51 U.S.C. § 60504 — Tornadoes and other severe storms

Page 160 TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS § 60502 ‘‘(2) to achieve the goal of the Earth Science Pro- gram set forth in section 60501 of title 51, United States Code. ‘‘(e) SURVEY OF USE OF EARTH OBSERVATION DATA BY STATES, TRIBES, AND TERRITORIES.— ‘‘(1) SURVEY.—The Administrator shall arrange for the conduct of a survey of the use of NASA [National Aeronautics and Space Administration] Earth obser- vation data by States, Tribal organizations, and ter- ritories. ‘‘(2) SUBMISSION.—Not later than 18 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 9, 2022], the Administrator shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress [Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and Com- mittee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives] the results of the survey conducted under paragraph (1). ‘‘(f) CLIMATE ARCHITECTURE PLAN.—The Adminis- trator shall— ‘‘(1) maintain a comprehensive, strategic Climate Architecture Plan for Earth Observations and Appli- cations from Space that describes an integrated and balanced program of Earth science and applications observations to advance science, policy, and applica- tions and societal benefits; and ‘‘(2) update such plan every 5 years so as to align with the release of the decadal surveys in Earth science and applications from space and the mid-dec- ade assessments of the National Academics of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine [probably should be ‘‘National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’’].’’ CARBON CYCLE REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS RESEARCH Pub. L. 106–391, title III, § 315, Oct. 30, 2000, 114 Stat. 1595, provided that: ‘‘(a) CARBON CYCLE REMOTE SENSING APPLICATIONS RESEARCH PROGRAM.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator [of the Na- tional Aeronautics and Space Administration] shall develop a carbon cycle remote sensing applications research program— ‘‘(A) to provide a comprehensive view of vegeta- tion conditions; ‘‘(B) to assess and model agricultural carbon se- questration; and ‘‘(C) to encourage the development of commercial products, as appropriate. ‘‘(2) USE OF CENTERS.—The Administrator of the Na- tional Aeronautics and Space Administration shall use regional earth science application centers to con- duct applications research under this section. ‘‘(3) RESEARCHED AREAS.—The areas that shall be the subjects of research conducted under this section include— ‘‘(A) the mapping of carbon-sequestering land use and land cover; ‘‘(B) the monitoring of changes in land cover and management; ‘‘(C) new approaches for the remote sensing of soil carbon; and ‘‘(D) region-scale carbon sequestration esti- mation. ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is au- thorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $5,000,000 of funds authorized by section 102 [114 Stat. 1581] for fiscal years 2001 through 2002.’’ EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM Pub. L. 102–588, title I, § 102(g), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5111, directed the Administrator of the National Aero- nautics and Space Administration to carry out an Earth Observing System program addressing highest priority international climate change research goals; within 180 days after Nov. 4, 1992, submit to Congress a plan to ensure that the highest priority measurements were maintained on schedule to the greatest extent practicable while lower priority measurements were de- ferred or deleted; and within 90 days after Nov. 4, 1992, submit to Congress a Development Plan. § 60502. Transitioning experimental research into operational services (a) INTERAGENCY PROCESS.—The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, in consultation with the Administrator, the Ad- ministrator of the National Oceanic and Atmos- pheric Administration, and other relevant stakeholders, shall develop a process to transi- tion, when appropriate, Administration Earth science and space weather missions or sensors into operational status. The process shall in- clude coordination of annual agency budget re- quests as required to execute the transitions. (b) RESPONSIBLE AGENCY OFFICIAL.—The Ad- ministrator and the Administrator of the Na- tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall each designate an agency official who shall have the responsibility for and authority to lead the Administration’s and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s transition activities and interagency coordination. (c) PLAN.—For each mission or sensor that is determined to be appropriate for transition under subsection (a), the Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- tration shall transmit to Congress a joint plan for conducting the transition. The plan shall in- clude the strategy, milestones, and budget re- quired to execute the transition. The transition plan shall be transmitted to Congress no later than 60 days after the successful completion of the mission or sensor critical design review. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3425.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 60502(a) ...... 42 U.S.C. 17712(b). Pub. L. 110–422, title II, § 204(b), (c), (d), Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4785. 60502(b) ...... 42 U.S.C. 17712(c). 60502(c) ...... 42 U.S.C. 17712(d). § 60503. Reauthorization of Glory Mission Congress reauthorizes the Administration to continue with development of the Glory Mis- sion, which will examine how aerosols and solar energy affect the Earth’s climate. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3425.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 60503 .......... 42 U.S.C. 17713(a). Pub. L. 110–422, title II, § 206(a), Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4785. § 60504. Tornadoes and other severe storms The Administrator shall ensure that the Ad- ministration gives high priority to those parts of its existing cooperative activities with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion that are related to the study of tornadoes and other severe storms, tornado-force winds, and other factors determined to influence the development of tornadoes and other severe Page 161 TITLE 51—NATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL SPACE PROGRAMS § 60601 storms, with the goal of improving the Nation’s ability to predict tornados and other severe storms. Further, the Administrator shall exam- ine whether there are additional cooperative ac- tivities with the National Oceanic and Atmos- pheric Administration that should be under- taken in the area of tornado and severe storm research. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3425.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 60504 .......... 42 U.S.C. 17714. Pub. L. 110–422, title II, § 208, Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4786. § 60505. Coordination with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (a) JOINT WORKING GROUP.—The Administrator and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall appoint a Joint Working Group, which shall review and monitor missions of the two agencies to ensure maximum coordination in the design, operation, and transition of missions where appropriate. The Joint Working Group shall also prepare the plans required by subsection (c). (b) COORDINATION REPORT.—Not later than February 15 of each year, the Administrator and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall jointly trans- mit a report to the Committee on Science and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate on how the Earth science programs of the Administration and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra- tion will be coordinated during the fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the report is transmitted. (c) COORDINATION OF TRANSITION PLANNING AND REPORTING.—The Administrator, in conjunction with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and in con- sultation with other relevant agencies, shall evaluate relevant Administration science mis- sions for their potential operational capabilities and shall prepare transition plans for the exist- ing and future Earth observing systems found to have potential operational capabilities. (d) LIMITATION.—The Administrator shall not transfer any Administration Earth science mis- sion or Earth observing system to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration until the plan required under subsection (c) has been approved by the Administrator and the Adminis- trator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and until financial resources have been identified to support the transition or transfer in the President’s budget request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis- tration. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3426.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 60505 .......... 42 U.S.C. 16656. Pub. L. 109–155, title III, § 306, Dec. 30, 2005, 119 Stat. 2919. In subsection (b), the words ‘‘beginning with the first fiscal year after the date of enactment of this Act [De- cember 30, 2005]’’ are omitted as obsolete. In subsection (b), the words ‘‘Committee on Science and Technology’’ are substituted for ‘‘Committee on Science’’ on authority of Rule X(1)(o) of the Rules of the House of Representatives, adopted by House Reso- lution No. 6 (110th Congress, January 5, 2007). Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries CHANGE OF NAME Committee on Science and Technology of House of Representatives changed to Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 5, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, Jan. 5, 2011. § 60506. Sharing of climate related data The Administrator shall work to ensure that the Administration’s policies on the sharing of climate related data respond to the rec- ommendations of the Government Account- ability Office’s report on climate change re- search and data-sharing policies and to the rec- ommendations on the processing, distribution, and archiving of data by the National Acad- emies Earth Science Decadal Survey, ‘‘Earth Science and Applications from Space’’, and other relevant National Academies reports, to enhance and facilitate their availability and widest possible use to ensure public access to ac- curate and current data on global warming. (Pub. L. 111–314, § 3, Dec. 18, 2010, 124 Stat. 3426.) HISTORICAL AND REVISION NOTES Revised Section Source (U.S. Code) Source (Statutes at Large) 60506 .......... 42 U.S.C. 17825(c). Pub. L. 110–422, title XI, § 1109(c), Oct. 15, 2008, 122 Stat. 4811. CHAPTER 606—SPACE WEATHER Sec. 60601. Space weather. 60602. Integrated strategy. 60603. Sustaining and advancing critical space weather observations. 60604. Research activities. 60605. Space weather data. 60606. Space weather knowledge transfer and infor- mation exchange. 60607. Pilot program for obtaining commercial sec- tor space weather data. 60608. Space weather benchmarks. § 60601. Space weather (a) FINDINGS.— (1) SPACE WEATHER.—Congress makes the fol- lowing findings with respect to space weather: (A) Space weather phenomena pose a sig- nificant threat to ground-based and space- based critical infrastructure, modern tech- nological systems, and humans working in space. (B) The effects of severe space weather on the electric power grid, satellites and sat- ellite communications and information, aviation operations, astronauts living and working in space, and space-based position, navigation, and timing systems could have significant societal, economic, national se- curity, and health impacts.