IOCM Mandates

The need for integrated ocean and coastal mapping has been explicitly stated by Congress as well as by studies and national level ocean policy recommendations.

Legislation

The 2009 Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act (Subtitle B of Public Law 111-11) states the need for the development of integrated mapping plans and activities at the national level as well as for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration specific activities. The act also recognizes that a successful mapping plan spans the entire spectrum of activities from data planning to collection to access and use to archive. The Act is listed below.

Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act (2009)

Executive Order

The President's Executive Order 13547 adopts the recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, including priority objective #9, which includes mapping. The executive agencies are directed to implement the recommendations under the guidance of the National Ocean Council.

Priority Objective #9. Ocean, Coastal, and Great Lakes Observations, Mapping, and Infrastructure: Strengthen and integrate Federal and non-Federal ocean observing systems, sensors, data collection platforms, data management, and mapping capabilities into a national system, and integrate that system into international observation efforts.

Executive Order 13547 of July 19, 2010

Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, July 19, 2010

The Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force was established on June 12, 2009, and the final Task Force recommendations were issued on July 19, 2010. As stated above, Executive Order 13547 adopts the Task Force recommendations, thus executive agencies such as NOAA must implement these recommendations, including priority objective #9, which addresses mapping.

Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force