ACT OF AUGUST 6, 1947 (COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY) ACT OF AUGUST 6, 1947 Chapter 504 of the 80th Congress 80 Stat. 1091 ACT OF AUGUST 6, 1947 (COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY) ch504 Statute Compilation United States House of Representatives Office of the Legislative Counsel text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. GPO Statute Compilations USLM converter, version 20210527.1 2021-10-15 Act of August 6, 1947 Act of August 6, 1947 (Coast and Geodetic Survey) 5353 80 1947-08-06 ACT OF AUGUST 6, 1947 (COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY) [Chapter 504 of the 80th Congress, Approved Nov. 2, 1966, 80 Stat. 1091] [Amended through Public Law 106–181, Apr. 5, 2000] [Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Chapter 504 of the 80th Congress. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/] [Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
AN ACTTo define the functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and for other purposes.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That, [33 U.S.C. 883a] to provide charts and related information for the safe navigation of marine and air commerce, and to provide basic data for engineering and scientific purposes and for other commercial and industrial needs, the Director of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, hereinafter referred to as the Director, under direction of the Secretary of Commerce, is authorized to conduct the following activities in the United States, its Territories, and possessions: (1) Hydrographic and topographic surveys of coastal water and land areas (including surveys of offlying islands, banks, shoals, and other offshore areas); (2) Hydrographic and topographic surveys of lakes, rivers, reservoirs, and other inland waters not otherwise provided for by statute; (3) Tide and current observations; (4) Geodetic-control surveys; (5) Field surveys for aeronautical charts; (6) Geomagnetic, seismological, gravity, and related geophysical measurements and investigations, and observations for the determination of variation in latitude and longitude.
Sec. 2. [33 U.S.C. 883b] In order that full public benefit may be derived from the operations of the Coast and Geodetic Survey by the dissemination of data resulting from the activities herein authorized and of related data from other sources, the Director is authorized to conduct the following activities: (1) Analysis and prediction of tide and current data; (2) Processing and publication of data, information, compilations, and reports; (3) Compilation and printing of nautical charts; (4) Distribution of nautical charts and related navigational publications.
Sec. 3. [33 U.S.C. 883c] To provide for the orderly collection of geomagnetic data from domestic and foreign sources, and to assure that such data shall be readily available to Government and private agencies and individuals, the Coast and Geodetic Survey is hereby designated as the central depository of the United States Government for geomagnetic data, and the Director is authorized to collect, correlate, and disseminate such data.
Sec. 4. [33 U.S.C. 883d] To improve the efficiency of the Coast and Geodetic Survey and to increase engineering and scientific knowledge, the Director is authorized to conduct developmental work for the improvement of surveying and cartographic methods, instruments, and equipments; and to conduct investigations and research in geophysical sciences (including geodesy, oceanography, seismology, and geomagnetism).
Sec. 5. [33 U.S.C. 883e] (1) The Director is authorized to enter into cooperative agreements, or any other agreements, with, and to receive and expend funds made available by, any State or subdivision thereof, or any public or private organization, or individual, for surveys or investigations authorized herein, or for performing related surveying and mapping activities, including special-purpose maps, and for the preparation and publication of the results thereof. (2)1 The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to establish the terms of any agreement entered into under this section, including the amount of funds to be received, and may contribute that portion of the costs incurred by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including shiptime and personnel expenses, which the Secretary determines represents the amount of benefits derived by the Administration from the agreement.1

Section 605(b)(2) of Public Law 106–181 (114 Stat. 154) amends section 5(2) by striking “cooperative”. The amendment was executed by striking such word both places it appeared to reflect the probable intent of the Congress.
Sec. 6. [33 U.S.C. 883f] The Director is authorized to contract with qualified organizations for the performance of any part of the authorized functions of the Coast and Geodetic Survey when he deems such procedure to be in the public interests.
[Sec. 7. Repealed by section 4(a)(2) of Public Law 88–611, 78 Stat. 991]
Sec. 8. [33 U.S.C. 883h] The President is authorized to cause to be employed such of the public vessels as he deems it expedient to employ, and to give such instructions for regulating their conduct as he deems proper in order to carry out the provisions of this Act.
Sec. 9. [33 U.S.C. 883i] There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such funds as may be necessary to acquire, construct, maintain, and operate ships, stations, equipment, and facilities and for such other expenditures, including personal services at the seat of government and elsewhere and including the erection of temporary observatory buildings and lease of sites therefor, as may be necessary for the conduct of the activities herein authorized.
[Sec. 10. Repeals various sections of the Revised Statutes of the United States.]