15 U.S.C. § 8533 — Unnecessary duplication

Page 2438 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 8533 competition, enter into at least one pilot contract with one or more private sector en- tities capable of providing data that meet the standards and specifications set by the Under Secretary for providing commercial weather data in a manner that allows the Under Secretary to calibrate and evaluate the data for its use in National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorological models. (B) Assessment of data viability Not later than the date that is 3 years after the date on which the Under Secretary enters into a contract under subparagraph (A), the Under Secretary shall assess and 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 the results of a determination of the extent to which data provided under the contract entered into under subparagraph (A) meet the criteria published under paragraph (1) and the extent to which the pilot program has demonstrated— (i) the viability of assimilating the com- mercially provided data into National Oce- anic and Atmospheric Administration me- teorological models; (ii) whether, and by how much, the data add value to weather forecasts; and (iii) the accuracy, quality, timeliness, validity, reliability, usability, information technology security, and cost-effectiveness of obtaining commercial weather data from private sector providers. (3) Authorization of appropriations For each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023, there are authorized to be appropriated for procurement, acquisition, and construction at the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, $6,000,000 to carry out this subsection. (d) Obtaining future data If an assessment under subsection (c)(2)(B) demonstrates the ability of commercial weather data to meet data and metadata standards and specifications published under subsection (c)(1), the Under Secretary shall— (1) where appropriate, cost-effective, and fea- sible, obtain commercial weather data from private sector providers; (2) as early as possible in the acquisition process for any future National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration meteorological space system, consider whether there is a suit- able, cost-effective, commercial capability available or that will be available to meet any or all of the observational requirements by the planned operational date of the system; (3) if a suitable, cost-effective, commercial capability is or will be available as described in paragraph (2), determine whether it is in the national interest to develop a govern- mental meteorological space system; and (4) submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Tech- nology of the House of Representatives a re- port detailing any determination made under paragraphs (2) and (3). (e) Data sharing practices The Under Secretary shall continue to meet the international meteorological agreements into which the Under Secretary has entered, in- cluding practices set forth through World Mete- orological Organization Resolution 40. (Pub. L. 115–25, title III, § 302, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 103; Pub. L. 115–423, § 7(b), Jan. 7, 2019, 132 Stat. 5461.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2019—Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 115–423 substituted ‘‘2019 through 2023’’ for ‘‘2017 through 2020’’ and inserted ‘‘the’’ before ‘‘National’’. § 8533. Unnecessary duplication In meeting the requirements under this sub- chapter, the Under Secretary shall avoid unnec- essary duplication between public and private sources of data and the corresponding expendi- ture of funds and employment of personnel. (Pub. L. 115–25, title III, § 303, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 105.) SUBCHAPTER III—FEDERAL WEATHER COORDINATION § 8541. Environmental Information Services Working Group (a) Establishment The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration Science Advisory Board shall con- tinue to maintain a standing working group named the Environmental Information Services Working Group (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Working Group’’)— (1) to provide advice for prioritizing weather research initiatives at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to produce real improvement in weather forecasting; (2) to provide advice on existing or emerging technologies or techniques that can be found in private industry or the research community that could be incorporated into forecasting at the National Weather Service to improve fore- casting skill; (3) to identify opportunities to improve— (A) communications between weather fore- casters, Federal, State, local, tribal, and other emergency management personnel, and the public; and (B) communications and partnerships among the National Oceanic and Atmos- pheric Administration and the private and academic sectors; and (4) to address such other matters as the Science Advisory Board requests of the Work- ing Group. (b) Composition (1) In general The Working Group shall be composed of leading experts and innovators from all rel- evant fields of science and engineering includ- ing atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric phys-