33 U.S.C. § 883e AGREEMENTS

33 U.S.C. § 883e, authorizes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to enter into agreements, with, and to receive and expend funds made available by, any State or subdivision thereof, any Federal agency, or any public or private organization, or individual, for surveys or investigations authorized herein, or for performing related surveying and mapping activities, including special-purpose maps, and for the preparation and publication of the results thereof, and to establish the terms of any agreement entered into under this section, including the amount of funds to be received, and may contribute that portion of the costs incurred by the NOAA, including ship time and personnel expenses, which NOAA determines represents the amount of benefits derived by the NOAA from the agreement. 

One or more of the following authorities, (a) through (d), must apply for a valid 33 U.S.C. § 883e agreement:

(a) 33 U.S.C. § 883a, which authorizes NOAA to provide charts and related information for the safe navigation of marine and air commerce, and to provide basic data for engineering and scientific purposes and for other commercial and industrial needs, the Secretary of Commerce, is authorized to conduct the following activities:

(1) Hydrographic and topographic surveys; (2) Tide and current observations; (3) Geodetic-control surveys; (4) Field surveys for aeronautical charts; (5) Geomagnetic, seismological, gravity, and related geophysical measurements and investigations, and observations for the determination of variation in latitude and longitude.

(b) 33 U.S.C. § 883b which authorizes NOAA to disseminate data resulting from the activities herein authorized and of related data from other sources by conducting the following activities:

(1) Analysis and prediction of tide and current data; (2) Processing and publication of data, information, compilations, and reports; (3) Compilation and printing of nautical charts; (4) Distribution of nautical charts and related navigational publications.

(c) 33 U.S.C. § 883c, which authorizes NOAA to provide for the orderly collection of geomagnetic data from domestic and foreign sources, and to assure that such data shall be readily available to Government and private agencies and individuals, the National Ocean Survey is designated as the central depository of the United States Government for geomagnetic data, and the Secretary of Commerce is authorized to collect, correlate, and disseminate such data.

and/or

(d) 33 U.S.C. § 883d, which authorizes NOAA to increase engineering and scientific knowledge by conducting developmental work for the improvement of surveying and cartographic methods, instruments, and equipments; and to conduct investigations and research in geophysical sciences (including geodesy, oceanography, seismology, and geomagnetism).

NOTE: Agreements are subject to legal review and clearance in accordance with your office's policies and procedures.  For advice on whether a certain transaction should be undertaken pursuant to 33 U.S.C. § 883e or some other authority, contact the General Law Division, Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Administration, at (202) 482-5391.

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