[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 132 (Wednesday, November 17, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S11423]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           OCEAN AND COASTAL MAPPING INTEGRATION ACT OF 2004

  Mr. INOUYE. Mr. President, I rise in support of my bill, S. 2489, the 
Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act of 2004, which is being 
considered by the Senate. This bill which was reported unanimously from 
the Commerce Committee, addresses the nearly 90 percent of the U.S. 
Territorial Sea and Exclusive Economic Zone that remain unmapped by 
modern technologies. I am pleased to be joined by my friends and 
colleagues, Senators Ted Stevens, Fritz Hollings, Judd Gregg, Olympia 
Snowe, Trent Lott, John Breaux, Frank Lautenberg, and Dan Akaka, who 
are cosponsors of the bill.
  There was a time in the history of our Nation when our best efforts 
to map the seas meant lowering weights tied to piano wire over the side 
of a vessel, and measuring how deep they went. These efforts led to the 
development of rudimentary nautical charts designed to help mariners 
navigate safely. The rapidly increasing uses of our coastal and ocean 
waters, however, call for development of a new generation of ecosystem-
oriented mapping and assessment products and services.
  The technologies of today create richly layered mapping products that 
expand far beyond just charting for safe navigation. Now, by combining 
such information as mineral surveys of the U.S. Geological Service, 
habitat characterizations of the National Oceanic Atmospheric 
Administration, and watershed assessments of the Environmental 
Protection Agency into a single product, map users are able to consider 
the impacts of their actions on multiple facets of the marine 
environment.
  The recent draft report of the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy has 
highlighted the urgent need to modernize, improve, expand, and 
integrate federal mapping efforts to improve navigation, safety and 
resource management decision making. By employing integrated mapping 
approaches, urban and residential growth can be directed away from 
areas of high risk from ocean-based threats such as tsunami and tidal 
surge. The risks of maritime activities can be minimized by identifying 
hazards that could impact sensitive ecosystems, and devising 
appropriate mitigation plans. Managers of living marine resource can 
also gauge where and how best to focus their efforts to restore 
essential marine habitats.
  My bill will lay the foundation for producing the ocean maps of the 
21st century. It mandates coordination among the many federal agencies 
with mapping missions with NOAA as the lead in developing national 
mapping priorities and strategies. The bill will also establish 
national ocean and coastal mapping centers to manage comprehensively 
the mapping data produced by the Federal Government, encourage 
innovation in technologies, and authorize the funding necessary to 
implement this comprehensive effort.
  Perhaps the most important lesson that comprehensive, integrated 
mapping can afford is an awareness of a web of human marine communities 
as rich and varied as the ocean itself. From awareness grows 
understanding, respect, and cooperation.
  I am extremely proud to be the author of this legislation, and hope 
you will join me in supporting enactment of the Ocean and Coastal 
Mapping Integration Act of 2004. This bill will provide the United 
States with the programs and resources necessary to improve maritime 
commerce and national security, and develop healthy coastal communities 
across the Nation.

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