Compliance and Monitoring

About Compliance and Monitoring

The Compliance and Monitoring program works with other U.S. Government agencies striving to preserve essential U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, and international obligations, by assuring compliance by the licensees of the law, regulations, policy and the terms of their NOAA-issued private remote sensing space system license. It is the duty of The Compliance and Monitoring department to preserve, protect, and promote the interests of the United States, and the Department of Commerce in discharging its responsibilities under law and regulations. 

How Compliance and Monitoring execute their mission

Compliance:

  • Assuring compliance with the Kyl-Bingaman Amendment for collection of imagery of Israel.
  • Investigating alleged noncompliance with the law, regulations, and terms of the remote sensing operating license.
  • When necessary, initiating appropriate enforcement actions to assure compliance with law, regulations and terms of the private remote sensing space system license.

Monitoring:

  • Conducting periodic on-site audits and inspections
  • Collecting and reviewing:
    • Appropriate financial information
    • Plans and procedures to comply with data collection restrictions, operational limitations
    • Annual certifications
    • Operational notifications

General Information

Licensee Responsibilities (Overview):

As a NOAA Licensee to operate a private remote sensing space system, significant responsibilities accompany the privilege. A Licensee must:

  • operate the system in such a manner as to preserve the national security of the U.S. and observe the international obligations of the U.S
  • discharge legal obligations regarding availability of data
  • comply with:
    • the terms and conditions of the NOAA license
    • reporting requirements (e.g., immediate notification of any deviations from orbit, and data collection characteristics of the system, and, proposed significant or substantial foreign agreements, inter alia)
    • information requests from Commercial Remote Sensing Compliance and Monitoring
    • cooperate fully with Commercial Remote Sensing Compliance and Monitoring on-site audit activities including foreign sites

Compliance and Monitoring Enforcement Responsibilities:

Commercial Remote Sensing Compliance and Monitoring is charged to monitor compliance and when necessary take corrective actions to enforce compliance with US law, policy, regulations, and the terms and conditions of the NOAA license. The following information highlights the means and manner in which Commercial Remote Sensing Compliance and Monitoring performs its duties:

Annual Compliance Certification:

Due on Oct 15 of each year, the Licensee must Certify in writing that all material facts in the license remain accurate pursuant to the procedures in § 960.14. The annual certification is not a substitute for a license modification request.

Monitor Licensee Compliance

  • Compliance and Monitoring reviews the terms of the license, any previous audits, on-site inspection reports and other information to assure compliance by licensees with U.S. law, regulations, policy and the terms of the NOAA license and specifically, the conditions for operation contained in 15 CFR Sect. 960.8, 960.9, and 960.10, as applicable. When circumstances indicate, investigate:
    • Imagery sales
    • Violations of law, regulations, policy or the terms of the NOAA license

Conduct Enforcement Activities

The Secretary is authorized to conduct such enforcement activities as are necessary to carry out his/her responsibilities under the Act. As the Secretary s designee, Commercial Remote Sensing Compliance and Monitoring investigates and refers violations to appropriate authority for enforcement actions. Such actions may include imposition of a civil penalty. Additionally, the Secretary of his/her designee may request the appropriate U.S. Attorney to seek a court order to terminate, suspend or modify the license, or immediate termination of operations.

Interruption of Normal Commercial Operations:

In consultation with the affected agencies, limitation on commercial remote sensing systems will be imposed by the Secretary of Commerce when necessary to meet international obligations and national security and foreign policy concerns and will be in accord with the determinations of the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of State and with applicable law.

Contact Us

For all licensing and regulatory affairs inquiries, contact us by:

Email: crsra@noaa.gov
Mailing Address:
Commercial Remote Sensing Regulatory Affairs
NOAA Office of Space Commerce
Herbert C. Hoover Building, Room 68015
1401 Constitution Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20230

To submit a licensing query, please use the Initial Contact Form (Google Doc)