National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 Public Law 109–430, as amended National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 430 115–423 Statute Compilation United States House of Representatives Office of the Legislative Counsel text/xml EN Pursuant to Title 17 Section 105 of the United States Code, this file is not subject to copyright protection and is in the public domain. GPO Statute Compilations USLM converter, version 20210527.1 2021-10-15 National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018 14255 109 2006-12-20 National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 [(Public Law 109–430; Approved on December 20, 2006)] [As Amended Through P.L. 115–423, Enacted January 7, 2019] [Currency: This publication is a compilation of the text of Public Law 109-430. It was last amended by the public law listed in the As Amended Through note above and below at the bottom of each page of the pdf version and reflects current law through the date of the enactment of the public law listed at https://www.govinfo.gov/app/collection/comps/] [Note: While this publication does not represent an official version of any Federal statute, substantial efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy of its contents. The official version of Federal law is found in the United States Statutes at Large and in the United States Code. The legal effect to be given to the Statutes at Large and the United States Code is established by statute (1 U.S.C. 112, 204).]
AN ACTTo establish a National Integrated Drought Information System within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve drought monitoring and forecasting capabilities. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. [15 U.S.C. 311 note] SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the “National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006”.
SEC. 2. [15 U.S.C. 313d note] DEFINITIONS. In this Act: (1) Drought.—The term “drought” means a deficiency in precipitation— (A) that leads to a deficiency in surface or subsurface water supplies (including rivers, streams, wetlands, ground water, soil moisture, reservoir supplies, lake levels, and snow pack); and (B) that causes or may cause— (i) substantial economic or social impacts; or (ii) substantial physical damage or injury to individuals, property, or the environment. (2) Under secretary.—The term “Under Secretary” means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.
SEC. 3. [15 U.S.C. 313d] NIDIS PROGRAM. (a) In General.—The Under Secretary, through the National Weather Service and other appropriate weather and climate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish a National Integrated Drought Information System to better inform and provide for more timely decisionmaking to reduce drought related impacts and costs. (b) System Functions.—The National Integrated Drought Information System shall— (1) provide an effective drought early warning system that— (A) collects and integrates information on the key indicators of drought and drought impacts, including precipitation, soil moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and assessments of the severity of drought conditions and impacts; and (B) provides such information, forecasts, and assessments on both national and regional levels; (2) communicate drought forecasts, drought conditions, and drought impacts on an ongoing basis to public and private entities engaged in drought planning and preparedness, including— (A) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local levels of government; (B) the private sector; and (C) the public; (3) provide timely data, information, and products that reflect local, regional, watershed, and State differences in drought conditions; (4) coordinate, and integrate, through interagency agreements as practicable, Federal research and monitoring in support of a drought early warning information system; (5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal precipitation and temperature, subseasonal precipitation and temperature, and low flow water prediction; and (6) continue ongoing research and monitoring activities related to drought, including research activities relating to the prediction, length, severity, and impacts of drought and the role of extreme weather events and climate variability in drought. (c) Partnerships.—The National Integrated Drought Information System may— (1) engage with the private sector to improve drought monitoring, forecast, and communication if the Under Secretary determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and beneficial to the public and decisionmakers described in subsection (b)(2)(A); (2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated Drought Information System functions; and (3) utilize and support, as appropriate, monitoring by citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to facilitate maximum data integration. (d) Consultation.—The Under Secretary shall consult with relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local government agencies, research institutions, and the private sector in the development and sustainment of the National Integrated Drought Information System. (e) Cooperation From Other Federal Agencies.—Each Federal agency shall cooperate as appropriate with the Under Secretary in carrying out this Act. (f) Soil Moisture.—Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Under Secretary, acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System, shall develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring network.
SEC. 4. [15 U.S.C. 313d note] AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act— (1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2019; (2) $13,750,000 for fiscal year 2020; (3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2021; (4) $14,250,000 for fiscal year 2022; and (5) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.