IB 
Union Calendar No. 341 
110TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 2342 
[Report No. 110–558, Part I] 
To direct the President to establish a National Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 16, 2007 
Mr. ALLEN (for himself, Mr. GILCHREST, Mr. WAXMAN, Mr. YOUNG of Flor-
ida, Mrs. CAPPS, Mr. SAXTON, Mr. FARR, Mr. INSLEE, Mr. 
MCDERMOTT, Mr. MCINTYRE, Mr. MORAN of Virginia, and Mr. THOMP-
SON of California) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
Science and Technology, for a period to be subsequently determined by 
the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall with-
in the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
MARCH 31, 2008 
Additional sponsors: Mrs. DAVIS of California, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. 
GRIJALVA, Ms. MATSUI, Ms. WOOLSEY, Ms. SOLIS, Mr. HONDA, Ms. 
HARMAN, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. HOLT, and Ms. BORDALLO 
MARCH 31, 2008 
Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources with an amendment 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
MARCH 31, 2008 
Committee on Science and Technology discharged; committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be 
printed 
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[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 16, 2007] 
A BILL 
To direct the President to establish a National Integrated 
Coastal and Ocean Observation System, 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. ENHANCING CLIMATE CHANGE PREDICTIONS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the 
‘‘National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation Act 
of 2008’’. 
(b) PURPOSES.—The purposes of this section are the 
following: 
(1) Establish a National Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System comprised of Federal and 
non-Federal components, coordinated at the national 
level by the National Ocean Research Leadership 
Council and at the regional level by a network of Re-
gional Information Coordination Entities, that in-
cludes in situ, remote, and other coastal and ocean 
observations, technologies, and data management and 
communication systems, to gather specific coastal and 
ocean data variables and to ensure the timely dis-
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semination and availability of usable observation 
data— 
(A) to support national defense, marine 
commerce, energy production, scientific research, 
ecosystem-based marine and coastal resource 
management, weather and marine forecasting, 
public safety and public outreach training and 
education; and 
(B) to promote greater public awareness 
and stewardship of the Nation’s ocean, coastal, 
and Great Lakes resources and the general public 
welfare. 
(2) Improve the Nation’s capability to measure, 
track, explain, and predict events related directly and 
indirectly to weather and climate change, natural cli-
mate variability, and interactions between the oceanic 
and atmospheric environments, including the Great 
Lakes. 
(3) Authorize activities to promote basic and ap-
plied research to develop, test, and deploy innovations 
and improvements in coastal and ocean observation 
technologies, modeling systems, and other scientific 
and technological capabilities to improve our concep-
tual understanding of weather and climate, ocean at-
mosphere dynamics, global climate change, and phys-
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ical, chemical, and biological dynamics of the ocean 
and coastal and Great Lakes environments. 
(c) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 
National Ocean Research Leadership Council referred 
to in section 7902 of title 10, United States Code. 
(2) 
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
term 
‘‘Adminis-
trator’’ means the Administrator of the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration. 
(3) FEDERAL ASSETS.—The term ‘‘Federal as-
sets’’ means all relevant nonclassified civilian coastal 
and ocean observations, technologies, and related mod-
eling, research, data management, basic and applied 
technology research and development, and public edu-
cation and outreach programs, that are managed by 
member agencies of the Council. 
(4) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The term 
‘‘Interagency Working Group’’ means the Interagency 
Working Group on Ocean Observations as established 
by the U.S. Ocean Policy Committee Subcommittee 
on Ocean Science and Technology pursuant to Execu-
tive Order 13366 signed December 17, 2004. 
(5) NON-FEDERAL ASSETS.—The term ‘‘non-Fed-
eral assets’’ means all relevant coastal and ocean ob-
servations, technologies, related basic and applied 
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technology research and development, and public edu-
cation and outreach programs that are integrated 
into the System and are managed through States, re-
gional organizations, universities, nongovernmental 
organizations, or the private sector. 
(6) REGIONAL INFORMATION COORDINATION EN-
TITIES.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—The term ‘‘Regional In-
formation Coordination Entity’’, subject to sub-
paragraphs (B) and (C), means an organiza-
tional body that is certified or established by the 
lead Federal agency designated in subsection 
(d)(3)(C)(iii) and coordinating State, Federal, 
local, and private interests at a regional level 
with the responsibility of engaging the private 
and public sectors in designing, operating, and 
improving regional coastal and ocean observing 
systems in order to ensure the provision of data 
and information that meet the needs of user 
groups from the respective regions. 
(B) INCLUDED ASSOCIATIONS.—Such term 
includes Regional Associations as described by 
the System Plan. 
(C) LIMITATION.—Nothing in this section 
shall be construed to invalidate existing certifi-
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cations, contracts, or agreements between Re-
gional Associations and other elements of the 
System. 
(7) SYSTEM.—The term ‘‘System’’ means the Na-
tional Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation Sys-
tem established under subsection (d). 
(8) SYSTEM
PLAN.—The term ‘‘System Plan’’ 
means the plan contained in the document entitled 
‘‘Ocean.US Publication No. 9, The First Integrated 
Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Development Plan’’. 
(d) NATIONAL INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OB-
SERVING SYSTEM.— 
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President, acting 
through the Council, shall establish a National Inte-
grated Coastal and Ocean Observation System to ful-
fill the purposes set forth in subsection (b) and the 
System plan and to fulfill the Nation’s international 
obligations to contribute to the global earth observa-
tion system of systems and the global ocean observing 
system. 
(2) SUPPORT OF PURPOSES.—The head of each 
agency that is a member of the Interagency Working 
Group shall support the purposes of this section. 
(3) AVAILABILITY OF DATA.—The head of each 
Federal agency that has administrative jurisdiction 
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over a Federal asset shall make available data that 
are produced by that asset and that are not otherwise 
restricted for integration, management, and dissemi-
nation by the System. 
(4) ENHANCING ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGE-
MENT.—The head of each Federal agency that has ad-
ministrative jurisdiction over a Federal asset may 
take appropriate actions to enhance internal agency 
administration and management to better support, 
integrate, finance, and utilize observation data, prod-
ucts, and services developed under this section to fur-
ther its own agency mission and responsibilities. 
(5) PARTICIPATION IN REGIONAL INFORMATION 
COORDINATION
ENTITY.—The head of each Federal 
agency that has administrative jurisdiction over a 
Federal asset may participate in regional informa-
tion coordination entity activities. 
(6) NON-FEDERAL ASSETS.—Non-Federal assets 
shall be coordinated by the Interagency Working 
Group or by Regional Information Coordination En-
tities. 
(e) POLICY OVERSIGHT, ADMINISTRATION, AND RE-
GIONAL COORDINATION.— 
(1) NATIONAL
OCEAN
RESEARCH
LEADERSHIP 
COUNCIL.—The National Ocean Research Leadership 
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Council shall be responsible for establishing broad co-
ordination and long-term operations plans, policies, 
protocols, and standards for the System consistent 
with the policies, goals, and objectives contained in 
the System Plan, and coordination of the System 
with other earth observing activities. 
(2) INTERAGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The Inter-
agency Working Group shall, with respect to the Sys-
tem, be responsible for— 
(A) implementation of operations plans and 
policies developed by the Council; 
(B) development of and transmittal to Con-
gress at the time of submission of the President’s 
annual budget request an annual coordinated, 
comprehensive System budget; 
(C) identification of gaps in observation 
coverage or needs for capital improvements of 
both Federal assets and non-Federal assets; 
(D) establishment of data management and 
communication protocols and standards; 
(E) establishment of required observation 
data variables; 
(F) development of certification standards 
for all non-Federal assets or Regional Informa-
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tion Coordination Entities to be eligible for inte-
gration into the System; 
(G) subject to the availability of appropria-
tions, establish through one or more partici-
pating Federal agencies, in consultation with the 
System Advisory Committee established under 
paragraph (5), a competitive matching grant or 
other program to promote research and develop-
ment of innovative observation technologies in-
cluding testing and field trials; and 
(H) periodically review and recommend to 
the Council revisions to the System Plan. 
(3) LEAD FEDERAL AGENCY.—The Administrator 
shall function as the lead Federal agency for the Sys-
tem. The Administrator may establish an Interagency 
Program Coordinating Office to facilitate the Admin-
istrator’s responsibilities as the lead Federal agency 
for System oversight and management. The Adminis-
trator shall— 
(A) implement policies, protocols, and 
standards established by the Council and dele-
gated by the Interagency Working Group; 
(B) promulgate regulations to integrate the 
participation of non-Federal assets into the Sys-
tem and enter into and oversee contracts and 
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agreements with Regional Information Coordina-
tion Entities to effect this purpose; 
(C) implement a competitive funding proc-
ess for the purpose of assigning contracts and 
agreements to Regional Information Coordina-
tion Entities; 
(D) certify or establish Regional Informa-
tion Coordination Entities to coordinate State, 
Federal, local, and private interests at a regional 
level with the responsibility of engaging private 
and public sectors in designing, operating, and 
improving regional coastal and ocean observing 
systems in order to ensure the provision of data 
and information that meet the needs of user 
groups from the respective regions; 
(E) formulate a process by which gaps in 
observation coverage or needs for capital im-
provements of Federal assets and non-Federal as-
sets of the System can be identified by the Re-
gional Information Coordination Entities, the 
Administrator, or other members of the System 
and transmitted to the Interagency Working 
Group; 
(F) be responsible for the coordination, stor-
age, management, and dissemination of observa-
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