400 
over a Federal asset shall make available data that 
are produced by that asset and that are not other-
wise restricted for integration, management, and dis-
semination by the System. 
(4) ENHANCING
ADMINISTRATION
AND
MAN-
AGEMENT.—The head of each Federal agency that 
has administrative jurisdiction over a Federal asset 
may take appropriate actions to enhance internal 
agency administration and management to better 
support, integrate, finance, and utilize observation 
data, products, and services developed under this 
section to further its own agency mission and re-
sponsibilities. 
(5) PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL INFORMATION 
COORDINATION ENTITY.—The head of each Federal 
agency that has administrative jurisdiction over a 
Federal asset may participate in regional informa-
tion coordination entity activities. 
(6) NON-FEDERAL
ASSETS.—Non-Federal as-
sets shall be coordinated by the Interagency Work-
ing Group or by Regional Information Coordination 
Entities. 
(e) POLICY OVERSIGHT, ADMINISTRATION, AND RE-
GIONAL COORDINATION.— 
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(1) NATIONAL OCEAN RESEARCH LEADERSHIP 
COUNCIL.—The National Ocean Research Leader-
ship Council shall be responsible for establishing 
broad coordination and long-term operations plans, 
policies, protocols, and standards for the System 
consistent with the policies, goals, and objectives 
contained in the System Plan, and coordination of 
the System with other earth observing activities. 
(2) 
INTERAGENCY
WORKING
GROUP.—The 
Interagency Working Group shall, with respect to 
the System, be responsible for— 
(A) implementation of operations plans 
and policies developed by the Council; 
(B) development of and transmittal to 
Congress at the time of submission of the 
President’s annual budget request an annual 
coordinated, comprehensive System budget; 
(C) identification of gaps in observation 
coverage or needs for capital improvements of 
both Federal assets and non-Federal assets; 
(D) establishment of data management 
and communication protocols and standards; 
(E) establishment of required observation 
data variables; 
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(F) development of certification standards 
for all non-Federal assets or Regional Informa-
tion Coordination Entities to be eligible for in-
tegration into the System; 
(G) subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, establish through one or more partici-
pating Federal agencies, in consultation with 
the System Advisory Committee established 
under paragraph (5), a competitive matching 
grant or other program to promote research 
and development of innovative observation tech-
nologies including testing and field trials; and 
(H) periodically review and recommend to 
the Council revisions to the System Plan. 
(3) LEAD
FEDERAL
AGENCY.—The Adminis-
trator shall function as the lead Federal agency for 
the System. The Administrator may establish an 
Interagency Program Coordinating Office to facili-
tate the Administrator’s responsibilities as the lead 
Federal agency for System oversight and manage-
ment. The Administrator shall— 
(A) implement policies, protocols, and 
standards established by the Council and dele-
gated by the Interagency Working Group; 
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403 
(B) promulgate regulations to integrate 
the participation of non-Federal assets into the 
System and enter into and oversee contracts 
and agreements with Regional Information Co-
ordination Entities to effect this purpose; 
(C) implement a competitive funding proc-
ess for the purpose of assigning contracts and 
agreements to Regional Information Coordina-
tion Entities; 
(D) certify or establish Regional Informa-
tion Coordination Entities to coordinate State, 
Federal, local, and private interests at a re-
gional level with the responsibility of engaging 
private and public sectors in designing, oper-
ating, and improving regional coastal and ocean 
observing systems in order to ensure the provi-
sion of data and information that meet the 
needs of user groups from the respective re-
gions; 
(E) formulate a process by which gaps in 
observation coverage or needs for capital im-
provements of Federal assets and non-Federal 
assets of the System can be identified by the 
Regional Information Coordination Entities, the 
Administrator, or other members of the System 
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