Weather Service Modernization Performance Review Act of 1994

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Weather Service Modernization 
Performance Review Act of 1994''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

    Congress finds that--
            (1) the safety and welfare of the public depends on the 
        provision of accurate and timely weather information;
            (2) in general, the National Implementation Plan for 
        modernization of the National Weather Service required under 
        the Weather Service Modernization Act provides a cost effective 
        approach to initiation of weather service modernization;
            (3) some geographic areas, including northern Alabama, 
        north central, northeastern, and southwestern Indiana, 
        southeastern Tennessee, southeastern Illinois, northern 
        California, southwestern and northeastern Texas, central 
        Oregon, central Idaho, central Nevada, northwestern Ohio, 
        northern Louisiana, northeastern Iowa, north-central Florida, 
        and northeastern Arizona, may not realize the full benefits of 
        weather service implementation under the plan; and
            (4) there is a need to ensure, by means of an independent, 
        technical review, that the implementation of the weather 
        service modernization plan at specific sites fully meets the 
        intent of law and does not result in a degradation of existing 
        service, including no reduction in existing weather radar 
        coverage at an elevation of 10,000 feet.

SEC. 3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.

    (a) The Secretary of Commerce (in this Act referred to as the 
``Secretary'') shall provide for the public safety by ensuring that the 
implementation of the National Implementation Plan for the 
modernization of the National Weather Service required under the 
Weather Service Modernization Act (in this Act referred to as the 
``National Implementation Plan'') does not result in a degradation of 
service in any specific geographic area, which shall include 
maintaining radar coverage with no degradation of service for areas 
served by the National Weather Service system, and also shall provide 
for radar coverage in some areas which might not otherwise be adequate 
with respect to specific unique weather phenomena which pose a 
substantial threat to public safety.
    (b) Within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
biennially thereafter until 2 years have passed after the 
implementation of the National Implementation Plan is completed, the 
Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting 
public comment for a period of 60 days on specific geographic areas 
where there is uncertainty whether such implementation will result in 
or has resulted in any degradation in service.
    (c) Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
within 60 days after the end of each biennial comment period under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall enter into an agreement for an 
independent review, to be completed within 180 days, by the National 
Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. Such review 
shall, for each geographical area identified through a public comment 
period under subsection (b)--
            (1) evaluate any unique or extraordinary weather conditions 
        in the area;
            (2) consider the proposed NEXRAD radar coverage for the 
        area, particularly to determine if the area is or will be in an 
        area of weak radar coverage;
            (3) consider the effects of closing any local Weather 
        Service office on local weather service and interaction with 
        local emergency management agencies; and
            (4) consider the effects of transferring local warning 
        responsibility to a remote Weather Forecast Office, including 
        the effect on issuing weather warnings by that remote office 
        and communicating with emergency management personnel with 
        regard to weather emergencies.
    (d) The National Research Council shall submit recommendations, 
including any dissenting views, to the Secretary regarding the need to 
supplement the National Implementation Plan, revise any specific siting 
plans, establish radar coverage at altitudes less than 10,000 feet, or 
improve radar coverage service.
    (e) Within 60 days after receiving recommendations from the 
National Research Council under subsection (d), the Secretary shall 
transmit to the Congress a report containing--
            (1) the recommendations of the National Research Council; 
        and
            (2) the actions the Secretary proposes to take in response 
        to those recommendations.
    (f) For any area identified through a public comment period under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall take no action which may result in 
a reduction of public safety, including the closure of weather service 
offices, transfer of responsibilities or duties of those offices, 
decommissioning of any warning radar, or transfer or reduction in 
personnel in those offices, until such time as the independent review 
under subsection (c) is completed and a report with respect to such 
review is transmitted to the Congress under subsection (e).
    (g) In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall consult with the 
Secretary of Defense and with the Secretary of Transportation with 
respect to coverage of those Department of Defense radars and 
Department of Transportation radars, respectively, which supplement the 
civil system.

Summary: Weather Service Modernization Performance Review Act of 1994 - Directs the Secretary of Commerce to: (1) ensure that the implementation of the National Implementation Plan (Plan) for modernization of the National Weather Service does not result in service degradation in any specific geographic area. And (2) provide for an independent review of the Plan by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences.