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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oceanography Amendments Act of 2003 (Introduced in House)

HR 959 IH

108th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 959

To improve the conservation and management of coastal and ocean resources by authorizing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oceanographic programs.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

February 27, 2003

Mr. SAXTON introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Science, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To improve the conservation and management of coastal and ocean resources by authorizing National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration oceanographic programs.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oceanography Amendments Act of 2003'.

SEC. 2. COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM.

Section 201 of Public Law 102-567 (106 Stat. 4280) is amended by--

(1) striking the matter preceding `living marine resources' and inserting the following:

`SEC. 201. COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM.

`(a) IN GENERAL- There shall be in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (in this title referred to as the `Administration') a coastal ocean program.

`(b) PROGRAM ELEMENTS- The coastal ocean program shall augment and integrate existing research capabilities of the Administration with other Federal and non-Federal research capabilities. Research shall be conducted under this program to improve predictions of trends in Great Lakes, estuarine, and coastal ocean resources, to improve the conservation and management of'; and

(2) striking subsections (d), (e), and (f).

SEC. 3. LABORATORIES.

Section 202 of Public Law 102-567 (106 Stat. 4281) is amended to read as follows:

`SEC. 202. LABORATORIES.

`There shall be in the Administration a Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, a Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, and an Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory. These laboratories shall support the Administration in carrying out its primary missions specified in section 3(b). The Great Lakes Environmental Laboratory may support, in partnership with the University of Michigan, a Cooperative Institute for Limnology and Ecosystems Research.'.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM.

Section 203 of Public Law 102-567 (106 Stat. 4281) is amended to read as follows:

`SEC. 203. NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM.

`(a) IN GENERAL- There shall be in the Administration a national undersea research program.

`(b) PURPOSE- The purpose of the program is to increase scientific knowledge by--

`(1) conducting undersea research related to the Administration's coastal and ocean resource management missions; and

`(2) maintaining operational assets and expertise, and developing technology necessary to support undersea research.

`(c) DIRECTOR- The Secretary shall appoint as the Director of the National Undersea Research Program a qualified individual who has appropriate administrative experience and knowledge or expertise in fields related to undersea research.

`(d) PROGRAM- The program shall be conducted through a national headquarters and a network of regional undersea research centers.

`(e) COMPETITIVENESS- All research, education, and technology activities under the program shall be managed using an open and competitive process to evaluate scientific merit, relevance to the Administration's coastal and ocean resource management missions, and technical feasibility.'.

SEC. 5. OCEANOGRAPHY PROGRAMS.

Title II of Public Law 102-567 (106 Stat. 4281) is amended by adding at the end the following:

`SEC. 206. OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM.

`(a) IN GENERAL- There shall be in the Administration an ocean exploration program.

`(b) PURPOSES- The purposes of the program are the following:

`(1) To explore the physical, biological, chemical, geological, archaeological, temporal, and other related characteristics of the ocean.

`(2) To maximize efficiency by integrating the multiple scientific disciplines and by employing the diverse resources of the ocean science community.

`(3) To create missions and scientific activities of discovery and exploration for the purpose of discovering and documenting knowledge regarding the ocean.

`(4) In cooperation with the Coastal Ocean Program and the National Undersea Research Program, to promote the development and application of new technologies for the exploration of the ocean.

`(5) To achieve a heightened scientific literacy and public appreciation of the oceans.

`(6) To facilitate ocean exploration data and information availability in a timely and consistent manner.

`(c) AUTHORITIES- In carrying out the program under this section the Secretary may perform the following:

`(1) Conduct interdisciplinary exploration voyages or other activities in conjunction with other Federal agencies or academic or educational institutions, to survey little known areas of the marine environment, and inventory, monitor, and assess living and nonliving marine resources.

`(2) In cooperation with the Coastal Ocean Program and the National Undersea Research Program, enhance the domestic technical capability of the marine science community by promoting the development of improved oceanographic research, communication, navigation, and data management and dissemination platforms, equipment, instruments, and techniques.

`(3) In conjunction with the National Sea Grant College Program and the National Science Foundation Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence, conduct public education and outreach activities that improve the public understanding of ocean science, resources, and processes.

`(4) Accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing knowledge of the oceans.

`SEC. 207. COASTAL OBSERVATION TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM.

`(a) DEFINITION- In this section, the term `coastal observation technology system' means a system of marine sensors and other devices, personnel, and products, that--

`(1) collects remotely sensed and in situ observations in the coastal waters of a given region or subregion in a routine manner, including continuous observations;

`(2) transmits the data to users including, as appropriate, in real time or near real time;

`(3) produces forecasts and other appropriate products representing ocean conditions for users; and

`(4) manages the collected data to best practices for archiving and future use.

`(b) DESIGNATION OF UNITS- Before designating a regional coastal observation technology system as a unit of the national coastal observation technology system under subsection (c), the Secretary shall--

`(1) establish, in consultation with the National Ocean Research Leadership Council, standards and protocols for the collection and distribution of data by regional coastal observation technology systems;

`(2) establish management, quality control, and assessment systems for data collected and distributed by regional coastal observation technology systems; and

`(3) determine that the regional coastal observation technology system has adequate technical expertise to collect and distribute data in accordance with standards and protocols established under paragraph (1).

`(c) DATA COLLECTION- The Secretary may designate units of and coordinate a coastal observation technology system to collect data necessary to carry out the primary missions of the Administration.

`(d) DATA USE- The Secretary shall, in conjunction with Federal, State, and local agencies and academic institutions, use data collected under subsection (b) to develop forecast models to support coastal and fishery management, safe and efficient marine navigation, weather and climate prediction, and other appropriate activities.

`(e) ASSISTANCE-

`(1) IN GENERAL- The Secretary may enter into contracts or cooperative agreements or make grants to units designated under subsection (c) to carry out coastal observation technology activities.

`(2) COST SHARE- The Federal share of any assistance provided under paragraph (1) may not exceed 50 percent of the costs of those activities.

`SEC. 208. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

`For operations, research, and facilities of the Administration relating to ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes research, there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary the following:

`(1) For ARGO floats, $9,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

`(2) For ocean and coastal research activities of laboratories and joint institutes, other than activities related to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, $12,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008, of which up to $3,000,000 may be expended each fiscal year for VENTS.

`(3) For activities related to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and associated cooperative institutes, $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

`(4) For activities related to the coastal ocean program, $35,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

`(5) For activities related to the national undersea research program--

`(A) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;

`(B) $21,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;

`(C) $22,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

`(D) $23,000,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

`(E) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

`(6) For activities related to the ocean exploration program, $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

`(7) For tsunami hazard mitigation activities, $3,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

`(8) For Arctic research partnership programs, $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008, of which up to $2,000,000 may used for the Study of Environmental Arctic Change.

`(9) For activities related to coastal environmental health and biomolecular research, $11,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2008.

`(10) For coastal observing technologies--

`(A) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2004;

`(B) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2005;

`(C) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;

`(D) $22,500,000 for fiscal year 2007; and

`(E) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.

`SEC. 209. SHORT TITLE.

`This title may be cited as the `National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Oceanography Act of 2003'.'.

SEC. 6. OCEAN EXPLORATION REPORT.

Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this section, the National Ocean Research Leadership Council (established by section 7902 of title 10, United States Code) shall provide to the Committee on Resources, the Committee on Science, and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, and to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, a plan for implementing the report of the President's Panel on Ocean Exploration transmitted on October 10, 2000, including a recommendation for a dedicated multiyear, multidisciplinary voyage of discovery.

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