[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 174 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 174
To establish a coordinated and comprehensive Federal ocean and coastal
mapping program.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
January 8, 2009
Mr. Inouye (for himself, Mr. Rockefeller, and Ms. Snowe) introduced the
following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To establish a coordinated and comprehensive Federal ocean and coastal
mapping program.
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. ESTABLISHMENT OF PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--The President, in coordination with the
Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping and affected coastal
states, shall establish a program to develop 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 and
mapping priorities, supports the siting of research and other
platforms, and advances ocean and coastal science.
(b) Membership.--The Committee shall be comprised of high-level
representatives of the Department of Commerce, through the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of the Interior,
the National Science Foundation, the Department of Defense, the
Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Homeland Security,
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other
appropriate Federal agencies involved in ocean and coastal mapping.
(c) Program Parameters.--In developing such a program, the
President, through the Committee, shall--
(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-governmental
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-governmental entities;
(4) develop standards and protocols for testing innovative
experimental mapping technologies and transferring new
technologies between the Federal Government, coastal state, and
non-governmental entities;
(5) provide for the archiving, management, and distribution
of data sets through a national registry as well as provide
mapping products and services to the general public in service
of statutory requirements;
(6) develop data standards and protocols consistent with
standards developed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee
for use by Federal, coastal 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 coastal state and local government programs;
(8) facilitate, to the extent practicable, the collection
of real-time tide data and the development of hydrodynamic
models for coastal areas to allow for the application of V-
datum tools that will facilitate the seamless integration of
onshore and offshore maps and charts;
(9) establish a plan for the acquisition and collection of
ocean and coastal mapping data; and
(10) set forth a timetable for completion and
implementation of the plan.
SEC. 3. INTERAGENCY COMMITTEE ON OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, within 30 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, shall convene or utilize an existing interagency committee
on ocean and coastal mapping to implement section 2.
(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) Co-chairmen.--The Committee shall be co-chaired by a
representative of the Department of Commerce and a representative of
the Department of the Interior.
(d) Subcommittee.--The co-chairmen shall establish a subcommittee
to carry out the day-to-day work of the Committee, comprised of senior
representatives of any member agency of the committee. Working groups
may be formed by the full Committee to address issues of short
duration. The subcommittee shall be chaired by the representative from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The chairmen of
the Committee may create such additional subcommittees and working
groups as may be needed to carry out the work of Committee.
(e) Meetings.--The committee shall meet on a quarterly basis, but
each subcommittee and each working group shall meet on an as-needed
basis.
(f) 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) coastal states;
(4) user groups through workshops and other appropriate
mechanisms; and
(5) representatives of nongovernmental entities.
(g) Advisory Panel.--The Administrator may convene an ocean and
coastal mapping advisory panel consisting of representatives from
nongovernmental entities to provide input regarding activities of the
committee in consultation with the interagency committee.
SEC. 4. BIENNIAL REPORTS.
No later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act,
and biennially thereafter, the co-chairmen of the Committee shall
transmit to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
and the House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources 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) 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 and 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;
(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;
(11) the status of efforts to coordinate Federal programs
with coastal state and local government programs and leverage
those programs;
(12) a description of efforts of Federal agencies to
increase contracting with nongovernmental entities; and
(13) 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.
SEC. 5. PLAN.
(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 observations and 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 or centers and with
other nongovernmental entities;
(4) document available and developing technologies, best
practices in data processing and distribution, and leveraging
opportunities with other Federal agencies, coastal states, and
nongovernmental 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 that meets
Federal mandates for data accuracy and accessibility and
designate 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
coastal 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) NOAA Report.--The Administrator shall continue developing a
strategy for expanding contracting with nongovernmental entities to
minimize duplication and take maximum advantage of nongovernmental
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 Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation, the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources, and the House of Representatives Committee on Natural
Resources.
SEC. 6. EFFECT ON OTHER LAWS.
Nothing in this Act shall be construed to supersede or alter the
existing authorities of any Federal agency with respect to ocean and
coastal mapping.
SEC. 7. 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) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(2) $32,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(3) $38,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and
(4) $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015.
(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 5(c) of this Act:
(1) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2009.
(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2010.
(3) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2011.
(4) $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2012 through 2015.
(c) Cooperative Agreements.--To carry out interagency activities
under section 3 of this Act, the head of any department or agency may
execute a cooperative agreement with the Administrator, including those
authorized by section 5 of the Act of August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883e).
SEC. 8. 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 and Coastal Mapping Committee described in
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.
(7) Nongovernmental entities.--The term ``nongovernmental
entities'' includes nongovernmental organizations, members of
the academic community, and private sector organizations that
provide products and services associated with measuring,
locating, and preparing maps, charts, surveys, aerial
photographs, satellite images, or other graphical or digital
presentations depicting natural or manmade physical features,
phenomena, and legal boundaries of the Earth.
(8) 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.
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