Places within NOAA: (1) the National Coastal and Ocean Service; (2) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Research Service; (3) the National Marine Fisheries Service; (4) the National Weather Service; (5) the National Environmental Satellite and Data Information Service; (6) the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations; and (7) such other components as the Secretary considers necessary.
Establishes within NOAA the positions of: (1) Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; (2) Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; (3) Deputy Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere; (4) General Counsel; and (5) Assistant Administrators for the Services and a Director of Marine and Aviation Operations and the Commissioned Officer Corps.
(Sec. 2) Re-establishes the Coastal Ocean Program and eliminates the development of ocean technology as one of its goals.
Establishes within NOAA a Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, a Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, and an Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory.
Establishes in law (what already exists in fact) within NOAA: (1) a National Undersea Research Program; (2) an Ocean Exploration Program; and (3) a Science Advisory Board.
Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to designate units of and to coordinate the Coastal Ocean Observing System to collect data necessary to carry out the primary missions of NOAA .
Requires the Secretary, before designating a regional coastal ocean observing system as a unit of the national system, to establish standards and protocols for the distribution of data by regional systems. Requires the Secretary to use such data to develop forecast models to support coastal and fishery management, marine navigation, weather and climate predictions and other appropriate activities.
Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary for FY 2003 through 2007 for: (1) ARGO floats; (2) ocean and coastal research activities; (3) activities related to the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory and associated cooperative institutes; (4) Coastal Ocean Program activities; (5) National Undersea Research Program activities; (6) Ocean Exploration Program activities; (7) Tsunami hazard migration activities; (8) Arctic research partnership programs; (9) coastal environmental health and biomolecular research activities; (10) coastal ocean observing activities; and (11) the operation of the Science Advisory Board.
Directs the National Ocean Research Leadership Council to report to specified congressional committees a plan for implementing the October 10, 2000, report of the President's Panel on Ocean Exploration, including a recommendation for a dedicated multiyear, multidisciplinary voyage of discovery.
Reauthorizes appropriations to the Secretary to enable NOAA to: (1) provide corporate services (but excluding the current provision of retired pay of NOAA commissioned officers); (2) carry out marine services activities (including ship planning); and (3) carry out activities related to maintenance, repair, safety, environmental compliance, and project planning and execution or facilities for FY 2003 through 2007.
(Sec. 3) Increases from $250,000 or 5 percent of the total funding to $500,000 or 10 percent of the total funding the threshold amount requiring the Secretary to notify specified committees before reprogramming NOAA funds..