National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1994

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: NOAA Atmospheric and Satellite Programs

Title II: NOAA Ocean and Coastal Programs

Title III: NOAA Marine Fishery Programs

Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1994 - Title I: NOAA Atmospheric and Satellite Programs - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1995 to the Secretary of Commerce to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to improve its public warning and forecast systems and to carry out: (1) the operations and research activities of the National Weather Service; (2) its climate and air quality research activities, including the study of climate and global change; (3) its atmospheric research activities; (4) its satellite observing systems activities; and (5) its data and information services activities.

Title II: NOAA Ocean and Coastal Programs - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1995 to the Secretary to enable NOAA to carry out: (1) mapping, charting, and geodesy activities, including geodetic data collection and analysis; (2) observation and assessment activities; (3) a Coastal Ocean Program; (4) ocean and Great Lakes research activities; and (5) its undersea research activities.

Title III: NOAA Marine Fishery Programs - Amends the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries Program Authorization Act to authorize appropriations for FY 1995 to enable the National Marine Fisheries Service to carry out its duties relating to fisheries information collection and analysis, and fisheries conservation and management operations.

Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1995 to the Secretary: (1) to enable NOAA to carry out executive direction and administrative activities and marine and aircraft services activities; and (2) for acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of NOAA facilities.

(Sec. 402) Requires the Secretary to convey to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts all U.S. interests in the National Marine Fisheries Service laboratory in Gloucester, Massachusetts.

(Sec. 403) Directs that all amounts received by the United States in settlement of, or judgment for, damage claims arising from the collision of the vessel Zachery into the NOAA research vessel Discoverer be retained as an offsetting collection in NOAA's Fleet Modernization, Shipbuilding, and Conversion account, be deposited in that account upon receipt by the Government, and be available only for obligation for NOAA vessel repairs.

(Sec. 404) Requires the Secretary to contract with the National Research Council to examine and report to the Secretary and the Congress on NOAA Corps responsibilities and activities in supporting the missions of NOAA.

(Sec. 405) Authorizes the Secretary to expend $340,000 to acquire, construct, and install weather reporting stations in Prince William Sound, Alaska, and $160,000 in each of FY 1995 and 1996 to maintain specified equipment.

(Sec. 406) Exempts activities of the contractor on behalf of NOAA pursuant to the modernization of the National Weather Service from taxation.

(Sec. 407) Amends the Fur Seal Act of 1966 to: (1) direct the Secretary to carry out his duties under the Act through contracts, compacts, or memoranda of agreement with the entities on the Pribilof Islands entitled to receive conveyance of lands by the Act; and (2) authorize the Secretary to clean up the dumps, debris, storage tanks, property, hazardous conditions, and contaminants which the Federal Government abandoned or conveyed to entities of the Islands.