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February 4, 2002 — NOAA's proposed 2003 budget provides $3.3 billion for research and monitoring of the atmosphere, coastal ecosystems, oceans, and satellite operations. Meeting the directive to moderate growth and fund national priorities, this budget request is $45.4 million below 2002 funding levels. Targeted programs receive boosts of $148.8 million while duplicative programs are trimmed.

"I'm pleased that the President's request of more than $3.3 billion dollars strongly supports NOAA's mission to understand, protect and preserve our atmosphere, coastal ecosystems and oceans," said NOAA Administrator Conrad C. Lautenbacher. "NOAA's products and services provide environmental support to the domestic security and global competitiveness of the United States, and have a positive effect on the lives of citizens every day."

Examples of the budget increases are described below, with NOAA budget document categories in parenthesis.

Environmental & Economic Stewardship
(Modernization of NOAA Fisheries)
$9.9 million to upgrade marine fisheries stock assessments, provide 260 more research days at sea, and for biologists and staff recruitment and training.

$12 million for implementation measures of the Columbia River Biological Opinion and assess achievements during performance milestones in 2003, 2005 and 2008.

$1.9 million for Regional Fishery Management Councils to meet fisheries management measures workload.

$5.4 million to modernize ocean fisheries and protected species enforcement and surveillance programs by expanding the satellite vessel management system.

(Improving Extreme Weather Warning and Forecasts)
$6 million to develop and deploy a high resolution satellite imaging sensor to monitor coastal ocean areas for harmful algae blooms, coral reef deterioration, pollution changes, fisheries management and navigation.

(Coastal Conservation)
$2 million to improve restoration of coastal habitats through local and regional partnerships.

(People and Infrastructure)
$4 million to significantly advance the environmental restoration efforts on the Pribilof Islands in Alaska.

Climate Research
(Climate Services)
$18 million to establish the U.S. Climate Change Research Initiative (CCRI) to address areas of scientific uncertainty, identify research priorities and foster continuous evaluation of management strategies and choices.

$5 million for a climate modeling center.

$4 million for a multi-national climate atmospheric observing system.

$4 million to initiate a global ocean observing system.

$2 million to the interagency National Aerosol-Climate Interactions Program.

$2 million to augment North America carbon monitoring capabilities.

$2 million for the study of the Arctic environment.

$5.4 million for NOAA laboratories conducting climate research.

$1.8 million for an improved climate data and information service.

Extreme Weather - Public Safety
(Improving Extreme Weather Warnings and Forecasts)
$1 million for the U.S. Weather Research Program to improve inland flood forecasts, associated with landfalling hurricanes and tropical storms.

$1 million to develop new tornado and severe weather forecasting.

$4.7 million for the Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Services in coastal watershed areas of New Hampshire, Vermont, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina.

$2.5 million for a seven-year plan to improve U.S. aviation safety and economic efficiencies.

$79.9 million for the new tri-agency (NOAA, Department of Defense, NASA) polar environmental satellite program.

$3.1 million for the continuity of critical satellite product processing and distribution capabilities.

$2 million to improve weather prediction and hazard information processing and distribution.

$1.6 million to develop a new generation of Web accessible climate information and statistics for use by the energy industry.

Technological Innovations
(Modernization of NOAA Fisheries)
$45.5 million for a new fisheries research vessel in the North Atlantic.

(Improving Extreme Weather Warnings and Forecasts)
$6.2 million to make the next generation weather and climate supercomputing system operational.

$2 million to replace and modernize the upper air radiosonde network.

$8.4 million to upgrade reconnaissance instruments aboard NOAA's Gulfstream-IV hurricane hunter aircraft.

Homeland Security
$9.9 million to expand ocean charting capacity for the safe movement of material through the nation's seaports.

$2.8 million to provide backup for all critical satellites in the event of a catastrophic outage.

$2.3 million for enhanced security at NOAA satellite ground stations in Alaska and Virginia.

$3 million for enhanced backup for mission critical NOAA's National Weather Service telecommunications.

$7.2 million for operational backup systems for NWS weather and climate supercomputer.

Energy Programs
$6.1 million to improve weather and hydrologic forecasts to U.S. energy sector.

$2.0 million for a streamlined energy permit review process.

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA Budget Documents

NOAA Home Page

Media Contact:
Scott Smullen, NOAA, (202) 482-6090