123STA T . 1 4 2 0PUBLIC LA W 111 – 11 —M A R .30 , 200 9theNa t ion a lI n s tit u te f o rU n d ersea Sc ience and T echnolo gy. The D irector shall p u b lish a draft progra m direction document not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this A ct in the F ederal R egister for a public comment period of not less than 1 20 days. The Director shall publish a final program direction , including responses to the comments recei v ed during the public comment period, in the Federal Register w ithin 9 0 days after the close of the comment period. The program director shall update the program direction, with opportunity for public comment, at least every 5 years. SEC.12 1 05 . R ESE A RC H, E XPLO RA TI O N ,E DU CATION, AND TECHNOLO GY PROGRA M S. ( a ) I NGE NE RAL . — The following research, e x ploration, edu - cation, and technology programs shall be conducted through the networ k of regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology
(1) C ore research and exploration based on national and regional undersea research priorities. (2) Advanced undersea technology development to support the National O ceanic and Atmospheric Administration ’ s research mission and programs. ( 3 ) Undersea science-based education and outreach pro- grams to enrich ocean science education and public awareness of the oceans and Great L akes. ( 4 ) Development, testing, and transition of advanced undersea technology associated with ocean observatories, submersibles, advanced diving technologies, remotely operated vehicles, autonomous underwater vehicles, and new sampling and sensing technologies. (5) Discovery, study, and development of natural resources and products from ocean, coastal, and a q uatic systems. (b) O P ERA TIO N S .—The Director of the program, through oper- ation of the extramural regional centers and the National Institute for Undersea Science and Technology, shall leverage partnerships and cooperative research with academia and private industry. SEC. 1210 6 . COMPETITI V ENESS. (a) DIS C RETIONAR Y F U N D .—The P rogram shall allocate no more than 10 percent of its annual budget to a discretionary fund that may be used only for program administration and priority undersea research pro j ects identified by the Director but not covered by funding available from centers. (b) CO M PETITI V E SELECTION.—The Administrator shall conduct an initial competition to select the regional centers that will partici- pate in the program 90 days after the publication of the final program direction under section 12104 and every 5 years thereafter. Funding for projects conducted through the regional centers shall be awarded through a competitive, merit-reviewed process on the basis of their relevance to the goals of the program and their technical feasibility. SEC. 1210 7 . AUTHORI Z ATION O F APPROPRIATIONS. There are authori z ed to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration— (1) for fiscal year 2009— 3 3 USC 3 426.Deadlin e s . 33 USC 342 5 . 33 USC 3424.
