33 U.S.C. § 4101: Definitions

The term “Administration” means the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The term “Administrator” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The terms 1 “cooperative activities of the Administration” means cooperative activities between the Administration and an external entity, such as the Cooperative Institutes, Sea Grant Colleges, National Estuarine Research Reserves, the National Oceanographic Partnership Program established under chapter 665 of title 10, and regional associations of the Integrated Ocean Observing System. 1 So in original. Probably should be “term”. The term “data specifications” shall refer to the type, resolution, periodicity, and quality of data required by an program of the Administration. evaluating the performance of such systems; or training personnel on operating procedures for such systems. The term “test or training range” may include specialized fixed or portable instrumentation for the operation of unmanned maritime systems and other types of systems. designed to function without an on-board human presence; and that may include associated components such as control and communications, instrumentation, data transmission, and processing systems. Unmanned undersea vehicles. Unmanned surface vehicles. Autonomous underwater vehicles. Autonomous surface vehicles. The term “unmanned maritime systems” includes unmanned aerial vehicles and autonomous aerial vehicles that are used to address maritime issues to the extent the Administrator determines it is necessary and appropriate to achieve the purposes of this chapter. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, for the period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act [ Dec. 18, 2025 ] and ending on the date that is 2 years after such date of enactment, small uncrewed maritime systems owned, operated, or chartered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or that are performing specified oceanographic surveys on behalf of and pursuant to a contract or other written agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall not be subject to any vessel inspection, design, operations, navigation, credentialing, or training requirement, law, or regulation, that the Assistant Administrator of the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration determines will harm real-time operational extreme weather oceanographic and atmospheric data collection and predictions. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating, acting through the Commandant, if there is an immediate safety or security concern regarding small uncrewed maritime systems. are not greater than 35 feet overall in length; are operated remotely or autonomously; and exclusively perform oceanographic surveys or scientific research. means an uncrewed surface, undersea, or aircraft system and associated elements (including communication links and the components that control the uncrewed system) that are required for the operator to operate the system safely and efficiently; and includes an unmanned aircraft system (as such term is defined in section 44801 of title 49 , United States Code). Nothing in this section may be construed to repeal, replace, or preclude application of chapter 551 of title 46, United States Code.”