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NOAA Transition: Overview

Introduction

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is the principal federal agency responsible for monitoring, describing, and predicting changes in the Earth's environment through its atmospheric and oceanic programs, protecting lives and property by issuing weather and climate warnings and forecasts, and conserving and managing the Nation's coastal and marine resources to ensure sustainable economic opportunities.  NOAA's comprehensive system for acquiring observations – from satellites to ships to radars – provides the quality data and information critical for the safe conduct of daily life and the basic functioning of a modern economy.  This national infrastructure, and the talented people who design and deliver it, supports essential products like nautical charts, fisheries statistics, daily weather warnings and forecasts, longer-term climate outlooks, ice forecasts in the polar region, and oil spill response information.  NOAA manages fisheries in federal waters as well as the National Marine Sanctuary network and National Estuarine Research Reserves.  NOAA plays a key role in a Department whose structure encourages the integration of economics, environmental stewardship, technology, and information.  NOAA accounted for approximately 60 percent of the Department’s FY 2007 appropriation and has over 12,500 employees.

History

The creation of NOAA was largely the result of an effort which began in June 1966 with enactment of the Marine Resources and Engineering Development Act of 1966 (P.L. 89-454).  Deliberations within the Executive Branch finally resulted in Reorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 which was proposed in early July and became effective ninety days later in October 1970. President Nixon had incorporated elements from the Stratton Commission Report, the Ash Council recommendations, and Congressional deliberations, to propose that the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration be created within the Department of Commerce.

Although NOAA was formed in 1970, the agencies that came together at that time are among the oldest in the Federal Government. The agencies included the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey formed in 1807, the Weather Bureau formed in 1870, and the Bureau of Commercial Fisheries formed in 1871. Individually these organizations were America's first physical science agency, America's first agency dedicated specifically to the atmospheric sciences, and America's first conservation agency. Much of America's scientific heritage resides in these agencies. They brought their cultures of scientific accuracy and precision, stewardship of resources, and protection of life and property to the newly formed agency. 

Mission

NOAA's mission is to understand and predict changes in the Earth’s environment and conserve and manage coastal and marine resources to meet our Nation’s economic, social, and environmental needs.

To achieve its mission, NOAA’s focus through FY 2010 will be on four mission goals and a mission support goal:

1. Ecosystems - Protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management.
   • Healthy and productive coastal and marine ecosystems that benefit society
   • A well-informed public that acts as a steward of coastal and marine ecosystems
2. Climate - Understand climate variability and change to enhance society’s ability to plan and respond.
   • A predictive understanding of the global climate systems on time scales of weeks to decades with quantified uncertainties sufficient for making informed and reasoned decisions
   • Use of NOAA’s climate products by climate-sensitive sectors and the climate-literate public to support their plans and decisions
3. Weather and Water – Serve society’s needs for weather and water information.
   • Reduced loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy
   • Better, quicker, and more valuable weather and water information to support improved decisions
   • Increased customer satisfaction with weather and water information and services
4. Commerce and Transportation – Support the Nation’s commerce with information for safe, efficient, and environmentally sound transportation.
   • Safe, secure, efficient, and seamless movement of goods and people in the U.S. transportation system
   • Environmentally sound development and use of the U.S. transportation system
5. Mission Support – Provide critical support for NOAA’s mission.
   • A continuous stream of satellite data and information with the quality and accuracy to meet users’ requirements for spatial and temporal sampling and timeliness of delivery
   • Provision of the number of ship operating days and aircraft flight hours needed to meet NOAA’s data collection requirements with high customer satisfaction
   • Integration of observing system architectures, data management architectures, and computing and modeling capabilities to better enable NOAA’s mission
   • Integration of planning, programming, budgeting and corporate management functions
   • Secure, reliable, and robust information flows within NOAA and out to the public
   • Modern and sustainable facilities providing safe and effective work environment
   • Efficient and effective financial, administrative, and acquisition management services
   • Workforce management processes that support a diverse and competent workforce
   • Integrated Homeland Security and emergency response capabilitiy

NOAA’s Organization

NOAA is organized around three main components: Operating Branches, Corporate Functions, and Goals. Operating Branches are the Line Offices and Staff Offices that provide the resources to execute the programs. Corporate Functions are performed at the headquarters level, and include NOAA Administration corporate-level offices and support staff (such as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Administrative Officer). Goals convert high-level goals and strategies into specific and actionable programs. Program managers staff their programs through LO/SOs, which are supported by Corporate Functions and Regional Teams. They manage the assigned activities derived from the goals and strategies of the Goal Teams, and are responsible for staffing, managing, communicating and monitoring programs. If a program crosses multiple LOs, or is sufficiently complex, it may be designated a matrix program, which requires greater coordination across NOAA.

For more information on NOAA’s organizational structure visit www.noaa.gov

Principal Organizational Units

NOAA’s missions are directed by the Office of the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere (the NOAA Administrator) and by the following primary organizations:

• Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI)
• National Ocean Service (NOS)
• National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS)
• Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR)
• National Weather Service (NWS)
• National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service (NESDIS)

Principal Responsibilities

Office of the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere (NOAA Administrator) – The Office of the Under Secretary provides centralized executive management decisions concerning NOAA policy and planning objectives and a single, efficient interface between NOAA and external stakeholders.  Component offices and their emphasis areas include:

• Federal Coordinator for Meteorology (coordinates public and private sector meteorological interests and activities)
• Chief Information Officer and High Performance Computing and Communications (manages the use of information technology resources, high speed data and information processing and dissemination)
• Chief Financial Officer
• Chief Administrative Officer
• Workforce Management
• Office of Acquisitions and Grants
• Program Analysis and Evaluation
• Office of General Counsel (serves as the chief legal officer for NOAA)
• Legislative Affairs (federal legislation and congressional interaction)
• Program Coordination Office (special projects staff for NOAA administration)
• Decision Coordination Office (special projects staff of the Under Secretary)
• Public, Constituent, and Intergovernmental Affairs (public relations and outreach)
• Education
• Marine and Aviation Operations

Office of Program Planning and Integration – The Office of Program Planning and Integration (PPI) provides corporate management to coordinate NOAA’s many lines of service with the Nation’s many needs for environmental information and stewardship.  It ensures that agency investments and actions are guided by a strategic plan, are based on sound social and economic analysis, adhere to executive and legislative science, technology and environmental policy, and integrate the full breadth of NOAA’s resources, knowledge and talent to meet its stated mission goal.  PPI provides NOAA four distinct capabilities:  1) Strategic Planning, 2) Performance Evaluation, 3) Program Integration, and 4) Policy Integration.

• Strategic Planning - PPI is responsible for managing the NOAA-wide planning cycle and for producing its outputs.  These include updates to the NOAA Strategic Plan and release of the Annual Guidance Memorandum, which articulates investment priorities over a five-year period.  PPI designs planning guidance for NOAA programs, oversees their planning processes, and monitors and evaluates program implementation.  PPI also interacts with NOAA stakeholders and acquires, synthesizes and responds to their inputs.  The strategic planning element employs PPI’s expertise in social, economic and policy analysis to understand and evaluate the societal impact of NOAA programs.
• Performance Evaluation - PPI leads NOAA’s development of performance measurements, both at the program and the corporate level.  It refines their content over time and ensures their consistent and appropriate use across diverse management and reporting processes.  PPI is the interface to NOAA’s budget office regarding performance evaluation methods, performance metrics, and performance-based management practices.
• Program Integration - PPI provides oversight of the direction, integrity and performance of NOAA programs and the program structure.    NOAA has adopted a matrix organizational structure to ensure that its programs meet its mission goals.  PPI develops the capacity and integrity of programs within the matrix, including the integration of social science research and analysis capabilities.  PPI also works closely with NOAA’s programs, Goal Teams and Councils to strengthen the Planning, Programming, Budgeting and Execution System process and strategic decision-making in general. 
• Policy Integration – PPI represents NOAA in interagency functions including those associated with the National Environmental Policy Act, the U.S. Climate Change Science Program, and the U. S. Ocean Action Plan.  PPI catalyzes, launches and monitors the implementation of new internal policies that are needed to advance program integration and improve program performance.  The office guides and monitors the progress of policies on such issues as the transition of research to application, NOAA’s partnerships with the private and academic sectors, and NOAA’s use of social science to measure performance and prioritize activities.

National Ocean Service – While coastal areas are home to over half of all Americans, provide more than 13 million jobs, contribute more than $1.2 trillion annually to the U.S. GDP, and are teeming with rich plant and animal life, these same areas upon which we so greatly depend are in jeopardy.  Climate change, sea-level rise, storms, marine debris, pollution, water quality, erosion, port congestion, and population growth are all negatively impacting the health, economy, and beauty of our coastal waters and shorelines.

With ten program and staff offices covering a broad range of topics, the diversity of expertise within the National Ocean Service (NOS) is the organization’s greatest strength.  Bringing together scientists, natural resource managers, and specialists, NOS is well equipped to protect coastal communities, observe our oceans and coasts, ensure safe and efficient marine transportation, reduce ocean and coastal health risks, and conserve coastal and marine places.

• Protecting Coastal Communities: To make coastal communities safer, more sustainable, and more resilient, NOS provides the tools, training, and technical assistance needed to minimize impacts from coastal hazards; protects and restores coastal habitats; reduces impacts associated with coastal development and other uses; works with state partners to improve coastal zone management; and responds to more than 100 marine oil and chemical spills each year.
• Observing Our Oceans and Coasts: From measuring and predicting tides and currents, monitoring sea-level rise, and providing data for tsunami and storm warnings, NOS is filling gaps needed to better understand and forecast ocean and coastal changes.  NOS is also leading efforts to establish an Integrated Ocean Observing System to coordinate and disseminate data and information to decision makers.
• Supporting Safe and Efficient Marine Transportation:  NOS maps and charts the nation’s 3.4 million square nautical miles of ocean, manages the nation’s geospatial reference system, provides accurate positioning information, and delivers real-time tide and water-level data to keep marine transportation safe, efficient, and environmentally sound.
• Reducing Ocean and Coastal Health Risks: NOS is working to predict, manage, and prevent ocean and coastal health risks by providing early-warning systems and forecasts to reduce risks of exposure to contaminants, building networks to monitor and evaluate illness in humans and marine animals, and increasing our ability to respond to health risks.  Biological and chemical sensors are helping to measure public health threats, and NOS research is establishing links between land use and chemicals in the marine environment.
• Protecting Coastal and Marine Places:  To balance environmental conservation, economic development, and recreational enjoyment of ocean and coastal resources, NOS is protecting 13 national marine sanctuaries, Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, 27 national estuarine research reserves, and a network of marine protected areas.  The land and water under NOS’s management and protection encompasses an area greater than all U.S. national parks combined.  NOS is also working to reduce and prevent marine debris and to conserve coral reefs.

National Marine Fisheries Service – The National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is responsible for the management, conservation, and protection of living marine resources (e.g., fishes, mammals, sea turtles, invertebrates and other species) and their habitats within the United States’ Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ, 3-200 nautical miles from the coast).  In 2007, commercial fisheries contributed more than $34.2 billion in added value to the GDP; in 2006, more than 14 million recreational anglers expended $27.6 billion.  In addition to commercial and recreational fishing opportunities, the nation’s EEZ provides other recreational opportunities such as whale watching and sport diving which
generate significant economic benefits.

• NMFS administers NOAA’s programs under the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and numerous other federal laws which support the domestic and international conservation and management of living marine resources.
• NMFS provides services and products to support domestic and international fisheries management operations, fisheries development, trade and industry assistance activities, energy development, national security, enforcement, protected species and habitat conservation operations, and the scientific and technical aspects of NOAA’s marine fisheries program.
• NMFS management programs in its six regions are supported by NMFSs’ six regional science centers which use 11 NOAA ships, aircraft and other NOAA and contract resources to monitor the health of ocean ecosystems in support of management.
• To strengthen stewardship of marine resources, NMFS aims to maximize benefits to the Nation from living marine resources while balancing its missions to conserve the long-term health of coastal and marine ecosystems.  Examples under existing laws include mandates to end overfishing and establish annual catch limits by 2010/2011.
• As stewards, NMFS manages for the sustainable use of living marine resources, including both consumptive and non-consumptive uses, such as commercial and recreational fishing, aquaculture, photography, and observation.
• NMFS strives to balance competing public needs and interests in the use and enjoyment of our living marine resources, while preserving their biological integrity and recovering protected marine species (i.e. fish, marine mammals, and turtles) without unnecessarily impeding economic and recreational opportunities.

Collectively, these activities support the overall goal to protect, restore, and manage the use of coastal and ocean resources through an ecosystem approach to management.

Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research – The Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), or NOAA Research, is the scientific force behind the NOAA environmental products and services that protect life and property, promote sustainable economic growth, and support sound policy.  From weather technologies to climate research and ocean science, our world-class scientists conduct preeminent research that contributes to public health and safety, healthy ecosystems, and a robust economy.  OAR is integrated across three central research themes: climate; weather and air quality; and ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes resources. 

The NOAA Research network consists of seven federal research laboratories; an Office of Ocean Exploration and Research sponsoring both internal and extramural research; the National Sea Grant College program, a nationwide NOAA network of 30 university-based programs that work with coastal communities; an Office of Weather and Air Quality to facilitate the transition of weather and air quality research to operations; a major climate research grants program through the Climate Program Office; and 13 cooperative institutes with academia.

• NOAA Research has improved our forecasts of major hurricanes, tornadoes, and tsunamis.  We provide a reliable foundation of information documenting the natural and human-related drivers of climate change, and have improved our knowledge of the ocean and availability of resources from the sea through exploration.
• NOAA researchers generate useful information about the connections between our planet’s air, water, land, and socio-economic systems.  For example, each year we expand our knowledge of the ocean’s role in influencing climate patterns; this insight contributes to our ability to understand the role of the dynamic climate system in weather phenomena around the world.  The need for unbiased scientific information to support a multitude of decisions about environmental challenges has never been more critical.  Today, NOAA’s research team is working with partners to build the foundation for Earth-system modeling that will provide a more complete picture of our planet and increase our capacity to predict environmental changes on local to global scales, and at time scales from minutes to millennia.
• OAR creates a balance of near-term research responsibility to enhance the operational and regulatory roles of NOAA with a long-term commitment to conduct visionary, discovery-based research.  This dual responsibility requires the transfer of research products into operations, as well as continued exploration and discovery in new areas that will expand the boundaries of our understanding of the Earth system. 

Ultimately, the information NOAA Research provides is used by decision makers at all levels to make informed decisions to prevent the loss of human life, manage natural resources, and maintain a strong economy.

National Weather Service – The United States is the most severe-weather-prone country on Earth.  Each year Americans cope with an average of 10,000 thunderstorms, 2,500 floods, 1,000 tornadoes, and six deadly hurricanes.  Some 90 percent of all Presidentially-declared disasters are weather related; these disasters cause approximately 500 deaths per year and $11 billion in damage.  About one-third of the U.S. economy is weather sensitive.

NOAA’s National Weather Service (NWS) serves the people of the United States every day.  The NWS is the official U.S. voice for issuing weather and flood warnings during life-threatening weather situations.  The NWS routinely provides weather, water, and climate forecasts and warnings for the United States, its territories, adjacent waters, and ocean areas, to protect life and property and enhance the national economy.  Weather services cost each American just under $6 a year – around the cost of a fast food meal.  This investment allows the NWS to issue climate, public, aviation, marine, fire weather, air quality, space weather, tsunami, river, and flood forecasts and warnings every day.

The NWS collects data from technology such as Doppler weather radars, satellites operated by NOAA’s National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS), aircraft, data buoys for marine observations, surface observing systems, and instruments for monitoring space weather and air quality.  These data feed sophisticated computer models running on high-speed supercomputers.  The highly trained and skilled NWS workforce uses powerful workstations to integrate and analyze all of these data and issue forecasts and warnings.

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB), using its Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART), ranked NOAA’s National Weather Service 22nd out of 399 Federal agencies in FY 2005.  This is strong testimony to the effectiveness with which NWS performs its missions of protecting life and property and enhancing the economy.

National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service – The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service (NESDIS) is dedicated to providing timely access to global environmental data from satellites and other sources to promote, protect, and enhance the Nation’s economy, security, environment, and quality of life. NESDIS continues to be an international leader in changing the way integrated environmental observations and data are captured, stored, managed, shared, and used to benefit the entire world.  NESDIS acquires, manages, and operates the Nation’s environmental satellites, provides operational data products and services, and conducts research on new satellite applications.  NESDIS also provides long-term data archiving and stewardship of a wide variety of satellite and ground-based data and information through its NOAA Data Centers.

• NOAA operates two satellite systems: geostationary (GOES) and polar-orbiting (POES).  The GOES system constantly monitors the Western Hemisphere from approximately 22,240 miles above the Earth, while POES circles the Earth and provides global information from 540 miles above the Earth.  NOAA provides satellite commanding and data processing support to the Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program, reducing the overall cost to the U.S. taxpayers.  Internationally, NOAA provides instruments for polar-orbiting satellites to its European partners.  In addition, NOAA processes data from foreign environmental satellites and creates information products for people around the world.
• Satellites enable us to provide consistent, long-term observations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a wide range of environmental applications.  Satellites are a key input to weather forecasting and track severe storms, including hurricanes in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  Satellite information is used to measure the ocean’s temperature, a key indicator of climate change, and to monitor diverse environmental factors such as coral reef conditions, harmful algal blooms, fires, and volcanic ash. 
• NOAA’s Climatic, Geophysical and Oceanographic Data Centers provide timely access to global environmental data from satellites and other sources, provide information services, and develop science products.  They are focal points for long-term monitoring, analysis, and research of historical meteorological, climatological, geophysical, oceanographic, and solar-terrestrial information.
• In addition to operating our own satellites, NOAA helps promote and enable commercial uses of satellites and space to benefit the U.S. economy.  NOAA provides advocacy for the U.S. commercial space industry within government decision-making processes and licenses and monitors the operation of commercial imaging satellites.  NOAA plays an essential part in the national management of the Global Positioning System, a satellite technology that has become vital to the U.S. economic infrastructure.

Office of Marine and Aviation Operations – Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) is a significant operational arm of NOAA.  OMAO develops plans and administers the use, operation, maintenance, and upgrade of NOAA ships and aircraft used by to accomplish the agency’s mission goals.  OMAO includes the Marine Operations Center-Atlantic (Norfolk, VA), Marine Operations Center-Pacific (Seattle, WA), and the Aircraft Operations Center (on MacDill Air Force Base, Tampa, FL).  OMAO administers the NOAA operational diving program, establishes policies and procedures to ensure a safe and efficient diving program to support NOAA's program needs, and coordinates with non-NOAA agencies engaged in diving programs.

OMAO’s operations are supported by a combination of personnel systems including: general schedule civilians, wage mariners, and officers of the NOAA Commissioned Corps, one of the Nation’s seven uniformed service. NOAA Corps officers support NOAA’s goals across all divisions of the agency.  The officers rotate assignments every two to three years, providing intra-agency experience to NOAA programs on shore with the operational and management expertise gained while serving aboard NOAA ships and aircraft.  As of October 2008, OMAO operates 20 ships and 12 aircraft engaged in research and survey operations in support of NOAA’s missions.

Councils

NOAA’s Councils and Boards provide leadership and coordination across the agency for high interest/high visibility functional and strategic areas. The councils serve as a forum for developing policy and procedures, reviewing internal and external policy and technical/scientific issues, guiding Goal Team and program resources, and condensing complex issues into understandable terms and recommendations for the NEC and/or NEP. Terms of Reference and contacts for all NOAA Councils are available on the DCO website at www.dco.noaa.gov. NOAA’s Boards serve to review and approve capital investment proposals as part of the budget formulation and major project review process.  NOAA Councils are the entry point for the Executive Decision Process.

Strategic:
Ocean (NOC)
Research
Observing Systems (NOSC)

Corporate Acquisition Management:
Program Management (PMC)
Facilities Investment Management Board (FIMB)
NOAA Information Technology Review Board (NITRB)

Operational:
Education
Fleet
Human Capital (HCC)
International Affairs
Chief Information Officer (CIO)
Chief Financial Officer/Chief Administrative Officer (CFO)

Field Offices

NOAA operates 394 domestic field offices, as well as nearly 1700 (unpopulated) sites responsible for monitoring weather and climate conditions as well as fisheries.  NOAA has a presence in every state and U.S. territory.

Legislative Mandates

There are 127 mandates and authorities applicable to NOAA’s mission.  Some of the directive authorities are as following:

Weather Service Organic Act

Section 313 of the Weather Service Organic Act sets forth the primary duties of the National Weather Service, including the requirements that the Secretary of Commerce shall:  forecast the weather; issue storm warnings; display weather and flood signals for the benefit of agriculture, commerce, and navigation; gauge and report the flow of rivers; maintain and operate the seacoast telegraph lines and collect and transmit marine intelligence for the benefit of commerce and navigation; report temperature and rain‑fall conditions for the cotton interests; display of frost and cold‑wave signals; distribute meteorological information in the interests of agriculture and commerce; and take the meteorological observations that may be necessary to establish and record the climatic conditions of the United States, or that are essential for the proper execution of the foregoing duties. Section 313a requires the establishment of meteorological observation stations in the Arctic region.

Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act

On January 12, 2007, President Bush signed the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Reauthorization Act of 2006 (MSA). The new law is groundbreaking in several respects: it mandates the use of annual catch limits and accountability measures to end overfishing, provides for widespread market-based fishery management through limited access programs, and calls for increased international cooperation. The MSA is the primary law governing marine fisheries management in United States federal waters. The Act was first enacted in 1976 and amended in 1996. Most notably, the MSA aided in the development of the domestic fishing industry by phasing out foreign fishing. To manage the fisheries and promote conservation, the Act created eight regional fishery management councils. The 1996 amendments focused rebuilding overfished fisheries, protecting essential fish habitat, and reducing bycatch.

Marine Mammal Protection Act

The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) promotes the conservation of marine mammals as part of a primary objective of maintaining the health and stability of marine ecosystems. In general, the MMPA prohibits the take of a marine mammal in waters or on lands under the jurisdiction of the United States. The MMPA authorization of appropriations expired on September 30, 1999.

Endangered Species Act

The Endangered Species Act (ESA) imposes a number of mandatory duties on the Secretary of Commerce.  First, pursuant to petition or on his own initiative, the Secretary must list a species that is threatened with extinction in all or a significant portion of its range and designate critical habitat for that species.  The Secretary must also develop recovery plans for listed species.  Section 7 of the ESA also requires that all federal agencies, in consultation with the Secretary, insure that any action that the agency undertakes, authorizes, or funds shall not jeopardize the continued existence of any listed species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat.  If the project is found to pose jeopardy to a listed species, the Secretary must suggest reasonable and prudent alternatives to the project as described that will avoid jeopardy.  The ESA provides for an Endangered Species Committee, which has the authority to exempt a federal action from the requirement to avoid jeopardy.  The Act specifies that the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is a member of the Committee, if convened by the Secretary of the Interior.

The ESA forbids take of any listed species, and the Secretary has discretionary authority to assess civil penalties or pursue criminal prosecution of any person whose activities result in harm to a listed species.  In addition, the Secretary has the discretionary authority to grant permits to applicants allowing for the take of listed species on the conditions that the take is incidental to and not the primary purpose of the applicant’s activity and that the applicant enter into a habitat conservation plan which mitigates the impact of the taking.  The ESA also grants the Secretary discretionary authority to enter into conservation agreements with States.

Coastal Zone Management Act

The Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) provides for use, conservation, and management of coastal resources through partnerships with coastal states and territories having approved coastal management programs, and through the establishment of the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS).

National Marine Sanctuaries Act

The National Marine Sanctuaries Amendments Act (NMSA) provides for the protection of nationally significant areas of the marine environment by designating them as national marine sanctuaries. The NMSA is unique among the suite of federal laws aimed at protecting or managing marine resources in that its primary objective is to set aside marine areas of special national significance for their permanent protection and to manage them as ecosystems to maintain their natural biodiversity and historical and cultural heritage. Like national parks, sanctuaries are intended to endure indefinitely for the benefit of current and future generations.

Hydrographic Services Improvement Act

The Hydrographic Services Improvement Act (HSIA), enacted in 1998 and amended in 2002, directs the Administrator of the NOAA to design, install, maintain, and operate real-time hydrographic monitoring systems to enhance navigation safety and efficiency. The HSIA also authorizes the NOAA Administrator to use hydrographic data to support the conservation and management of coastal and ocean resources where such action does not interfere with safe and efficient navigation.

America COMPETES Act , AUG. 9, 2007, 33 U.S.C. § 893a

America Creating Opportunities to Meaningfully Promote Excellence in Technology, Education, and Science Act (America COMPETES Act) was passed in August 2007 and authorizes NOAA to conduct, develop, support, promote, and coordinate formal and informal educational activities at all levels to enhance public awareness and understanding of ocean, coastal, and atmospheric science and stewardship by the general public.  In conducting those activities, the Administrator should build upon the existing educational programs and activities of the agency.  The legislation also directs NOAA, appropriate NOAA programs, ocean and atmospheric science and education experts, and interested members of the public to develop a science education plan that would set forth education goals and strategies for NOAA, as well as programmatic actions to carry out such goals and priorities over the next 20 years.

Congressional Committees

The following congressional committees, and related subcommittees, have primary budgetary, legislative, and oversight responsibility for NOAA. Additional committees or subcommittees may hold hearings at which NOAA testifies due to the breadth of our mission and activities.

As of September 17, 2008, the Chair and Ranking Member are:

Senate

U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
Chair, Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Ranking Member, Thad Cochran (R-MS)

U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Chair, Barbara Mikulski (D-MD)
Ranking Member, Richard Shelby (R-AL)

U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Chair, Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)
Ranking Member, Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and the Coast Guard
Chair, Maria Cantwell (D-WA)
Ranking Member, Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME)

U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics and Related Sciences
Chair, Bill Nelson (D-FL)
Ranking Member, David Vitter (R-LA)

House

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
Chair, David Obey (D-WI)
Ranking Member, Jerry Lewis (R-CA)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Chair, Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Ranking Member, Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources
Chair, Nick J. Rahall, II (D-WV)
Ranking Member, Don Young (R-AK)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
Chair, Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-GU)
Ranking Member, Henry E. Brown (R-SC)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology
Chair, Bart Gordon (D-TN)
Ranking Member, Ralph Hall (R-TX)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology
Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
Chair, Nicholas Lampson (D-TX)
Ranking Member, Bob Inglis (R-SC)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology
Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
Chair, Brad Miller (D-NC)
Ranking Member, James Sensenbrenner (R-WI)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science and Technology
Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics
Chair, Mark Udall (D-CO)
Ranking Member, Tom Feeney (R-FL)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Chair, Jim Oberstar (D-MN)
Ranking Member, John Mica (R-FL)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Chair, Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
Ranking Member, John Boozman (R-AR)

U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Chair, Elijah Cummins (D-MD)
Ranking Member, Steve LaTourette (R-OH)