View all text of Chapter 2 [§ 31 - § 50e]
§ 31k. National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System
(a) Definitions
In this section:
(1) Secretary
(2) Secretary of Commerce
(3) System
(4) Volcanic Ash Advisory Center
(b) National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System
(1) Establishment
(A) In general
(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
(C) Memorandum of understanding
(3) Management
(A) Management plan
(i) In general
(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(II) Update of management plan
(B) Advisory committee
(C) Partnerships
(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
(4) Annual report
(c) Funding
(1) Authorization of appropriations, United States Geological Survey
(2) Authorization of appropriations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(3) Effect on other sources of Federal funding
(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.)