[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 113 (Tuesday, September 2, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8672-S8673]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS ACT AMENDMENTS

  The text of S. 910, the bill to authorize appropriations for carrying 
out the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 for fiscal years 1998 
and 1999, and for other purposes, as passed by the Senate on July 31, 
1997, is as follows:

                                 S. 910

       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

[[Page S8673]]

     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.

                          ____________________