[Senate Report 114-248]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 455
114th Congress } { REPORT
SENATE
2d Session } { 114-248
___________________________________________________________________________
SEASONAL FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT ACT
__________
R E P O R T
of the
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
on
S. 1331
May 9, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
_________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
59-010 WASHINGTON : 2016
_________________________________________________________________________________
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred fourteenth congress
second session
JOHN THUNE, South Dakota, Chairman
ROGER F. WICKER, Mississippi BILL NELSON, Florida
ROY BLUNT, Missouri MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
MARCO RUBIO, Florida CLAIRE McCASKILL, Missouri
KELLY AYOTTE, New Hampshire AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota
TED CRUZ, Texas RICHARD BLUMENTHAL, Connecticut
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
JERRY MORAN, Kansas ED MARKEY, Massachusetts
DAN SULLIVAN, Alaska CORY BOOKER, New Jersey
RON JOHNSON, Wisconsin TOM UDALL, New Mexico
DEAN HELLER, Nevada JOE MANCHIN, West Virginia
CORY GARDNER, Colorado GARY PETERS, Michigan
STEVE DAINES, Montana
Nick Rossi, Staff Director
Adrian Arnakis, Deputy Staff Director
Rebecca Seidel, General Counsel
Kim Lipsky, Democratic Staff Director
Christopher Day, Democratic Deputy Staff Director
Clint Odom, Democratic General Counsel
Calendar No. 455
114th Congress } { Report
SENATE
2d Session } { 114-248
======================================================================
SEASONAL FORECASTING IMPROVEMENT ACT
_______
May 9, 2016.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Thune, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 1331]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred the bill (S. 1331) to help enhance commerce
through improved seasonal forecasts, and for other purposes,
having considered the same, reports favorably thereon with an
amendment (in the nature of a substitute) and recommends that
the bill (as amended) do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of S. 1331, the Seasonal Forecasting
Improvement Act, is to improve seasonal forecasts, speed
research to operations, and enhance satellite governance.
Background and Needs
Improved weather forecasts not only reduce the loss of life
from severe weather conditions, but have broader benefits to
the general public. It is estimated the collective benefit of
weather forecasting to the American public was $31.5 billion,
compared to the $5.1 billion spent in 2007 on generating
weather forecasts in the United States. Of the money spent
yearly on weather forecasting, a little over two-thirds, or
$3.4 billion, was spent by Federal agencies.\1\ Reliable
observations and continued research will help to further
improve forecasts, and these improvements will likely
correspond to an even larger benefit for individuals,
businesses, and the broader economy. Weather forecasts for
periods beyond two weeks are currently substantially less
reliable, but if they were improved have the potential to have
significant economic and social benefit. For example, farmers,
ranchers, and water managers all need to make decisions on time
scales longer than two weeks, and must currently do so without
the benefit of reliable forecasts.\2\
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\1\Jeffrey K. Lazo, Rebecca E. Morss, and Julie L. Demuth, ``300
Billion Served: Sources, Perceptions, Uses, and Values of Weather
Forecasts,'' Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, vol. 90,
no. 6 (June 2009), pp. 785-798, available at journals.ametsoc.org/doi/
pdf/10.1175/2008BAMS2604.1 (accessed November 22, 2013).
\2\National Research Council, Assessment of Intraseasonal to
Interannual Climate Prediction and Predictability, 2010, available at
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12878/assessment-of-intraseasonal-to-
interannual-climate-prediction-and-predictability (accessed May 14,
2015).
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Federal Weather Services
Several line offices of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) are integral to the Federal
weather enterprise. Most obviously, the National Weather
Service (NWS) is charged with providing weather, water, and
climate data, forecasts, and warnings in order to protect life
and property and to enhance the Nation's economy.\3\ The
National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service
(NESDIS) is involved in acquiring and managing Federal
environmental observing satellites, and it operates the data
centers that capture and process the information from these
satellites. Several satellite programs support NWS's
operational weather forecasting mission. A third line office at
NOAA, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR),
carries out much of the basic research that supports NWS's
operational forecasts. For example, OAR participates in and
funds cooperative institutes, which foster collaboration
between NOAA scientists and academic institutions. OAR also
supports several test beds, where NOAA scientists, academics,
and forecasters work together to move the state-of-the-art
science into operational forecasts (this is part of a process
that is sometimes referred to as research-to-operations or
R2O). As recognized by a recent NOAA Science Advisory Board
report, if the basic science developed at the agency fails to
be applied to the operational goals of NOAA, then the agency
``will fail in its mission.''\4\
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\3\National Weather Service, About NOAA's National Weather Service,
available at http://www.weather.gov/about (accessed April 10, 2013).
\4\The R&D Portfolio Review Task Force, In the Nation's Best
Interest: Making the Most of NOAA's Science Enterprise, Final Report to
the NOAA Science Advisory Board, March 27, 2013, available at http://
www.sab.noaa.gov/Meetings/2013/march/PRTF report final.pdf (accessed
April 10, 2015).
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The line offices within NOAA work together to collect and
transmit weather information, but this intra-agency
coordination should be strengthened. The work of the National
Ocean Service provides context for weather products, including
information about tides, currents, bathymetry, and topography.
Furthermore, the Office of Marine and Aviation Operations
provides the fleet of ships and aircraft piloted by NOAA
Commissioned Officers to take measurements integral to NOAA
weather missions.
Other Federal agencies also use NOAA weather products. The
Coast Guard uses NOAA satellite data extensively, both for
weather data and to plan and execute search and rescue
missions. The Federal Aviation Administration partners with the
NWS Aviation Weather Center to fund new developments in
aviation weather prediction, such as the NextGen weather
program to decrease the occurrence of weather-related aviation
delays. The Department of Defense operates some of its own
weather programs in order to meet its specific needs. In
particular, the Air Force has been heavily involved in weather
prediction and satellite procurement, but in the last few years
it has scaled back its efforts. In April 2015, the Air Force
announced that it would rely primarily on a United Kingdom
weather model, instead of a U.S. weather model. The Air Force
is reported to have made this decision without consulting the
other armed services or other agencies involved in weather
prediction.\5\ The Office of the Federal Coordinator for
Meteorology was created by the Department of Commerce in 1964
to coordinate the meteorological activities of Federal
departments and agencies,\6\ but as demonstrated by the Air
Force's recent decision, there is still often a lack of
coordination.
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\5\Jason Samenow, ``Air Force's plan to drop U.S. forecast system
for U.K. model draws criticism,'' The Washington Post, April 20, 2015,
available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/
wp/2015/04/20/air-force-to-cut-ties-with-u-s-weather-forecast-system-
in-favor-of-uk-model/ (accessed May 15, 2015).
\6\Office of the Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, Office of the
Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, available at http://www.ofcm.gov/
default.htm (accessed September 4, 2015).
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National Weather Service
The NWS aims to: produce and deliver accurate forecasts;
reduce, and ultimately eliminate, weather-related fatalities;
and improve the economic value of weather, water, and climate
information. NWS data and products form a national information
database and infrastructure that is used by other government
agencies, private sector weather services organizations (e.g.,
The Weather Channel and Accuweather), and the public. The NWS
collects data from a variety of sources, including: Doppler
weather radars; satellites operated by NESDIS; data buoys for
marine observations; radiosonde carried by weather balloons;
surface observing systems; and instruments for monitoring space
weather and air quality.
Role of Satellites in Supporting Weather Operations
Satellites make up approximately 40 percent of the NOAA
budget; NESDIS was funded at about $2.2 billion in fiscal year
(FY) 2015.\7\ Currently, NESDIS, in collaboration with the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Air
Force, manages and operates a fleet of over 10 weather and
environmental monitoring satellites.\8\ These satellites
monitor Earth constantly to provide data on temperature, sea
surface height, cloud cover, and other data that inform weather
and climate models. Two types of satellites provide most of our
weather and climate data: geostationary and polar-orbiting
satellites.
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\7\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, FY2016 NOAA Budget
Summary, 2015, available at http://www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/ nbo/
fy16_bluebook/FY2016BudgetSummary-web.pdf (accessed May 14, 2015).
\8\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Satellite and
Information Service, 2015, available at http://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/
imagery_data.html (accessed October 16, 2015).
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The 2 primary and 1 back up Geostationary Operational
Environmental Satellites (GOES) orbit 22,300 miles above the
Earth's equator and provide coverage of the western hemisphere,
taking photographic images every 15 minutes. The GOES
satellites are critical for identifying severe weather,
snowstorms, tropical storms, and hurricanes. The GOES
satellites are also capable of assisting in search and rescue
activities by locating emergency beacons that have been
activated by individuals in distress.\9\ The next generation
GOES satellite was originally scheduled to launch in October
2015, but has been twice delayed. A new launch date has not
been finalized, but will likely be in the fall 2016.\10\
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\9\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Geostationary
Operational Environmental Satellite R-Series, available at http://
www.goes-r.gov/ (accessed May 15, 2015).
\10\Frank Konkel, ``$11 Billion Next-Gen Weather Satellite Launch
Delayed,'' Nextgov, August 20, 2015, available at http://
www.nextgov.com/emerging-tech/emerging-tech-blog/2015/08/11-billion-
next-gen-weather-satellite-launch-delayed/119311/ (accessed September
3, 2015).
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Polar satellites orbit completely around the Earth's poles
from about 500 miles above the Earth's surface, and travel 14
full orbits per day. Polar orbiting satellites provide a
detailed picture of the entire planet, and primarily assist in
medium- to long-range weather forecasts (i.e., 5 to 10 days
out). Polar-orbiting satellites provide a broad range of
environmental monitoring data, including global sea surface
temperature measurements, measurements of temperature and
humidity of the atmosphere, information about volcanic
eruptions, detection of forest fires, and analyses of global
vegetation cover.\11\ NOAA most recently launched a polar
orbiting satellite in 2011, the Suomi National Polar-orbiting
Partnership (SNPP). SNPP is the primary operational polar
orbiting satellite, though currently there are several legacy
polar satellites that can provide back up in the case of a
failure of SNPP. The next generation of polar orbiting
satellites is the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS), which
currently includes two satellites, JPSS-1 and
JPSS-2. JPSS-1 is scheduled to launch in early 2017. Because
the SNPP satellite's mission life only extends through 2016 and
its design life only extends through 2018, many are concerned
about a data gap before JPSS becomes operational. The JPSS
program received approximately $916 million in appropriations
during FY 2015. The budget request for FY 2016 is $809 million,
with an additional $380 million in funding requested for the
development of a follow on to JPSS-2 and to mitigate potential
data gaps among SNPP, JPSS-1, and JPSS-2.\12\
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\11\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, Joint Polar
Satellite System, available at http://www.jpss.noaa.gov/FactSheets/
JPSS_Overview.pdf (accessed May 14, 2015).
\12\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, FY2016 NOAA
Budget Summary, 2015, available at http://
www.corporateservices.noaa.gov/ nbo/fy16_bluebook/FY2016BudgetSummary-
web.pdf (accessed May 14, 2015).
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The Department of Commerce's Office of Inspector General
has identified NOAA's satellite programs as one of the top five
management challenges facing the Department in several recent
reports.\13\ Both the JPSS and GOES satellite programs face
risks of coverage gaps in the future due to cost overruns and
schedule delays. While NOAA has made some effort to address
these concerns, the rate of increase in satellite spending has
continued to exceed the increase in NOAA's topline budget.
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\13\Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, Top
Management Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce, Final Report
No. OIG-12-003, 2011, available at http://www.oig.doc.gov/
OIGPublications/TMC-FY12-OIG-12-003.pdf (accessed December 4, 2013).
Department of Commerce Office of Inspector General, Top Management
Challenges Facing the Department of Commerce, Final Report No. OIG-13-
003, 2012, available at http://www.oig.doc.gov/OIGPublications/TMC-
FY13-OIG-13-003.pdf (accessed December 4, 2013). Department of Commerce
Office of Inspector General, Top Management Challenges Facing the
Department of Commerce, Final Report No. OIG-14-002, 2013, available at
http://www.oig.doc.gov/OIGPublications/TMC-FY14-OIG-14-002.pdf
(accessed December 4, 2013).
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Seasonal Forecasts
A scientific challenge for the NWS and other NOAA
scientists is to improve subseasonal, seasonal, and interannual
predictions, which look at long-term forecasts for future
weeks, months, and years. These forecasts are important to
public and private decision-makers, such as farmers, insurance
firms, and water resource managers, but reliable long-term
forecasts have proved elusive. For example, seasonal
predictions of heavy snowstorms in 2014 could have prevented
the exhaustion of national supplies of road salt, which left
cities from Kansas to New Jersey scrambling to keep their roads
safe.\14\ In addition, NOAA's seasonal forecast for the 2013
Atlantic hurricane season overestimated the number of named
storms in the early part of the season.\15\
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\14\Frank Morris, ``Got Road Salt? Cities across the country are
running out of it,'' NPR, February 17, 2015, available at http://
www.npr.org/2014/02/17/275899324/got-road-salt-cities-across-the-
country-are-running-out-of-it (accessed April 15, 2015).
\15\Brian, McNoldy, ``What happened to hurricane season? And why we
should keep forecasting it...'' The Washington Post, September 30,
2013, available at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-
weather-gang/wp/2013/09/30/what-happened-to-hurricane-season-and-why-
we-should-keep-forecasting-it/ (accessed December 5, 2013).
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Improved predictions on these longer time-scales require
accurate observations and dynamic models that represent the
oceans and atmosphere.\16\ Though there is currently no perfect
model, improved forecasts have resulted from efforts that
average the results of multiple existing models. This effort
requires researchers to coordinate to ensure the output from
their various models is compatible.\17\ Additionally, an
interagency effort, the Earth System Prediction Capability,
seeks to coordinate existing forecast efforts on all time-
scales, from hourly to multi-year.\18\
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\16\National Research Council, Assessment of Intraseasonal to
Interannual Climate Prediction and Predictability, 2010, available at
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12878/assessment-of-intraseasonal-to-
interannual-climate-prediction-and-predictability (accessed May 14,
2015).
\17\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, North American
Multi-Model Ensemble (NMME), available at http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/
products/NMME/NMME_description.html (accessed May 14, 2015).
\18\National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, National Earth
System Prediction Capability, available at http://espc.oar.noaa.gov/
(accessed May 14, 2015).
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Summary of Provisions
S. 1331, the Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act, as
reported, would reauthorize and modify NOAA's Weather Research
Program in order to better focus NOAA's research to operations
program as well as increase the speed with which NOAA research
is operationalized. It also would enhance NOAA's satellite
governance and ensure the best value is sought in procuring
future satellites. In addition, S. 1331 would improve seasonal-
scale forecasts and the communication of these forecasts. It
would inform a strategy for NOAA's future weather observations
by first establishing a Weather Commission to solicit user
input to determine the highest priority products that NOAA
produces. The bill would then require a National Academy of
Sciences report to examine strategies to procure observations
utilizing the findings of the Weather Commission as well as the
2017 study entitled ``Earth Science and Applications from
Space.'' NOAA would be required to establish a National Water
Center and maintain the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project.
Finally, it also would require the Office of Science and
Technology Policy to establish a Federal Coordinator for
Meteorology.
Legislative History
On April 11, 2015, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate held a hearing entitled
``Weathering the Storm: How Can We Better Communicate Weather
to Enhance Commerce and Safety?''
S. 1331 was introduced by Senator Thune on May 13, 2015. It
was cosponsored by Senator Schatz. On May 20, 2015, the
Committee met in open Executive Session and, by a voice vote,
ordered a substitute version of S. 1331 reported favorably.
Amendments were offered by Senators Booker, Cantwell, Markey,
Nelson, Rubio, and Udall, all of which were adopted.
Estimated Costs
In accordance with paragraph 11(a) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate and section 403 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee provides the
following cost estimate, prepared by the Congressional Budget
Office:
S. 1331--Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act
Summary: S. 1331 would authorize appropriations totaling
$190 million over the 2016-2020 period for the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to expand and improve its
capabilities for seasonal weather forecasting. The bill also
would require NOAA to carry out various activities relating to
the collection, analysis, and dissemination of forecast data.
Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO
estimates that implementing the legislation would cost $172
million over the 2016-2020 period. Because enacting S. 1331
would not affect direct spending or revenues, pay-as-you-go
procedures do not apply.
S. 1331 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA)
and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal
governments.
Estimated Cost to the Federal Government: The estimated
budgetary impact of S. 1331 is shown in the following table.
The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300
(environment and natural resources).
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By fiscal year, in millions of dollars--
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2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2016-2020
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CHANGES IN SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION
Seasonal Forecasting Improvement:
Authorization Level................................. 27 27 27 27 27 133
Estimated Outlays................................... 18 23 26 27 27 120
Weather Research Program:
Authorization Level................................. 10 10 10 10 10 50
Estimated Outlays................................... 6 9 10 10 10 45
Other Activities:
Authorization Level................................. I 2 2 2 0 7
Estimated Outlays................................... I 2 2 2 * 7
Total Changes:
Authorization Level............................. 38 39 39 39 37 190
Estimated Outlays............................... 25 334 38 39 37 172
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Note: Components do not sum to totals because of rounding.
* = Less than $500,000.
Basis of Estimate: For this estimate, CBO assumes that the
legislation will be enacted late in 2015 and that the
authorized amounts will be appropriated for each fiscal year.
Estimated outlays are based on historical spending patterns for
NOAA's forecasting and research activities.
S. 1331 would authorize the appropriation of $26.5 million
a year through 2020 for NOAA to develop and disseminate
seasonal temperature and precipitation forecasts. Under the
bill, NOAA would create an Internet clearinghouse for seasonal
forecasts and would build upon existing forecasting programs
and partnerships with other institutions and agencies. The bill
also would authorize NOAA to award grants to states to receive
and distribute forecasts and related information. Assuming
appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that
carrying out those activities would cost $120 million over the
2016-2020 period.
The bill also would authorize the appropriation of $10
million a year through 2020 to create a weather research
program. The program would track, evaluate, and support ongoing
research projects conducted by the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research. Assuming appropriation of the authorized
amounts, CBO estimates that implementing this provision would
cost $45 million over the 2016-2020 period.
Finally, S. 1331 would authorize the appropriation of $1
million a year over the 2017-2019 period for NOAA to enter into
an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (or a
similar organization) to conduct a study of the scope and cost-
effectiveness of NOAA' s satellite systems. The bill also would
authorize the appropriation of $1 million a year through 2019
to establish a weather commission to advise the federal
government on weather forecasting. Assuming appropriations of
the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing these
provisions would cost $7 million over the 2016-2020 period.
Pay-As-You-Go Considerations: None.
Intergovernmental and Private-Sector impact: S. 1331
contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as
defined in UMRA and would impose no costs on state, local, or
tribal governments. Public entities, such as state and local
weather agencies and public universities, would benefit from
cooperative arrangements and federal grants authorized in the
bill. Any costs incurred by those entities, including matching
contributions, would be incurred voluntarily.
Estimate Prepared by: Federal costs: Ben Christopher and
Jeff LaFave; Impact on state, local, and tribal governments:
Jon Sperl; Impact on the private sector: Amy Petz.
Estimate approval by: Theresa Gullo, Assistant Director for
Budget Analysis.
Regulatory Impact
In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the
legislation, as reported:
number of persons covered
S. 1331 as reported would not create any new programs or
impose any new regulatory requirements, and therefore would not
subject any individuals or businesses to new regulations.
economic impact
Enactment of this legislation is not expected to have any
inflationary or adverse impact on the Nation's economy.
privacy
The bill would not impact the personal privacy of
individuals.
paperwork
S. 1331 would require reports from the Federal Government.
The Administrator of NOAA would provide to Congress reports on
seasonal forecasts, research to operations, urban weather, the
findings of the Weather Commission, and the impact of the Air
Force's divestiture in the United States Weather Research and
Forecasting Model. The Administrator also would be required to
provide an annual report on research to operations. It also
would require a report from the National Water Center and a
report from the National Academy of Sciences.
Congressionally Directed Spending
In compliance with paragraph 4(b) of rule XLIV of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides that no
provisions contained in the bill, as reported, meet the
definition of congressionally directed spending items under the
rule.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title.
This section would designate the short title of the bill as
the ``Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act.''
Section 2. Improving seasonal forecasts for agriculture and commerce.
This section would direct NOAA to create usable, reliable,
and timely seasonal forecasts, and determine the impact of
these forecasts on a variety of other weather conditions. In
producing these forecasts, NOAA would be required to leverage
existing research and resources; it is not the Committee's
intention that NOAA establishes new programs in order to
fulfill this section. NOAA has adequate established programs,
including existing programs at the regional level. Rather, NOAA
would focus on providing resources to existing programs,
coordinating existing activities, and better communicating
research and products. This section would require the forecasts
to be distributed to decision-makers at the Federal, regional,
State, tribal, and local levels of government; the private
sector; and the public. In its communication with the private
sector, NOAA would ensure it is reaching the entire weather
enterprise, including companies that provide business-to-
business weather forecasts and products. This section would
provide grants to States for establishing Forecast
Communication Coordinators in each State. Many States already
have personnel who are effectively serving in this role. It is
the Committee's intention that a State could use these funds to
better support their existing personnel. In administering the
grants, NOAA would not require States to make a new hire. NOAA
also would be required to develop a report on how seasonal
forecasts are currently used and goals for the further
development of forecasts and other related products. It is the
intention of the Committee that NOAA would focus on developing
predictions that have the highest likelihood of providing
accurate and usable information to the public.
Section 3. United States Weather Research Program.
This section would reauthorize the Weather Research
Program. It would require OAR to annually develop a list of its
five weather projects closest to operationalization and detail
the status of these projects and the plan for
operationalization of the projects. NOAA also would be required
to create a list of on-going research projects. In creating
such a list, NOAA need not detail every component of projects.
It is sufficient that NOAA list projects that have a total
budget of over $250,000. This section also would establish
teams from OAR and the NWS to oversee the operationalization of
such projects. This section would encourage collaboration and
coordination among OAR, the rest of NOAA, and relevant user
communities. OAR would be required to develop internal
mechanisms to ensure projects are progressing and meeting
goals. OAR also would be required to develop test beds.
Section 4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite
design and management.
The Committee has serious concerns that costs overruns and
schedule delays have not only jeopardized the continuity of
satellite observations, but NOAA itself. The Committee observes
that the soaring cost of satellite observations is impacting
NOAA's ocean and coastal management missions. This section
would direct NOAA to take actions to manage the expense of
environmental observations. NOAA would be allowed to purchase
satellite components in block buys, rather than individually
whenever possible. When assessing bids for satellite
components, NOAA also would have to consider the overall value
of the bid by assessing factors such as integration with
current systems, continuity, and consistency. NOAA would be
required to complete and operationalize its equatorial and
polar microsatellite constellation; annual update reports would
be required until NOAA completes this.
The Administrator of NOAA also would be required to include
data from the Integrated Ocean Observing System into
appropriate forecast models since ocean observations are
critical for accurately predicting weather on all time scales.
This section would require NOAA to identify degradation of
existing monitoring and observation infrastructure that could
lead to a reduction in forecast quality. For example, NOAA's
failure to properly maintain buoys in the equatorial Pacific
Ocean has hindered the agency's ability to provide El Nino
forecasts.
This section also would require future satellites to be
designed with an operational focus because NOAA has an
obligation to provide regular, reliable, robust observations
and accurate weather forecasts. However, less than half of the
instruments from NOAA's next generation polar orbiting
satellites will provide data for NWS weather models, and even
those instruments that are providing data will be at a higher
resolution than can be effectively utilized by NWS weather
models. This section would direct NOAA to enter into an
agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a
study on the future of NOAA satellite systems and, to the
extent possible, follow any recommendations in that study and
the report from the Weather Commission established in section
6. It is the Committee's hope that by actively engaging with
the broader weather community, NOAA would develop a plan for a
future satellite constellation that is more accurate, fiscally
sustainable, and less fragile.
Section 5. Designation of Federal Coordinator for Meteorology.
This section would require the Director of the Office of
Science and Technology to establish a Federal Coordinator for
Meteorology.
Section 6. Establishment of the Weather Commission.
This section would establish a weather commission, which
would provide a report on the highest priority weather forecast
needs from the user community perspective in order to inform
the National Academy of Sciences study mandated by section 4(b)
on environmental data needs. The original intent of the Weather
Commission was to encourage a robust dialogue by bringing
together all weather stakeholders, private and public, in an
open forum. Because of concerns raised by Federal agencies, the
bill was amended to remove all government participation in the
Weather Commission. It is the Committee's intention that the
category of operational forecasters include those involved in
providing business-to-business private commercial weather
forecasts. NOAA may include additional non-government members
on the Weather Commission that NOAA considers necessary. Such
additional members do not need to come from the categories
outlined in subsection (b)(1)(B). For example, NOAA could
include representatives from companies that provide ground-
based observations if the Administrator of NOAA considers that
viewpoint is needed.
Section 7. Weather impacts to communities and infrastructure.
This section would require the NWS to review the resources
it has to meet the specific needs of high density population
center end users and provide a plan for how any unmet research,
modeling, and forecasting needs can be addressed.
Section 8. Department of Defense weather forecasting activities.
This section would require NOAA to provide to Congress a
report on the impacts of the proposed Air Force divestiture in
the United States Weather Research and Forecasting Model.
Section 9. National Weather Service; operations and workforce analysis.
This section would require the NWS to conduct a baseline
analysis of the NWS operations and workforce.
Section 10. Water resources.
This section would formally establish a National Water
Center. The National Water Center may facilitate collaboration
across the Federal and State governments, make recommendations
to improve water resource management, improve water resource
forecasts, and facilitate the transition of water research into
applications. NOAA, acting through the National Water Center,
would improve operational water resource prediction products
and collaborate with, and provide decision-support to, relevant
Federal and State agencies with respect to total water
predictions. The intention of this section is to codify
existing activities rather than establishing a new program: the
activities of the National Water Center described in this
section are consistent with ongoing activities. This section
would require the National Water Center to submit to the
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works a report on
total water predictive capabilities and products and how these
capabilities and products would be used in the management of
civil work projects, including the Central and Southern Florida
Project and any project in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint
River System.
Section 11. Hurricane Forecast Improvement Project.
This section would require NOAA to maintain a project to
improve hurricane forecasting. The goals of the project would
be to develop and extend accurate hurricane forecasts and
warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to
the economy. NOAA also would be required to develop a plan to
meet the goals of this section.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
material is printed in italic, existing law in which no change
is proposed is shown in roman):
FOOD SECURITY ACT OF 1985
[Public Law 99--198]
SEC. 1762. WEATHER AND CLIMATE INFORMATION IN AGRICULTURE.
[15 U.S.C. 313 note]
[(a)] (a) Findings._ Congress finds that--
(1) agricultural and silvicultural operations are
vulnerable to damage from atmospheric conditions that
accurate and timely reporting of weather information
can help prevent;
(2) the maintenance of current weather and climate
analysis and information dissemination systems, and
Federal, State, and private efforts to improve these
systems, is essential if agriculture and silviculture
are to mitigate damage from atmospheric conditions;
(3) agricultural and silvicultural weather services
at the Federal level should be maintained with joint
planning between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and the Department of Agriculture; and
(4) efforts should be made, involving user groups,
weather and climate information providers, and Federal
and State governments, to expand the use of weather and
climate information in agriculture and silviculture.
[(b)] (b) Policy._ It, therefore, is declared to be the
policy of Congress that it is in the public interest to
maintain an active Federal involvement in providing
agricultural and silvicultural weather and climate information
and that efforts should be made, among users of this
information and among private providers of this information, to
improve use of this information.
(c) Functions.--The Under Secretary, through the National
Weather Service and other appropriate programs in the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall--
(1) collect and utilize information in order to make
usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of seasonal
temperature and precipitation;
(2) leverage existing research and models from the
academic sector to improve the forecasts under
paragraph (1);
(3) determine and provide information on how the
forecasted conditions under paragraph (1) may impact--
(A) the number and severity of droughts,
fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods,
heatwaves, coastal inundation, winter storms,
high impact weather, or other relevant natural
disasters;
(B) snowpack; and
(C) sea ice conditions;
(4) provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) and the
information under paragraphs (1) and (3) on both
national and regional levels; and
(5) develop an Internet clearinghouse with the
forecasts of seasonal temperature and precipitation and
other relevant seasonal forecasts and products produced
by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
other Federal and State departments and agencies, and
the academic sector.
(d) Communication.--The Under Secretary shall provide the
forecasts and the information on their impacts under subsection
(c) to the public, including public and private entities
engaged in planning and preparedness, including--
(1) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, State,
tribal, and local levels of government;
(2) the private sector; and
(3) the public.
(e) Cooperation.--The Under Secretary shall build upon
existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships,
including--
(1) by designating research and monitoring activities
related to seasonal forecasts as a priority in 1 or
more Cooperative Institute solicitations;
(2) by contributing to the interagency Earth System
Prediction Capability; and
(3) by consulting with the Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine the
highest priority seasonal forecast needs to enhance
national security.
(f) Forecast Communication Coordinators.--
(1) In general.--The Under Secretary shall provide
grants to States, including territories, for each State
to have a forecast communication coordinator to receive
and disseminate the forecasts and information under
subsection (c). Applications for grants under this
subsection shall be submitted in such form and manner,
and contain such information, as the Under Secretary
prescribes.
(2) Requirements.--For each State that requests
assistance under this subsection, the Under Secretary
shall--
(A) provide funds to support an individual in
that State to--
(i) serve as a liaison among the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, other Federal
departments and agencies, the academic
sector, the State, and relevant
interests within that State; and
(ii) receive the forecasts and
information under subsection (c) and
disseminate the forecasts and
information throughout the State,
including county and tribal
governments;
(B) provide 1 grant for the purpose described
in paragraph (1); and
(C) require matching funds from the State, a
university, a non-governmental organization,
trade association, or the private sector.
(3) Limitation.--Each grant under this subsection
shall not exceed $100,000.
(g) Cooperation From Other Federal Agencies.--Each Federal
department and agency shall cooperate as appropriate with the
Under Secretary in carrying out this section.
(h) Reports.--
(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the
date of enactment of the Seasonal Forecasting
Improvement Act, the Under Secretary shall transmit to
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives a report,
including--
(A) an analysis of the how information from
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration on seasonal forecasts, as
provided under subsection (c), is utilized in
public planning and preparedness;
(B) specific plans and goals for the
continued development of the seasonal forecasts
and related products described in subsection
(c); and
(C) an identification of research,
monitoring, observing, and forecasting
requirements to meet the goals described in
subparagraph (B).
(2) Consultation.--In developing the report under
paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall consult with
relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local
government agencies, research institutions, and the
private sector.
(i) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to carry out this section $26,500,000 for each
of fiscal years 2015 through 2020.
(j) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Seasonal.--The term ``seasonal'' means the time
range between 2 weeks and 2 years.
(2) Under secretary.--The term ``Under Secretary''
means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere.
NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT OF
1992
[Public Law 102--567]
SEC. 108. UNITED STATES WEATHER RESEARCH PROGRAM.
[15 U.S.C. 313 note]
(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation
with the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering,
and Technology through the Committee on Earth and Environmental
Sciences, shall establish a United States Weather Research
Program to--
(1) increase benefits to the Nation from the
substantial investment in modernizing the public
weather warning and forecast system in the United
States;
(2) improve local and regional weather forecasts and
warnings;
(3) address critical weather-related scientific
issues[; and];
(4) coordinate governmental, university, and private-
sector efforts[.];
(5) provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives an annual report, including--
(A) a list of on-going research projects,
including project goals and a point of contact
for each project; and
(B) the 5 projects related to observations,
weather, or seasonal-scale forecasts within the
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research that
are closest to operationalization, including
for each project--
(i) the potential benefit;
(ii) any barrier to
operationalization; and
(iii) the plan for
operationalization, including which
line office will financially support
the project and how much the line
office intends to spend;
(6) establish teams with staff from the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National
Weather Service to oversee the operationalization of
research products developed by the Office of Oceanic
and Atmospheric Research within the National Weather
Service;
(7) develop mechanisms for the Office of Oceanic and
Atmospheric Research's research priorities to be
informed by both the relevant line offices within the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
relevant user community, and the weather enterprise,
including by exchanging detailees between the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the line offices;
(8) develop an internal mechanism to track the
progress of each research project within the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and mechanisms to
terminate a project that is not adequately progressing;
(9) for extramural research funded, the Office of
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall develop and
implement a system to track whether the grant's goals
were accomplished;
(10) provide facilities for products developed by the
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be tested
in operational simulations, such as test beds; and
(11) encourage academic collaboration with the Office
of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National
Weather Service by facilitating visiting scholars.
(b) Implementation Plan.--[Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the] The Secretary of Commerce,
in cooperation with the Committee on Earth and Environmental
Sciences, shall prepare and submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of
Representatives a plan for implementation of the United States
Weather Research Program which shall --
(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in
the year the plan is submitted, the goals and
priorities for Federal weather research which most
effectively advance the scientific understanding of
weather processes and provide information to improve
weather warning and forecast systems in the United
States;
(2) describe specific activities, including research
activities, data collection and data analysis
requirements, predictive modeling, participation in
international research efforts, demonstration of
potential operational forecast applications, and
education and training required to achieve such goals
and priorities; and
(3) set forth the role of each Federal agency and
department to be involved in the United States Weather
Research Program, identifying and addressing, as
appropriate, relevant programs and activities of the
Federal agencies and departments that would contribute
to such Program.