Earthquake Hazards Reduction Authorization Act of 2000

Summary: Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 2001 through 2003 for a USGS program to develop a prototype real-time seismic warning system.
(Sec. 3) Repeals provisions of the Act concerning: (1) non-Federal cost sharing for certain supplemental funds; (2) the authorization of appropriations in prior fiscal years for certain required adjustments in employee salaries and benefits; and (3) the availability of FY 1991-1993 funding.
(Sec. 4) Requires the USGS Director to establish and operate an Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System to organize, modernize, and standardize U.S. national, regional, and urban seismic monitoring systems. Requires such Director to transmit to Congress a five-year management plan for establishing and operating the System. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2002 through 2006, and additional amounts for FY 2002 and 2003 for System operation.
(Sec. 5) Requires the NSF Director to establish the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation that will upgrade, link, and integrate a system of geographically distributed experimental facilities for earthquake engineering testing of full-sized structures and partial-scale models. Authorizes appropriations for FY 2001 through 2004.
(Sec. 6) Directs FEMA to: (1) annually provide guidance to other agencies involved in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (Program) concerning the preparation of requests for appropriations for Program activities; and (2) prepare and submit to the Office of Management and Budget an annual Program budget. Requires each Program agency to specify Program activities in their annual request for appropriations.
(Sec. 7) Requires the FEMA Director to report to Congress describing Program elements that specifically address the needs of at-risk populations.
(Sec. 8) Requires FEMA's comprehensive earthquake education and public awareness program to include increasing public access to available locality-specific information to assist the public in preparing for or responding to earthquakes.
(Sec. 10) Requires the USGS Director to establish a Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Earthquake Hazards Reduction 
Authorization Act of 2000''.

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    (a) Federal Emergency Management Agency.--Section 12(a)(7) of the 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(a)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``and'' after ``1998''; and
            (2) by striking ``1999.'' and inserting ``1999; $19,861,000 
        for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, of which 
        $450,000 is for National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program-
        eligible efforts of an established multi-state consortium to 
        reduce the unacceptable threat of earthquake damages in the New 
        Madrid seismic region through efforts to enhance preparedness, 
        response, recovery, and mitigation; $20,705,000 for the fiscal 
        year ending September 30, 2002; and $21,585,000 for the fiscal 
        year ending September 30, 2003.''.
    (b) United States Geological Survey.--Section 12(b) of the 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(b)) is 
amended--
            (1) by inserting after ``operated by the Agency.'' the 
        following: ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Secretary of the Interior for purposes of carrying out, through 
        the Director of the United States Geological Survey, the 
        responsibilities that may be assigned to the Director under 
        this Act $48,360,000 for fiscal year 2001, of which $3,500,000 
        is for the Global Seismic Network and $100,000 is for the 
        Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee established 
        under section 10 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 
        2000; $50,415,000 for fiscal year 2002, of which $3,600,000 is 
        for the Global Seismic Network and $100,000 is for the 
        Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee; and 
        $52,558,000 for fiscal year 2003, of which $3,700,000 is for 
        the Global Seismic Network and $100,000 is for the Scientific 
        Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee;
            (2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
            (3) by striking ``1999,'' at the end of paragraph (2) and 
        inserting ``1999;''; and
            (4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
            ``(3) $9,000,000 of the amount authorized to be 
        appropriated for fiscal year 2001;
            ``(4) $9,250,000 of the amount authorized to be 
        appropriated for fiscal year 2002; and
            ``(5) $9,500,000 of the amount authorized to be 
        appropriated for fiscal year 2003,''.
    (c) Real-time Seismic Hazard Warning System.--Section 2(a)(7) of 
the Act entitled ``An Act To authorize appropirations for carrying out 
the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 for fiscal years 1998 and 
1999, and for other purposes (111 Stat. 1159; 42 U.S.C. 7704 nt) is 
amended by striking ``1999.'' and inserting ``1999, $2,600,000 for 
fiscal year 2001, $2,710,000 for fiscal year 2002, and $2,825,000 for 
fiscal year 2003.''.
    (d) National Science Foundation.--Section 12(c) of the Earthquake 
Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(c)) is amended--
            (1) by striking ``1998, and'' and inserting ``1998,''; and
            (2) by striking ``1999.'' and inserting ``1999, and (5) 
        $19,000,000 for engineering research and $11,900,000 for 
        geosciences research for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
        2001. There are authorized to be appropriated to the National 
        Science Foundation $19,808,000 for engineering research and 
        $12,406,000 for geosciences research for fiscal year 2002 and 
        $20,650,000 for engineering research and $12,933,000 for 
        geosciences research for fiscal year 2003.''.
    (e) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--Section 12(d) 
of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(d)) is 
amended--
            (1) by striking ``1998, and''; and inserting ``1998,''; and
            (2) by striking ``1999.'' and inserting ``1999, $2,332,000 
        for fiscal year 2001, $2,431,000 for fiscal year 2002, and 
        $2,534,300 for fiscal year 2003.''.

SEC. 3. REPEALS.

    Section 10 and subsections (e) and (f) of section 12 of the 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7705d and 7706 (e) 
and (f)) are repealed.

SEC. 4. ADVANCED NATIONAL SEISMIC RESEARCH AND MONITORING SYSTEM.

    The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 13. ADVANCED NATIONAL SEISMIC RESEARCH AND MONITORING SYSTEM.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the United States Geological 
Survey shall establish and operate an Advanced National Seismic 
Research and Monitoring System. The purpose of such system shall be to 
organize, modernize, standardize, and stabilize the national, regional, 
and urban seismic monitoring systems in the United States, including 
sensors, recorders, and data analysis centers, into a coordinated 
system that will measure and record the full range of frequencies and 
amplitudes exhibited by seismic waves, in order to enhance earthquake 
research and warning capabilities.
    ``(b) Management Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
the enactment of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Authorization Act of 
2000, the Director of the United States Geological Survey shall 
transmit to the Congress a 5-year management plan for establishing and 
operating the Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System. 
The plan shall include annual cost estimates for both modernization and 
operation, milestones, standards, and performance goals, as well as 
plans for securing the participation of all existing networks in the 
Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System and for 
establishing new, or enhancing existing, partnerships to leverage 
resources.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
            ``(1) Expansion and modernization.--In addition to amounts 
        appropriated under section 12(b), there are authorized to be 
        appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior, to be used by 
        the Director of the United States Geological Survey to 
        establish the Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring 
        System--
                    ``(A) $33,500,000 for fiscal year 2002;
                    ``(B) $33,700,000 for fiscal year 2003;
                    ``(C) $35,100,000 for fiscal year 2004;
                    ``(D) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
                    ``(E) $33,500,000 for fiscal year 2006.
            ``(2) Operation.--In addition to amounts appropriated under 
        section 12(b), there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
        Secretary of the Interior, to be used by the Director of the 
        United States Geological Survey to operate the Advanced 
        National Seismic Research and Monitoring System--
                    ``(A) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
                    ``(B) $10,300,000 for fiscal year 2003.''.

SEC. 5. NETWORK FOR EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING SIMULATION.

    The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701 et 
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

``SEC. 14. NETWORK FOR EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING SIMULATION.

    ``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the National Science 
Foundation shall establish the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for 
Earthquake Engineering Simulation that will upgrade, link, and 
integrate a system of geographically distributed experimental 
facilities for earthquake engineering testing of full-sized structures 
and their components and partial-scale physical models. The system 
shall be integrated through networking software so that integrated 
models and databases can be used to create model-based simulation, and 
the components of the system shall be interconnected with a computer 
network and allow for remote access, information sharing, and 
collaborative research.
    ``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts 
appropriated under section 12(c), there are authorized to be 
appropriated $28,200,000 for fiscal year 2001 for the Network for 
Earthquake Engineering Simulation. In addition to amounts appropriated 
under section 12(c), there are authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Science Foundation for the Network for Earthquake Engineering 
Simulation--
            ``(1) $24,400,000 for fiscal year 2002;
            ``(2) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
            ``(3) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.''.

SEC. 6. BUDGET COORDINATION.

    Section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7704) is amended--
            (1) by striking subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(1) and 
        redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) of subsection 
        (b)(1) as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively;
            (2) by striking ``in this paragraph'' in the last sentence 
        of paragraph (1) of subsection (b) and inserting ``in 
        subparagraph (E)''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(c) Budget Coordination.--
            ``(1) Guidance.--The Agency shall each year provide 
        guidance to the other Program agencies concerning the 
        preparation of requests for appropriations for activities 
        related to the Program, and shall prepare, in conjunction with 
        the other Program agencies, an annual Program budget to be 
        submitted to the Office of Management and Budget.
            ``(2) Reports.--Each Program agency shall include with its 
        annual request for appropriations submitted to the Office of 
        Management and Budget a report that--
                    ``(A) identifies each element of the proposed 
                Program activities of the agency;
                    ``(B) specifies how each of these activities 
                contributes to the Program; and
                    ``(C) states the portion of its request for 
                appropriations allocated to each element of the 
                Program.''.

SEC. 7. REPORT ON AT-RISK POPULATIONS.

    Not later than one year after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, and after a period for public comment, the Director of the Federal 
Emergency Management Agency shall transmit to the Congress a report 
describing the elements of the Program that specifically address the 
needs of at-risk populations, including the elderly, persons with 
disabilities, non-English-speaking families, single-parent households, 
and the poor. Such report shall also identify additional actions that 
could be taken to address those needs and make recommendations for any 
additional legislative authority required to take such actions.

SEC. 8. PUBLIC ACCESS TO EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION.

    Section 5(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 
1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting ``, and 
development of means of increasing public access to available locality-
specific information that may assist the public in preparing for or 
responding to earthquakes'' after ``and the general public''.

SEC. 9. LIFELINES.

    Section 4(6) of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 
U.S.C. 7703(6)) is amended by inserting ``and infrastructure'' after 
``communication facilities''.

SEC. 10. SCIENTIFIC EARTHQUAKE STUDIES ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

    (a) Establishment.--The Director of the United States Geological 
Survey shall establish a Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory 
Committee.
    (b) Organization.--The Director shall establish procedures for 
selection of individuals not employed by the Federal Government who are 
qualified in the seismic sciences and other appropriate fields and may, 
pursuant to such procedures, select up to ten individuals, one of whom 
shall be designated Chairman, to serve on the Advisory Committee. 
Selection of individuals for the Advisory Committee shall be based 
solely on established records of distinguished service, and the 
Director shall ensure that a reasonable cross-section of views and 
expertise is represented. In selecting individuals to serve on the 
Advisory Committee, the Director shall seek and give due consideration 
to recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, professional 
societies, and other appropriate organizations.
    (c) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall meet at such times and 
places as may be designated by the Chairman in consultation with the 
Director.
    (d) Duties.--The Advisory Committee shall advise the Director on 
matters relating to the United States Geological Survey's participation 
in the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, including the 
United States Geological Survey's roles, goals, and objectives within 
that Program, its capabilities and research needs, guidance on 
achieving major objectives, and establishing and measuring performance 
goals. The Advisory Committee shall issue an annual report to the 
Director for submission to Congress on or before September 30 of each 
year. The report shall describe the Advisory Committee's activities and 
address policy issues or matters that affect the United States 
Geological Survey's participation in the National Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Program.

            Passed the Senate October 18 (legislative day, September 
      22), 2000.

            Attest:

                                                             Secretary.
106th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 1639

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 AN ACT

  To authorize appropriations for carrying out the Earthquake Hazards 
  Reduction Act of 1977, for the National Weather Service and Related 
  Agencies, and for the United States Fire Administration for fiscal 
                      years 2000, 2001, and 2002.