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

Summary: National Ocean Exploration Program Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) a coordinated national ocean exploration program.

(Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator of NOAA, in carrying out the program, to: (1) conduct interdisciplinary exploration voyages; (2) give priority attention to deep ocean regions, with a focus on surveying deep water marine systems; (3) promote development of oceanographic research, communication, and data collections systems; (4) conduct public education and outreach activities that improve public understanding of ocean science; and (5) establish an ocean exploration forum.

(Sec. 5) Requires NOAA to convene an ocean technology and infrastructure task force to develop and implement a strategy to: (1) facilitate the transfer of new exploration technology to the program; (2) improve the availability of communications infrastructure (including satellite) to the program; (3) develop a data management information processing system for information obtained under the program; and (4) encourage cost-sharing partnerships with governmental and non-governmental entities to assist in transferring exploration technology and technical expertise to the program.

(Sec. 6) Authorizes NOAA, the National Science Foundation, and other Federal agencies involved in the program to participate in interagency financing in carrying out program activities.

(Sec. 7) Authorizes appropriations from FY 2005 through 2016.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Ocean Exploration Program 
Act''.

SEC. 2. ESTABLISHMENT.

    The Secretary of Commerce, through 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.

SEC. 3. PURPOSES.

    The purposes of the program are the following:
            (1) To explore the physical, biological, chemical, 
        geological, archaeological, temporal, and other related 
        characteristics of the oceans to benefit, inform, and inspire 
        the American people.
            (2) To create missions and scientific activities of 
        discovery that will improve our understanding, appreciation, 
        and stewardship of the unique marine ecosystems, organisms, 
        chemistry, and geology of the world's oceans, and to enhance 
        knowledge of submerged maritime historical and archaeological 
        sites.
            (3) To facilitate discovery of marine natural products from 
        these ecosystems that may have potential beneficial uses, 
        including those that may help combat disease or provide 
        therapeutic benefits.
            (4) To communicate such discoveries and knowledge to 
        policymakers, regulators, researchers, educators, and 
        interested nongovernmental entities in order to support policy 
        decisions and to spur additional scientific research and 
        development.
            (5) To maximize effectiveness by integrating multiple 
        scientific disciplines, employing the diverse resources of the 
        ocean science community, and making ocean exploration data and 
        information available in a timely and consistent manner.
            (6) To achieve heightened education, environmental 
        literacy, public understanding and appreciation of the oceans.

SEC. 4. AUTHORITIES.

    In carrying out the program the Administrator of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall--
            (1) conduct interdisciplinary exploration voyages or other 
        scientific activities in conjunction with other Federal 
        agencies or academic or educational institutions, to 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 surveying deep water marine systems that hold 
        potential for important scientific and medical 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, in consultation with the National Science 
        Foundation, a transparent process for reviewing and approving 
        proposals for activities to be conducted under this program;
            (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;
            (6) conduct public education and outreach activities that 
        improve the public understanding of ocean science, resources, 
        and processes, in conjunction with relevant educational 
        programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration, the National Science Foundation, and other 
        agencies;
            (7) accept donations of property, data, and equipment to be 
        applied for the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing 
        knowledge of the oceans; and
            (8) 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.

SEC. 5. EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TASK FORCE.

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in 
coordination with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, 
the U.S. Geological Survey, Office of Naval Research, and relevant 
governmental, non-governmental, academic, and other experts, shall 
convene an ocean technology and infrastructure task force to develop 
and implement a strategy--
            (1) to facilitate transfer of new exploration technology to 
        the program;
            (2) to improve availability of communications 
        infrastructure, including satellite capabilities, to the 
        program;
            (3) to develop an integrated, workable and comprehensive 
        data management information processing system that will make 
        information on unique and significant features obtained by the 
        program available for research and management purposes; and
            (4) to encourage cost-sharing partnerships with 
        governmental and non-governmental entities that will assist in 
        transferring exploration technology and technical expertise to 
        the program.

SEC. 6. INTERAGENCY FINANCING.

    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National 
Science Foundation, and other Federal agencies involved in the program, 
are authorized to participate in interagency financing and share, 
transfer, receive and spend funds appropriated to any federal 
participant the program for the purposes of carrying out any 
administrative or programmatic project or activity under this section. 
Funds may be transferred among such departments and agencies through an 
appropriate instrument that specifies the goods, services, or space 
being acquired from another Federal participant and the costs of the 
same.

SEC. 7. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration to carry out the program--
            (1) $45,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2005 through 2010; 
        and
            (2) $55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2011 through 2016.

            Passed the Senate November 16, 2004.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
108th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 2280

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

 To establish a coordinated national ocean exploration program within 
          the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.