National Ocean Exploration Act
A BILL
To establish the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council, and for other purposes.
2. Findings
3. Definitions
4. Ocean Policy Committee
5. National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council
6. Modifications to the ocean exploration program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
“(7) provide guidance to Federal and State agencies, Tribal governments, private industry, academia (including secondary schools, community colleges, and universities), and nongovernmental organizations on data standards, protocols for accepting data, and coordination of data collection, processing, archiving, and dissemination for data relating to ocean exploration and characterization.”
“(b) Donations—For the purpose of exploring the oceans or increasing the knowledge of the oceans, the Administrator may—
“(1) accept monetary donations and donations of property, data, and equipment; and
“(2) pay all necessary expenses in connection with the conveyance or transfer of a gift, devise, or bequest.”
“12004. Education, workforce training, and outreach
“(a) In general—The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall conduct education and outreach efforts in order to broadly disseminate information to the public on the discoveries made by the program under section 12002.
“(b) Education and outreach efforts—Efforts described in subsection (a) may include—
“(1) education of the general public, teachers, students, and ocean and coastal resource managers; and
“(2) workforce training, reskilling, and opportunities to encourage development of ocean related science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) technical training programs involving secondary schools, community colleges, and universities.
“(c) Outreach strategy—Not later than 120 days after the date of the enactment of the National Ocean Exploration Act, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall develop an outreach strategy to broadly disseminate information on the discoveries made by the program under section 12002.”
“12007. Definitions
“In this part:
“(1) Characterization—The terms characterization and characterize refer to activities that provide comprehensive data and interpretations for a specific area of interest of the seafloor, sub-bottom, water column, or hydrologic features, such as water masses and currents, in direct support of specific research, environmental protection, resource management, policymaking, or applied mission objectives.
“(2) Exploration—The term exploration and explore refer to activities that provide—
“(A) a multidisciplinary view of an unknown or poorly understood area of the seafloor, sub-bottom, or water column; and
“(B) an initial assessment of the physical, chemical, geological, biological, archaeological, or other characteristics of such an area.
“(3) Mapping—The terms map and mapping refer to activities that provide comprehensive data and information needed to understand seafloor characteristics, such as depth, topography, bottom type, sediment composition and distribution, underlying geologic structure, and benthic flora and fauna.”
7. Repeal
8. Modifications to ocean and coastal mapping program of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
“(1) enhances ecosystem approaches in decision-making for natural resource and habitat management restoration and conservation, emergency response, and coastal resilience and adaptation;
“(2) establishes research and mapping priorities;
“(3) supports the siting of research and other platforms; and
“(4) advances ocean and coastal science.”
“(11) support—
“(A) the Ocean Science and Technology Subcommittee of the Ocean Policy Committee established under section 4(b)(1) of the National Ocean Exploration Act; and
“(B) the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council established under section 5 of such Act.”
“(3) Working Group—The term Working Group means the Interagency Working Group on Ocean and Coastal Mapping under section 12203.”
“(c) Co-Chairs—The Working Group shall be co-chaired by one representative from each of the following:
“(1) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
“(2) The Department of the Interior.
“(3) The United States Army Corps of Engineers.”
“(d) Subordinate groups—The co-chairs may establish such permanent or temporary subordinate groups as determined appropriate by the Working Group.”
“(1) other Federal efforts, such as the Digital Coast, the Federal Geographic Data Committee, GeoPlatform, the Hydrographic Services Review Panel of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Ocean Exploration Advisory Board of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Technical Mapping Advisory Council of the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
“(2) international mapping activities;
“(3) coastal states;
“(4) coastal Indian Tribes;
“(5) user groups through workshops and other appropriate mechanisms; and
“(6) representatives of nongovernmental entities.”
“(g) Functions with respect to National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council—The Working Group shall support the National Ocean Mapping, Exploration, and Characterization Council established under section 5 of the National Ocean Exploration Act and the Ocean Science and Technology Subcommittee of the Ocean Policy Committee established under section 4(b)(1) of such Act on ocean mapping activities.”
“(13) a progress report on the development of new and innovative technologies and applications through research and development, including cooperative or other agreements with joint or cooperative research institutes and centers and other nongovernmental entities;
“(14) a description of best practices in data processing and distribution and leveraging opportunities among agencies represented on the Working Group and with coastal states, coastal Indian Tribes, and nongovernmental entities;
“(15) an identification of any training, technology, or other requirements for enabling Federal mapping programs, vessels, and aircraft to support a coordinated ocean and coastal mapping program; and
“(16) a timetable for implementation and completion of the plan described in paragraph (3), including recommendations for integrating new approaches into the program.”
“12206. Ocean and coastal mapping Federal funding opportunity
“(a) In general—Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the National Ocean Exploration Act, the Administrator shall develop an integrated ocean and coastal mapping Federal funding match opportunity within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration with Federal, State, Tribal, local, nonprofit, or academic partners in order to increase the coordinated acquisition, processing, stewardship, and archival of new ocean and coastal mapping data in United States waters.
“(b) Rules—The Administrator shall develop administrative and procedural rules for the ocean and coastal mapping Federal funding match opportunity developed under subsection (a), to include—
“(1) specific and detailed criteria that must be addressed by an applicant, such as geographic overlap with pre-established priorities, number and type of project partners, benefit to the applicant, coordination with other funding opportunities, and benefit to the public;
“(2) determination of the appropriate funding match amounts and mechanisms to use, such as grants, agreements, or contracts; and
“(3) other funding award criteria as are necessary or appropriate to ensure that evaluations of proposals and decisions to award funding under this section are based on objective standards applied fairly and equitably to those proposals.
“(c) Geospatial services and contract vehicles—The ocean and coastal mapping Federal funding match opportunity developed under subsection (a) shall leverage Federal expertise and capacities for geospatial services and Federal geospatial contract vehicles using the private sector for acquisition efficiencies.
“12207. Cooperative agreements, contracts, and grants
“(a) In general—To carry out interagency activities under this subtitle, the heads of agencies represented on the Working Group may enter into cooperative agreements, or any other agreement with each other, and transfer, receive, and expend funds made available by any Federal agency, any State or subdivision thereof, or any public or private organization or individual, for ocean and coastal mapping investigations, surveys, studies, and other geospatial collaborations authorized by this subtitle or agreements authorized by section 5 of the Act entitled “An Act to define the functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic Survey, and for other purposes”, approved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883e).
“(b) Grants—The Administrator may make grants to any State or subdivision thereof or any public or private organization or individual to carry out the purposes of this subtitle.”
“(c) Ocean and coastal mapping Federal funding opportunity—Of amounts appropriated pursuant to subsection (a), $20,000,000 is authorized to carry out section 12206.”
“(9) Coastal Indian Tribe—The term coastal Indian Tribe means an Indian tribe, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304), the land of which is located in a coastal state.”