Its lineage includes the 1807 Survey of the Coast, the oldest scientific agency in government. It flies hurricane-hunter aircraft, operates the civilian weather-satellite fleet, and manages commercial fisheries worth billions a year.
Open the interactive page for NOAA →Created byReorganization Plan No. 4 of 1970 (transmitted July 9, 1970; eff. Oct. 3, 1970; 84 Stat. 2090) — merged ESSA, Bureau of Commercial Fisheries, and other programs into the Department of Commerce
Head appointedReorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, § 2: Administrator appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate (Executive Schedule level III, 5 U.S.C. § 5314); no fixed term; also holds the statutory title Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere (PAS)
Removal standardno statutory protection — at will
Funded underAnnual Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations act (Operations, Research, and Facilities; Procurement, Acquisition and Construction accounts); general-fund appropriated
Congressional oversightHouse Science, Space, and Technology (weather/atmosphere/oceans research) and House Natural Resources (fisheries/marine resources) — split jurisdiction · Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Inspector generalDepartment of Commerce OIG (PAS IG under the Inspector General Act, 5 U.S.C. § 403)
Judicial reviewAPA § 702 suits in district court; fishery regulations get expedited district-court review under Magnuson-Stevens Act, 16 U.S.C. § 1855(f) (30-day petition window); ESA citizen suits against NMFS, 16 U.S.C. § 1540(g)
Testify at regional fishery-council meetings, which set catch limits in public session; comment on fisheries and marine-species rules; ask your members of Congress, who fund NOAA and the National Weather Service.
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