§ 892a. — Functions of the Administrator.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC892a]
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER 17--NATIONAL OCEAN SURVEY
SUBCHAPTER IV--NOAA HYDROGRAPHIC SERVICES
Sec. 892a. Functions of the Administrator
(a) Responsibilities
To fulfill the data gathering and dissemination duties of the
Administration under the Act of 1947, the Administrator shall--
(1) acquire and disseminate hydrographic data;
(2) promulgate standards for hydrographic data used by the
Administration in providing hydrographic services;
(3) promulgate standards for hydrographic services provided by
the Administration;
(4) ensure comprehensive geographic coverage of hydrographic
services, in cooperation with other appropriate Federal agencies;
(5) maintain a national database of hydrographic data, in
cooperation with other appropriate Federal agencies;
(6) provide hydrographic services in uniform, easily accessible
formats;
(7) participate in the development of, and implement for the
United States in cooperation with other appropriate Federal
agencies, international standards for hydrographic data and
hydrographic services; and
(8) to the greatest extent practicable and cost-effective,
fulfill the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (6) through contracts
or other agreements with private sector entities.
(b) Authorities
To fulfill the data gathering and dissemination duties of the
Administration under the Act of 1947, and subject to the availability of
appropriations, the Administrator--
(1) may procure, lease, evaluate, test, develop, and operate
vessels, equipment, and technologies necessary to ensure safe
navigation and maintain operational expertise in hydrographic data
acquisition and hydrographic services;
(2) may enter into contracts and other agreements with qualified
entities, consistent with subsection (a)(8) of this section, for the
acquisition of hydrographic data and the provision of hydrographic
services;
(3) shall award contracts for the acquisition of hydrographic
data in accordance with title IX of the Federal Property and
Administrative Services Act of 1949;\1\ and
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ See References in Text note below.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
(4) shall, subject to the availability of appropriations,
design, install, maintain, and operate real-time hydrographic
monitoring systems to enhance navigation safety and efficiency.
(c) Conservation and management of coastal and ocean resources
Where appropriate and to the extent that it does not detract from
the promotion of safe and efficient navigation, the Secretary may use
hydrographic data and services to support the conservation and
management of coastal and ocean resources.
(Pub. L. 105-384, title III, Sec. 303, Nov. 13, 1998, 112 Stat. 3454;
Pub. L. 107-372, title I, Sec. 103, Dec. 19, 2002, 116 Stat. 3079.)
References in Text
The Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949,
referred to in subsec. (b)(3), is act June 30, 1949, ch. 288, 63 Stat.
377, as amended. Title IX of the Act, which was classified generally to
subchapter VI (Sec. 541 et seq.) of chapter 10 of former Title 40,
Public Buildings, Property, and Works, was repealed and reenacted by
Pub. L. 107-217, Secs. 1, 6(b), Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1062, 1304, as
chapter 11 (Sec. 1101 et seq.) of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property,
and Works. For disposition of sections of former Title 40 to revised
Title 40, see Table preceding section 101 of Title 40. For complete
classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.
Amendments
2002--Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 107-372, Sec. 103(a), amended par. (4)
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (4) read as follows: ``may design
and install where appropriate Physical Oceanographic Real-Time Systems
to enhance navigation safety and efficiency.''
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107-372, Sec. 103(b), added subsec. (c).
Hydrographic Survey
Pub. L. 106-541, title V, Sec. 554, Dec. 11, 2000, 114 Stat. 2679,
provided that: ``The Secretary [of the Army] shall enter into an
agreement with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration--
``(1) to require the Secretary, not later than 60 days after the
Corps of Engineers completes a project involving dredging of a
channel, to provide data to the Administration in a standard digital
format on the results of a hydrographic survey of the channel
conducted by the Corps of Engineers; and
``(2) to require the Administrator to provide the final charts
with respect to the project to the Secretary in digital format, at
no charge, for the purpose of enhancing the mission of the Corps of
Engineers of maintaining Federal navigation projects.''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 892b, 892c, 892d of this
title.
