SEC. 103. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out the program au-
thorized 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 re-
gions, with a focus on deep water marine systems 
that hold potential for important scientific discov-
eries, 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; 
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(5) enhance the technical capability of the 
United States marine science community by pro-
moting the development of improved oceanographic 
research, communication, navigation, and data col-
lection systems, as well as underwater platforms and 
sensor and autonomous vehicles; and 
(6) establish an ocean exploration forum to en-
courage 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 do-
nations of property, data, and equipment to be applied for 
the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing knowl-
edge of the oceans. 
SEC. 104. OCEAN EXPLORATION AND UNDERSEA RESEARCH 
TECHNOLOGY AND INFRASTRUCTURE TASK 
FORCE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in coordi-
nation with the National Science Foundation, the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States 
Geological Survey, the Department of the Navy, the Min-
eral Management Service, and relevant governmental, 
non-governmental, academic, industry, and other experts, 
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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 au-
thorized 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 proc-
essing 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 rel-
evant programs of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, the National Science Founda-
tion, and other agencies; and 
(5) to encourage cost-sharing partnerships with 
governmental and nongovernmental entities that will 
assist in transferring exploration and undersea re-
search technology and technical expertise to the pro-
grams. 
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(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 Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall ap-
point 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, ma-
rine, and Great Lakes science, exploration, and dis-
covery; 
(3) to annually review the quality and effective-
ness of the proposal review process established under 
section 103(a)(4); and 
(4) to provide other assistance and advice as re-
quested 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 sub-
section (a). 
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(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 Na-
tional 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—NOAA UNDERSEA RE-
SEARCH PROGRAM ACT OF 
2009 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘NOAA Undersea Re-
search Program Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 202. PROGRAM ESTABLISHED. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall es-
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