[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1425 Reported in Senate (RS)]

<DOC>





                                                       Calendar No. 265
115th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1425

                          [Report No. 115-186]

To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act 
                    of 2009, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             June 22, 2017

Mr. Wicker (for himself, Ms. Cantwell, Ms. Murkowski, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. 
 Cassidy, Mr. Graham, Ms. Collins, Mr. Markey, Mr. Schatz, Mr. Peters, 
and Ms. Hassan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
   referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

                           November 27, 2017

                Reported by Mr. Thune, with an amendment
 [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed 
                               in italic]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act 
                    of 2009, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Coordinated Ocean 
Monitoring and Research Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. PURPOSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12302 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601) is amended to read as 
follows:</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 12302. PURPOSES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``The purposes of this subtitle are--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) to establish and sustain a national 
        integrated System of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing 
        systems, comprised of Federal and non-Federal components 
        coordinated at the national level by the Council and at the 
        regional level by a network of Regional Coastal Observing 
        Systems, and that includes in situ, remote, and other coastal 
        and ocean observation and modeling capabilities, technologies, 
        data management systems, communication systems, and product 
        development systems, and is designed to address regional and 
        national needs for ocean and coastal information, to gather 
        specific data on key coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes variables, 
        and to ensure timely and sustained dissemination and 
        availability of these data--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) to the public;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) to support national defense, search 
                and rescue operations, marine commerce, navigation 
                safety, weather, climate, and marine forecasting, 
                energy siting and production, economic development, 
                ecosystem-based marine, coastal, and Great Lakes 
                resource management, public safety, and public outreach 
                and education;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) to promote greater public awareness 
                and stewardship of the Nation's ocean, coastal, and 
                Great Lakes resources and the general public 
                welfare;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) to provide easy access to ocean, 
                coastal, and Great Lakes data and promote data sharing 
                between Federal and non-Federal sources and promote 
                public data sharing;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) to enable advances in scientific 
                understanding to support the sustainable use, 
                conservation, management, and understanding of healthy 
                ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) to monitor and model changes in 
                ocean chemistry;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) to improve the Nation's capability to 
        measure, track, observe, understand, and predict events related 
        directly and indirectly to weather and climate change, natural 
        climate variability, and interactions between the oceanic and 
        atmospheric environments, including the Great Lakes; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) to authorize activities--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) to promote basic and applied 
                research to develop, test, and deploy innovations and 
                improvements in coastal and ocean observation 
                technologies, including advanced observing technologies 
                needed to address critical data gaps, modeling systems, 
                other scientific and technological capabilities to 
                improve the understanding of weather and climate, 
                ocean-atmosphere dynamics, global climate change, and 
                the physical, chemical, and biological dynamics of the 
                ocean, coastal and Great Lakes environments; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) to conserve healthy and restore 
                degraded coastal ecosystems.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``States, 
        regional organizations, universities, nongovernmental 
        organizations, or the private sector.'' and inserting ``the 
        regional coastal observing systems, the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration, or the Interagency Ocean 
        Observation Committee.'';</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by amending paragraph (6) to read as 
        follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Regional coastal observing system.--The term 
        `regional coastal observing system' means an organizational 
        body that is certified or established by contract or memorandum 
        by the lead Federal agency designated in section 12304(c)(3) 
        and coordinates State, Federal, local, tribal, and private 
        interests at a regional level with the responsibility of 
        engaging the private and public sectors in designing, 
        operating, and improving regional coastal and ocean observing 
        systems in order to ensure the provision of data and 
        information that meet the needs of user groups from the 
        respective regions.''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) in paragraph (7), by striking ``National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.'' and inserting 
        ``Administrator.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 4. INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION 
              SYSTEM.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) System Elements.--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) In general.--Section 12304(b) of the 
        Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 
        U.S.C. 3603(b)) is amended by striking paragraph (1) and 
        inserting the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) In general.--In order to fulfill the 
        purposes of this subtitle, the System shall be national in 
        scope and consist of--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Federal assets to fulfill national 
                and international observation missions and 
                priorities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) non-Federal assets, including a 
                network of regional coastal observing systems 
                identified under subsection (c)(4), to fulfill regional 
                and national observation missions and 
                priorities;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) data management, communication, and 
                modeling systems for the timely integration and 
                dissemination of data and information products from the 
                System;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) a product development system to 
                transform observations into products in a format that 
                may be readily used and understood; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) a research and development program 
                conducted under the guidance of the Council, consisting 
                of--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) basic and applied research 
                        and technology development--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) to improve 
                                understanding of coastal and ocean 
                                systems and their relationships to 
                                human activities; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) to ensure 
                                improvement of operational assets and 
                                products, including related 
                                infrastructure, observing technologies, 
                                and information and data processing and 
                                management technologies;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) an advanced observing 
                        technology development program to fill gaps in 
                        technology;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) large scale computing 
                        resources and research to advance modeling of 
                        coastal and ocean processes;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) models to improve regional 
                        weather forecasting capabilities and regional 
                        weather forecasting products; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) reviews of data collection 
                        procedures across regions and programs to make 
                        recommendations for data collection standards 
                        across the System to meet national ocean 
                        observation, applied research, and weather 
                        forecasting needs.''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) Availability of data.--Paragraph (3) of 
        section 12304(b) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
        Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)) is amended 
        by striking the period at the end and inserting ``for research 
        and for use in the development of products to address societal 
        needs.''.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) Coordination of non-federal assets.--Paragraph 
        (4) of section 12304(b) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
        Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)) is amended--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking 
                ``Non-federal'' and inserting ``Coordination of non-
                federal''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``, the regional coastal 
                observing system,'' after ``Interagency Ocean Observing 
                Committee''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Policy Oversight, Administration, and Regional 
Coordination.--Section 12304(c) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(c)) is amended by 
striking paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), and inserting the 
following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Interagency ocean observation committee.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) Establishment.--The Council shall 
                establish or designate a committee which shall be known 
                as the Interagency Ocean Observation 
                Committee.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Duties.--The Interagency Ocean 
                Observation Committee shall--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) prepare annual and long-term 
                        plans for consideration and approval by the 
                        Council for the integrated design, operation, 
                        maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of the 
                        System to meet the objectives of this chapter 
                        and the System Plan;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) develop and transmit to 
                        Congress, along with the budget submitted by 
                        the President to Congress pursuant to section 
                        1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, an 
                        annual coordinated, comprehensive budget--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) to operate all 
                                elements of the System identified in 
                                subsection (b); and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) to ensure 
                                continuity of data streams from Federal 
                                and non-Federal assets;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) establish requirements for 
                        observation data variables to be gathered by 
                        both Federal and non-Federal assets and 
                        identify, in consultation with regional 
                        information coordination entities, priorities 
                        for System observations;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) establish and define 
                        protocols and standards for System data 
                        processing, management, collection, 
                        configuration standards, formats, and 
                        communication for new and existing assets 
                        throughout the Integrated Ocean Observing 
                        System network;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) develop contract 
                        requirements for each Regional Coastal 
                        Observing System--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) to establish 
                                eligibility for integration into the 
                                System;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) to ensure 
                                compliance with all applicable 
                                standards and protocols established by 
                                the Council; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) to ensure that 
                                regional observations are integrated 
                                into the System on a sustained 
                                basis;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) identify gaps in 
                        observation coverage or needs for capital 
                        improvements of both Federal assets and non-
                        Federal assets;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) subject to the 
                        availability of appropriations, establish 
                        through one or more participating Federal 
                        agencies, in consultation with the System 
                        advisory committee established under subsection 
                        (d), a competitive matching grant or other 
                        programs--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) to promote 
                                intramural and extramural research and 
                                development of new, innovative, and 
                                emerging observation technologies 
                                including testing and field trials; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) to facilitate the 
                                migration of new, innovative, and 
                                emerging scientific and technological 
                                advances from research and development 
                                to operational deployment;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) periodically--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) review the System 
                                Plan; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) submit to the 
                                Council such recommendations as the 
                                Interagency Ocean Observation Committee 
                                may have for improvements to the System 
                                Plan;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ix) ensure collaboration among 
                        Federal agencies participating in the 
                        activities of the Interagency Ocean Observation 
                        Committee; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(x) perform such additional 
                        duties as the Council may delegate.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) Lead federal agency.--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--The National Oceanic 
                and Atmospheric Administration shall function as the 
                lead Federal agency for the implementation and 
                administration of the System.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Consultation required.--In carrying 
                out this paragraph, the Administrator shall consult 
                with the Council, the Interagency Ocean Observation 
                Committee, other Federal agencies that maintain 
                portions of the System, and the Regional Coastal 
                Observing Systems.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) Requirements.--In carrying out this 
                paragraph, the Administrator shall--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) establish and operate an 
                        Integrated Ocean Observing System Program 
                        Office within the National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) that utilizes, to 
                                the extent necessary, personnel from 
                                member agencies participating on the 
                                Interagency Ocean Observation 
                                Committee; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) oversees daily 
                                operations and coordination of the 
                                System;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) implement policies, 
                        protocols, and standards approved by the 
                        Council and delegated by the Interagency Ocean 
                        Observation Committee;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) promulgate program 
                        guidelines--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) to certify and 
                                integrate regional associations into 
                                the System; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) to provide regional 
                                coastal and ocean observation data that 
                                meet the needs of user groups from the 
                                respective regions;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) have the authority to enter 
                        into and oversee contracts, leases, grants or 
                        cooperative agreements with non-Federal assets, 
                        including regional information coordination 
                        entities, to support the purposes of this 
                        chapter on such terms as the Administrator 
                        deems appropriate;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) implement and maintain a 
                        merit-based, competitive funding process to 
                        support non-Federal assets, including the 
                        development and maintenance of a network of 
                        Regional Coastal Observing Systems, and develop 
                        and implement a process for the periodic review 
                        and evaluation of the regional 
                        associations;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) provide opportunities for 
                        competitive contracts and grants for 
                        demonstration projects to design, develop, 
                        integrate, deploy, maintain, and support 
                        components of the System;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) establish and maintain 
                        efficient and effective administrative 
                        procedures for allocation of funds among 
                        contractors, grantees, and non-Federal assets, 
                        including regional associations in a timely 
                        manner;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(viii) develop and implement a 
                        process for the periodic review and evaluation 
                        of the Regional Coastal Observing 
                        Systems;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ix) formulate an annual process 
                        by which gaps in observation coverage or needs 
                        for capital improvements of Federal assets and 
                        non-Federal assets of the System are--
                        </DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) identified by the 
                                regional associations described in the 
                                System Plan, the Administrator, or 
                                other members of the System; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) submitted to the 
                                Interagency Ocean Observing 
                                Committee;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(x) develop and be responsible 
                        for a data management and communication system, 
                        in accordance with standards and protocols 
                        established by the Interagency Ocean Observing 
                        Committee, by which all data collected by the 
                        System regarding ocean and coastal waters of 
                        the United States including the Great Lakes, 
                        are processed, stored, integrated, and made 
                        available to all end-user 
                        communities;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(xi) not less frequently than 
                        once each year, submit to the Interagency Ocean 
                        Observing Observation Committee a report on the 
                        accomplishments, operational needs, and 
                        performance of the System to contribute to the 
                        annual and long-term plans prepared pursuant to 
                        paragraph (2)(B)(i);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(xii) develop and periodically 
                        update a plan to efficiently integrate into the 
                        System new, innovative, or emerging 
                        technologies that have been demonstrated to be 
                        useful to the System and which will fulfill the 
                        purposes of this chapter and the System Plan; 
                        and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(xiii) work with users and 
                        Regional Associations to develop products to 
                        enable real-time data sharing for decision 
                        makers, including with respect to weather 
                        forecasting and modeling, search and rescue 
                        operations, corrosive seawater forecasts, water 
                        quality monitoring and communication, and 
                        harmful algal bloom forecasting.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Regional coastal observing systems.--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) In general.--A Regional Coastal 
                Observing System operated by a Regional Association 
                described in the System Plan may not be certified or 
                established under this subtitle unless it--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) has been or shall be 
                        certified or established by contract or 
                        agreement by the Administrator;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) meets--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) the certification 
                                standards and compliance procedure 
                                guidelines issued by the Administrator; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) the information 
                                needs of user groups in the region 
                                while adhering to national 
                                standards;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) demonstrates an 
                        organizational structure, that under funding 
                        limitations is capable of--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) gathering required 
                                System observation data;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) supporting and 
                                integrating all aspects of coastal and 
                                ocean observing and information 
                                programs within a region; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) reflecting the 
                                needs of State, local, and tribal 
                                governments, commercial interests, and 
                                other users and beneficiaries of the 
                                System and other requirements specified 
                                under this subtitle and the System 
                                Plan;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) identifies--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) gaps in observation 
                                coverage needs for capital improvements 
                                of Federal assets and non-Federal 
                                assets of the System;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) other 
                                recommendations to assist in the 
                                development of the annual and long-term 
                                plans prepared pursuant to paragraph 
                                (2)(B)(i) and transmit such information 
                                to the Interagency Ocean Observation 
                                Committee via the Program Office 
                                established under paragraph 
                                (3)(C)(i);</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) develops and operates under 
                        a strategic operational plan that will ensure 
                        the efficient and effective administration of 
                        programs and assets to support daily data 
                        observations for integration into the System, 
                        pursuant to the standards approved by the 
                        Council;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) works cooperatively with 
                        governmental and nongovernmental entities at 
                        all levels to identify and provide information 
                        products of the System for multiple users 
                        within the service area of the regional coastal 
                        observing system; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vii) complies with all 
                        financial oversight requirements established by 
                        the Administrator, including requirements 
                        relating to audits.</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) Participation.--For the purposes of 
                this title, employees of Federal agencies are permitted 
                to be members of the governing body for the Regional 
                Coastal Observing Systems and may participate in the 
                functions of the regional information coordination 
                entities.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (c) System Advisory Committee.--Section 12304(d) of the 
Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
3603(d)) is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or the 
        Interagency Ocean Observing Observation Committee.'' and 
        inserting ``the Council under this subtitle''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (2)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting 
                ``data sharing,'' after ``data management'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                ``and'' at the end; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (C) by striking subparagraph (D) and 
                inserting the following:</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) additional priorities, including--
                </DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) a national surface current 
                        mapping network designed to improve fine scale 
                        sea surface mapping using high frequency radar 
                        technology and other emerging technologies to 
                        address national priorities, including Coast 
                        Guard search and rescue operation planning and 
                        harmful algal bloom forecasting and detection 
                        that--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) is comprised of 
                                existing high-frequency radar and other 
                                sea surface current mapping 
                                infrastructure operated by regional 
                                associations;</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) incorporates new 
                                high-frequency radar assets or other 
                                fine scale sea surface mapping 
                                technology assets, and other assets 
                                needed to fill gaps in coverage on 
                                United States coastlines; and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(III) follows deployment 
                                plan that prioritizes closing gaps in 
                                high frequency radar infrastructure in 
                                the United States, starting with areas 
                                demonstrating significant sea surface 
                                current data needs, especially in areas 
                                where additional data will improve 
                                Coast Guard search and rescue 
                                models;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) fleet acquisition for 
                        autonomous underwater and surface vehicles for 
                        deployment and data integration to fulfill the 
                        purposes of the Act;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) an integrative survey 
                        program for application of manned and unmanned 
                        vehicles to the real-time or near real-time 
                        collection and transmission of seafloor, water 
                        column, and sea surface data on biology, 
                        chemistry, geology, physics and 
                        hydrography;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iv) remote sensing and data 
                        assimilation to develop new analytical 
                        methodologies to assimilate data from the 
                        Integrated Ocean Observing System into 
                        hydrodynamic models;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(v) integrated, multi-State 
                        monitoring to assess sources, movement and fate 
                        of sediments in coastal regions;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(vi) a multi-region marine sound 
                        monitoring system to be--</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(I) planned in 
                                consultation with the International 
                                Ocean Observing Committee, the National 
                                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
                                and academic research institutions; 
                                and</DELETED>
                                <DELETED>    ``(II) developed, 
                                installed, and operated in coordination 
                                with the National Oceanic and 
                                Atmospheric Administration and academic 
                                research institutions; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) any other purpose identified by the 
                Administrator or the Council.'';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (D) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting 
                ``The Secretary has the ability to stagger the terms of 
                the System advisory committee members.'' before 
                ``Members''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (E) in paragraph (4)--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (i) in subparagraph (A), by 
                        striking ``and the Interagency Ocean Observing 
                        Committee''; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    (ii) in subparagraph (C), by 
                        striking ``Observing'' and inserting 
                        ``Observation''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (d) Civil Liability.--Section 12304(e) of the Integrated 
Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(e)) is 
amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) by striking ``information coordination 
        entity'' and inserting ``coastal observation system''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) by striking ``non-Federal asset or regional 
        information coordination entity'' and inserting ``Regional 
        Coastal Observing System,''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY FINANCING AND AGREEMENTS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12305(a) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3604(a)) is amended to read 
as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--To carry out interagency activities 
under this subtitle, the Secretary of Commerce may execute an 
agreement, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, with any State 
or subdivision thereof, any Federal agency, or any public or private 
organization, or individual to carry out interagency activities under 
this subtitle.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3606) is amended to read as 
follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Requirement.--Not later than 2 years after March 30, 
2009, and every 3 years thereafter, the Administrator shall prepare and 
the President acting through the Council shall approve and transmit to 
the Congress a report on progress made in implementing this 
subtitle.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Contents.--Each report required by subsection (a) 
shall include--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) a description of activities carried out 
        under this subtitle and the System Plan;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
        System, including an evaluation of progress made by the Council 
        to achieve the goals identified under the System 
        Plan;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) identification of Federal and non-Federal 
        assets as determined by the Council that have been integrated 
        into the System, including assets essential to the gathering of 
        required observation data variables necessary to meet the 
        respective missions of Council agencies;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) a review of procurements, planned or 
        initiated, by each Council agency to enhance, expand, or 
        modernize the observation capabilities and data products 
        provided by the System, including data management and 
        communication subsystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) a summary of the existing gaps in 
        observation infrastructure and monitoring data collection, 
        including--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) priorities considered by the System 
                advisory committee;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) the national sea surface current 
                mapping network;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) coastal buoys, and;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) ocean chemistry 
                monitoring;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) an assessment regarding activities to 
        integrate Federal and non-Federal assets, nationally and on the 
        regional level, and discussion of the performance and 
        effectiveness of regional information coordination entities to 
        coordinate regional observation operations;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) a description of benefits of the program to 
        users of data products resulting from the System (including the 
        general public, industries, scientists, resource managers, 
        emergency responders, policy makers, and educators);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) recommendations concerning--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) modifications to the System; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) funding levels for the System in 
                subsequent fiscal years; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(9) the results of a periodic external 
        independent programmatic audit of the System.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 7. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3607) is amended to read as 
follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``The Council shall maintain a policy that defines 
processes for making decisions about the roles of the Federal 
Government, the States, regional information coordination entities, the 
academic community, and the private sector in providing to end-user 
communities environmental information, products, technologies, and 
services related to the System. The Administrator shall ensure that 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration adheres to the decision 
making process developed by the Council regarding the roles of the 
Federal Government, the States, the Regional Coastal Observing Systems, 
the academic communities, and the private sector in providing the end-
user communities environmental information, data products, 
technologies, and services related to the System.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 8. INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 
2009 is amended by striking section 12309 (33 U.S.C. 3608).</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is amended by striking 
section ``2013'' and inserting ``2021''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 10. REPORTS AND RESEARCH PLANS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12404(c) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)) is amended by 
adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) Economic vulnerability report.--Not later 
        than 1 year after the enactment of the Coordinated Ocean 
        Monitoring and Research Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the 
        Subcommittee shall transmit to the Committee on Commerce, 
        Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on 
        Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Natural 
        Resources of the House of Representatives a report that--
        </DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) is named `The Ocean Chemistry 
                Coastal Community Vulnerability Assessment';</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) identifies gaps in ocean 
                acidification monitoring by public, academic, and 
                private assets in the network of regional coastal 
                observing systems;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) identifies areas which have gaps in 
                ocean acidification research;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(D) identifies United States coastal 
                communities, including fishing communities, low-
                population rural communities, tribal and subsistence 
                communities, and island communities, that may be 
                impacted by ocean acidification;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(E) identifies impacts of changing ocean 
                pH on the communities described in subparagraph (D), 
                including impacts from changes in ocean and coastal 
                marine resources that are not managed by the Federal 
                Government;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(F) identifies gaps in understanding of 
                the impacts of ocean acidification on economically or 
                commercially important species, particularly those 
                which support United States commercial, recreational, 
                and tribal fisheries and aquaculture;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(G) identifies habitats that are 
                particularly vulnerable to corrosive sea water, 
                including areas experiencing multiple stressors such as 
                hypoxia, sedimentation and harmful algal 
                blooms;</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(H) identifies areas in which existing 
                Integrated Ocean Observing System assets, including 
                buoys and gliders, that may be leveraged as platforms 
                for the deployment of new sensors; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(I) is written in collaboration with the 
                agencies responsible for carrying out this 
                Act.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) Monitoring prioritization plan.--Not later 
        than 180 days after the submission of the report required by 
        paragraph (4), the Subcommittee shall transmit to the Committee 
        on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
        Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee 
        on Natural Resources of the House of Representatives a report 
        that develops a plan to deploy new sensors--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) based on the report required by 
                paragraph (4);</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) prioritized by--</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(i) the threat to coastal 
                        economies and ecosystems;</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(ii) gaps in data; and</DELETED>
                        <DELETED>    ``(iii) research needs; 
                        and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(C) that leverage existing platforms, 
                where possible.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 11. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) Contents.--Section 12405(b) of the Federal Ocean 
Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704(b)) 
is amended--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at 
        the end and inserting a semicolon and ``and''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(10) make recommendations for research to be 
        conducted, including in the social sciences and economics, to 
        address the key knowledge gaps identified in the economic 
        vulnerability report conducted under section 
        12404(c).''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Program Elements.--Section 12405(c) of the Federal 
Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
3704(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) Research to understand combined effects of 
        changes in ocean chemistry, sediment delivery, hypoxia and 
        harmful algal blooms and the impact these processes have on one 
        another, and how these multiple stressors impact living marine 
        resources and coastal ecosystems.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) Applied research to identify adaptation 
        strategies for species impacted by changes in ocean chemistry 
        including vegetation-based systems, shell recycling, species 
        and genetic diversity, applied technologies, aquaculture 
        methodologies, and management recommendations.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 12. STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON MONITORING.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12406(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705(a)) is amended--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the 
        end;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at 
        the end and inserting a semicolon and ``and''; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) includes an ongoing mechanism that allows 
        potentially affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, 
        fishery management councils and commissions, non-Federal 
        resource managers, and scientific experts to provide input on 
        monitoring needs that are necessary to support on the ground 
        management, decision making, and adaptation related to ocean 
        acidification.''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 13. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    Section 12407(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended to 
read as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(a) Research Activities.--The Director of the National 
Science Foundation shall continue to carry out research activities on 
ocean acidification which shall support competitive, merit-based, peer-
reviewed proposals for research, observatories and monitoring of ocean 
acidification and its impacts, including--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) impacts on marine organisms and marine 
        ecosystems;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) impacts on ocean, coastal, and estuarine 
        biogeochemistry;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) the development of methodologies and 
        technologies to evaluate ocean acidification and its impacts; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) impacts of multiple stressors on ecosystems 
        exhibiting hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, or sediment delivery, 
        combined with changes in ocean chemistry.''.</DELETED>

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Coordinated Ocean 
Monitoring and Research Act''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
Sec. 2. Purposes.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System.
Sec. 5. Financing and agreements.
Sec. 6. Reports to Congress.
Sec. 7. Public-private use policy.
Sec. 8. Repeal of independent cost estimate.
Sec. 9. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 10. Reports and research plans.
Sec. 11. Strategic research plan.
Sec. 12. Stakeholder input on monitoring.
Sec. 13. Research activities.

SEC. 2. PURPOSES.

    Section 12302 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 12302. PURPOSES.

    ``The purposes of this subtitle are--
            ``(1) to establish and sustain a national integrated System 
        of ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observing systems, comprised 
        of Federal and non-Federal components coordinated at the 
        national level by the Council and at the regional level by a 
        network of regional coastal observing systems, and that 
        includes in situ, remote, and other coastal and ocean 
        observation and modeling capabilities, technologies, data 
        management systems, communication systems, and product 
        development systems, and is designed to address regional and 
        national needs for ocean and coastal information, to gather 
        specific data on key coastal, ocean, and Great Lakes variables, 
        and to ensure timely and sustained dissemination and 
        availability of these data--
                    ``(A) to the public;
                    ``(B) to support national defense, search and 
                rescue operations, marine commerce, navigation safety, 
                weather, climate, and marine forecasting, energy siting 
                and production, economic development, ecosystem-based 
                marine, coastal, and Great Lakes resource management, 
                public safety, and public outreach and education;
                    ``(C) to promote greater public awareness and 
                stewardship of the Nation's ocean, coastal, and Great 
                Lakes resources and the general public welfare;
                    ``(D) to provide easy access to ocean, coastal, and 
                Great Lakes data and promote data sharing between 
                Federal and non-Federal sources and promote public data 
                sharing;
                    ``(E) to enable advances in scientific 
                understanding to support the sustainable use, 
                conservation, management, and understanding of healthy 
                ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources; and
                    ``(F) to monitor and model changes in ocean 
                chemistry;
            ``(2) to improve the Nation's capability to measure, track, 
        observe, understand, and predict events related directly and 
        indirectly to weather and climate change, natural climate 
        variability, and interactions between the oceanic and 
        atmospheric environments, including the Great Lakes; and
            ``(3) to authorize activities--
                    ``(A) to promote basic and applied research to 
                develop, test, and deploy innovations and improvements 
                in coastal and ocean observation technologies, 
                including advanced observing technologies needed to 
                address critical data gaps, modeling systems, other 
                scientific and technological capabilities to improve 
                the understanding of weather and climate, ocean-
                atmosphere dynamics, global climate change, and the 
                physical, chemical, and biological dynamics of the 
                ocean, coastal and Great Lakes environments; and
                    ``(B) to conserve healthy and restore degraded 
                coastal ecosystems.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 12303 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3602) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``integrated into the 
        System and are managed through States, regional organizations, 
        universities, nongovernmental organizations, or the private 
        sector'' and inserting ``managed through States, regional 
        organizations, universities, nongovernmental organizations, or 
        the private sector and integrated into the system by the 
        regional coastal ocean observing system, the National Oceanic 
        and Atmospheric Administration, or the agencies on the 
        Interagency Ocean Observation Committee'';
            (2) by amending paragraph (6) to read as follows:
            ``(6) Regional coastal observing system.--The term 
        `regional coastal observing system' means an organizational 
        body that is certified or established by contract or memorandum 
        by the lead Federal agency designated in section 12304(c)(3) 
        and coordinates State, Federal, local, tribal, and private 
        interests at a regional level with the responsibility of 
        engaging the private and public sectors in designing, 
        operating, and improving regional coastal and ocean observing 
        systems in order to ensure the provision of data and 
        information that meet the needs of user groups from the 
        respective regions.''; and
            (3) in paragraph (7), by striking ``National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration'' and inserting ``Administrator''.

SEC. 4. INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM.

    (a) System Elements.--
            (1) In general.--Section 12304(b) of the Integrated Coastal 
        and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)) is 
        amended by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
            ``(1) In general.--In order to fulfill the purposes of this 
        subtitle, the System shall be national in scope and consist 
        of--
                    ``(A) Federal assets to fulfill national and 
                international observation missions and priorities;
                    ``(B) non-Federal assets, including a network of 
                regional coastal observing systems identified under 
                subsection (c)(4), to fulfill regional and national 
                observation missions and priorities;
                    ``(C) data management, communication, and modeling 
                systems for the timely integration and dissemination of 
                data and information products from the System;
                    ``(D) a product development system to transform 
                observations into products in a format that may be 
                readily used and understood; and
                    ``(E) a research and development program conducted 
                under the guidance of the Council, consisting of--
                            ``(i) basic and applied research and 
                        technology development--
                                    ``(I) to improve understanding of 
                                coastal and ocean systems and their 
                                relationships to human activities; and
                                    ``(II) to ensure improvement of 
                                operational assets and products, 
                                including related infrastructure, 
                                observing technologies, and information 
                                and data processing and management 
                                technologies;
                            ``(ii) an advanced observing technology 
                        development program to fill gaps in technology;
                            ``(iii) large scale computing resources and 
                        research to advance modeling of coastal, ocean, 
                        and Great Lakes processes;
                            ``(iv) models to improve regional weather 
                        forecasting capabilities and regional weather 
                        forecasting products; and
                            ``(v) reviews of data collection procedures 
                        across regions and programs to make 
                        recommendations for data collection standards 
                        across the System to meet national ocean, 
                        coastal, and Great Lakes observation, applied 
                        research, and weather forecasting needs.''.
            (2) Availability of data.--Section 12304(b)(3) of such Act 
        (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)(3)) is amended by inserting ``for research 
        and for use in the development of products to address societal 
        needs'' before the period at the end.
            (3) Coordination of non-federal assets.--Section 
        12304(b)(4) of such Act (33 U.S.C. 3603(b)) is amended--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by striking ``Non-
                federal'' and inserting ``Coordination of non-
                federal''; and
                    (B) by striking ``or by'' and inserting ``, the 
                regional coastal observing system, or''.
    (b) Policy Oversight, Administration, and Regional Coordination.--
Section 12304(c) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System 
Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(c)) is amended by striking paragraphs (2), 
(3), and (4), and inserting the following:
            ``(2) Interagency ocean observation committee.--
                    ``(A) Establishment.--The Council shall establish 
                or designate a committee, which shall be known as the 
                Interagency Ocean Observation Committee.
                    ``(B) Duties.--The Interagency Ocean Observation 
                Committee shall--
                            ``(i) prepare annual and long-term plans 
                        for consideration and approval by the Council 
                        for the integrated design, operation, 
                        maintenance, enhancement, and expansion of the 
                        System to meet the objectives of this chapter 
                        and the System Plan;
                            ``(ii) develop and transmit to Congress, 
                        along with the budget submitted by the 
                        President to Congress pursuant to section 
                        1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, an 
                        annual coordinated, comprehensive budget--
                                    ``(I) to operate all elements of 
                                the System identified in subsection 
                                (b); and
                                    ``(II) to ensure continuity of data 
                                streams from Federal and non-Federal 
                                assets;
                            ``(iii) establish requirements for 
                        observation data variables to be gathered by 
                        both Federal and non-Federal assets and 
                        identify, in consultation with regional 
                        information coordination entities, priorities 
                        for System observations;
                            ``(iv) establish and define protocols and 
                        standards for System data processing, 
                        management, collection, configuration 
                        standards, formats, and communication for new 
                        and existing assets throughout the Integrated 
                        Ocean Observing System network;
                            ``(v) develop contract requirements for 
                        each regional coastal observing system--
                                    ``(I) to establish eligibility for 
                                integration into the System;
                                    ``(II) to ensure compliance with 
                                all applicable standards and protocols 
                                established by the Council; and
                                    ``(III) to ensure that regional 
                                observations are integrated into the 
                                System on a sustained basis;
                            ``(vi) identify gaps in observation 
                        coverage or needs for capital improvements of 
                        both Federal assets and non-Federal assets;
                            ``(vii) subject to the availability of 
                        appropriations, establish through 1 or more 
                        participating Federal agencies, in consultation 
                        with the System advisory committee established 
                        under subsection (d), a competitive matching 
                        grant or other programs--
                                    ``(I) to promote intramural and 
                                extramural research and development of 
                                new, innovative, and emerging 
                                observation technologies including 
                                testing and field trials; and
                                    ``(II) to facilitate the migration 
                                of new, innovative, and emerging 
                                scientific and technological advances 
                                from research and development to 
                                operational deployment;
                            ``(viii) periodically--
                                    ``(I) review the System Plan; and
                                    ``(II) submit to the Council such 
                                recommendations as the Interagency 
                                Ocean Observation Committee may have 
                                for improvements to the System Plan;
                            ``(ix) ensure collaboration among Federal 
                        agencies participating in the activities of the 
                        Interagency Ocean Observation Committee; and
                            ``(x) perform such additional duties as the 
                        Council may delegate.
            ``(3) Lead federal agency.--
                    ``(A) In general.--The National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration shall function as the lead 
                Federal agency for the implementation and 
                administration of the System.
                    ``(B) Consultation required.--In carrying out this 
                paragraph, the Administrator shall consult with the 
                Council, the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, 
                other Federal agencies that maintain portions of the 
                System, and the regional coastal observing systems.
                    ``(C) Requirements.--In carrying out this 
                paragraph, the Administrator shall--
                            ``(i) establish and operate an Integrated 
                        Ocean Observing System Program Office within 
                        the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                        Administration--
                                    ``(I) that utilizes, to the extent 
                                necessary, personnel from member 
                                agencies participating on the 
                                Interagency Ocean Observation 
                                Committee; and
                                    ``(II) oversees daily operations 
                                and coordination of the System;
                            ``(ii) implement policies, protocols, and 
                        standards approved by the Council and delegated 
                        by the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee;
                            ``(iii) promulgate program guidelines--
                                    ``(I) to certify and integrate 
                                regional associations into the System; 
                                and
                                    ``(II) to provide regional coastal 
                                and ocean observation data that meet 
                                the needs of user groups from the 
                                respective regions;
                            ``(iv) have the authority to enter into and 
                        oversee contracts, leases, grants, or 
                        cooperative agreements with non-Federal assets, 
                        including regional information coordination 
                        entities, to support the purposes of this 
                        chapter on such terms as the Administrator 
                        deems appropriate;
                            ``(v) implement and maintain a merit-based, 
                        competitive funding process to support non-
                        Federal assets, including the development and 
                        maintenance of a network of regional coastal 
                        observing systems, and develop and implement a 
                        process for the periodic review and evaluation 
                        of the regional associations;
                            ``(vi) provide opportunities for 
                        competitive contracts and grants for 
                        demonstration projects to design, develop, 
                        integrate, deploy, maintain, and support 
                        components of the System;
                            ``(vii) establish and maintain efficient 
                        and effective administrative procedures for the 
                        timely allocation of funds among contractors, 
                        grantees, and non-Federal assets, including 
                        regional associations;
                            ``(viii) develop and implement a process 
                        for the periodic review and evaluation of the 
                        regional coastal observing systems;
                            ``(ix) formulate an annual process by which 
                        gaps in observation coverage or needs for 
                        capital improvements of Federal assets and non-
                        Federal assets of the System are--
                                    ``(I) identified by the regional 
                                associations described in the System 
                                Plan, the Administrator, or other 
                                members of the System; and
                                    ``(II) submitted to the Interagency 
                                Ocean Observation Committee;
                            ``(x) develop and be responsible for a data 
                        management and communication system, in 
                        accordance with standards and protocols 
                        established by the Interagency Ocean 
                        Observation Committee, by which all data 
                        collected by the System regarding ocean and 
                        coastal waters of the United States including 
                        the Great Lakes, are processed, stored, 
                        integrated, and made available to all end-user 
                        communities;
                            ``(xi) not less frequently than once each 
                        year, submit to the Interagency Ocean 
                        Observation Committee a report on the 
                        accomplishments, operational needs, and 
                        performance of the System to contribute to the 
                        annual and long-term plans prepared pursuant to 
                        paragraph (2)(B)(i);
                            ``(xii) develop and periodically update a 
                        plan to efficiently integrate into the System 
                        new, innovative, or emerging technologies that 
                        have been demonstrated to be useful to the 
                        System and which will fulfill the purposes of 
                        this chapter and the System Plan; and
                            ``(xiii) work with users and Regional 
                        Associations to develop products to enable 
                        real-time data sharing for decision makers, 
                        including with respect to weather forecasting 
                        and modeling, search and rescue operations, 
                        corrosive seawater forecasts, water quality 
                        monitoring and communication, and harmful algal 
                        bloom forecasting.
            ``(4) Regional coastal observing systems.--
                    ``(A) In general.--A regional coastal observing 
                system operated by a Regional Association described in 
                the System Plan may not be certified or established 
                under this subtitle unless it--
                            ``(i) has been or shall be certified or 
                        established by contract or agreement by the 
                        Administrator;
                            ``(ii) meets--
                                    ``(I) the certification standards 
                                and compliance procedure guidelines 
                                issued by the Administrator; and
                                    ``(II) the information needs of 
                                user groups in the region while 
                                adhering to national standards;
                            ``(iii) demonstrates an organizational 
                        structure, that under funding limitations is 
                        capable of--
                                    ``(I) gathering required System 
                                observation data;
                                    ``(II) supporting and integrating 
                                all aspects of coastal and ocean 
                                observing and information programs 
                                within a region; and
                                    ``(III) reflecting the needs of 
                                State, local, and tribal governments, 
                                commercial interests, and other users 
                                and beneficiaries of the System and 
                                other requirements specified under this 
                                subtitle and the System Plan;
                            ``(iv) identifies--
                                    ``(I) gaps in observation coverage 
                                needs for capital improvements of 
                                Federal assets and non-Federal assets 
                                of the System; and
                                    ``(II) other recommendations to 
                                assist in the development of the annual 
                                and long-term plans prepared pursuant 
                                to paragraph (2)(B)(i) and transmits 
                                such information to the Interagency 
                                Ocean Observation Committee via the 
                                Program Office established under 
                                paragraph (3)(C)(i);
                            ``(v) develops and operates under a 
                        strategic operational plan that will ensure the 
                        efficient and effective administration of 
                        programs and assets to support daily data 
                        observations for integration into the System, 
                        pursuant to the standards approved by the 
                        Council;
                            ``(vi) works cooperatively with 
                        governmental and nongovernmental entities at 
                        all levels to identify and provide information 
                        products of the System for multiple users 
                        within the service area of the regional coastal 
                        observing system; and
                            ``(vii) complies with all financial 
                        oversight requirements established by the 
                        Administrator, including requirements relating 
                        to audits.
                    ``(B) Participation.--For the purposes of this 
                title, employees of Federal agencies are permitted to 
                be members of the governing body for the regional 
                coastal observing systems and may participate in the 
                functions of the regional information coordination 
                entities.''.
    (c) System Advisory Committee.--Section 12304(d) of the Integrated 
Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(d)) is 
amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``or the Interagency 
        Ocean Observing Committee.'' and inserting ``or the Council 
        under this subtitle''; and
            (2) in paragraph (2)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``, data 
                sharing,'' after ``data management'';
                    (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``and'' at the 
                end; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the 
                following:
                    ``(D) additional priorities, including--
                            ``(i) a national surface current mapping 
                        network designed to improve fine scale sea 
                        surface mapping using high frequency radar 
                        technology and other emerging technologies to 
                        address national priorities, including Coast 
                        Guard search and rescue operation planning and 
                        harmful algal bloom forecasting and detection 
                        that--
                                    ``(I) is comprised of existing high 
                                frequency radar and other sea surface 
                                current mapping infrastructure operated 
                                by national programs and regional 
                                associations;
                                    ``(II) incorporates new high 
                                frequency radar assets or other fine 
                                scale sea surface mapping technology 
                                assets, and other assets needed to fill 
                                gaps in coverage on United States 
                                coastlines; and
                                    ``(III) follows a deployment plan 
                                that prioritizes closing gaps in high 
                                frequency radar infrastructure in the 
                                United States, starting with areas 
                                demonstrating significant sea surface 
                                current data needs, especially in areas 
                                where additional data will improve 
                                Coast Guard search and rescue models;
                            ``(ii) fleet acquisition for autonomous 
                        underwater and surface vehicles for deployment 
                        and data integration to fulfill the purposes of 
                        this Act;
                            ``(iii) an integrative survey program for 
                        application of manned and unmanned vehicles to 
                        the real-time or near real-time collection and 
                        transmission of sea floor, water column, and 
                        sea surface data on biology, chemistry, 
                        geology, physics, and hydrography;
                            ``(iv) remote sensing and data assimilation 
                        to develop new analytical methodologies to 
                        assimilate data from the Integrated Ocean 
                        Observing System into hydrodynamic models;
                            ``(v) integrated, multi-State monitoring to 
                        assess sources, movement, and fate of sediments 
                        in coastal regions;
                            ``(vi) a multi-region marine sound 
                        monitoring system to be--
                                    ``(I) planned in consultation with 
                                the Interagency Ocean Observation 
                                Committee, the National Oceanic and 
                                Atmospheric Administration, the 
                                Department of the Navy, and academic 
                                research institutions; and
                                    ``(II) developed, installed, and 
                                operated in coordination with the 
                                National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                                Administration, the Department of the 
                                Navy, and academic research 
                                institutions; and
                    ``(E) any other purpose identified by the 
                Administrator or the Council.'';
                    (D) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting ``The 
                Administrator may stagger the terms of the System 
                advisory committee members.'' before ``Members''; and
                    (E) in paragraph (4)--
                            (i) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``and 
                        the Interagency Ocean Observing Committee''; 
                        and
                            (ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
                        ``Observing'' and inserting ``Observation''.
    (d) Civil Liability.--Section 12304(e) of the Integrated Coastal 
and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(e)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``information coordination entity'' and 
        inserting ``coastal observing system''; and
            (2) by striking ``non-Federal asset or regional information 
        coordination entity,'' and inserting ``regional coastal 
        observing system,''.

SEC. 5. FINANCING AND AGREEMENTS.

    Section 12305(a) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3604(a)) is amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) In General.--To carry out activities under this subtitle, the 
Secretary of Commerce may execute an agreement, on a reimbursable or 
nonreimbursable basis, with any State or subdivision thereof, any 
Federal agency, any public or private organization, or any individual 
to carry out activities under this subtitle.''.

SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS.

    Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3606) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 12307. REPORT TO CONGRESS.

    ``(a) Requirement.--Not later than 2 years after March 30, 2009, 
and every 3 years thereafter, the Administrator shall prepare, and the 
President acting through the Council shall approve and transmit to the 
Congress, a report on progress made in implementing this subtitle.
    ``(b) Contents.--Each report required under subsection (a) shall 
include--
            ``(1) a description of activities carried out under this 
        subtitle and the System Plan;
            ``(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the System, 
        including an evaluation of progress made by the Council to 
        achieve the goals identified under the System Plan;
            ``(3) the identification of Federal and non-Federal assets 
        as determined by the Council that have been integrated into the 
        System, including assets essential to the gathering of required 
        observation data variables necessary to meet the respective 
        missions of Council agencies;
            ``(4) a review of procurements, planned or initiated, by 
        each Council agency to enhance, expand, or modernize the 
        observation capabilities and data products provided by the 
        System, including data management and communication subsystems;
            ``(5) a summary of the existing gaps in observation 
        infrastructure and monitoring data collection, including--
                    ``(A) priorities considered by the System advisory 
                committee;
                    ``(B) the national sea surface current mapping 
                network;
                    ``(C) coastal buoys;
                    ``(D) ocean chemistry monitoring;
                    ``(E) marine sound monitoring; and
                    ``(F) autonomous underwater and surface vehicle 
                technology gaps;
            ``(6) an assessment regarding activities to integrate 
        Federal and non-Federal assets, nationally and on the regional 
        level, and discussion of the performance and effectiveness of 
        regional information coordination entities to coordinate 
        regional observation operations;
            ``(7) a description of benefits of the program to users of 
        data products resulting from the System (including the general 
        public, industries, scientists, resource managers, emergency 
        responders, policy makers, and educators);
            ``(8) recommendations concerning--
                    ``(A) modifications to the System; and
                    ``(B) funding levels for the System in subsequent 
                fiscal years; and
            ``(9) the results of a periodic external independent 
        programmatic audit of the System.''.

SEC. 7. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY.

    Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3607) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 12308. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY.

    ``The Council shall maintain a policy that defines processes for 
making decisions about the roles of the Federal Government, the States, 
regional information coordination entities, the academic community, and 
the private sector in providing to end-user communities environmental 
information, products, technologies, and services related to the 
System. The Administrator shall ensure that National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration adheres to the decision making process 
developed by the Council regarding the roles of the Federal Government, 
the States, the regional coastal observing systems, the academic 
communities, and the private sector in providing the end-user 
communities environmental information, data products, technologies, and 
services related to the System.''.

SEC. 8. REPEAL OF INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE.

    (a) In General.--The Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) is amended by striking 
section 12309 (33 U.S.C. 3608).
    (b) Table of Contents Amendment.--The table of contents in section 
1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-
11; 123 Stat. 991) is amended by striking the item related to section 
12309.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation 
System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is amended by striking ``2013'' and 
inserting ``2019''.

SEC. 10. REPORTS AND RESEARCH PLANS.

    Section 12404(c) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And 
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3703(c)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following:
            ``(4) Economic vulnerability report.--
                    ``(A) In general.--Not later than 2 years after the 
                date of the enactment of the Coordinated Ocean 
                Monitoring and Research Act, and every 5 years 
                thereafter, the Subcommittee shall transmit to 
                appropriate committees of Congress a report that--
                            ``(i) is named `The Ocean Chemistry Coastal 
                        Community Vulnerability Assessment';
                            ``(ii) identifies gaps in ocean 
                        acidification monitoring by public, academic, 
                        and private assets in the network of regional 
                        coastal observing systems;
                            ``(iii) identifies geographic areas which 
                        have gaps in ocean acidification research;
                            ``(iv) identifies United States coastal 
                        communities, including fishing communities, 
                        low-population rural communities, tribal and 
                        subsistence communities, and island 
                        communities, that may be impacted by ocean 
                        acidification;
                            ``(v) identifies impacts of changing ocean 
                        carbonate chemistry on the communities 
                        described in clause (iv), including impacts 
                        from changes in ocean and coastal marine 
                        resources that are not managed by the Federal 
                        Government;
                            ``(vi) identifies gaps in understanding of 
                        the impacts of ocean acidification on 
                        economically or commercially important species, 
                        particularly those which support United States 
                        commercial, recreational, and tribal fisheries 
                        and aquaculture;
                            ``(vii) identifies habitats that may be 
                        particularly vulnerable to corrosive sea water, 
                        including areas experiencing multiple stressors 
                        such as hypoxia, sedimentation, and harmful 
                        algal blooms;
                            ``(viii) identifies areas in which existing 
                        Integrated Ocean Observing System assets, 
                        including buoys and gliders, may be leveraged 
                        as platforms for the deployment of new sensors 
                        or other applicable observing technologies; and
                            ``(ix) is written in collaboration with the 
                        agencies responsible for carrying out this Act.
                    ``(B) Form of report.--
                            ``(i) Initial report.--The initial report 
                        required under subparagraph (A) shall include 
                        the information described in clauses (i) 
                        through (ix) on a national level.
                            ``(ii) Subsequent reports.--Each report 
                        required under subparagraph (A) after the 
                        initial report--
                                    ``(I) may describe the information 
                                described in clauses (i) through (ix) 
                                on a national level; or
                                    ``(II) may consist of separate 
                                reports for each region of the National 
                                Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
                            ``(iii) Regional reports.--If the 
                        Subcommittee opts to prepare a report required 
                        under subparagraph (A) as separate regional 
                        reports under clause (ii)(II), the Subcommittee 
                        shall submit a report for each region of the 
                        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 
                        not less frequently than once during each 5-
                        year reporting period.
                    ``(C) Appropriate committees of congress defined.--
                In this paragraph and in paragraph (5), the term 
                `appropriate committees of Congress' means the 
                Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of 
                the Senate, the Committee on Science, Space, and 
                Technology of the House of Representatives, and the 
                Committee on Natural Resources of the House of 
                Representatives.
            ``(5) Monitoring prioritization plan.--Not later than 180 
        days after the date of the submission of the initial report 
        under paragraph (4)(A), the Subcommittee shall transmit to the 
        appropriate committees of Congress a report that develops a 
        plan to deploy new sensors or other applicable observing 
        technologies--
                    ``(A) based on such initial report;
                    ``(B) prioritized by--
                            ``(i) the threat to coastal economies and 
                        ecosystems;
                            ``(ii) gaps in data; and
                            ``(iii) research needs; and
                    ``(C) that leverage existing platforms, where 
                possible.''.

SEC. 11. STRATEGIC RESEARCH PLAN.

    (a) Contents.--Section 12405(b) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (8), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (9), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(10) make recommendations for research to be conducted, 
        including in the social sciences and economics, to address the 
        key knowledge gaps identified in the economic vulnerability 
        report conducted under section 12404(c)(4).''.
    (b) Program Elements.--Section 12405(c) of the Federal Ocean 
Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3704(c)) 
is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(6) Research to understand combined effects of changes in 
        ocean chemistry, sediment delivery, hypoxia, and harmful algal 
        blooms and the impact these processes have on each other, and 
        how these multiple stressors impact living marine resources and 
        coastal ecosystems.
            ``(7) Applied research to identify adaptation strategies 
        for species impacted by changes in ocean chemistry including 
        vegetation-based systems, shell recycling, species and genetic 
        diversity, applied technologies, aquaculture methodologies, and 
        management recommendations.''.

SEC. 12. STAKEHOLDER INPUT ON MONITORING.

    Section 12406(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And 
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3705(a)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting a semicolon and ``and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) includes an ongoing mechanism that allows potentially 
        affected industry members, coastal stakeholders, fishery 
        management councils and commissions, non-Federal resource 
        managers, and scientific experts to provide input on monitoring 
        needs that are necessary to support on the ground management, 
        decision making, and adaptation related to ocean 
        acidification.''.

SEC. 13. RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.

    Section 12407(a) of the Federal Ocean Acidification Research And 
Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3706(a)) is amended to read as 
follows:
    ``(a) Research Activities.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall continue to carry out research activities on ocean 
acidification which shall support competitive, merit-based, peer-
reviewed proposals for research, observatories and monitoring of ocean 
acidification and its impacts, including--
            ``(1) impacts on marine organisms and marine ecosystems;
            ``(2) impacts on ocean, coastal, and estuarine 
        biogeochemistry;
            ``(3) the development of methodologies and technologies to 
        evaluate ocean acidification and its impacts; and
            ``(4) impacts of multiple stressors on ecosystems 
        exhibiting hypoxia, harmful algal blooms, or sediment delivery, 
        combined with changes in ocean chemistry.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 265

115th CONGRESS

  1st Session

                                S. 1425

                          [Report No. 115-186]

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

To reauthorize the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act 
                    of 2009, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

                           November 27, 2017

                       Reported with an amendment