Paul Goldsmith (818)393-0518 phoned, he works on Herschel HiFi at JPL and
had heard from George Helou and Bill Latter that we were concerned over
spectral line information standardization for ALMA.  He has discussed this
with John Pearson, who puts a little under-the-table effort into the
JPL linelist but cannot, for example, put effort into the sort of lab
spectroscopy which needs to be done to support Herschel's planned 400-1600 GHz
spectral survey.  Paul told me that, furthermore, the Koln group had lost
their funding for their efforts.

Pearson has lab equipment which could be put to the task of measuring
lines, should those in charge of priorities and money will it.  There are
a few other labs which could participate--Koln being one.  Lille used to
have a good spectroscopy lab but I'm unsure of their current efforts.

I told him of the project Andrew, Barry and others have undertaken, which
is presently, I think, in a stage of assessment of existing resources.  See
http://almasw.hq.eso.org/almasw/bin/view/Main/SpectralLineCatalogue
From there, I would see us defining a set of actions which need to be done.
Then we need to figure out how to get them done.  That will require both
funding and scientific willpower.  The former can aid the latter, as I
can understand labs might not find determination of the spectrum of the 
umpteenth isotopomer of methyl formate to be compelling science, and I
suspect that is the sort of action we might identify.  Everyone understands
money.

It seems a key to progress is to make this a priority.  One way to do that
would be to point out that these projects (ALMA, Herschel) have a very high 
priority and funding level (~$>1.5B worldwide); the funding for projects which 
will help the US maximize its use of the instruments lacking and uncoordinated. 
One route which could be taken is to explore the feelings of the committee 
(AAC?) which coordinates NASA and NSF activity.  Paul will contact the chair 
of this committee, Garth Illingworth, to explore this option.

At some point, it would probably be good to have a telecon or meeting
on this subject.  It should receive some attention at a prospective
bioastronomy meeting we might hold here at the NAASC next year for example.
It could also be a focus of some activity at the already-planned 
http://www.isa.au.dk/meetings/alma06/index.html Fuglsoecentret, Denmark
meeting or the http://ssc.spitzer.caltech.edu/mtgs/greatobs Pasadena
Great Observatories meeting, both of which are in May.