15 USC 8521 - Weather and climate information in agriculture

View all text of Subchapter I [§ 8511 - § 8521]

§ 8521. Weather and climate information in agriculture

(a) FindingsCongress 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) Policy

(c) FunctionsThe Under Secretary, acting through the Director of the National Weather Service and the heads of such other programs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration as the Under Secretary considers appropriate, shall—

(1) collect and utilize information in order to make usable, reliable, and timely foundational forecasts of subseasonal and seasonal temperature and precipitation;

(2) leverage existing research and models from the weather enterprise 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, heat waves, coastal inundation, winter storms, high impact weather, or other relevant natural disasters;

(B) snowpack; and

(4) develop an Internet clearinghouse to provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) and the information under paragraphs (1) and (3) on both national and regional levels.

(d) Communication

(e) CooperationThe Under Secretary shall build upon existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including—

(1) by designating research and monitoring activities related to subseasonal and seasonal forecasts as a priority in one or more solicitations of the Cooperative Institutes of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research;

(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 subseasonal and seasonal forecast needs to enhance national security.

(f) Forecast communication coordinators

(1) In general

(2) RequirementsFor each State that requests assistance under this subsection, the Under Secretary may—

(A) provide funds to support an individual in that State—

(i) to serve as a liaison among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal departments and agencies, the weather enterprise, the State, and relevant interests within that State; and

(ii) to receive the forecasts and information under subsection (c) and disseminate the forecasts and information throughout the State, including to county and tribal governments; and

(B) require matching funds of at least 50 percent, from the State, a university, a nongovernmental organization, a trade association, or the private sector.

(3) Limitation

(g) Cooperation from other Federal agencies

(h) Reports

(1) In generalNot later than 18 months after April 18, 2017, the Under Secretary shall 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, including—

(A) an analysis of the 1

1 So in original. The word “the” probably should not appear.

how information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on subseasonal and 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 subseasonal and 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

(i) DefinitionsIn this section:

(1) Foundational forecast

(2) National Weather Service core partners

(3) Seasonal

(4) State

(5) Subseasonal

(6) Under Secretary

(7) Weather industry and weather enterprise

(j) Authorization of appropriationsThere are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the activities under this section—

(1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;

(2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;

(3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2021;

(4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and

(5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.

(k) Derivation of funds

(Pub. L. 99–198, title XVII, § 1762, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1651; Pub. L. 115–25, title II, § 201, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 98; Pub. L. 115–423, § 3(a), Jan. 7, 2019, 132 Stat. 5455; Pub. L. 117–316, § 11, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4413.)