(AFTERNOON SESSION, 2 O'CLOCK, THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1970) Present: Senators Bible and Boggs. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF SPORT FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE STATEMENT OF DR. JOHN S. GOTTSCHALK-Resumed COST OF SERVICES FOR REFUGES VISITORS Senator BIBLE. The hearing will resume. For wildlife refuges you ask an increase of $1,911,866 which includes $260,000 for improved service to refuge vistors. This requires an additional six positions. What is the total cost of your service for wildlife refuge visitors? Dr. GOTTSCHALK. The way the wildlife refuges are operated, Senator, there is no line item specifically in our comprehensive budget for this particular function. Senator BIBLE. Give me an estimate. Check it and supply it in 7 days. (The information follows:) In fiscal year 1971 the total cost for visitation on national wildlife refuges is estimated at $4,084,000. PRESERVATION OF STEAMER "BERTRAND" AND CARGO Senator BIBLE. In the fiscal year 1970 supplement appropriation $105,000 was approved for Steamer Bertrand. What did you do with that appropriation? Dr. GOTTSCHALK. Up to the present time, we have used the funds made available for the retrieval of the cargo of the Bertrand which has proved to be of extreme archaelogical value. The artifacts consist of the full scope of material, including equipment, supplies, food, clothing, miner's apparatus of various kinds from fully equipped blacksmith shops down to picks and shovels, and all of this has been brought into protection in the wildlife refuge buildings. More recently we have completed the construction of a building especially erected to contain all of these historical objects where they can be kept in safe storage until such time as they are properly preserved. In the case of the fabrics, and the leather and other soft items, this preservation operation is a highly technical one and requires a very sophisticated effort. Some of the work on the most fragile material is already being accomplished during this fiscal year at the National Park Service Archeological Center in Lincoln, Nebr. It is a continuing operation. We retrieved over 2 million separate pieces from the boat and these are now being taken care of. The boat itself has been allowed to remain where it was. It was covered by back filling with sand and earth to prevent desiccation and oxidation, and ultimate destruction. Senator BIBLE. How much will the project finally cost? PLANNING GROUP PREPARING A CONCEPT AND PLAN Dr. GOTTSCHALK. I am not in a position to give you an estimate at this time. Funds were made available to finance a special planning study under a group of experts from both our organization and the National Park Service. The Smithsonian Institution is also represented. This team is developing a concept and a plan for the preservation of the artifacts and of the vessel itself. There will be a structure involved, there will be the displays involved, and this team will be reporting by the end of the summer on the total cost that we estimate for the Bertrand retrieval, preservation and exhibition. Senator BIBLE. When did the Bertrand sink? EMERGENCY FINANCING FROM REFUGE FUND Senator BIBLE. In the current fiscal year $110,000 were provided for the Bertrand from the National Wildlife Refuge Fund. Will there be a similar contribution this next year? Dr. GOTTSCHALK. No, sir. That was an emergency use of money to enable us to get out the invitations for bid for the special building which has been erected on the site. The building and the special facilities on the interior which include such things as climate control in order to keep the humidity at the appropriate levels for the restoration work, will take roughly $87,000 of that money that was reprogramed out of the Wildlife Refuge fund. Refuge operations related to the Bertrand will take the remainder. We will not take any more out of that fund similarly next year, QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY SENATOR HRUSKA Senator BIBLE. Senator Hruska has several questions on the Bertrand, as well about a fishery station at Valentine, Nebr. If you will prepare replies, they will go into the record here. Dr. GOTTSCHALK. Very well, sir. (The questions and answers follow :) STEAMBOAT BERTRAND Question: A good deal of interest has been stirred up by the valuable, historical and archeological find of the "Bertrand" and its cargo at the De Soto National Wildlife Refuge. Could you please give us a status report? Answer: The Steamboat "Bertrand" project has moved forward significantly since the fall of 1969. The vessel itself now rests under a protective layer of sand ten feet below the ground water level. In this state it is adequately protected, awaiting further preservation when funds are available. Backfilling of the excavation site was accomplished in early October 1969. By December all artifacts had been located under protective cover in refuge garages and maintenance buildings. The most fragile items have been undergoing treatment at the makeshift laboratory at the De Soto National Wildlife Refuge, and at the Midwest Archeological Research Center of the National Park Service in Lincoln, Nebraska. Construction of a temporary laboratory/storage facility at De Soto Refuge began in early December. At this time, the building shell is up and work is progressing on the interior with completion expected the third week in June. Mr. Ron Switzer, who will be in charge of preservation work at the refuge, entered on duty March 2. It is anticipated that his presence should facilitate completion of the temporary building interior. Approximately 12 percent of the estimated 2,000,000 artifacts from the cargo of the "Bertrand" are being preserved at the National Park Service laboratory at Lincoln, Nebraska. This 12 percent are the textiles and fabrics. We anticipate that approximately 30 percent of these textiles and fabrics will be preserved by the end of FY 70. Most of the activity at the De Soto laboratory consists of cataloguing and other record keeping activities. However, once the temporary treatment/storage building is completed, preservation work should proceed at an accelerated pace. Through February 28, 1970, in the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife, $80,755 had been either spent or obligated through issuance of two contracts, (1) for a building, and (2) for associated interior appurtenances. An additional $6,245 is available to cover engineering inspections and contingencies through June 30, 1970. During this same period, $24,800 was spent for operation and maintenance activities, with an additional $6,200 available for continuing expenses through June 30. The National Park Service estimates its expenses for personal services and laboratory equipment in FY 1970 at $132,585 of which $95,000 will be reimbursed from the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife. Of the $100,000 supplemental appropriation authorized for planning of the future disposition of the "Bertrand" and its cargo, $14,000 had been obligated through February 28, with an additional $86,000 available for continuing the planning effort. In fiscal year 1971, $74,000 is requested in the Management and Investigations of Resources appropriation for the purpose of furthering the artifacts preservation process, and for preparing information materials, interpretive exhibits, etc. The funds will also cover historical research on the vessel's activities, etc. In fiscal year 1971, the National Park Service is requesting $140,000 for archeological studies in its Public Works appropriation, Missouri River Basin Studies, for the "Bertrand" work. These funds will provide a continuation of the artifact preservation work at De Soto Refuge and Lincoln, Nebraska. Question: As I recall, Congress appropriated $105,000 in a supplemental appropriation last year for preservation of the Steamboat "Bertrand" and its cargo. What is being done in this regard and by whom? Answer: The vessel itself is now situated under a protective sand layer ten feet below ground water level. In this state it is offered the most adequate protection, awaiting further preservation and display when funds become available. As of December 1969 all artifacts from the cargo had either been placed under protective cover from the elements, or were undergoing preservation treatment. By February 28, 1970, approximately 12 percent of the estimated 2,000,000 artifacts which were the textiles and fabrics were in the process of preservation at the National Park Service laboratory at Lincoln, Nebraska. Cataloguing, record keeping, and limited preservation activities have continued at De Soto Refuge. This has been a joint effort by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Sport Fisheries and Wildlife in its entirety. Question: You indicate a need of $74,000 in 1971 for the preservation of the Answer: In fiscal year 1971, the $74,000 is requested in the Management and Investigations of Resources category for the purpose of furthering the artifacts preservation process, preparing informational materials, and interpretive exhibits. These funds will also cover historical research on the vessel's activities and related items of historic interest. Question: Congress also appropriated last year supplemental funds for planning permanent storage and display facilities for the Steamboat "Bertrand" and the artifacts found in the vessel. How are you proceeding on this? Answer: A "Bertrand" Planning Committee was established in late December 1969 by Assistant Secretary Glasgow to determine the future disposition of the vessel and its cargo. To date, this Committee has accomplished the following: Development of a preliminary budget outline for expenditure of the $100,000 supplemental appropriation for planning; development of a planning timetable; determination of overall "Bertrand" program functions and objectives; completion of limited conceptual planning. Question: How soon do you expect to have definite recommendations as to construction of a museum, and the manner of displaying the sunken vessel? Answer: The goal of the "Bertrand" Planning Committee is to present a complete plan package, including a budget, models, brochures and associated materials to Secretary Glasgow by October 1, 1970. Additionally, information and cost estimates on certain aspects will be reported as they become available, in order that budgetary deadlines can be met. Question: On the assumption that the report becomes available as you indicated, do you intend to request construction funds in the 1972 budget? Answer: Architectural and engineering studies, plans development, and possibly construction funds may be included in the 1972 budget. However, at this point, preliminary planning has not proceeded far enough to determine the exact amounts of construction funds which may be necessary in FY 1972. |