1.This Act may be cited as the
Ocean Research and Exploration
Enhancement Act of 2009
.
<enum>I</enum><header>Exploration</header>
<section id="HD8CDE60A60224B06B74506BF6C72CD76"><enum>101.</enum><header>Purpose</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The purpose of this title is to establish
the national ocean exploration program and the national undersea research
program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.</text>
</section><section id="H42C063EB6760430BBD49AC88F5076194"><enum>102.</enum><header>Program
established</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Administrator
or the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall, in consultation
with the National Science Foundation and other appropriate Federal agencies,
establish a coordinated national ocean exploration program within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that promotes collaboration with other
Federal ocean and undersea research and exploration programs. To the extent
appropriate, the Administrator shall seek to facilitate coordination of data
and information management systems, outreach and education programs to improve
public understanding of ocean and coastal resources, and development and
transfer of technologies to facilitate ocean and undersea research and
exploration.</text>
</section><section id="H288087B4F301444FB4CD989DD254A1BB"><enum>103.</enum><header>Powers and
duties of the Administrator</header>
<subsection id="HFB1CEE3D27AB4B0EBD5545EE83001768"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>In carrying out the program authorized by section 102,
the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
shall—</text>
<paragraph id="HC2A3A1EE6D2C4C21AB8F2C36BC30EAFA"><enum>(1)</enum><text>conduct
interdisciplinary voyages or other scientific activities in conjunction with
other Federal agencies or academic or educational institutions, to explore and
survey little known areas of the marine environment, inventory, observe, and
assess living and nonliving marine resources, and report such findings;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD518E73C4C7E40A583D3EC502346F0EE"><enum>(2)</enum><text>give priority
attention to deep ocean regions, with a focus on deep water marine systems that
hold potential for important scientific discoveries, such as hydrothermal vent
communities and seamounts;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2AB26CD7D9B14EAC881870BCC360BA81"><enum>(3)</enum><text>conduct scientific
voyages to locate, define, and document historic shipwrecks, submerged sites,
and other ocean exploration activities that combine archaeology and
oceanographic sciences;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H72714CD3FB81468CB2C42B60B39495C2"><enum>(4)</enum><text>develop and
implement, in consultation with the National Science Foundation, a transparent,
competitive process for merit-based peer-review and approval of proposals for
activities to be conducted under this program, taking into consideration advice
of the Board established under section 105;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H0E9CC240B3324E6C92D58B20D678D2CB"><enum>(5)</enum><text>enhance the
technical capability of the United States marine science community by promoting
the development of improved oceanographic research, communication, navigation,
and data collection systems, as well as underwater platforms and sensor and
autonomous vehicles; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HD7E344C2F5BD4BF5A1D5CA8D6DA6BB36"><enum>(6)</enum><text>establish an ocean
exploration forum to encourage partnerships and promote communication among
experts and other stakeholders in order to enhance the scientific and technical
expertise and relevance of the national program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HCC97B3F0221144748F503059FDA858C8"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Donations</header><text>The
Administrator may accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be
applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing knowledge of the
oceans.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HBC47BDC9DA664C8EB243E0727C008043"><enum>104.</enum><header>Ocean
exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure task
force</header>
<subsection id="H26628ED4C4294ED2ACF59552D8BEE136"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, in coordination with the National Science Foundation, the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Geological
Survey, the Department of the Navy, the Mineral Management Service, and
relevant governmental, non-governmental, academic, industry, and other experts,
shall convene an ocean exploration and undersea research technology and
infrastructure task force to develop and implement a strategy—</text>
<paragraph id="H0966605E46C6439E9E00EA7E1277141B"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to facilitate
transfer of new exploration and undersea research technology to the programs
authorized under this Act;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H354ECB72D7D84B78A24B5FAB2048F5E2"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to improve
availability of communications infrastructure, including satellite
capabilities, to such programs;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8AC9CADF730F4A46B45B90377F2C5BF8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to develop an
integrated, workable, and comprehensive data management information processing
system that will make information on unique and significant features obtained
by such programs available for research and management purposes;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H358321C25B674505B3314176B8104C08"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to conduct public
outreach activities that improve the public understanding of ocean science,
resources, and processes, in conjunction with relevant programs of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Science Foundation, and
other agencies; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H064FB6B8BD13451F971C823C3E987D90"><enum>(5)</enum><text>to encourage
cost-sharing partnerships with governmental and nongovernmental entities that
will assist in transferring exploration and undersea research technology and
technical expertise to the programs.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HDC721BBEA8274A62AF15E53809C03C92"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Budget
coordination</header><text>The task force shall coordinate the development of
agency budgets and identify the items in their annual budget that support the
activities identified in the strategy developed under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HB89A7FCD17C547A194ACDF5BC600A164"><enum>105.</enum><header>Ocean
Exploration Advisory Board</header>
<subsection id="H6B897ED12F12406F92A68D07513E00C5"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Establishment</header><text>The
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall
appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board composed of experts in relevant
fields—</text>
<paragraph id="H71ABFDFFD82E41ECB15B2B52713CB6D"><enum>(1)</enum><text>to
advise the Administrator on priority areas for survey and discovery;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8E7B0150EBB648B5A5908E3C0456CB81"><enum>(2)</enum><text>to assist the
program in the development of a 5-year strategic plan for the fields of ocean,
marine, and Great Lakes science, exploration, and discovery;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAAB238B76A6942C0A8587D80FE5FFE8"><enum>(3)</enum><text>to
annually review the quality and effectiveness of the proposal review process
established under section 103(a)(4); and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2E1E6C7F27164DB2AEE172498C8D6058"><enum>(4)</enum><text>to provide other
assistance and advice as requested by the Administrator.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HB56B2A0DA6754ED5B85FB8BD1B0041D3"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Federal Advisory
Committee Act</header><text>Section 14 of the <act-name parsable-cite="FACA">Federal Advisory Committee Act</act-name> (5 U.S.C. App.)
shall not apply to the Board appointed under subsection (a).</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H608BCD8925CB4EA98880585C525E01B2"><enum>(c)</enum><header>Application with
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act</header><text>Nothing in this title
supersedes, or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).</text>
</subsection></section><section id="HC09746CA20214AE28F2CF387C935C77"><enum>106.</enum><header>Authorization of
appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to carry out this title—</text>
<paragraph id="H08C6E4A5DA0343EB8B2000E5A14BDF20"><enum>(1)</enum><text>$33,550,000 for
fiscal year 2009;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H3BABF3141D804481B976D2D2872F0071"><enum>(2)</enum><text>$36,905,000 for
fiscal year 2010;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9946648D3E87459C883EC6558200F618"><enum>(3)</enum><text>$40,596,000 for
fiscal year 2011;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H5D9A87F2DD6B43F98059DCC6187000A"><enum>(4)</enum><text>$44,655,000 for
fiscal year 2012;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H8DD7E1B02C644C65BF2CFFF366B690DD"><enum>(5)</enum><text>$49,121,000 for
fiscal year 2013;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HAF21ABEBB2034FA2B57ECAC655975FFD"><enum>(6)</enum><text>$54,033,000 for
fiscal year 2014; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H315A05038EDA45DEB6DA085ACB0A901"><enum>(7)</enum><text>$59,436,000 for
fiscal year 2015.</text>
</paragraph></section><enum>II</enum><header>NOAA
Undersea Research Program Act of 2009</header>
<section id="H58FAD45458484814BD00D6B8CC4BF054"><enum>201.</enum><header>Short
title</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title may be cited
as the <quote><short-title>NOAA Undersea Research Program
Act of 2009</short-title></quote>.</text>
</section><section id="HFC7CD38608F24B2FB61E96C6D7EA2D1"><enum>202.</enum><header>Program
established</header>
<subsection id="HE78A9AE40CB44B77B4AF6357C2F628E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall establish and maintain an undersea research program and
shall designate a Director of that program.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="HF3025579C0104582816F4EEEBAF6B3F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Purpose</header><text>The
purpose of the program is to increase scientific knowledge essential for the
informed management, use, and preservation of oceanic, marine, and coastal
areas and the Great Lakes.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H196E4FE24743416184173112048E7416"><enum>203.</enum><header>Powers of
program director</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The Director
of the program, in carrying out the program, shall—</text>
<paragraph id="H23DE215B78CE48CCB5BF4E937E769D81"><enum>(1)</enum><text>cooperate with
institutions of higher education and other educational marine and ocean science
organizations, and shall make available undersea research facilities,
equipment, technologies, information, and expertise to support undersea
research efforts by these organizations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H79F7655AF62A45C694C7F87C66AEF5D5"><enum>(2)</enum><text>enter into
partnerships, as appropriate and using existing authorities, with the private
sector to achieve the goals of the program and to promote technological
advancement of the marine industry; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H2F4475D82B2D4071BC62DA3D09A7D31"><enum>(3)</enum><text>coordinate the
development of agency budgets and identify the items in their annual budget
that support the activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2).</text>
</paragraph></section><section id="HFDEADC06ECC3403FB8DD9F67E62172E0"><enum>204.</enum><header>Administrative
structure</header>
<subsection id="H306AC8E42B2741F3ACE153E167CE09E"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The program shall be conducted through a national
headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers that
represent all relevant National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration regions,
and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3589A9F071EF44B68F2FACB4468F4EBD"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Direction</header><text>The
Director shall develop the overall direction of the program in coordination
with a Council of Center Directors comprised of the directors of the extramural
regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and
Technology. The Director shall publish a draft program direction document not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act in the Federal
Register for a public comment period of not less than 120 days. The Director
shall publish a final program direction, including responses to the comments
received during the public comment period, in the Federal Register within 90
days after the close of the comment period. The program director shall update
the program direction, with opportunity for public comment, at least every 5
years.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H219A50D73C0D4EF8B61BF241C0A2D5FB"><enum>205.</enum><header>Research,
exploration, education, and technology programs</header>
<subsection id="H2F4FFC485DDE47FFB797DD43608B5CE3"><enum>(a)</enum><header>In
general</header><text>The following research, exploration, education, and
technology programs shall be conducted through the network of regional centers
and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology:</text>
<paragraph id="H84508854E77C42BFA3C5FB2C4E68C1B4"><enum>(1)</enum><text>Core research and
exploration based on national and regional undersea research priorities.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H42C49587156B41F2A2CC006EADFBBE7E"><enum>(2)</enum><text>Advanced undersea
technology development to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration's research mission and programs.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HEE77C589029B4FFFA30094A9CE604FE9"><enum>(3)</enum><text>Undersea
science-based education and outreach programs to enrich ocean science education
and public awareness of the oceans and Great Lakes.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="H9FF6C46357FD4EE6B1CACB4548DEDDDA"><enum>(4)</enum><text>Development,
testing, and transition of advanced undersea technology associated with ocean
observatories, submersibles, advanced diving technologies, remotely operated
vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and new sampling and sensing
technologies.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph id="HCF5DB03391C74F888E4967772BD19503"><enum>(5)</enum><text>Discovery, study,
and development of natural resources and products from ocean, coastal, and
aquatic systems.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection id="HA76B4AF1B72E4F6CAEE3BFF3C9FBAE7F"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Operations</header><text>The
Director of the program, through operation of the extramural regional centers
and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology, shall leverage
partnerships and cooperative research with academia and private
industry.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H1584F6D355854F24B6F10092DF44F6C"><enum>206.</enum><header>Competitiveness</header>
<subsection id="HF847F171638E4B0C9F611970EDB43B08"><enum>(a)</enum><header>Discretionary
fund</header><text>The Program shall allocate no more than 10 percent of its
annual budget to a discretionary fund that may be used only for program
administration and priority undersea research projects identified by the
Director but not covered by funding available from centers.</text>
</subsection><subsection id="H3EC13DBB9ECE48DA856D655B2E2C0095"><enum>(b)</enum><header>Competitive
selection</header><text>The Administrator shall conduct an initial competition
to select the regional centers that will participate in the program 90 days
after the publication of the final program direction under section 204 and
every 5 years thereafter. Funding for projects conducted through the regional
centers shall be awarded through a competitive, merit-reviewed process on the
basis of their relevance to the goals of the program and their technical
feasibility.</text>
</subsection></section><section id="H2032216B21E240258B5BBF3430382E21"><enum>207.</enum><header>Authorization
of appropriations</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration—</text>
<paragraph id="H4AD16EE6F32548F79B5D550032670065"><enum>(1)</enum><text>for fiscal year
2009—</text>
<subparagraph id="HA6943C0552A9420CA153D4E828A0B46B"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$13,750,000 for
the regional centers, of which 50 percent shall be for West Coast regional
centers and 50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H850F97CF2CA74061BF89A7C61B268EF"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$5,500,000 for the
National Technology Institute;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H762BFEEA28834747B4BD795023692111"><enum>(2)</enum><text>for fiscal year
2010—</text>
<subparagraph id="H35CFC891D3B644909DA548656EB9FD27"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$15,125,000 for
the regional centers, of which 50 percent shall be for West Coast regional
centers and 50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H4E71A610643A489F99F4530033BD0065"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$6,050,000 for the
National Technology Institute;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H8311065E4BC8495D99E03397801D4B91"><enum>(3)</enum><text>for fiscal year
2011—</text>
<subparagraph id="HB1D6E57A68D64D3EA500C9639780004E"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$16,638,000 for
the regional centers, of which 50 percent shall be for West Coast regional
centers and 50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H84AA6DCD41D34A7A9042792BC40756E9"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$6,655,000 for the
National Technology Institute;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H6953B4805A6C4A15958BF0D0000C8AC"><enum>(4)</enum><text>for fiscal year
2012—</text>
<subparagraph id="HE793189C066D4447BE8FD300304912E8"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$18,301,000 for
the regional centers, of which 50 percent shall be for West Coast regional
centers and 50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H72F1650F92084726B2C46BA189F5626C"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$7,321,000 for the
National Technology Institute;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HF8052051A4424E8CBB61773D0346E100"><enum>(5)</enum><text>for fiscal year
2013—</text>
<subparagraph id="H4DE97FDB752D4AF5B7C53221B51D5989"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$20,131,000 for
the regional centers, of which 50 percent shall be for West Coast regional
centers and 50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HFF15F7F5477D41BB9CF451958F178759"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$8,053,000 for the
National Technology Institute;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="HCAA573C3767146A7B790200683E485B"><enum>(6)</enum><text>for fiscal year
2014—</text>
<subparagraph id="H6A6B6527E68E441682003812D5F46038"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$22,145,000 for
the regional centers, of which 50 percent shall be for West Coast regional
centers and 50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="HF2FC6FAB562E4966BC73E9EEEB6C82DA"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$8,859,000 for the
National Technology Institute; and</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph id="H98A06922377A488DB4F7BF84FB4449A3"><enum>(7)</enum><text>for fiscal year
2015—</text>
<subparagraph id="HC04BA3678E73402A9958B50272CCE9"><enum>(A)</enum><text>$24,359,000 for the
regional centers, of which 50 percent shall be for West Coast regional centers
and 50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph id="H2A1CB7F9DB6E4DBBBF7F91F01923BE3B"><enum>(B)</enum><text>$9,744,000 for the
National Technology Institute.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section>