PARTICIPATION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE IN IMPLEMENTATION OF THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79-00798A000800020005-3
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 24, 2000
• Sequence Number: 5
• Content Type: PAPER

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i_";a=partment of Co: oflerd?c
irimplementtation of the Cooperative Agreements
Because of the very broad-based research being carried out in various
agencies of the Department of Coanarce or the unique and valuable
t chni.cal competence concentrated in these agencies, the scope of DC,
participation in various bilateral projects with the U.S.S.R. is
relatively large. In particular, DOC participates actively in the
implementation of projects within the framework of the Agreements
on ocean studies, transportation, science and technology, environment,
energy and housing, and other construction. The agencies most
actively involved are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), the National Bureau of Standards'('BS), the Maritime
Administration (MA), and the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO).
Science and 'fechnalo Agreement: NBS is the lead agency for
12 projects under the metrology area of this Agreement, including
standard reference data, intercomparisori of standards for ionizing
radiation, the refinement of fundamental physical constants, and
automated information and control systems in standardization. Reciprocal
exchange visits have taken place, and actual work has been started in
a number of projects. For example, four NBS transportable volt
standards are now in Leningrad for intercomparison with Soviet standards.
NBS al,.o participates in the standardization area of this Agreement,
but the lead office. is the Office of Product Standards in the DOC.
`tae Patent and Trademark Office is active in the area of intellectual
property under this Agreement. This is a very important area and has
impact on cooperation under all the agreements, as well, as outside
them where patent problems are likely to arise. At the first meeting
of the Joint Working Group on Intellectual Property in May 1964, the
Soviets agreed with a U.S. proposal to make a translation of copyrighted
-materials having a direct relationship to cooperative activities.
However, difference of opinion concerning invention rights. were not
resolved.
Transportation Agreement: The MA is engaged in a number of
cooperative projects under the Marine Transport Section of this
Agreement. These projects include the improvement of safety at sea,
ice transiting techniques, technology of cargo handling in ports,
commercial ship equipment and crew training, and studies of ship loading.
Progress has been made in some of these areas, and there is significant
potential for facilitating trade between the U.S. and the U.S.S.R.
*DOC Waiver Letter In ERU File*
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Executive Agent for implementation of this Agreement, whose projects
include joint research an ocean-atmosphere interaction, ocean currents,
chemistry of the ocean, geological. and biological studies of the
ocean, and standardization of oceanographic instruments and methods.
NBS also participates in this last project. Familiarization visits
have taken place in both directions for most of these projects, and
Soviet and U.S. scientists have taken part in each other's cruises
as exchange scientists, including the cruises of the U.S.S.R.
Akademik Mendeleyev in the Sea of Okhotsk and several legs of the
U.S. Glomar Challenger in the North and South Atlantic Oceans. The
U.S.S.R. contributes $1 million annually to the funding of the deep
sea drilling expeditions of the GlomarChalle er.
Environmental Agreements Joint projects and DOC'participation
in them include instrumentation and measurement methodology (NBS),
the study of marine mammals (NOAA), influence of solar activity on
.climate (NOAA), a system of simultaneous warnings on Tsunamis (NOAA),
.and harmonization of air and water pollution standards (NBS). This
Agreement is one of the most vigorously implemented, and considerable
progress has been made in most of the areas. In broader terms, these
programs serve to encourage the Soviets to participate more actively
in protecting not only their own but the global environment.
Energy Agreement: This Agreement has two main objectives: to
accelerate research and development in the areas of existing and
alternative sources of energy as well as to increase the effectiveness
of energy use and conservation, and to achieve. a better understanding
of each country's national energy programs and outlook. NBS plays a*
.major role in two projects under this Agreement: energy generation
through magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and long distance superconducting
power transmission. There is considerable potential for mutual benefit
in both these areas. Plans are underway to test U.S. designed equipment
in the large and very expensive U.S.S.R. pilot MHD facilities, which
the U.S. lacks. In return, the Soviets receive the test results. In
.superconducting transmission technology, the U.S. will participate in
'the operation of an experimental test center for a demonstration test
of a 1 kilometer long superconducting cable. The U.S. will loan a
cryogenic refrigerator for these tests. The Soviets will participate
in the development of U.S. cable systems at U.S. national laboratories.
Progress has been made and visits have been exchanged for other projects
under this Agreement, and the establishment of working groups for a
large number of new projects related to oil, gas, and coal extraction
and processing technology has begun.
In the energy information exchange aspect of the Agreement,
the U.S. proposed at the first meeting of the Joint Committee establishing
a working group to implement this aspect and indicated that we were
interested in a high-level dialogue on national energy programs and
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plans as well as a regular exchange of relevant energy data. The
Soviets appeared intent on gaining our acceptance that the energy
information exchange should consist primarily of technical data
related to R&D projects. We resisted this approach, and it was
agreed that a temporary working group would be established to work
out proposals on information exchange.
Housing and Other Construction A- eemant: Specific details of
most projects to be carried out under this Agreement have not yet
been worked out. In the Record of Discussion of the first meeting
of the Joint Committee in June 1975, FrJD lists NIBS as a participating
agency in five of the six agreed project areas. These are:
--Building Design and Construction Management
--Building Systems and Utilities
--Building Materials
--Construction in Seismic Areas
--New Towns
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