15 U.S.C. § 313a — Establishment of meteorological observa-

Page 719 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 313c 1 So in original. Probably should be followed by a comma. vided: ‘‘That the Chief of the Weather Bureau is au- thorized and directed to study fully and thoroughly the internal structure of thunderstorms, hurricanes, cy- clones, and other severe atmospheric disturbances, par- ticularly the degree of turbulence within such storms and the development, maintenance, and magnitude of updrafts and downdrafts with a view to establishing methods by which the characteristics of particular thunderstorms may be forecast and methods by which the characteristics of such storms may be determined on visual observation from outside of the immediate thunderstorm area. Such study shall be concluded at the earliest practicable date and a final report sub- mitted to Congress. ‘‘SEC. 2. The Chief of the Weather Bureau is empow- ered to make such expenditures at the seat of govern- ment and elsewhere as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act and as from time to time may be appropriated for by Congress, including expenditures for the development and purchase of special meteoro- logical instruments and other equipment (including motor vehicles and aircraft), without regard to the pro- visions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes [now 41 U.S.C. 6101]. There is hereby authorized to be appro- priated such sums as are necessary for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this Act. ‘‘SEC. 3. Any executive department or independent es- tablishment is hereby authorized to cooperate with the Chief of the Weather Bureau in carrying out the pur- poses of this Act, and for such purposes may lend or transfer to the Chief of the Weather Bureau any officer or employee of such department or establishment and any property, equipment, lands, or buildings under its control.’’ Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS Office of Chief of Weather Bureau abolished and func- tions transferred to Secretary of Commerce by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1965, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318. Reorg. Plan No. IV of 1940 transferred Weather Bu- reau from Department of Agriculture to Department of Commerce. For further details, see notes set out under section 311 of this title. § 313a. Establishment of meteorological observa- tion stations in the Arctic region In order to improve the weather forecasting service of the United States and to promote safety and efficiency in civil air navigation to the highest possible degree, the Secretary of Commerce shall, in addition to his other func- tions and duties, take such action as may be necessary in the development of an inter- national basic meteorological reporting network in the Arctic region of the Western Hemisphere, including the establishment, operation, and maintenance of such reporting stations in co- operation with the State Department and other United States governmental departments and agencies, with the meteorological services of foreign countries and with persons engaged in air commerce. (Feb. 12, 1946, ch. 4, § 1, 60 Stat. 4; 1965 Reorg. Plan No. 2, §§ 1, 2, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries APPROPRIATIONS Section 2 of act Feb. 12, 1946, authorized appropria- tion of necessary funds to carry out provisions of this section. Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS Office of Chief of Weather Bureau abolished and func- tions transferred to Secretary of Commerce by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1965, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318. For further details, see notes set out under section 311 of this title. § 313b. Institute for Aviation Weather Prediction The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall establish an Institute for Aviation Weather Prediction. The Institute shall provide forecasts, weather warnings, and other weather services to the United States aviation community. The Insti- tute shall expand upon the activities of the avia- tion unit currently at the National Severe Storms Forecast Center in Kansas City, Mis- souri, and shall be established in the Kansas City 1 Missouri 1 area. The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion shall provide a full and fair opportunity for employees at the National Severe Storms Center to assume comparable duties and responsibil- ities within the Institute. (Pub. L. 102–588, title II, § 222, Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5119.) Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SIMILAR PROVISIONS Similar provisions were contained in Pub. L. 102–567, title I, § 112, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4278. § 313c. Authorized activities of the National Oce- anic and Atmospheric Administration The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- ministration, through the United States Weath- er Research Program, shall— (1) improve the capability to accurately forecast inland flooding (including inland flooding influenced by coastal and ocean storms) through research and modeling; (2) develop, test, and deploy a new flood warning index that will give the public and emergency management officials fuller, clear- er, and more accurate information about the risks and dangers posed by expected floods; (3) train emergency management officials, National Weather Service personnel, mete- orologists, and others as appropriate regarding improved forecasting techniques for inland flooding, risk management techniques, and use of the inland flood warning index devel- oped under paragraph (2); (4) conduct outreach and education activi- ties for local meteorologists and the public re- garding the dangers and risks associated with inland flooding and the use and understanding of the inland flood warning index developed under paragraph (2); and (5) assess, through research and analysis of previous trends, among other activities— (A) the long-term trends in frequency and severity of inland flooding; and (B) how shifts in climate, development, and erosion patterns might make certain re- gions vulnerable to more continual or esca- lating flood damage in the future.