US Codex
Pub. L.
Notes

Title IV — Federal Weather Coordination

115th Congress · Approved Apr 18, 2017 · 131 Stat. 91

TITLE IV Federal Weather Coordination

SEC. 401. Environmental Information Services Working Group.

(a)
Establishment.— The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Science Advisory Board shall continue to maintain a standing working group named the Environmental Information Services Working Group (in this section referred to as the “Working Group”)—
(1)
to provide advice for prioritizing weather research initiatives at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to produce real improvement in weather forecasting;
(2)
to provide advice on existing or emerging technologies or techniques that can be found in private industry or the research community that could be incorporated into forecasting at the National Weather Service to improve forecasting skill;
(3)
to identify opportunities to improve—
(A)
communications between weather forecasters, Federal, State, local, tribal, and other emergency management personnel, and the public; and
(B)
communications and partnerships among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the private and academic sectors; and
(4)
to address such other matters as the Science Advisory Board requests of the Working Group.
(b)
Composition.—
(1)
In general.— The Working Group shall be composed of leading experts and innovators from all relevant fields of science and engineering including atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, meteorology, hydrology, social science, risk communications, electrical engineering, and computer sciences. In carrying out this section, the Working Group may organize into subpanels.
(2)
Number.— The Working Group shall be composed of no fewer than 15 members. Nominees for the Working Group may be forwarded by the Working Group for approval by the Science Advisory Board. Members of the Working Group may choose a chair (or co-chairs) from among their number with approval by the Science Advisory Board.
(c)
Annual Report.— Not less frequently than once each year, the Working Group shall transmit to the Science Advisory Board for submission to the Under Secretary a report on progress made by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in adopting the Working Group’s recommendations. The Science Advisory Board shall transmit this report to the Under Secretary. Within 30 days of receipt of such report, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a copy of such report.

SEC. 402. Interagency Weather Research and Forecast Innovation Coordination.

(a)
Establishment.— The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall establish an Interagency Committee for Advancing Weather Services to improve coordination of relevant weather research and forecast innovation activities across the Federal Government. The Interagency Committee shall—
(1)
include participation by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Federal Aviation Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its constituent elements, the National Science Foundation, and such other agencies involved in weather forecasting research as the President determines are appropriate;
(2)
identify and prioritize top forecast needs and coordinate those needs against budget requests and program initiatives across participating offices and agencies; and
(3)
share information regarding operational needs and forecasting improvements across relevant agencies.
(b)
Co-Chair.— The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology shall serve as a co-chair of this panel.
(c)
Further Coordination.— The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall take such other steps as are necessary to coordinate the activities of the Federal Government with those of the United States weather industry, State governments, emergency managers, and academic researchers.

SEC. 403. Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and National Weather Service Exchange Program.

(a)
In General.— The Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of National Weather Service may establish a program to detail Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research personnel to the National Weather Service and National Weather Service personnel to the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.
(b)
Goal.— The goal of this program is to enhance forecasting innovation through regular, direct interaction between the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research’s world-class scientists and the National Weather Service’s operational staff.
(c)
Elements.— The program shall allow up to 10 Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research staff and National Weather Service staff to spend up to 1 year on detail. Candidates shall be jointly selected by the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National Weather Service.
(d)
Annual Report.— Not less frequently than once each year, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on participation in such program and shall highlight any innovations that come from this interaction.

SEC. 404. Visiting Fellows at National Weather Service.

(a)
In General.— The Director of the National Weather Service may establish a program to host postdoctoral fellows and academic researchers at any of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction.
(b)
Goal.— This program shall be designed to provide direct interaction between forecasters and talented academic and private sector researchers in an effort to bring innovation to forecasting tools and techniques to the National Weather Service.
(c)
Selection and Appointment.— Such fellows shall be competitively selected and appointed for a term not to exceed 1 year.

SEC. 405. Warning Coordination Meteorologists at Weather Forecast Offices of National Weather Service.

(a)
Designation of Warning Coordination Meteorologists.—
(1)
In general.— The Director of the National Weather Service shall designate at least one warning coordination meteorologist at each weather forecast office of the National Weather Service.
(2)
No additional employees authorized.— Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize or require a change in the authorized number of full time equivalent employees in the National Weather Service or otherwise result in the employment of any additional employees.
(3)
Performance by other employees.— Performance of the responsibilities outlined in this section is not limited to the warning coordination meteorologist position.
(b)
Primary Role of Warning Coordination Meteorologists.— The primary role of the warning coordination meteorologist shall be to carry out the responsibilities required by this section.
(c)
Responsibilities.—
(1)
In general.— Subject to paragraph (2), consistent with the analysis described in section 409, and in order to increase impact-based decision support services, each warning coordination meteorologist designated under subsection (a) shall—
(A)
be responsible for providing service to the geographic area of responsibility covered by the weather forecast office at which the warning coordination meteorologist is employed to help ensure that users of products of the National Weather Service can respond effectively to improve outcomes from weather events;
(B)
liaise with users of products and services of the National Weather Service, such as the public, media outlets, users in the aviation, marine, and agricultural communities, and forestry, land, and water management interests, to evaluate the adequacy and usefulness of the products and services of the National Weather Service;
(C)
collaborate with such weather forecast offices and State, local, and tribal government agencies as the Director considers appropriate in developing, proposing, and implementing plans to develop, modify, or tailor products and services of the National Weather Service to improve the usefulness of such products and services;
(D)
ensure the maintenance and accuracy of severe weather call lists, appropriate office severe weather policy or procedures, and other severe weather or dissemination methodologies or strategies; and
(E)
work closely with State, local, and tribal emergency management agencies, and other agencies related to disaster management, to ensure a planned, coordinated, and effective preparedness and response effort.
(2)
Other staff.— The Director may assign a responsibility set forth in paragraph (1) to such other staff as the Director considers appropriate to carry out such responsibility.
(d)
Additional Responsibilities.—
(1)
In general.— Subject to paragraph (2), a warning coordination meteorologist designated under subsection (a) may—
(A)
work with a State agency to develop plans for promoting more effective use of products and services of the National Weather Service throughout the State;
(B)
identify priority community preparedness objectives;
(C)
develop plans to meet the objectives identified under paragraph (2); and
(D)
conduct severe weather event preparedness planning and citizen education efforts with and through various State, local, and tribal government agencies and other disaster management-related organizations.
(2)
Other staff.— The Director may assign a responsibility set forth in paragraph (1) to such other staff as the Director considers appropriate to carry out such responsibility.
(e)
Placement With State and Local Emergency Managers.—
(1)
In general.— In carrying out this section, the Director of the National Weather Service may place a warning coordination meteorologist designated under subsection (a) with a State or local emergency manager if the Director considers doing so is necessary or convenient to carry out this section.
(2)
Treatment.— If the Director determines that the placement of a warning coordination meteorologist placed with a State or local emergency manager under paragraph (1) is near a weather forecast office of the National Weather Service, such placement shall be treated as designation of the warning coordination meteorologist at such weather forecast office for purposes of subsection (a).

SEC. 406. Improving National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Communication of Hazardous Weather and Water Events.

(a)
Purpose of System.— For purposes of the assessment required by subsection (b)(1)(A), the purpose of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration system for issuing watches and warnings regarding hazardous weather and water events shall be risk communication to the general public that informs action to prevent loss of life and property.
(b)
Assessment of System.—
(1)
In general.— Not later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall—
(A)
assess the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration system for issuing watches and warnings regarding hazardous weather and water events; and
(B)
submit to Congress a report on the findings of the Under Secretary with respect to the assessment conducted under subparagraph (A).
(2)
Elements.— The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) shall include the following:
(A)
An evaluation of whether the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration system for issuing watches and warnings regarding hazardous weather and water events meets the purpose described in subsection (a).
(B)
Development of recommendations for—
(i)
legislative and administrative action to improve the system described in paragraph (1)(A); and
(ii)
such research as the Under Secretary considers necessary to address the focus areas described in paragraph (3).
(3)
Focus areas.— The assessment required by paragraph (1)(A) shall focus on the following:
(A)
Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous weather or water events to the public that are most likely to result in action to mitigate the risk.
(B)
Ways to communicate the risks posed by hazardous weather or water events to the public as broadly and rapidly as practicable.
(C)
Ways to preserve the benefits of the existing watches and warnings system.
(D)
Ways to maintain the utility of the watches and warnings system for Government and commercial users of the system.
(4)
Consultation.— In conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall—
(A)
consult with such line offices within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Under Secretary considers relevant, including the National Ocean Service, the National Weather Service, and the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research;
(B)
consult with individuals in the academic sector, including individuals in the field of social and behavioral sciences, and other weather services;
(C)
consult with media outlets that will be distributing the watches and warnings;
(D)
consult with non-Federal forecasters that produce alternate severe weather risk communication products;
(E)
consult with emergency planners and responders, including State and local emergency management agencies, and other government users of the watches and warnings system, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Office of Personnel Management, the Coast Guard, and such other Federal agencies as the Under Secretary determines rely on watches and warnings for operational decisions; and
(F)
make use of the services of the National Academy of Sciences, as the Under Secretary considers necessary and practicable, including contracting with the National Research Council to review the scientific and technical soundness of the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), including the recommendations developed under paragraph (2)(B).
(5)
Methodologies.— In conducting the assessment required by paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall use such methodologies as the Under Secretary considers are generally accepted by the weather enterprise, including social and behavioral sciences.
(c)
Improvements to System.—
(1)
In general.— The Under Secretary shall, based on the assessment required by subsection (b)(1)(A), make such recommendations to Congress to improve the system as the Under Secretary considers necessary—
(A)
to improve the system for issuing watches and warnings regarding hazardous weather and water events; and
(B)
to support efforts to satisfy research needs to enable future improvements to such system.
(2)
Requirements regarding recommendations.— In carrying out paragraph (1)(A), the Under Secretary shall ensure that any recommendation that the Under Secretary considers a major change—
(A)
is validated by social and behavioral science using a generalizable sample;
(B)
accounts for the needs of various demographics, vulnerable populations, and geographic regions;
(C)
accounts for the differences between types of weather and water hazards;
(D)
responds to the needs of Federal, State, and local government partners and media partners; and
(E)
accounts for necessary changes to Federally operated watch and warning propagation and dissemination infrastructure and protocols.
(d)
Watches and Warnings Defined.—
(1)
In general.— Except as provided in paragraph (2), in this section, the terms “watch” and “warning”, with respect to a hazardous weather and water event, mean products issued by the Administration, intended for consumption by the general public, to alert the general public to the potential for or presence of the event and to inform action to prevent loss of life and property.
(2)
Exception.— ln this section, the terms “watch” and “warning” do not include technical or specialized meteorological and hydrological forecasts, outlooks, or model guidance products.

SEC. 407. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program.

(a)
Program.— The Director of the National Weather Service is authorized to establish the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready All Hazards Award Program. This award program shall provide annual awards to honor individuals or organizations that use or provide National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters to save lives and protect property. Individuals or organizations that utilize other early warning tools or applications also qualify for this award.
(b)
Goal.— This award program draws attention to the life-saving work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Ready All Hazards Program, as well as emerging tools and applications, that provide real-time warning to individuals and communities of severe weather or other hazardous conditions.
(c)
Program Elements.—
(1)
Nominations.— Nominations for this award shall be made annually by the Weather Field Offices to the Director of the National Weather Service. Broadcast meteorologists, weather radio manufacturers and weather warning tool and application developers, emergency managers, and public safety officials may nominate individuals or organizations to their local Weather Field Offices, but the final list of award nominees must come from the Weather Field Offices.
(2)
Selection of awardees.— Annually, the Director of the National Weather Service shall choose winners of this award whose timely actions, based on National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio All Hazards receivers or transmitters or other early warning tools and applications, saved lives or property, or demonstrated public service in support of weather or all hazard warnings.
(3)
Award ceremony.— The Director of the National Weather Service shall establish a means of making these awards to provide maximum public awareness of the importance of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Weather Radio, and such other warning tools and applications as are represented in the awards.

SEC. 408. Department of Defense Weather Forecasting Activities.

Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report analyzing the impacts of the proposed Air Force divestiture in the United States Weather Research and Forecasting Model, including—
(1)
the impact on—
(A)
the United States weather forecasting capabilities;
(B)
the accuracy of civilian regional forecasts;
(C)
the civilian readiness for traditional weather and extreme weather events in the United States; and
(D)
the research necessary to develop the United States Weather Research and Forecasting Model; and
(2)
such other analysis relating to the divestiture as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.

SEC. 409. National Weather Service; Operations and Workforce Analysis.

The Under Secretary shall contract or continue to partner with an external organization to conduct a baseline analysis of National Weather Service operations and workforce.

SEC. 410. Report on Contract Positions at National Weather Service.

(a)
Report Required.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the use of contractors at the National Weather Service for the most recently completed fiscal year.
(b)
Contents.— The report required by subsection (a) shall include, with respect to the most recently completed fiscal year, the following:
(1)
The total number of full-time equivalent employees at the National Weather Service, disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General Schedule.
(2)
The total number of full-time equivalent contractors at the National Weather Service, disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General Schedule that most closely approximates their duties.
(3)
The total number of vacant positions at the National Weather Service on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, disaggregated by each equivalent level of the General Schedule.
(4)
The five most common positions filled by full-time equivalent contractors at the National Weather Service and the equivalent level of the General Schedule that most closely approximates the duties of such positions.
(5)
Of the positions identified under paragraph (4), the percentage of full-time equivalent contractors in those positions that have held a prior position at the National Weather Service or another entity in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
(6)
The average full-time equivalent salary for Federal employees at the National Weather Service for each equivalent level of the General Schedule.
(7)
The average salary for full-time equivalent contractors performing at each equivalent level of the General Schedule at the National Weather Service.
(8)
A description of any actions taken by the Under Secretary to respond to the issues raised by the Inspector General of the Department of Commerce regarding the hiring of former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration employees as contractors at the National Weather Service such as the issues raised in the Investigative Report dated June 2, 2015 (OIG–12–0447).
(c)
Annual Publication.— For each fiscal year after the fiscal year covered by the report required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall, not later than 180 days after the completion of the fiscal year, publish on a publicly accessible Internet website the information described in paragraphs (1) through (8) of subsection (b) for such fiscal year.

SEC. 411. Weather Impacts to Communities and Infrastructure.

(a)
Review.—
(1)
In general.— The Director of the National Weather Service shall review existing research, products, and services that meet the specific needs of the urban environment, given its unique physical characteristics and forecasting challenges.
(2)
Elements.— The review required by paragraph (1) shall include research, products, and services with the potential to improve modeling and forecasting capabilities, taking into account factors including varying building heights, impermeable surfaces, lack of tree canopy, traffic, pollution, and inter-building wind effects.
(b)
Report and Assessment.— Upon completion of the review required by subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the research, products, and services of the National Weather Service, including an assessment of such research, products, and services that is based on the review, public comment, and recent publications by the National Academy of Sciences.

SEC. 412. Weather Enterprise Outreach.

(a)
In General.— The Under Secretary may establish mechanisms for outreach to the weather enterprise—
(1)
to assess the weather forecasts and forecast products provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
(2)
to determine the highest priority weather forecast needs of the community described in subsection (b).
(b)
Outreach Community.— In conducting outreach under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall contact leading experts and innovators from relevant stakeholders, including the representatives from the following:
(1)
State or local emergency management agencies.
(2)
State agriculture agencies.
(3)
Indian tribes (as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304)) and Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 6207 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7517)).
(4)
The private aerospace industry.
(5)
The private earth observing industry.
(6)
The operational forecasting community.
(7)
The academic community.
(8)
Professional societies that focus on meteorology.
(9)
Such other stakeholder groups as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.

SEC. 413. Hurricane Hunter Aircraft.

(a)
Backup Capability.— The Under Secretary shall acquire backup for the capabilities of the WP–3D Orion and G–IV hurricane aircraft of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration that is sufficient to prevent a single point of failure.
(b)
Authority to Enter Agreements.— In order to carry out subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall negotiate and enter into 1 or more agreements or contracts, to the extent practicable and necessary, with governmental and non-governmental entities.
(c)
Future Technology.— The Under Secretary shall continue the development of Airborne Phased Array Radar under the United States Weather Research Program.
(d)
Authorization of Appropriations.— For each of fiscal years 2017 through 2020, support for implementing subsections (a) and (b) is authorized out of funds appropriated to the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations.

SEC. 414. Study on Gaps in Nexrad Coverage and Recommendations to Address Such Gaps.

(a)
Study on Gaps in NEXRAD Coverage.—
(1)
In general.— Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (“NEXRAD”).
(2)
Elements.— In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—
(A)
identify areas in the United States where limited or no NEXRAD coverage has resulted in—
(i)
instances in which no or insufficient warnings were given for hazardous weather events, including tornadoes; or
(ii)
degraded forecasts for hazardous weather events that resulted in fatalities, significant injuries, or substantial property damage; and
(B)
for the areas identified under subparagraph (A)—
(i)
identify the key weather effects for which prediction would improve with improved radar detection;
(ii)
identify additional sources of observations for high impact weather that were available and operational for such areas on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, including dense networks of x-band radars, Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (commonly known as “TDWR”), air surveillance radars of the Federal Aviation Administration, and cooperative network observers;
(iii)
assess the feasibility and advisability of efforts to integrate and upgrade Federal radar capabilities that are not owned or controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including radar capabilities of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense;
(iv)
assess the feasibility and advisability of incorporating State-operated and other non-Federal radars into the operations of the National Weather Service;
(v)
identify options to improve hazardous weather detection and forecasting coverage; and
(vi)
provide the estimated cost of, and timeline for, each of the options identified under clause (v).
(3)
Report.— Upon the completion of the study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report that includes the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study.
(b)
Recommendations to Improve Radar Coverage.— Not later than 90 days after the completion of the study under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the congressional committees referred to in subsection (a)(3) recommendations for improving hazardous weather detection and forecasting coverage in the areas identified under subsection (a)(2)(A) by integrating additional observation solutions to the extent practicable and meteorologically justified and necessary to protect public safety.
(c)
Third-party Consultation Regarding Recommendations to Improve Radar Coverage.— The Secretary of Commerce may seek reviews by, or consult with, appropriate third parties regarding the scientific methodology relating to, and the feasibility and advisability of implementing, the recommendations submitted under subsection (b), including the extent to which warning and forecast services of the National Weather Service would be improved by additional observations.