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Dr. Hoffman explained the history of a legislative initiative in the last Congress to establish a National Center for Biological Diversity and Environmental Research within the Smithsonian.  While there is widespread consensus in the environmental community that such a center should be established, there is less unanimity of opinion as to how it should be structured or where it should be located.  The Association of Systematic Collections, a non-profit consortium, is currently conducting a study to determine what the Center could do most effectively, and how it should be organized, to promote research in biological diversity.  In discussion, staff indicated that it would attempt to inform the legislative process on the Smithsonian's proper relationship to the Center as soon as the Association of Systematic Collections' study is completed, most likely in March 1991.

[[underlined]] THE SECRETARY'S REPORT [[/underlined]]

The Secretary noted that a long-term study of the observational qualities of the two sites under consideration for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's Submillimeter Telescope Array, Mt. Graham and Mauna Kea in Hawaii, is nearing completion, and serious discussions with potential collaborating institutions can be expected to be initiated soon.

After Mr. Adams reported that staff has been giving a good deal of thought to the possible uses of the Old General Post Office Building, the Regents discussed the problems and opportunities connected with the use of the Old General Post Office Building as a museum.  It is clear that the three Smithsonian organizations currently in the Patent Office Building across the street, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Museum of American Art, and the Archives of American Art, are desperately in need of additional space.

It was noted that the Smithsonian and the State Historic Preservation Officer in New York have failed to reach agreement on plans for the installation of exhibitions there for the George Heye Center of the National Museum of the American Indian.  The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Washington has terminated consultations with the Smithsonian over this matter.

The Secretary indicated that increasingly, of late, questions are arising as to the proper level of Institutional recognition for increasingly important corporate support and a policy will need to be developed.

It was noted that in the last Congress provision was made for a one-year permission for donors to deduct the appreciated value of donated objects of art and manuscripts from their calculations of income taxes.  When it was suggested that an extension of this provision may well depend on the extent to which it proves to be helpful to museums across the country, staff pointed out that several Smithsonian museums are diligently soliciting donations and disseminating word of these advantageous provisions in the current year.

The Secretary reminded the Regents of the study which is under way to formulate recommendations on the form and functions which would be most appropriate for an African American presence on the Mall.  He anticipated that the results of the study will be received shortly and that the topic will be placed on the Regents' agenda for their May 1991 meeting.