[House Report 108-400]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
108th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session 108-400
======================================================================
HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES AMENDMENTS OF 2003
_______
November 21, 2003.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Pombo, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 958]
[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]
The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill
(H.R. 958) to authorize certain hydrographic services programs,
to name a cove in Alaska in honor of the late Able Bodied
Seaman Eric Steiner Koss, and for other purposes, having
considered the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment
and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
The amendment is as follows:
Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the
following:
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Hydrographic Services Amendments of
2003''.
TITLE I--NOAA HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT
SEC. 101. REFERENCES.
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this title an
amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal
of, a section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to
be made to a section or other provision of the Hydrographic Services
Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892 et seq.).
SEC. 102. FUNCTIONS OF ADMINISTRATOR.
(a) Regional Navigation Response Teams.--Section 303(a) (33 U.S.C.
892a(a)) is amended by striking paragraphs (7) and (8) and inserting
the following:
``(7) establish, equip, and maintain up to 10 Regional
Navigation Response teams in priority coastal areas identified
by the Secretary, in consultation with the Commandant of the
Coast Guard, to conduct activities related to navigational
safety and the validation of hydrographic data;
``(8) to the greatest extent practicable and cost-effective,
fulfill the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (7) through
contracts or other agreements with private sector entities; and
``(9) participate in the development of, and implement for
the United States in cooperation with other appropriate Federal
agencies, international standards for hydrographic data and
hydrographic services.''.
(b) Authority To Accept Volunteer Services.--Section 303 (33 U.S.C.
892a) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(d) Authority To Accept Volunteer Services.--
``(1) In general.--To help fulfill the duties of the
Administrator, including authorities under the Act of 1947 (33
U.S.C. 883a et seq.), this Act, or in response to a maritime
emergency, the Administrator may--
``(A) establish a volunteer program; and
``(B) enter into special agreements with qualified
organizations to assist in the implementation of a
volunteer program.
``(2) Legal status of volunteers.--
``(A) Paragraphs (1) through (5) of section 7(c) of
the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(c))
shall apply to volunteers who provide services to the
Administrator under a volunteer program established
under paragraph (1).-
``(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), any reference
in section 7(c) of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956
(16 U.S.C. 742f(c)) to the Secretary of Interior or the
Secretary of Commerce is deemed to refer to the
Administrator.
``(3) Qualified organization.--In this subsection, the term
`qualified organization' means a nongovernmental, not-for-
profit organization, determined by the Administrator to have
demonstrated expertise in boating safety and a commitment to
improving the quality of hydrographic services and related
oceanographic and meteorological information that is made
available to mariners.
``(e) Participation in Joint Institute.--The Secretary may
participate in a joint institute that develops new hydrographic
technology and conducts academic, educational, and outreach activities
that assist the Administrator in fulfilling the functions of the
Administrator under this section.''.
SEC. 103. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.
(a) Acceptance and Recognition of Certifications.--Section 304(b) (33
U.S.C. 892b(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(3) Acceptance and recognition of certifications.--The
Administrator shall, to the maximum extent practicable, assure
that any international organizations and agreements to which
the United States is a party that affect hydrographic products
and nautical charts accept or recognize, respectively,
hydrographic products certified by the Administrator under this
subsection.''.
(b) Implementation of Executive Order and OMB Circular.--Section 304
(33 U.S.C. 892b) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(f) Annual Study and Report Regarding Implementation of Executive
Order and OMB Circular.--
``(1) In general.--The Administrator shall annually conduct a
study of, and report to the panel established under section 305
regarding, steps taken to comply with section 3(d) of Executive
Order 12906 and Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16
with respect to the collection and production of new
hydrographic data and products by the Administration.
``(2) Consultation.--In carrying out the study and report,
the Administrator shall consult with the Federal Geographic
Data Committee.''.
SEC. 104. ACQUISITION OF HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY VESSEL.
(a) In General.--The Secretary of Commerce may, in accordance with
this section, acquire, by purchase, lease, lease-purchase, or charter,
and equip one hydrographic survey vessel.
(b) Vessel Requirements.--Any vessel acquired and equipped under this
section must be capable of--
(1) staying at sea continuously for at least 30 days;
(2) carrying at least 4 hydrographic survey launches;
(3) conducting hydrographic surveys; and
(4) conducting other work necessary to provide mariners with
the accurate and timely data needed to conduct safe and
efficient maritime commerce.
(c) Plan.--No later than 6 months after the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee on Resources of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science and
Transportation of the Senate a detailed plan for implementing this
section, including--
(1) a timetable and cost estimates for the acquisition and
equipping of the vessel under subsection (a);
(2) an explanation of what vessel or vessels would be retired
when the vessel described in subsection (a) becomes
operational; and
(3) a comparison of the 10-year estimated costs of operation
and maintenance of a new vessel versus the 2 vessels proposed
for retirement.
(d) Authorization.--To prepare the plan required under subsection
(c), there is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
Commerce $1,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.
SEC. 105. KOSS COVE.
(a) In General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law or
existing policy, the cove described in subsection (b) shall be known
and designated as ``Koss Cove'', in honor of the late Able Bodied
Seaman Eric Steiner Koss of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration vessel RAINIER who died in the performance of a nautical
charting mission off the Alaskan coast.
(b) Cove Described.--The cove referred to in subsection (a) is--
(1) adjacent to and southeast of Point Elrington, Alaska, and
forms a portion of the southern coast of Elrington Island;
(2) \3/4\ mile across the mouth;
(3) centered at 59 degrees 56.1 minutes North, 148 degrees 14
minutes West; and
(4) 45 miles of Seward, Alaska.
(c) References.--Any reference in any law, regulation, document,
record, map, or other paper of the United States to the cove described
in subsection (b) is deemed to be a reference to Koss Cove.
SEC. 106. DEPICTION OF SAME SHORELINES ON CHARTS AND MAPPING PRODUCTS.
Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Act, the
Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior, in
consultation with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, shall
provide to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate a plan to depict the same shorelines on National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration nautical charts and United States Geological
Survey mapping products.
SEC. 107. AMENDMENTS TO THE HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES PANEL.
Section 305 of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33
U.S.C. 892c) is amended--
(1) in subsection (a), by striking ``Secretary'' and
inserting ``Secretary of Commerce''; and
(2) in subsection (c)(3), subsection (d), and subsection (e),
by striking ``Secretary'' each place it appears and inserting
``Administrator''.
SEC. 108. GREAT LAKES WATER LEVEL MEASUREMENTS.
Section 306(5) of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998
(33 U.S.C. 892d(5)) is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (E) as clauses
(i) through (v), respectively;
(2) by striking ``(5)'' and inserting ``(5)(A)''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following new subparagraph:
``(B) Of the amounts authorized under subparagraph (A),
$2,000,000 in each fiscal year is authorized for the Great
Lakes Water Level Observation Network.''.
TITLE II--FISHERY SURVEY VESSELS
SEC. 201. FISHERY SURVEY VESSELS.
Section 302(c) of the Fisheries Survey Vessel Authorization Act of
2000 (33 U.S.C. 891b note) is amended by striking ``2002 and 2003'' and
inserting ``2004, 2005, and 2006''.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of H.R. 958 is to authorize certain
hydrographic services programs, and to name a cove in Alaska in
honor of the late Able Bodied Seaman Eric Steiner Koss, and for
other purposes.
Background and Need for Legislation
Part of the Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is responsible for the
United States navigation services programs. These include the
collection of hydrographic data for, and the production and
distribution of, nautical charts, the maintenance of the
geodetic reference system and the measurement and prediction of
tides and currents.
By the mid-1990s, 20 years of severe budget cuts and a
revolution in geospatial reference technology left this program
decades behind in meeting its mission goals, and
technologically unable to provide the up-to-date products
needed to assure safe and efficient marine transportation. In
response to this problem, Congress enacted the Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892 et seq.). The
1998 Act encouraged contracting for services. Coupled with
increased appropriations, the changes made by the 1998 Act have
reduced the nautical charting backlog for areas critical to
navigation (about 1% of the Exclusive Economic Zone) and
modernized NOAA hydrographic, geodetic, and tide and current
measurement programs.
A bill to reauthorize the Hydrographic Services Improvement
Act of 1998 passed in the waning days of the 107th Congress
(Public Law 107-372). However, there were a number of
provisions that were not addressed in that reauthorization and
H.R. 958 attempts to resolve those issues.
As ordered reported, the Hydrographic Services Amendments
Act of 2003 authorizes the establishment of regional navigation
response teams, authorizes the use of volunteer services,
provides a mechanism by which hydrographic products certified
by the NOAA Administrator are accepted by international
organizations, requires an annual study and report regarding
the implementation of Executive Order 12906 and Office of
Management and Budget circular A-16, authorizes the Secretary
of Commerce to acquire a hydrographic survey vessel, requires a
report to Congress on progress made to depict the same
shorelines on charts by NOAA and the U.S. Geological Survey,
names a cove in Alaska in honor of the late Able Bodied Seaman
Eric Steiner Koss (who was killed on a nautical charting
mission), makes clarifying changes to the Hydrographic Services
Review Panel established by the Hydrographic Services
Improvement Act of 1998, earmarks funds for the Great Lakes
Water Level Observation Network, and reauthorizes
appropriations for fishery survey vessels in the Fisheries
Survey Vessel Authorization Act of 2000 for fiscal years 2004-
2006.
Committee Action
H.R. 958 was introduced on February 27, 2003, by
Congressman Don Young (R-AK). The bill was referred to the
Committee on Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans. On
March 27, 2003, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the bill. On
July 17, 2003, the Subcommittee met to mark up the bill.
Congressman Mark E. Souder (R-IN) offered an amendment to
clarify that the Secretary of Commerce would establish the
Hydrographic Services Review panel and the Administrator of
NOAA would oversee the operations of the panel. The amendment
also clarified that $2 million of the authorized appropriations
be used to modernize the Great Lakes stations of the National
Water Level Observation Network. It was adopted by voice vote.
The bill as amended was then forwarded to the Full Committee by
voice vote. On October 29, 2003, the Full Resources Committee
met to consider the bill. Congressman Wayne T. Gilchrest (R-MD)
offered an amendment to strike section 104 of the bill, which
required the Administrator of NOAA to submit a plan to Congress
for increasing contracting with the private sector for
photogrammetric, remote sensing and other geospatial reference
services relating to hydrographic data acquisition or
hydrographic services performed by the National Ocean Service.
It was adopted by unanimous consent. The bill as amended was
then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives
by unanimous consent.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Hydrographic Services
Amendments of 2003.
TITLE I--NOAA HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT
Section 101. References
Except as otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this
title an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the
reference shall be considered to be made to a section or other
provision of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998
(33 U.S.C. 892 et seq.).
Section 102. Functions of Administrator
This section authorizes Regional Navigation Response Teams
which would be located in major ports, and could survey areas
quickly after accidents, storms or other events. It also allows
NOAA to accept volunteer services for hydrographic programs.
This section provides the same coverage for hydrographic
volunteers if they participate in a volunteer program approved
by NOAA as current law provides to NOAA volunteers
participating in fish and wildlife related activities. Under
these provisions, volunteers are not considered federal
employees for pay or benefits, but are considered federal
employees for purposes of tort claims protections and medical
care due to job-related injuries.
This section gives NOAA general authority to enter into
agreements with qualified organizations to provide volunteer
services. It also authorizes the NOAA Administrator to provide
funding under the special agreements to the qualified
organization for the purposes of assisting in the
administration of the volunteer programs. The use of the funds
by the qualified organization can include the procurement of
insurance or other coverage for the organization and its
members when conducting volunteer activities.
Section 103. Quality assurance program
This section directs NOAA, to the maximum extent possible,
to assure that international organizations accept contractor-
produced NOAA-certified hydrographic products. NOAA is tasked
by Public Law 107-372 to complete the long-overdue
certification program for contractor-produced hydrographic
products within two years. This section encourages NOAA to
support international acceptance of certified products.
This section also requires NOAA to report each year on
efforts to use contractors to carry out the collection of
hydrographic data, and the production of the hydrographic
products.
Section 104. Acquisition of hydrographic survey vessel
This section authorizes NOAA to acquire a new vessel to
conduct hydrographic survey to replace two aging vessels.
Section 105. Koss Cove
This section names a cove in Prince William Sound after a
NOAA employee who died in a work-related accident there in the
summer of 2003. Able Bodied Seaman Eric Steiner Koss died while
conducting a nautical charting mission for NOAA. The cove is
currently unnamed.
Section 106. Depiction of same shorelines on charts and mapping
products
This section directs the Secretaries of Commerce and the
Interior to report to Congress on development of a single
shoreline for use on NOAA navigation charts and U.S. Geological
Survey topographic maps.
Section 107. Amendments to the hydrographic services panel
This section amends section 305 of the Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S. 892c) to make
clarifying corrections regarding the duties of the Secretary of
Commerce and the duties of the Administrator of NOAA.
Section 108. Great Lakes water level measurements
This section amends section 306(5) of the Hydrographic
Services Improvement Act of 1998 (33 U.S.C. 892d(5)) to clarify
that $2 million of the authorized appropriations be used to
modernize the Great Lakes stations of the National Water Level
Observation Network.
TITLE II--FISHERY SURVEY VESSELS
Section 201. Fishery survey vessels
This section amends the Fishery Survey Vessel Authorization
Act (33 U.S.C. 891b note) to authorize funding for the next
three DYSON-class fishery survey vessels in Fiscal Years 2004,
2005 and 2006.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Resources' oversight findings and recommendations
are reflected in the body of this report.
Federal Advisory Committee Statement
The bill does not create a new advisory committee but
clarifies the duties of an existing one, the Hydrographic
Services Review Panel.
Constitutional Authority Statement
Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United
States grants Congress the authority to enact this bill.
Compliance With House Rule XIII
1. Cost of Legislation. Clause 3(d)(2) of rule XIII of the
Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and
a comparison by the Committee of the costs which would be
incurred in carrying out this bill. However, clause 3(d)(3)(B)
of that rule provides that this requirement does not apply when
the Committee has included in its report a timely submitted
cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
2. Congressional Budget Act. As required by clause 3(c)(2)
of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, this
bill does not contain any new budget authority, spending
authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in
revenues or tax expenditures.
3. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to authorize certain hydrographic
services programs, to name a cove in Alaska in honor of the
late Able Bodied Seaman Eric Steiner Koss, and for other
purposes.
4. Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate. Under clause
3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the rules of the House of
Representatives and section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, the Committee has received the following cost estimate
for this bill from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office:
U.S. Congress,
Congressional Budget Office,
Washington, DC, November 21, 2003.
Hon. Richard W. Pombo,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 958, the
Hydrographic Services Amendments of 2003.
If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Deborah Reis.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth M. Robinson
(For Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director).
Enclosure.
H.R. 958--Hydrographic Services Amendments of 2003
Summary: H.R. 958 would make several amendments to the
Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998. Specifically,
the bill would:
Direct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) to establish, equip, and maintain
up to 10 regional navigation response teams;
Authorize the appropriation of $60 million
for each of fiscal years 2004 through 2006 to acquire
fishery survey vessels; and
Authorize NOAA to acquire a hydrographic
survey vessel, and authorize the appropriation of $1
million in 2004 for the preparation of an acquisition
plan.
Assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO
estimates that implementing the bill would cost $316 million
over the 2004-2008 period and $25 million a year thereafter.
Enacting H.R. 958 would have no effect on direct spending or
revenues.
The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would have no significant impact on the budgets of state,
local, or tribal governments.
Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of H.R. 958 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(natural resources and environment).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
--------------------------------------------
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Navigational response teams:
Estimated authorization level.................................. 5 5 5 5 5
Estimated outlays.............................................. 4 5 5 5 5
Acquisition of fishery survey vessels:
Authorization level............................................ 60 60 60 0 0
Estimated outlays.............................................. 2 30 75 55 20
Planning and acquisition of hydrographic survey vessel:
Estimated authorization level.................................. 1 110 0 0 0
Estimated outlays.............................................. 1 30 35 35 9
Total changes:
Estimated authorization level.................................. 66 175 65 5 5
Estimated outlays.............................................. 7 65 115 95 34
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basis of estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the
amounts authorized or estimated to be necessary to carry out
H.R. 958 will be appropriated for each fiscal year. The
authorization levels not specified by the bill are estimated on
the basis of information provided by NOAA and other federal
agencies. Estimated outlays are based on historical spending
patterns for the acquisition programs and other affected
activities.
For each year, the authorization levels include an
estimated $5 million to establish, equip, and operate 10
navigational response teams. The teams would conduct
navigational safety projects and validate hydrographic data.
Through fiscal year 2006, the annual authorization levels also
include $60 million that would be specifically authorized by
the bill for acquiring fishery survey vessels. Finally, the
authorization levels in the table reflect the estimated costs
of acquiring one hydrographic survey vessel: $1 million
specifically authorized for 2004 for the required vessel
acquisition plan; and $110 million in 2005 for the estimated
cost of purchasing the new ship.
In addition to the amounts shown in the table and also
assuming appropriation of the necessary amounts, CBO estimates
that NOAA would spend about $25 million a year after 2008. Of
this amount, we estimate that about $5 million would be used to
continue operating the navigation response teams. The remaining
funds would be used to operate the fishery and hydrographic
survey vessels to be acquired under the bill.
Intergovernmental and private-sector impact: H.R. 958
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would have no significant impact on the
budgets of state, local, or tribal governments.
Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Deborah Reis. Impact
on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller.
Impact on the Private Sector: Cecil McPherson.
Estimate approved by: Peter H. Fontaine, Deputy Assistant
Director for Budget Analysis.
Compliance With Public Law 104-4
This bill contains no unfunded mandates.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
This bill is not intended to preempt any State, local or
tribal law.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1998
* * * * * * *
SEC. 303. FUNCTIONS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.
(a) Responsibilities.--To fulfill the data gathering and
dissemination duties of the Administration under the Act of
1947, the Administrator shall--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
[(7) participate in the development of, and implement
for the United States in cooperation with other
appropriate Federal agencies, international standards
for hydrographic data and hydrographic services; and
[(8) to the greatest extent practicable and cost-
effective, fulfill the requirements of paragraphs (1)
and (6) through contracts or other agreements with
private sector entities.]
(7) establish, equip, and maintain up to 10 Regional
Navigation Response teams in priority coastal areas
identified by the Secretary, in consultation with the
Commandant of the Coast Guard, to conduct activities
related to navigational safety and the validation of
hydrographic data;
(8) to the greatest extent practicable and cost-
effective, fulfill the requirements of paragraphs (1)
and (7) through contracts or other agreements with
private sector entities; and
(9) participate in the development of, and implement
for the United States in cooperation with other
appropriate Federal agencies, international standards
for hydrographic data and hydrographic services.
* * * * * * *
(d) Authority To Accept Volunteer Services.--
(1) In general.--To help fulfill the duties of the
Administrator, including authorities under the Act of
1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.), this Act, or in response
to a maritime emergency, the Administrator may--
(A) establish a volunteer program; and
(B) enter into special agreements with
qualified organizations to assist in the
implementation of a volunteer program.
(2) Legal status of volunteers.--
(A) Paragraphs (1) through (5) of section
7(c) of the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 (16
U.S.C. 742f(c)) shall apply to volunteers who
provide services to the Administrator under a
volunteer program established under paragraph
(1).-
(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A), any
reference in section 7(c) of the Fish and
Wildlife Act of 1956 (16 U.S.C. 742f(c)) to the
Secretary of Interior or the Secretary of
Commerce is deemed to refer to the
Administrator.
(3) Qualified organization.--In this subsection, the
term ``qualified organization'' means a
nongovernmental, not-for-profit organization,
determined by the Administrator to have demonstrated
expertise in boating safety and a commitment to
improving the quality of hydrographic services and
related oceanographic and meteorological information
that is made available to mariners.
(e) Participation in Joint Institute.--The Secretary may
participate in a joint institute that develops new hydrographic
technology and conducts academic, educational, and outreach
activities that assist the Administrator in fulfilling the
functions of the Administrator under this section.
SEC. 304. QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM.
(a) * * *
(b) Program.--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(3) Acceptance and recognition of certifications.--
The Administrator shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, assure that any international
organizations and agreements to which the United States
is a party that affect hydrographic products and
nautical charts accept or recognize, respectively,
hydrographic products certified by the Administrator
under this subsection.
* * * * * * *
(f) Annual Study and Report Regarding Implementation of
Executive Order and OMB Circular.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator shall annually
conduct a study of, and report to the panel established
under section 305 regarding, steps taken to comply with
section 3(d) of Executive Order 12906 and Office of
Management and Budget Circular A-16 with respect to the
collection and production of new hydrographic data and
products by the Administration.
(2) Consultation.--In carrying out the study and
report, the Administrator shall consult with the
Federal Geographic Data Committee.
SEC. 305. HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES REVIEW PANEL.
(a) Establishment.--No later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act
Amendments of 2002, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish
the Hydrographic Services Review Panel.
* * * * * * *
(c) Membership.--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(3) Nominations.--At least once each year, the
[Secretary] Administrator shall publish a notice in the
Federal Register soliciting nominations for membership
on the panel.
* * * * * * *
(d) Compensation.--Voting members of the panel shall--
(1) receive compensation at a rate established by the
[Secretary] Administrator, not to exceed the maximum
daily rate payable under section 5376 of title 5,
United States Code, when actually engaged in the
performance of duties for such panel; and
* * * * * * *
(e) Meetings.--The panel shall meet on a biannual basis and,
at any other time, at the call of the Chairman or upon the
request of a majority of the voting members or of the
[Secretary] Administrator.
* * * * * * *
SEC. 306. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Administrator
the following:
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
(5)(A) To carry out tide and current measurement
functions under this title--
[(A)] (i) $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
[(B)] (ii) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2004;
[(C)] (iii) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2005;
[(D)] (iv) $32,500,000 for fiscal year 2006;
and
[(E)] (v) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2007.
(B) Of the amounts authorized under subparagraph (A),
$2,000,000 in each fiscal year is authorized for the
Great Lakes Water Level Observation Network.
* * * * * * *
----------
SECTION 302 OF THE FISHERIES SURVEY VESSEL AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2000
SEC. 302. ACQUISITION OF FISHERY SURVEY VESSELS.
(a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(c) Authorization.--To carry out this section there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $60,000,000 for
each of fiscal years [2002 and 2003] 2004, 2005, and 2006.