Ocean and Coastal Observation Systems Act of 2004 - Directs the President, acting through the National Ocean Research Leadership Council (NORLC), to carry out a pilot program to establish an integrated ocean and coastal observing system (IOOS) of monitoring, data communication and management, analysis, modeling, and research to provide data and information for the timely detection and prediction of changes occurring in the marine and coastal environment that impact the Nation's social, economic, and ecological systems.
Establishes within NORLC an interagency program office (OceanUS) which shall be responsible for program planning and coordination of the IOOS. Requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to be the lead Federal agency for implementation and operation of the IOOS. Requires regional associations to be responsible for the development and operation of regional ocean and coastal observing systems to meet the information needs of the users groups in the region while adhering to national standards.
[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5001 Introduced in House (IH)]
108th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 5001
To establish a pilot program to develop a comprehensive system of ocean
and coastal observations for the Nation's oceans, coasts, and Great
Lakes, including enhanced security at United States ports, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 22, 2004
Mr. Weldon of Pennsylvania (for himself, Mr. Allen, and Mr. Greenwood)
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 establish a pilot program to develop a comprehensive system of ocean
and coastal observations for the Nation's oceans, coasts, and Great
Lakes, including enhanced security at United States ports, and for
other purposes.
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 ``Ocean and Coastal Observation
Systems Act of 2004''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) The 95,000-mile coastline of the United States is vital
to the Nation's homeland security, transportation, trade,
environmental and human health, recreation and tourism, food
production, scientific research and education, historical and
cultural heritage, and energy production.
(2) More than half of the Nation's population lives and
works in coastal communities that together make up 11 percent
of its land and its most ecologically and economically
important regions. These regions support approximately 190
seaports, contain most of the Nation's largest cities, and
provide access to coastal waters rich in natural resources.
(3) The Nation's coastal waters and Great Lakes provide
tremendous value to the Nation's economy. The Nation's ports
handle goods valued at more than $700,000,000,000 annually and
nearly half of the goods, including energy products, contain
hazardous materials; the value of the fishing industry exceeds
$28,000,000,000 annually; the value of the recreational fishing
industry is estimated at $20,000,000,000 annually; and the
value of the offshore oil and gas industry is between
$25,000,000,000 and $40,000,000,000 annually.
(4) The rich biodiversity of marine organisms provides
society with essential food resources, a promising source of
marine products with commercial and medical potential, and an
important contribution to the national economy.
(5) The oceans and the Great Lakes drive climate and
weather factors causing severe weather events and threatening
the health of coastal ecosystems and communities by creating or
affecting both natural and manmade coastal hazards such as
hurricanes, tsunamis, erosion, oil spills, harmful algal
blooms, and pollution, which can each pose threats to human
health and safety.
(6) Each year, the Coast Guard relies on ocean information
to save 4,380 people, conducts over 65,000 rescue missions, and
carries out more than 11,680 environmental cleanups and
responses to pollution.
(7) Safeguarding homeland security requires improved
monitoring of the Nation's ports and coastline, including the
ability to track vessels and to provide rapid response teams
with real-time environmental conditions necessary for their
work.
(8) Advances in sensing technologies and scientific
understanding have made possible long-term and continuous
observation from shore, space, and in situ of ocean and coastal
characteristics and conditions.
(9) Many elements of an ocean and coastal observing system
are in place but require Federal investment to consolidate,
complete, sustain, and integrate.
(10) National investment in a sustained and integrated
ocean and coastal observing system and in coordinated programs
of research would assist the Nation and the world in
understanding the oceans and the global climate system,
strengthen homeland security, improve weather and climate
forecasts, strengthen management of marine resources, improve
the safety and efficiency of maritime operations, and mitigate
coastal hazards.
(b) Purposes.--The purposes of this Act are to provide for--
(1) the development of an integrated ocean observing system
that provides the data and information required to ensure
national security and the quality of life, sustains economic
development, sustains and restores healthy marine ecosystems
and the resources they support, enables advances in scientific
understanding of the oceans, and strengthens science education
and communication;
(2) implementation of a research and development program to
better understand the oceans and achieve the goals of an
integrated ocean observing system;
(3) implementation of a data and information management
system required by all components of an integrated ocean and
coastal observing system and related research; and
(4) establishment of a system of regional ocean and coastal
observing systems to address local needs for ocean information.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act, the following definitions apply:
(1) Council.--The term ``Council'' means the National Ocean
Research Leadership Council established under section 7902(a)
of title 10, United States Code.
(2) IOOS.--The term ``IOOS'' means the integrated ocean and
coastal observing system to be established by the Council under
section 4(a).
(3) National oceanographic partnership program.--The term
``National Oceanographic Partnership Program'' means the
program established under section 7901 of title 10, United
States Code.
(4) Interagency program office.--The term ``interagency
program office'' means the office established under section
4(d).
SEC. 4. INTEGRATED OCEAN AND COASTAL OBSERVING SYSTEM.
(a) Establishment.--The President, acting through the Council,
shall carry out a pilot program to establish an integrated ocean and
coastal observing system of monitoring, data communication and
management, analysis, modeling, and research designed to provide data
and information for the timely detection and prediction of changes
occurring in the marine and coastal environment that impact the
Nation's social, economic, and ecological systems. The IOOS shall
provide for continuous and quality-controlled observations of the
oceans and coasts for the following purposes:
(1) Improving the health of the Nation's oceans, coasts,
and Great Lakes.
(2) Protecting human lives and livelihoods from hazards.
(3) Supporting national defense and homeland security
efforts.
(4) Understanding the effects of human activities and
natural variability on the state of the ocean and coasts and
the Nation's socioeconomic well-being.
(5) Measuring, explaining, and predicting environmental
changes.
(6) Providing for the sustainable use, protection, and
enjoyment of ocean and coastal resources.
(7) Providing a scientific basis for implementation and
refinement of ecosystem-based management.
(8) Educating the public about the role and importance of
the oceans in daily life.
(9) Tracking and understanding climate change and the
ocean's and Great Lake's roles in it.
(10) Supplying important information to marine-related
businesses such as marine transportation, aquaculture,
fisheries, and offshore energy production.
(b) System Elements.--In order to fulfill the purposes of this Act,
the IOOS shall consist of the following program elements:
(1) A national observation program to fulfill national
priorities, including the Nation's contribution to the Global
Ocean Observing System.
(2) A network of regional associations to manage the
regional ocean and coastal observing and information programs
that collect, measure, and disseminate data and information
products to meet regional needs.
(3) A data management and communication system for the
timely integration and dissemination of data and information
products from the national and regional systems.
(4) A research and development program conducted under the
guidance of the Council and implemented through the National
Oceanographic Partnership Program.
(5) An outreach, education, and training program that
augments existing programs, such as the National Sea Grant
program and the Centers for Ocean Science Education Excellence
program, to ensure the use of the data and information for
improving public education and awareness of the Nation's oceans
and building the technical expertise required to operate and
improve the IOOS.
(c) Council Functions.--In carrying out responsibilities under this
section, the Council shall--
(1) serve as the oversight body for the design and
implementation of all aspects of the IOOS;
(2) adopt plans and budgets that are designed and
maintained by the interagency program office;
(3) coordinate the IOOS with other earth observing
activities and the Global Ocean Observing System;
(4) coordinate and administer a program of research and
development under the National Oceanographic Partnership
Program to support the operation of an integrated ocean and
coastal observing system and to advance the understanding of
the oceans;
(5) establish pilot projects to develop technology and
methods for advancing the development of the IOOS;
(6) support the development of institutional mechanisms to
further the goals of the program and provide for the
capitalization of the required infrastructure;
(7) provide, as appropriate, support for and representation
on United States delegations to international meetings on ocean
and coastal observing programs; and
(8) in consultation with the Secretary of State, coordinate
relevant Federal activities with those of other nations.
(d) Interagency Program Office.--
(1) Establishment.--There is established under the Council
an interagency program office to be known as ``OceanUS''.
(2) Responsibilities.--The interagency program office shall
be responsible for program planning and coordination of the
IOOS. The interagency program office shall--
(A) prepare annual and long-term plans for
consideration by the Council for the design and
implementation of the IOOS that promote collaboration
among Federal agencies and regional associations in
developing the global and national observing systems,
including identification and refinement of a core set
of variables to be measured by all systems;
(B) coordinate the development of agency budgets
for implementation of the IOOS, including budgets for
the regional associations;
(C) establish standards and protocols for data
management and communications, including quality
standards, in consultation with participating Federal
agencies and regional associations;
(D) certify the regional associations and establish
a process for their periodic review and
recertification; and
(E) establish an external technical committee to
provide biannual review of the IOOS.
(e) Lead Federal Agency.--The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall be the lead Federal agency for implementation and
operation of the IOOS. Based on the plans prepared by the interagency
program office and adopted by the Council, the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall--
(1) coordinate implementation, operation, and improvement
of the IOOS;
(2) establish efficient and effective administrative
procedures to allocate funds to other Federal agencies and
regional associations in a timely manner and according to the
budget adopted by the Council; and
(3) implement and maintain the appropriate elements of the
IOOS.
(f) Regional Ocean and Coastal Observing Systems.--Regional
associations shall be responsible for the development and operation of
regional ocean and coastal observing systems to meet the information
needs of the users groups in the region while adhering to national
standards. A regional association shall--
(1) demonstrate an organizational structure capable of
supporting and integrating all aspects of a regional ocean and
coastal observing and information program within a region;
(2) prepare and have approved by the interagency program
office a strategic operations plan that ensures the operation
and support of regional ocean and coastal observing systems
pursuant to the standards established by the Council; and
(3) provide information products for multiple users in the
region.
(g) Civil Liability.--For purposes of section 1346(b)(1) and
chapter 171 of title 28, United States Code, any regional ocean and
coastal observing system that is designated part of a regional
association under this section shall, in carrying out the purposes of
this Act, be deemed to be part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, and any employee of such system, while acting within
the scope of his or her employment in carrying out such purposes, shall
be deemed to be an employee of the Government.
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY FINANCING.
The departments and agencies represented on the Council are
authorized to participate in interagency financing and share, transfer,
receive, obligate, and expend funds appropriated to any member of the
Council for the purposes of carrying out any administrative or
programmatic project or activity under this Act or under the National
Oceanographic Partnership Program, including support for the
interagency program office, a common infrastructure, and system
integration for an ocean and coastal observing system. Funds may be
transferred among such departments and agencies through an appropriate
instrument that specifies the goods, services, or space being acquired
from another Council member and the costs of the same.
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Observing System Authorization.--For development and
implementation of an integrated ocean and coastal observing system
under section 4, including financial assistance to the interagency
program office, to the regional associations for the implementation of
regional ocean and coastal observing systems, and to the departments
and agencies represented on the Council, there are authorized, in
addition to any amounts previously authorized, to be appropriated to
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration $100,000,000 for
fiscal year 2006.
(b) Regional Ocean and Coastal Observing Systems.--
(1) In general.--Based on guidelines formulated by the
interagency program office and approved by the Council, the
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall provide funding to certified regional
associations to design, implement, operate, and improve
regional ocean and coastal observing and information systems.
(2) Funding.--To carry out paragraph (1), the Administrator
shall set aside from amounts appropriated pursuant to
subsection (a) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
(c) Availability.--Sums appropriated pursuant to this section shall
remain available until expended.
SEC. 7. REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
Not later than March 31, 2006, the President, acting through the
Council, shall transmit to Congress a report on the pilot program
established under section 4. The report shall include a description of
activities carried out under the program, an evaluation of the
effectiveness of the program, and recommendations concerning
reauthorization of the program and funding levels for the program in
succeeding fiscal years.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
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.
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.
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.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans.
Executive Comment Requested from Commerce.
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