Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§3602 Definitions

Title 33 › CHAPTER 49 — INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM › § 3602

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines the important words used in this chapter. Administrator is the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere when acting as the head of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Council is the National Ocean Research Leadership Council established by section 8932 of title 10. Federal assets are the non-classified civilian coastal and ocean observation tools, technology, models, research, data work, technology R&D, and public outreach programs run by Council member agencies. Interagency Ocean Observation Committee is the committee set up under section 3603(c)(2). Non-Federal assets are similar observation technology, research, and outreach run by states, regional groups, universities, nonprofits, or private companies and brought into the System by regional systems, NOAA, or the agencies in the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee. Regional coastal observing system is an organization certified or created by the lead federal agency in section 3603(c)(3) that coordinates state, federal, local, tribal, and private partners to design, run, and improve regional observing systems and provide needed data. Secretary is the Secretary of Commerce acting through the Administrator. System is the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System established under section 3603. System Plan is the plan titled "Ocean.US Publication No. 9, The First Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Development Plan," as updated by the Council.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §3602

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

In this chapter:
(1)Administrator (2) Council
The term “Administrator” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in the Under Secretary’s capacity as Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(3)Federal assets
The term “Federal assets” means all relevant non-classified civilian coastal and ocean observations, technologies, and related modeling, research, data management, basic and applied technology research and development, and public education and outreach programs, that are managed by member agencies of the Council.
(4)Interagency Ocean Observation Committee
The term “Interagency Ocean Observation Committee” means the committee established under section 3603(c)(2) of this title.
(5)Non-Federal assets
The term “non-Federal assets” means all relevant coastal and ocean observation technologies, related basic and applied technology research and development, and public education and outreach programs that are managed through States, regional organizations, universities, nongovernmental organizations, or the private sector and integrated into the System by a regional coastal observing system, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the agencies participating in the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee.
(6)Regional coastal observing system
The term “regional coastal observing system” means an organizational body that is certified or established by contract or memorandum by the lead Federal agency designated in section 3603(c)(3) of this title and coordinates State, Federal, local, tribal, and private interests at a regional level with the responsibility of engaging the private and public sectors in designing, operating, and improving regional coastal observing systems in order to ensure the provision of data and information that meet the needs of user groups from the respective regions.
(7)Secretary
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Administrator.
(8)System
The term “System” means the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System established under section 3603 of this title.
(9)System Plan
The term “System Plan” means the plan contained in the document entitled “Ocean. US Publication No. 9, The First Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) Development Plan”, as updated by the Council under this chapter.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The reference to the National Ocean Research Leadership Council established by section 8932 of title 10, referred to in par. (2), is no longer accurate insofar as section 8932 of title 10 was amended by Pub. L. 116–283 so as to instead refer to the Ocean Policy Committee.

Amendments

2020—Par. (2). Pub. L. 116–271, § 102(1), substituted “section 8932” for “section 7902”. Par. (5). Pub. L. 116–271, § 102(2), substituted “managed through States, regional organizations, universities, nongovernmental organizations, or the private sector and integrated into the System by a regional coastal observing system, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or the agencies participating in the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee” for “integrated into the System and are managed through States, regional organizations, universities, nongovernmental organizations, or the private sector”. Par. (6). Pub. L. 116–271, § 102(3), amended par. (6) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (6) related to regional information coordination entities. Par. (7). Pub. L. 116–271, § 102(4), substituted “Administrator” for “National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 3602

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110