[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 910 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        S.910

                       One Hundred Fifth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
 the seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven


                                 An Act


 
  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: ``; $52,565,000 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 $54,052,000 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 180 days after the date of 
    enactment of this Act, the Director 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.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.