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I look forward to today's hearing concerning the 1978 fire at building A in Suitland. It does appear from the material that we have had available for review that a number of ovei-sights or en-ors and mistakes in judgment have resulted in the tragic loss of millions of feet of nitrate film.
I believe it is important for us to carefully examine the problems that led to the two fires, with emphasis on seeking information that can be used to prevent future occurrences of this sort.
It is far more important that we help establish procedures and safeguards to prevent future fires than to attempt to place blame for those that have already occun*ed.
I hope we can promote improved GSA cooperation with local fire departments around the country as well.
Likewise, we should be assured that NARS is doing the best they can to protect and store and copy the nitrate film that it has available.
I am sure that today's hearing will be enlightening. I want to apologize for being tardy this morning, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Drinan is also not available because he was in the same place I was, working on the criminal code.
I look forward to hearing the testimony today.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Preyer. Thank you, Mr. Kindness.
We are glad to have Congressman Ottinger here this morning. It was Congressman Ottinger's original request that involved GAO in this situation and initiated the GAO report.
[Subcommittee note : See GAO report LCD-78-113, June 19, 1978, "Valuable Government-Owned Motion Picture Films are Rapidly Deteriorating."]
Mr. Preyer. So, we will be interested in having his comments on that report and the comments generally on the Government's problems with film storage.
Please proceed.
STATEMENT OF HON. RICHARD L. OTTINGER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW YORK
Mr. Ottinger. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.
I appreciate the opportunity to testify on this subject. I wish to begin by thanking you at the outset of your investigation into the fire at the Suitland Archives.
As you know, I have been concerned with the general issue of nitrate film storage for some time. I look to these hearings as a new start in a nationwide effort to preserve forever that part of our country's past which is recorded on film.
I have with me Mr. Marvin Bernard, president of Filmlife, Inc. His distinctions in life are first being a constituent of mine and second, being an expert, in the preservation and restoration of old films. Such knowledge as I have of this subject, I have learned from him.
If you have questions alx)ut what it takes to fix up old films and what the extent of the dangers are and what the costs of repair are, he is available to answer those questions.