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Show 498 ing and preventing pollution.16 Investigations by the Secretary of the Interior are also authorized "for the purpose of deter- mining the possible damage to wildlife resources and of the means of preventing loss of and damage to wildlife resources" resulting from the impoundment or diversion of water under federal permit or by the Federal Government.17 Correspondingly, the acquisition and use of stream-flow data would appear to be an essential step in discharge by the Sur- geon General of his responsibility, "after careful investigation," to prepare comprehensive programs for eliminating pollution of interstate waters.18 He is also directed among other things to collect and disseminate information relating to water pollu- tion and its prevention and abatement, to support and aid technical research, and to make available the results of specified work conducted by him and cooperating agencies.19 Furthermore, a number of enactments expressly authorize data collection by federal agencies as an incident of the dis- charge of their primary functions. Thus, several agencies within the Department of Agriculture have such authority.10 Under the Soil Conservation and Domestic Allotment Act, there is authority for surveys, investigations, and research re- lating to the character of soil erosion; and a declared purpose of the statute is the protection of rivers and harbors against the results of soil erosion in aid of maintaining navigability and in aid of flood control.21 Moreover, different agencies within the 18 Act of August 14, 1946, § 5, 60 Stat. 1080, 1081, 16 U. S. C. 665. See also supra, p. 329. 1T Act of August 14, 1946, § 2, 60 Stat. 1080, 16 U. S. O. 662. Funds made available to a construction agency for "surveying, engineering, or construc- tion" may be transferred to the Fish and Wildlife Service to enable it to conduct these investigations. Id. 18 Act of June 30, 1948, § 2(a), 62 Stat. 1155, 33 TJ. S. O. 466a(a) (Supp. III). See also supra, pp. 338-342. 19 § 2(b), 62 Stat. 1156, 33 U. S. O. 466a(b) (Supp. III). 20 See supra, pp. 345-347. a Act of April 27, 1935, § 1, 49 Stat. 163, 16 U. S. O. 590a (1); Act of Feb- ruary 29,1936, § 1, 49 Stat. 1148,1150, as amended, 16 U. S. O. 590g(a), 590i. See also supra, pp. 366-372. Authority is vested in the Secretary of the Interior with respect to any lands under his jurisdiction. Reorganization Plan No. IV, effective June 30,1940, § 6,54 Stat. 1234,1235,5 U. S. 0.133t note following. |