Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§3405 Ocean Exploration Advisory Board

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 47— - OCEAN EXPLORATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - EXPLORATION › § 3405

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The NOAA Administrator must set up an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board made of experts from academia, business, nonprofits, philanthropy, policy, and Tribal groups. The Board will recommend priority survey and exploration areas and partnership opportunities; help create a 5-year plan for ocean, marine, and Great Lakes science, exploration, and discovery; each year review the proposal review process (see section 3403(a)(4)); identify market barriers for new ocean mapping and exploration tools; suggest better data handling and archiving practices; and help with other tasks the Administrator asks for. The rules in Section 1013 of Title 5 do not apply to this Board. Nothing here changes or limits the Secretary of the Interior’s authority under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §3405

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall appoint an Ocean Exploration Advisory Board composed of experts in relevant fields, including representatives from academic, commercial, nonprofit, philanthropic, policy, and Tribal entities—
(1)to advise the Administrator on priority areas for survey, discovery, and opportunities for extramural collaboration and partnerships;
(2)to assist the program in the development of a 5-year strategic plan for the fields of ocean, marine, and Great Lakes science, exploration, and discovery;
(3)to annually review the quality and effectiveness of the proposal review process established under section 3403(a)(4) of this title; and 11 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear.
(4)to identify market barriers to development or commercialization of novel ocean mapping, exploration, and characterization products, processes, and tools;
(5)to identify best practices to improve data management, processing, storage, and archiving standards; and
(6)to provide other assistance and advice as requested by the Administrator.
(b)Section 1013 of title 5 shall not apply to the Board appointed under subsection (a).
(c)Nothing in this subchapter supersedes, or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, referred to in subsec. (c), is act Aug. 7, 1953, ch. 345, 67 Stat. 462, which is classified generally to subchapter III (§ 1331 et seq.) of chapter 29 of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1301 of Title 43 and Tables.

Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10305(f)(1)(A), inserted “, including representatives from academic, commercial, nonprofit, philanthropic, policy, and Tribal entities” after “relevant fields” in introductory provisions. Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10305(f)(1)(B), amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) read as follows: “to advise the Administrator on priority areas for survey and discovery;”. Subsec. (a)(4) to (6). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10305(f)(1)(C), (D), added pars. (4) and (5) and redesignated former par. (4) as (6). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted “Chapter 10 of title 5” for “Federal Advisory Committee Act” in heading and “Section 1013 of title 5” for “section 14 of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.)” in text. Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–263, § 10305(f)(2), inserted “this” before “subchapter”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 3405

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73