Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act

Bill: 109-s-364
Sponsor: Sen. Inouye, Daniel K. [D-HI]
Introduced: 2005-02-10 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Agriculture and Food
Animals
Aquaculture
Archives
Armed Forces and National Security
Arts, Culture, Religion
Coastal zone
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Continental shelf
Cultural property
Data banks
Decision making
Department of Commerce
Economics and Public Finance
Education
Electronic data interchange
Electronic government information
Environmental Protection
Executive reorganization
Federal advisory bodies
Federal aid to education
Federal aid to research
Federal employees
Fisheries
Government Operations and Politics
Government publicity
Graduate education
Great Lakes
Gulf of Mexico
Habitat conservation
Higher education
Hydrology
Labor and Employment
Maps
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine ecology
Marine resources conservation
Oceanographic research
Oceanography
Planning
Remote sensing
Research and development
Research centers
Science, Technology, Communications
Security classification (Government documents)
Space activities
Submarine cables
Surveying
Technological innovations
Technology transfer
Territorial waters
Water Resources Development

Summary:
action_date: 2005-02-10
text: 
 Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act - Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish an integrated ocean and coastal mapping program for the Great Lakes and Coastal State waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the U.S. continental shelf that enhances ecosystem approaches in decision-making for conservation and management of marine resources and habitats, establishes research priorities, supports the siting of research and other platforms, and advances ocean and coastal science.
 
Establishes an Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping to coordinate Federal ocean and coastal mapping and surveying activities with other Federal efforts (including the Digital Coast, Geospatial One-Stop, and the Federal Geographic Data Committee), international mapping activities, and States and user groups through workshops and other appropriate mechanisms. 
 
Directs the Administrator to develop a plan for an integrated ocean and coastal mapping initiative within NOAA that: (1) identifies all ocean and coastal mapping programs within NOAA; (2) encourages the development of innovative ocean and coastal mapping technologies and applications through research and development (R&D) cooperative agreements at joint centers of excellence and with the private sector; and (3) documents available and developing technologies, best practices in data processing and distribution, and leveraging opportunities with other Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to establish joint ocean and coastal mapping centers (including a joint hydrographic center) of excellence in institutions of higher education to conduct specified activities, including mapping of the U.S. outer continental shelf.

action_date: 2005-07-13
text: 
Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a program to develop, in coordination with the Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (established by this Act), a coordinated and comprehensive federal ocean and coastal mapping plan for the Great Lakes and Coastal State waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf of the United States that enhances ecosystem approaches in decision-making for conservation and management of marine resources and habitats, establishes research priorities, supports the siting of research and other platforms, and advances ocean and coastal science.
 
Prescribes program parameters.
 
(Sec. 3) Establishes an Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (Committee) comprising senior representatives from federal agencies with ocean and coastal mapping and surveying responsibilities, and chaired by the representative from the NOAA. 
 
(Sec. 4) Directs the Administrator, in consultation with the Committee, to develop and submit to Congress a plan for an integrated ocean and coastal mapping initiative within NOAA that: (1) identifies all NOAA coastal and ocean mapping programs; (2) encourages the development of innovative coastal and ocean mapping technologies and applications through research and development (R&D) cooperative agreements at joint institutes; and (3) documents available and developing technologies, best practices in data processing and distribution, and leveraging opportunities with other federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.
 
Prescribes plan requirements.
 
Authorizes the Administrator to operate up to three joint ocean and coastal mapping centers, including a joint hydrographic center, to serve as hydrographic centers of excellence and to conduct activities to implement this Act.
 
Directs the Administrator to continue developing a strategy for expanding contracting with private entities in fulfilling NOAA's mapping and charting responsibilities and to report such strategy to Congress.
 
(Sec. 5) Requires the Chairman of the Committee to report bi-annually to Congress on progress made in implementing the provisions of this Act.
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations for FY2006-FY2013.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 161.
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Stevens with amendments. With written report No. 109-102.
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Stevens with amendments. With written report No. 109-102.
action_date: 2005-04-14
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with amendments favorably.
action_date: 2005-02-10
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S1303-1305)
action_date: 2005-02-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S1303)
action_date: 2005-02-10
text: Introduced in Senate