Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998 with Amendments from 2002

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Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998
with Amendments from 2002 OVERVIEW
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HSIA of 1998

• Amended the Act of 1947.-- An Act to define the
  functions and duties of the Coast and Geodetic
  Survey, and for other purposes'', approved August
  6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.).

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HSIA of 1998

• Initiated in 1996 by the House Resources
  Committee, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans
• Subcommittee approached by hydro contractors
• An oversight hearing was held and a new bill
  created to amend the 1947 Act.

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Issues that prompted the 1998 Bill

• Hydro Contractor and NOAA relationship
• Survey backlog
• Digital future of charting and mapping
• NOAAs antiquated equipment and vessels
• No broad survey plan from NOAA
• Authorize funding for certain charting, mapping,
  geodetic and tides and currents line items
• Emphasis on maritime.

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Issues that prompted the 2002 amendments

• Need for quality control criteria by which
  contractors could begin near shore measurements
  (Section 304)
• Interest from maritime coalition for creation of
  a FACA to continually assess these programs
  (HSRP)
• Require that NOAA design, install, maintain and
  operate real-time hydrographic monitoring systems
  to enhance maritime safety and efficiency
• Address coastal management interests in getting
  hydro data from Coast Survey
• Reauthorize appropriations levels through FY
  2007.

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General Provisions

• The HSIA was intended to address NOAAs
  hydrographic services to acquire hydrographic
  data
• Hydrographic data means
• information acquired through hydrographic or
  bathymetric surveying, photogrammetry, geodetic,
  geospatial, or geomagnetic measurements, tide and
  current observations, or other methods, that is
  used in proividing hydrographic services. Are
  there other data the HSRP should add?

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General Provisions, Contd

• Hydrographic services means
• Management, maintenance, interpretation,
  certification, and dissemination add
  integration? of the described data, including
  production of nautical charts, nautical
  information databases, and other products derived
  from hydrographic data
• The development of nautical information systems
  and
• Related activities add such as integrated,
  real-time water observations to include but not
  be limited to water levels, currents, wind, etc
  that can be readily available to the user?

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Functions of the Administrator

• NOAA is supposed to
• Acquire and disseminate hydro data
• Promulgate standards for hydro data
• Promulgate standards for hydro services
• Ensure comprehensive geographic coverage of hydro
  services in cooperation with other Feds
• Maintain a national database of data in w/ other
  Feds
• Provide data in uniform, easily accessible
  formats
• Develop intl standards and
• Where practicable and cost-effective, use
  contracts or other agreements with private
  sector

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How the Administrator Can do This

• Acquisition and dissemination of data (depending
  upon funding) can be fulfilled by
• Procure, lease, evaluate, test, develop and
  operate vessels, equipment, and technologies
  necessary to ensure safe navigation and maintain
  operational expertise in data acquisition and
  services
• May enter into contracts and other agreements
• Shall award contracts for acquisition of data in
  accordance with the Brooks Act.

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2002 Nod to Coastal Mgt. Needs

• Conservation and Mgt. Provision
• Where appropriate and to the extent that it does
  not detract from the promotion of safe and
  efficient navigation.

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Quality Assurance Program

• This provision was of special interest to
  subcommittee staff
• Addresses publicly or commercial available
  products produced by non-Federal entity that
  includes or displays hydro data
• NOAA shall develop and implement a QA program
  that is equally available to all applicants.
  (This was discussed at previous HSRP meeting)
• Discusses Hydro Services Account, etc.

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HSRP created in 2002 Amendments

• Provisions previously reviewed at HSRP meetings
• Provisions are straight forward
• Advise Administrator
• Administrator will provide resources to Panel
• Membership/15 voting members, etc.
• Hydro surveying, tide, current geodetic and
  geospatial, marine transportation, port
  administration, vessel pilotage, and coastal and
  fishery management.
• Panel shall include Director of Joint Hydro
  Institute and no more than 2 employees of NOAA as
  nonvoting members.
• Four year terms, one reappointment, nominations
  yearly
• Chair and vice chair
• Compensation established by Secretary up to rate
  under Section 5376 of title 5, US Code while on
  duty expenses
• At least biannual meetings
• Can carry out reasonable powers as necessary to
  do the job.

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Appropriations

• Line item authorizations for
• Nautical mapping and charting
• Hydrographic Surveys including the leasing and
  time chartering of vessels
• Operation of hydrographic survey vessels owned by
  US and operated by NOAA
• Geodetic functions and
• Tide and current measurement functions.
• (From 2002) up to 20 million to enhance
  homeland security, ENCs, Hydro surveys, real
  time tide and current and geodetic functions
  above previous auths.

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Things to Consider

• HSIA should be reauthorized by end of this
  Congress though simple extension could be
  implemented (would not provide for amendments but
  would extend the HSRP and authorities to
  appropriate line items)
• HSIA is not a priority for Congress at this time
  so HSRP needs to ask Administrator to promote
  such
• The simpler the auth. the easier to pass (i.e.
  limit references to IOOS) but are there real
  hydro service needs that should be addressed?
• HSRP provisions need little change other than
  extension of authorization
• Be careful of changes which would alter the
  committee jurisdiction.

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H.R. 958 (not passed)

• Introduced as Hydro Services Amendments of 2003
• To authorize certain hydro services programs and
  to name a cove in Alaska in honor of a deceased
  seaman
• Created 4 regional navigation response teams
• Original inclusion was 10, maritime asked for 15,
  got 4 in final House bill
• Authorized use of volunteer services
• Elaborated on the QA program
• Admin will annually study and report to HSRP
  steps taken to comply with collection and
  production of new hydro data and products,
  including consultation with Fed. Geographic Data
  Committee
• 6 months after enactment, NOAA tell Congress plan
  for increasing contracting
• Acquire new hydro survey vessel w/ caveats and
  reports
• Require NOAA and Interior to unify shoreline
  mapping products
• Also authorized fishery survey vessels.
• Passed the House, not the Senate.