115 
entities responsible for the marketing and distribution of unenhanced data 
generated by the Landsat system) shall develop and implement a system for 
enforcing this prohibition, in the event that unenhanced data from the 
Landsat system are made available for noncommercial purposes at a dif-
ferent price than such data are made available for other purposes. 
(b) AUTHORITY OF SECRETARY.—Subject to subsection (d), the Secretary 
may impose any of the enforcement mechanisms described in subsection (c) 
against a person that— 
(1) receives unenhanced data from the Landsat system under this 
chapter solely for noncommercial purposes (and at a different price 
than the price at which such data are made available for other pur-
poses); and 
(2) uses such data for other than noncommercial purposes. 
(c) ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS.—Enforcement mechanisms referred to 
in subsection (b) may include civil penalties of not more than $10,000 (per 
day per violation), denial of further unenhanced data purchasing privileges, 
and any other penalties or restrictions the Secretary considers necessary to 
ensure, to the greatest extent practicable, that unenhanced data provided 
for noncommercial purposes are not used to unfairly compete in the com-
mercial market against private sector entities not eligible for data at the 
cost of fulfilling user requests. 
(d) PROCEDURES AND REGULATIONS.—The Secretary shall issue any reg-
ulations necessary to carry out this section and shall establish standards 
and procedures governing the imposition of enforcement mechanisms under 
subsection (b). The standards and procedures shall include a procedure for 
potentially aggrieved parties to file formal protests with the Secretary alleg-
ing instances where such unenhanced data have been, or are being, used for 
commercial purposes in violation of the terms of receipt of such data. The 
Secretary shall promptly act to investigate any such protest, and shall re-
port annually to Congress on instances of such violations. 
SUBCHAPTER VI—PROHIBITION OF COMMERCIALIZATION OF 
WEATHER SATELLITES 
§ 60161. Prohibition 
Neither the President nor any other official of the Government shall make 
any effort to lease, sell, or transfer to the private sector, or commercialize, 
any portion of the weather satellite systems operated by the Department of 
Commerce or any successor agency. 
§ 60162. Future considerations 
Regardless of any change in circumstances subsequent to October 28, 
1992, even if such change makes it appear to be in the national interest 
to commercialize weather satellites, neither the President nor any official 
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shall take any action prohibited by section 60161 of this title unless this 
subchapter has first been repealed. 
CHAPTER 603—REMOTE SENSING 
Sec. 
60301.
Definitions. 
60302.
General responsibilities. 
60303.
Pilot projects to encourage public sector applications. 
60304.
Program evaluation. 
60305.
Data availability. 
60306.
Education. 
§ 60301. Definitions 
In this chapter: 
(1) GEOSPATIAL INFORMATION.—The term ‘‘geospatial information’’ 
means knowledge of the nature and distribution of physical and cul-
tural features on the landscape based on analysis of data from airborne 
or spaceborne platforms or other types and sources of data. 
(2) HIGH RESOLUTION.—The term ‘‘high resolution’’ means resolu-
tion better than five meters. 
(3) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The term ‘‘institution of 
higher education’’ has the meaning given the term in section 101(a) 
of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a)). 
§ 60302. General responsibilities 
The Administrator shall— 
(1) develop a sustained relationship with the United States commer-
cial remote sensing industry and, consistent with applicable policies and 
law, to the maximum practicable, rely on their services; and 
(2) in conjunction with United States industry and universities, re-
search, develop, and demonstrate prototype Earth science applications 
to enhance Federal, State, local, and tribal governments’ use of govern-
ment and commercial remote sensing data, technologies, and other 
sources of geospatial information for improved decision support to ad-
dress their needs. 
§ 60303. Pilot projects to encourage public sector applica-
tions 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall establish a program of grants 
for competitively awarded pilot projects to explore the integrated use of 
sources of remote sensing and other geospatial information to address State, 
local, regional, and tribal agency needs. 
(b) PREFERRED PROJECTS.—In awarding grants under this section, the 
Administrator shall give preference to projects that— 
(1) make use of commercial data sets, including high resolution com-
mercial satellite imagery and derived satellite data products, existing 
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public data sets where commercial data sets are not available or appli-
cable, or the fusion of such data sets; 
(2) integrate multiple sources of geospatial information, such as geo-
graphic information system data, satellite-provided positioning data, 
and remotely sensed data, in innovative ways; 
(3) include funds or in-kind contributions from non-Federal sources; 
(4) involve the participation of commercial entities that process raw 
or lightly processed data, often merging that data with other geospatial 
information, to create data products that have significant value added 
to the original data; and 
(5) taken together demonstrate as diverse a set of public sector ap-
plications as possible. 
(c) OPPORTUNITIES.—In carrying out this section, the Administrator 
shall seek opportunities to assist— 
(1) in the development of commercial applications potentially avail-
able from the remote sensing industry; and 
(2) State, local, regional, and tribal agencies in applying remote 
sensing and other geospatial information technologies for growth man-
agement. 
(d) DURATION.—Assistance for a pilot project under subsection (a) shall 
be provided for a period not to exceed 3 years. 
(e) REPORT.—Each recipient of a grant under subsection (a) shall trans-
mit a report to the Administrator on the results of the pilot project within 
180 days of the completion of that project. 
(f) WORKSHOP.—Each recipient of a grant under subsection (a) shall, not 
later than 180 days after the completion of the pilot project, conduct at 
least one workshop for potential users to disseminate the lessons learned 
from the pilot project as widely as feasible. 
(g) REGULATIONS.—The Administrator shall issue regulations estab-
lishing application, selection, and implementation procedures for pilot 
projects, and guidelines for reports and workshops required by this section. 
§ 60304. Program evaluation 
(a) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The Administrator shall establish an advi-
sory committee, consisting of individuals with appropriate expertise in State, 
local, regional, and tribal agencies, the university research community, and 
the remote sensing and other geospatial information industries, to monitor 
the program established under section 60303 of this title. The advisory com-
mittee shall consult with the Federal Geographic Data Committee and other 
appropriate industry representatives and organizations. Notwithstanding 
section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 App. U.S.C.), the ad-
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visory committee established under this subsection shall remain in effect 
until the termination of the program under section 60303 of this title. 
(b) EFFECTIVENESS EVALUATION.—Not later than December 31, 2009, 
the Administrator shall transmit to Congress an evaluation of the effective-
ness of the program established under section 60303 of this title in explor-
ing and promoting the integrated use of sources of remote sensing and other 
geospatial information to address State, local, regional, and tribal agency 
needs. Such evaluation shall have been conducted by an independent entity. 
§ 60305. Data availability 
The Administrator shall ensure that the results of each of the pilot 
projects completed under section 60303 of this title shall be retrievable 
through an electronic, internet-accessible database. 
§ 60306. Education 
The Administrator shall establish an educational outreach program to in-
crease awareness at institutions of higher education and State, local, re-
gional, and tribal agencies of the potential applications of remote sensing 
and other geospatial information and awareness of the need for geospatial 
workforce development. 
CHAPTER 605—EARTH SCIENCE 
Sec. 
60501.
Goal. 
60502.
Transitioning experimental research into operational services. 
60503.
Reauthorization of Glory Mission. 
60504.
Tornadoes and other severe storms. 
60505.
Coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 
60506.
Sharing of climate related data. 
§ 60501. Goal 
The goal for the Administration’s Earth Science program shall be to pur-
sue a program of Earth observations, research, and applications activities 
to better understand the Earth, how it supports life, and how human activi-
ties affect its ability to do so in the future. In pursuit of this goal, the Ad-
ministration’s Earth Science program shall ensure that securing practical 
benefits for society will be an important measure of its success in addition 
to securing new knowledge about the Earth system and climate change. In 
further pursuit of this goal, the Administration shall, together with the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant agencies, 
provide United States leadership in developing and carrying out a coopera-
tive international Earth observations-based research program. 
§ 60502. Transitioning experimental research into oper-
ational services 
(a) INTERAGENCY PROCESS.—The Director of the Office of Science and 
Technology Policy, in consultation with the Administrator, the Adminis-
trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other 
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