120 STAT. 2918 PUBLIC LAW 109–430—DEC. 20, 2006

Public Law 109–430

109th Congress

An Act

To establish a National Integrated Drought Information System within the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve drought monitoring and

forecasting capabilities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Integrated Drought

Information System Act of 2006’’.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act:

(1) DROUGHT.—The term ‘‘drought’’ means a deficiency in

precipitation—

(A) that leads to a deficiency in surface or subsurface

water supplies (including rivers, streams, wetlands, ground

water, soil moisture, reservoir supplies, lake levels, and

snow pack); and

(B) that causes or may cause—

(i) substantial economic or social impacts; or

(ii) substantial physical damage or injury to

individuals, property, or the environment.

(2) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Secretary’’ means

the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

SEC. 3. NIDIS PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, through the National

Weather Service and other appropriate weather and climate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

shall establish a National Integrated Drought Information System.

(b) SYSTEM FUNCTIONS.—The National Integrated Drought

Information System shall—

(1) provide an effective drought early warning system

that—

(A) is a comprehensive system that collects and

integrates information on the key indicators of drought

in order to make usable, reliable, and timely drought forecasts and assessments of drought, including assessments

of the severity of drought conditions and impacts;

(B) communicates drought forecasts, drought conditions, and drought impacts on an ongoing basis to—

(i) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, State,

tribal, and local levels of government;

(ii) the private sector; and

15 USC 313d.

15 USC 313d

note.

15 USC 311 note.

National

Integrated

Drought

Information

System Act of

2006.

Dec. 20, 2006

[H.R. 5136]

PUBLIC LAW 109–430—DEC. 20, 2006 120 STAT. 2919

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 5136 (S. 2751):

HOUSE REPORTS: No. 109–503 (Comm. on Science).

SENATE REPORTS: No. 109–356 accompanying S. 2751 (Comm. on Commerce,

Science, and Transportation).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 152 (2006):

Sept. 26, considered and passed House.

Dec. 6, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

(iii) the public,

in order to engender better informed and more timely

decisions thereby leading to reduced impacts and costs;

and

(C) includes timely (where possible real-time) data,

information, and products that reflect local, regional, and

State differences in drought conditions;

(2) coordinate, and integrate as practicable, Federal

research in support of a drought early warning system; and

(3) build upon existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships.

(c) CONSULTATION.—The Under Secretary shall consult with

relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local government agencies, research institutions, and the private sector in the development

of the National Integrated Drought Information System.

(d) COOPERATION FROM OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Each Federal agency shall cooperate as appropriate with the Under Secretary

in carrying out this Act.

SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act—

(1) $11,000,000 for fiscal year 2007;

(2) $12,000,000 for fiscal year 2008;

(3) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2009;

(4) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2010;

(5) $15,000,000 for fiscal year 2011; and

(6) $16,000,000 for fiscal year 2012.

Approved December 20, 2006.

15 USC 313d

note.