National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1991

Summary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1991 - Title I: Ocean and Coastal Programs - Ocean and Coastal Programs Authorization Act of 1991 - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for: (1) mapping, charting, and geodesy; (2) observation and assessment; (3) ocean and coastal management; (4) climate and air quality research; and (5) atmospheric research. Requires the Office of the Chief Scientist of NOAA to submit to the Congress a plan for implementation of a nationwide climate services system and applied climatology program. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA for: (1) ocean and Great Lakes research; (2) executive direction and administrative activities; (3) acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities; (4) marine services; and (5) aircraft services. Requires notice to congressional committees before the Secretary may: (1) reprogram over a certain amount of funds; or (2) obligate any amount for a NOAA program proposed or developed after enactment of this Act. Freezes the price of nautical charts or other nautical products produced or published by NOAA. Mandates a report to the Congress by the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and Technology regarding: (1) the most urgent current needs of oceanographic researchers for remote sensing capabilities and remotely sensed data; and (2) the major goals of satellite oceanography for the next ten years. Requires the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to submit to the Congress a report on how current and planned Federal satellite capabilities can aid in the enforcement of Federal fisheries laws and the implementation of international fisheries conservation programs. Establishes in NOAA a Cooperative Institute of Fisheries Oceanography in partnership with Duke University and the Consolidated University of North Carolina. Authorizes appropriations. Authorizes the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to acquire, by exchange or lease-purchase or both, real property and improvement in the area of Newport News-Norfolk, Virginia, for consolidating NOAA facilities. Requires the Comptroller General to submit to the Congress in each of four specified years an audit of: (1) NOAA's Damage Assessment program; and (2) the Damage Assessment and Restoration Revolving Fund. Title II: National Weather Service - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for the National Weather Service for operations and research. Mandates establishment of: (1) an advisory committee on Atlantic tropical cyclone research and reconnaissance; and (2) a five-year program for data collection, research, and analysis on such cyclones. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA for public warning and forecast systems, including systems acquisition. Title III: National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for NOAA for: (1) satellite observing systems; and (2) data and information services. Amends the Land Remote-Sensing Commercialization Act of 1984 to mandate that any license issued under specified provisions of that Act specify that the licensee shall promptly make available all unenhanced data which the Secretary of the Interior (currently, the Secretary of Commerce) may request under specified provisions of the Act relating to archiving of data. Amends provisions of the Act relating to archiving in order to transfer from the Secretary of Commerce to the Secretary of the Interior responsibility for: (1) providing for long-term storage, maintenance, and upgrading of the basic, global, land remote-sensing data set; (2) requesting data needed for the basic data set from a system operator; (3) making data which is in the public domain available to requesting parties; and (4) using existing Government facilities, to the extent practicable, to carry out these functions. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to consult with the Secretary of Commerce to ensure that archiving activities are consistent with the terms and conditions of any contract, agreement, or license under specified provisions of the Act. Title IV: NOAA Budget Process - Provides for a two-year budget process for NOAA.

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3 official files

• Introduced in House (text)

  Introduced in House · EN

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• Reported to House amended, Part I

  summary · EN · 2 August 1991

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• Introduced in House

  summary · EN · 23 April 1991

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