Excerpt from a report by the Amsoc Committee on drilling News from National Academy of Sciences-National Research Council, a description of the National Academy of Sciences. __ Hedberg, Dr. Hollis, bulletin of the American Association of Petroleum References to the intermediate approach and scope of the Mohole Table entitled, "Periods of Service of Amsoc Committee Mem- bers, NAS, National Research Council, October 31, 1963". McLelland, Dr. Jack, vice president, Ocean Science Engineering, Inc., National Academy of Sciences, "Payment of Personal Services," table. Advance announcement of briefing session for prospective prime contractors on the Mohole project. Agreement between the National Science Foundation and the Invitation to submit proposal for phase II on Mohole project, man_ Mohole project table of organization, submitted by Dr. Water- man "Seismologist's concept of the interior structure of the earth,” Series of questions submitted by letter to proposed contractors 261, 267 Communications submitted to the committee-Continued Bronk, Dr. Detlev W., letter to Dr. Alan Waterman dated June 23, Page 170, 209 Burk, C. A., memorandum regarding the status of the CORE pro- Haworth, Dr. Leland J., letter dated November 20, 1963, explaining Letter to Drs. Bronk and Waterman re Amsoc Committee recom- 231 266 213 187 Report of the Chairman to the members of the Amsoc Committee Keller, Dr. Geoffrey, letter to Dr. Hollis D. Hedberg dated February 182 195 Lill, Gordon, Chairman, NAS-NRC Amsoc Committee- Letter to Dr. Detlev W. Bronk dated June 14, 1961_. Letter to Dr. Edward B. Espenshade, Jr., dated June 14, 1961, enclosing recommendations of the Amsoc Committee re future Mains, Dr. R. M., letter dated November 15, 1963, re General Electric 147 National Science Foundation, letter to Brown & Root, Inc., dated December 20, 1961, enclosing series of questions to the five finalists Thurston, William R., Executive Secretary, Division of Earth Sciences, letter to Dr. William E. Benson dated April 2, 1958-- Waterman, Dr. Alan T., Director, National Science Foundation— Letter dated July 10, 1961, notifying scientific interests of the country that the National Science Foundation is seeking a prime contractor for the Mohole project.. Letter dated March 18, 1963, enclosing the agreement between MOHOLE PROJECT TUESDAY, JUNE 25, 1963 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON OCEANOGRAPHY OF THE COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES, Washington, D.C. The subcommittee met at 10 a.m., pursuant to call, in room 219, Cannon House Office Building, Hon. Alton Lennon (chairman of the subcommittee) presiding. Mr. LENNON. The subcommittee will be in order. We welcome you gentlemen and we are delighted to see some ladies in our audience this morning. Today we are starting the first of the hearings in the 88th Congress on the Mohole project. As many of you know, the subcommittee held hearings in the 86th and 87th Congresses on the project and we are interested in the present status and what its future will be. Our witness today will be Dr. Alan T. Waterman, Director of the National Science Foundation who, we have learned with regret, is about to be retired from the Foundation. I think it could be said that there has been much controversy in many publications concerning the Mohole project and the manner of letting the contract. The Senate has inserted in the Congressional Record the General Accounting Office report on the method of contracting and it is not our purpose to reopen this question. We are, however, naturally concerned with the present status of the Mohole project and what its future will be. Following Dr. Waterman's remarks today, we shall continue hearings at a later date. I think it ought to be said for the benefit of Dr. Waterman and the others attending here this morning that it is difficult at this time in the session of the Congress to get a full subcommittee for the reason that most of the members are on other important legislative committees and some of the committees now are in the process of actually marking up their bills in executive session, and that is the explanation for the small group you see here as members of the subcommittee. I am sure and I am satisfied that this subcommittee would be very appreciative if Dr. Waterman would explain for the benefit not only of the new members of the subcommittee but as a sort of refresher for the old members what the Mohole project is all about and describe the role that the National Science Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences play or can be expected to play in the furtherance of this project. Dr. Waterman, we would be happy if you would come to the witness stand. If you have those that you would like to be associated with you in your remarks, we would be delighted to have them sit with you. STATEMENT OF DR. ALAN T. WATERMAN, DIRECTOR; PAUL A. SCHERER, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATION; DR. WILLIAM E. BENSON, HEAD, EARTH SCIENCES SECTION; AND AARON ROSENTHAL, COMPTROLLER, NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION Dr. WATERMAN. Thank you very much, sir. Mr. LENNON. We are mighty happy to see these exhibits which will illustrate your testimony as you move along. You may proceed, sir. Dr. WATERMAN. Thank you, sir. To introduce the witnesses sitting here with me, I would like to introduce Mr. Scherer who is Associate Director for Administration of the Foundation, Mr. Rosenthal who is Comptroller, and Dr. Benson who is the Head of the Earth Science Section and the scientific officer for the Mohole project. Mr. LENNON. Thank you. We are delighted to have you gentlemen with us and hope you will participate and offer anything that you have in connection with it. Dr. WATERMAN. First, Mr. Chairman, I have a statement which I would like to read to you which I think will cover the points that you have mentioned, and I believe this is quite important because this is a rather complex project, as you know. It has many angles and a great many points of interest. Before starting on the statement, I should like merely to point out that this project is a very farsighted one and of extraordinary scientific interest. In realizing that we can punch through the crust of the earth by stages and go through to this mysterious layer called the mantle which we know very little about but which evidence shows us is there, we are opening up a new field which will be of very great interest, indeed, scientifically. When such areas are of interest scientifically there is no question of their ultimate importance for our better understanding of the earth and what it can mean to us in exploiting the different possibilities. The first point, then, is this remarkable opportunity we have. It is the first time that we have ever considered that this would be possible and, as such, one might put it in the same category as space exploration. It is a new field. The second point is that this has a great deal of international and national interest. It has been discussed in the international scientific unions and the fact that the United States has decided that this is feasible and it will go ahead with it is of considerable national interest and adds important international aspects as you may very well understand. I talked to a couple of British visitors last week and they told me that one of the chief topics of discussions on the continent among the scientists was how we are making out with this attempt to drill into the earth's crust and find out what the properties are in the mantle and so forth. |