U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System; Regulations To Certify and Integrate Regional Information Coordination Entities

The U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System Program Office, led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), issues this final rule to implement provisions of the Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System Act of 2009 (ICOOS Act). Among other things, the ICOOS Act directs the Interagency Ocean Observation Committee (IOOC) to develop and approve certification criteria and procedures for integrating regional information coordination entities (RICEs) into the National Integrated Coastal and Ocean Observation System (System). This rule accomplishes that goal. This rule also implements the provisions of the ICOOS Act establishing that certified entities integrated into the System are, for the purposes of determining liability arising from the dissemination and use of observation data, considered part of NOAA and therefore their employees engaged in the collection, management, and dissemination, of observation data in the System receive the same tort protections for use of that data as Federal employees.