[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2400 Introduced in House (IH)]







110th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2400

  To direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
  Administration to establish an integrated 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, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              May 21, 2007

Ms. Bordallo (for herself, Mr. Brown of South Carolina, Mr. Saxton, and 
 Mr. Pallone) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
  Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
 Science and Technology, 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 direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
  Administration to establish an integrated 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, 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 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 
decisionmaking for conservation and management of marine resources and 
habitats, establishes research priorities, supports the siting of 
research and other platforms, enhances safety of navigation, 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) facilitate cost-effective, cooperative mapping efforts 
        that incorporate policies for contracting with non-Federal 
        entities among all Federal agencies conducting ocean and 
        coastal mapping, by increasing data sharing, developing 
        appropriate 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 among Federal agencies and in cooperation 
        with non-Federal entities;
            (4) develop standards and protocols for testing innovative 
        experimental mapping technologies and transferring new 
        technologies between the Federal Government and non-Federal 
        entities;
            (5) provide for the archiving, management, and distribution 
        of data sets as well as provide mapping products and services 
        to the general public in service of statutory requirements;
            (6) develop data standards and protocols for use by 
        Federal, State, and other entities in mapping and otherwise 
        documenting locations of federally permitted activities, living 
        and nonliving coastal and marine resources, marine ecosystems, 
        sensitive habitats, submerged cultural resources, undersea 
        cables, offshore aquaculture projects, offshore energy 
        projects, and any areas designated for purposes of 
        environmental protection or conservation and management of 
        living and nonliving coastal and marine resources;
            (7) identify the procedures to be used for coordinating the 
        collection and integration of Federal ocean and coastal mapping 
        data with State and local government programs; and
            (8) set forth a timetable for completion and implementation 
        of the plan referred to in subsection (a).

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, the Minerals Management Service, the National 
Science Foundation, the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, the 
United States Army Corps of Engineers, the Coast Guard, the 
Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management 
Agency, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other 
appropriate Federal agencies involved in ocean and coastal mapping.
    (c) Chairman.--The Committee shall have as its chairman the 
representative from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. The chairman may create subcommittees chaired by any 
member agency of the committee. The full Committee may form working 
groups to address issues of short duration.
    (d) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet on a quarterly basis, but 
each subcommittee and each working group shall meet on an as-needed 
basis.
    (e) Coordination.--The Committee shall 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;
            (3) States and user groups through workshops and other 
        appropriate mechanisms; and
            (4) representatives of non-Federal entities.

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 across all missions of the National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 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 with 
        joint or cooperative research institutes and with other non-
        Federal entities;
            (4) document available and developing technologies, best 
        practices in data processing and distribution, and leveraging 
        opportunities with other Federal agencies, and non-Federal 
        entities;
            (5) identify training, technology, and other resource 
        requirements for enabling the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration's programs, vessels, 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
            (7) set forth a timetable for implementation and completion 
        of the plan, including a schedule for submission to the 
        Congress of periodic 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 may maintain and operate up to 3 joint ocean and coastal 
mapping centers, including a joint hydrographic center, which shall 
each be co-located with an institution of higher education. The centers 
shall serve as hydrographic centers of excellence and may 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 
        and other regions;
            (3) data processing for nontraditional 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 and training in ocean and 
        coastal mapping sciences for members of the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps, 
        personnel of other agencies with ocean and coastal mapping 
        programs, and civilian personnel.
    (d) Enhanced Opportunities for Private Sector Contracting.--The 
Administrator shall continue developing a strategy for expanding 
contracting with non-Federal entities to minimize duplication and take 
maximum advantage of non-Federal capabilities in fulfilling the 
Administration's mapping and charting responsibilities. Within 120 days 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall 
transmit a report describing the strategy developed under this 
subsection to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
the Senate and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
Representatives.

SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY PROGRAM REPORTING.

    No later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, 
and biannually thereafter, the Chairman of the Committee shall transmit 
to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate 
and the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives 
a report detailing progress made in implementing this Act, including--
            (1) an inventory of ocean and coastal mapping data within 
        the territorial sea 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) an inventory and description of any new Federal or 
        federally funded programs conducting shoreline delineation and 
        ocean or coastal mapping since the previous reporting cycle;
            (3) identification of priority areas in need of survey 
        coverage using present technologies;
            (4) a resource plan that identifies when priority areas in 
        need of modern ocean and coastal mapping surveys can be 
        accomplished;
            (5) the status of efforts to produce integrated digital 
        maps of ocean and coastal areas;
            (6) a description of any products resulting from 
        coordinated mapping efforts under this Act that improve public 
        understanding of the coasts and oceans, or regulatory 
        decisionmaking;
            (7) documentation of minimum and desired standards for data 
        acquisition and integrated metadata;
            (8) a statement of the status of Federal efforts to 
        leverage mapping technologies, coordinate mapping activities, 
        share expertise, and exchange data;
            (9) a statement of resource requirements for organizations 
        to meet the goals of the program, including technology needs 
        for data acquisition, processing, and distribution systems;
            (10) 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;
            (11) the status of efforts to coordinate Federal programs 
        with State and local government programs and leverage those 
        programs; and
            (12) a description of efforts of Federal agencies to 
        increase contracting with non-Federal entities.

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 2008;
            (2) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (3) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (4) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
            (5) $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015.
    (b) Joint Ocean and Coastal Mapping Centers.--Of the amounts 
appropriated under subsection (a), the following amounts shall be used 
to carry out section 4(c):
            (1) $10,000,000 for fiscal year 2008.
            (2) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
            (3) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
            (4) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
            (5) $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015.
    (c) Interagency Committee.--Notwithstanding any other provision of 
law, from amounts authorized to be appropriated for fiscal years 2008 
through 2015 to the departments of the agencies, and the independent 
agencies, specified in section 3(b), 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.

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 Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping 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) Non-federal entities.--The term ``non-Federal 
        entities'' includes State governmental organizations, non-
        governmental organizations, members of the academic community, 
        and private sector organizations.
            (6) 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.
            (7) Outer continental shelf.--The term ``Outer Continental 
        Shelf'' means all submerged lands lying seaward and outside of 
        lands beneath navigable waters (as that term is defined in 
        section 2 of the Submerged Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1301)), and of 
        which the subsoil and seabed appertain to the United States and 
        are subject to its jurisdiction and control.
            (8) 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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