Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act

Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a program to develop, in coordination with the Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (established by this Act), a coordinated and comprehensive federal ocean and coastal mapping plan for the Great Lakes and Coastal State waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf of the United States that enhances ecosystem approaches in decision-making for conservation and management of marine resources and habitats, establishes research priorities, supports the siting of research and other platforms, and advances ocean and coastal science.

Prescribes program parameters.

(Sec. 3) Establishes an Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (Committee) comprising senior representatives from federal agencies with ocean and coastal mapping and surveying responsibilities, and chaired by the representative from the NOAA.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator, in consultation with the Committee, to develop and submit to Congress a plan for an integrated ocean and coastal mapping initiative within NOAA that: (1) identifies all NOAA coastal and ocean mapping programs; (2) encourages the development of innovative coastal and ocean mapping technologies and applications through research and development (R&D) cooperative agreements at joint institutes; and (3) documents available and developing technologies, best practices in data processing and distribution, and leveraging opportunities with other federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

Prescribes plan requirements.

Authorizes the Administrator to operate up to three joint ocean and coastal mapping centers, including a joint hydrographic center, to serve as hydrographic centers of excellence and to conduct activities to implement this Act.

Directs the Administrator to continue developing a strategy for expanding contracting with private entities in fulfilling NOAA's mapping and charting responsibilities and to report such strategy to Congress.

(Sec. 5) Requires the Chairman of the Committee to report bi-annually to Congress on progress made in implementing the provisions of this Act.

(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2013.

[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 364 Introduced in Senate (IS)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                 S. 364

  To establish a program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration to integrate Federal coastal and ocean mapping 
                              activities.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                           February 10, 2005

   Mr. Inouye (for himself, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Lott, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. 
 Snowe, Mr. Kerry, and Mr. Lautenberg) introduced the following bill; 
    which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, 
                      Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To establish a program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
     Administration to integrate Federal coastal and ocean mapping 
                              activities.

    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 Mapping 
Integration Act''.

SEC. 2. INTEGRATED OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING PROGRAM.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall establish a program to develop, in 
coordination with the Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal 
Mapping, a coordinated and comprehensive Federal ocean and coastal 
mapping plan for the Great Lakes and Coastal State waters, the 
territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf 
of the United States that enhances ecosystem approaches in decision-
making for conservation and management of marine resources and 
habitats, establishes research priorities, supports the siting of 
research and other platforms, and advances ocean and coastal science.
    (b) Program Parameters.--In developing such a program, the 
Administrator shall work with the Committee to--
            (1) identify all Federal and federally-funded programs 
        conducting shoreline delineation and ocean or coastal mapping, 
        noting geographic coverage, frequency, spatial coverage, 
        resolution, and subject matter focus of the data and location 
        of data archives;
            (2) promote cost-effective, cooperative mapping efforts 
        among all Federal agencies conducting ocean and coastal mapping 
        agencies by increasing data sharing, developing data 
        acquisition and metadata standards, and facilitating the 
        interoperability of in situ data collection systems, data 
        processing, archiving, and distribution of data products;
            (3) facilitate the adaptation of existing technologies as 
        well as foster expertise in new ocean and coastal mapping 
        technologies, including through research, development, and 
        training conducted in cooperation with the private sector, 
        academia, and other non-Federal entities;
            (4) develop standards and protocols for testing innovative 
        experimental mapping technologies and transferring new 
        technologies between the Federal Government and the private 
        sector or academia;
            (5) centrally archive, manage, and distribute data sets as 
        well as provide mapping products and services to the general 
        public in service of statutory requirements;
            (6) develop specific data presentation standards for use by 
        Federal, State, and other entities that document locations of 
        federally-permitted activities, living and nonliving resources, 
        marine ecosystems, sensitive habitats, submerged cultural 
        resources, undersea cables, offshore aquaculture projects, and 
        any areas designated for the purposes of environmental 
        protection or conservation and management of living marine 
        resources; and
            (7) identify the procedures to be used for coordinating 
        Federal data with State and local government programs.

SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING.

    (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established an Interagency 
Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping.
    (b) Membership.--The Committee shall be comprised of senior 
representatives from Federal agencies with ocean and coastal mapping 
and surveying responsibilities. The representatives shall be high-
ranking officials of their respective agencies or departments and, 
whenever possible, the head of the portion of the agency or department 
that is most relevant to the purposes of this Act. Membership shall 
include senior representatives from the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the Chief of Naval Operations, the United 
States Geological Survey, Minerals Management Service, National Science 
Foundation, National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, United States Army 
Corps of Engineers, United States Coast Guard, Environmental Protection 
Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, and other appropriate Federal agencies 
involved in ocean and coastal mapping.
    (c) Chairman.--The Committee shall be chaired by the representative 
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The chairman 
may create subcommittees chaired by any member agency of the committee. 
Working groups may be formed by the full Committee to address issues of 
short duration.
    (d) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet on a quarterly basis, but 
subcommittee or working group meetings shall meet on an as-needed 
basis.
    (e) Coordination.--The committee should coordinate activities, when 
appropriate, with--
            (1) other Federal efforts, including the Digital Coast, 
        Geospatial One-Stop, and the Federal Geographic Data Committee;
            (2) international mapping activities; and
            (3) States and user groups through workshops and other 
        appropriate mechanisms.

SEC. 4. NOAA INTEGRATED MAPPING INITIATIVE.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Administrator, in consultation with the 
Committee, shall develop and submit to the Congress a plan for an 
integrated ocean and coastal mapping initiative within the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    (b) Plan Requirements.--The plan shall--
            (1) identify and describe all ocean and coastal mapping 
        programs within the agency, including those that conduct 
        mapping or related activities in the course of existing 
        missions, such as hydrographic surveys, ocean exploration 
        projects, living marine resource conservation and management 
        programs, coastal zone management projects, and ocean and 
        coastal science projects;
            (2) establish priority mapping programs and establish and 
        periodically update priorities for geographic areas in 
        surveying and mapping, as well as minimum data acquisition and 
        metadata standards for those programs;
            (3) encourage the development of innovative ocean and 
        coastal mapping technologies and applications through research 
        and development through cooperative or other agreements at 
        joint centers of excellence and with the private sector;
            (4) document available and developing technologies, best 
        practices in data processing and distribution, and leveraging 
        opportunities with other Federal agencies, non-governmental 
        organizations, and the private sector;
            (5) identify training, technology, and other resource 
        requirements for enabling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's programs, ships, and aircraft to support a 
        coordinated ocean and coastal mapping program;
            (6) identify a centralized mechanism or office for 
        coordinating data collection, processing, archiving, and 
        dissemination activities of all such mapping programs within 
        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
        including--
                    (A) designating primary data processing centers to 
                maximize efficiency in information technology 
                investment, develop consistency in data processing, and 
                meet Federal mandates for data accessibility; and
                    (B) designating a repository that is responsible 
                for archiving and managing the distribution of all 
                ocean and coastal mapping data to simplify the 
                provision of services to benefit Federal and State 
                programs; and
            (6) set forth a timetable for implementation and completion 
        of the plan, including a schedule for periodic Congressional 
        progress reports, and recommendations for integrating 
        approaches developed under the initiative into the interagency 
        program.
    (c) NOAA Joint Ocean and Coastal Mapping Centers.--The 
Administrator is authorized to maintain and operate up to 3 joint ocean 
and coastal mapping centers, including a joint hydrographic center, 
which shall be co-located with an institution of higher education. The 
centers shall serve as hydrographic centers of excellence and are 
authorized to conduct activities necessary to carry out the purposes of 
this Act, including--
            (1) research and development of innovative ocean and 
        coastal mapping technologies, equipment, and data products;
            (2) mapping of the United States outer continental shelf;
            (3) data processing for non-traditional data and uses;
            (4) advancing the use of remote sensing technologies, for 
        related issues, including mapping and assessment of essential 
        fish habitat and of coral resources, ocean observations and 
        ocean exploration; and
            (5) providing graduate education in ocean and coastal 
        mapping sciences for National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, personnel of other 
        agencies with ocean and coastal mapping programs, and civilian 
        personnel.

SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY PROGRAM REPORTING.

    No later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
and bi-annually thereafter, the Chairman of the Committee shall 
transmit to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on Resources 
a report detailing progress made in implementing the provisions of this 
Act, including--
            (1) an inventory of ocean and coastal mapping data, noting 
        the metadata, within the territorial seas and the exclusive 
        economic zone and throughout the continental shelf of the 
        United States, noting the age and source of the survey and the 
        spatial resolution (metadata) of the data;
            (2) identification of priority areas in need of survey 
        coverage using present technologies;
            (3) a resource plan that identifies when priority areas in 
        need of modern ocean and coastal mapping surveys can be 
        accomplished;
            (4) the status of efforts to produce integrated digital 
        maps of ocean and coastal areas;
            (5) a description of any products resulting from 
        coordinated mapping efforts under this Act that improve public 
        understanding of the coasts, oceans, or regulatory decision-
        making;
            (6) documentation of minimum and desired standards for data 
        acquisition and integrated metadata;
            (7) a statement of the status of Federal efforts to 
        leverage mapping technologies, coordinate mapping activities, 
        share expertise, and exchange data;
            (8) a statement of resource requirements for organizations 
        to meet the goals of the program, including technology needs 
        for data acquisition, processing and distribution systems;
            (9) a statement of the status of efforts to declassify data 
        gathered by the Navy, the National Geospatial-Intelligence 
        Agency and other agencies to the extent possible without 
        jeopardizing national security, and make it available to 
        partner agencies and the public; and
            (10) a resource plan for a digital coast integrated mapping 
        pilot project for the northern Gulf of Mexico that will--
                    (A) cover the area from the authorized coastal 
                counties through the territorial sea;
                    (B) identify how such a pilot project will leverage 
                public and private mapping data and resources, such as 
the United States Geological Survey National Map, to result in an 
operational coastal change assessment program for the subregion; and
            (11) the status of efforts to coordinate Federal programs 
        with State and local government programs and leverage those 
        programs.

SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) In General.--In addition to the amounts authorized by section 
306 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 
892d), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator to 
carry out this Act--
            (1) $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2006;
            (2) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;
            (3) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;
            (4) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; and
            (5) $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013.
    (b) Joint Ocean and Coastal Mapping Centers.--Of the amounts 
appropriated pursuant to subsection (a), the following amounts shall be 
used to carry out section 4(c) of this Act:
            (1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2006.
            (2) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
            (3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            (4) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
            (5) $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2010 through 2013.
    (c) Interagency Committee.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, from amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2006 
through 2013 to the Department of Defense, the Department of the 
Interior, the Department of Homeland Security, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, and the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration, the head of each such department or agency may make 
available not more than $10,000,000 per fiscal year to carry out 
interagency activities under section 3 of this Act.

SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Administrator.--The term ``Administrator'' means the 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.
            (2) Coastal state.--The term ``coastal state'' has the 
        meaning given that term by section 304(4) of the Coastal Zone 
        Management Act of 1972 (16 U.S.C. 1453(4).
            (3) Committee.--The term ``Committee'' means the 
        Interagency Ocean Mapping Committee established by section 3.
            (4) Exclusive economic zone.--The term ``exclusive economic 
        zone'' means the exclusive economic zone of the United States 
        established by Presidential Proclamation No. 5030, of March 10, 
        1983.
            (5) Ocean and coastal mapping.--The term ``ocean and 
        coastal mapping'' means the acquisition, processing, and 
        management of physical, biological, geological, chemical, and 
        archaeological characteristics and boundaries of ocean and 
        coastal areas, resources, and sea beds through the use of 
        acoustics, satellites, aerial photogrammetry, light and 
        imaging, direct sampling, and other mapping technologies.
            (6) Territorial sea.--The term ``territorial sea'' means 
        the belt of sea measured from the baseline of the United States 
        determined in accordance with international law, as set forth 
        in Presidential Proclamation Number 5928, dated December 27, 
        1988.
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