Title 33Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73not60

§3612 Accelerating Innovation at Cooperative Institutes

Title 33 › Chapter 49— INTEGRATED COASTAL AND OCEAN OBSERVATION SYSTEM › § 3612

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Administrator must consider asking one or more Cooperative Institutes to set goals that focus on using and improving new technologies. Examples include advanced genetic tools that can get DNA or other genetic material directly from environmental samples even when no obvious organism is visible; better unmanned vehicles, regional small research vessels, and the upkeep and life‑cycle improvements for those systems; and supercomputing and big‑data work from models, electronic monitoring, and remote sensing. Cooperative Institutes must work with the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, the regional parts of the Integrated Ocean Observing System, and other ocean observing programs to match technology needs and help move new technologies from research into real operations.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §3612

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Administrator shall consider evaluating the goals of 1 or more Cooperative Institutes of the Administration to include focusing on advancing or applying emerging technologies, which may include—
(1)applied uses and development of real-time and other advanced genetic technologies and applications, including such technologies and applications that derive genetic material directly from environmental samples without any obvious signs of biological source material;
(2)deployment of, and improvements to the durability, maintenance, and other lifecycle concerns of, advanced unmanned vehicles, regional small research vessels, and other research vessels that support and launch unmanned vehicles and sensors; and
(3)supercomputing and big data management, including data collected through model outputs, electronic monitoring, and remote sensing.
(b)The Cooperative Institutes shall work with the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee, the regional associations of the Integrated Ocean Observing System, and other ocean observing programs to coordinate technology needs and the transition of new technologies from research to operations.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was enacted as part of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023, and not as part of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 which comprises this chapter.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Purpose Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title CI, § 10101, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3957, provided that: “The purpose of this title [enacting this section and section 3613 of this title, amending section 893c of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] is to promote and support— “(1) the monitoring, understanding, and exploration of the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts; and “(2) the collection, analysis, synthesis, and sharing of data related to the Great Lakes, oceans, bays, estuaries, and coasts to facilitate scientific research and operational decisionmaking.” No Additional Funds Authorized Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title CI, § 10106, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3961, provided that: “Funds to carry out this title [enacting this section and section 3613 of this title, amending section 893c of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section] may, as provided in advance in appropriations Acts, only come from within amounts authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.” Definitions Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title CI, § 10102, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3957, provided that: “In this title [enacting this section and section 3613 of this title, amending section 893c of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section]: “(1) Administration.—The term ‘Administration’ means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “(2) Administrator.—The term ‘Administrator’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere in the capacity as Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “(3) Indian tribe.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’ has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).”

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 3612

Title 33Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60