National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act

Summary: National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act (Sec. 3) This bill directs the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to establish the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System to monitor, issue warnings of, and protect U.S. citizens from undue and avoidable harm from, volcanic activity.  The purposes of the system are to: (1) organize, modernize, standardize, and stabilize the monitoring systems of U.S. volcano observatories; and (2) unify such systems into a single interoperative system. The objective of the system is to monitor all U.S. volcanoes at a level commensurate with the threat posed by the volcanoes by: (1) upgrading existing networks on monitored volcanoes, (2) installing new networks on unmonitored volcanoes, and (3) employing geodetic and other components when applicable. The system shall include: (1) a national volcano watch office that is operational 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, (2) a national volcano data center, (3) an external grants program to support research in volcano monitoring science and technology, and (4) modernization activities including the comprehensive application of emerging technologies. The USGS must: (1) submit to Congress a five-year management plan for establishing and operating the system, and (2) establish an advisory committee to assist in implementing the system.  The USGS may enter into cooperative agreements designating institutions of higher education and state or territorial agencies as volcano observatory partners for the system. The USGS must conduct a study to assess the feasibility of establishing volcano observatories in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa to monitor volcanic activity across the western and southern Pacific Ocean along the Ring of Fire. If determined to be feasible, the USGS may enter into cooperative agreements with institutions of higher education or territorial agencies to establish such observatories as part of the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``National Volcano Early Warning and 
Monitoring System Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

    In this Act:
            (1) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary 
        of the Interior, acting through the Director of the United 
        States Geological Survey.
            (2) System.--The term ``System'' means the National Volcano 
        Early Warning and Monitoring System established under section 
        3(a)(1).

SEC. 3. NATIONAL VOLCANO EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING SYSTEM.

    (a) Establishment.--
            (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the 
        United States Geological Survey a system, to be known as the 
        ``National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System'', to 
        monitor, warn, and protect citizens of the United States from 
        undue and avoidable harm from volcanic activity.
            (2) Purposes.--The purposes of the System are--
                    (A) to organize, modernize, standardize, and 
                stabilize the monitoring systems of the volcano 
                observatories in the United States, which include the 
                Alaska Volcano Observatory, California Volcano 
                Observatory, Cascades Volcano Observatory, Hawaiian 
                Volcano Observatory, Yellowstone Volcano Observatory, 
                and other volcano observatories established under 
                subsection (d); and
                    (B) to unify the monitoring systems of volcano 
                observatories in the United States into a single 
                interoperative system.
            (3) Objective.--The objective of the System is to monitor 
        all the volcanoes in the United States at a level commensurate 
        with the threat posed by the volcanoes by--
                    (A) upgrading existing networks on monitored 
                volcanoes;
                    (B) installing new networks on unmonitored 
                volcanoes; and
                    (C) employing geodetic and other components when 
                applicable.
    (b) System Components.--
            (1) In general.--The System shall include--
                    (A) a national volcano watch office that is 
                operational 24 hours a day and 7 days a week;
                    (B) a national volcano data center; and
                    (C) an external grants program to support research 
                in volcano monitoring science and technology.
            (2) Modernization activities.--Modernization activities 
        under the System shall include the comprehensive application of 
        emerging technologies, including digital broadband 
        seismometers, real-time continuous Global Positioning System 
        receivers, satellite and airborne radar interferometry, 
        acoustic pressure sensors, and spectrometry to measure gas 
        emissions.
    (c) Management.--
            (1) Management plan.--
                    (A) In general.--Not later than 180 days after the 
                date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall 
                submit to Congress a 5-year management plan for 
                establishing and operating the System.
                    (B) Inclusions.--The management plan submitted 
                under subparagraph (A) shall include--
                            (i) annual cost estimates for modernization 
                        activities and operation of the System;
                            (ii) annual milestones, standards, and 
                        performance goals; and
                            (iii) recommendations for, and progress 
                        towards, establishing new, or enhancing 
                        existing, partnerships to leverage resources.
            (2) Advisory committee.--The Secretary shall establish an 
        advisory committee to assist the Secretary in implementing the 
        System, to be comprised of representatives of relevant agencies 
        and members of the scientific community, to be appointed by the 
        Secretary.
            (3) Partnerships.--The Secretary may enter into cooperative 
        agreements with institutions of higher education and State or 
        territorial agencies designating the institutions of higher 
        education and State or territorial agencies as volcano 
        observatory partners for the System.
            (4) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the 
        activities under this Act with the heads of relevant Federal 
        agencies, including--
                    (A) the Secretary of Transportation;
                    (B) the Administrator of the Federal Aviation 
                Administration;
                    (C) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration; and
                    (D) the Director of the Federal Emergency 
                Management Administration.
    (d) Volcano Observatory in Pacific U.S. Territories.--
            (1) Feasibility study.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall conduct a 
        study to assess the feasibility of establishing volcano 
        observatories in Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and 
        American Samoa to monitor volcanic activity across the western 
        and southern Pacific Ocean along the Ring of Fire, including 
        underwater volcanic activity in such region.
            (2) Consultation.--The Secretary shall consult with 
        appropriate territorial and local entities in conducting the 
        study.
            (3) Cooperative agreement.--If the study required by 
        paragraph (1) determines that such observatories are feasible, 
        then the Secretary, subject to the availability of 
        appropriations, may enter into cooperative agreements under 
        subsection (c)(3) with institutions of higher education or 
        territorial agencies to establish such volcano observatories as 
        part of the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring 
        System.
    (e) Annual Report.--In each of fiscal years 2018 through 2024, the 
Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that describes the 
activities carried out under this Act.

SEC. 4. FUNDING.

    (a) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this Act $15,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2018 through 2024.
    (b) Effect on Other Sources of Federal Funding.--Amounts made 
available under this section shall supplement, and not supplant, 
Federal funds made available for other United States Geological Survey 
hazards activities and programs.