[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 3053 Reported in Senate (RS)]
<DOC>
Calendar No. 596
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3053
To amend the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to
require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to develop a plan and national guidance document to
improve precipitation estimates, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
October 21, 2021
Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Wicker) introduced the following bill;
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation
December 7, 2022
Reported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed
in italic]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to
require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to develop a plan and national guidance document to
improve precipitation estimates, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>
<DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Providing Research and
Estimates of Changes In Precipitation Act'' or the ``PRECIP
Act''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING
INNOVATION ACT OF 2017 TO IMPROVE FEDERAL PRECIPITATION
INFORMATION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (a) In General.--The Weather Research and Forecasting
Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``TITLE VI--IMPROVEMENT OF FEDERAL PRECIPITATION
INFORMATION</DELETED>
<DELETED>``SEC. 601. STUDY ON PRECIPITATION ESTIMATION.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date
of the enactment of the PRECIP Act, the Administrator, in consultation
with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall seek to enter an
agreement with the National Academies under which the National
Academies shall--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) conduct a study on the state of practice and
research needs for precipitation estimation, including probable
maximum precipitation estimation; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) not later than 2 years after the date on
which such agreement is finalized--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) 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 report on the results of the
study conducted under paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) make the report submitted under
subparagraph (A) publicly available on a
website.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(b) Report on Study.--The report submitted under
subsection (a)(2)(A) shall include the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) An examination of the current state of
practice for precipitation estimation at scales appropriate for
the needs of decisionmakers, and rationale for further
evolution of that field.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) An evaluation of best practices for
precipitation estimation that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) are based on the best available
science, including assumptions of non-stationarity;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) can be utilized by the user
community.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) A framework for--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(A) the development of a national
guidance document for estimating extreme precipitation;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(B) evaluation of the strengths and
challenges of the full spectrum of approaches for such
estimation, including for probable maximum
precipitation studies.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) A description of existing research needs in
the field of precipitation estimation in order to modernize
current methodologies and incorporate the best available
science.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) A description of in-situ, airborne, and
space-based observation requirements that could enhance
precipitation estimation and development of models, including
an examination of the use of geographic information systems and
geospatial technology for integration, analysis, and
visualization of precipitation data.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(6) A recommended plan for a Federal research
and development program, including specifications for costs,
timeframes, and responsible agencies for addressing identified
research needs.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(7) An analysis of the respective roles in
precipitation estimation of various Federal agencies, academia,
State, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and other
public and private stakeholders.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(8) Recommendations for data management to
promote long-term needs such as enabling retrospective analyses
and data discoverability, interoperability, and
reuse.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(9) Recommendations for how data and services
from the entire enterprise can be best leveraged by the Federal
Government.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(10) Such other topics as the Administrator or
the National Academies consider appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration $1,500,000 to carry out the study under this
section.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``SEC. 602. IMPROVING PROBABLE MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION
ESTIMATES.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date
on which the National Academies makes publicly available the report
under section 601, the Administrator, shall, in consideration of the
recommendations included in the report and in consultation with
relevant partners, including users of the data, develop a plan to--
</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) not later than 6 years after the completion
of the report submitted under section 601 and not less
frequently than once every 10 years thereafter, update probable
maximum precipitation estimates for the United States, such
that each update includes estimates that incorporate
assumptions of non-stationarity;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) coordinate with partners to conduct research
in the field of extreme precipitation estimation, in accordance
with the research needs identified in the report submitted
under section 601;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) make publicly available, in a searchable,
interoperable format, all probable maximum precipitation
studies developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration that the Administrator has the legal right to
redistribute and considers to be at an appropriate state of
development on an internet website of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) ensure all probable maximum precipitation
estimate data, products, and supporting documentation and
metadata developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration are preserved, curated, and served by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as
appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(b) National Guidance Document for the Development of
Probable Maximum Precipitation Estimates.--The Administrator, in
collaboration with Federal agencies, State, territorial, tribal and
local governments, academia, and other partners the Administrator
considers appropriate, shall develop a national guidance document
that--</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) provides best practices that can be followed
by Federal and State regulatory agencies, private
meteorological consultants, and other users that perform
probable maximum precipitation studies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) considers the recommendations included in
the report submitted under section 601;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) facilitates review of probable maximum
precipitation studies by regulatory agencies;</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) provides confidence in regional and site-
specific probable maximum precipitation estimates;
and</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) includes such other topics as the
Administrator considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(c) Publication.--Not later than 2 years after the date
on which the National Academies makes publicly available the report
under section 601, the Administrator shall make publicly available the
national guidance document developed under subsection (b) on an
internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(d) Updates.--The Administrator shall update the
national guidance document developed under subsection (b) not less
frequently than once every 10 years after the publication of the
document under subsection (c) and make such updates publicly available
in accordance with such subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to carry out this section amounts as follows:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(4) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(5) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(6) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.</DELETED>
<DELETED>``SEC. 603. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``In this title:</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator'
means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere
and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(2) National academies.--The term `National
Academies' means the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering, and Medicine.</DELETED>
<DELETED> ``(3) United states.--The term `United States'
means, collectively, each State of the United States, the
District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American
Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,
the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other
territory or possession of the United States.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED> (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in
section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 91) is amended by adding at the end
the following:</DELETED>
<DELETED>``TITLE VI--IMPROVEMENT OF FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION
<DELETED>``Sec. 601. Study on precipitation estimation.
<DELETED>``Sec. 602. Improving probable maximum precipitation
estimates.
<DELETED>``Sec. 603. Definitions.''.
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Providing Research and Estimates of
Changes In Precipitation Act'' or the ``PRECIP Act''.
SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION
ACT OF 2017 RELATING TO IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION
INFORMATION.
(a) In General.--The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation
Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end
the following:
``TITLE VI--IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION
``SEC. 601. STUDY ON PRECIPITATION ESTIMATION.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of the PRECIP Act, the Administrator, in consultation with
other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall seek to enter an agreement
with the National Academies--
``(1) to conduct a study on the state of practice and
research needs for precipitation estimation, including probable
maximum precipitation estimation; and
``(2) to submit, not later than 24 months after the date on
which such agreement is finalized, to the Committee on Science,
Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the
Senate, and make publicly available on a website, a report on
the results of the study under paragraph (1).
``(b) Study.--The report under subsection (a) shall include the
following:
``(1) An examination of the current state of practice for
precipitation estimation at scales appropriate for
decisionmaker needs, and rationale for further evolution of
this field.
``(2) An evaluation of best practices for precipitation
estimation that are based on the best-available science,
include considerations of non-stationarity, and can be utilized
by the user community.
``(3) A framework for--
``(A) the development of a National Guidance
Document for estimating extreme precipitation in future
conditions; and
``(B) evaluation of the strengths and challenges of
the full spectrum of approaches, including for probable
maximum precipitation studies.
``(4) A description of existing research needs in the field
of precipitation estimation in order to modernize current
methodologies and consider non-stationarity.
``(5) A description of in-situ, airborne, and space-based
observation requirements, that could enhance precipitation
estimation and development of models, including an examination
of the use of geographic information systems and geospatial
technology for integration, analysis, and visualization of
precipitation data.
``(6) A recommended plan for a Federal research and
development program, including specifications for costs,
timeframes, and responsible agencies for addressing identified
research needs.
``(7) An analysis of the respective roles in precipitation
estimation of various Federal agencies, academia, State,
tribal, territorial, and local governments, and other public
and private stakeholders.
``(8) Recommendations for data management to promote long-
term needs such as enabling retrospective analyses and data
discoverability, interoperability, and reuse.
``(9) Recommendations for how data and services from the
entire enterprise can be best leveraged by the Federal
Government.
``(10) A description of non-Federal precipitation data, its
accessibility by the Federal Government, and ways for National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve or expand
such datasets.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized
$1,500,000 to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to
carry out this study.
``SEC. 602. IMPROVING PROBABLE MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES.
``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which
the National Academies makes public the report under section 601, the
Administrator, in consideration of the report recommendations, shall
consult with relevant partners, including users of the data, on the
development of a plan to--
``(1) not later than 6 years after the completion of such
report and not less than every 10 years thereafter, update
probable maximum precipitation estimates for the United States,
such that each update considers non-stationarity;
``(2) coordinate with partners to conduct research in the
field of extreme precipitation estimation, in accordance with
the research needs identified in such report;
``(3) make publicly available, in a searchable,
interoperable format, all probable maximum precipitation
studies developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration that the Administrator has the legal right to
redistribute and deemed to be at an appropriate state of
development on an internet website of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; and
``(4) ensure all probable maximum precipitation estimate
data, products, and supporting documentation and metadata
developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration are preserved, curated, and served by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as
appropriate.
``(b) National Guidance Document for the Development of Probable
Maximum Precipitation Estimates.--The Administrator, in collaboration
with Federal agencies, State, territorial, Tribal and local
governments, academia, and other partners the Administrator deems
appropriate, shall develop a National Guidance Document that--
``(1) provides best practices that can be followed by
Federal and State regulatory agencies, private meteorological
consultants, and other users that perform probable maximum
precipitation studies;
``(2) considers the recommendations provided in the
National Academies study under section 601;
``(3) facilitates review of probable maximum precipitation
studies by regulatory agencies; and
``(4) provides confidence in regional and site-specific
probable maximum precipitation estimates.
``(c) Publication.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which
the National Academies makes public the report under section 601, the
Administrator shall make publicly available the National Guidance
Document under subsection (b) on an internet website of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
``(d) Updates.--The Administrator shall update the National
Guidance Document not less than once every 10 years after the
publication of the National Guidance Document under subsection (c) and
publish such updates in accordance with such subsection.
``(e) Funding.--Amounts available to carry out this section shall
be derived from existing funds otherwise appropriated to the
Administrator.
``SEC. 603. DEFINITIONS.
`` In this title:
``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the
Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and
Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
``(2) National academies.--The term `National Academies'
means the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and
Medicine.
``(3) United states.--The term `United States' means,
collectively, each State of the United States, the District of
Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa,
Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the
Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or
possession of the United States.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 note) is amended in
the table of contents by adding at the end the following:
``TITLE VI--IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION
``Sec. 601. Study on precipitation estimation.
``Sec. 602. Improving probable maximum precipitation estimates.
``Sec. 603. Definitions.''.
Calendar No. 596
117th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 3053
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to
require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration to develop a plan and national guidance document to
improve precipitation estimates, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
December 7, 2022
Reported with an amendment