---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 8562"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "8562"
heading: "Improving probable maximum precipitation estimates"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/8562"
units:
  - "Chapter 111 — Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation"
  - "Subchapter IV — Improving Federal Precipitation Information"
---

# §8562. Improving probable maximum precipitation estimates

- (a) **In general—** Not later than 90 days after the date on which the [National Academies](/usc/15/8563.md?p=2) makes public the report under [section 8561 of this title](/usc/15/8561.md), the [Administrator](/usc/15/8563.md?p=1), in consideration of the report recommendations, shall consult with relevant partners, including users of the data, on the development of a plan to—
  - (1) not later than 6 years after the completion of such report and not less than every 10 years thereafter, update probable maximum precipitation estimates for the [United States](/usc/15/8563.md?p=3), such that each update considers non-stationarity;
  - (2) coordinate with partners to conduct research in the field of extreme precipitation estimation, in accordance with the research needs identified in such report;
  - (3) make publicly available, in a searchable, interoperable format, all probable maximum precipitation studies developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) that the [Administrator](/usc/15/8563.md?p=1) has the legal right to redistribute and deemed to be at an appropriate [state](/usc/15/8501.md?p=2) of development on an internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1); and
  - (4) ensure all probable maximum precipitation estimate data, products, and supporting documentation and metadata developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1) are preserved, curated, and served by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1), as appropriate.
- (b) **National guidance document for the development of probable maximum precipitation estimates—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/8563.md?p=1), in collaboration with Federal agencies, [State](/usc/15/8501.md?p=2), territorial, Tribal and [local governments](/usc/15/34.md?p=1), academia, and other partners the [Administrator](/usc/15/8563.md?p=1) deems appropriate, shall develop a National Guidance Document that—
  - (1) provides best practices that can be followed by Federal and [State](/usc/15/8501.md?p=2) regulatory agencies, private meteorological consultants, and other users that perform probable maximum precipitation studies;
  - (2) considers the recommendations provided in the [National Academies](/usc/15/8563.md?p=2) study under [section 8561 of this title](/usc/15/8561.md);
  - (3) facilitates review of probable maximum precipitation studies by regulatory agencies; and
  - (4) provides confidence in regional and site-specific probable maximum precipitation estimates.
- (c) **Publication—** Not later than 2 years after the date on which the [National Academies](/usc/15/8563.md?p=2) makes public the report under [section 8561 of this title](/usc/15/8561.md), the [Administrator](/usc/15/8563.md?p=1) shall make publicly available the National Guidance Document under [subsection (b)](#b) on an internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/636e.md?p=1).
- (d) **Updates—** The [Administrator](/usc/15/8563.md?p=1) shall update the National Guidance Document not less than once every 10 years after the publication of the National Guidance Document under [subsection (c)](#c) and publish such updates in accordance with such subsection.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–25, title VI, § 602, as added Pub. L. 117–229, div. D, § 2(a), Dec. 16, 2022, 136 Stat. 2314.)