[105th Congress Public Law 47]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ47.105]
[[Page 111 STAT. 1159]]
Public Law 105-47
105th Congress
An Act
<<NOTE: Oct. 1, 1997 - [S. 910]>> 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
[[Page 111 STAT. 1160]]
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''.
<<NOTE: 42 USC 7704 note.>> 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
[[Page 111 STAT. 1161]]
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.--
[[Page 111 STAT. 1162]]
(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.''.
[[Page 111 STAT. 1163]]
(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.''.
[[Page 111 STAT. 1164]]
SEC. 4. REPEALS.
Sections 6 and 7 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42
U.S.C. 7705 and 7705a) are repealed.
Approved October 1, 1997.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 910 (H.R. 2249):
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-238, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Science) accompanying H.R.
2249.
SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-59 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 143 (1997):
July 31, considered and passed Senate.
Sept. 16, considered and passed House.
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