FY 1999 Budget Request of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

 


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Executive Summary

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Strategic Plan Structure

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Executive Summary (cont.)

  • $4.0 million needed to improve our understanding of climate and air quality and provide the scientific basis for national policy decisions in key environmental areas, including $1.0 million for the Health of the Atmosphere program which will answer key science questions associated with proposed lower ozone and particulate matter standards now under consideration by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This effort is an important element of the NDRI. This request also includes $2.0 million for the Climate and Global Change program to augment current efforts to develop regionally specific seasonal-to-interannual climate modeling and prediction over North America, and to improve the definition of sources and sinks of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The request also includes an increase of $1.0 million to continue the Administration's support for the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program.
  • Although no funds are requested for new vessels in FY 1999, funds for replacement of existing fisheries research vessels (FRV) are planned for future budget requests. NOAA plans to decommission the existing obsolete and deteriorating research fleet that has an average age of 34 years, starting in FY 2002 or as replacement FRVs become available.
  • $6.5 million to continue NOAA's facilities maintenance and construction projects including, a net decrease of $0.1 million for NWS weather forecast office construction and maintenance; an increase of $2.8 million to fund above standard costs associated with Boulder laboratories; an increase of $0.7 million to address space planning and consolidation requirements in the Washington, D.C. area and in Norman, OK; and a decrease of $11.0 million from the FY 1999 base of $15.2 million to complete construction of the Santa Cruz Research laboratory.
  • Total savings of $182.2 million for program reductions, streamlining and terminations.

The challenge of investing strategically in the Nation's future is accompanied by the requirement to be more effective, to identify and realize opportunities for savings and to focus the efforts of Government on what matters to people. Performance is what counts, and the FY 1999 budget includes measures which track results to the level of investment. Success in this changing world increasingly will depend on partnerships with business and industry, universities, state and local governments, and international parties. NOAA will continue to develop partnerships to leverage resources and talent, and provide the means for meeting program requirements more effectively.

NOAA's FY 1999 budget request of $2.1 billion is predicated on the need to ensure the continued delivery of essential science, technology, and services to the Nation. This request provides the resources needed for NOAA to fulfill its role in meeting the three goals of the Department of Commerce and in achieving its mission. NOAA's services include short-term weather forecasts, seasonal climate predictions, and long-term global change prognoses; protection of life and property; provision of reliable scientific information to decision-makers; and stewardship of our nation's ocean, coastal, and living marine resources. The NOAA Strategic Plan establishes the seven major goals of the agency and guides the most effective combined application of the entire suite of agency assets for attaining these goals.
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