Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2007

Bill: 110-s-950
Sponsor: Sen. Snowe, Olympia J. [R-ME]
Introduced: 2007-03-21 in the Senate
Policy area: Public Lands and Natural Resources
Subjects: Animals
Climate
Coastal zone
Congress
Congressional reporting requirements
Coral reefs
Department of Commerce
Ecological research
Emergency Management
Environmental Protection
Environmental monitoring
Environmental technology
Executive reorganization
Government Operations and Politics
Great Lakes
Habitat conservation
Hurricanes
Marine and coastal resources, fisheries
Marine ecology
Marine resources conservation
Ocean
Oceanography
Research and development
Restoration ecology
Science, Technology, Communications
Storms
Technological innovations
Tsunamis
Water Resources Development
Weather forecasting
Wetlands

Summary:
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: 
Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2007 - Directs the President, acting through the National Ocean Research Leadership Council, to establish and maintain an integrated system for the timely detection and prediction of changes occurring in the ocean and coastal environment that impact the nation's social, economic, and ecological systems.
 
Makes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) the lead federal agency for system implementation and administration, requiring it to establish an Integrated Ocean Observing Program Office. Requires the Council to establish in NOAA an interagency program office.
 
Requires establishment of a process for the certification of regional associations to be responsible for the development and operation of regional coastal and ocean observing systems. 
 
 Requires NOAA to formulate a process by which funding is made available for intramural and extramural research on new technologies for collecting data on U.S. coastal and ocean waters.
 
 
Authorizes departments and agencies represented on the Council to participate in interagency financing and to share funds appropriated to any Council member. 

action_date: 2007-11-02
text: 
Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2007 - (Sec. 4) Directs the President, acting through the National Ocean Research Leadership Council, to establish and maintain an integrated system of coastal and ocean observations, data communication and management, analysis, modeling, research, education, and outreach for the timely detection and prediction of changes occurring in the ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes environments that impact the nation's social, economic, and ecological systems. Includes in the system a national program, a network of regional associations, data management, communication, and modeling systems, a research and development program, and a coordinated outreach, education, and training program. Makes the Council the oversight body for all aspects of the observing system. 
 
Requires the Council to establish an Interagency Ocean Observation Committee to plan and coordinate system implementation. Establishes the Interagency Program Coordinating Office located in, but not an office of, the Department of Commerce, to facilitate the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee's responsibilities for system implementation, budgeting, and administration.
 
Requires the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide leadership for system implementation and administration, requiring it to establish an Integrated Ocean Observing Program Office. 
 
Requires establishment of a process for the certification of regional associations to be responsible for the development and operation of regional coastal and ocean observing systems. 
 
 (Sec. 5) Requires NOAA to formulate a process by which funding is made available for intramural and extramural research on new technologies for collecting data on U.S. coastal and ocean waters.
 
 
(Sec. 6) Authorizes departments and agencies represented on the Council to participate in interagency financing and to share funds appropriated to any Council member. 
 
(Sec. 8) Authorizes appropriations.
 
(Sec. 10) Requires a biennial report to Congress on the implementation of this Act.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 466.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-217.
action_date: 2007-11-02
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Inouye with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 110-217.
action_date: 2007-06-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. (text of measure as introduced: CR S3522-3524)
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S3521-3522)
action_date: 2007-03-21
text: Introduced in Senate