15 U.S.C. § 8516 — Observing system planning

Page 2429 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 8516 istrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and in coordination with the Director of the Na- tional Weather Service, shall, not less fre- quently than once each year, submit to Congress a proposed budget corresponding with the activi- ties identified in the plan. (Pub. L. 115–25, title I, § 103, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 117–316, § 8, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4412.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 117–316 added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsecs. (c) and (d) as (d) and (e), respectively. § 8514. Hurricane forecast improvement program (a) In general The Under Secretary, in collaboration with the United States weather industry and such academic entities as the Administrator con- siders appropriate, shall maintain a project to improve hurricane forecasting. (b) Goal The goal of the project maintained under sub- section (a) shall be to develop and extend accu- rate hurricane forecasts and warnings in order to reduce loss of life, injury, and damage to the economy, with a focus on— (1) improving the prediction of rapid inten- sification and track of hurricanes; (2) improving the forecast and communica- tion of storm surges from hurricanes; (3) incorporating risk communication re- search to create more effective watch and warning products; and (4) evaluating and incorporating, as appro- priate, innovative observations, including acoustic or infrasonic measurements. (c) Project plan Not later than 1 year after April 18, 2017, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Re- search and in consultation with the Director of the National Weather Service, shall develop a plan for the project maintained under sub- section (a) that details the specific research, de- velopment, and technology transfer activities, as well as corresponding resources and timelines, necessary to achieve the goal set forth in subsection (b). (Pub. L. 115–25, title I, § 104, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 94; Pub. L. 117–316, § 9, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4412.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2022—Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 117–316 added par. (4). § 8515. Weather research and development plan- ning Not later than 1 year after April 18, 2017, and not less frequently than once each year there- after, the Under Secretary, acting through the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmos- pheric Research and in coordination with the Director of the National Weather Service and the Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services, shall issue a research and development and research to operations plan to restore and maintain United States leadership in numerical weather prediction and forecasting that— (1) describes the forecasting skill and tech- nology goals, objectives, and progress of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- tration in carrying out the program conducted under section 8512 of this title; (2) identifies and prioritizes specific research and development activities, and performance metrics, weighted to meet the operational weather and flood-event mission of the Na- tional Weather Service to achieve a weather- ready Nation; (3) describes how the program will collabo- rate with stakeholders, including the United States weather industry and academic part- ners; and (4) identifies, through consultation with the National Science Foundation, the United States weather industry, and academic part- ners, research necessary to enhance the inte- gration of social science knowledge into weather forecast and warning processes, in- cluding to improve the communication of threat information necessary to enable im- proved severe weather planning and decision- making on the part of individuals and commu- nities. (Pub. L. 115–25, title I, § 105, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 95; Pub. L. 117–316, § 10, Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4413.) Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS 2022—Par. (2). Pub. L. 117–316 inserted ‘‘and flood- event’’ after ‘‘operational weather’’. § 8516. Observing system planning The Under Secretary shall— (1) develop and maintain a prioritized list of observation data requirements necessary to ensure weather forecasting capabilities to pro- tect life and property to the maximum extent practicable; (2) consistent with section 8517 of this title, utilize Observing System Simulation Experi- ments, Observing System Experiments, Anal- yses of Alternatives, and other appropriate as- sessment tools to ensure continuous systemic evaluations of the observing systems, data, and information needed to meet the require- ments of paragraph (1), including options to maximize observational capabilities and their cost-effectiveness; (3) identify current and potential future data gaps in observing capabilities related to the requirements listed under paragraph (1); and (4) determine a range of options to address gaps identified under paragraph (3). (Pub. L. 115–25, title I, § 106, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 95.) Page 2430 TITLE 15—COMMERCE AND TRADE § 8517 1 So in original. § 8517. Observing System Simulation Experi- ments (a) In general In support of the requirements of section 8516 of this title, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall under- take Observing System Simulation Experi- ments, or such other quantitative assessments as the Assistant Administrator considers appro- priate, to quantitatively assess the relative value and benefits of observing capabilities and systems. Technical and scientific Observing Sys- tem Simulation Experiment evaluations— (1) may include assessments of the impact of observing capabilities on— (A) global weather prediction; (B) hurricane track and intensity fore- casting; (C) tornado warning lead times and accu- racy; (D) prediction of mid-latitude severe local storm outbreaks; and (E) prediction of storms that have the po- tential to cause extreme precipitation and flooding lasting from 6 hours to 1 week; and (2) shall be conducted in cooperation with other appropriate entities within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal agencies, the United States weather industry, and academic partners to ensure the technical and scientific merit of re- sults from Observing System Simulation Ex- periments or other appropriate quantitative assessment methodologies. (b) Requirements Observing System Simulation Experiments shall quantitatively— (1) determine the potential impact of pro- posed space-based, suborbital, and in situ ob- serving systems on analyses and forecasts, in- cluding potential impacts on extreme weather events across all parts of the Nation; (2) evaluate and compare observing system design options; and (3) assess the relative capabilities and costs of various observing systems and combina- tions of observing systems in providing data necessary to protect life and property. (c) Implementation Observing System Simulation Experiments— (1) shall be conducted prior to the acquisi- tion of major Government-owned or Govern- ment-leased operational observing systems, including polar-orbiting and geostationary satellite systems, with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000; and (2) shall be conducted prior to the purchase of any major new commercially provided data with a lifecycle cost of more than $500,000,000. (d) Priority Observing System Simulation Ex- periments (1) Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation Not later than 30 days after April 18, 2017, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall complete an Ob- serving System Simulation Experiment to as- sess the value of data from Global Navigation Satellite System Radio Occultation. (2) Geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation Not later than 120 days after April 18, 2017, the Assistant Administrator for Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall complete an Ob- serving System Simulation Experiment to as- sess the value of data from a geostationary hyperspectral sounder global constellation. (e) Results Upon completion of all Observing System Sim- ulation Experiments, the Assistant Adminis- trator shall make available to the public the re- sults an assessment 1 of related private and pub- lic sector weather data sourcing options, includ- ing their availability, affordability, and cost-ef- fectiveness. Such assessments shall be developed in accordance with section 50503 of title 51. (Pub. L. 115–25, title I, § 107, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 96.) § 8518. Computing resource efficiency improve- ment and annual report (a) Computing resources (1) In general In acquiring computing capabilities, includ- ing high performance computing technologies and supercomputing technologies, that enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin- istration to meet its mission requirements, the Under Secretary shall, when appropriate and cost-effective, assess and prioritize op- tions for entering into multi-year lease agree- ments for computing capabilities over options for purchasing computing hardware outright. (2) Acquisition In carrying out the requirements of para- graph (1), the Under Secretary shall structure multi-year lease agreements in such a manner that the expiration of the lease is set for a date on or around— (A) the expected degradation point of the computing resources; or (B) the point at which significantly in- creased computing capabilities are expected to be available for lease. (3) Pilot programs (A) In general In order to more efficiently and effectively meet the mission requirements of the Na- tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion, the Under Secretary may create 1 or more pilot programs for assessing new or in- novative information and technology capa- bilities and services. (B) Program requirements Any program created under paragraph (3) shall assess only those capabilities and serv- ices that— (i) meet or exceed the standards and re- quirements of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including for processing speed, cybersecurity, and over- all reliability; or