I 
111TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2685 
To establish a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and a 
National Climate Enterprise, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 3, 2009 
Ms. BORDALLO (for herself, Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Mr. 
FARR, Mrs. CHRISTENSEN, Mr. GRIJALVA, Ms. HIRONO, Ms. SHEA-POR-
TER, Mr. HEINRICH, and Mr. PIERLUISI) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology, and in 
addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be sub-
sequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of 
such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
To establish a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration and a National Climate Enterprise, 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; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Climate and Ocean Research and Coordination Act of 
2009’’. 
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(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
TITLE I—NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC 
ADMINISTRATION ORGANIC ACT 
Sec. 101. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
Sec. 102. Functions. 
Sec. 103. Administration leadership. 
Sec. 104. National Weather Service. 
Sec. 105. Science Advisory Board. 
Sec. 106. Restructuring plan. 
Sec. 107. Reprogramming requests. 
Sec. 108. Savings provisions. 
Sec. 109. Report. 
Sec. 110. Function defined. 
TITLE II—NATIONAL CLIMATE ENTERPRISE ACT 
Sec. 201. Short title. 
Sec. 202. Findings. 
Sec. 203. Purposes. 
Sec. 204. National Climate Enterprise. 
Sec. 205. Quality assurance program. 
Sec. 206. Enterprise Advisory Board. 
Sec. 207. Report to the Congress. 
Sec. 208. Interagency financing and agreements. 
Sec. 209. Enhancing administration and management. 
Sec. 210. Application with other Federal laws. 
Sec. 211. Application with other agreements. 
Sec. 212. Relationship to other authorities. 
Sec. 213. Authorization of appropriations. 
Sec. 214. Definitions. 
TITLE 
I—NATIONAL 
OCEANIC 
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS-
TRATION ORGANIC ACT 
SEC. 101. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMIN-
ISTRATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, as in effect immediately before the 
enactment of this Act, shall be an administration in the 
Department of Commerce. Except as otherwise provided 
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in this Act (including the amendments and repeals made 
by this Act)— 
(1) the Administration shall have the adminis-
trative structure, officers, functions, and authorities 
it had immediately before the enactment of this Act, 
including under Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 
(5 U.S.C. App.); and 
(2) the Administrator shall have the authority, 
subject to the availability of appropriations— 
(A) to create, support, and maintain joint 
centers, and to enter into and perform con-
tracts, leases, grants, or cooperative agreements 
on terms the Administrator considers appro-
priate; 
(B) to disseminate information and con-
duct education and outreach in direct support 
of the purposes of this Act; and 
(C) to accept interagency financing of 
boards or similar groups to carry out inter-
agency activities for which the Administration 
serves as a lead agency. 
(b) MISSION.—The Administration shall be the civil-
ian agency of the Federal Government principally respon-
sible for— 
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(1) providing to the Nation oceanic, weather, 
atmospheric, and climate services and research; 
(2) monitoring changes in the Earth’s environ-
ment; and 
(3) conducting and supporting research, con-
servation, management, education and outreach re-
garding ocean and coastal resources, weather, and 
climate. 
SEC. 102. FUNCTIONS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall perform 
the following functions to carry out the mission set forth 
in section 101(b) in a coordinated, integrated, and eco-
system-based manner for the benefit of the Nation: 
(1) Management, conservation, protection, and 
restoration of ocean and coastal resources, including 
living marine resources, habitats, maritime heritage 
resources, and ocean ecosystems. 
(2) Observation, monitoring, assessment, fore-
casting, prediction, operations, and exploration for 
ocean, coastal, and atmospheric environments in-
cluding weather, space weather, climate, navigation, 
and marine resources. 
(3) Research, education and outreach, develop-
ment of hydrographic products and services, tech-
nical assistance, technology development, and inno-
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vation activities relating to ocean and atmospheric 
environments including basic and applied scientific 
research and activities that support other agency 
functions and missions. 
(b) STATE AND FEDERAL COORDINATION.—The Ad-
ministrator shall ensure that Administration programs 
and activities collaborate with State and Federal programs 
to encourage cooperation, coordination, and integration of 
State and Federal coastal, oceanic, and atmospheric pro-
grams, including the planning and implementation of re-
gional and ecosystem-based activities. 
(c) INTERNATIONAL COORDINATION.— 
(1) COOPERATION
BY
ADMINISTRATOR.—The 
Administrator shall cooperate to the fullest extent 
practicable with the Secretary of State in providing 
representation at all meetings and conferences relat-
ing to actions or activities described in this Act in 
which representatives of the United States and for-
eign countries participate. 
(2) CONSULTATION
WITH
ADMINISTRATOR.— 
The Secretary of State and any other officer of the 
United States with responsibility for agreements, 
treaties, or understandings with foreign nations and 
international organizations shall consult with the 
Administrator whenever the subject matter or activ-
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ity involved relates to a function of the Adminis-
trator. 
(3) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY OF COMMERCE 
NOT
AFFECTED.—This subsection does not affect 
the authority of the Secretary of Commerce with re-
spect to international fishing agreements. 
(d) PARTNERSHIPS.—The Administrator may pro-
mote, support, and enter into agreements with academia, 
industry, conservation groups, educators, and other inter-
ested persons to improve the effectiveness of Administra-
tion programs and activities and enhance public awareness 
and understanding of Administration science, service, and 
stewardship missions. 
SEC. 103. ADMINISTRATION LEADERSHIP. 
(a) UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE FOR OCEANS 
AND ATMOSPHERE AND ADMINISTRATOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be, as the Ad-
ministrator and head of the Administration, an 
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and At-
mosphere. The Administrator shall be appointed by 
the President, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate. 
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Administrator, as head 
of the Administration, shall be responsible for— 
(A) the functions under section 102(a); 
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(B) general management and supervision 
of the operations of the Administration; 
(C) policy development and guidance; 
(D) formulation, guidance, and execution 
of budget for the Administration; 
(E) serving as the Department of Com-
merce official for all ocean and atmosphere 
issues with other elements of the Department of 
Commerce and with other Federal agencies, 
State, tribal, and local governments, and the 
public; and 
(F) such other duties with respect to the 
Administration as the Secretary may prescribe. 
(b) ASSISTANT SECRETARY
OF COMMERCE
FOR 
OCEANS
AND
ATMOSPHERE
AND
DEPUTY
ADMINIS-
TRATOR.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be, as Deputy 
Administrator of the Administration, an Assistant 
Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. 
The Deputy Administrator shall be appointed by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate. The Deputy Administrator shall be the Ad-
ministrator’s first assistant for purposes of sub-
chapter III of chapter 33 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
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(A) ensure the timely and effective imple-
mentation of Administration policies and objec-
tives; 
(B) be responsible for all aspects of the 
Administration’s operations and management, 
including budget, financial operations, informa-
tion services, facilities, human resources, pro-
curements, and associated services; 
(C) act as the Assistant Secretary during 
the absence or disability of the Assistant Sec-
retary or in the event of a vacancy in such posi-
tion; and 
(D) perform such other duties as the Ad-
ministrator shall prescribe. 
(d) DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARIES.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Admin-
istration three Deputy Assistant Secretaries. 
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The Secretary shall— 
(A) designate the functions of each Deputy 
Assistant Secretary; and 
(B) assign to each Deputy Assistant Sec-
retary one of the functions under paragraphs 
(1), (2), and (3) of section 102(a). 
(3) QUALIFICATIONS.—The Deputy Assistant 
Secretaries shall be appointed by the Secretary from 
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among individuals who are qualified by reason of 
background and experience to direct the implementa-
tion and administration of the functions for which 
they are responsible. The positions of Deputy Assist-
ant Secretaries shall be Senior Executive Service po-
sitions authorized under section 3133 of title 5, 
United States Code. 
(e) GENERAL COUNSEL.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Admin-
istration a General Counsel. The General Counsel 
shall be appointed by the Secretary. The General 
Counsel shall be paid at the rate of basic pay for 
level V of the Executive Schedule. 
(2) FUNCTIONS.—The General Counsel shall— 
(A) serve as the chief legal officer of the 
Administration for all legal matters that arise 
in connection with the conduct of the functions 
of the Administration; and 
(B) perform such other functions and exer-
cise such powers as the Administrator may pre-
scribe. 
(f) ADDITIONAL
POSITIONS.—The Administrator 
may appoint individuals to such additional positions in the 
Administration as may be appropriate to reflect any re-
structuring of the Administration. 
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(g) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS
TO REORGANIZA-
TION PLAN.— 
(1) REORGANIZATION PLAN NO. 4 OF 1970.—Re-
organization Plan No. 4 of 1970 (5 U.S.C. App.) is 
amended— 
(A) in section 1, by adding at the end the 
following: 
‘‘(g) The functions vested in the Secretary of the In-
terior and the Secretaries by the Act of June 8, 1906 (16 
U.S.C. 433 et seq.), popularly known as the Antiques Act 
of 1906, relating to national monuments comprised of 
ocean or coastal resources.’’; and 
(B) in section 2, by striking subsection (e). 
(2) TITLE 5, U.S.C.—Section 5316 of title 5, 
United States Code, is amended by striking ‘‘Assist-
ant Administrator for Coastal Zone Management,’’ 
and all that follows through ‘‘Assistant Administra-
tors (3), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration.’’. 
SEC. 104. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—There shall be in the Administra-
tion the National Weather Service. 
(b) MISSION.—The mission of the National Weather 
Service is to provide weather, water, climate, tsunami, and 
space weather forecasts and warnings for the United 
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States, its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas for 
the protection of life and property and the enhancement 
of the national economy. In carrying out the mission of 
the National Weather Service, the Administrator shall 
seek to ensure that the National Weather Service— 
(1) provides timely and accurate weather, 
water, climate, tsunami, and space weather fore-
casts; and 
(2) provides timely and accurate warnings of 
natural hazards related to weather, water, climate, 
and tsunamis, and of space weather hazards. 
(c) FUNCTIONS.—To accomplish the mission de-
scribed in section 101(b), and in addition to the functions 
described in section 102(a), the functions of the National 
Weather Service shall include— 
(1) maintaining a network of local weather fore-
cast offices; 
(2) maintaining a network of observation sys-
tems to collect weather, water, and climate data; 
(3) operating national centers to deliver guid-
ance, forecasts, warnings, and analysis about weath-
er, water, climate, tsunami, and space weather phe-
nomena for use by the Administration and the pub-
lic; 
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(4) providing information to Federal, State, and 
local agencies and other organizations responsible 
for emergency preparedness and response; 
(5) conducting and supporting applied research 
to facilitate the rapid incorporation of weather and 
climate science advances into operational tools; and 
(6) other functions to serve the mission of the 
National Weather Service described in subsection 
(b). 
SEC. 105. SCIENCE ADVISORY BOARD. 
There shall be within the Administration a Science 
Advisory Board, in accordance with the document entitled 
‘‘U.S. Department of Commerce Charter of the NOAA 
Science Advisory Board’’, dated August 9, 2005. 
SEC. 106. RESTRUCTURING PLAN. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall develop 
a plan and budget setting forth a proposal for restruc-
turing the Administration and its programs, as they ex-
isted immediately before enactment of this title, that im-
plement this title, and consider the recommendations of 
the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy so as to provide 
improved services to the Nation. 
(b) CONTENT.—The plan shall— 
(1) describe leadership positions and roles, and 
program offices and duties; 
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(2) consider— 
(A) regional approaches to management 
and ecosystem-based management; 
(B) coordination with outside entities, both 
nationally and internationally; and 
(C) needs to expand or downsize employees 
or facilities (or both); 
(3) be consistent with section 102 and the other 
provisions of this Act, and maximize the efficiency 
with which the Administration carries out and 
assures the effectiveness of the functions of the Ad-
ministrator described in section 102(a); 
(4) improve the sharing of research and other 
information and the compilation of available data, 
that is of use across programmatic themes; and 
(5) to the maximum extent practicable, elimi-
nate duplication of effort or overlapping efforts 
among offices. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—The Administrator shall de-
velop the plan in consultation with interested persons, in-
cluding representatives of the States, academia, industry, 
conservation organizations, and labor organizations cer-
tified as the exclusive representatives of Administration 
employees pursuant to chapter 71 of title 5, United States 
Code. 
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(d) SCHEDULE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months 
after the date of enactment of this Act, the Adminis-
trator shall develop the plan and shall publish the 
plan in the Federal Register. 
(2) PUBLIC COMMENT.—The Federal Register 
notice shall solicit comments for a period of 60 days. 
(3) FINAL
PLAN.—Not later than 120 days 
after the expiration date of the comment period de-
scribed in paragraph (2), the Administrator shall 
complete a final plan that takes into account the 
comments received. 
(4) TRANSMITTAL.—Upon completing the final 
plan, the Administrator shall— 
(A) transmit the final plan, and an expla-
nation of how the Administrator addressed each 
issue raised by the public comments received, to 
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and 
Transportation of the Senate and the Commit-
tees on Science and Technology and on Natural 
Resources of the House of Representatives for 
review; and 
(B) publish the final plan and explanation 
in the Federal Register. 
(e) REPORTING.— 
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(1) ADMINISTRATION
INTERNAL
REVIEW.— 
Once every 3 years after implementation of the reor-
ganization plan, the Administrator shall transmit a 
report to Congress assessing the effectiveness and 
efficiency of the Administration in carrying out its 
functions and fulfilling its mission, as set forth in 
section 101(b). 
(2) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE RE-
VIEW.—Not later than 3 years after the Administra-
tion implements the reorganization plan, and every 
6 years thereafter, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall conduct an independent review 
of the effectiveness and efficiency of the Administra-
tion in fulfilling its mission, as set forth in section 
101(b), and carrying out the functions set forth in 
section 102. Upon completing the review, the Comp-
troller General shall transmit a report to Congress 
with his or her findings. 
SEC. 107. REPROGRAMMING REQUESTS. 
Whenever the Administrator transmits a budget re-
programming request to the Appropriations Committees 
of the House of Representatives and the Senate, the Ad-
ministrator shall simultaneously submit a copy of the re-
quest to the Committee on Science and Technology and 
the Committee on Natural Resources of the House of Rep-
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resentatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, 
and Transportation of the Senate. 
SEC. 108. SAVINGS PROVISIONS. 
Except as otherwise provided in this Act, all rules and 
regulations, determinations, standards, contracts, certifi-
cations, authorizations, appointments, delegations, results 
and findings of investigations, and other actions duly 
issued, made, or taken by or pursuant to or under the 
authority of any statute that resulted in the assignment 
of functions or activities to the Secretary of Commerce, 
the Department of Commerce, the Under Secretary of 
Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, or any other offi-
cial of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion, as are in effect immediately before the enactment of 
this Act, shall continue in full force and effect after enact-
ment of this Act until modified or rescinded. 
SEC. 109. REPORT. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Administrator shall submit a report to the 
Congress on the implementation of this Act, including 
such recommendations as the Administrator considers ap-
propriate regarding changes to existing law (including 
granting of additional authority to the Administrator). 
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SEC. 110. FUNCTION DEFINED. 
In this title the term ‘‘function’’ includes authorities, 
powers, rights, privileges, immunities, programs, projects, 
activities, duties, and responsibilities. 
TITLE II—NATIONAL CLIMATE 
ENTERPRISE ACT 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Climate En-
terprise Act of 2009’’. 
SEC. 202. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds the following: 
(1) Warming of the climate system is unequivo-
cal and will impact physical infrastructure, eco-
system services, and human well-being. 
(2) In the face of climate change, the public 
and decisionmakers need access to scientifically 
based data, meta-data, information, products, and 
services that are authoritative, timely, useful, and 
available at various temporal and spatial scales and 
which can be applied for human-built and natural 
resource development and management and other 
uses. 
(3) Currently, there is no single source of cred-
ible information that will allow public and private 
end-users to make decisions on how to adapt to or 
mitigate the impacts of climate change, nor a mech-
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anism for public and private end-users to articulate 
their information needs to the Federal Government. 
(4) Federal leadership is needed to coordinate 
climate information among Federal agencies; to es-
tablish a climate clearinghouse for climate data, 
meta-data, and information; to disseminate useful 
climate data, meta-data, information, products, and 
services to meet end-user needs; and to support soci-
ety’s needs for reliable information to guide further 
adaptation to and mitigation of the impacts of cli-
mate change. 
(5) A public/private enterprise comprised of 
Federal and non-Federal components, abiding by a 
set of common agreements, will provide the nec-
essary accountability, reliability, flexibility, and 
adaptability to be able to provide climate and cli-
mate impact data, meta-data, information, products, 
and services that address adaptation and mitigation 
needs that vary dramatically across different regions 
of the country, among different stakeholders, and at 
different scales of resolution. 
SEC. 203. PURPOSES. 
The purposes of this title are to establish a National 
Climate Enterprise that will— 
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(1) advance the ability of the Federal Govern-
ment, the Nation, and the world to forecast natural 
and human-induced climate, climate change, and cli-
mate variability and to understand climate impacts 
at regional and local scales to improve our ability to 
respond to, adapt to, and plan for the protection, 
conservation and management of natural resources 
and ecosystem services in a dynamic, changing envi-
ronment and to effectively carry out the intent of— 
(A) the Coastal Zone Management Act of 
1972; 
(B) the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 
1999; 
(C) the Dingell-Johnson Sport Fish Res-
toration Act; 
(D) the Endangered Species Act of 1973; 
(E) the Federal Lands Policy and Manage-
ment Act of 1976; 
(F) the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956; 
(G) the Fish and Wildlife Coordination 
Act; 
(H) the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Con-
servation and Management Act; 
(I) the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 
1972; 
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(J) the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; 
(K) the National Marine Sanctuaries Act; 
(L) the National Park Service Organic 
Act; 
(M) the National Reclamation Act of 1902; 
(N) the National Wildlife Refuge System 
Administration Act of 1966; 
(O) the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Res-
toration Act; and 
(P) other Acts that conserve and manage 
natural resources; 
(2) provide scientifically based, authoritative, 
timely, and useful climate and climate impact data, 
meta-data, information, products, and services to 
Federal agencies, non-Federal contributors, and 
public and private end-users; 
(3) be comprised of Federal agencies and non- 
Federal contributors to— 
(A) expand the ability of the Federal Gov-
ernment to do research and gather data, meta- 
data, and information relevant to climate, cli-
mate change, climate variability, and impacts 
on built and natural systems at multiple tem-
poral and spatial scales; 
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(B) standardize climate and climate impact 
data, meta-data, and information acquisition 
across Federal agencies, non-Federal contribu-
tors, and internationally; 
(C) integrate climate and climate impact 
data, meta-data, and information into a com-
prehensive National Climate Data Network that 
is interoperable among Federal agencies, non- 
Federal contributors, and public and private 
end-users; 
(D) provide global and national climate 
and climate impact data, meta-data, informa-
tion, products, and services to Federal agencies, 
non-Federal contributors, and public and pri-
vate end-users to enhance and manage natural 
resources in a dynamic, changing environment; 
(E) provide regional to local climate and 
climate impact data, meta-data, information, 
products, services, decision support tools, com-
munications networks, and outreach support to 
public and private end-users directly and 
through non-Federal contributors; 
(F) coordinate Federal agency activity with 
public and private end-users of climate and cli-
mate impact data, meta-data, and information, 
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including researchers, government, nongovern-
ment, industry, tribal groups, and public and 
private end-users; 
(G) establish and operate a program of na-
tional and regional climate assessments, includ-
ing climate information gap analyses and vul-
nerability assessments; and 
(H) conduct education and outreach to 
public and private end-users about climate and 
climate impact data, meta-data, information, 
products, and services to inform natural re-
source management and other decisionmaking 
in the face of climate change. 
SEC. 204. NATIONAL CLIMATE ENTERPRISE. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The President shall establish 
a National Climate Enterprise to coordinate international, 
Federal, and non-Federal activity to provide scientifically 
based, authoritative, timely, and useful climate and cli-
mate impact data, meta-data, information, products, and 
services to Federal agencies, non-Federal contributors, 
and public and private end-users that will facilitate better 
forecasting of climate, climate change, and climate varia-
bility and to understand climate impacts at regional and 
local scales to improve our ability to respond to, adapt to, 
and plan for the protection, conservation, and manage-
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ment of natural resources and ecosystem services in a dy-
namic, changing environment. 
(b) ENTERPRISE ELEMENTS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—To fulfill the purposes of 
this title, the Enterprise shall consist of an Inter-
departmental Oversight Board, an Interagency Co-
ordinating Committee, and a Climate Operations Of-
fice established by this subsection, and non-Federal 
contributors. 
(2) 
INTERDEPARTMENTAL
OVERSIGHT 
BOARD.— 
(A) FUNCTION.—The Interdepartmental 
Oversight Board shall— 
(i) establish a broad policy framework, 
principles for engagement, and priorities, 
including annual and long-term priorities 
for the Enterprise; 
(ii) consider international climate pol-
icy and standards in implementing clause 
(i); and 
(iii) develop and transmit to the Con-
gress at the time of submission of the 
President’s annual budget request under 
section 1105 of title 31, United States 
Code, an annual coordinated, comprehen-
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sive budget to operate all elements of the 
Enterprise identified in paragraph (1), tak-
ing into account existing programs and 
new initiatives identified by the Inter-
agency Coordinating Committee, the Cli-
mate Operations Office, and non-Federal 
contributors. 
(B) COMPOSITION.—The Board shall in-
clude Secretaries and Administrators from de-
partments and independent agencies of the 
Federal Government, as specified by the Presi-
dent, with existing climate-related functions. 
(C) CHAIR.—The Board shall be chaired 
by the Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy. 
(D) ADMINISTRATION.—The Board shall 
meet no less than once per year. 
(3) 
INTERAGENCY
COORDINATING
COM-
MITTEE.— 
(A) FUNCTION.—The broad policy frame-
work and priorities established by the Board 
under paragraph (2) shall guide the actions of 
the Interagency Coordinating Committee. The 
Interagency Coordinating Committee— 
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(i) shall establish a research strategy 
for Federal agencies to understand and 
predict climate change, climate variability, 
and climate impacts, including applied re-
search and development of climate prod-
ucts and services that effectively meet pub-
lic and private end-user needs at a range 
of spatial and temporal scales; 
(ii) shall establish a strategy for a Na-
tional Climate Data Network to improve 
and integrate climate and climate impact 
data, meta-data, and information collec-
tion, modeling, assessment, and predictive 
capabilities at a range of spatial and tem-
poral scales; 
(iii) shall establish a strategic plan for 
Federal agency and non-Federal contrib-
utor collaboration; 
(iv) shall establish required observa-
tion data, meta-data, and information vari-
ables to be gathered by Federal and non- 
Federal contributors to be integrated into 
the National Climate Data Network; 
(v) shall establish protocols and stand-
ards for data, meta-data, and information 
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acquisition, processing, and management, 
that are adaptable to emerging climate and 
climate impact data, meta-data, and infor-
mation; 
(vi) shall develop eligibility require-
ments, contract certification standards, 
and compliance procedures for non-Federal 
contributors to become incorporated into 
the Enterprise; 
(vii) shall establish protocols and 
standards for non-Federal contributors to 
produce Enterprise-certified climate and 
climate impact data, meta-data, informa-
tion, products, or services to meet inter-
national, regional, and local public and pri-
vate end-user needs; 
(viii) may, in consultation with the 
Enterprise Advisory Board, develop a 
framework for regional coordination of 
non-Federal contributors, including the es-
tablishment of regional offices to coordi-
nate between the Climate Operations Of-
fice, non-Federal contributors, and public 
and private end-users, if collection and de-
livery of data, meta-data, information, 
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