[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2249 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 2249

  To authorize appropriations for carrying out the Earthquake Hazards 
  Reduction Act of 1977 for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, and for other 
                               purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 24, 1997

Mr. Sensenbrenner (for himself and Mr. Brown of California) introduced 
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Science, and 
     in addition to the Committee on Resources, for a period to be 
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration 
  of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee 
                               concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
  To authorize appropriations for carrying out the Earthquake Hazards 
  Reduction Act of 1977 for fiscal years 1998 and 1999, and for other 
                               purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    Section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7706) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (a)(7)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' after ``1995,''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period at the end the 
                following: ``, $20,900,000 for the fiscal year ending 
                September 30, 1998, and $21,500,000 for the fiscal year 
                ending September 30, 1999'';
            (2) in subsection (b)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' after ``September 30, 
                1995;'';
                    (B) by inserting before the period at the end the 
                following: ``; $52,565,660 for the fiscal year ending 
                September 30, 1998, of which $3,800,000 shall be used 
                for the Global Seismic Network operated by the Agency; 
                and $54,052,630 for the fiscal year ending September 
                30, 1999, of which $3,800,000 shall be used for the 
                Global Seismic Network operated by the Agency''; and
                    (C) by adding at the end the following:
``Of the amounts authorized to be appropriated under this subsection, 
at least--
            ``(1) $8,000,000 of the amount authorized to be 
        appropriated for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998; and
            ``(2) $8,250,000 of the amount authorized for the fiscal 
        year ending September 30, 1999,
shall be used for carrying out a competitive, peer-reviewed program 
under which the Director, in close coordination with and as a 
complement to related activities of the United States Geological 
Survey, awards grants to, or enters into cooperative agreements with, 
State and local governments and persons or entities from the academic 
community and the private sector.'';
            (3) in subsection (c)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' after ``September 30, 
                1995;''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period at the end the 
                following: ``, (3) $18,450,000 for engineering research 
                and $11,920,000 for geosciences research for the fiscal 
                year ending September 30, 1998, and (4) $19,000,000 for 
                engineering research and $12,280,000 for geosciences 
                research for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
                1999''; and
            (4) in the last sentence of subsection (d)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' after ``September 30, 
                1995,''; and
                    (B) by inserting before the period at the end the 
                following: ``, $2,000,000 for the fiscal year ending 
                September 30, 1998, and $2,060,000 for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1999''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF REAL-TIME SEISMIC HAZARD WARNING SYSTEM 
              DEVELOPMENT, AND OTHER ACTIVITIES.

    (a) Automatic Seismic Warning System Development.--
            (1) Definitions.--In this section:
                    (A) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the 
                Director of the United States Geological Survey.
                    (B) High-risk activity.--The term ``high-risk 
                activity'' means an activity that may be adversely 
                affected by a moderate to severe seismic event (as 
                determined by the Director). The term includes high-
                speed rail transportation.
                    (C) Real-time seismic warning system.--The term 
                ``real-time seismic warning system'' means a system 
                that issues warnings in real-time from a network of 
                seismic sensors to a set of analysis processors, 
                directly to receivers related to high-risk activities.
            (2) In general.--The Director shall conduct a program to 
        develop a prototype real-time seismic warning system. The 
        Director may enter into such agreements or contracts as may be 
        necessary to carry out the program.
            (3) Upgrade of seismic sensors.--In carrying out a program 
        under paragraph (2), in order to increase the accuracy and 
        speed of seismic event analysis to provide for timely warning 
        signals, the Director shall provide for the upgrading of the 
        network of seismic sensors participating in the prototype to 
        increase the capability of the sensors--
                    (A) to measure accurately large magnitude seismic 
                events (as determined by the Director); and
                    (B) to acquire additional parametric data.
            (4) Development of communications and computation 
        infrastructure.--In carrying out a program under paragraph (2), 
        the Director shall develop a communications and computation 
        infrastructure that is necessary--
                    (A) to process the data obtained from the upgraded 
                seismic sensor network referred to in paragraph (3); 
                and
                    (B) to provide for, and carry out, such 
                communications engineering and development as is 
                necessary to facilitate--
                            (i) the timely flow of data within a real-
                        time seismic hazard warning system; and
                            (ii) the issuance of warnings to receivers 
                        related to high-risk activities.
            (5) Procurement of computer hardware and computer 
        software.--In carrying out a program under paragraph (2), the 
        Director shall procure such computer hardware and computer 
        software as may be necessary to carry out the program.
            (6) Reports on progress.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall 
                prepare and submit to Congress a report that contains a 
                plan for implementing a real-time seismic hazard 
                warning system.
                    (B) Additional reports.--Not later than 1 year 
                after the date on which the Director submits the report 
                under subparagraph (A), and annually thereafter, the 
                Director shall prepare and submit to Congress a report 
                that summarizes the progress of the Director in 
                implementing the plan referred to in subparagraph (A).
            (7) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to the 
        amounts made available to the Director under section 12(b) of 
        the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 
        7706(b)), there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Department of the Interior, to be used by the Director to carry 
        out paragraph (2), $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998 and 
        1999.
    (b) Seismic Monitoring Networks Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--The Director shall provide for an 
        assessment of regional seismic monitoring networks in the 
        United States. The assessment shall address--
                    (A) the need to update the infrastructure used for 
                collecting seismological data for research and 
                monitoring of seismic events in the United States;
                    (B) the need for expanding the capability to record 
                strong ground motions, especially for urban area 
                engineering purposes;
                    (C) the need to measure accurately large magnitude 
                seismic events (as determined by the Director);
                    (D) the need to acquire additional parametric data; 
                and
                    (E) projected costs for meeting the needs described 
                in subparagraphs (A) through (D).
            (2) Results.--The Director shall transmit the results of 
        the assessment conducted under this subsection to Congress not 
        later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.
    (c) Earth Science Teaching Materials.--
            (1) Definitions.--In this subsection:
                    (A) Local educational agency.--The term ``local 
                educational agency'' has the meaning given that term in 
                section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 
                Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).
                    (B) School.--The term ``school'' means a nonprofit 
                institutional day or residential school that provides 
                education for any of the grades kindergarten through 
                grade 12.
            (2) Teaching materials.--In a manner consistent with the 
        requirement under section 5(b)(4) of the Earthquake Hazards 
        Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(4)) and subject to a 
        merit based competitive process, the Director of the National 
        Science Foundation may use funds made available to him or her 
        under section 12(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 7706(c)) to develop, 
        and make available to schools and local educational agencies 
        for use by schools, at a minimal cost, earth science teaching 
        materials that are designed to meet the needs of elementary and 
        secondary school teachers and students.
    (d) Improved Seismic Hazard Assessment.--
            (1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, the Director shall conduct a project to 
        improve the seismic hazard assessment of seismic zones.
            (2) Reports.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, and annually during the 
                period of the project, the Director shall prepare, and 
                submit to Congress, a report on the findings of the 
                project.
                    (B) Final report.--Not later than 60 days after the 
                date of termination of the project conducted under this 
                subsection, the Director shall prepare and submit to 
                Congress a report concerning the findings of the 
                project.
    (e) Study of National Earthquake Emergency Training Capabilities.--
            (1) In general.--The Director of the Federal Emergency 
        Management Agency shall conduct an assessment of the need for 
        additional Federal disaster-response training capabilities that 
        are applicable to earthquake response.
            (2) Contents of assessment.--The assessment conducted under 
        this subsection shall include--
                    (A) a review of the disaster training programs 
                offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency at 
                the time of the assessment;
                    (B) an estimate of the number and types of 
                emergency response personnel that have, during the 
                period beginning on January 1, 1990, and ending on July 
                1, 1997, sought the training referred to in 
                subparagraph (A), but have been unable to receive that 
                training as a result of the oversubscription of the 
                training capabilities of the Federal Emergency 
                Management Agency; and
                    (C) a recommendation on the need to provide 
                additional Federal disaster-response training centers.
            (3) Report.--Not later than February 15, 1998, the Director 
        of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall prepare and 
        submit to Congress a report that addresses the results of the 
        assessment conducted under this subsection.

SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE ENGINEERING RESEARCH PLAN.

    (a) National Science Foundation.--Section 5(b)(4) of the Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(4)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) develop, in conjunction with the Federal 
                Emergency Management Agency, the National Institute of 
                Standards and Technology, and the United States 
                Geological Survey, a comprehensive plan for earthquake 
                engineering research to effectively use existing 
                testing facilities and laboratories (in existence at 
                the time of the development of the plan), upgrade 
                facilities and equipment as needed, and integrate new, 
                innovative testing approaches to the research 
                infrastructure in a systematic manner.''.
    (b) Federal Emergency Management Agency.--Section 5(b)(1) of the 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(1)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(F) work with the National Science Foundation, 
                the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and 
                the United States Geological Survey, to develop a 
                comprehensive plan for earthquake engineering research 
                to effectively use existing testing facilities and 
                laboratories (existing at the time of the development 
                of the plan), upgrade facilities and equipment as 
                needed, and integrate new, innovative testing 
                approaches to the research infrastructure in a 
                systematic manner.''.
    (c) United States Geological Survey.--Section 5(b)(3) of the 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(3)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(H) work with the National Science Foundation, 
                the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the 
                National Institute of Standards and Technology to 
                develop a comprehensive plan for earthquake engineering 
                research to effectively use existing testing facilities 
                and laboratories (in existence at the time of the 
                development of the plan), upgrade facilities and 
                equipment as needed, and integrate new, innovative 
                testing approaches to the research infrastructure in a 
                systematic manner.''.
    (d) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--Section 
5(b)(5) of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 
7704(b)(5)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);
            (2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C) 
        and inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(D) work with the National Science Foundation, 
                the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United 
                States Geological Survey to develop a comprehensive 
                plan for earthquake engineering research to effectively 
                use existing testing facilities and laboratories (in 
                existence at the time of the development of the plan), 
                upgrade facilities and equipment as needed, and 
                integrate new, innovative testing approaches to the 
                research infrastructure in a systematic manner.''.

SEC. 4. REPEALS.

    Sections 6 and 7 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 
(42 U.S.C. 7705 and 7705a) are repealed.
                                 <all>