Rule2026-07250
Schedule of Fees for Access to NOAA Environmental Data, Information, and Related Products and Services
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 14, 2026
Effective
May 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
In this final rule, NESDIS establishes an updated schedule of fees for special access to NOAA data, information, and related products and services. NOAA continues to make its environmental data available to the public without any fee in most instances consistent with Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). NOAA disseminates this data without any fee primarily via NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information's (NCEI) Archive, Comprehensive Large Array-Data Stewardship System (CLASS), and partners such as the NOAA Open Data Dissemination Program. NESDIS is revising the fee schedule that has been in effect since 2023 to ensure that the fees accurately reflect the costs of providing access to the environmental data, information, and related products and services.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 71 (Tuesday, April 14, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 19078-19079]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-07250]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
15 CFR Part 950
[Docket No: 260223-0053]
RIN 0648-BN98
Schedule of Fees for Access to NOAA Environmental Data,
Information, and Related Products and Services
AGENCY: National Environmental Satellite, Data and Information Service
(NESDIS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),
Department of Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: In this final rule, NESDIS establishes an updated schedule of
fees for special access to NOAA data, information, and related products
and services. NOAA continues to make its environmental data available
to the public without any fee in most instances consistent with
Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 (44 U.S.C. 3501
et seq.). NOAA disseminates this data without any fee primarily via
NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information's (NCEI) Archive,
Comprehensive Large Array-Data Stewardship System (CLASS), and partners
such as the NOAA Open Data Dissemination Program. NESDIS is revising
the fee schedule that has been in effect since 2023 to ensure that the
fees accurately reflect the costs of providing access to the
environmental data, information, and related products and services.
DATES: Effective May 14, 2026.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kasandra Harley, (301) 713-7153.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
NESDIS operates NOAA's NCEI. Through NCEI, NESDIS provides and
ensures timely access to global environmental data from satellites and
other sources, provides information services, and develops science
products. NOAA makes these resources available at no fee and under an
open license, consistent with the Foundations for Evidence-Based
Policymaking Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.).
NESDIS maintains some 1,300 databases containing over 2,400
environmental variables at NCEI and 7 World Data Centers. These centers
respond to over 2,000,000 requests for these data and products annually
from over 70 countries, the vast majority of which are fulfilled at no
fee to the requestor via NOAA CLASS. Other users can access NOAA
environmental data online using the NOAA OneStop. This collection of
environmental data and products is growing rapidly, both in size and
sophistication, and as a result the associated costs have increased.
If the freely available services are unable to meet users' needs,
users have the ability to access the special data products described in
the table below offline, online, and through the NESDIS e-Commerce
System (NeS) online store. NOAA's ability to provide these special
data, information, products, and services depends on user fees.
New Fee Schedule
NESDIS is authorized under 15 U.S.C. 1534 to assess fees, up to
fair market value, depending upon the user and intended use, for access
to environmental data, information, and products derived from,
collected, and/or archived by NOAA. In this final rule, NESDIS
establishes a new schedule of fees for access to these special data,
information, and related products and services. NESDIS is revising the
fee schedule that has been in effect since 2023 to ensure that the fees
accurately reflect the costs of providing access to the environmental
data, information, and related products and services. The new fee
schedule lists both the current fee charged for each item and the new
fee to be charged to users that will take effect beginning May 14,
2026. The schedule applies to the listed services provided by NESDIS on
or after May 14, 2026, except for products and services covered by a
subscription agreement in effect as of May 14, 2026 that extends beyond
May 14, 2026. In those cases, the increased fees will apply upon
renewal of the subscription agreement or at the earliest amendment date
provided by the agreement.
NESDIS will continue to review these user fees periodically and
will revise such fees as necessary. Any future changes in the user fees
and their effective date will be announced through notice in the
Federal Register.
Classification
This rule has been determined not to be significant for purposes of
Executive Order (E.O.) 12866. This proposed rule is not an E.O. 14192
regulatory action because this rule is not significant under E.O.
12866.
The provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553)
requiring notice of proposed rulemaking and the opportunity for public
participation are inapplicable because this rule falls within the
public property exception of subparagraph (a)(2) of section 553, as it
relates only to the assessment of fees, as authorized by 15 U.S.C.
1534. Further, no other law requires that a notice of proposed
rulemaking and an opportunity for public comment be given for this
rule. Because a notice of proposed rulemaking and an opportunity for
public comment are not required to be given for this rule under 5
U.S.C. 553 or by any other law, the requirements of the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 601 et seq.) are not applicable.
This proposed rule contains no information collection requirements
under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
List of Subjects in 15 CFR Part 950
Organization and functions (Government agencies).
David Holst,
Chief Financial Officer, National Environmental Satellite, Data and
Information Service.
For the reasons set forth above, NESDIS amends 15 CFR part 950 as
follows:
[[Page 19079]]
PART 950--ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION
0
1. The authority citation for part 950 continues to read as follows:
Authority: (5 U.S.C. 552, 553). Reorganization Plan No. 4 of
1970.
0
2. Revise Appendix A to part 950 to read as follows:
Appendix A to Part 950--Schedule of User Fees for Access to NOAA
Environmental Data
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Name of product/data/publication/
information/service
----------------------------------------- Current fee New fee
NOAA National Center for Environmental
Information
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Department of Commerce Certification.... $168.00 $170.00
General Certification................... 146.00 148.00
Paper Copy.............................. 11.00 11.00
Data Poster............................. 15.00 25.00
Shipping Service........................ 12.00 12.00
Rush order fee.......................... 73.00 73.00
Super Rush Order Fee.................... 124.00 124.00
Foreign Handling Fee.................... 55.00 54.00
NEXRAD Doppler radar Color Prints....... 29.00 30.00
Paper Copy from Electronic Media........ 11.00 12.00
Offline In-Situ Digital Data............ 125.00 122.00
Satellite Image Product................. 82.00 85.00
Offline Satellite, Radar, and Model 612.00 (*)
Digital Data (average unit size is 1
terabyte)..............................
Conventional CD-ROM/DVD................. 104.00 107.00
Specialized CD-ROM/DVD.................. 226.00 217.00
CD-ROM/DVD Copy, Offline................ 84.00 83.00
CD-ROM/DVD Copy, Online Store........... 39.00 36.00
Order Handling/Quality Check............ 26.00 22.00
Non-Digital Order Consultation.......... 14.00 8.00
Digital Order Consultation.............. 34.00 24.00
Single Orbit OLS & Subset............... 20.00 (*)
Single Orbit OLS & Subset, Additional 7.00 (*)
Orbits.................................
Global Nighttime Lights Monthly 9,988.00 (*)
Composite--one satellite...............
High Definition Geomagnetic Model....... 26,714.00 29,539.00
High Definition Geomagnetic Model--Real 34,793.00 38,405.00
Time (HDGM-RT).........................
Expedited Shipping Service.............. 29.00 29.00
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* Indicates a product is no longer offered due to lack of public
interest.
[FR Doc. 2026-07250 Filed 4-13-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-HR-P
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