
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC14715]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
 CHAPTER 141--COMMERCIAL SPACE OPPORTUNITIES AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
 
        SUBCHAPTER I--PROMOTION OF COMMERCIAL SPACE OPPORTUNITIES
 
Sec. 14715. Sources of Earth Science data


(a) Acquisition

    The Administrator shall, to the extent possible and while satisfying 
the scientific or educational requirements of the National Aeronautics 
and Space Administration, and where appropriate, of other Federal 
agencies and scientific researchers, acquire, where cost-effective, 
space-based and airborne Earth remote sensing data, services, 
distribution, and applications from a commercial provider.

(b) Treatment as commercial item under acquisition laws

    Acquisitions by the Administrator of the data, services, 
distribution, and applications referred to in subsection (a) of this 
section shall be carried out in accordance with applicable acquisition 
laws and regulations (including chapters 137 and 140 of title 10). For 
purposes of such law and regulations, such data, services, distribution, 
and applications shall be considered to be a commercial item. Nothing in 
this subsection shall be construed to preclude the United States from 
acquiring, through contracts with commercial providers, sufficient 
rights in data to meet the needs of the scientific and educational 
community or the needs of other government activities.

(c) Study

    (1) The Administrator shall conduct a study to determine the extent 
to which the baseline scientific requirements of Earth Science can be 
met by commercial providers, and how the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration will meet such requirements which cannot be met by 
commercial providers.
    (2) The study conducted under this subsection shall--
        (A) make recommendations to promote the availability of 
    information from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration 
    to commercial providers to enable commercial providers to better 
    meet the baseline scientific requirements of Earth Science;
        (B) make recommendations to promote the dissemination to 
    commercial providers of information on advanced technology research 
    and development performed by or for the National Aeronautics and 
    Space Administration; and
        (C) identify policy, regulatory, and legislative barriers to the 
    implementation of the recommendations made under this subsection.

    (3) The results of the study conducted under this subsection shall 
be transmitted to the Congress within 6 months after October 28, 1998.

(d) Safety standards

    Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the Federal 
Government from requiring compliance with applicable safety standards.

(e) Administration and execution

    This section shall be carried out as part of the Commercial Remote 
Sensing Program at the Stennis Space Center.

(Pub. L. 105-303, title I, Sec. 107, Oct. 28, 1998, 112 Stat. 2853.)

                          Codification

    Section is comprised of section 107 of Pub. L. 105-303. Subsec. (f) 
of section 107 of Pub. L. 105-303 amended sections 5621 and 5622 of 
Title 15, Commerce and Trade.
