A bill to establish a coordinated national ocean exploration program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

Summary: NOAA Ocean Exploration and Undersea Research Program Act of 2009 - Requires the administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to: (1) establish within NOAA a coordinated national ocean exploration program that promotes collaboration with other federal ocean and undersea research and exploration programs; (2) convene an ocean exploration and undersea research technology and infrastructure task force; and (3) appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board.

Requires the administrator to establish and maintain an undersea research program to increase scientific knowledge essential for the informed management, use, and preservation of oceanic, marine, and coastal areas and the Great Lakes. Requires that the program be conducted through a national headquarters, a network of extramural regional undersea research centers that represent all relevant NOAA regions, and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology. Requires that funding for projects conducted through the regional centers be awarded through a competitive, merit-reviewed process.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``NOAA Ocean Exploration and Undersea 
Research Program Act of 2009''.

                       TITLE I--OCEAN EXPLORATION

SEC. 101. PURPOSE.

    The purpose of this title is to establish the national ocean 
exploration program and the national undersea research program within 
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

SEC. 102. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration shall, in consultation with the National Science 
Foundation and other appropriate Federal agencies, establish 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. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR.

    (a) In General.--In carrying out the program authorized by section 
102, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration shall--
            (1) conduct interdisciplinary voyages or other scientific 
        activities 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 
        105;
            (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 
        sensor 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.--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 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 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).

SEC. 105. OCEAN EXPLORATION ADVISORY BOARD.

    (a) Establishment.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory 
Board composed of experts in relevant fields--
            (1) to advise the Administrator on priority areas for 
        survey and discovery;
            (2) to assist the program in the development of a 5-year 
        strategic plan for the fields of ocean, marine, and Great Lakes 
        science, exploration, and discovery;
            (3) to annually review the quality and effectiveness of the 
        proposal review process established under section 103(a)(4); 
        and
            (4) to 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).
    (c) Application With Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.--Nothing in 
this title 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) $33,550,000 for fiscal year 2009;
            (2) $36,905,000 for fiscal year 2010;
            (3) $40,596,000 for fiscal year 2011;
            (4) $44,655,000 for fiscal year 2012;
            (5) $49,121,000 for fiscal year 2013;
            (6) $54,033,000 for fiscal year 2014; and
            (7) $59,436,000 for fiscal year 2015.

                  TITLE II--UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM

SEC. 201. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED.

    (a) In General.--The Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration shall establish and maintain an undersea 
research program and shall designate a Director of that program.
    (b) Purpose.--The purpose of the program is to increase scientific 
knowledge essential for the informed management, use, and preservation 
of oceanic, marine, and coastal areas and the Great Lakes.

SEC. 202. POWERS OF PROGRAM DIRECTOR.

    The Director of the program, in carrying out the program, shall--
            (1) 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;
            (2) enter into partnerships, as appropriate and using 
        existing authorities, with the private sector to achieve the 
        goals of the program and to promote technological advancement 
        of the marine industry; and
            (3) coordinate the development of agency budgets and 
        identify the items in their annual budget that support the 
        activities described in paragraphs (1) and (2).

SEC. 203. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE.

    (a) In General.--The program 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.
    (b) Direction.--The Director shall develop the overall direction of 
the program in coordination with a Council of Center Directors 
comprised of the directors of the extramural regional centers and the 
National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology. The Director 
shall publish a draft program direction document not later than 1 year 
after the date of enactment of this Act in the Federal Register for a 
public comment period of not less than 120 days. The Director shall 
publish a final program direction, including responses to the comments 
received during the public comment period, 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 5 years.

SEC. 204. RESEARCH, EXPLORATION, EDUCATION AND TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--The following research, exploration, education, 
and technology programs shall be conducted through the network of 
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) Undersea science-based education and outreach programs 
        to enrich ocean science education and public awareness of the 
        oceans and Great Lakes.
            (4) 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.
            (5) Discovery, study, and development of natural resources 
        and products from ocean, coastal, and aquatic systems.
    (b) Operations.--The Director of the program, through 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. 205. COMPETITIVENESS.

    (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 under section 203 and every 5 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. 206. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out this title--
            (1) for fiscal year 2009--
                    (A) $13,750,000 for the regional centers, of which 
                50 percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 
                50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; 
                and
                    (B) $5,500,000 for the National Technology 
                Institute;
            (2) for fiscal year 2010--
                    (A) $15,125,000 for the regional centers, of which 
                50 percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 
                50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; 
                and
                    (B) $6,050,000 for the National Technology 
                Institute;
            (3) for fiscal year 2011--
                    (A) $16,638,000 for the regional centers, of which 
                50 percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 
                50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; 
                and
                    (B) $6,655,000 for the National Technology 
                Institute;
            (4) for fiscal year 2012--
                    (A) $18,301,000 for the regional centers, of which 
                50 percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 
                50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; 
                and
                    (B) $7,321,000 for the National Technology 
                Institute;
            (5) for fiscal year 2013--
                    (A) $20,131,000 for the regional centers, of which 
                50 percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 
                50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; 
                and
                    (B) $8,053,000 for the National Technology 
                Institute;
            (6) for fiscal year 2014--
                    (A) $22,145,000 for the regional centers, of which 
                50 percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 
                50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; 
                and
                    (B) $8,859,000 for the National Technology 
                Institute; and
            (7) for fiscal year 2015--
                    (A) $24,359,000 for the regional centers, of which 
                50 percent shall be for West Coast regional centers and 
                50 percent shall be for East Coast regional centers; 
                and
                    (B) $9,744,000 for the National Technology 
                Institute.