Definitions

In this Act: (1)

Program

The term Program means the National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Program established in section 3. (2)

Educational institution

The term educational institution means any public or private elementary or secondary school, or any institution of vocational, professional, or higher education (including a junior college or teachers’ college). (3)

Geospatial imagery

The term geospatial imagery— (A)means satellite land remote sensing image data registered to map or other spatial coordinates derived from features on the ground; and (B)includes a wide range of graphical products that convey information about natural phenomena and human activities occurring on Earth’s surface. (4)

Image data

The term image data means the raw, unprocessed form of data captured from a sensing instrument. (5)

Land remote sensing

The term land remote sensing means image data of land, coastal areas, or islands and reefs acquired from above the surface of the Earth by instruments on satellite platforms. (6)

Secretary

The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior. (7)

State

The term State means— (A)each of the several States of the United States; (B)the District of Columbia; (C)the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; (D)Guam; (E)American Samoa; (F)the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands; and (G)the United States Virgin Islands. (8)

Indian tribe

The term Indian tribe has the same meaning given that term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b(e)).

National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Program

(a)

In general

The Secretary shall establish and maintain a national land remote sensing outreach program within the U.S. Geological Survey to advance the availability, timely distribution, and widespread use of geospatial imagery for education, research, assessment, and monitoring purposes in each State and the lands of an Indian tribe. (b)

Purposes

The purposes of the program are— (1)to increase accessibility to, and expand the use of, remote sensing data in a standard, easy-to-use format by Federal, State, local, and tribal governments, communities, educational institutions, and the commercial sector; and (2)to assist each participating State and Indian tribe in establishing the cooperative infrastructure necessary to increase access to geospatial imagery for research and educational purposes. (c)

Activities

(1)

National Land Remote Sensing Outreach Program

The Secretary shall— (A)support geospatial imagery sharing, applied research, and educational programs of each participating State and Indian tribe; (B)identify new geospatial imagery needs and infrastructure; (C)share and cooperate in the development of geospatial imagery applications, education, and training infrastructure in each participating State and the lands of an Indian tribe; (D)cooperate with participating States and Indian tribes to encourage the expansion of geospatial imagery mapping courses taught at appropriate educational institutions; (E)encourage expansion of geospatial imagery research at appropriate educational institutions; (F)encourage expansion of the knowledge and use of geospatial imagery products in the workforce through outreach programs, workshops, and other training opportunities; (G)encourage participating States and Indian tribes to build partnerships with local governments to identify unique research and development needs and geospatial imagery application pilot programs; (H)promote cooperation and sharing of expertise regarding geospatial imagery applications among participating States and Indian tribes; and (I)provide a mechanism to enable the States and Indian tribes to transfer geospatial imagery and applications to the U.S. Geological Survey as appropriate. (2)

Grants

(A)

In general

The Secretary is authorized to provide grants to qualified educational institutions, or to State, local, and tribal governments, or to consortia of these entities, on a competitive basis to— (i)advance the interest of the Federal Government in promoting the use of imagery by educational institutions, States, localities, and Indian tribes; and (ii)achieve the purposes of the Program described in section 3(b). (B)

Matching Funds

(i)

In general

The Federal share of the cost of each program for which a grant is made under this Act may not exceed 75 percent of the total cost of the program. (ii)

Non-federal contribution

In providing the non-Federal contribution required under this paragraph, a grantee— (I)shall provide for such share through a payment in cash or in kind, fairly evaluated, including facilities, equipment, technology, or services; and (II)may provide for such share through State sources or local sources, including private funds or donated services. (iii)

Waiver

The Secretary may waive the requirements of subparagraph (B), in whole or in part, with respect to any program if the Secretary determines that the grantee has made a good faith effort to obtain the non-Federal contribution at the local level but is unable to do so. (3)

Federal partner advisory committee

(A)

In general

The Secretary shall establish and maintain a committee to advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey regarding the Program. (B)

Membership and appointment

The advisory committee under subparagraph (A) shall be chaired by the U.S. Geological Survey and composed of such representatives of Federal and State agencies, tribal governments, and educational institutions as the Secretary may designate.