‘‘(II) the information needs of 
user groups in the region while adher-
ing to national standards; 
‘‘(iii) demonstrates an organizational 
structure, that under funding limitations is 
capable of— 
‘‘(I) gathering required System 
observation data; 
‘‘(II) supporting and integrating 
all aspects of coastal and ocean ob-
serving and information programs 
within a region; and 
‘‘(III) reflecting the needs of 
State, local, and tribal governments, 
commercial interests, and other users 
and beneficiaries of the System and 
other requirements specified under 
this subtitle and the System Plan; 
‘‘(iv) identifies— 
‘‘(I) gaps in observation coverage 
needs for capital improvements of 
Federal assets and non-Federal assets 
of the System; and 
‘‘(II) other recommendations to 
assist in the development of the an-
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nual and long-term plans prepared 
pursuant to paragraph (2)(B)(i) and 
transmits such information to the 
Interagency Ocean Observation Com-
mittee via the Program Office estab-
lished under paragraph (3)(C)(i); 
‘‘(v) develops and operates under a 
strategic operational plan that will ensure 
the efficient and effective administration of 
programs and assets to support daily data 
observations for integration into the Sys-
tem, pursuant to the standards approved 
by the Council; 
‘‘(vi) works cooperatively with govern-
mental and nongovernmental entities at all 
levels to identify and provide information 
products of the System for multiple users 
within the service area of the regional 
coastal observing system; and 
‘‘(vii) complies with all financial over-
sight requirements established by the Ad-
ministrator, including requirements relat-
ing to audits. 
‘‘(B) PARTICIPATION.—For the purposes 
of this title, employees of Federal agencies are 
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permitted to be members of the governing body 
for the Regional Coastal Observing Systems 
and may participate in the functions of the re-
gional information coordination entities.’’. 
(c) 
SYSTEM
ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.—Section 
12304(d) of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observa-
tion System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(d)) is amend-
ed— 
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘or the Inter-
agency Ocean Observing Observation Committee.’’ 
and inserting ‘‘or the Council under this subtitle’’; 
and 
(2) in paragraph (2)— 
(A) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ‘‘, 
data sharing,’’ after ‘‘data management’’; 
(B) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘and’’ at the end; 
(C) by striking subparagraph (D) and in-
serting the following: 
‘‘(D) additional priorities, including— 
‘‘(i) a national surface current map-
ping network designed to improve fine 
scale sea surface mapping using high fre-
quency radar technology and other emerg-
ing technologies to address national prior-
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ities, including Coast Guard search and 
rescue operation planning and harmful 
algal bloom forecasting and detection 
that— 
‘‘(I) is comprised of existing high 
frequency radar and other sea surface 
current mapping infrastructure oper-
ated by regional associations; 
‘‘(II) incorporates new high fre-
quency radar assets or other fine scale 
sea surface mapping technology as-
sets, and other assets needed to fill 
gaps in coverage on United States 
coastlines; and 
‘‘(III) follows a deployment plan 
that prioritizes closing gaps in high 
frequency radar infrastructure in the 
United States, starting with areas 
demonstrating significant sea surface 
current data needs, especially in areas 
where additional data will improve 
Coast Guard search and rescue mod-
els; 
‘‘(ii) fleet acquisition for autonomous 
underwater and surface vehicles for deploy-
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ment and data integration to fulfill the 
purposes of the Act; 
‘‘(iii) an integrative survey program 
for application of manned and unmanned 
vehicles to the real-time or near real-time 
collection and transmission of seafloor, 
water column, and sea surface data on bi-
ology, chemistry, geology, physics, and hy-
drography; 
‘‘(iv) remote sensing and data assimi-
lation to develop new analytical methodolo-
gies to assimilate data from the Integrated 
Ocean Observing System into hydro-
dynamic models; 
‘‘(v) integrated, multistate monitoring 
to assess sources, movement and fate of 
sediments in coastal regions; and 
‘‘(vi) a multiregion marine sound 
monitoring system to be— 
‘‘(I) planned in consultation with 
the International Ocean Observing 
Committee, the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, the De-
partment of the Navy, and academic 
research institutions; and 
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‘‘(II) developed, installed, and op-
erated in coordination with the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration, the Department of the 
Navy, and academic research institu-
tions; and 
‘‘(E) any other purpose identified by the 
Administrator or the Council.’’; 
(D) in paragraph (3)(B), by inserting 
‘‘The Administrator has the ability to stagger 
the terms of the System advisory committee 
members.’’ before ‘‘Members’’; and 
(E) in paragraph (4)— 
(i) in subparagraph (A), by striking 
‘‘and the Interagency Ocean Observing 
Committee’’; and 
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by striking 
‘‘Observing’’ and inserting ‘‘Observation’’. 
(d) CIVIL LIABILITY.—Section 12304(e) of the Inte-
grated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 
2009 (33 U.S.C. 3603(e)) is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘information coordination enti-
ty’’ and inserting ‘‘coastal observing system’’; and 
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(2) by striking ‘‘non-Federal asset or regional 
information coordination entity,’’ and inserting ‘‘Re-
gional Coastal Observing System,’’. 
SEC. 5. INTERAGENCY FINANCING AND AGREEMENTS. 
Section 12305(a) of the Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
3604(a)) is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—To carry out interagency activi-
ties under this subtitle, the Secretary of Commerce may 
execute an agreement, on a reimbursable or nonreimburs-
able basis, with any State or subdivision thereof, any Fed-
eral agency, or any public or private organization, or indi-
vidual to carry out interagency activities under this sub-
title.’’. 
SEC. 6. REPORTS TO CONGRESS. 
Section 12307 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3606) is 
amended to read as follows: 
‘‘SEC. 12307. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 
‘‘(a) REQUIREMENT.—Not later than 2 years after 
March 30, 2009, and every 3 years thereafter, the Admin-
istrator shall prepare and the President acting through the 
Council shall approve and transmit to the Congress a re-
port on progress made in implementing this subtitle. 
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‘‘(b) CONTENTS.—Each report required by sub-
section (a) shall include— 
‘‘(1) a description of activities carried out under 
this subtitle and the System Plan; 
‘‘(2) an evaluation of the effectiveness of the 
System, including an evaluation of progress made by 
the Council to achieve the goals identified under the 
System Plan; 
‘‘(3) identification of Federal and non-Federal 
assets as determined by the Council that have been 
integrated into the System, including assets essential 
to the gathering of required observation data vari-
ables necessary to meet the respective missions of 
Council agencies; 
‘‘(4) a review of procurements, planned or initi-
ated, by each Council agency to enhance, expand, or 
modernize the observation capabilities and data 
products provided by the System, including data 
management and communication subsystems; 
‘‘(5) a summary of the existing gaps in observa-
tion infrastructure and monitoring data collection, 
including— 
‘‘(A) priorities considered by the System 
advisory committee; 
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‘‘(B) the national sea surface current map-
ping network; 
‘‘(C) coastal buoys; and 
‘‘(D) ocean chemistry monitoring; 
‘‘(6) an assessment regarding activities to inte-
grate Federal and non-Federal assets, nationally and 
on the regional level, and discussion of the perform-
ance and effectiveness of regional information co-
ordination entities to coordinate regional observation 
operations; 
‘‘(7) a description of benefits of the program to 
users of data products resulting from the System 
(including the general public, industries, scientists, 
resource managers, emergency responders, policy 
makers, and educators); 
‘‘(8) recommendations concerning— 
‘‘(A) modifications to the System; and 
‘‘(B) funding levels for the System in sub-
sequent fiscal years; and 
‘‘(9) the results of a periodic external inde-
pendent programmatic audit of the System.’’. 
SEC. 7. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY. 
Section 12308 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3607) is 
amended to read as follows: 
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‘‘SEC. 12308. PUBLIC-PRIVATE USE POLICY. 
‘‘The Council shall maintain a policy that defines 
processes for making decisions about the roles of the Fed-
eral Government, the States, regional information coordi-
nation entities, the academic community, and the private 
sector in providing to end-user communities environmental 
information, products, technologies, and services related to 
the System. The Administrator shall ensure that the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration adheres to 
the decision making process developed by the Council re-
garding the roles of the Federal Government, the States, 
the Regional Coastal Observing Systems, the academic 
communities, and the private sector in providing the end- 
user communities environmental information, data prod-
ucts, technologies, and services related to the System.’’. 
SEC. 8. REPEAL OF INDEPENDENT COST ESTIMATE. 
(a) IN
GENERAL.—The Integrated Coastal and 
Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 is amended by 
striking section 12309 (33 U.S.C. 3608). 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS AMENDMENT.—The table 
of contents in section 1(b) of the Omnibus Public Land 
Management Act of 2009 (Public Law 111–11; 123 Stat. 
991) is amended by striking the item related to section 
12309. 
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SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
Section 12311 of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean 
Observation System Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 3610) is 
amended by striking ‘‘2013’’ and inserting ‘‘2019’’. 
SEC. 10. REPORTS AND RESEARCH PLANS. 
Section 12404(c) of the Federal Ocean Acidification 
Research And Monitoring Act of 2009 (33 U.S.C. 
3703(c)) is amended by adding at the end the following: 
‘‘(4) ECONOMIC VULNERABILITY REPORT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 2 years 
after the date of the enactment of the Coordi-
nated Ocean Monitoring and Research Act, and 
every 5 years thereafter, the Subcommittee 
shall transmit to appropriate committees of 
Congress a report that— 
‘‘(i) is named ‘The Ocean Chemistry 
Coastal Community Vulnerability Assess-
ment’; 
‘‘(ii) identifies gaps in ocean acidifica-
tion monitoring by public, academic, and 
private assets in the network of regional 
coastal observing systems; 
‘‘(iii) identifies geographic areas which 
have gaps in ocean acidification research; 
‘‘(iv) identifies United States coastal 
communities, including fishing commu-
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