[House Report 119-291]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
119th Congress } { Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
1st Session } { 119-291
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TO AMEND THE JOHN D. DINGELL, JR. CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT,
AND RECREATION ACT TO REAUTHORIZE THE NATIONAL VOLCANO
EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING SYSTEM
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September 15, 2025.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on
the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Westerman, from the Committee on Natural Resources,
submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 3176]
The Committee on Natural Resources, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 3176) to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr.
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the
National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, having
considered the same, reports favorably thereon without
amendment and recommends that the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Legislation
The purpose of H.R. 3176 is to amend the John D. Dingell,
Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize
the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System.
Background and Need for Legislation
The United States currently has about 170 young volcanoes,
and roughly half of those pose a threat due to their proximity
to communities and the intensity of their eruptions.\1\ Many of
these volcanoes are not adequately monitored, and others have
no monitoring equipment at all.\2\
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\1\U.S. Geological Survey, ``National Volcano Early Warning
System--monitoring volcanoes according to their threat,'' https://
www.usgs.gov/programs/VHP/national-volcano-early-warning-
system-monitoring-volcanoes-according-their-threat.
\2\Id.
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The National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System
(NVEWS)\3\ was established in 2019 through the John D. Dingell,
Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act.\4\ This
program was new in 2019 and falls under the Volcano Hazards
Program (VHP) which has existed since 1980 and is also
administered by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).\5\
Congress authorized appropriations of $55 million for NVEWS
from fiscal year (FY) 2019 through FY 2023. In FY 2022,
Congress appropriated an additional $2.2 million for NVEWS
implementation and $1.8 million for the Mount Rainier lahar
detection system out of the $33.3 million appropriated to the
VHP.\6\ The authorization for NVEWS expired at the end of FY
2023, but its programs have continued to operate as a part of
VHP.
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\3\43 U.S.C. 31k.
\4\P.L. 116-9.
\5\U.S. Geological Survey, ``California Roots of the USGS volcano
Hazards Program,'' April 6, 2022, https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/
calvo/news/california-roots-usgs-volcano-hazards-
program.
\6\Rowan, Linda R., The National Volcano Early Warning System,
Congressional Research Service, July 29, 2025, https://
www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11987.
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The goal of NVEWS is to monitor the most active and
hazardous volcanoes to give ample time to evacuate the
communities in the surrounding area of the volcano.\7\ Hawaii
is the most at-risk state, as the islands themselves are active
volcanoes, so the nearby cities must be prepared for potential
eruptions. Additionally, Alaska has the most volcanoes of any
state, at over 130 volcanoes and volcanic fields, more than 50
of which have been active in the last 300 years.\8\
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\7\Id.
\8\U.S. Geological Survey, ``Where can I find information about
volcanoes in Alaska?'' https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/where-can-i-find-
information-about-volcanoes-alaska.
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H.R. 3176, sponsored by Representative Nicholas Begich (R-
AK), reauthorizes NVEWS at current levels through FY 2030.
Committee Action
H.R. 3176 was introduced on May 5, 2025, by Representative
Nicholas Begich (R-AK). The bill was referred to the Committee
on Natural Resources, and within the Committee to the
Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources. On May 20, 2025,
the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a hearing
on the bill. On June 25, 2025, the Committee on Natural
Resources met to consider the bill. The Subcommittee on Energy
and Mineral Resources was discharged from further consideration
of H.R. 3176 by unanimous consent. The bill was ordered
favorably reported to the House of Representatives by unanimous
consent.
Hearings
For the purposes of clause 3(c)(6) of House rule XIII, the
following hearing was used to develop or consider this measure:
hearing by the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
held on May 20, 2025.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System
reauthorization
Section 1 reauthorizes the National Volcano Early Warning
and Monitoring System at current funding levels through FY
2030.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
Regarding clause 2(b)(1) of rule X and clause 3(c)(1) of
rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the
Committee on Natural Resources' oversight findings and
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.
Compliance With House Rule XIII and Congressional
Budget Act
1. Cost of Legislation and the Congressional Budget Act.
Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of House rule XIII and section
308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, and pursuant to
clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII and section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has requested
but not received from the Director of the Congressional Budget
Office a budgetary analysis and a cost estimate of this bill.
2. General Performance Goals and Objectives. As required by
clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII, the general performance goal or
objective of this bill is to amend the John D. Dingell, Jr.
Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the
National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System.
Earmark Statement
This bill does not contain any Congressional earmarks,
limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined
under clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of
the House of Representatives.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act Statement
An estimate of federal mandates prepared by the Director of
the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act was not made available to the
Committee in time for the filing of this report. The Chair of
the Committee shall cause such estimate to be printed in the
Congressional Record upon its receipt by the Committee, if such
estimate is not publicly available on the Congressional Budget
Office website.
Existing Programs
Directed Rule Making. This bill does not contain any
directed rule makings.
Duplication of Existing Programs. This bill does not
establish or reauthorize a program of the federal government
known to be duplicative of another program. Such program was
not included in any report from the Government Accountability
Office to Congress pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139
or identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance published pursuant to the Federal Program
Information Act (Public Law 95-220, as amended by Public Law
98-169) as relating to other programs.
Applicability to Legislative Branch
The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to
the terms and conditions of employment or access to public
services or accommodations within the meaning of section
102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act.
Preemption of State, Local or Tribal Law
Any preemptive effect of this bill over state, local, or
tribal law is intended to be consistent with the bill's
purposes and text and the Supremacy Clause of Article VI of the
U.S. Constitution.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported
In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, 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
matter is printed in italics, and existing law in which no
change is proposed is shown in roman):
JOHN D. DINGELL, JR. CONSERVATION, MANAGEMENT,
AND RECREATION ACT
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TITLE V--HAZARDS AND MAPPING
SEC. 5001. NATIONAL VOLCANO EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING SYSTEM.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the
Secretary, acting through the Director of the United
States Geological Survey.
(2) Secretary of commerce.--The term ``Secretary of
Commerce'' means the Secretary of Commerce, acting
through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere.
(3) System.--The term ``System'' means the National
Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System established
under subsection (b)(1)(A).
(4) Volcanic ash advisory center.--The term
``Volcanic Ash Advisory Center'' means an entity
designated by the International Civil Aviation
Organization that is responsible for informing aviation
interests about the presence of volcanic ash in the
airspace.
(b) National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System.--
(1) Establishment.--
(A) In general.--The Secretary shall
establish within the United States Geological
Survey a system, to be known as the ``National
Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System'',
to monitor, warn, and protect citizens of the
United States from undue and avoidable harm
from volcanic activity.
(B) Purposes.--The purposes of the System
are--
(i) to organize, modernize,
standardize, and stabilize the
monitoring systems of the volcano
observatories in the United States,
which includes the Alaska Volcano
Observatory, California Volcano
Observatory, Cascades Volcano
Observatory, Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory, and Yellowstone Volcano
Observatory;
(ii) to unify the monitoring systems
of volcano observatories in the United
States into a single interoperative
system; and
(iii) to strengthen the warning and
monitoring systems of volcano
observatories in the United States by
integrating relevant capacities of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, including with the
Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers located
in Anchorage, Alaska, and Washington,
D.C., to observe and model emissions of
gases, aerosols, and ash, atmospheric
dynamics and chemistry, and ocean
chemistry resulting from volcanic
eruptions.
(C) Objective.--The objective of the System
is to monitor all the volcanoes in the United
States at a level commensurate with the threat
posed by the volcanoes by--
(i) upgrading existing networks on
monitored volcanoes;
(ii) installing new networks on
unmonitored volcanoes; and
(iii) employing geodetic and other
components when applicable.
(2) System components.--
(A) In general.--The System shall include--
(i) a national volcano watch office
that is operational 24 hours a day and
7 days a week;
(ii) a national volcano data center;
and
(iii) an external grants program to
support research in volcano monitoring
science and technology.
(B) Modernization activities.--Modernization
activities under the System shall include the
comprehensive application of emerging
technologies, including digital broadband
seismometers, real-time continuous Global
Positioning System receivers, satellite and
airborne radar interferometry, acoustic
pressure sensors, spectrometry to measure gas
emissions, and unoccupied aerial vehicles.
(C) Memorandum of understanding.--The
Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall
develop and execute a memorandum of
understanding to establish cooperative support
for the activities of the System from the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, including environmental
observations, modeling, and temporary duty
assignments of personnel to support emergency
activities, as necessary or appropriate.
(3) Management.--
(A) Management plan.--
(i) In general.--Not later than 180
days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to
Congress a 5-year management plan for
establishing and operating the System.
(ii) Inclusions.--The management plan
submitted under clause (i) shall
include--
(I) annual cost estimates for
modernization activities and
operation of the System;
(II) annual milestones,
standards, and performance
goals; and
(III) recommendations for,
and progress towards,
establishing new, or enhancing
existing, partnerships to
leverage resources.
(iii) Update.--
(I) National oceanic and
atmospheric administration cost
estimates.--The Secretary of
Commerce shall submit to the
Secretary annual cost estimates
for modernization activities
and support of the System for
the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration.
(II) Update of management
plan.--The Secretary shall
update the management plan
submitted under clause (i) to
include the cost estimates
submitted under subclause (I).
(B) Advisory committee.--The Secretary shall
establish an advisory committee to assist the
Secretary in implementing the System, to be
comprised of representatives of relevant
agencies and members of the scientific
community, to be appointed by the Secretary.
(C) Partnerships.--The Secretary may enter
into cooperative agreements with institutions
of higher education and State agencies
designating the institutions of higher
education and State agencies as volcano
observatory partners for the System.
(D) Coordination.--The Secretary shall
coordinate the activities under this section
with the heads of relevant Federal agencies,
including--
(i) the Secretary of Transportation;
(ii) the Administrator of the Federal
Aviation Administration;
(iii) the Administrator of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; and
(iv) the Administrator of the Federal
Emergency Management Agency.
(E) Collaboration.--The Secretary of Commerce
shall collaborate with the Secretary to
implement activities carried out under this
section related to the expertise of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, including observations and
modeling of emissions of gases, aerosols, and
ash, atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, and
ocean chemistry resulting from volcanic
eruptions.
(4) Annual report.--Annually, the Secretary shall
submit to Congress a report that describes the
activities carried out under this section.
(c) Funding.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations, united states
geological survey.--There is authorized to be
appropriated to the [United States Geological Survey]
Secretary to carry out this section $55,000,000 for the
period of fiscal years [2019 through 2023] 2026 through
2030.
(2) Authorization of appropriations, national oceanic
and atmospheric administration.--There is authorized to
be appropriated to the [National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration] Secretary of Commerce to
carry out this section such sums as may be necessary
for the period of fiscal years [2023 through 2024] 2026
through 2030.
(3) Effect on other sources of federal funding.--
Amounts made available under this subsection shall
supplement, and not supplant, Federal funds made
available for other hazards activities and programs of
the United States Geological Survey and the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
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