Chairmen Seek Answers on Controversy at National Hurricane Center
(Washington, DC) Responding to the reports of disarray at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. House Committee on Science and Technology and the Committee on Energy and Commerce took action to determine if the Center was indeed incapable of providing necessary forecasts during the hurricane season.
Rep. Nick Lampson (D-TX), Chairman of the Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, convened a meeting in June with the heads of NOAA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to learn more about the Quikscat satellite controversy. A hearing on the use of the Quikscat satellite data for hurricane forecasting had already been planned.
With the escalation of the controversy at the NHC in recent days, and subsequent action by NOAA Administrator Admiral Lautenbacher to place Hurricane Center Director William Proenza on leave, the Committees determined that further information was required.
This week they asked Admiral Lautenbacher for documents and records of communications from senior NWS officials and others involved in the controversy.
"We sent this letter because we need answers," said Chairman Lampson. "Now that we are well into the 2007 hurricane season, this is not the time for politics to interfere with our forecasting priorities."
“I am deeply troubled by how NOAA is handling this situation,” said Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. “The initial refusal by NOAA General Counsel to allow our staff to interview Mr. Proenza’s immediate supervisors raises suspicions that someone in the Administration does not want us to find out the true reasons for this management debacle. Our preliminary work seems to indicate that Mr. Proenza is another victim of retaliation by the Administration for speaking out on issues that Congress and the American people need to hear. I am happy to join my colleagues on the Science and Technology Committee in a long-term inquiry into the management of NOAA and this important facility.”
The Committee on Science and Technology’s Subcommittees on Energy and Environment and Investigations and Oversight has scheduled a joint hearing on this matter for July 19, 2007.
A copy of the letter from the Chairmen to Adm. Lautenbacher can be found here.
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