139 
affordability criteria established by the State in which the 
community is located under section 603(i)(2).’’. 
SEC. 203. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL REVOLVING LOAN 
FUNDS. 
(a) 
EXTENDED
PAYMENT
PERIOD.—Section 
603(d)(1) of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 
U.S.C. 1383(d)(1)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ‘‘20 
years;’’ and inserting the following: ‘‘the lesser of— 
‘‘(i) the design life of the project to be 
financed using the proceeds of the loan; or 
‘‘(ii) 30 years;’’; and 
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘not later 
than 20 years after project completion’’ and insert-
ing ‘‘on the expiration of the term of the loan’’. 
(b) TECHNICAL
AND PLANNING ASSISTANCE
FOR 
SMALL SYSTEMS.—Section 603(d) of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383(d)) is amended— 
(1) in paragraph (6), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the 
end; 
(2) in paragraph (7), by striking the period at 
the end and inserting ‘‘; and’’; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(8) with respect to municipalities and inter-
municipal, interstate, and State agencies seeking as-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00139
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
140 
sistance under this title that serve a population of 
20,000 or fewer, to provide to owners and operators 
of small treatment works, in an amount not to ex-
ceed 2 percent of the amount of total grant awards 
made under this title— 
‘‘(A) technical and planning assistance; 
and 
‘‘(B) assistance relating to— 
‘‘(i) financial management; 
‘‘(ii) user fee analysis; 
‘‘(iii) budgeting; 
‘‘(iv) capital improvement planning; 
‘‘(v) facility operation and mainte-
nance; 
‘‘(vi) repair schedules; and 
‘‘(vii) other activities to improve 
wastewater treatment plant management 
and operations.’’. 
(c) ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIZATION.—Section 603 of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1383) is 
amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(i) ADDITIONAL SUBSIDIZATION.— 
‘‘(1) IN
GENERAL.—In any case in which a 
State provides assistance to a municipality or an 
intermunicipal, interstate, or State agency under 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00140
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
141 
subsection (d), the State may provide additional sub-
sidization, including forgiveness of principal and 
negative interest loans— 
‘‘(A) to benefit a municipality that— 
‘‘(i) meets the affordability criteria of 
the State established under paragraph (2); 
or 
‘‘(ii) does not meet the criteria estab-
lished under paragraph (2), if the munici-
pality— 
‘‘(I) seeks additional subsidiza-
tion to benefit individual ratepayers in 
the residential user rate class; 
‘‘(II) demonstrates to the State 
that the ratepayers described in sub-
clause (I) will experience a significant 
hardship on the increase in rates re-
quired to finance the project or activ-
ity for which the assistance is sought; 
and 
‘‘(III) ensures, as part of an 
agreement between the State and the 
recipient, that the additional sub-
sidization provided under this para-
graph will be directed to those rate-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00141
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
142 
payers through a user charge rate sys-
tem (or another appropriate method); 
and 
‘‘(B) to implement alternative processes, 
materials, and techniques (including non-
structural protection of surface waters, new or 
improved methods of waste treatment, and pol-
lutant trading) that may result in cost savings 
or increased environmental benefit when com-
pared to standard processes, materials, and 
techniques. 
‘‘(2) AFFORDABILITY CRITERIA.— 
‘‘(A) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 
September 30, 2007, after providing notice 
and an opportunity for public comment, a 
State shall establish affordability criteria 
to assist the State in identifying munici-
palities that would experience a significant 
hardship on the increase in rates required 
to finance a project or activity that is eligi-
ble for assistance under subsection (c)(1) if 
additional subsidization under paragraph 
(1) is not provided. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00142
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
143 
‘‘(ii) 
FACTORS
FOR
CONSIDER-
ATION.—In establishing criteria under 
clause (i), a State shall take into consider-
ation— 
‘‘(I) income data; 
‘‘(II) population trends; and 
‘‘(III) any other data the State 
determines to be relevant. 
‘‘(B) EXISTING CRITERIA.—If a State has 
established, after providing notice and an op-
portunity for public comment, criteria in ac-
cordance with subparagraph (A) before the date 
of enactment of this subsection, the criteria 
shall be considered to be affordability criteria 
established under that subparagraph. 
‘‘(C) INFORMATION TO ASSIST STATES.— 
The Administrator may publish information to 
assist States in establishing affordability cri-
teria under subparagraph (A). 
‘‘(3) PRIORITY.—In providing assistance under 
this subsection, a State may give priority to any 
owner or operator of a project or activity that— 
‘‘(A) is eligible to receive funding under 
subsection (c)(1); and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00143
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
144 
‘‘(B) is located in a municipality that 
meets the affordability criteria established 
under paragraph (2). 
‘‘(4) SET-ASIDE.— 
‘‘(A) IN
GENERAL.—For any fiscal year 
during which more than $1,400,000,000 is 
made available to the Administrator to carry 
out this title, a State shall provide additional 
subsidization under this subsection in the 
amount described in subparagraph (B) to enti-
ties described in paragraph (1) for projects and 
activities identified in the intended use plan of 
the State under section 606(c) on receipt of an 
application for additional subsidization. 
‘‘(B) AMOUNT.—The amount referred to in 
subparagraph (A) is an amount not less than 
25 percent of the difference between— 
‘‘(i) the total amount that would have 
been allotted to the State under section 
604 during the appropriate fiscal year, if 
the amount made available to the Adminis-
trator to carry out this title during that 
fiscal year was equal to $1,400,000,000; 
and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00144
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
145 
‘‘(ii) the total amount allotted to the 
State under section 604 for that fiscal 
year. 
‘‘(5) LIMITATION.—The total amount of addi-
tional subsidization provided by a State under this 
subsection shall not exceed 30 percent of the total 
amount of capitalization grants received by the State 
under this title for fiscal years beginning after Sep-
tember 30, 2007.’’. 
SEC. 204. ALLOTMENT OF FUNDS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 604 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1384) is amended by 
striking subsection (a) and inserting the following: 
‘‘(a) ALLOTMENTS.— 
‘‘(1) FISCAL YEARS 2008 AND 2009.—Amounts 
made available to carry out this title for fiscal years 
2007 and 2008 shall be allotted by the Adminis-
trator in accordance with the formula used to cal-
culate allotments for fiscal year 2007. 
‘‘(2) FISCAL YEAR 2010 AND THEREAFTER.— 
Amounts made available to carry out this title for 
fiscal year 2010 and each fiscal year thereafter shall 
be allotted by the Administrator during each fiscal 
year— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00145
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
146 
‘‘(A) for amounts up to $1,350,000,000, in 
accordance with the formula used to calculate 
allotments for fiscal year 2007; and 
‘‘(B) for any amount in excess of 
$1,350,000,000, in accordance with the formula 
developed by the Administrator under sub-
section (d).’’. 
(b) PLANNING ASSISTANCE.—Section 604(b) of the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1384(b)) 
is amended by striking ‘‘1 percent’’ and inserting ‘‘2 per-
cent’’. 
(c) FORMULA.—Section 604 of the Federal Water 
Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1384) is amended by 
adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(d) 
FORMULA
BASED
ON
WATER
QUALITY 
NEEDS.—Not later than September 30, 2007, after pro-
viding notice and an opportunity for public comment, the 
Administrator shall publish an allotment formula for pur-
poses of subsection (a)(2)(B) based on water quality 
needs, to be determined by the Administrator in accord-
ance with the most recent survey of needs developed by 
the Administrator under section 516.’’. 
SEC. 205. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 607 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1387) is amended to read as follows: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00146
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
147 
‘‘SEC. 607. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
‘‘There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this title— 
‘‘(1) $2,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2008; 
‘‘(2) $3,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2009; 
‘‘(3) $4,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2010; 
‘‘(4) $5,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and 
‘‘(5) $6,000,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.’’. 
TITLE III—AREAS OF CONCERN 
SEC. 301. GREAT LAKES. 
(a) REMEDIATION OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINATION IN 
AREAS OF CONCERN.—Section 118(c)(12)(H) of the Fed-
eral 
Water 
Pollution 
Control 
Act 
(33 
U.S.C. 
1268(c)(12)(H)) is amended by striking clause (i) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(i) IN
GENERAL.—In addition to 
other amounts authorized to be appro-
priated to carry out this section, there is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out 
this paragraph $150,000,000 for each of 
fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’. 
(b) NON-FEDERAL SHARE.—Section 118(c)(12) of 
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1268(c)(12)) is amended— 
(1) in subparagraph (E), by adding at the end 
the following: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00147
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
148 
‘‘(v) PAYMENT
AND
RETENTION
OF 
NON-FEDERAL
SHARE.—The non-Federal 
sponsor for a project under this paragraph 
may pay to the Administrator, for reten-
tion and use by the Administrator in car-
rying out the project, the non-Federal 
share of the cost of the project.’’; 
(2) by redesignating subparagraph (H) (as 
amended by subsection (a)) as subparagraph (I); 
and 
(3) by inserting after subparagraph (G) the fol-
lowing: 
‘‘(H) ADVANCE
PAYMENT
AND
REIM-
BURSEMENT
OF
COSTS.—The Administrator, 
acting through the Program Office, may enter 
into an agreement with a non-Federal sponsor 
to carry out a project under this paragraph 
under which the non-Federal sponsor may, as 
appropriate— 
‘‘(i) pay in advance the non-Federal 
share of the cost of the project; and 
‘‘(ii) receive from the Administrator 
reimbursement for amounts (other than 
the non-Federal share) expended by the 
non-Federal sponsor for the project.’’. 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00148
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
149 
TITLE IV—CLEAN WATER 
AUTHORITY 
SEC. 401. DEFINITION OF WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES. 
Section 502 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1362) is amended— 
(1) by striking paragraph (7); 
(2) by redesignating paragraphs (8) through 
(23) as paragraphs (7) through (22), respectively; 
and 
(3) by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(23) WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES.—The 
term ‘waters of the United States’ means all waters 
subject to the ebb and flow of the tide, the territorial 
seas, and all interstate and intrastate waters and 
their tributaries, including lakes, rivers, streams (in-
cluding intermittent streams), mudflats, sandflats, 
wetlands, sloughs, prairie potholes, wet meadows, 
playa lakes, natural ponds, and all impoundments of 
the foregoing, to the fullest extent that these waters, 
or activities affecting these waters, are subject to the 
legislative power of Congress under the Constitu-
tion.’’. 
SEC. 402. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS. 
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 
1251 et seq.) is amended— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00149
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
150 
(1) by striking ‘‘navigable waters of the United 
States’’ each place it appears and inserting ‘‘waters 
of the United States’’; 
(2) in section 304(l)(1) by striking ‘‘NAVIGABLE 
WATERS’’ in the heading and inserting ‘‘WATERS OF 
THE UNITED STATES’’; and 
(3) by striking ‘‘navigable waters’’ each place it 
appears and inserting ‘‘waters of the United 
States’’. 
TITLE V—TOXIC SUBSTANCES 
SEC. 501. MERCURY REDUCTION GRANTS. 
Section 118(c) of the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Act (33 U.S.C. 1268(c)) is amended by adding at the 
end the following: 
‘‘(14) MERCURY REDUCTION GRANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The Program Office 
shall provide grants to Great Lakes States and 
Indian tribes in Great Lakes States to carry 
out projects to reduce the quantity of mercury 
in the Great Lakes. 
‘‘(B) APPLICATION.—Each Great Lake 
State or Indian tribe that seeks a grant under 
this paragraph shall submit an application to 
the Program Office at such time, in such man-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00150
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
151 
ner, and accompanied by or containing any in-
formation that the Program Office may require. 
‘‘(C) 
AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIA-
TIONS.—There is authorized to be appropriated 
to carry out this paragraph $10,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012.’’. 
TITLE VI—INDICATORS AND 
INFORMATION 
Subtitle A—Research Program 
SEC. 601. RESEARCH REAUTHORIZATIONS. 
Section 118 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1268) is amended by— 
(1) in subsection (d) by striking paragraph (2) 
and redesignating paragraphs (3) through (7) as 
paragraphs (2) through (6), respectively. 
(2) by striking subsection (e) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(e) RESEARCH
AND
MANAGEMENT
COORDINA-
TION.— 
‘‘(1) JOINT PLAN.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than Sep-
tember 30 of each year, the Program Office, 
the Research Office, and the Great Lakes 
Science Center shall prepare and submit to the 
Executive Committee of the Regional Collabora-
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00151
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
152 
tion a joint research plan for the fiscal year 
that begins in the following calendar year. 
‘‘(B) COLLABORATION.—The Program Of-
fice, the Research Office, and the Great Lakes 
Science Center shall consult with other appro-
priate Federal agencies, academic institutions, 
State agencies, and other groups conducting 
Great Lakes research and monitoring when pre-
paring its joint research plan. 
‘‘(C) SUBMISSION
TO
CONGRESS.—The 
President shall include the plan described in 
subparagraph (A) in the annual budget of the 
United States Government submitted to Con-
gress by the President. 
‘‘(2) CONTENTS OF PLAN.—Each plan prepared 
under paragraph (1) shall— 
‘‘(A) identify all proposed research dedi-
cated to activities carried out under the Great 
Lakes Water Quality Agreement and any other 
applicable agreements and amendments; 
‘‘(B) include the assessment of the Re-
gional Collaboration of priorities for research 
needed to fulfill the terms of those agreements; 
and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00152
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
153 
‘‘(C) identify all proposed research that 
may be used to develop a comprehensive envi-
ronmental database for the Great Lakes System 
and establish priorities for development of the 
database.’’. 
SEC. 602. GREAT LAKES ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LAB-
ORATORY. 
Section 118 of the Federal Water Pollution Control 
Act (33 U.S.C. 1268) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (d)(6) by striking ‘‘priority 
issues’’ and all that follows and inserting ‘‘are con-
sistent with the joint research plan’’; and 
(2) by striking subsection (h) and inserting the 
following: 
‘‘(h) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 
is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$55,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 through 2012, 
of which, for each fiscal year— 
‘‘(1) $40,000,000 shall be made available to the 
program Office; and 
‘‘(2) $15,000,000 shall be made available to the 
Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory.’’. 
SEC. 603. GREAT LAKES SCIENCE CENTER. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Direc-
tor of the United States Geological Survey, for use by the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00153
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
154 
Great Lakes Science Center, to carry out research activi-
ties that advance scientific knowledge and provide sci-
entific information for restoring, enhancing, managing, 
and protecting the living marine resources and habitats 
in the Great Lakes basin ecosystem $25,000,000 for each 
of fiscal years 2008 through 2012. 
SEC. 604. CENTER FOR SPONSORED COASTAL OCEAN RE-
SEARCH. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Direc-
tor of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion’s Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, for 
use by the Center, to carry out a program to award grants 
to academic institutions, State agencies, and other appro-
priate groups to carry out activities consistent with the 
Joint Research Plan developed under subsection (e) of sec-
tion 1268 of title 33, United States Code, that advances 
scientific knowledge and provides scientific information for 
restoring, enhancing, managing, and protecting the living 
marine resources and habitats in the Great Lakes basin 
ecosystem $25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2008 
through 2012. 
Subtitle B—Ocean and Coastal 
Observation System 
SEC. 611. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00154
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
155 
(1) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 
National Ocean Research Leadership Council. 
(2) GREAT
LAKE.—The term ‘‘Great Lake’’ 
means— 
(A) Lake Erie; 
(B) Lake Huron (including Lake Saint 
Clair); 
(C) Lake Michigan; 
(D) Lake Ontario; 
(E) Lake Superior; and 
(F) the connecting channels of those 
Lakes, including— 
(i) the Saint Mary’s River; 
(ii) the Saint Clair River; 
(iii) the Detroit River; 
(iv) the Niagara River; and 
(v) the Saint Lawrence River to the 
Canadian border. 
(3) OBSERVING SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘observing 
system’’ means the integrated coastal, ocean, and 
Great Lakes observing system to be established by 
the Committee under section 612(a). 
(4) INTERAGENCY
PROGRAM
OFFICE.—The 
term ‘‘interagency program office’’ means the office 
established under section 612(d). 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00155
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
156 
SEC. 612. INTEGRATED OCEAN AND COASTAL OBSERVING 
SYSTEM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— 
(1) 
IN
GENERAL.—The 
President, 
acting 
through the Council, shall establish and maintain an 
integrated system of ocean and coastal observations, 
data communication and management, analysis, 
modeling, research, education, and outreach de-
signed to provide data and information for the time-
ly detection and prediction of changes occurring in 
the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes environment 
that impact the social, economic, and ecological sys-
tems of the United States. 
(2) PURPOSES.—The observing system shall 
provide for long-term, continuous, and quality-con-
trolled observations of the coasts, oceans, and Great 
Lakes so as to— 
(A) improve the health of the coasts, 
oceans, and Great Lakes of the United States; 
(B) protect human lives and livelihoods 
from hazards, including tsunamis, hurricanes, 
coastal erosion, and fluctuating Great Lakes 
water levels; 
(C) understand the effects of human activi-
ties and natural variability on the state of the 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00156
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
157 
coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes and the socio-
economic well-being of the United States; 
(D) provide for the sustainable use, protec-
tion, and enjoyment of ocean, coastal, and 
Great Lakes resources; 
(E) provide information that can support 
the eventual implementation and refinement of 
ecosystem-based management; 
(F) supply critical information to marine- 
related businesses, including aquaculture and 
fisheries; and 
(G) support research and development to— 
(i) ensure continuous improvement to 
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes observa-
tion measurements; and 
(ii) enhance understanding of the 
ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources 
of the United States. 
(b) SYSTEM ELEMENTS.—To carry out the purposes 
of this subtitle, the observing system shall consist of— 
(1) a national program to fulfill national obser-
vation priorities, including the ocean contribution of 
the United States to the Global Earth Observation 
System of Systems and the Global Ocean Observing 
System; 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00157
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
158 
(2) a network of regional associations to man-
age the regional ocean and coastal observing and in-
formation programs that collect, measure, and dis-
seminate data and information products to meet re-
gional needs; 
(3) a data management and dissemination sys-
tem for the timely integration and dissemination of 
data and information products from the national 
and regional systems; 
(4) a research and development program con-
ducted under the guidance of the Council; and 
(5) an outreach, education, and training pro-
gram that augments existing programs, including 
the National Sea Grant College Program, the Cen-
ters for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence pro-
gram, and the National Estuarine Research Reserve 
System, to ensure the use of the data and informa-
tion for— 
(A) improving public education and aware-
ness of the oceans of the United States; and 
(B) building the technical expertise re-
quired to operate and improve the observing 
system. 
(c) COUNCIL FUNCTIONS.—In carrying out this sec-
tion, the Council shall— 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00158
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS
159 
(1) serve as the oversight body for the design 
and implementation of all aspects of the observing 
system; 
(2) adopt plans, budgets, and standards that 
are developed and maintained by the interagency 
program office in consultation with the regional as-
sociations; 
(3) coordinate the observing system with other 
earth observing activities, including the Global 
Ocean Observing System and the Global Earth Ob-
serving System of Systems; 
(4) coordinate and administer programs of re-
search, development, education, and outreach to— 
(A) support improvements to, and the op-
eration of, an integrated ocean and coastal ob-
serving system; and 
(B) advance the understanding of the 
oceans; 
(5) establish pilot projects to develop technology 
and methods for advancing the development of the 
observing system; 
(6) provide, as appropriate, support for and 
representation on United States delegations to inter-
national meetings on ocean and coastal observing 
programs; and 
VerDate Aug 31 2005 
22:08 Mar 10, 2007
Jkt 059196
PO 00000
Frm 00159
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H1350.IH
H1350
rwilkins on PROD1PC63 with BILLS