43 U.S.C. § 31k — National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System

submitted 7 years ago by Pub. L. 116-9 to r/title-43-PUBLIC-LANDS · 940 words · no verdicts yet

in plain englishAI-generated · not legal advice

This law creates the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System inside the U.S. Geological Survey. The system links up the country's volcano observatories, watches every volcano, and warns people before eruptions cause harm. Congress set aside money for the Survey and for NOAA to run it through 2024.

(a) Definitions. "Secretary" means the head of the Interior Department, acting through the Geological Survey's Director. "Secretary of Commerce" means the Commerce Secretary, acting through the head of NOAA's ocean and atmosphere office. "System" means the warning system this law creates. A "Volcanic Ash Advisory Center" is an office the International Civil Aviation Organization puts in charge of telling airlines when volcanic ash is in the sky. (b) The System. (1) Establishment. The Secretary must build the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System inside the Geological Survey. Its purpose is to monitor volcanoes, warn people, and protect Americans from harm. It should organize and standardize the existing volcano observatories — in Alaska, California, the Cascades, Hawaii, and Yellowstone — into one connected system. It should also work with NOAA and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers in Anchorage and Washington, D.C., to track gases, ash, and other effects of eruptions. The goal is to watch every U.S. volcano at a level that matches how dangerous it is, by upgrading equipment on watched volcanoes, adding equipment to unwatched ones, and using tools like ground-movement sensors where they help. (2) Components. The System must include a volcano watch office open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; a national data center; and a grants program that funds outside research. Modernizing the System means using new technology — digital seismometers, real-time GPS, radar from satellites and planes, sound-pressure sensors, gas-measuring instruments, and drones. The Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce must sign an agreement so NOAA can support the System, including sending staff during emergencies. (3) Management. Within 180 days of March 12, 2019, the Secretary had to give Congress a 5-year plan covering yearly costs, goals, and partnership plans. The Secretary of Commerce must send yearly NOAA cost estimates, which the Secretary then folds into the plan. The Secretary must set up an advisory committee of agency and scientific experts. The Secretary may partner with universities and state agencies as volcano observatory partners. The Secretary must coordinate with the Secretaries of Transportation, the FAA, NOAA, and FEMA. The Secretary of Commerce must work with the Secretary on the parts of this System that use NOAA's expertise. (4) Annual report. The Secretary must report to Congress each year on what the System has done. (c) Funding. Congress authorized $55,000,000 for the Geological Survey for fiscal years 2019 through 2023, and whatever amount is necessary for NOAA for fiscal years 2023 through 2024. This money must add to existing hazard funding, not replace it.

the actual law source: uscode.house.gov ↗public domain

(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.

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.

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 March 12, 2019, 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.

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.

(1) Authorization of appropriations, United States Geological Survey

There is authorized to be appropriated to the United States Geological Survey to carry out this section $55,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2019 through 2023.

(2) Authorization of appropriations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal years 2023 through 2024.

(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.

Source credit: (Pub. L. 116–9, title V, § 5001, Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 766; Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title CV, § 10501(a)–(e), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3993, 3994.)

history & why it existsrecord from the source credit

2019Enacted · Pub. L. 116-9 · 133 Stat. 766
2022Amended · Pub. L. 117-263 · 136 Stat. 3993, 3994

A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 116-9 on 2019-03-12.

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