National Ocean Service

Staff Office for International Programs

Provides a single focal point for NOS-wide international activities and coordinates activities between NOS and national and international governmental agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and donor organizations

http://international.nos.noaa.gov

NOAA Coastal Services Center

Serves the nation's local and state coastal resource management programs with new technology, information, and expertise; projects focus on a site-specific issue; lessons learned are then transferred to others in the coastal management community

http://webdev.csc.noaa.gov

Special Projects Office

Promotes integration of program capabilities within and across NOS and NOAA to ensure more effective and efficient delivery of products and services to the coastal stewardship community

http://spo.nos.noaa.gov

Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services

Collects and distributes observations and predictions of water levels and currents to ensure safe, efficient, and environmentally sound maritime commerce

http://tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov

Office of Coast Survey

Collects, manages, and compiles the data and information necessary to maintain the national suite of nautical charts and related information

http://chartmaker.ncd.noaa.gov/mcd/mcd.htm

Plans and manages the development and improvement of charting, hydrographic, and oceanographic systems to provide products and services for the coastal marine community

http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/csdl/

Manages the national database of nautical charting and marine mapping information, the aggregation of information from external sources for database maintenance, and the production of charting products

http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/

Coordinates overall hydrographic, bathymetric, and oceanographic survey activities, including data acquisition and processing in support of the suite of NOAA's nautical charts

http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/hsd/hsd-0.html

Provides a focal point for customer requests and associated responses on charting issues, short-term hydrographic surveys, and Coast Pilot updates

http://nauticalcharts.noaa.gov/nsd/

National Geodetic Survey

Defines and manages the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS) and contributes to the coastal mapping program, geodetic surveys, and new surveying instrumentation and procedures

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov

Provides a direct relationship between NGS and its clients through the state advisor program, geodetic equipment testing and evaluation, product evaluation, marketing, distribution, and various training programs

N/A

Plans and coordinates geodetic field projects required to preserve and develop the National Spatial Reference System (NSRS)

N/A

Plans, coordinates, monitors, and provides technical direction for all NGS programs and activities requiring the use of aerial photographs and remotely sensed data

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/RSD/rsd_home.shtml

Conducts geodetic surveys to support the National Spatial Reference System, the location of aeronautical aids to navigation, and the production of airport obstruction charts and coastal maps, charts, and special products in the coastal zone

N/A

Conducts research and development in geophysics, including geodynamics and geodesy, and involving the allied fields of radio astronomy and computer science

http://www.ngs.noaa.gov/GRD/

Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource Management

Directs the development, implementation, evaluation, and funding of state coastal zone management programs, coastal nonpoint source pollution programs, National Estuarine Research Reserves, and related activities under the Coastal Zone Management Act

http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov

Implements the national dimension of the Coastal Zone Management (CZM) Program, supports the national system of state, territorial, and commonwealth CZM programs managing coastal resources, and provides policy and program support on coastal management issues

http://coastalmanagement.noaa.gov/czm/

Responsible for directing the National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERRS), and acts as OCRM's representative to states, territories, and other federal agencies on activities related to that program

http://nerrs.noaa.gov

Responsible for providing leadership and coordinating the development of policy analysis and position papers on issues affecting the Coastal Zone Management Act; and works with NOS and NOAA policy offices to ensure that information about the potential impact of legislation on the coastal states is fully understood by Congress

N/A

Identifies, designates, and operates coastal and marine protected areas for purposes of resource protection, monitoring, research, interpretation, and education

http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov

Facilitates the effective use of science, technology, training, and information in the planning, management, and evaluation of the nation's system of marine protected areas

http://www.mpa.gov/mpa_center/mpa_center.html

Office of Response and Restoration

Prevents and mitigates risks to coastal habitats and resources from oil and hazardous materials releases

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov

Responds to oil and chemical spills in U.S. coastal and navigable waters

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/intro/orr.html#hmrd

Protects and restores coastal habitats and resources affected by hazardous materials releases

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/cpr/cpr.html

Carries out natural resources damage assessments for releases of oil and hazardous substances

http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/intro/orr.html#dac

National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science

Provides national leadership in ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes science that builds the strong scientific foundation essential for sustainable use of coastal resources

http://coastalscience.noaa.gov

Evaluates the environmental quality of U.S. coastal, estuarine, and Great Lakes areas, and the ecosystem consequences of current and potential anthropogenic stresses on these areas

http://www.ccma.nos.noaa.gov

Conducts research to improve the understanding and prediction of coastal, estuarine, and Great Lakes dynamics and resources to support sustainable use of living and nonliving resources and to protect life and property

http://www.cop.noaa.gov

Conducts research on coastal habitat requirements of early life stages of economically important fish, development of ecologically based habitat restoration criteria, and effects of contaminants on living resources

http://shrimp.ccfhrb.noaa.gov

Conducts interdisciplinary research to resolve issues related to coastal ecosystem health and environmental quality, including public health impacts

http://www.chbr.noaa.gov