Coastal and Ocean Mapping Integration Act

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the Senate on October 11, 2004. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act - (Sec. 2) Directs the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish a program to develop, in coordination with the Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping , a coordinated and comprehensive Federal ocean and coastal mapping plan for the Great Lakes and Coastal State waters, the territorial sea, the exclusive economic zone, and the continental shelf of the United States that enhances ecosystem approaches in decision-making for conservation and management of marine resources and habitats, establishes research priorities, supports the siting of research and other platforms, and advances ocean and coastal science.

Prescribes program parameters.

(Sec. 3) Establishes an Interagency Committee on Ocean and Coastal Mapping (Committee) comprising senior representatives from Federal agencies with ocean and coastal mapping and surveying responsibilities, and chaired by the representative from the NOAA.

(Sec. 4) Instructs the Administrator, in consultation with the Committee, to develop and submit to the Congress a plan for an integrated ocean and coastal mapping initiative within NOAA that: (1) identifies all coastal and ocean mapping programs within NOAA; (2) encourages the development of innovative coastal and ocean mapping technologies and applications through research and development (R&D) cooperative agreements at joint institutes; and (3) documents available and developing technologies, best practices in data processing and distribution, and leveraging opportunities with other Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector.

Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to establish joint hydrographic centers of excellence.

Prescribes plan requirements.

Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to operate up to three joint ocean and coastal mapping centers, including a joint hydrographic center, to serve as hydrographic centers of excellence and to conduct activities to implement this Act.

(Sec. 5) Requires the Chairman of the Committee to transmit bi-annually to certain congressional committees a status report detailing progress made in implementing the provisions of this Act.

(Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations for FY 2005 through 2012.

Written by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service. All summary versions on Congress.gov