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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ~. . 000547 The analytical impact system, the third element, is designed to measure the effect of alternative projects or programs upon the economy of a specified geographic area and all other areas on which it impacts. The projections noted above are taken as baseline projections which exclude the proposed project. The estimated direct effects of the project are injected into the baseline projections and the indirect and induced effects on the area economy are calculated. Comparison of the projected economies with and without the project yields a measure of the benefits and costs of the project. The research program of the BEA is designed to improve measurement proce- dures and develop new analytical concepts thereby leading to better and more useful data series; to improve the methodology used in projecting regional economic activity; and to develop new and improved methods for the analysis of the economic impact of water resources investments and management programs. The three elements of the system are operational but are in different early stages of development with the first element being most advanced and the third the least advanced. The improvement of the system is dependent on sub- stantial research, Much of this program is carried out in cooperation with the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture, VI. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was created to provide an organization which would employ a unified approach to the problems of the oceans, of the atmosphere, and of the third major component of our environ- ment--the solid earth. NOAA gathers, processes and issues information on: (1) weather, river, and climatic conditions; (2) coastal tides and currents; (3) movement of ocean currents; (4) structure and shape of ocean basins; (5) seismic activity; (6) precise size and shape of the earth; (7) living resources of the global sea; (8) economic aspects of fisheries' operations; (9) ecological relationships between game fish and other marine and estuarine organisms; (10) marine mining and related technology; and (11) conditions in the upper atmosphere and space. NOAA maintains warning systems against hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, seismic sea waves and other environmental hazards, NOAA enhances the government's ability to provide better environmental information to vital segments of the Nation's economy, such as industry, communications, transportation and agricul- ture, Also, improved services are available to other federal departments and agencies, the concerns of which are: (1) national defense; (2) exploration of outer space; (3) management of our resources--mineral, marine and water; (4) protection of the public health against environmental pollution which in- cludes the protection of commercial fisheries; and (5) preservation of our wilderness and recreation areas. NOAA has five components that provide useful information to planning; they are: A. The National Weather Service (NWS) provides the Nation's weather service, observing and reporting the weather of the United States and its possessions and issuing forecasts and warnings of weather and river and flood conditions that affect the safety, welfare and general economy of the entire populace. In providing the river and flood forecasts and warnings, the NWS conducts necessary research which includes analyses and studies of hydrometeorological data for broad application to water resources planning, design and operational problems. -9-