I
103D CONGRESS
2D SESSION
H. R. 4008
AN ACT
To authorize appropriations for the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration for fiscal years 1995 and
1996, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this Act, the term—
(1) ‘‘Act of 1890’’ means the Act entitled ‘‘An
Act to increase the efficiency and reduce the ex-
penses of the Signal Corps of the Army, and to
transfer the Weather Bureau to the Department of
Agriculture’’, approved October 1, 1890 (26 Stat.
653);
(2) ‘‘Act of 1947’’ means the Act entitled ‘‘An
Act to define the functions and duties of the Coast
and Geodetic Survey, and for other purposes’’, ap-
proved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.);
and
(3) ‘‘Act of 1970’’ means the Act entitled ‘‘An
Act to clarify the status and benefits of commis-
sioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, and for other purposes’’, ap-
proved December 31, 1970 (33 U.S.C. 857–1 et
seq.).
TITLE I—NOAA OCEAN AND
COASTAL PROGRAMS
SEC. 101. NATIONAL OCEAN SERVICE.
(a) MAPPING AND CHARTING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to en-
able the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration to carry out mapping and charting activities
under the Act of 1947 and any other law involving
those activities, $29,005,000 for fiscal year 1995
and $30,049,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(2) AUTOMATED NAUTICAL CHARTING.—In ad-
dition to amounts authorized under paragraph (1),
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration to develop and im-
plement an automated nautical charting system,
$1,300,000 for fiscal year 1995 and $1,347,000 for
fiscal year 1996.
(b) GEODESY.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry
out geodesy activities under the Act of 1947 and any other
law involving those activities, $19,332,000 for fiscal year
1995 and $20,028,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(c) OBSERVATION AND PREDICTION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to en-
able the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration to carry out observation and prediction ac-
tivities under the Act of 1947 and any other law in-
volving those activities, $12,429,000 for fiscal year
1995 and $12,876,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(2) CIRCULATORY SURVEY PROGRAM.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized under paragraph (1),
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the
Circulatory Survey Program, $700,000 for fiscal
year 1995 and $725,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(3) OCEAN AND EARTH SCIENCES.—In addition
to amounts authorized under paragraph (1), there
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary
of Commerce, to enable the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to carry out ocean and
earth science activities, $4,442,000 for fiscal year
1995 and $4,602,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(4) CENTER FOR OCEAN ANALYSIS AND PRE-
DICTION.—In addition to amounts authorized under
paragraph (1), there are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
to continue the activities of the Center for Ocean
Analysis and Prediction, $400,000 for fiscal year
1995 and $414,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(5) OBSERVATION
BUOYS.—In addition to
amounts authorized under paragraph (1), there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to en-
able the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration to carry out marine prediction research ac-
tivities under the Act of 1947, the Act of 1890, and
any other law involving those activities, $10,000,000
for fiscal year 1995 and $10,360,000 for fiscal year
1996.
(2) GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
LABORATORY.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce,
for the operation and maintenance of the Great
Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory,
$4,558,000 for fiscal year 1995 and $4,722,000
for fiscal year 1996.
(B) 
GREAT
LAKES
NEARSHORE
RE-
SEARCH.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration to carry out nearshore research activi-
ties of the Great Lakes Environmental Re-
search Laboratory, $500,000 for each of fiscal
years 1995 and 1996.
(C) ZEBRA MUSSEL RESEARCH.—In addi-
tion to amounts authorized under subparagraph
(A), there are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
to carry out zebra mussel research activities of
the Great Lakes Environmental Research Lab-
oratory under the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nui-
sance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 (16
U.S.C. 4701 et seq.), $911,000 for fiscal year
1995 and $1,125,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(3) SOUTHEAST FLORIDA AND CARIBBEAN RE-
CRUITMENT PROGRAM.—In addition to amounts au-
thorized under paragraph (1), there are authorized
to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce a
total of $2,000,000 for fiscal years 1995 and 1996
to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration to carry out, through the Cooperative
Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies, col-
laborative investigations to examine the physical and
biological processes which—
(A) occur in tropical marine environments
in coastal waters of the United States, Florida,
and the Caribbean; and
(B) impact variability and development of
fisheries resources.
(b) CLIMATE AND GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to en-
able the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration to carry out climate and global change re-
search activities, $71,000,000 for fiscal year 1995
and $84,012,000 for fiscal year 1996. Of sums ap-
propriated under this subsection, sufficient funds
should be made available by the Secretary of Com-
merce to initiate and support research on the effects
of climate and global change on the Nation’s major
freshwater systems, including the Great Lakes and
the Mississippi River.
(2) ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVATIONS.—In addi-
tion to the amounts authorized to be appropriated
under paragraph (1), there is authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Secretary of Commerce $7,000,000
for each of fiscal years 1995 and 1996 for a pro-
gram to increase scientific understanding of the
earth by using a network of schools to collect envi-
ronmental observations. Beginning in fiscal year
1996, amounts appropriated for such program may
be obligated only to the extent that an equal or
greater amount of non-Federal funding is provided
for such program.
(3) IMPLEMENTATION
OF
LANDSAT
AGREE-
MENT.—Section 103 of the Land Remote Sensing
Policy Act of 1992 is amended by adding at the end
the following new subsection:
‘‘(c) IMPLEMENTATION OF AGREEMENT.—If negotia-
tions under subsection (a) result in an agreement that the
Landsat Program Management determines generally
achieves the goals stated in subsection (a) (1) through (8),
the Landsat Program Management shall award an exten-
sion, until the practical demise of Landsat 4 or Landsat
5, whichever occurs later, of the existing contract with the
Landsat 6 contractor incorporating the terms of such
agreement.’’.
TITLE II—NOAA MARINE
FISHERY PROGRAMS
SEC. 201. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion Marine Fisheries Program Authorization Act (Public
Law 98–210; 97 Stat. 1409) is amended—
(1) in section 2(a) by—
(A) striking ‘‘1992 and’’ and inserting
‘‘1992,’’; and
(B) inserting after ‘‘1993’’ the following:
‘‘, $51,092,000 for fiscal year 1995, and
$52,931,000 for fiscal year 1996’’;
(2) in section 3(a) by—
(A) striking ‘‘1992 and’’ and inserting
‘‘1992,’’; and
(B) inserting after ‘‘1993’’ the following:
‘‘, $14,198,000 for fiscal year 1995, and
$14,709,000 for fiscal year 1996’’; and
(3) in section 4(a) by—
(A) striking ‘‘1992 and’’ and inserting
‘‘1992,’’; and
(B) inserting after ‘‘1993’’ the following:
‘‘, $17,089,000 for fiscal year 1995, and
$17,704,000 for fiscal year 1996’’.
SEC. 202. AMENDMENTS TO THE MERCHANT MARINE ACT,
1936.
Section 1104A(b)(2) of the Merchant Marine Act,
1936 (46 App. U.S.C. 1274(b)(2)), is amended in the
third proviso by striking ‘‘, except that no debt may be
placed under this proviso through the Federal Financing
Bank’’.
SEC. 203. SCALLOP RESTORATION PROGRAM.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary of Commerce $200,000 for each of fiscal years
1995 and 1996, for the establishment and maintenance
of a scallop restoration program for Long Island Sound.
SEC. 
204. 
SALTONSTALL-KENNEDY 
PROGRAM 
AMEND-
MENTS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 2 of the Act of August
11, 1939 (15 U.S.C. 713c–3), popularly known as the
‘‘Saltonstall-Kennedy Act’’, is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘SEC. 2.’’ the second place it
appears;
(2) in subsection (b)(1) by—
(A) striking subparagraph (B);
(B) striking ‘‘only for—’’ and all that fol-
lows through ‘‘the Secretary—’’ and inserting
‘‘only for use by the Secretary—’’;
(C) redesignating clauses (i), (ii), and (iii)
in order as subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C);
and
(D) moving subparagraphs (A), (B), and
(C), as redesignated by subparagraph (C) of
this paragraph, 2 ems to the left so that the
left margin of those subparagraphs is aligned
with the left margin of section 2(a)(5) of that
Act (15 U.S.C. 713c–3(a)(5)); and
(3) by striking the designation and heading for
subsection (c) and all that follows through para-
graph (4) of that subsection, and inserting the
following:
‘‘(c) FISHERIES
RESEARCH
AND
DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall make
grants from the fund established under subsection
(b) for the purpose of assisting persons in carrying
out research and development projects to promote
the sustainable use and development of United
States fisheries, including harvesting, processing,
aquaculture, marketing, and associated infrastruc-
tures.
‘‘(2) SECRETARY’S
DUTIES.—The Secretary
shall each fiscal year—
‘‘(A) receive at least once, during a 60-day
period specified by the Secretary, applications
for grants under this subsection pursuant to a
Request for Proposals published in the Federal
Register;
‘‘(B) prescribe in that Request for Propos-
als the form and manner in which applications
for grants under this subsection must be made,
including the specification of the information
which must accompany applications to ensure
that the proposed projects comply with Federal
law and can be properly evaluated under para-
graph (3);
‘‘(C) include in that Request for Proposals
a list of priorities for grants under this sub-
section that is based on the priorities rec-
ommended for the fiscal year under paragraph
(3)(F); and
‘‘(D) approve or disapprove each such
application—
‘‘(i) based primarily on the rec-
ommendations of the grants review panel
established under paragraph (3) for the
fiscal year; and
‘‘(ii) before the end of the 90-day pe-
riod beginning on the day after the last
day of the application period specified in
the Request for Proposals under subpara-
graph (A); and
‘‘(E) to the extent amounts are available,
obligate funds for grants for approved applica-
tions before the end of the fiscal year for which
the funds are available, except that up to 10
percent of funds available for a fiscal year may
be obligated in the next fiscal year.
‘‘(3) EVALUATION AND APPROVAL OF PROPOS-
ALS.—
‘‘(A) SUITABILITY FOR EVALUATION.—For
each application received under paragraph (2)
in a fiscal year, the Secretary shall—
‘‘(i) make a determination whether
the project proposed in the application
meets the requirements of this subsection
and is consistent with the priorities rec-
ommended for the fiscal year under sub-
paragraph (F); and
‘‘(ii) if so, forward the proposal to the
grants review panel established for the fis-
cal year under subparagraph (B).
‘‘(B) GRANTS REVIEW PANEL.—Each fis-
cal year, the Secretary shall establish a grants
review panel that consists of individuals with
expertise in fisheries research, development, or
management, that represents a balance among
those disciplines, that is balanced in the rep-
resentation of those disciplines, and that is bal-
anced in the representation of the geographic
regions of the United States. Each grants re-
view panel shall review each proposal forwarded
by the Secretary under subparagraph (A)(ii)
and make recommendations to the Secretary for
awarding grants under this subsection among
those proposals for the fiscal year, subject to
the criteria described in subparagraph (C) and
consistent with the funding available for the
fiscal year.
‘‘(C) CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF PRO-
POSALS.—Each grants review panel shall evalu-
ate each proposal as to—
‘‘(i) the value of the proposal in pro-
moting the purpose described in paragraph
(1) in general and in fulfilling the applica-
ble regional priorities recommended under
subparagraph (F);
‘‘(ii) the soundness of its design (in-
cluding the likelihood of securing useful re-
sults, and the organization and manage-
ment of the proposal);
‘‘(iii) the minimization of duplication
within fisheries research and development
activities; and
‘‘(iv) based on the criteria in clauses
(i), (ii) and (iii), the overall quality and
rank of the proposal relative to the other
proposals under review.
‘‘(D) INDUSTRIAL PARTNERS.—In evaluat-
ing and ranking proposals under this subsection
that are of equivalent overall quality and rank
based on the criteria set forth in subparagraph
(C), a grants review panel and the Secretary
shall give preference to proposals in which at
least 1 of the persons that would be a principal
grantee under the proposal receives a substan-
tial portion of income from seafood harvesting,
processing, marketing, or propagation.
‘‘(E) NOTICE OF DECISION BY THE SEC-
RETARY.—If the Secretary approves or dis-
approves an application for a proposal contrary
to the recommendations of a grants review
panel, the Secretary shall notify the panel, the
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transpor-
tation of the Senate in writing of that decision,
including the reasons for that decision.
‘‘(F) RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR
FUTURE
FUNDING
PRIORITIES.—Each grants review
panel shall, after evaluating proposals and mak-
ing grants recommendations, and after consult-
ing with interested parties, recommend to the
Secretary for the next fiscal year national and
regional priorities for grants under this sub-
section.
‘‘(4) TERMS
AND
CONDITIONS.—Each grant
made under this subsection shall be subject to such
terms and conditions as the Secretary may require
to protect the interests of the United States, includ-
ing the following:
‘‘(A) RECORDS.—The recipient of the
grant—
‘‘(i) must keep such records as the
Secretary shall require as being necessary
and appropriate for disclosing the use
made of grant funds; and
‘‘(ii) shall allow the Secretary and the
Comptroller General of the United States,
or any of their authorized representatives,
access to such records for purposes of
audit and examination.
‘‘(B) AMOUNT OF GRANT.—The amount of
a grant may not be less than 50 percent of the
estimated cost of the project.
‘‘(C) PERIOD
OF
GRANT.—A grant may
not provide funding for more than 2 years from
the date of the release of the funds to the
grantee.
‘‘(D) STATUS REPORT.—The recipient of a
grant shall submit annually to the Secretary a
project status report. The Secretary may not
release funds to the recipient for any subse-
quent period of funding for that grant or for
any other grant to that recipient made by the
Secretary under this subsection until the Sec-
retary receives that report.’’.
(b) APPLICATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the amendments made by this section
apply to fiscal years beginning after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
(2) LIST OF REGIONAL PRIORITIES.—Notwith-
standing section 2(c)(2)(C) of the Act of August 11,
1939, as amended by subsection (a)(2) of this sec-
tion, the list of priorities referred to in that section
for the first fiscal year beginning after the date of
the enactment of this Act is not required to be based
on priorities recommended under paragraph (3)(F)
of that section.
TITLE III—ADMINISTRATION
AND OTHER ACCOUNTS
SEC. 301. PROGRAM SUPPORT.
(a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTIVITIES.—There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out execu-
tive direction and administrative activities under the Act
of 1970 and any other law involving those activities,
$25,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and $25,900,000 for
fiscal year 1996.
(b) SYSTEMS ACQUISITION OFFICE.—There are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce,
to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration to operate and maintain the Systems Acquisition
Office under the Act of 1970, $1,100,000 for fiscal year
1995 and $1,140,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(c) CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Com-
merce, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to carry out central administrative support
activities under the Act of 1970 and any other law involv-
ing those activities, $38,000,000 for fiscal year 1995 and
$39,368,000 for fiscal year 1996.
(d) RETIRED PAY.—There are authorized to be ap-
propriated to the Secretary of Commerce, for retired pay
for retired commissioned officers of the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration under the Act of 1970,
$7,706,000 for fiscal year 1995 and $7,983,000 for fiscal
year 1996.
(e) MARINE SERVICES.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce, to enable the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to
carry out marine services activities (including ship oper-
ations, maintenance, and support) under the Act of 1947
and any other law involving those activities, $63,508,000
for fiscal year 1995 and $65,794,000 for fiscal year 1996.
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS
NOAA PROGRAMS
SEC. 401. NAUTICAL PRODUCTS.
(a) DEPOSIT AND USE OF RECEIPTS FROM NAU-
TICAL PRODUCTS.—Notwithstanding section 1307(b) of
title 44, United States Code, one-sixth of the fees collected
each fiscal year from the sale of nautical products by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
from any licensing of those products by the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration which is authorized
by law—
(1) shall be deposited into the Operations, Re-
search, and Facilities account of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration; and
(2) shall be available to the Secretary of Com-
merce, in the manner provided for under section
312(d) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, only
for the acquisition and installation of Physical Ocean
Real-Time Systems, the acquisition and maintenance
of upgraded hydrographic survey equipment, and
other National Ocean Service activities directly relat-
ed to the modernization and improvement of mari-
time safety.
(b) BUDGETARY TREATMENT OF RECEIPTS FROM
NAUTICAL PRODUCTS.—Amounts deposited and available
to the Secretary of Commerce under subsection (a)(1) and
(2)—
(1) shall not be considered to be offsetting re-
ceipts of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration or the Department of Commerce; and
(2) shall not be available for administrative
costs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration or the Department of Commerce.
(c) DEPLOYMENT OF PHYSICAL OCEAN REAL TIME
SYSTEM.—No later than 270 days after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall deploy,
in Galveston Bay and the Houston Ship Channel a Phys-
ical Ocean Real Time System consisting, at a minimum,
of current, wind, tide, salinity, and water level measuring
devices and necessary computer links.
SEC. 402. USE OF OCEAN RESEARCH RESOURCES OF OTHER
FEDERAL AGENCIES.
(a) FINDINGS.—The Congress finds the following:
(1) Changes in the defense needs of the United
States have redefined the status of many defense-
related assets.
(2) Observing, monitoring, and predicting the
ocean environment has been a high priority for the
defense community to support ocean operations.
(3) Many advances in ocean research have been
made by the defense community which could be
shared with civilian researchers.
(4) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration’s missions to describe and predict the
ocean environment, manage the Nation’s ocean and
coastal resources, and promote stewardship of the
world’s oceans would benefit from increased coopera-
tion with defense agencies.
(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of the
Congress that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration should expand its efforts to develop inter-
agency agreements to further the use of defense-related
technologies, data, and other resources to support its oce-
anic missions.
(c) REPORT.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 120 days
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Commerce shall submit to the Committee
on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report
on the feasibility of expanding the use of defense-re-
lated technologies, data, and other resources to sup-
port and enhance the oceanic missions of the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(2) CONTENTS.—The report required under
paragraph (1) shall include—
(A) a detailed listing of defense-related re-
sources currently available to the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration and the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion missions which utilize those resources;
(B) detailed findings and recommenda-
tions, including funding requirements, on the
potential for expanding the use of available de-
fense-related resources;
(C) a detailed listing and funding history
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration resources, including data and tech-
nology, which could be supplemented by de-
fense-related resources;
(D) a listing of currently unavailable de-
fense-related resources, including data and
technology, which if made available would en-
hance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration mission performance;
(E) recommendations on the regulatory
and legislative structures needed to maximize
the use of defense-related resources;
(F) an assessment of the respective roles
in the use of defense-related resources of the
Corps, data centers, operational centers, and re-
search facilities of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration; and
(G) recommendations on how to provide
access to relevant defense-related data for non-
Federal scientific users.
SEC. 403. NAUTICAL CHARTING MODERNIZATION AND IM-
PROVEMENT.
(a) STUDY.—Not later than 270 days after the date
of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce
shall submit to the Committee on Merchant Marine and
Fisheries of the House of Representatives and the Com-
mittee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate a report on the status of National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration programs related to marine
navigation safety.
(b) CONTENTS.—The study under subsection (a)
shall include the funding history of navigation-related pro-
grams of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration, adjusted for inflation, over at least the last 10
fiscal years, and detailed findings and recommendations
on the following:
(1) The missions and objectives of National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s naviga-
tion-related programs, including regarding the statu-
tory or other authorities that enable or require the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
to conduct those programs.
(2) The technological, financial, or other factors
that limit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s ability to modernize its navigation-
related programs.
(3) Near-term actions, without regard to finan-
cial constraints, that are required to enable National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to address
critical deficiencies in its navigation-related pro-
grams.
(4) Actions that need to be taken to allow the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
to fulfill its navigation-related responsibilities into
the 21st century.
(5) A comparison of the resources and activities
of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion’s navigation-related programs with those of
other Federal agencies supporting the United States
maritime infrastructure.
(6) Past organizational changes within the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and
foreseeable future organizational changes that have
affected, or would affect, the ability of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to provide
navigation-related services.
SEC. 404. WEST COAST GROUNDFISH LABORATORY.
(a) SITE SELECTION FACTORS.—In selecting a site
for placement of a replacement for the National Marine
Fisheries Service Lab at Tiburon, California, the Sec-
retary of Commerce shall take into account the following
factors:
(1) The proximity of sites considered to—
(A) groundfish fisheries, salmon fisheries,
and other unique marine study areas;
(B) academic and private research institu-
tions which conduct relevant marine habitat
and environmental research;
(C) other National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration research and manage-
ment elements; and
(D) other Federal, State, and private ma-
rine related research facilities.
(2) The ability of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration to retain current staff.
(3) The relative construction and operation
costs, including the potential for collocation with
other Federal facilities.
(b) AUTHORIZATION FOR ARCHITECTURE AND ENGI-
NEERING STUDIES.—In addition to amounts otherwise au-
thorized by this Act, there are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Secretary of Commerce, for architecture and
engineering studies regarding the replacement for the Na-
tional Marine Fisheries Service Lab at Tiburon, Califor-
nia, $1,500,000 for fiscal year 1995.
SEC. 405. MARINE SANCTUARIES FACILITIES.
Not later than 120 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall report
to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on Com-
merce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on needs
of the Department of Commerce for facilities (including
real property for facilities) for the National Marine Sanc-
tuary Program established under the National Marine
Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq.).
SEC. 406. SAN FRANCISCO BAY PORT SYSTEM.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce
(hereinafter in this section referred to as the ‘‘Secretary’’)
shall establish for San Francisco Bay in accordance with
this section the safe navigation system known as the Phys-
ical Ocean Real Time System (known, and hereinafter in
this section referred to, as the ‘‘PORT System’’), after
completion of implementation of section 401(c).
(b) STUDY.—After completion of implementation of
section 401(c), and not later than 1 year after the date
of that completion, the Secretary shall conduct a
hydrodynamics modeling study of San Francisco Bay to
determine the appropriate technology and equipment and
the effective placement of instruments for the establish-
ment of the PORT System for San Francisco Bay.
(c) IMPLEMENTATION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 1 year after
the completion of the study under subsection (b), the
Secretary, in consultation with the State of Califor-
nia Office of Oil Spill Prevention and Response and
subject to paragraph (2), shall acquire, install, and
activate appropriate equipment to establish an oper-
ational PORT System for the San Francisco Bay.
(2) CONDITION.—The Secretary may not take
any action under paragraph (1) unless the State of
California Office has provided to the Secretary ade-
quate assurances that the State will fund the oper-
ation and maintenance of the PORT System for San
Francisco Bay after its installation.
(d) AUTHORIZATION
OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry
out this section $4,200,000 for fiscal years 1995 and
1996.
SEC. 407. CONVEYANCE OF NATIONAL MARINE FISHERIES
SERVICE 
LABORATORY 
AT 
GLOUCESTER,
MASSACHUSETTS.
(a) CONVEYANCE REQUIRED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce
shall convey to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
all right, title, and interest of the United States in
and to the property comprising the National Marine
Fisheries Service laboratory located on Emerson Av-
enue in Gloucester, Massachusetts.
(2) TERMS.—A conveyance of property under
paragraph (1) shall be made—
(A) without payment of consideration; and
(B) subject to the terms and conditions
specified under subsections (b) and (c).
(b) CONDITIONS FOR TRANSFER.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—As a condition of any con-
veyance of property under this section, the Common-
wealth of Massachusetts shall assume full respon-
sibility for maintenance of the property for as long
as the Commonwealth retains the right and title to
that property.
(2) CONTINUED USE OF PROPERTY BY NMFS.—
The Secretary may enter into a memorandum of un-
derstanding with the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts under which the National Marine Fisheries
Service is authorized to occupy existing laboratory
space on the property conveyed under this section,
if—
(A) the term of the memorandum of un-
derstanding is for a period of not longer than
5 years beginning on the date of enactment of
this Act; and
(B) the square footage of the space to be
occupied by the National Marine Fisheries
Service does not conflict with the needs of, and
is agreeable to, the Commonwealth of Massa-
chusetts.
(c) REVERSIONARY INTEREST.—All right, title, and
interest in and to all property conveyed under this section
shall revert to the United States on the date on which
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts uses any of the prop-
erty for any purpose other than the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries resource man-
agement program.
SEC. 408. REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding section 3302 (b)
and (c) of title 31, United States Code, and subject to
subsection (b) of this section, all amounts received by the
United States in settlement of, or judgment for, damage
claims arising from the October 9, 1992, allision of the
vessel ZACHERY into the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration research vessel DISCOVERER—
(1) shall be retained as an offsetting collection
in the Fleet Modernization, Shipbuilding, and Con-
version account of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration;
(2) shall be deposited in that account upon re-
ceipt by the United States Government; and
(3) shall be available only for obligation for Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ves-
sel repairs.
(b) LIMITATION.—Not more than $518,757.09 of the
amounts referred to in subsection (a) may be deposited
into the Fleet Modernization, Shipbuilding, and Conver-
sion account pursuant to subsection (a).
SEC. 409. NOAA FLEET MODERNIZATION.
(a) AUTHORITY TO CONTRACT.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Secretary may enter
into only the following contracts in fiscal years 1995
and 1996 to implement the Plan:
(A) Repairs to extend the service life of the
R/V DISCOVERER.
(B) Construction of a medium endurance
oceanographic research vessel.
(C) A service life extension of the R/V
DELAWARE II.
(D) Conversion of a T–AGOS vessel for
oceanographic research.
(E) Construction of a coastal/low endur-
ance vessel for living marine research.
(F) Leasing to fulfill any NOAA mission
requirements.
(G) Necessary repairs to and maintenance
of any vessel in the NOAA fleet, subject to sub-
section (b).
(H) Necessary requirements, designs, and
specifications for future vessel repair, conver-
sion, construction, or lease.
(2) CONTRACT DEFINED.—Section 602 of the
NOAA Fleet Modernization Act (33 U.S.C. 891) is
amended by adding at the end the following:
‘‘(6) ‘contract’ means any contract or other
agreement for the construction, conversion, lease,
chartering, service life extension, or repair or main-
tenance of any vessel of the NOAA fleet, and provi-
sion of related equipment, including the development
of any necessary requirement, design, or specifica-
tion. The term includes contracts entered into on be-
half of the Secretary by another Federal depart-
ment, agency, or instrumentality, if the vessel which
is the subject of the contract will be operated by or
for the benefit of the Department of Commerce.’’.
(b) LIMITATION ON EXPENDITURES FOR REPAIRS
AND MAINTENANCE.—Notwithstanding any other law, of
the total amount appropriated for fiscal years 1991
through 1996 to the Fleet Modernization, Shipbuilding,
and Conversion account of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, not more than 20 percent may
be expended by the Secretary for repairs and maintenance
of vessels in the NOAA fleet.
(c) LEASING AND CONTRACTS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall for each
of fiscal years 1995 and 1996, enter into contracts
or service contracts under the NOAA Fleet Mod-
ernization Act (33 U.S.C. 891 et seq.) to use Uni-
versity-National Oceanographic Laboratory System
or non-Federal vessels.
(2) AMOUNT
SUBJECT
TO
OBLIGATION.—
Amounts subject to obligation under paragraph (1)
shall be, for each fiscal year, the greater of
$6,000,000 or 10 percent of the amounts appro-
priated to the Fleet Modernization, Shipbuilding,
and Conversion account for fiscal years 1995 and
1996.
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section each of the terms
‘‘contract’’, ‘‘NOAA’’, ‘‘NOAA fleet’’, ‘‘Plan’’, and ‘‘Sec-
retary’’ has the meaning given to that term in section 602
of the NOAA Fleet Modernization Act (33 U.S.C. 891),
as amended by this section.
SEC. 410. STUDY OF NOAA CORPS.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Commerce shall, sub-
ject to the availability of appropriations, contract with the
Marine Board of the National Research Council to exam-
ine and report to the Secretary on the appropriate role
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Corps in supporting NOAA missions. In particular, the
Marine Board shall—
(1) examine whether there is a continued need
for a uniformed service to operate the NOAA fleet,
fly weather observations, conduct hydrographic sur-
veys, manage national marine sanctuaries, conduct
NOAA research, and participate in other NOAA
activities;
(2) examine the role of the NOAA Corps in
modernizing the NOAA fleet and the involvement of
the NOAA Corps in obtaining efficient, effective,
low-cost ship support of NOAA missions;
(3) compare the full costs of utilizing the serv-
ices of the NOAA Corps compared to civilian em-
ployees in similar positions; and
(4) determine whether adequately trained civil-
ian employees are available to fill NOAA Corps posi-
tions.
(b) DEADLINE.—No later than 1 year after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall
submit the report of the Marine Board under subsection
(a) to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section, the definitions in
section 409(d) apply.
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Com-
merce to carry out this section a total of $100,000 for
fiscal years 1995 and 1996, to remain available until
expended.
SEC. 411. REPORT ON RESEARCH AND EFFECTS OF CLI-
MATE AND GLOBAL CHANGE ON FRESH-
WATER SYSTEMS.
Within 60 days after the date of submission of the
President’s budget request for each of fiscal years 1996
and 1997, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit a re-
port to the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate,
on—
(1) the amount of funds allocated and the ac-
tivities supported for research on the effects of cli-
mate and global change on the Nation’s major fresh-
water systems, including international commitments;
(2) the criteria used in determining those allo-
cations and in selecting those activities; and
(3) specific proposed agency plans for imple-
menting research programs and activities to evaluate
the effects of climate and global change on the Na-
tion’s major freshwater systems.
SEC. 412. PROMOTION AND COORDINATION OF NATIONAL
ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVES.
The Secretary of Commerce shall take such action as
is necessary and reasonable to promote and coordinate the
use of National Estuarine Research Reserves for research,
monitoring, and education purposes. Such action may in-
clude consulting with Federal agencies, States, local gov-
ernments, regional agencies, interstate agencies, or other
persons to promote use of one or more such reserves for
research, monitoring, and education, including coordina-
tion with the National Marine Sanctuaries Program.
SEC. 413. STUDY ON EFFECTS OF DOLPHIN FEEDING.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Commerce shall con-
duct a study on the effects of feeding noncaptive dolphins
in the Gulf of Mexico and Southern Atlantic Ocean. The
study shall consider the potential impacts on the behavior
or general health of wild populations of dolphins resulting
from this feeding.
(b) USE OF THE STUDY.—The Secretary of Com-
merce shall use the results of the study required under
subsection (a) in determining whether and under what
conditions feeding noncaptive dolphins may be authorized.
(c) REPORT.—Within 1 year after the date of enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to the Com-
mittee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on the
results of the study.
SEC. 414. FLOWER GARDEN BANKS BOUNDARY MODIFICA-
TION.
(a) MODIFICATION.—Notwithstanding section 304 of
the National Marine Sanctuaries Act (16 U.S.C. 1434),
the boundaries of the Flower Garden Banks National Ma-
rine Sanctuary, as designated by Public Law 102–251, are
amended to include the area described in subsection (d),
popularly known as Stetson Bank. This area shall be part
of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary
and shall be managed and regulated as though it had been
designated by the Secretary of Commerce under the
National Marine Sanctuaries Act.
(b) DEPICTION OF SANCTUARY BOUNDARIES.—The
Secretary of Commerce shall—
(1) prepare a chart depicting the boundaries of
the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanc-
tuary, as modified by this section; and
(2) submit copies of this chart to the Commit-
tee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate.
(c) APPLICATION OF REGULATIONS.—Regulations is-
sued by the Secretary of Commerce to implement the des-
ignation of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine
Sanctuary shall apply to the area described in subsection
(d), unless modified by the Secretary. This subsection
shall take effect 45 days after the date of enactment of
this Act.
(d) AREA DESCRIBED.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), the area referred to in subsections (a),
(b), and (c) is the area that is—
(A) generally depicted on the Department
of the Interior, Minerals Management Service
map titled ‘‘Western Gulf of Mexico, Lease Sale
143, September 1993, Biologically Sensitive
Areas, Map 3 of 3, Final’’;
(B) labeled ‘‘Stetson’’ on the High Island
Area South Addition diagram on that map; and
(C) within the 52 meter isobath.
(2) MINOR
BOUNDARY
ADJUSTMENTS.—The
Secretary of Commerce may make minor adjust-
ments to the boundaries of the area described in
paragraph (1) as necessary to protect the living
coral resources of Stetson Bank or to simplify ad-
ministration of the Flower Garden Banks National
Marine Sanctuary.
(e) PUBLICATION OF NOTICE.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Commerce
shall, as soon as practicable after the date of the en-
actment of this Act, publish in the Federal Register
a notice describing—
(A) the boundaries of the Flower Garden
Banks National Marine Sanctuary, as modified
by this section, and
(B) any modification of regulations appli-
cable to that Sanctuary that are necessary to
implement that modification of the boundaries
of the Sanctuary.
(2) TREATMENT AS NOTICE REQUIRED UNDER
NATIONAL
MARINE
SANCTUARIES
ACT.—A notice
published under paragraph (1) shall be considered to
be the notice required to be published under section
304(b)(1) of the National Marine Sanctuaries Act
(16 U.S.C. 1434).
SEC. 415. AMENDMENTS RELATING TO NATIONAL COASTAL
RESOURCES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
INSTITUTE.
(a) 
ADMINISTRATION
OF
INSTITUTE.—Section
201(a) of the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to authorize appropria-
tions to carry out the Marine Mammal Protection Act of
1972, for fiscal years 1985 through 1988, and for other
purposes’’ (16 U.S.C. 1463b(a)) is amended by striking
‘‘by the Oregon State Marine Science Center’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘by the Oregon State System of Higher Education’’.
(b) FUNCTIONS OF INSTITUTE.—Section 201(b) of
such Act (16 U.S.C. 1463b(b)) is amended to read as
follows:
‘‘(b) The Institute shall promote the economic growth
and prosperity of the United States by transferring re-
search and technology into applications to improve the
economic, environmental, and social well-being of the
Nation’s coastal communities and the competitiveness of
coastal businesses.’’.
(c) MEMBERSHIP OF BOARD OF GOVERNORS.—Sec-
tion 201(c)(1) of such Act (16 U.S.C. 1463b(c)(1)) is
amended to read as follows:
‘‘(c)(1) The policies of the Institute shall be deter-
mined by a Board of Governors composed of—
‘‘(A) 1 representative appointed by the Chan-
cellor of the Oregon State System of Higher Edu-
cation; and
‘‘(B) 1 representative of each of the following
regions, appointed jointly by Governors of the States
comprising that region:
‘‘(i) The Alaska region, consisting of
Alaska.
‘‘(ii) The Northwest Pacific Coast region,
consisting of Oregon and Washington.
‘‘(iii) The Southwest Pacific Coast region,
consisting of California.
‘‘(iv) The Pacific Islands region, consisting
of Hawaii, American Samoa, and Guam.
‘‘(v) The Great Lakes region, consisting of
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
‘‘(vi) The Gulf Coast region, consisting of
Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
‘‘(vii) The South Atlantic and Caribbean
region, consisting of South Carolina, Georgia,
Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Is-
lands.
‘‘(viii) The Mid-Atlantic region, consisting
of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and North
Carolina.
‘‘(ix) The North Atlantic region, consisting
of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode
Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and
Maine.’’.
(d) ADVISORY COUNCIL.—Section 201(d)(1) of such
Act (16 U.S.C. 1463b(d)(1)) is amended by inserting
‘‘and leaders in coastal communities and businesses’’ after
‘‘community’’.
(e) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 201(e) of
such Act (16 U.S.C. 1463b(e)) is amended by striking
‘‘Oregon Board of Higher Education’’ and inserting ‘‘Or-
egon State System of Higher Education’’.
(f) REPORTS.—Section 201(g) of such Act (16
U.S.C. 1463b(g)) is amended to read as follows:
‘‘(g) The Institute shall report to the Congress on
its activities annually, and shall report to the Secretary
of Commerce in a like manner biennially.’’.
SEC. 416. SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING PROMOTION
OF MINORITIES AND WOMEN IN COASTAL
AND OCEAN PROGRAMS.
It is the sense of the Congress that the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration should develop and
promote programs that reach out to and recruit minorities
and women for education in the sciences and take actions
to increase the direct involvement of underrepresented mi-
norities in coastal and ocean resource stewardship pro-
grams carried out directly by the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and in partnership with State
and local governments, universities, and other entities. To
this end, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration should create minority internship programs to de-
velop a pool of professionals in coastal and ocean science
and management, and to make these programs an eligible
use of grant and program funds distributed by the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to States,
universities, and other entities.
SEC. 417. CHESAPEAKE BAY.
(a) REPEAL.—If by December 1, 1994, the Secretary
of Commerce fails to obligate all funds appropriated to
the Secretary of Commerce by Public Law 103–121 for
oyster disease research, section 307 of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration Act of 1992 (15
U.S.C. 1511d), requiring the establishment of a National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Chesapeake Bay
Estuarine Resources Office, is repealed.
(b) ASSIGNMENT OF FUNCTIONS.—If section 307 of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act
of 1992 (15 U.S.C. 1511d) is repealed by subsection (a),
the Secretary of Commerce shall immediately—
(1) enter into a cooperative agreement with the
directors of the Maryland and Virginia Sea Grant
colleges to administer all funds appropriated to the
Secretary of Commerce under any law for oyster dis-
ease research and Chesapeake Bay studies; and
(2) transfer the functions of the former Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Resources Office to the
Director of the Coastal Ocean Program.
The Director may delegate any of the functions trans-
ferred under paragraph (2) to the directors of the Mary-
land and Virginia Sea Grant colleges under the coopera-
tive agreement required under paragraph (1).
(c) REPEAL AND AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—
(1) REPEAL.—Section 2(e) of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fish-
eries Program Authorization Act (Public Law 98–
210, 97 Stat. 1409) is repealed.
(2) AUTHORIZATION.—There is authorized to
be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce to im-
plement section 307 of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration Act of 1992 (15 U.S.C.
1511d) and this section, $2,500,000 for each of fis-
cal years 1995 and 1996, to remain available until
expended.
SEC. 418. WEATHER REPORTING STATIONS FOR PRINCE
WILLIAM SOUND.
(a) INSTALLATION.—To provide more comprehensive
weather information to ensure the safety of fishermen and
tank vessels and to protect the resources of Prince William
Sound from potential oil spills, the Secretary of Commerce
may expend $340,000 to acquire, construct, and install
weather reporting stations in Prince William Sound, Alas-
ka, as follows:
(1) In the vicinity of Seal Rocks, to acquire and
install a weather buoy capable of measuring and re-
porting wind speed and direction, barometric pres-
sure, wave height and period, and air temperature.
(2) On the existing tower at Bligh Reef, to ac-
quire and install a weather instrument capable of
measuring and reporting wind speed and direction.
(3) At Potato Point, to relocate the existing an-
emometer to a more exposed location in order to
provide more accurate information.
(4) At the Hinchinbrook Lighthouse site, to ac-
quire and install an anemometer.
(b) MAINTENANCE.—The Secretary of Commerce
may expend $160,000 in each of fiscal years 1995 and
1996 to maintain the equipment identified in subsection
(a).
SEC. 419. PURCHASE OF REMOTELY SENSED SCIENCE
DATA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—To the maximum extent possible,
the Secretary of Commerce shall purchase from the pri-
vate sector remotely sensed science data. Examples of such
data include scientific data concerning the impact of
oceans worldwide on global climate change and concerning
the condition of the oceans.
(b) COMPETITIVE BIDDING.—(1) Contracts for the
purchase of remotely sensed data under this section shall
be awarded in a process of full, fair, and open competitive
bidding.
(2) Submission of cost data, either for the purposes
of supporting the bid or fulfillment of the contract, shall
not be required of bidders.
(3) 
Conformance 
with 
military 
specifications
(Milspec) or Department of Commerce specifications sys-
tems with respect to the design, construction, or operation
of equipment used in obtaining remotely sensed data
under contracts entered into under this section shall not
be a requirement for a commercial provider bidding to pro-
vide such services.
(4) Contracts under this section shall not provide for
the Federal Government to obtain ownership of data not
specifically sought by the Federal Government.
SEC. 420. PURCHASE OF AMERICAN-MADE EQUIPMENT AND
PRODUCTS.
(a) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—It is the sense of Con-
gress that, to the greatest extent practicable, all equip-
ment and products purchased with funds made available
in this Act should be American-made.
(b) NOTICE REQUIREMENT.—In providing financial
assistance to, or entering into any contract with, any en-
tity using funds made available in this Act, the head of
each Federal agency, to the greatest extent practicable,
shall provide to such entity a notice describing the state-
ment made in subsection (a) by the Congress.
SEC. 421. AUTHORIZATION FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
IN MONTEREY BAY NATIONAL MARINE SANC-
TUARY.
Of amounts provided hereafter in appropriations Acts
for the National Marine Sanctuaries Programs, up to
$150,000 may be expended in each of fiscal years 1995
and 1996, on a 1-to-1 matching basis with non-federal
funds, for operation and maintenance of an enforcement
vessel for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary.
TITLE V—GREAT LAKES
IMPROVEMENTS
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Great Lakes Improvements
Act’’.
SEC. 502. GREAT LAKES OFFICE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Under Secretary may es-
tablish and maintain within the Administration a Great
Lakes Office in the Washington, District of Columbia
area.
(b) PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Great Lakes Of-
fice shall be to promote and coordinate Administration re-
search, monitoring, and assessment work in the Great
Lakes region consistent with the goals of the Great Lakes
Water Quality Agreement.
(c) DIRECTOR.—The Director of the Great Lakes Of-
fice shall be an individual with extensive knowledge and
expertise in the Great Lakes ecosystem, and with appro-
priate administrative experience.
SEC. 503. GREAT LAKES REPORT.
(a) CONTENTS.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations under section 505, the Under Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Director of the Great Lakes Office if
established, shall prepare and submit to Congress an an-
nual Great Lakes Report in accordance with this section.
The Report shall provide information relating to Great
Lakes ecosystem research, monitoring, and assessment,
including—
(1) the individual activities, projects, or propos-
als conducted by the Administration in the previous
fiscal year, including a summary of funds expended
in support of these activities, projects, or proposals;
(2) the amount of funds received from the Ad-
ministration by each State or local government unit
bordering the Great Lakes;
(3) the amount of funds received by individuals
or institutions residing or located within a State bor-
dering the Great Lakes;
(4) an inventory of Administration facilities and
personnel located in a State bordering the Great
Lakes or in the Great Lakes used to conduct or sup-
port Administration-funded activities, projects, or
proposals in the Great Lakes, including vessels;
(5) the proposed Administration activities,
projects, and proposals to benefit the Great Lakes
ecosystem for the current fiscal year, including re-
quested funds; and
(6) a proposal for increasing the presence of the
Administration in the Great Lakes, and improving
the coordination of research within the Administra-
tion and with other entities, including the Govern-
ment of Canada.
(b) DEADLINE.—Subject to the availability of appro-
priations under section 505, the Under Secretary shall
submit the Great Lakes Report to the Congress by Octo-
ber 1 of 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998.
SEC. 504. DEFINITIONS.
In this title—
(1) the term ‘‘Administration’’ means the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration;
(2) the term ‘‘Great Lakes’’ means—
(A) Lake Erie, Lake Huron, Lake Michi-
gan, Lake Ontario, and Lake Superior;
(B) their connecting waters, including the
St. Marys River, the St. Clair River, Lake St.
Clair, the Detroit River, and the Niagara River;
and
(C) the St. Lawrence River;
(3) the term ‘‘Great Lakes Water Quality
Agreement’’ means the bilateral agreement between
the United States and Canada which was signed in
1978 and amended by the Protocol of 1987; and
(4) the term ‘‘Under Secretary’’ means the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and At-
mosphere.
SEC. 505. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Under
Secretary to carry out this title $100,000 for each of fiscal
years 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998.
TITLE VI—NATIONAL UNDERSEA
RESEARCH PROGRAM
SEC. 601. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Undersea
Research Program Act of 1994’’.
SEC. 602. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this title, the term—
(1) ‘‘Administration’’ means the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration;
(2) ‘‘Center’’ means any National Undersea Re-
search Center in existence on the day before the
date of enactment of this Act or established under
section 605;
(3) ‘‘Center Director’’ means the Director of
any National Undersea Research Center;
(4) ‘‘Committee’’ means the National Undersea
Research Advisory Committee established under sec-
tion 604;
Carolina, Georgia, and the Atlantic coast of
Florida (including the Florida Keys);
(D) the Gulf of Mexico region, comprised
of the coastal and oceanic waters and seabed of
the Gulf of Mexico off Florida, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi, Louisiana, and Texas;
(E) the Great Lakes region, comprised of
the waters and lake beds of the Great Lakes;
(F) the California region, comprised of the
coastal and oceanic waters and seabed off
California;
(G) the United States Northeast Pacific
region, comprised of the coastal and oceanic
waters and seabed off Oregon, Washington, and
Alaska;
(H) the Western Pacific region, comprised
of the coastal and oceanic waters and seabed off
Hawaii, Johnston Island, Guam, American
Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands, and
other Western Pacific waters and seabed rel-
evant to the purpose of the Program;
(I) the Caribbean region, comprised of the
coastal and oceanic waters and seabed off Puer-
to Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and
other tropical and subtropical waters and sea-
bed relevant to the purposes of the Program;
and
(J) any other undersea region resulting
from a modification under section 603(e)(5);
(10) ‘‘undersea research’’ means scientific re-
search carried out in the oceans or large lakes of the
world, using advanced underwater technology includ-
ing diving, underwater observatories and labora-
tories, research submersibles, remotely operated ve-
hicles, autonomous vehicles, and any other research
techniques necessary to carry out the provisions of
this title; and
(11) ‘‘Under Secretary’’ means the Under Sec-
retary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
SEC. 603. ESTABLISHMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF NA-
TIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM.
(a) 
PROGRAM
ESTABLISHMENT
AND
MAINTE-
NANCE.—The Under Secretary shall establish and main-
tain in the Administration a program to be known as the
‘‘National Undersea Research Program’’.
(b) PROGRAM PURPOSE.—The purpose of the Pro-
gram shall be to enhance scientific understanding of proc-
esses in the oceans and large lakes of the world, by—
(1) developing, maintaining, and carrying out
undersea research programs;
(2) investigating, developing, and applying tech-
nology for undersea research; and
(3) developing new approaches to undersea
technology transfer and marine science education.
(c) NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH CENTERS.—
The Program shall be conducted by the National Undersea
Research Centers established pursuant to section 605(a).
(d) OFFICE OF UNDERSEA RESEARCH.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in
the Administration the Office of Undersea Research.
(2) PROGRAM DIRECTOR.—The head of the Of-
fice and Program Officer of the National Undersea
Research Program is the Director of the National
Undersea Research Program, who shall be appointed
by the Under Secretary from among individuals with
extensive knowledge and expertise in undersea re-
search and having appropriate administrative experi-
ence.
(e) DUTIES OF PROGRAM DIRECTOR.—Subject to the
supervision of the Under Secretary, the Program Director
shall carry out the following duties:
(1) Facilitate and support the activities of
Centers.
(2) Establish guidelines for the submission and
review of proposals from the Centers and proposals
from individual researchers that are submitted to
the Centers for research under the Program.
(3) Make grants and enter into contracts and
cooperative agreements under section 608 to ad-
vance knowledge in the priority research areas
through the Centers.
(4) Support the Memorandum of Agreement
Concerning Support of a National Academic Deep
Submergence Facility for Scientific Use.
(5) Modify undersea regions as necessary and
appropriate.
(6) Carry out any other duty assigned to the
Program Director by this title.
(f) PRIORITY RESEARCH AREAS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary may
use amounts appropriated for the Program to fund
research, including long-term studies, within the fol-
lowing priority research areas:
(A) 
Oceanic, 
coastal, 
estuarine, 
and
limnological processes.
(B) Pathways and fates of materials in the
oceans and large lakes.
(C) Diversity, distribution, productivity,
and recruitment of organisms, including com-
mercially valuable species, with respect to habi-
tat characteristics in the oceans and large
lakes.
(D) Global change processes.
(E) Ocean lithosphere processes and min-
eral resources.
(F) Undersea research platform and in-
strument technology.
(G) Diving safety, physiology, and tech-
nology.
(H) Studies under section 21(e) of the
Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C.
1347(e)).
(2) REVISION OF PRIORITY AREAS.—Upon the
recommendation of the Committee, the Under Sec-
retary may, after public comment, revise the priority
research areas under paragraph (1).
SEC. 604. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMITTEE.—The Under
Secretary shall establish an independent advisory commit-
tee to be known as the ‘‘National Undersea Research
Advisory Committee’’.
(b) COMPOSITION.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Committee shall consist
of 9 members appointed by the Under Secretary
from individuals who are eminent professional sci-
entists or engineers and active in at least one prior-
ity research area, of whom 2 members shall be ap-
pointed from individuals nominated by Center Direc-
tors. The Under Secretary shall complete appoint-
ments under this paragraph by not later than 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(2) BALANCE.—In appointing members of the
Committee, the Under Secretary shall seek to ensure
balanced representation of—
(A) priority research areas,
(B) disciplines related to priority research
areas, and
(C) geographic regions of the United
States.
(3) PROHIBITION ON APPOINTMENTS.—Except
as provided in paragraph (4), no member of the
Committee may be an employee of a Center or of the
Administration.
(4) EX
OFFICIO
MEMBERS
OF
THE
COMMIT-
TEE.—The Chief Scientist of the Administration
shall be a nonvoting ex officio member of the Com-
mittee.
(c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall—
(1) advise the Under Secretary and the Pro-
gram Director concerning—
(A) the quality of research performed with
grants awarded under this title, the applicabil-
ity of such research to the priority research
areas;
(B) the designation, establishment, and op-
eration of Centers;
(C) the modification of undersea regions;
(D) the need to revise the priority research
areas; and
(E) any other matters that the Under Sec-
retary refers to the Committee for review and
advice, or that the Committee considers appro-
priate; and
(2) carry out any other duty specifically as-
signed to the Committee by this title.
(d) TERM OF MEMBERSHIP.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Subject to paragraph (2),
the term of membership on the Committee shall be
3 years.
(2) INITIAL APPOINTMENTS.—Of the members
first appointed to the Committee—
(A) 3 members shall serve a term of 1
year;
(B) 3 members shall serve a term of 2
years; and
(C) 3 members shall serve a term of 3
years;
as specified by the Under Secretary at the time of
appointment.
(3) TERM
LIMITATION.—No individual may
serve consecutive terms as a member of the Commit-
tee.
(e) COMPENSATION.—Members of the Committee,
while performing official duties as members of the Com-
mittee, are entitled to receive compensation for travel and
transportation expenses under section 5703 of title 5,
United States Code.
(f) CHAIRPERSON.—The members of the Committee
shall select annually from among the voting members of
the Committee an individual who shall serve as Chair-
person of the Committee. No member of the Committee
may serve more than 2 annual terms as Chairperson.
(g) CONDUCT OF BUSINESS.—The Committee shall
conduct its business according to the majority vote of
those members present at a meeting of the Committee.
(h) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.—The following guide-
lines apply to the conduct of business by the Committee:
(1) Each meeting shall be open to the public,
and interested persons shall be permitted an oppor-
tunity to present oral or written statements on items
on the agenda.
(2) Timely notice of each meeting, including the
time, place, and agenda, shall be published in the
Federal Register and copies sent to all Center Direc-
tors.
(i) EXEMPTION.—The Federal Advisory Committee
Act (5 U.S.C. App.) shall not apply to the Committee.
SEC. 605. ESTABLISHMENT OF NATIONAL UNDERSEA RE-
SEARCH CENTERS.
(a) ASSIGNMENT OF EXISTING REGIONS AND ESTAB-
LISHMENT OF NEW CENTERS.—
(1) ASSIGNMENT
OF
REGIONS
TO
EXISTING
CENTERS.—There are assigned to the Centers in ex-
istence on the day before the date of the enactment
of this Act undersea regions, as follows:
(A) The Western Pacific region is assigned
to the Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory.
(B) The United States Northeast Pacific
and Californian regions are assigned to the
West Coast National Undersea Research Center
at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.
(C) The United States Northern Atlantic
and Great Lakes regions are assigned to the
National Undersea Research Center at the Uni-
versity of Connecticut at Avery Point.
(D) The Mid-Atlantic Bight region is as-
signed to the New York Bight National Under-
sea Research Center.
(E) The United States Southern Atlantic
region is assigned to the National Undersea Re-
search Center at the University of North Caro-
lina at Wilmington.
(F) The Caribbean region is assigned to
the National Undersea Research Center at the
Caribbean Marine Research Center.
(G) The Gulf of Mexico region is assigned
to a new center to be established pursuant to
subsection (f).
(2) ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW CENTERS.—The
Under Secretary may establish a new Center to im-
plement the Program for any undersea region at an
institution of higher education or oceanographic re-
search located in a State bordering the region—
(A) if there is a clearly demonstrated, sci-
entific need for such a Center;
(B) if there are adequate funds available
for the establishment of the Center;
(C) after reviewing each proposal submit-
ted under subsection (b) with respect to that re-
gion; and
(D) if the Committee concurs in the selec-
tion of that institution.
(3) LIMITATION.—The Under Secretary may
not establish a new Center for an undersea region
if the expenditure of amounts for that Center would
result in any reduction of amounts available for ex-
penditure for any other Center.
(b) SOLICITATION OF PROPOSALS FOR NEW CEN-
TERS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary may
solicit proposals for the establishment of a new Cen-
ter under subsection (a)(2) from institutions of high-
er education or oceanographic research.
(2) PROPOSAL
REQUIREMENTS.—A proposal
under this subsection shall consist of—
(A) a proposed science program;
(B) a program management plan;
(C) a description of the facilities of the in-
stitution at which the new Center is proposed to
be established;
(D) a description of relevant capabilities of
that institution;
(E) an operational safety plan;
(F) mechanisms for information transfer;
(G) a budget for the proposed Center; and
(H) any other information the Under Sec-
retary considers necessary.
(c) REVIEW OF PROPOSALS.—The Under Secretary
and the Committee shall review each proposal submitted
under subsection (b) on the basis of—
(1) relevance of the proposal to priority re-
search areas; and
(2) the capability of the applicant institution to
administer and direct research in those areas.
(d) CENTER DIRECTOR.—Each institution at which
a Center is established under this section may select, in
consultation with the Office, an individual who shall be
the Center Director of that Center.
(e) 6-YEAR REVIEW OF CENTERS AND REGIONS.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—Every 6 years the Under
Secretary and the Committee shall jointly review—
(A) the operation of each Center, except
that in the case of a Center in existence on the
day before the date of the enactment of this
Act, the first review of the Center shall be com-
pleted by not later than the date which is 5
years after that date of enactment; and
(B) the configuration of undersea regions
to determine whether those regions meet sci-
entific needs for research in priority research
areas.
(2) CONTENT OF REVIEW.—A review under this
subsection shall consist of—
(A) an evaluation of the quality of the re-
search conducted at the Center under the Pro-
gram and the applicability of the research to
the priority research areas, including consider-
ation of the reviews conducted under section
606(c);
(B) recommendations for changes in the
scientific research program and the operation of
the Center, that are considered beneficial by the
Committee and the Under Secretary;
(C) a determination of whether the contin-
ued operation of the Center will increase knowl-
edge in the priority research areas; and
(D) recommendations for the modification
of the undersea regions of the Center.
(3) ESTABLISHMENT OF NEW CENTER AT DIF-
FERENT INSTITUTION.—If the Under Secretary and
the Committee determine as a result of a review
known as the ‘‘Gulf of Mexico National Under-
sea Research Center’’. The Under Secretary
shall establish that Center no later than 60
days after the date of enactment of this Act.
(B) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of
this paragraph, the term ‘‘qualified public insti-
tution’’ means a public institution or consor-
tium of public institutions of higher edu-
cation—
(i) located directly on the coastline of,
or having direct access to, the Gulf of
Mexico;
(ii) with strong undergraduate and
graduate programs in engineering, science,
and technology as they may apply to un-
dersea research;
(iii) with nationally recognized pro-
grams in marine science and maritime
studies, with strong consideration given to
any institution with a degree granting
maritime academy;
(iv) with facilities for maintaining and
operating research and other vessels appro-
priate for deployment of equipment nec-
essary to conduct undersea research;
(v) with faculty and other personnel
with expertise in undersea research;
(vi) capable of fully utilizing and
working closely with the National Marine
Sanctuary System in the Gulf of Mexico;
and
(vii) capable of developing and main-
taining cooperative undersea research pro-
grams with Mexico.
(2) LIMITATION.—In carrying out this sub-
section, the Under Secretary shall not reduce
amounts available for carrying out the Memorandum
of Agreement Concerning Support of a National
Academic Deep Submergence Facility for Scientific
Use.
SEC. 606. NATIONAL UNDERSEA RESEARCH CENTER RE-
SEARCH PROGRAMS.
(a) INDIVIDUAL RESEARCH PROPOSALS.—
(1) SOLICITATION.—Each Center Director shall
annually solicit individual proposals from the sci-
entific community for research to advance the prior-
ity research areas of the Program. Research under
each proposal shall be primarily conducted within
the undersea region of the Center, but may be con-
ducted in another undersea region in cooperation
with the Center for that region, or other geographic
areas with the approval of the Program Director. In-
dividual proposals shall adhere to guidelines estab-
lished by the Program Director pursuant to section
603(e)(2). Proposals under this paragraph may be
for multiyear research.
(2) INDIVIDUAL PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCESS.—
(A) IN
GENERAL.—Each individual pro-
posal shall be reviewed by an independent re-
view panel and by not less than 3 anonymous
mail reviewers. Each independent review panel
shall be composed of not less than 4 individuals
with experience in undersea research appointed
by the Program Director, at least one of whom
shall be a member of the Committee.
(B) PANEL REVIEW.—Each review by an
independent review panel shall—
(i) assess the scientific merit of the
individual research proposal;
(ii) assess the ability of the Center to
carry out the proposed research; and
(iii) the applicability of the proposal
to the priority research areas.
(C) MAIL
REVIEWS.—Each mail review
shall consider—
(i) the scientific merit of the proposal;
and
(ii) the capability of the principal in-
vestigator to carry out or support the pro-
posed research.
(3) ALLOWANCE FOR RESPONSE.—
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to any regula-
tion that is issued by the Program Director, a
Center Director shall—
(i) provide to each person who sub-
mits to the Center a proposal under this
section blinded copies of all mail reviews of
the proposal conducted under paragraph
(2), and
(ii) give the person not more than 14
days to respond to those reviews before
rendering any final decision regarding
funding for the proposal.
(B) REVIEW
OF
PROCESS
BY
COMMIT-
TEE.—Not later than 3 years after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Committee
shall—
(i) whether all Centers are implement-
ing subparagraph (A);
(ii) determine whether the opportunity
of persons who submit proposals to re-
spond to reviews pursuant to subparagraph
(A) has been utilized by those persons;
(iii) determine whether those re-
sponses have been effective in ensuring full
and fair consideration of those proposals;
and
(iv) recommend to the Program Direc-
tor that the procedures established by sub-
paragraph (A) be continued, terminated, or
modified (including the specific modifica-
tions which should be made).
(C) REGULATIONS
IMPLEMENTING
REC-
OMMENDATIONS.—The Program Director may
issue 
regulations 
implementing 
any 
rec-
ommendation made by the Committee under
subparagraph (B)(iv).
(b) PROPOSED CENTER PROGRAM.—Each fiscal year
each Center Director shall submit to the Program Direc-
tor—
(1) a proposed program for the Center for the
upcoming fiscal year, which shall adhere to guide-
lines established by the Program Director pursuant
to section 603(e)(2) and shall include—
(A) a description of the activities per-
formed and research funded by the Center in
the previous fiscal year;
(B) those individual research proposals
submitted under subsection (a) that the Center
Director determines to be meritorious based on
reviews conducted under that subsection;
(C) a proposed budget for the operation of
the Center for the current fiscal year;
(D) any other materials requested by the
Program Director to clarify the proposed pro-
gram; and
(E) an annually revised long-range re-
search and operations plan; and
(2) reviews, and responses thereto, of all indi-
vidual research proposals submitted to the Center
Director for the upcoming fiscal year.
(c) REVIEW OF PROPOSED CENTER PROGRAMS.—
The Program Director shall review the proposed programs
submitted by each Center Director under subsection (b)
and make recommendations to the Under Secretary for
funding allocations under section 608(b).
(d) GIFTS, DEVISES, AND BEQUESTS.—Each Center
may accept, solicit, and use the services of volunteers, and
may accept, receive, hold, administer, and use gifts, de-
vises, and bequests, to carry out the research program of
the Center.
SEC. 607. PROCEDURES FOR JOINT REVIEW OF RESEARCH
PROPOSALS.
The Under Secretary, in consultation with the Pro-
gram Director and the Committee and jointly with the Di-
rector of the National Science Foundation and the Sec-
retary of the Navy, shall—
(1) develop procedures for the submittal and
joint review of proposals for research in priority re-
search areas to be carried out with assistance from
2 or more agencies within the Department of Com-
merce, the National Science Foundation, or the De-
partment of Defense; and
(2) issue final rules establishing those proce-
dures by not later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act.
SEC. 608. GRANTS AND CONTRACTS FOR NATIONAL UNDER-
SEA RESEARCH CENTERS.
(a) AUTHORIZATION.—The Under Secretary may
make grants and enter into contracts and cooperative
agreements under this section to fund any Center program
if the Under Secretary finds that the program will advance
knowledge in the priority research areas.
(b) ALLOCATION OF FUNDING.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Based on the reviews under
section 606(c) of proposed Center programs, the
Under Secretary shall—
(A) allocate among the Centers, in such
manner as will best advance knowledge in the
priority research areas, all amounts available
for the current fiscal year for research to be
conducted by the Centers and administration of
the Centers, consistent with each Center’s long-
term responsibilities to conduct priority re-
search; and
(B) notify each Center Director of the
amount allocated to that Center under subpara-
graph (A).
(c) TERMS AND CONDITIONS.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—Any grant made or contract
entered into under this section shall be subject to
paragraphs (2) and (3) and to any other terms, con-
ditions, and requirements the Under Secretary con-
siders necessary.
(2) LIMITATIONS
ON
USE
FOR
LAND
AND
BUILDINGS.—Amounts provided under any grant or
contract under this section may not be used for—
(A) the purchase of any land; or
(B) the purchase or construction of any
building.
(3) MAINTENANCE OF RECORDS.—Any person
who receives or utilizes any proceeds of any grant of
contract under this section shall keep any records
the Under Secretary prescribes as necessary to fa-
cilitate effective audit and evaluation, including re-
ports which full disclose the amount and disposition
of funds received under this title, the total cost of
activities for which those funds were used, and the
amount, if any, of costs which were provided
through other sources. The records shall be main-
tained for 6 years after the completion of the activ-
ity. The Under Secretary and the Comptroller Gen-
eral of the United States, or any of their duly au-
thorized representatives, shall have access, for the
purpose of audit and evaluation, to any books, docu-
ments, papers, and records of receipts, which in the
opinion of the Under Secretary or of the Comptroller
General may be related or pertinent to the grants
and contracts.
SEC. 609. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE REVIEW BOARD.
After the date of the enactment of this Act, grants
and contracts under the Program shall not be subject to
review by the board in the Department of Commerce
known as the Financial Assistance Review Board.
SEC. 610. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) CENTER PROGRAM FUNDING.—There is author-
ized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary for use
for grants and contracts under section 608, to remain
available until expended, $18,000,000 for fiscal year 1995,
$18,540,000 for fiscal year 1996, $19,100,000 for fiscal
year 1997, $19,670,000 for fiscal year 1998, and
$20,260,000 for fiscal year 1999.
(b) OFFICE OF UNDERSEA RESEARCH.—There is au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary for the
administration of the Office of Undersea Research and
support of the Memorandum of Agreement Concerning
Support of a National Academic Deep Submergence Facil-
ity for Scientific Use, to remain available until expended,
$2,100,000 for fiscal year 1995, $2,200,000 for fiscal year
1996, $2,300,000 for fiscal year 1997, $2,400,000 for fis-
cal year 1998, and $2,500,000 for fiscal year 1999.
(c) REVERSION OF UNOBLIGATED AMOUNTS.—The
amount of any grant, contract, or portion of a grant or
contract, made under section 603 or 608 that is not obli-
gated before the end of the third fiscal year in which it
is authorized to be obligated—
(1) shall revert to the Under Secretary; and
(2) shall remain available for grants or con-
tracts under that section.
(d) LIMITATIONS ON USE.—Amounts appropriated
under the authority of subsection (a) shall not be available
for administration of this title by the Office, or for pro-
gram or administrative expenses of the Administration or
the Department of Commerce.
SEC. 506. HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEYING AND MAPPING SERV-
ICES.
The Secretary of Commerce may award contracts for
hydrographic surveying and mapping services in accord-
ance with title IX of the Federal Property and Adminis-
trative Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 541 et seq.).
SEC. 507. FEASIBILITY STUDY.
No later than 180 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to
the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the
Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate, a study on the feasibil-
ity and desirability of converting the offshore gas produc-
tion platform known as High Island A389A, owned by
Mobil Exploration and Production U.S., Inc., to a marine
research station for the purpose of supporting investiga-
tions of the northern Gulf of Mexico and for use as a field
laboratory for training students and marine science pro-
fessionals in technologies related to the exploration and
study of the Gulf of Mexico. The study shall include—
(1) an assessment of the need for such a re-
search platform, including consultations with Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration line
and program offices, other relevant Federal and
State agencies with research and management re-
sponsibilities in the Gulf of Mexico, and academic in-
stitutions involved in the study of the Gulf of Mexico
ecosystem;
(2) an assessment of the financial feasibility of
converting the platform, including the cost of con-
version from a gas production facility to a marine
science research station, the cost of operation of the
platform as a marine science field station, the cost
of removal of the platform at the end of its func-
tional life span, and the potential costs to users of
the platform; and
(3) a description of potential users of the plat-
form, potential funding strategies, permit require-
ments, and time schedules and constraints.