---
kind: "section"
citation: "51 U.S.C. § 60505"
title: "51"
title_heading: "National and Commercial Space Programs"
number: "60505"
heading: "Coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/51/60505"
units:
  - "Subtitle VI — Earth Observations"
  - "Chapter 605 — Earth Science"
---

# §60505. Coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

- (a) **Joint Working Group.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) and the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) shall appoint a Joint Working Group, which shall review and monitor missions of the two agencies to ensure maximum coordination in the design, operation, and transition of missions where appropriate. The Joint Working Group shall also prepare the plans required by [subsection (c)](#c).
- (b) **Coordination Report.—** Not later than February 15 of each year, the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) and the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) shall jointly transmit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on how the Earth science programs of the [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) will be coordinated during the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the report is transmitted.
- (c) **Coordination of Transition Planning and Reporting.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2), in conjunction with the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) and in consultation with other relevant agencies, shall evaluate relevant [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) science missions for their potential operational capabilities and shall prepare transition plans for the existing and future Earth observing systems found to have potential operational capabilities.
- (d) **Limitation.—** The [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) shall not transfer any [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) Earth science mission or Earth observing system to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) until the plan required under [subsection (c)](#c) has been approved by the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) and the [Administrator](/usc/51/10101.md?p=2) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1) and until financial resources have been identified to support the transition or transfer in the President’s budget request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/51/10101.md?p=1).

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3426.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Revised<br>Section | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 60505 | 42 U.S.C. 16656. | Pub. L. 109–155, title III, § 306, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2919. |

In subsection (b), the words “beginning with the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act [December 30, 2005]” are omitted as obsolete.

In subsection (b), the words “Committee on Science and Technology” are substituted for “Committee on Science” on authority of Rule X(1)(o) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, adopted by House Resolution No. 6 (110th Congress, January 5, 2007).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011.