An act to authorize appropriations for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and for other purposes.

Summary

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1991 - Title I: NOAA Atmospheric and Satellite Programs National Weather Service Operations and Research - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Commerce for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for: (1) operations and research activities of the National Weather Service; (2) public warning and forecast systems; (3) climate and air quality research; (4) atmospheric research activities; (5) satellite observing systems activities; and (6) data and information services. Title II: NOAA Ocean and Coastal Programs - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Commerce for NOAA for: (1) mapping, charting, and geodesy; (2) observation and assessment; (3) ocean management; and (4) ocean and Great Lakes research. Title III: NOAA Marine Fishery Programs - Amends the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Fisheries Program Act to authorize appropriations to the Department of Commerce for the National Marine Fisheries Service for information collection and analysis, conservation and management operations, and State and industry assistance. Earmarks certain funds for developing dolphin-safe methods of locating and catching yellowfin tuna. Requires measures for cost-sharing by foreign governments that conduct, or authorize their nationals to conduct, yellowfin tuna fishing in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean. Amends the Magnuson Fishery Conservation and Management Act to mandate a comprehensive program of fishery research to carry out the Act. Amends the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 to define "fishery facility" as it applies to aquaculture. Title IV: Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes appropriations to the Department of Commerce for NOAA for: (1) executive direction and administration; (2) acquisition, construction, maintenance, and operation of facilities; (3) marine services; (4) acquisition of a multibeam sonar mapper; (5) reactivation and operation of a specified research vessel; (6) fleet modernization; and (7) aircraft services. Mandates acquisition of space for NOAA in the area of Newport News Norfolk, Virginia. Prohibits: (1) the Secretary of Commerce from deactivating any NOAA research vessel until an equivalent replacement vessel is operational; (2) subject to exception, construction of NOAA vessels and their major components in a foreign shipyard; and (3) overhauling, repairing, or maintaining a NOAA vessel homeported in the United States in a shipyard outside the United States. Requires consultation regarding interoperability of NOAA and Navy vessels. Mandates submission to the Congress of a detailed fleet replacement and modernization plan. Authorizes NOAA vessel acquisition by purchase, lease, lease-purchase, or otherwise under one or more multiyear contracts. Amends provisions of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 relating to capital construction funds to add vessels operating under an agreement with the Secretary for use by NOAA to the definitions of "eligible vessel" and "qualified vessel." Prohibits the Secretary from reprogramming amounts without prior notice to specified congressional committees. Title V: Coastal Monitoring - Marine and Coastal Monitoring Act of 1991 - Establishes in NOAA a unified nationwide monitoring network, to include the National Status and Trends Program, to be the single Federal activity for the national-scale monitoring of U.S. marine and coastal waters with regard to ecological conditions. Mandates: (1) designation of specific estuarine and coastal regions of major concern for intensive monitoring; (2) establishment of monitoring coordination groups for each region; (3) establishment in NOAA of a National Coastal Monitoring Center to develop scientific methods for carrying out the monitoring under this title; and (4) development of methods for collecting and analyzing baseline data on environmental phenomena in the Boston Harbor. Authorizes appropriations.

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Documents

4 official files

• Reported to Senate (text)

  Reported to Senate · EN

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• Introduced in Senate (text)

  Introduced in Senate · EN

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• Reported to Senate with amendment(s)

  summary · EN · 29 October 1991

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• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 27 June 1991

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