fish to make
this industry sustainable. Clearly, for states like
Massachusetts and Oregon, this is a major jobs issue. At the
same time, we want to make sure that we don't shortchange
science in the conservation issues that are so critical.
As I told you yesterday in our meeting, Dr. Mahoney, I'm
going to support your nomination here this morning. You were
very forthright in our dealings yesterday. The people of the
Northwest feel that they have been listened to on these issues.
We've had scores of public meetings. This is a time for action.
We want to see you work with Bill Hogarth, who has been very
forthcoming in our region, in terms of working with us, and
getting results.
There are two specific issues that we want you to work on.
The first is a question of the number of vessels that are out
there. We've got to have a buy-back program that gets the right
number of people at the right time, in effect, doing the things
that are based on sound science.
Second, we want you to follow up on a promise that NMFS
made to me personally and the people of our region to do
something about this bycatch issue. We have seen action at the
agency drag on and on. The resource is being wasted.
There are pictures of huge numbers of fish coming as a
result of inadvertent catch to the shore, and they're being
thrown away. They're not going to food banks. It's a waste of a
resource. It is a real disgrace, and the agency has promised
action on it, and it has not been forthcoming.
Those are the two issues. And we appreciate the public
meeting. We're always anxious to have more. Now we want to get
some results.
Mr. Chairman, I thank you.
Senator Kerry. Thank you very much, Senator Wyden.
I'm particularly pleased Senator Gregg is here, actually,
to hear both of these comments, because he has a critical role
in the Congress as one of our chief appropriators. One of the
most difficult aspects of resolving the protection of
fisheries--and obviously, New Hampshire is a participant in
this--is finding a sensible way to reduce the fishing effort.
And we've tried to augment the buy-back program so we literally
get people out of fishing. Other countries are doing that to
smart avail, and I think it's something we really need to think
about expanding the program. There's just too much money
chasing too few fish, and we need to have a balance in it, and
that seems like an equitable way to reduce people who've been
at it for generations but who are prepared, perhaps, to sell
their equity in it.
Senator Gregg, thank you for taking time to be here, and we
look forward to your introduction.
STATEMENT OF HON. JUDD GREGG,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW HAMPSHIRE
Senator Gregg. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Senator Wyden.
It's a pleasure to be here today and join the Committee in
welcoming Dr. Jim Mahoney, who is being put forward for the
NOAA position.
As the Chairman has reflected, NOAA is a critical agency.
I consider it to be one of the true jewels of the federal
government in that it is a science agency that does
extraordinary work and is on the cutting edge of science that
is critical to us as a nation and our survival, not only
economically, but internationally and in a lot of strategic
ways. And, of course, it's critical to the protection of the
American people because it does warn us when tornados are
coming and where hurricanes are going to hit. And it does a
great job.
I have had the good fortune to be serving on the
Subcommittee on Appropriations, and be Chairman of that
Committee and now Ranking Member on it, which has jurisdiction
over NOAA. The Senate has always been an aggressive supporter
of NOAA, as the Chairman of this Committee has been. Not only
the Chairman of the subcommittee, but the Chairman of the Full
Committee have been key players in making that sure that NOAA
receives the funding support it needs. It's something that we
take great pride in in our Subcommittee on Appropriations.
And the successes of NOAA will continue if it continues to
attract people like Dr. Mahoney. I've gotten to know Dr.
Mahoney on a personal level. He lived across the street,
actually, in our home down here. And it's wonderful to see Taya
and Caitlin and Courtney here, who are great enthusiasts and
who we enjoyed as neighbors. Unfortunately, they moved away
just a little while ago, but they brought a lot of life and
excitement to our street. I can tell you the twins are special
kids, and the parents are, too.
And as a result of getting to know the Mahoneys personally,
I can say, without any sort of qualification, that he will be
an extraordinary asset to the government. The fact that he's
decided to rejoin the government, I think, is a great plus to
us as a government. He has a tremendous background.
The fact that a lot of his knowledge and base and
experience comes from Massachusetts is only an extra plus.
Having an MIT degree in meteorology and being past
President of the American Society of Meteorology and then
teaching at Harvard for a number of years--I think almost 20
years, he also has an expertise in the private sector. He
appreciates the needs of the private sector as they integrate
with the scientific community. And that's very important in
this agency, because there is so much overlap.
From my viewpoint, as I say, we are fortunate to have
people like this who are willing to go back into public
service, people like Dr. Mahoney. That's our good fortune.
So I come here today to endorse him with absolute
enthusiasm. I know he'll be a tremendous addition to NOAA, and
I look forward to working with him in the appropriating process
to make sure that NOAA receives the support it needs in order
to continue to do its mission which is so critical for our
country.
I thank for the Chairman for your courtesy in allowing me
to proceed.
Senator Kerry. Thank you very much, Senator Gregg. I'm
confident that all the interested parties in this area will be
even more delighted to know that since you're on the
Appropriations Committee, this special personal relationship
will do well for the agency.
[Laughter.]
Senator Gregg. Absolutely.
Senator Kerry. I know you need to get upstairs, so we
really thank you for taking the time to be here. Thanks a lot.
Senator Gregg. You bet.
Senator Kerry. Dr. Mahoney, we look forward to your opening
comments and to spending some time with you.
Let me just say to everybody we do have a hearing coming on
at the conclusion of this nomination hearing on the important
subject of CAFE standards, so we're going to try to expedite
this as rapidly as we can, and I'm sure you won't object to
that.
STATEMENT OF DR. JAMES R. MAHONEY, NOMINEE TO BE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR OCEANS AND ATMOSPHERE AND
DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR THE
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION
Dr. Mahoney. Not a bit, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, and thank
Senator Wyden also for your gracious comments at the outset and
the--well, I guess he's now out of the room. I obviously
appreciate Senator Gregg's strong support, as well.
I think I want to simply return the note that we have been
tremendously impressed with Senator Gregg and his wife, Kathy,
not only in terms of his official capacity, but just as great
people whom we have gotten to know as good friends.
And I think it makes the best kind of circumstance that the
friendship doesn't mean special privilege; it means special
challenge to try to do your job even better because people
expect a lot of you in that case. And that's the sense in which
I would draw on that friendship.
I will be quick and will try to parse my statement so that
we can save a little bit of time for other comments and
questions, as well.
I would note, with the long Massachusetts and New England
tie which has been noted here, one, I'm very pleased and proud
about, I have also spent a substantial part of my life living
on the other coast--not in Oregon, Senator Wyden, but in
California during periods of work at different times. So I
think between both an East Coast and a West Coast experience
for a long time with a great exposure to the coastal problems
as well as a lot of international experience, hopefully what I
would bring to NOAA will be a sensitivity to the very kind of
things that both of you have just raised in your opening
comments, as well.
I'll now highlight some of the matters in my opening
statement which expresses some things I feel very strongly
about. I first want to thank you for hearing me here today and
for the courtesy of having this hearing at the time immediately
after you've come back from recess. And I want to acknowledge
that I am prepared--if you all decide, and the full Senate
does, to confirm my appointment--to begin immediately and to
work with Admiral Lautenbacher here and with Deputy Secretary
Bodman and Secretary Evans, promptly getting going on these
issues. And I want to acknowledge their strong support and
encouragement during the long process that a nominee goes
through before he or she comes to this point.
A quick biographical background. I was born in Syracuse,
New York, so I'm familiar with snow in the upstate area, too,
and I was a hometown college student. I had a great
undergraduate education at LeMoyne College in Syracuse. I've
just finished serving the maximum of three terms on its board
of trustees, as a matter of fact. And then I went down to MIT
for graduate school in meteorology following my undergraduate
experience.
In my whole career after college, where I was a physics
major, and beginning with the MIT meteorology experience, I've
now had 40-years-plus working always in earth and environmental
sciences on public health and public benefit issues. So I'd
like to believe that I bring substantial experience on a number
of NOAA issues as well as a strong sensitivity to the public
mission of all of government, but in particular the service
agencies, such as NOAA's. And I want to note that in my
background.
Based on my experience on the Harvard faculty, I was co-
founder of one of the nation's early new-generation
environmental firms. In 1968, three of us organized a firm that
we then called Environmental Research and Technology,
Incorporated, and it was based out of the Harvard MIT complex.
I might note that the great counselor--and for many, many
years, the strongest director of that enterprise--was Deputy
Secretary Bodman, here in the room, as well. So we had the
benefit of his great technical and business leadership while we
built that business.
It's worth noting, with the NOAA tie to my meteorological
background, we went after some of the air pollution and related
atmospheric problems. And a quarter century ago, by the mid-
1970s, our firm, ERT, was the largest employer of
meteorologists outside of the federal government itself, in
NOAA, in that period.
All of that experience with our firm represented a great
grounding for me in dealing with issues of management of
technical enterprises. The technical mind needs encouragement,
challenge, direction, and discipline in many cases, but it
needs most of all a sense of mission and vision in supporting
good work, and I felt I learned that with our own business. I
spent some years as a senior executive at the Bechtel Group
based in San Francisco and also with International Technology
Corporation based in Los Angeles initially and then back here
in the Washington area. And that theme of good, button-down
management, but management that respects the importance of the
technical and professional inputs, is something that I'd like
to believe that I've been very much acculturated to.
I came into public service in the late 1980s as the
Director of the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program,
then called NAPAP. With the great focus on acid rain emerging
out of the 1970s and with, very much, the emphasis of the
Chairman, I'm well aware, you all in Congress in 1979, passed
the Energy Security Act that set out a 10-year program in
something that I've always thought of as an attempt at good
government to say, ``Let's get the answers and understand
everything, from the technology to the sources of acid rain and
the effects and what to do about it,'' understanding that this
problem is wrapped together with a fundamental energy security
and economic security issues.
During the final years of that program, while I was
director, we dealt with organizing the work of 2,000 people who
worked on that during the decade--over a thousand in the last
years. We published a major encyclopedic compendium of all of
the information on acid rain, which I think has stood the test
of time since that era. Science goes on, so there's much more
that we've learned since then, but I think it was very well
regarded. And, of course, we played a major role in the
development of the Clean Air Act amendments of 1990.
I cite that experience a little bit more specifically here
because many of the lessons learned with the acid rain program
are quite directly relevant to the global climate change issues
today. That is, we recognize that there is a great body of
science, and we need to look at the science and related
technology options carefully. We have to understand that there
will always be uncertainty in that science. And this is not
meant to be a surrogate for a political statement about
uncertainty, it's just a fact which needs to be looked at in
its own right. And then there is, of course, the great concern
about energy and economic issues.
The lesson that I learned out of the acid-rain experience,
and it colors my own thinking about global climate a great
deal, is that it's very important to have a cogent plan which
recognizes the facts and uncertainties of science and
technology, which clearly states the energy and economic
security issues and recognizes some things are ultimately
political and policy decisions, but they must be informed by
our best science, and we can help that process by carefully
documenting what we're questioning and how we go about it.
So I'd offer that as a suggestion about what I would, and
just out of personal experience, to try to help bring my
contribution to the public sector.
Wrapping up quickly, I've had the benefit of substantial
experience outside of the United States. I have had some work
experience in slightly over 50 nations around the world. And
this goes from everything from negotiating and then overseeing,
as a board member, technical joint-venture companies in many
places in the world as well as roles as advisor to a number of
international agencies and a number of governments, especially
in developing countries.
And a great formative experience for me, again, has been
dealing with issues of first-generation environmental
management in many developing circumstances in the world,
including a 15-year relationship in Saudi Arabia where I was
advisor to government. And these experiences often dealt with
the resource issues, including fishery and agriculture and
sustainability issues as well as the somewhat core issues in
the atmospheric sciences and pollution that I dealt with more
directly.
I have had the honor of serving on several committees of
the National Academy of Sciences since back in the 1970s. I
recently completed a term as co-chairman of the Academy's Board
on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, so I've had the benefit of
the rigor of the attempts at objectivity and good insight that
the academy provides in its work over time.
Coming, finally, to my viewed position at NOAA, I'm very
committed to support Admiral Lautenbacher and appreciate, of
course, his presence here today, and also to support Deputy
Secretary Bodman, who has been a great overseer of NOAA during
his year on the job already, and, of course, Secretary Evans,
as well.
In all of these matters that face NOAA, I have a very high
regard for the excellent staff, both professional and
scientific, and administrative staff of NOAA, and I feel that
what I should best do is to work with Admiral Lautenbacher, as
I know he is already doing, to build on strength and attempt to
enhance the careers of those working at NOAA and to enhance the
delivery of the NOAA skills and service to the Committee, to
the Congress altogether, and to the public.
So I pledge my strong support to you in this Committee,
obviously to the whole Senate and the House, and clearly to the
Executive Branch in filling those missions.
I close simply by thanking many here sitting behind me, as
I note at the end of my statement. My wife, Taya, who's here, I
wrote, and I really mean, has provided me with continuing love
and support for my work over a great, long time. I have the
great good fortune of six adult children, all of whom are
married and off on their own careers. And we have 11
grandchildren, almost all Massachusetts-based. And also the
light of our lives these days, and bringing us great joy, are
our twin daughters, Caitlin and Courtney, who are just coming
up to their 5th birthday, who are here behind me, too. So they
keep me young in my work.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and all, for hearing me out on
this.
[The prepared statement and biographical information of Dr.
Mahoney follows:]
Prepared Statement of Dr. James R. Mahoney
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee, I am pleased to come
before you today regarding my nomination for Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. I am honored that the President has
chosen me for this position, and I am very grateful for the continuous
encouragement and support of Secretary Evans, Deputy Secretary Bodman
and Admiral Lautenbacher, who will be my supervisors in this position.
I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to appear before you at
this early time immediately after your return from recess. If confirmed
by the Senate, I will take up my position at the earliest possible
date.
I was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, and I received an
outstanding undergraduate education, majoring in physics, at LeMoyne
College in my home town. My career has involved over 40 years of
continuous focus on the environmental and earth sciences, with a strong
emphasis in the atmospheric, climate, hydrological and oceanographic
areas. I have benefited from diverse work responsibilities in academic,
corporate, government and international settings. I look forward to
applying this experience in helping NOAA and the Commerce Department to
address their critical national missions.
I received a Ph.D. degree in meteorology from MIT, and then
immediately joined the Faculty of Public Health at Harvard University,
in its Department of Environmental Health Sciences. This early career
focus on public health and the environment set me on a course of
responsible environmental management that has influenced all of my
professional work.
Drawing upon my Harvard experience, I was co-founder of an
environmental management company, then known as Environmental Research
& Technology, Inc. (ERT) which grew to become the nation's largest
environmental firm by the end of the 1970s, operating throughout the
United States and several other nations. By 1975, ERT had became the
largest employer of meteorologists and related technical specialists in
the United States, except for the federal government itself. My
experience with ERT provided great lessons on the management of a large
technical organization. This experience was later enhanced during my
service as a senior executive at the Bechtel Group in San Francisco and
International Technology Corporation in Los Angeles and Washington.
I came into public service as Director of the National Acid
Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP), working in the Executive
Office of the President from 1988 through early 1991. NAPAP was a
unique 10-year program created by the Energy Security Act of 1979, and
charged with recommending sound approaches to controlling acid rain
effects, while providing for continued energy and economic security for
the nation. My service as NAPAP Director included the completion of the
10-year program involving the work of more than 2,000 technical and
economic specialists; the publication of a major, internationally
reviewed acid rain compendium; and extensive issue analyses supporting
the development of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. My NAPAP
experience is particularly relevant to today's global climate change
issues: complex scientific and technological questions, intertwined
with substantial energy and economic security issues, are best
addressed in a comprehensive fashion, preferably with a well-defined
assessment plan that incorporates all of the principal issues under
consideration.
In addition to my experience in the United States, I have worked in
more than fifty other nations in several different roles: negotiating
and overseeing international joint venture technical companies,
representing the U.S. Government in specialist exchanges, advising
government agencies on sustainable industry, fishery and agricultural
practices (particularly in developing nations), and advising several
United Nations and other international agencies.
I am a Fellow and former President of the 12,000-member American
Meteorological Society, which serves the atmospheric, oceanographic and
hydrological fields. I am gratified that during my term as President
(beginning in 1990) the AMS undertook to expand its service to American
and international society. As a result of a strategic review conducted
during my term as President, AMS committed to a long-term program of
support for science education at all levels, encouragement of technical
careers for minority students, and the application of sound science to
complex public issues including disaster preparedness, environmental
protection and global climate change, among others.
I have been honored to serve on several committees of the National
Academy of Sciences dealing with weather and climate, environmental
protection and science education, beginning in the early 1970s. In
1999, I completed a term as Co-Chairman of the Academy's Board on
Atmospheric Science and Climate.
I am committed to supporting Admiral Lautenbacher in assisting NOAA
with its highly important missions aimed at understanding, protecting
and enhancing our ocean, coastal, fishery, atmospheric and climate
resources. NOAA has the benefit of a large number of highly skilled
scientific, technical and administrative personnel, and I shall do all
I can to help ``build on strength'' to enhance the careers of all NOAA
personnel, and to further improve NOAA's service to the nation and the
world.
Should I have the privilege of your endorsement and confirmation by
the Senate, I pledge my continuous best efforts to serve the President,
the Secretary of Commerce and the entire NOAA team. I also pledge my
full responsiveness to members and staff of this Committee, as well as
to the entire Senate and House of Representatives.
I want to acknowledge and thank my wife Taya Mahoney who provides
continuing love and support for my work; my six adult children, their
spouses and our 11 grandchildren who give meaning to our family life;
and, not the least, our 5-year-old twin daughters who bring us joy
every day.
Thank you again for the opportunity to appear before you today.
______
A. BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
1. Name: James Richard Mahoney, Nickname: Jim.
2. Position to which nominated: Assistant Secretary for Oceans and
Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator of NOAA.
3. Date of nomination: December 4, 2001.
3. Address: Residence: (Information not released to the public).
Office: Same address as above (I currently work as an environmental
management consultant from an office in a wing of my home.)
5. Date and place of birth: September 19, 1938, in Syracuse, New
York.
6. Marital status: Married to Taya Haugland Mahoney, formerly Taya
Theresa Haugland, since May 26, 1990.
7. Names and ages of children: Deborah Mahoney Briggs, 40; James
Arthur Mahoney, 39; Robert Patrick Mahoney, 37; Peter Scott Mahoney,
36; David Joseph Mahoney, 35; Paul Richard Mahoney, 33; Caitlin Tess
Mahoney, 4\3/4\; Courtney Mae Mahoney, 4\3/4\ (identical twin).
8. Education: Secondary School: Christian Brothers Academy,
Syracuse, NY, Attended from 9/51 to 6/55, Awarded College Entrance
degree in 6/55. College: LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY, Attended from
9/55 to 6/59, Awarded B.S. Degree in Physics in 6/59; Graduate School:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA. Attended 9/59 to
12/65, with breaks for technical work in NY and CA in 1960, 1961 and
1962, Awarded Ph.D. Degree in Meteorology in 6/66.
9. Employment record: Graduate student and research assistant, MIT,
Cambridge, MA, 9/59 to 12/65, except for the breaks noted in next two
items below. Research Staff Associate, General Electric Company,
Defense Systems Department, Syracuse, NY, 6/60 to 9/60 and 6/61 to 9/
61; Research Staff Associate, Space Technology Laboratories, Inc.,
Redondo Beach, CA, 6/62 to 9/62; Research Assistant, Harvard
University, School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health
Sciences, Boston, MA, 1/66 to 6/66; Assistant Professor of Applied
Meteorology, Harvard University, School of Public Health, Department of
Environmental Health Sciences, Boston, MA, 7/66 to 6/71; Associate
Professor of Applied Meteorology, Harvard University, School of Public
Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Boston, MA, 7/71
to 6/74; Co-founder, Senior Vice President and member of the Board of
Directors, Environmental Research & Technology, Inc., Boston, Lexington
and Concord, MA, 12/68 to 9/83. Part time with ERT and full time with
Harvard University until 7/74. Full time with ERT thereafter; Expert
Advisor on Environment and Energy, Organization for Economic
Cooperation and Development, Paris, France, 5/70 to 9/70 (on leave from
Harvard University and ERT); Environmental Management Consultant
(independent practice), Boston, MA, 10/83 to 12/83; Manager,
Environmental Industries Center, the Bechtel Group, Inc., San
Francisco, 1/84 to 1/87; Environmental Management Consultant
(independent practice), Sausalito, CA, 2/87 to 12/87; Director,
National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP), Executive
Office of the President, Washington, DC, 11/88 to 12/90.
(Administratively--on NOAA payroll, and on assignment to EOP.); Senior
Vice President, International Technology Corporation, Inc. (The IT
Group, Inc. after 1998), Torrance, CA, 1/91 to 9/97 and Washington, DC,
10/97 to 7/99; Environmental management consultant (independent
practice), McLean, VA, 8/99 to 6/01 and Ashburn, VA, 7/01 to present;
10. Government experience: Principal Investigator of federally-
sponsored environmental research projects while on the faculty at
Harvard University, from 1968 to 1974. EPA was principal sponsoring
agency; Consultant on international state of practice on air pollution
computer modeling, assigned by EPA and NOAA to represent United States
practice at OECD in Paris, from 1969 to 1974; Member of the U.S.-USSR
environmental specialist exchanges arranged during the 1972 Nixon-
Brezhnev summit, at various U.S. and USSR locations, from 1973 to 1978;
Consultant to EPA, as a member of a bilateral U.S.-Japan environmental
exchange, Tokyo, 1977; National Academy of Sciences/National Research
Council (NAS/NRC) committee appointments as follows: Motor Vehicle
Emission Controls Committee member, 1973 to 1975; Environmental
Manpower and Education Committee member, 1978 to 1979; Board on
Atmospheric Sciences and Climate co-chairman, 1997 to 1999; Air Quality
Management in the United States Committee member, 2001 to present;
Member of the Health Effects Research Advisory Committee appointed by
the Secretary of Energy, 1984 to 1989; Consultant to the EPA Science
Advisory Board, 1992 to 1996; Member of the Ad-Hoc Committee on
Environmental Security appointed by the Secretary of Defense, 1995 to
1998; Scientific peer reviewer for research grant proposals submitted
to NOAA and EPA by prospective grantees at various times in the 1970s
and 1980s; Advisor to the Office of the Governor of Massachusetts on
the evaluation of state-level air pollution control strategies, 1968 to
1970.
11. Business relationships: Trustee of LeMoyne College in Syracuse,
NY (my undergraduate college), 1992 to 2001; Co-founder, Senior Vice
President and Director of Environmental Research & Technology, Inc.
(ERT) in Boston, Lexington and Concord, MA from 1968 to 1983; President
of ERT International, Inc. (international business subsidiary of ERT),
1975 to 1983; Director of international joint venture companies created
by ERT and in-country partner companies as follows: ICATEC, SA in
Mexico City, 1978 to 1983; AMARTECH, LTD in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 1975
to 1979; KISR-IT LTD in Kuwait, 1977 to 1979; Senior Vice President of
International Technology Corporation (The IT Group, Inc. after 1998) in
Torrance, CA and Washington, DC from 1991 to 1999; President of the
Consulting and Ventures Group within the IT Group, Inc., Washington,
DC, 1999; Director of domestic and international subsidiary and joint
venture companies created by the IT Group, Inc., as follows: Gradient
Corporation, subsidiary in Cambridge, MA, 1995 to 1999; LandBank, LLC,
subsidiary in Denver, CO, 1995 to 1999; JSC Corporation, subsidiary in
Roslyn, VA, 1998 to 1999; Chi Mei-IT Corporation, joint venture company
in Taipei, Taiwan, 1997 to 1999; KOHAP-IT Corporation, joint venture
company in Seoul, Korea, 1998 to 1999; Environmental and business
consultant to the environmental insurance practice of Swidler Berlin
Shereff Friedman LLP, a law firm in Washington, DC, 2000 to present;
Environmental advisor to the Southern Appalachian Mountains Initiative,
and ad hoc federal, state, NGO and corporate-sponsored environmental
analysis and planning organization in Asheville, NC, 2001 to present;
Environmental management consultant to a broad range of clients between
1968 and the present. My practice has involved many agencies of the
federal government, several international organizations, national and
regional government units in many parts of the world, as well as
corporations and industry associations throughout the United States. A
representative list of the more than 100 client organizations for which
I have provided professional services follows: U.S. Federal agencies
including NOAA, U.S. EPA, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of
Defense, U.S. Department of Transportation, U.S. Department of State
Agency for International Development, International organizations
including the World Meteorological Organization, the World Health
Organization, the United Nations Development Program, the Organization
for Economic Cooperation and Development, and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, national government environmental and planning ministries
including the governments of Greece, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait,
Finland, England, Italy, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Hong Kong, Belgium,
Denmark, Portugal, and the former Soviet Union, Business and commercial
organizations including the Business Roundtable, the Edison Electric
Institute, the American Forest Products Association, the Chemical
Manufacturers Association, the Aluminum Association, the American Iron
and Steel Institute, the National Association of Manufacturers, the
Electric Power research Institute, and the American Petroleum
Institute, Individual corporate clients of various sizes including
(among others) the General Electric Company, the General Motors
Corporation, USX Corporation, Westvaco Corporation, International Paper
Corporation, DuPont Corporation, the Dow Corporation, American Electric
Power Corporation, Tampa Electric Company, Pacific Gas & Electric
Company, Procter & Gamble Company, the Shell Corporation, the Texaco
Corporation, Boston Edison Company, Burlington Northern Railroad, Union
Pacific Corporation, Yellow Freight Corporation, Fluor Corporation,
Consolidated Electric Company of New York, Union Camp Corporation, and
GPU Nuclear Corporation.
12. Memberships: Citizens for the Boston Schools (civic betterment
organization), Boston, member 1964 to 1970, President, 1968 to 1970;
American Meteorological Society: member since 1966; member and chairman
of the AMS Committee on Air Pollution Meteorology, 1971 to 1975;
editor-in-chief of the Journal of Applied Meteorology, 1973 to 1975;
member of the AMS governing council and executive committee, 1976 to
1982; AMS President, 1990 to 1991; member of the AMS Planning
Committee, 1994 to 1999; member of the AMS Investment Committee, 1995
to present; Member, Belmont Country Club, Ashburn, VA, 2001 to present;
Air and Waste Management Association, member, 1985 to 1992.
13. Political affiliations and activities: (a) List all offices
with a political party which you have held or any public office for
which you have been a candidate. None.
(b) List all memberships and offices held in and services rendered
to all political parties or election committees during the last 10
years. None, except for 2 days assisting in the November 2001 election
campaign of my brother, Bernard J. Mahoney, who was the unsuccessful
candidate for Mayor of Syracuse, NY.
(c) Itemize all political contributions to any individual, campaign
organization, political party, political action committee, or similar
entity of $500 or more for the past 10 years. None.
14. Honors and awards: Valedictorian of my high school graduating
class; BS degree awarded Magna cum Laude by LeMoyne College, and my
rank was 2 out of 400 in the graduating class; New York State Regents
Scholarship for college support; Danforth Foundation Graduate
Fellowship, supporting my attendance at MIT; National Science
Foundation Graduate Fellowship, supporting my attendance at MIT;
Fulbright Post-Doctoral Fellowship to study at the University of
Sydney, Australia. (Resigned after award, to accept the faculty
position offered by Harvard University); Selected as a Bechtel Fellow
(one of four worldwide) by the Bechtel Group in 1985; Elected President
of the American Meteorological Society by the membership in 1989;
Honored as Distinguished Alumnus by LeMoyne College in 1990; Elected
Fellow of the AMS in 1990; Awarded the U.S. Commerce Department Gold
Medal for exceptional service as a NOAA special appointee, while
Director of the National Acid Precipitation Assessment Program in 1990;
Recipient of the Cleveland Abbe Award of the AMS, recognizing unique
contributions to the atmospheric sciences field, in 1998.
15. Published writings: I have been author or co-author of
approximately 20 papers in peer reviewed scientific journals and more
that 200 other technical presentations and project reports, all in the
fields of meteorological and environmental analysis. Except for a
scientific book review published in 2001 (noted below) the most recent
of my publications was in 1983, to the best of my recollection. After
relocating several times in the past 18 years, I do not have a list of
my publications from the 1966 to 1983 period. If the Committee requires
this earlier information, I will attempt to reconstruct it from primary
sources.
Book review of ``Crossing Borders, Crossing Boundaries: the Role of
Scientists in the U.S. Acid Rain Debate'' by Leslie R Alm. Review
published in the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Vol.
82, pp 490-492, 2001. Because the published review contains some of my
thoughts on the roles of scientists in the evaluation of scientific
issues important to the public, two copies are included for the
Committee with this document.
I am author of a chapter in one technical book, ``Dangerous
Properties of Industrial Materials,'' a standard industrial toxicology
reference book published in approximately 1970 by Von Nordstrand, and
edited by N. Irving Sax My chapter described methods to analyze the
potential health risks of air pollutants in the vicinity of industrial
facilities.
14. Speeches: Attached are two copies of the text and overheads
used with a speech on ``The Opportunities and Challenges in Developing
Green Industries for Hong Kong, the Pearl River Delta and Beyond, as
Illustrated by Other International Environmental Management Programs'',
presented in a Hong Kong government-sponsored seminar in Hong Kong in
March 2000.
I have made many other informal presentations during the past 5
years, but no other prepared, written speeches.
17. Selection: Do you know why you were chosen for this nomination
by the President? I have no specific knowledge, but see the following
answer.
(b) What do you believe in your background or employment experience
affirmatively qualifies you for this particular appointment? I believe
I am qualified for this appointment because I have the experience,
commitment to public service, and energy level necessary to serve NOAA
and the nation. Among my relevant background and experience I would
cite the following:
Extensive and continuous experience with the
meteorological, hydrological and oceanographic fields since graduate
school in the 1960s.
Extensive experience with issues that combine
environmental science and important public issues, such as acid rain,
coastal zone management and global change.
Prior experience as Director of the National Acid
Precipitation Assessment Program (NAPAP), for which I received the
Commerce Department Gold Medal recognizing exceptional service. The
NAPAP assessment experience is currently relevant for the scientific
understanding of global change issues, including evaluation of causes,
effects, mitigation and adaptation options, and long term strategy
comparisons.
Long-term leadership within the community of the American
Meteorological Society, that addresses the meteorological, hydrological
and oceanographic sciences and their application. My AMS experience
includes the position of elected President of the organization.
Extensive experience in the general management of large
scientific and technical organizations, in both the government and
private sectors.
Long experience in dealing with the multiple stakeholders
involved in environmental management decisions, including frequent
experience with public hearings and congressional testimony. .
Prior academic experience, on the faculty at Harvard
University.
B. FUTURE EMPLOYMENT RELATIONSHIPS
1. Will you sever all connections with your present employers,
business firms, business associations or business organizations if you
are confirmed by the Senate? Yes.
2. Do you have any plans, commitments or agreements to pursue
outside employment, with or without compensation, during your service
with the government? If so, explain. No.
3. Do you have any plans, commitments or agreements after
completing government service to resume employment, affiliation or
practice with your previous employer, business firm, association or
organization? No.
4. Has anybody made a commitment to employ your services in any
capacity after you leave government service? No.
5. If confirmed, do you expect to serve out your full term or until
the next Presidential election, whichever is applicable? Yes.
C. POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
1. Describe all financial arrangements, deferred compensation
agreements, and other continuing dealings with business associates,
clients or customers.
I have two deferred compensation agreements with my former
employer, the IT Group, Inc., of Monroeville, Pennsylvania. These non-
qualified plans developed by the corporation in accordance with IRS
regulations. These are referred to as the ``IT Deferred Compensation
Plan'' and the ``IT 401K Restoration Plan'' (note: this is not a 401K
plan). Under these plans portions of my income were not paid currently,
but were retained by the corporation for payment at a future date. When
the plans were initiated, I made the election to receive the deferred
funds over a 5-year period beginning on the third anniversary of my
last date with the corporation. The date for payment initiation is
August 21, 2002. The company credits deferred interest to the plan
balance each year. Both plans have an IRS-approved option of a lump sum
payout, subject to a 15 percent penalty, and current taxation on the
entire lump sum. On December 3, 2001, I made application for the lump
sum payout of both plans, because the corporation is at serious risk of
bankruptcy. I may, or may not, receive funds in response to my request,
because of the current financial state of the company. I have no
control over the formula for crediting the interest earned or the
payment schedule for these funds; these are fixed according to the
contracts signed years ago. I have disclosed the details of these
arrangements to the Ethics Counsel at the Commerce Department.
I have a continuing professional consulting arrangement covering
environmental and business matters with the Washington DC based law
firm of Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman, LLP. The arrangement
establishes finders' fees to be paid to me for arranging introductions
that result in new client relationships for the law firm, in the area
of environmental liability insurance recovery. I will terminate my
relationship with the law firm before entering into my federal
appointment, if confirmed. Under our agreement, one or more payments
triggered by earlier introductions will be made to me at a future
date(s) within approximately the next 2 years. The amount of such
payments is established by a formula in our written agreement executed
in May 2000; the formula is applied to the total amount of insurance
recovery achieved in cases for which I am eligible for payment. I have
disclosed this agreement in detail to the Commerce Department Ethics
Counsel, and we have developed plans to assure that no conflict of
interest will arise because of this arrangement.
As part of my ongoing work with Swidler Berlin Shereff Friedman,
LLP, I have a fee sharing agreement with the firm of Renova Partners
LLC of Boston, which is assisting me in my work for the law firm. I
will terminate this arrangement before taking up my appointed position
if confirmed. I have disclosed this arrangement to the Commerce
Department Ethic Counsel.
I have a continuing professional consulting relationship with the
Southern Appalachian Mountains Initiative (SAMI), an ad-hoc
environmental study organization supported by several federal and state
agencies, as well other stakeholders in eight states in the
southeastern United States. Under our agreement I am assisting SAMI in
arranging scientific peer reviewers for SAMI's final technical reports.
I bill SAMI for my time charges and actual expenses. I will terminate
this agreement before taking up my appointed position if confirmed. I
have disclosed this agreement to the Commerce Department Ethics
Counsel.
I have been serving on a Committee on Air Quality Management in the
United States, for the National Academy of Sciences-National Research
Council. This is pro bono work. Actual expenses are reimbursed by the
Academy, and there is no other compensation for services. I will resign
from this Committee prior to taking up my appointment if confirmed. I
will submit a statement to the Academy for one current expense amount,
and there will be no other financial transactions after this one
expense item is paid. I have disclosed this work to the Commerce
Department Ethics Counsel.
I serve on the Investment Committee of the American Meteorological
Society, which is a not-for-profit scientific, professional and
educational organization. I receive no fees or expense reimbursement
for this pro bono work. I will resign from this committee before taking
up my appointment if confirmed. I have disclosed this committee
assignment to the Commerce Department Ethics Counsel.
Except for the matters described above, I do not have any
continuing dealings with business associates, clients or customers.
2. Indicate any investments, obligations, liabilities, or other
relationships which could involve potential conflicts of interest in
the position to which you have been nominated. I have a stock
investment in one company (Nokia Corporation) that slightly exceeds the
reporting limit of $5,000. I have disclosed this to the Commerce
Department Ethics Counsel, and have committed to a plan to avoid a
conflict of interest in this case.
The only financial liability that my wife and I have is a primary
mortgage on our residence. I am not aware of any other investments,
obligations, liabilities or other relationships which could involve a
potential conflict of interest in the position to which I have been
nominated.
3. Describe any business relationship, dealing, or financial
transaction which you have had during the last 10 years, whether for
yourself on behalf of a client, or acting as an agent, that could in
any way constitute or result in a possible conflict of interest in the
position to which you have been nominated. Other than the arrangements
described in my response to the previous question, I do not believe
that I have had any other business relationship, dealing or financial
transaction during the last 10 years, that would in any way result in a
possible conflict of interest in the position to which I have been
nominated.
4. Describe any activity during the past 10 years in which you have
engaged for the purpose of directly or indirectly influencing the
passage, defeat or modification of any legislation or affecting the
administration and execution of law or public policy. I have not
engaged in any such activities during the past 10 years.
4. Explain how you will resolve any potential conflict of interest,
including any that may be disclosed by your responses to the above
items. (Please provide a copy of any trust or other agreements.) A copy
of the Ethics Agreement I have completed with Barbara S. Fredericks,
Assistant General Counsel for Administration of the Commerce
Department, with a copy to Commerce Secretary Evans, is attached.
6. Do you agree to have written opinions provided to the Committee
by the designated agency ethics officer of the agency to which you are
nominated and by the Office of Government Ethics concerning potential
conflicts of interest or any legal impediments to your serving in this
position? Yes.
D. LEGAL MATTERS
1. Have you ever been disciplined or cited for a breach of ethics
for unprofessional conduct by, or been the subject of a compliant to
any court, administrative agency, professional association,
disciplinary committee, or other professional group? If so, provide
details. No.
2. Have you ever been investigated, arrested, charged or held by
any federal, state, or other law enforcement authority for violation of
any federal; state, county, or municipal law, regulation or ordinance,
other than a minor traffic offense? If so, provide details. No.
3. Have you or any business of which you are or were an officer
ever been involved as a party in interest in an administrative agency
proceeding or civil litigation? If so, provide details. The IT Group,
Inc, for which I was Senior Vice President from 1991 to 1999, is a
large environmental service and infrastructure project firm, with
revenues exceeding $1 billion per year, and operations throughout the
United States and overseas. In the normal course of business the
company is involved in several matters of civil litigation each year.
None of these matters were in the area of my direct responsibility
during my years with the firm.
I am not aware of any civil litigation matters in which I have been
a party at interest, except for a court approval of a negotiated
divorce settlement of my first marriage, finalized in 1989.
4. Have you ever been convicted (including pleas of guilty or nolo
contendere) of any criminal violation other than a minor traffic
offense? No.
5. Please advise the Committee of any additional information,
favorable or unfavorable, which you feel should be considered in
connection with your nomination. I am not aware of any other
information, favorable or unfavorable, that the Committee should
consider to be relevant to consideration of my nomination.
E. RELATIONSHIP WITH COMMMITTEE
1. Will you ensure that your department/agency complies with
deadlines set by congressional committees for information? Yes.
2. Will you ensure that your department/agency does whatever it can
to protect congressional witnesses and whistleblowers from reprisal for
their testimony and disclosures? Yes.
3. Will you cooperate in providing the committee with requested
witnesses, to include technical experts and career employees with
firsthand knowledge of matters of interest to the committee? Yes.
4. Please explain how you will review regulations issued by your
department/agency, and work closely with Congress, to ensure that such
regulations comply with the spirit of the laws passed by Congress. I
will assure that I receive effective. briefings on the legislative
history for the provisions of federal law that drive the regulations
and procedures that NOAA is charged to implement. I will supplement
these briefings with my own inquiries to other interested parties where
appropriate. I will proactively seek counsel from Senate and House
committee members and their staff on the issues related to their
oversight or special interests, on a continuing basis. I will ask the
Commerce Department and NOAA legal and legislative affairs personnel to
keep me briefed on the background of each important issue, and the
obligations that each such issue imposes upon NOAA.
5. Describe your department/agency's current mission, major
programs, and major operational objectives. NOAA's mission is to
understand, describe and predict changes in the earth's environment,
and to provide conservation and sound management of the nation's
coastal and marine resources. NOAA's responsibilities are important to
every citizen and resident in the United States, and to many of the
nation's most important sectors, including public safety and health,
commerce, transportation, environmental and ecosystem protection,
energy system reliability, and coastal and marine zone activities,
among others. In addition, NOAA's scientists and operational
specialists, observation systems, laboratories, research vessels,
aircraft and satellites, computer resources, and communications systems
have unique responsibilities to serve the United States and the global
community in understanding significant global change issues. Prudent
management of our global environment must begin with the best-possible
science, measurement systems and forecasting resources that are the
core assets of NOAA.
NOAA's major programs respond to its mission responsibilities.
These programs include:
Advancing short-term weather forecasting with emphasis on
continuous improvements in the warnings and advisories associated with
severe storm events.
Improving seasonal and year-to-year weather and climate
forecasting capabilities, providing better earth system understanding
and direct benefits for the energy, agricultural, water resource
management and transportation sectors, among others.
Improving climate change understanding, on the time scale
of 10 to 100 years, critically important to the development of optimal
approaches to the global management of climate change risks.
Enhancing safe navigation capabilities, to promote
transport system safety, and to be prepared to support the next
generation of advances in navigation technology for surface, free
ocean, coastal zone, and airborne vessels.
Building sustainable fisheries, by a program of
measurements, population analyses, and improved understanding of
natural and man-made variability in commercially important fish
populations--and by developing management guidelines that enhance
sustainability.
Recovering protected species that are significantly
threatened in estuaries, coastal zones and ocean environments, by
resource management, supported with increases in aquatic and mammalian
ecosystem understanding.
Sustaining healthy coastal ecosystems, by research,
observation and resource management approaches that address the natural
and man-made stresses on irreplaceable coastal resources.
6. Are you willing to appear and testify before any duly
constituted committee of the Congress on such occasions as you may be
reasonably requested to do so? Yes.
F. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS AND VIEWS
1. How have your previous professional experience and education
qualifies you for the position for which you have been nominated?
Beginning with my entry into the graduate meteorology and oceanography
program at MIT in 1959, I have had 42 years of continuous experience in
several of the core elements of NOAA's mission. My career has benefited
from diverse experiences in many settings:
Research scientist focusing on atmospheric, coastal and
marine sciences,
University professor in a public health faculty, ``growing
up'' with the environmental management issues emerging around the
world,
Technical business entrepreneur who co-founded the first
large scope environmental management practice extending throughout the
nation and overseas,
Frequent environmental advisor to agencies of the U.S.
Government, as well as international agencies and foreign governments,
Frequent testimony before Congress both as a federal
appointee and as a non-government specialist,
Prior federal service as the Director of the National Acid
Precipitation Assessment Program,
Decades-long involvement with the American Meteorological
Society which counts a sizable percentage of the NOAA staff as members,
including election as AMS President by the membership, general
management of large, multi-location technical organizations as an
executive of the Bechtel Group and the IT Group,
Substantial experience with planning, budgeting,
operational and financial controls, human resource issues, and career
enhancement for large groups of personnel, and
Substantial experience with multi-stakeholder
communications as related to environmental planning and decisionmaking.
2. Why do you wish to serve in the position for which you have been
nominated? All of my environmental management experience has involved
working at the interfaces of multiple stakeholders: government,
industry, environmental groups, community members, and technical
experts. Public health and the public good are at the core of this type
of environmental management practice.
My prior experience in a key federal position, and my long career
experience working at the public-private interface, has confirmed my
fundamental desire to use my training and skills for a public purpose.
I am highly motivated to make a useful contribution working with the
excellent scientific, operational and administrative staff at NOAA.
3. What goals have you established for your first 2 years in this
position, if confirmed?
General: working with the direction of the new
Administrator Admiral Lautenbacher, to build on NOAA's strengths of
personnel, technology, operational systems, and institutional
experience to further enhance NOAA's effectiveness in assessing,
forecasting and helping to guide the protection of the global
environment. I believe the best method to honor NOAA's legacy of long
accomplishment is to build on it, by embracing opportunities for change
that enhance NOAA's service to all of its stakeholders.
Near term (within the first 6 months or less): to become
fully familiar with NOAA's resources, opportunities and constraints, in
order to be fully effective in assisting Admiral Lautenbacher and the
entire NOAA management in communicating NOAA's vision of enhanced
services to its many stakeholders.
Throughout my period of service: to help make NOAA a
``great place to work'' for scientists, operations personnel and
administrators, so that NOAA is able to attract its full share of ``the
best and the brightest'' to serve its longterm mission of global
environmental understanding, forecasting and management.
Continuously: to enhance NOAA's communication with all of
its stakeholders, so that its service effectiveness is continuously
enhanced.
4. What skills do you believe you may be lacking which may be
necessary to successfully carry out this position? What steps can be
taken to obtain those skills?
My knowledge of a number of NOAA's capabilities and programs is
very limited, so I will proactively seek briefings from, and regular
contact with, those NOAA associates at all levels whose work should be
recognized, and from whom I can learn.
5. Who are the stakeholders in the work of this agency?
The entire public, who are the users of NOAA information,
forecasts, safety advisories, and environmental management guidance.
The taxpayers, who pay the costs for NOAA operations.
The Senate and the House of Representatives (in particular
the oversight committees and other members with specific interests in
NOAA operations), on behalf of the public and the taxpayers.
NOAA's supervisors in the Executive Branch, and the many
federal agencies that collaborate with NOAA.
NOAA's employees, who seek rewarding careers in return for
committed work performance.
The private sector organizations, non-profit
organizations, news media, research groups, universities and school
systems, that use and disseminate NOAA-developed information, thereby
multiplying the effectiveness of NOAA's activities.
The international environmental management community
(including governments, international organizations, non-government
organizations, private sector organizations, and educational and
research organizations) that collaborate with NOAA, and use NOAA-
developed information.
The communities that host NOAA facilities and NOAA staff.
6. What is the proper relationship between your position, if
confirmed, and the stakeholders identified in question No. 5.
If confirmed, my responsibility is to assist NOAA Administrator
Admiral Lautenbacher, and the entire NOAA management and staff, in
serving the needs of the NOAA stakeholders. This responsibility
includes a continuous commitment to excellence in performance,
efficient use of taxpayer-supplied funds, openness to changes that will
enhance NOAA's mission, and honest communication with NOAA staff and
external stakeholders.
7. The Chief Financial Officers Act requires all government
departments and agencies to develop sound financial management
practices similar to those practiced in the private sector. (a) What do
you believe are your responsibilities, if confirmed, to ensure that
your agency has proper management and accounting controls?
Proper management and accounting controls are the essential
underpinning for all of NOAA's activities. Much of my career has
involved executive management of large, private sector technical
service organizations, and this experience has caused me to be
committed to highly effective management controls as the sine qua non
condition for organizational operation.
(b) What experience do you have in managing a large organization?
Fifteen years in developing a major private-sector
environmental service organization from startup to national and
international scope, with direct supervisory responsibilities for up to
a few hundred staff.
Four years in executive management at the Bechtel Group,
with direct supervisory responsibilities for up to a few hundred staff.
Three years as Director of the National Acid Precipitation
Assessment Program, with highly demanding stakeholders focused on a
group of complicated public issues, and approximately 1,200 government
employee and contractor staff working on preparation of the NAPAP
assessment products. I was awarded the U.S. Commerce Department Gold
Medal for exceptional performance as NAPAP Director in 1990.
Eight years experience as Senior Vice President of the IT
Group, Inc., with executive management responsibility (profit and loss
responsibility) for major elements of this $1+ billion annual revenue
company, involving supervision of up to 2,500 staff.
8. The government Performance and Results Act requires all
government departments and agencies to identify measurable performance
goals and to report to Congress on their success in achieving these
goals. (a) Please discuss what you believe to be the benefits of
identifying performance goals and reporting on your progress in
achieving those goals.
The definition of measurable individual and group performance
goals, and the scheduled reporting of progress in achieving these
goals, is essential for the efficient management of NOAA. Defined goals
and written evaluations of progress in achieving the goals are
important tools of management communication that foster individual and
group effectiveness, and that provide the basis for career advancement
opportunities for all staff.
(b) What steps should Congress consider taking when an agency fails
to achieve its performance goals? Should these steps include the
elimination, privatization, downsizing or consolidation of departments
and/or programs?
In the case of failure to meet agency performance goals, Congress
might first examine whether the goals were realistic and well
communicated, and whether any external influences seriously impeded
attainment of the goals. If these inquiries do not indicate specific
problems, then Congress should examine a full range of options to
improve performance, while assuring that essential public needs are
being met.
(c) What performance goals do you believe should be applicable to
your personal performance, if confirmed?
I believe that it is premature to establish meaningful performance
goals until I have a better understanding of the issues, priorities,
opportunities and constraints facing NOAA. If confirmed, I would
prepare written goals and performance measures within three months of
taking up my new appointment.
9. Please describe your philosophy of supervisor/employee
relationships. Generally, what supervisory model do you follow? Have
any employee complaints been brought against you? I strongly believe in
open and honest communication between supervisors and employees at all
levels. I believe that supervisors should take the initiative to
provide employees with as much information as appropriate about the
context for policies, directives and specific decisions. NOAA has a
highly educated and motivated staff, and this openness is particularly
important for fostering the level of cooperation and initiative-taking
that is essential for excellent group performance. Fairness and
objectivity is important in all cases, and all staff must feel that
their career advancement will be related to their performance rather
than to non-relevant factors.
I am not aware of any employee complaints being brought against me.
I am motivated to continue my long record as a highly regarded
supervisor and mentor with large numbers of technical and
administrative staff for whom I have been supervisor over many years.
10. Describe your working relationship, if any, with the Congress.
Does your professional experience include working with committees of
Congress? If yes, please describe. I have had various points of contact
with the Congress during the past 25 years. In the mid-1970s, I was
retained as a technical specialist by a number of nationalscope
industrial and commercial organizations, with responsibility for
scientific analysis of various environmental legislative proposals
being considered by the Congress. I presented my findings in
approximately ten appearances before Senate and House subcommittees,
and in several briefings for committee members and staff. This
experience taught me the crucial lesson that scientific analysis of
environmental issues can be credible only if it objective and free of
advocacy for a predetermined position.
During my service as NAPAP Director I was also invited to testify
before subcommittees of both the Senate and the House approximately 10
times, and I was frequently required to answer questions communicated
by interested members of both houses.
11. Please explain what you believe to be the proper relationship
between yourself, if confirmed, and the Inspector General of your
department/agency. The Inspector General has an essential role in every
federal agency. My responsibility is to be directly responsive to any
requests by the Inspector General for meetings or other communications,
to fully evaluate and act upon information brought to my attention by
the Inspector General, and to foster a culture of high integrity
performance by all NOAA staff.
12. Please explain how you will work with this Committee and other
stakeholders to ensure that regulations issued by your department/
agency comply with the spirit of the laws passed by Congress. I will
assure that I receive effective briefings on the legislative history
for the provisions of federal law that drive the regulations and
procedures that NOAA is charged to implement. I will supplement these
briefings with my own inquiries to other interested parties where
appropriate, and I will encourage NOAA's receipt of communication from
all stakeholders interested in an issue. I will proactively seek
counsel from Senate and House committee members and their staff on the
issues related to their oversight or special interests, on a continuing
basis. I will ask the Commerce Department and NOAA legal and
legislative affairs personnel to keep me briefed on the background of
each important issue, and the obligations that each such issue imposes
upon NOAA.
13. In the areas under the department/agency's jurisdiction, what
legislative action(s) should Congress consider as priorities? Please
state your personal views. With the exception of one matter described
below, I do not believe that I currently have the information necessary
to provide Congress with meaningful recommendations about priority
legislative actions affecting NOAA's mission. I would be prepared to
present my views within 3 months of taking up my new appointment if
confirmed.
I consider one matter to be so compelling that it is worthy of note
at this time. It is my personal observation that federal government
positions are not seen as a desirable long-term career choices by many
of ``the best and the brightest'' scientific and technical personnel,
especially recent university graduates and other early career
individuals. This represents a degradation of opportunity for public
service compared to the perspective I felt as a young scientist in the
1960s and 1970s. I would be honored to work with the Committee to
address this question, which is critically important to assuring
excellent environmental stewardship by the staff of NOAA and other
federal science oriented agencies in the future.
14. Within your area of control, will you pledge to develop and
implement a system that allocates discretionary spending based on
national priorities determined in an open fashion on a set of
established criteria? If not, please state why. If yes, please state
what steps you intend to take and a timeframe for their implementation.
I am pleased to work under the direction of NOAA Administrator Admiral
Lautenbacher, to develop and implement a system that allocates
discretionary spending based on national priorities determined in an
open fashion on a set of established criteria. I will fully support
Admiral Lautenbacher in his objective to complete an internal review of
NOAA organization and programs within three months, and developing and
publishing implementation plans and priorities within the following
three months.
Senator Kerry. Thank you very, very much, Dr. Mahoney.
I appreciate your comments, and I think every Member of the
Committee would agree that the description of the involvements
that you've had could not more effectively prepare you for the
task that you're going to undertake here, so we certainly
welcome that.
Let me just ask some pro forma questions with respect to
the nomination process.
Is there any item or issue that the Committee should be
aware of that might present you with any kind of conflict of
interest in the performance of these duties?
Dr. Mahoney. Senator, no, nothing at all that I would think
of.
Senator Kerry. And in the course of the preparation for
this, is there any holding or asset that you've had to divest
of in order to put yourself in a position to perform these
responsibilities without conflict?
Dr. Mahoney. No. I believe there's one stock holding of a
few thousand dollars note which caused me to--because it
exceeded $5,000--classify it into a different category in
reporting on the financial disclosure forms, but virtually all
of my other assets are in home, broad-gauged mutual funds and
other investments of that sort, so I have no particular holding
which was a problem.
Indeed, the one holding which, I'm happy to say is slightly
up, at $6,000 or so, as I've already reported to the Office of
Government Ethics, I'll simply sell if that's seen as a problem
at all.
Senator Kerry. So it sounds like you're commending yourself
also for your good judgment because you don't hold Enron or K-
Mart.
[Laughter.]
Dr. Mahoney. I can report I've never owned either.
[Laughter.]
Senator Kerry. Doctor, let me ask you about the
responsibilities of your position. Have you and the
Administrator, Admiral Lautenbacher, divided up how you're
going to proceed, in terms of the management issues? I mean,
can you tell the Committee what particular responsibilities at
this point you will be assuming, versus he?
Dr. Mahoney. Yes, I'm delighted----
Senator Kerry. Let me also add to that the question--he
obviously comes with a background with respect to the ocean
component of this. You come with an atmospheric component of
it. I think some of us are concerned about where the live
marine resources fit in between the two. And maybe you could
share with us a sense of how that will lay out.
Dr. Mahoney. I'd be delighted to, and I'm delighted that
Admiral Lautenbacher is here in the room so that--of course,
when one speaks about what one's boss wants to do, it's
important that we be in the same space.
But as we were requested to have an opportunity to visit
with one another when the Administration aimed to proceed with
the process of nominating Admiral Lautenbacher for
Administrator and potentially nominating me to be deputy. So
Admiral Lautenbacher and I began discussions.
We both took a view that, based on our management
experience in different sectors, of course, over a long time,
we felt that NOAA and the nation would be best served if both
of us viewed that we had a somewhat classic number-one and
number-two deputy role, which is that there be a good deal of
overlap and backstopping rather than a pigeonholing into the
wet ocean and atmosphere, for example, even though we clearly
want to work to our strengths in those areas where they exist.
We would acknowledge in this--and I would, certainly in
response to your question--I am not a fishery marine biological
expert at all, and nor is Admiral Lautenbacher in his career.
We're delighted to have, in Dr. Bill Hogarth, a very strong
head of the marine fishery program. And one thing we know for
sure in our sense of management is that both Admiral
Lautenbacher and I will pay a great deal of attention to this
area. And Dr. Hogarth will have a great lead.
There's one other particular aspect I would mention in my
own background. Having had some decades of environmental
management experience, I'm very sensitive--as I know Admiral
Lautenbacher is, too--but my direct working experience has been
very frequently with the public review and decision process
about environmental matters which go to permits, public actions
that are sometimes public granting actions, other times public
restricting actions. So it's somewhat second-nature for me to
be looking at circumstances where complicated issues have to
come down to public decisions in the end. And those must always
listen carefully to the views of the stakeholders, and then the
decisions should be very transparent, in the sense that their
basis should be open.
So I'm sure I--and I know Admiral Lautenbacher, too--by our
commonality in approach, will be very sensitive to this kind of
play. So we will be strong observers of the management process
for the fisheries issues. We'll work very closely with Dr.
Hogarth, of course, in carrying that out.
Senator Kerry. Well, let me just say to you very quickly,
then. I want to let my colleagues have a chance to ask some
questions. I have a couple more questions, but I appreciate
what you've just said, and I think it probably makes the most
sense to have that kind of deputy relationship where there is
cross-fertilization.
The key concern to this Committee--I mean, in the 18 years
that I've been involved with the fisheries issues--and Senator
Hollings, a lot longer, and Senator Stevens and Senator Inouye
and others on this Committee--there's been a deep
disappointment. You know, each year that we do the Magnuson or
each year that we structure--every few years when we do it--we
wrestle with this question of keeping the democracy of the
councils where local input, local decisions, are able to be
made and people are really controlling their own destiny,
balanced against the inevitable, parochial tensions that
prevent decisions from being made at all. And to some degree
the predicament of our fisheries on a national basis is the
unwillingness of people to resolve those issues and bite the
bullet.
A number of years ago, we empowered the Secretary--and
obviously you, through the Secretary--to intervene in a way
that makes the difference. It's disturbing to me that a court
is going to settle a Council issue now. I mean, that's just not
what we intended. It's not the way it ought to work.
So we're very concerned that the agency really step up on
this. And if you don't have the science, then we've got to get
the science. And that's something we tried to augment in the
budget last year.
But I wonder if you'd just comment quickly on that, because
there is a frustration, and we are going to be doing Magnuson
again, and we need to come to grips with this issue.
Dr. Mahoney. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, I'd be glad to.
Let me start by wrapping in the comments that Senator Wyden
mentioned in his opening comments and that we discussed in his
office yesterday, which is the strong bias toward action and
the--I think I wrap in the same comments in your case here.
On the matter of taking action and taking on the tough
issues, I'm very comforted by the experiences of the whole
chain through Secretary Evans on down into NOAA here.
Secretary Evans himself has clearly shown a great emphasis
on good government and taking action and making decisions.
Deputy Secretary Bodman, of course, comes into his post
after a long career at the top level in corporate management in
the country and is very action oriented. I know that Admiral
Lautenbacher is, and I will assert that I am, too. And I think
you've given clear direction, by these questions and by many
other communications I am aware of, that you're looking for
things to come from NOAA and ultimately from the Commerce
Department here. So I'm sure that those comments are heard and
will be responded to.
Senator Kerry. Thank you very much, Doctor, I appreciate
it.
Let me just say to everybody we want to try, if we can, to
expedite so we can get into the CAFE hearing.
Senator Wyden.
Senator Wyden. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a
couple of questions.
First, Dr. Mahoney, thank you for being forthcoming on this
important nomination, again.
Speak for a minute, if you would, to those fishing
families, say, on the Oregon coast, like in Newport. They are
looking to deliver a buy-back program so that you get the right
number of people at the right time, catching the right number
of fish, so that there's a sustainable resource.
Speak to them just for a moment of what you're going to do
to deliver that.
Dr. Mahoney. Well, Senator Wyden, I'm sure you can
understand that since I am not even in position and have not
had a chance to be rounded in the issues, I feel obliged to be
cautious. I think it would be injudicious and wrong for me to
simply say, ``I believe we can do the following.'' I think that
the issue for fishing families on the Oregon coast is a very
deep and pressing one. I think it's an example of the sort that
we have sometimes in other cases in this country, too, and we
have to find, as a nation, the right mix of public-private
initiatives to care for these problems of long standing. I
don't think it minimizes the problem for the fishing families
there to note that similar issues relative to coal-mining
families, to other one-industry-town families, have occurred
across the country.
So I believe that the public sector should--the government
should judiciously look at the opportunities to help while
remaining true to the principles of the kind of society and
economy we have in the country to make a difference. And I
think beyond that I would be injudicious to try to talk
specifically because I don't have a rounding of the issues.
I'd be delighted, Senator, to build on this, to work with
you and your staff and others on the Committee and, as you
asked, to come back more specifically on the same points as I
feel I'm better grounded.
Senator Wyden. Well, I think that's fair. And obviously I'm
just looking to see that you've got a commitment and that
you're going to follow up. And it's fine to assert that this is
preliminary, and there is no question that it is. I want to ask
you about one other matter.
This question of bycatch is critical because a tremendous
number of fish are being wasted. It's an incredible public
disgrace at a time when we don't have all the fish that we need
for any kind of a sustainable resource. We're wasting. We bring
them to shore and we throw them aside.
Your predecessors didn't follow up on this program. What
are you prepared--again, on the basis of the fact that you
can't make any specific commitments--to do, in a general way,
to follow up on this issue?
Dr. Mahoney. Senator Wyden, I'm delighted to say, first,
this issue has been called to our attention. Your questions,
over some period, certainly caused this to be briefed to me
before coming up here.
I know that I will--I am committed to respond to you.
I know that Admiral Lautenbacher is committed to respond to
you and I'm certain that we will take action on the issue in
the ways that seem to be appropriate. Again, I'll draw the full
stop on trying to commit to any specific action. But on the
question of responsiveness, I feel it's very important that, in
this public setting, we say we hear you on a very important
issue and we will be responsive.
Senator Wyden. I'll wrap up with this. If and when you're
confirmed, and you'll have my support, can I get a call from
you in 2 weeks to give me more specifics on both of these
questions?
Dr. Mahoney. I hear you. The answer is yes, sir.
Senator Wyden. Great.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Kerry. That's always the best way to get a phone
call returned I've ever heard of around here.
[Laughter.]
Senator Kerry. Senator Dorgan.
Senator Dorgan. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much. Dr.
Mahoney, one of your 4-year-old daughters has been waving at me
back there.
[Laughter.]
Senator Dorgan. So I will support your nomination.
[Laughter.]
Senator Dorgan. Can you tell us their names, by the way?
Dr. Mahoney. Caitlin and Courtney--two Cs.
Senator Dorgan. Well, that's a surefire way to get
confirmed is to bring two young ladies like that to our
hearing.
[Laughter.]
Senator Dorgan. I am really pleased to support your
nomination. I think you have an excellent background, and I
look forward to working with you.
I did want to mention one issue to you, and I'm not doing
it in a way that's unfair to you. I know that you will not have
known of this or studied it, but I know that Admiral
Lautenbacher is in the room, and I believe Sam Bodman is here.
I received a call last night from Williston, North Dakota.
We've had a long, tortured problem between the National Weather
Service, NOAA, and Williston, North Dakota. I'll just describe
it in 1 minute.
You know we put in a series of NEXRAD radars in the
country. They didn't put very many of them up in our part of
the country, so the one that serves northwestern North Dakota
and northeastern Montana is in a place called Deering, North
Dakota. That's 130 miles away from Williston.
Well, it shoots radar in a way that it is not able to see
storms below 12,000 feet. These low-formation, quick-moving
winter storms are killer storms, and yet we were going to be
left out of radar coverage for those kinds of storms with
NEXRAD. And so the weather service at first denied it, but all
the experts studied it and said, yes, this is an area of
significance. So they've kept the Williston weather radar open
for the last 4 or 5 years until they complete all these other
studies.
Now, I received a call last night saying that they've gone
from 6 people to 4 people. They've shut it down from midnight
to 6 a.m. The people they've interviewed to try to replace
them, the weather service has said to them, ``By the way, you
know, we might shut this down in the future, and we don't pay
moving expenses, so we're interviewing you for a job you might
not want to take.'' And, of course, they've not had any takers.
I think there's been a lack of good faith here on the part
of some people, and I'd like to work with you and with Admiral
Lautenbacher and Sam Bodman to see if we can resolve this. I'm
going to be calling their offices today, but I did want to
mention this to you.
It's not a small issue. Williston, North Dakota, and the
people who are ranchers and others who live in that part of
North Dakota and Montana have as much right to accurate and
good weather forecasting and weather radar as someone in New
York or Chicago. We have as much right to that. And it was
represented that would be the case. But, in fact, it is not the
case with the NEXRAD system, and we have, frankly, not had the
kind of help that I would have liked from the National Weather
Service and NOAA in the past several Administrations.
So I'd like to work with you. I raise that only because
this is the time and place to raise it. I just received a call
again yesterday, and I was surprised again by the latest
information.
So thank you. Thanks for offering yourself to public
service. Thanks for bringing your daughters to this hearing,
and I look forward to working with you, Dr. Mahoney.
Dr. Mahoney. Thank you, Senator, very much, and I hear you
on the issue and will look forward to responding.
Senator Kerry. Thanks very much, Senator Dorgan.
Senator McCain.
Senator McCain. Congratulations, Dr. Mahoney, to you and
your family. We look forward to working with you. Do you
believe that climate change is real?
Dr. Mahoney. A simple answer, Senator, yes.
Senator McCain. Do you believe it's a severe situation?
Dr. Mahoney. My answer gets a little bit longer when we
talk about ``severe,'' because that's such a comparative word
that I think it can only be couched some ways. I believe it's
fair to call it a serious or severe problem or concern for the
world society.
Senator McCain. Have you seen the latest National Academy
of Sciences assessment? That was the strongest language that I
have seen.
Dr. Mahoney. Yes, I have, Senator.
Senator McCain. Do you agree with that?
Dr. Mahoney. Generally, yes.
Senator McCain. Why do you suppose that there is still a
large body of opinion in America that refuse to recognize this
reality?
Dr. Mahoney. My sense, Senator, runs along two lines. One,
the findings and implications are so important and profound
that it bears well that skeptics and those who might have other
views be heard well--not forever, but for some time--because
the implications of the actions that may be necessary are very
strong, as we know.
So I think in the--and I say this somewhat in the science-
process sense--even in view of the Academy's report, I don't
think it's the first time ever that we might have a
circumstance where the best scientists might find something and
certain data might arise in the world that would cause that
feeling to be somewhat colored in the next few years.
And I'm not trying to duck the issue, but I'm saying, on
the one side, just on the science issue, there's a place to
have a bit of real caution, even when there--even, and maybe
almost in particular, when there's a--when we might
characterize a 95-percent agreement with some well-known
percentage on the other side.
The second is that I believe that it's a different matter
to deal with what the responses and actions should be. And I
think very much of this triad that we have of the science and
all of its manifestations and its uncertainties--and I should
stress I don't mean uncertainty as a surrogate to say don't
act; it's just a fact of life that there are these
uncertainties--and we have the related technology issues of
what can we do differently. But then there are, in their own
rights, fundamental questions, of course, of economic security
and energy security, certainly for our nation as the world
leader, but for the whole world, too, because the mitigation
strategies may impede the development of societies everywhere
in the world--in many cases, most often in the underdeveloped
countries.
Senator McCain. I hope you'll give this issue the priority
that it deserves, which is the highest priority.
Finally, do you believe that the oceans of the world are
becoming polluted to an alarming degree?
Dr. Mahoney. Senator, yes, with the caveat that we have
some cases of improvements in some coastal zones, which is
worthy of note, but that the broad state of the oceans is one
that needs repair.
Senator McCain. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Senator Kerry. Thank you, Senator McCain, for those
important questions.
Senator Nelson.
Senator Nelson. Mr. Chairman, I just want to follow up
Senator McCain's line of questioning and thank him again for
being very bold on a number of questions and daring to tread in
certain areas that otherwise might not think that someone in
his party would do. And I appreciate that boldness. And what
Senator McCain----
Senator Kerry. Senator McCain thanks you for putting him on
the spot.
[Laughter.]
Senator Nelson. Well, what he speaks is truth. And even
though it doesn't dramatically affect his state of Arizona, it
sure affects my state of Florida, because the rise of the
oceans, the increase of the temperature, the increase of
pestilence, the increase of tremendous storms called
hurricanes, and so forth. And, you know, we'd best get about
the process of recognizing that, in fact, we do have a problem
and stop sticking our heads in the sand. I thank the Senator
from Arizona for raising the issue.
Senator Kerry. Thank you very much, Senator Nelson. And I
thank all my colleagues.
Senator Breaux.
Senator Breaux. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Thank you, Dr. Mahoney. Welcome to the Department of
Commerce and particularly to NOAA. You have a tremendous
background, educationally, with a Ph.D. in meteorology, and
that's going to be very important to your work over there. I
was just wondering, do you have an idea, with Admiral
Lautenbacher, how you all are going to divide up the fisheries
areas? I mean, this is not your area of background. It's more
in the weather service and meteorology, which is incredibly
important. But also in the fisheries areas, which is important,
as well, have you all had discussions on how those areas are
going to be divided up?
Dr. Mahoney. Yes, sir, Senator Breaux. We had a discussion
a little while ago about this, too, and I'll give, hopefully, a
quick answer, knowing you've got a full morning here, but I'm
delighted to elaborate, now and later, as you may want.
Admiral Lautenbacher and I have had the, of course,
discussions about the management, overall. As number-two, I can
be very clear. Number-one is the boss, of course, and will do
things the way that he determines in the end.
But we have looked at what I would consider to be a fairly
conventional leader and deputy circumstance where both of us
should have a very broad purview, because this provides a
certain amount of redundancy in coverage, overall.
While we acknowledge Admiral Lautenbacher has a strong
oceans background, obviously, and I do have an air background,
neither of those are directly the marine biology and fisheries
background which is of great interest to you and many on the
Committee, of course.
Our approach about that is, I think, a couple of key
things. First, we take the responsibility of oversight very
strongly. Second, we have a very strong leader in Dr. Bill
Hogarth, who will be very much front and center on these
issues, but with my involvement and that of Admiral
Lautenbacher, as well. And, third, most of the fisheries issues
certainly have to be addressed by experts, but they are
ultimately environmental and community-management problems that
touch the economy and the livelihood and it would call on
science and observation for definition.
I have decades of being imbued in the process of this kind
of environment management, and a modest amount of fisheries
management background like this, as well. So I'm sure we'll be
looking at trying to help strengthen NOAA's approach to
addressing being open and transparent about these issues and
getting resolution and trying to move in very tough areas which
are a combination of observation science about the state of
health of the fisheries and ultimately have to be economic an
public decisions that affect people in local economies.
Senator Breaux. Well, I thank you for understanding those
issues. I think that while you are an expert in weather and you
know the violence of a summer thunderstorm, I would suggest
that you really haven't seen anything violent until you've been
through a shrimp meeting on the turtle excluder devices in
south Louisiana. You may want to steer clear of that to the
extent that you can. But thank you very much.
Dr. Mahoney. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Kerry. Senator Breaux, thank you very much.
I think all of that said, a few years ago, I commented to
somebody that if you ever wanted to do a perfect study on
government regulatory process and the difficulties and the
varied forces pulling and tugging, the fisheries are perhaps
one of the most ideal. It is complicated.
But what is not complicated is understanding that the
consequence of the inaction that comes from not making some
choices between those tensions is disastrous. And we've seen
that.
And we've got 60,000 acres of clam beds closed in
Massachusetts. We've got, as you know, the Georges Banks. You
know, we lost our striper fisheries a number of years ago. We
brought it back by shutting it down. For almost 10 years, there
was no fishing. Now people are going out and catching, you
know, regulation-size stripers, and we brought it back.
So it just isn't that complicated to understand. What's
lacking is not the solution, it's the willpower to put it in
place. And so we really are going to look for you to try to
help us do that.
And we're going to now move into a component of the
morning's business that reflects questions of Senator McCain
and Senator Nelson's concern, which we all share. There's been
a lot of procrastination about how we ought to make some
choices with respect to emissions and global gases, and a lot
of people's patience is wearing thin on it. We're going to talk
about that momentarily. But we really do look to you for
leadership and guidance with respect to those issues also.
Dr. Mahoney, you are going to be confirmed, and we're going
to try to move this through as rapidly as possible and get you
on the job. And we really are appreciative for your coming here
this morning. We're appreciate for the fact that you're willing
to serve, and we're grateful to your family for their support
and for their willingness to also have you serve. So we thank
you very much.
Dr. Mahoney. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for
your questions and hearing me out.
Senator Kerry. Thank you.
[The hearing was adjourned at 9:55 a.m.]
A P P E N D I X
Prepared Statement of Senator John McCain
Mr. Chairman, I would like to thank you and Chairman Hollings for
holding this morning's hearing on the nomination of Dr. James Mahoney
to be the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and
Deputy NOAA Administrator. I appreciate your willingness to work with
myself and others on the Committee to give consideration to this
important nomination in such a timely manner.
NOAA is the primary federal agency involved in activities that
affect the everyday lives of Americans from predicting the daily
weather forecasts to protecting our nation's vital fish stocks. By
predicting future droughts, storm fronts, tornadoes, and hurricanes,
NOAA also has an important role in ensuring our nation's safety and
economic well-being. Given Dr. Mahoney's experience in running major
organizations in the private sector and the government, I am sure that
he will do an excellent job as the Deputy Administrator for NOAA.
One issue of particular interest to me is NOAA's groundbreaking
work in research in the effects of global warming on the Earth`s
climate. Recent events, such as the discoveries in Antarctica,
increased coral bleaching, and the National Academy of Sciences' report
last year, underscore the importance of collecting accurate data and
designing comprehensive models that measure changes in our climate, and
its effects here on Earth. While I appreciate all of the hard work of
NOAA's scientists involved in this effort, I recognize that a
significant amount of research remains before we can fully understand
the complex and dynamic relationships between the atmosphere, the
oceans, land, and mankind. I look forward to working with you, Dr.
Mahoney, to ensure that the U.S. research contributions to this global
problem are helpful and adequate.
Again, thank you , Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing and I
look forward to quick action on this nomination.
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WRITTEN RESPONSES BY DR. JAMES R. MAHONEY TO QUESTIONS
FROM SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN
Question 1. It is my understanding that you have extensive
experience in the meteorological, hydrological, and oceanographic
areas. As you may be aware, I have introduced legislation in the area
of climate change and continue to work on legislation that would
establish a national ``cap and trade'' program. One of the issues that
we are trying to address is at what atmospheric level of carbon dioxide
should we be targeting.
Based upon your experience, do you have any thoughts on what that
level should be to alleviate these climate change concerns?
Answer: Global average atmospheric CO2 concentrations
have risen approximately 25 percent in the past 100 years, or
approximately 2.5 percent per decade. Climate science has not
established any specific ``safe'' levels for CO2
concentrations, which appear to be higher now than at any time in the
past 400,000 years. CO2 concentrations are projected to
continue increasing throughout the next century, absent more stringent
levels of global CO2 emission controls.
Attempts to establish a future target level of CO2
concentrations will involve substantial uncertainty and debate. Three
categories of issues need to be addressed:
1. Scientific Questions: We need better knowledge about ``purely
scientific'' issues such as the relationship between CO2
concentrations and several global and regional climate parameters
(e.g., temperature and precipitation patterns, severe weather frequency
and intensity, etc.) as related to global changes in CO2
concentrations.
2. Value and Goal Questions: How should a target level be defined?
For example, should the target level be one that results in (a) long-
term stable climate conditions; (b) more moderate expected climate
changes--facilitating adaptation or (c) other outcomes?
3. ``Integrated Assessment'' Questions: Climate questions are
inevitably related to economic and energy security questions that must
be addressed by all nations. As climate science continues to improve,
the ``purely scientific'' evaluation of target levels will necessarily
be linked to considerations of economic and energy outcomes for all
nations.
I believe that informed national and global discussions about all
three of these categories of questions should be an integral part of
the debates about target levels for CO2 and other greenhouse
gases.
(b) Do you believe that the current computer modeling program by
the government is sufficient to support decisions on this area?
Answer: I believe the current U.S. climate modeling program is
good, but is not sufficient to support the full range of policy
analyses and decisions on climate change issues that must be addressed
now and in future years. Given the importance of U.S. leadership in
evaluating climate change issues, our nation should maintain a best
state-of-the-art capability in climate modeling. Our current modeling
program is not yet at this level. In particular, we need abundant
computational capability to develop, test and operate the continuously
improving climate models, and to broadly apply these models to global
and regional scale climate studies. Moreover, the U.S. needs adequate
high-end computing capacity to support the large group of researchers
and policy analysts who seek to apply the best climate models to a wide
range of highly important assessment scenarios.
I agree with the principal findings of the National Academy of
Sciences which has issued two recent analyses of U.S. climate modeling
capability: The Capacity of U.S. Climate Modeling to Support Climate
Change Assessment Activities (1998); and Improving the Effectiveness of
U.S. Climate Modeling (2001). These Academy reports have identified the
following priorities for improving climate modeling capabilities in the
U.S.:
Robust support for the strong U.S. basic climate research
enterprise, combined with a high level of resources for climate model
``production capability'' needed for routine and specialized climate
projections. Exploratory research, frequently conducted by single
investigators or small groups, is a key source of much breakthrough
knowledge about climate and earth systems. Both the basic researchers
and the ``production modelers'' need a long-term resource commitment
for the best state-of-the-art climate modeling capability.
A robust and flexible capability to produce high-end
climate model simulations and projections for many different
applications communities (e.g., economists, energy traders, industrial
planners, etc.) that are increasingly becoming involved with climate
analysis.
Question 2. Scientists recently announced that temperatures on the
Antarctic continent have fallen steadily for more than two decades.
They seem to be at a loss as to how to explain this. They further noted
that the research does not change the fact that the planet has warmed
up on the whole. The research simply points out that the Antarctic is
not responding as expected. Do you have any thoughts on these findings?
Answer: Global average temperatures have increased at a rate
approximately 0.6C per century since 1900. In the past 25
years the global average temperature has risen at a rate approximately
3 times faster than the century-scale trend. However, temperature
records from surface observing stations in Antarctica do not reflect
this increasing temperature trend. This difference may be partly due to
the scarcity of surface observing station data for Antarctica,
especially since 1992 when the number of observing stations dropped
significantly in Antarctica. Depending on the data sets and analysis
methods used to calculate average temperatures, the 1976-2001 trend in
annual average temperature in Antarctica is approximately zero (i.e.,
no net trend) by one analysis method, and a cooling by approximately
0.4C per decade using another method. A significant short-term
cooling is suggested by 1992 and 1993 data, but this may be related to
the reduction in the number of observing stations at this time.
The Antarctic continent is approximately 50 percent larger than the
land mass of the United States, but there have never been more than 30
surface observing stations operating on the continent. The majority of
these stations are located along coastal areas. By comparison, the
United States has an observing network of thousands of stations
together with excellent satellite coverage. The potential uncertainties
related to the small number of observing stations can be illustrated by
a comparison of winter (June-August) temperature trends on opposing
sides of the Antarctic continent. From 1976-2001, eastern winter
temperatures decreased (-0.5C per decade), while western
temperatures increased (+0.3C per decade) during the same
period.
Several other considerations also suggest that temperature trends
in Antarctica may not be correlated with global average temperature
trends. The general atmospheric circulation in the region of the
Antarctic continent is relatively isolated from the rest of the global
atmosphere because of the strength of the Circumpolar Vortex (the upper
air wind pattern) throughout much of the year. Another possible
illustration of the relative isolation of Antarctica is suggested by
paleoclimate data developed from ice core analyses for Greenland and
Antarctica. Significant warning occurred in Greenland approximately
36,000 to 45,000 years ago and this warming lagged behind Antarctic
changes by approximately 1,000 years. I also note that the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has suggested that
sluggish ocean heat transport circulation may be particularly important
in understanding temperature change at polar latitudes.
Question 3. You have mentioned in pre-hearing questions that one of
your goals is to work with the NOAA Administrator to build upon NOAA's
strengths of personnel, technology, operational systems, and
institutional experience. In recent testimony before the Commerce
Committee, Dr. John Marburger, the Director of the Office of Science
and Technology Policy, highlighted the need for more diversity at all
ranks of the science and engineering workforce. Do you feel that this
need exists at NOAA and if so, what are your objectives in the
personnel area?
Answer: I believe that enhanced diversity is essential for
developing and maintaining a talented scientific and engineering
workforce in our society. Moreover, encouragement of technical careers
for currently underrepresented sectors of U.S. society constitutes one
of the most effective investments in the human and economic capital of
our nation. I am gratified that during my term as President of the
American Meteorological Society, the AMS greatly expanded its
recruitment and scholarship support for minority students interested in
the atmospheric, oceanographic and hydrological sciences.
The federal government should be a clear leader in fostering
diversity among its technical personnel and NOAA, with its high
percentage of advanced technical personnel, should be at the forefront
of the federal government activities. I am pleased to note that NOAA
and the Department of Commerce will be expanding their partnerships
with Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). NOAA's current (FY2002)
budget includes $15 million to fulfill the mandates of Presidential
Executive Orders for Historically Black Colleges and Universities,
Hispanic Serving Institutions and Tribal Colleges and Universities.
NOAA designated four Cooperative Science Centers in October 2000 at
institutions with established degree programs in Atmospheric, Oceanic
and Environmental sciences and Remote Sensing.
I believe that NOAA has a generally good track record for fostering
a diverse and competent workforce, but further improvement must always
be our goal. NOAA management at all levels from the top down must be
proactive in two broad categories: (1) sustaining a culture that
insists on diversity and merit-based opportunity for all, as a high
priority value, and (2) encouragement of specific initiatives that can
improve diversity in all categories of the NOAA workforce. If
confirmed, I shall fully support Admiral Lautenbacher and the entire
NOAA management team in our proactive commitment to promoting diversity
throughout the agency.
Question 4. What are your views on the current process used by the
government to determine the research priorities for climate change
research? Do you feel that changes are necessary to strengthen the role
of the U.S. Global Climate Change Research Program?
Answer: I believe the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP)
has generally been well managed as a research enterprise, with the
benefit of scientific program planning that has involved many of our
nation's leading researchers. However, I believe that the fundamental
(and increasingly important) assessment mission of the USGCRP has not
received sufficient attention and priority. In a similar vein, the
National Academy of Sciences has also faulted the program for its
inadequate ability to focus resources on priority areas.
I advocate the use of a well-defined and broadly communicated
assessment plan as an essential tool for future program planning for
climate change analyses. My views about the importance of a high
quality assessment plan were developed as ``lessons learned'' while I
served as Director of the National Acid Precipitation Assessment
Program (NAPAP) from 1988 to 1991.
In my view, a comprehensive assessment plan is much broader than a
research program plan. A research plan generally focuses on the study
of phenomena (such as climate change measurements, hypotheses and
models), with a goal of improved understanding of scientifically based
cause-and-effects mechanisms. An assessment plan focuses on the
outcomes of strategies, and should include specific consideration of
economic and energy security issues, as well as other policy outcomes
of an array of strategies being studied. A comprehensive assessment
plan will beneficially influence the selection of scientific priorities
in global change studies, by focusing research on the key outcomes that
need to be understood. I also support continued exploratory research
(i.e., not focused on specific outcomes) as an essential component of
the USGCRP. Continued scientific inquiry into a wide range of global
climate issues should continue to receive long term support.
Question 5. What are your thoughts on the National Academy of
Science's recommendation for a National Climate Service who would
coordinate a global weather observing system?
Answer: The National Academy has recommended improved and more
comprehensive climate services, but has not specifically recommended a
National Climate Service. The Academy recommendations included: well
coordinated use of the nation's array of weather and climate
observation systems; improved capabilities for research, technology
infusion, modeling and prediction; and regional interdisciplinary
approaches to climate services.
I believe that a high degree of coordination of federal, state and
local government resources, combined with private and academic sector
capabilities, will be needed to provide climate services for the
nation. I am pleased to note that NOAA recently linked its NWS, NESDIS,
and OAR units in a Climate Observations and Services Program to provide
more integrated climate services. This is one key building block in the
development of more coordinated national climate services. I look
forward to working with my NOAA colleagues in the development of other
federal, state, local, private and international partnerships to
enhance this collaboration. The goals for our comprehensive climate
partnership should include: improving observational accuracy,
consistency and overall coverage based on the resources of all the
partners; assuring long-term stability in climate observing systems, to
facilitate the analysis of long-term trends; and enhancing efficiency
in delivering climate services to all interested users. I believe that
integrating and broadly improving all of our nation's climate service
resources is an important mission for NOAA and, if confirmed, I will
work with Admiral Lautenbacher and the NOAA management team to fully
address this mission.
Question 6. One major program under NOAA's responsibility is the
National Polar-orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System
(NPOESS). This program is funded through both the Department of
Commerce and Department of Defense. Based upon your management
experience with large scientific and technical organizations, do you
have any thoughts on how to improve the workings of this program?
Answer: This unique program was established by a Presidential
Decision Directive and implemented by a tri-agency (DOC/NOAA, DOD,
NASA) memorandum of agreement that established clearly defined
requirements, agency roles, and coordinated management structures.
Based on the reviews I have undertaken to date, I believe that the
NPOESS program is currently on track to achieve the significant savings
projected when the program was initiated. In addition to substantial
cost savings, I also believe that NPOESS is providing major benefits in
the cross-fertilization of technical and management experiences among
the partner agencies.
My management experience suggest that every long-term program
operating with joint agency sponsorship needs at least three conditions
to achieve its goals and to avoid the inefficiency that could result if
inadequate project control or communication were to develop:
Continuous commitment and support from the senior
management of each of the sponsoring agencies.
Clearly understood program management lines of authority,
reinforced by frequent program reviews.
A real sense of partnership, and commitment to achieving
common goals, throughout the program management and contractor
personnel.
I believe these three elements are currently in place for the
NPOESS program. The continued attention to NPOESS at the senior
management level in each sponsoring agency will help ensure the program
continues to maintain its focus as it matures, to assure that NPOESS
continues to meet its stringent cost, schedule and performance
requirements.
While NPOESS has benefited from its unique access to the best
resources of its sponsoring agencies, I believe the issue of multi-year
budget coordination between the executive branch and Congress will need
continued attention. The Office of Management and Budget ensures that
the DOC and DOD budgets are consistent when submitted by the President
to Congress. However, Congressional review of the NPOESS program is
divided among several authorization and appropriation subcommittees. I
believe that NOAA/DOC, DOD and NASA must remain proactive in assuring
good communication with the various congressional authorization and
appropriation subcommittees with responsibilities to oversee the NPOESS
program. If confirmed, I look forward to working with Admiral
Lautenbacher and the NOAA management team to assure that NPOESS is an
excellent example of interagency collaboration, as well as executive
and legislative collaboration.
Question 7. Over the past few years, there has been some
controversy about the role of the National Weather Service as it
relates to commercial providers of weather forecasting information.
Could you please explain your thoughts on what Weather Service services
should be provided by the National Weather Service, and which should be
provided by private forecasters?
I note that NOAA has recently asked the National Academy of
Sciences to review this question, i.e., the roles of government, the
private sector and academia in providing weather and climate
information to the nation. Considering the importance of weather and
climate information to our country, and considering the partnership
that already exists between NOAA and the private sector, I believe any
suggested changes in roles should be examined carefully in a forum open
to the many stakeholders affected.
I believe that NOAA and private sector interests have made
substantial progress in resolving many public/private responsibility
issues during the past 10 years. The following overview comments
reflect my views on the continued evolution the public/private
partnerships in weather and climate services.
NOAA has a fundamental responsibility for the protection
of human life and property, and should retain its role as the source of
all severe weather and flood warnings, to assure consistency and to
avoid confusion during alert conditions.
As a public agency, NOAA must always be open to
consideration of privatization of any functions that do not impair its
ability to meet its critical public missions.
Proposals for privatization of NOAA functions must be
evaluated with a particular emphasis on assuring consistent and
reliable long-term performance of such functions.
NOAA should continue to provide any of the data,
information and analysis products it amasses at public expense to all
interested users, on a rapid-dissemination basis, at the marginal cost
of the dissemination alone.
NOAA should continue a robust program of weather and
climate forecasting services. Forecasting and verification activities
provide essential feedback needed for the continuous upgrading of
observing, data assimilation and computer modeling capabilities.
NOAA already has a very well developed array of
partnership activities, with both private sector and academic
institutions. These should be continued, and should be considered as
possible focuses for improved partnerships in the future.
If confirmed, I will look forward to working with the Committee to
examine the results of the National Academy study when it is completed,
and to consider any proposed changes to the existing partnership
arrangements.
Question 8. Because of the long development time needed for major
programs, new technology is frequently not included in programs as they
are brought on-line. For example, the Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellites (GOES) reportedly operate using 386 and 486
processors. What changes would you suggest to ensure that new
technology is incorporated into major programs, while also ensuring
that the programs remain interoperable with older technology?
Answer: As you state in the question, this problem has two
aspects--the need to keep up with technology improvements, and the need
to continue operating installed systems and serving users who choose
not to upgrade. This challenging problem is exacerbated by the long
development and deployment times for complex systems such as satellite
observing platforms and nationally deployed radar systems. Moreover,
the measurement and data communication protocols from these long-life
systems must be suitable for processing by multiple users, further
complicating the problem. The issue of technology upgrades combined
with backward compatibility is common to many long-term systems
operated by government units (DOD in particular) and throughout the
private sector. I believe that NOAA has made significant progress with
technology upgrade issues in many cases, but needs to use its past
experience to make further improvements. I suggest the following
guidelines for addressing this long-term issue:
The culture of anticipating technology upgrades, combined
with backward compatibility, should be established as a common basis
for system development, design and implementation. This culture should
have a particular focus on the opportunities for improved information
processing technologies, because the rate of improvement in information
technologies continues to be very steep.
NOAA should specifically incorporate product improvement
planning as a line element of all long-term system development and
design activity. This planning should include a ``lessons learned''
perspective developed from experience with current systems. DOD uses a
Pre-Planned Product Improvement (P3I) approach that may provide a
useful model for NOAA.
NOAA should continue to buildupon its several ongoing
programs that systematically insert new technology into existing
systems. For example, I understand that NOAA has budgeted approximately
$50 million annually to update the ground systems supporting NOAA
satellites to ensure that data processing, transmission and archiving
capabilities maintain pace with technology. Also I support the planned
product improvement programs that NOAA has already initiated for
several systems, including the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing
System, Next Generation Weather Radar, and the Automated Surface
Observing System.
Question 9. It has been reported that NOAA currently receives more
data from its satellites than it can process and incorporate into its
weather and climate models. What recommendations would you make for
upgrading NOAA's capability to handle the data it receives?
Answer: In addition to its use of current research and operational
satellite data to support weather and climate models, NOAA must prepare
for the ongoing, substantial increase in satellite data expected
throughout the next 10 years. NOAA must ensure that the communication
infrastructure is in place to sustain the flow of data from satellites
to the operational forecasting components of the National Weather
Service. NOAA must also continue to increase the computational power
required for the assimilation of this data into the operational climate
and weather models. Furthermore, NOAA must increase its efforts in the
research, development and design of improved data assimilation systems
that can extract the most useful satellite data needed to support the
ongoing advances in climate and weather forecast models.
I understand that NASA and NOAA have recently joined forces to form
a ``Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation'' for several
purposes: (1) to accelerate the use of research and operational
satellite data in weather and climate forecast models; (2) to assess
the means for extracting the most information from satellite data for
use in the forecast models; and (3) to show the extent to which these
data can be used to attain NOAA's 5-year forecast improvement goals for
hurricanes, precipitation forecasts and general weather forecasts. The
Joint Center is expected to be a principal resource for continuing
attention to the data assimilation issues, to take advantage of the
ever-increasing quantity of data available to support weather and
climate models.
The pace of improvement in observing technology, communications
capability, and information processing capacity assures that the issue
of ``How do we best use all of the information that we collect?'' will
be with NOAA and other government technical agencies over the long
term. I view the issue as a special application of Moore's Law that
projects a doubling of information processing capability every 18
months. If confirmed, I will work with Admiral Lautenbacher in focusing
NOAA's attention of the long-term opportunity and challenge afforded by
the continuing improvements in data collection and processing
technology.
Question 10. The second item of the President's Management Agenda
calls for giving the private sector more opportunities to compete for
the right to perform certain tasks traditionally performed by
government employees. What opportunities do you see in NOAA's mission
for greater private sector competition?
Answer: I believe that NOAA has a long-term track record of
providing significant outsourcing opportunities to the private sector.
As a premier scientific agency in the nation, NOAA should continue to
build on its partnerships with the private and academic sectors to
effectively achieve its mission. I understand that in recent years NOAA
has pursued outsourcing and public/private partnerships in ship and
electronic equipment maintenance, surface weather observations at
airports throughout the United States, information technology network
support, software development and automated data processing, and the
design and construction of satellites and remote sensing instruments. I
believe these examples should be used as building blocks, and that NOAA
should work to achieve annual increases in the scope and quantity of
its outsourcing and partnership activities.
Question 11. In your answers to the pre-hearing questions, you
stated that ``federal government positions are not seen as desirable
long-term career choices by many of ``the best and brightest''
scientific and technical personnel''. How does this lack of interest in
federal employment hurt NOAA's ability to achieve its mission, and what
steps do you propose should be taken to correct this problem?
Answer: I believe that several federal science-based agencies
currently have an unfavorable demographic profile in their technical
work force, with a low percentage of entry level and early career level
technical specialists. I believe this profile has emerged because
federal scientific employment is not seen as a priority choice for many
of our best technical graduates, and because many of the best qualified
early and mid-career technical specialists in government are
successfully recruited to private and academic positions. I am certain
that favorable compensation opportunities in the private sector are a
factor in the decisions of many promising career scientists to leave
federal government service. Moreover, I believe that the opportunity
for more rapid increases in responsibility and recognition also
influence many government scientists to consider academic and private
sector opportunities. For highly qualified scientists, the first 10
years of experience after graduation are often the most productive for
new ideas; I believe that scientists in federal service should perceive
opportunities for rapid increases in responsibilities when merited,
during this critical 10 year period.
The deficiency in the percentage of early career scientists in
federal service restricts government's access to current scientific and
technological thinking from the recently educated, and suggests a
possibly serious shortage of well-qualified mid-career specialists in
the next few years, when a sizable percentage of current technical
staff will be eligible for retirement. I believe that NOAA is better
situated than the average agency on this issue, because NOAA has the
benefit of several excellent laboratories, key scientists, and well-
regarded R&D programs. Even so, NOAA must be alert to recruit and
retain an abundant share of the younger generation of scientific and
technological personnel that it needs to fulfill its missions.
I believe NOAA should further enhance its already-favorable working
environment so as to encourage its technical employees to remain in
public service. NOAA should continuously strive to foster an open and
challenging work environment that enables our scientific and technical
employees, as well as our other employees, to reach their full
potential. I understand that NOAA is actively pursuing this type of
environment through such initiatives as workforce development and
continuous learning, as well as family friendly initiatives such as
telecommuting, and the use of available personnel management
flexibility such as retention allowances, and alternative personnel
systems. I look forward to joining in these important efforts, and
collaborating with the many highly satisfied NOAA employees to
facilitate the marketing of the NOAA brand in the colleges and
universities that have programs in the scientific and technical
disciplines needed for NOAA's mission.