Abstract :
The National Ocean Pollution Planning Act of 1978 (Public Law 95-273) designated the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as the lead agency for coordinating a Federal ocean pollution program. To support Section 8 of this Act, NOAA\´s National Oceanographic Data Center established in 1981 the Central Coordination and Referral Office, to manage the development and operation of an Ocean Pollution Data and Information Network (OPDIN). The purpose of this Network, as stated in Section 8, is to disseminate, in timely manner and useful forms, the results, findings and information obtained from Federally-sponsored marine pollution programs. The development of an operational Network is being accomplished in a phased manner, in response to interagency workshop recommendations and guidance from potential Network participants. A number of operational activities are already in place. An interagency OPDIN "Round Table" is being formed to serve as an advisory group for further development and implementation strategies to enable the Network to be fully operational before 1985.
