[Congressional Bills 110th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1834 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)]
Calendar No. 581
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 1834
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 25, 2008
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize the national ocean exploration program and the national
undersea research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE I--NATIONAL OCEAN EXPLORATION PROGRAM
SEC. 101. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``National Ocean Exploration Program
Act''.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION.
The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall, in consultation with the National Science
Foundation and other appropriate Federal agencies, conduct a
coordinated national ocean exploration program within the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that promotes collaboration with
other Federal ocean and undersea research and exploration programs. To
the extent appropriate, the Administrator shall seek to facilitate
coordination of data and information management systems, outreach and
education programs to improve public understanding of ocean and coastal
resources, and development and transfer of technologies to facilitate
ocean and undersea research and exploration.
SEC. 103. AUTHORITIES.
(a) In General.--In carrying out the program authorized under
section 102, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (in this title referred to as the ``Administrator'')
shall--
(1) conduct interdisciplinary voyages or other scientific
activities of discovery in conjunction with other Federal
agencies or academic or educational institutions, to explore
and survey little known areas of the marine environment,
inventory, observe, and assess living and nonliving marine
resources, and report such findings;
(2) give priority attention to deep ocean regions, with a
focus on deep water marine systems that hold potential for
important scientific discoveries, such as hydrothermal vent
communities and seamounts;
(3) conduct scientific voyages to locate, define, and
document historic shipwrecks, submerged sites, and other ocean
exploration activities that combine archaeology and
oceanographic sciences;
(4) develop and implement, in consultation with the
National Science Foundation, a transparent, competitive process
for merit-based peer-review and approval of proposals for
activities to be conducted under this program, taking into
consideration advice of the Board established under section
104;
(5) enhance the technical capability of the United States
marine science community by promoting the development of
improved oceanographic research, communication, navigation, and
data collection systems, as well as underwater platforms and
sensors and autonomous vehicles; and
(6) establish an ocean exploration forum to encourage
partnerships and promote communication among experts and other
stakeholders in order to enhance the scientific and technical
expertise and relevance of the national program.
(b) Donations.--In carrying out the program authorized under
section 102, the Administrator may accept donations of property, data,
and equipment to be applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or
increasing knowledge of the oceans.
SEC. 104. OCEAN EXPLORATION ADVISORY BOARD.
(a) Establishment.--The Administrator shall appoint an Ocean
Exploration Advisory Board composed of experts in relevant fields to--
(1) advise the Administrator on priority areas for survey
and discovery;
(2) assist the program in the development of a five-year
strategic plan for the fields of ocean, marine, and Great Lakes
science, exploration, and discovery;
(3) annually review the quality and effectiveness of the
proposal review process established under section 103(4); and
(4) provide other assistance and advice as requested by the
Administrator.
(b) Federal Advisory Committee Act.--Section 14 of the Federal
Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Board
appointed under subsection (a).
SEC. 105. APPLICATION WITH OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF LANDS ACT.
Nothing in this Act supersedes, or limits the authority of the
Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act
(43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).
SEC. 106. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to carry out this title--
(1) $30,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $33,550,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(3) $36,905,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(4) $40,596,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(5) $44,655,000 for fiscal year 2012;
(6) $49,121,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
(7) $54,033,000 for fiscal year 2014.
TITLE II--UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``National Undersea Research Program
Act of 2007''.
SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION.
The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall conduct an undersea research, exploration,
education, and technology development program and shall designate a
Director of that program.
SEC. 203. PURPOSE.
The purpose of the program authorized under section 202 is to
increase scientific knowledge essential for the informed management,
use, and preservation of oceanic, marine, coastal, and Great Lakes
resources. The Director, in carrying out the program authorized in
section 202, shall cooperate with institutions of higher education and
other educational marine and ocean science organizations, and shall
make available undersea research facilities, equipment, technologies,
information, and expertise to support undersea research efforts by
these organizations. The Director may also enter into partnerships,
using existing authorities, with the private sector to achieve the
goals of the program and to promote technological advancement of the
marine industry.
SEC. 204. PROGRAM.
The program authorized under section 202 shall be conducted through
a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea
research centers that represent all relevant National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration regions, and the National Institute for
Undersea Science and Technology. Overall direction of the program will
be developed by the program director with a Council of Center Directors
comprised of the directors of the extramural regional centers and the
National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology. Draft program
direction shall be published not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act. The draft program direction shall be published
in the Federal Register for a public comment period of not less than
120 days. Final program direction with Agency responses to the comments
received shall be published in the Federal Register within 90 days
after the close of the comment period. The program director shall
update the program direction, with opportunity for public comment, at
least every five years.
SEC. 205. REGIONAL CENTERS AND INSTITUTE.
(a) Programs.--The following research, exploration, education, and
technology programs shall be conducted through the network of
extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea
Science and Technology:
(1) Core research and exploration based on national and
regional undersea research priorities.
(2) Advanced undersea technology development to support the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's research
mission and programs.
(3) Development, testing, and transition of advanced
undersea technology associated with ocean observatories,
submersibles, advanced diving technologies, remotely operated
vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and new sampling and
sensing technologies.
(4) Undersea science-based education and outreach programs
to enrich ocean science education and public awareness of the
oceans and Great Lakes.
(5) Discovery, study, and development of natural products
from ocean and aquatic systems.
(b) Operations.--Operation of the extramural regional centers and
the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology shall
leverage partnerships and cooperative research with academia and
private industry.
SEC. 206. COMPETITION.
(a) Discretionary Fund.--The program shall allocate no more than 10
percent of its annual budget to a discretionary fund that may be used
only for program administration and priority undersea research projects
identified by the Director but not covered by funding available from
centers.
(b) Competitive Selection.--The Administrator shall conduct an
initial competition to select the regional centers that will
participate in the program 90 days after the publication of the final
program direction required in section 204 and every five years
thereafter. Funding for projects conducted through the regional centers
shall be awarded through a competitive, merit-reviewed process on the
basis of their relevance to the goals of the program and their
technical feasibility.
SEC. 207. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to carry out this title--
(1) $17,500,000 for fiscal year 2008;
(2) $19,500,000 for fiscal year 2009;
(3) $21,500,000 for fiscal year 2010;
(4) $23,500,000 for fiscal year 2011;
(5) $25,500,000 for fiscal year 2012;
(6) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2013; and
(7) $29,500,000 for fiscal year 2014.
TITLE III--INTERAGENCY PLANNING AND COORDINATION
SEC. 301. OCEAN EXPLORATION AND UNDERSEA RESEARCH TECHNOLOGY AND
INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, in coordination with the National Science
Foundation, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the
United States Geological Survey, the Department of the Navy, the
Mineral Management Service, and relevant governmental, non-
governmental, academic, industry, and other experts, shall convene an
ocean exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure
task force to develop and implement a strategy--
(1) to facilitate transfer of new exploration and undersea
research technology to the programs authorized under titles I
and II of this Act;
(2) to improve availability of communications
infrastructure, including satellite capabilities, to such
programs;
(3) to develop an integrated, workable, and comprehensive
data management information processing system that will make
information on unique and significant features obtained by such
programs available for research and management purposes;
(4) to conduct public outreach activities that improve the
public understanding of ocean science, resources, and
processes, in conjunction with relevant programs of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Science Foundation, and other agencies; and
(5) to encourage cost-sharing partnerships with
governmental and nongovernmental entities that will assist in
transferring exploration and undersea research technology and
technical expertise to the programs.
(b) Budget Coordination.--The task force shall coordinate the
development of agency budgets and identify the items in their annual
budget that support the activities identified in the strategy developed
under subsection (a).
Passed the House of Representatives February 14, 2008.
Attest:
LORRAINE C. MILLER,
Clerk.
Calendar No. 581
110th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 1834
_______________________________________________________________________
AN ACT
To authorize the national ocean exploration program and the national
undersea research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
_______________________________________________________________________
February 25, 2008
Received; read twice and placed on the calendar