41–547

105TH CONGRESS REPT. 105–66 " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session Part II

NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION

AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1997

JUNE 20, 1997.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of

the Union and ordered to be printed

Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources,

submitted the following

REPORT

[To accompany H.R. 1278]

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill

(H.R. 1278) to authorize appropriations for the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for fiscal years

1998 and 1999, and for other purposes, having considered the

same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the bill as amended do pass.

The amendment is as follows:

Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu thereof

the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.

(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Oceanographic and Atmospheric

Research Authorization Act of 1997’’.

(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.

Sec. 2. Definitions.

TITLE I—ATMOSPHERIC, WEATHER, AND SATELLITE PROGRAMS

Sec. 101. National Weather Service.

Sec. 102. Atmospheric research.

Sec. 103. National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service.

TITLE II—OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE RESEARCH

Sec. 201. Oceanography and marine research.

TITLE III—PROGRAM SUPPORT AND OTHER ACCOUNTS

Sec. 301. Program support.

Sec. 302. Recoveries from prior years.

TITLE IV—STREAMLINING OF OPERATIONS

Sec. 401. Programs.

Sec. 402. Limitations on appropriations.
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TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS

Sec. 501. Weather data buoys.

Sec. 502. Duties of the National Weather Service.

Sec. 503. Prohibition of lobbying activities.

Sec. 504. Notice.

Sec. 505. Sense of Congress on the Year 2000 problem.

Sec. 506. Buy American.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

For the purposes of this Act, the term—

(1) ‘‘Act of 1890’’ means the Act entitled ‘‘An Act to increase the efficiency and

reduce the expenses of the Signal Corps of the Army, and to transfer the

Weather Bureau to the Department of Agriculture’’, approved October 1, 1890

(26 Stat. 653);

(2) ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and

(3) ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Commerce.

TITLE I—ATMOSPHERIC, WEATHER, AND

SATELLITE PROGRAMS

SEC. 101. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

(a) OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the

Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry

out the operations and research duties of the National Weather Service,

$458,131,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $451,074,000 for fiscal year 1999. Such duties

include meteorological, hydrological, and oceanographic public warnings and forecasts, as well as applied research in support of such warnings and forecasts. Of the

amounts authorized under this subsection for each of the fiscal years 1998 and

1999, $3,600,000 shall be for the Tropical Prediction Center/National Hurricane

Center.

(b) SYSTEMS ACQUISITION.—(1) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out

the public warning and forecast systems duties of the National Weather Service,

$89,713,000 for fiscal year 1998 (including amounts as provided in subsection (c))

and $74,453,000 for fiscal year 1999. Such duties include the development, acquisition, and implementation of major public warning and forecast systems, including

the upgrade of computer facilities. None of the funds authorized under this subsection shall be used for the purposes for which funds are authorized under subsection (f).

(2) Of the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), $39,591,000 for fiscal year

1998 and $39,887,000 for fiscal year 1999 shall be for Next Generation Weather

Radar (NEXRAD) program management, operations, and maintenance.

(3) Of the amounts authorized under paragraph (1), $11,377,000 for fiscal year

1998 and $11,224,000 for fiscal year 1999 shall be for remaining system acquisition,

program management, support contracts, logistic support, and continued product

improvement of NEXRAD systems.

(c) NEW NEXRAD INSTALLATIONS.—Of the amount authorized under subsection

(b)(1) for fiscal year 1998, $15,000,000 shall be for the acquisition and deployment

of NEXRAD systems—

(1) identified as necessary to prevent degradation of weather service caused

by gaps in radar coverage, in National Weather Service follow-up studies to the

Secretary’s Report to Congress on Adequacy of NEXRAD Coverage and Degradation of Weather Services Under National Weather Service Modernization

for 32 Areas of Concern, dated October 12, 1995; and

(2) recommended and approved by the Secretary,

including program management, facilities, operations, and maintenance through

September 30, 1999.

(d) ASOS PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.—Of the sums authorized in subsection (b)(1),

$9,835,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $9,942,000 for fiscal year 1999 are authorized

to be appropriated to the Secretary, for the acquisition and deployment of—

(1) the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) and related systems, including multisensor and backup arrays for National Weather Service sites at

airports; and

(2) Automated Meteorological Observing System and Remote Automated Meteorological Observing System replacement units,
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and to cover all associated activities, including program management and operations

and maintenance.

(e) COMPUTER FACILITY UPGRADES.—Of the sums authorized in subsection (b)(1), $13,910,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $13,400,000 for fiscal year 1999 are authorized

to be appropriated to the Secretary for—

(1) the continued lease and maintenance of the Cray C–90 supercomputer;

and

(2) the Upgrade of the Central Computer Facility (to provide for payment toward the Cray J–916 systems buyout, to complete the National Weather Service

telecommunications gateway upgrade, and to cover all associated activities, including program management and operations and maintenance).

(f) AWIPS PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.—(1) There are to be authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the acquisition, deployment, program management, operation,

and maintenance of the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS),

$116,910,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $82,029,000 for fiscal year 1999.

(2)(A) Of the sums authorized in paragraph (1), except as provided in paragraph

(3), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for all fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1997, an aggregate of $186,300,000, to remain available

until expended, to complete the acquisition and deployment of AWIPS and

NOAAPort and to cover all associated activities, including program management

and operations and maintenance through September 30, 1999. (B) Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), $22,635,000 of the amount described in

subparagraph (A) for fiscal year 1998 shall be derived from the use of unobligated

prior year funds appropriated for the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite program.

(3) No funds are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year under paragraph (1) unless, within 60 days after the submission of the President’s budget request for such fiscal year, the Secretary—

(A) certifies to the Congress that—

(i) the systems meet the technical performance specifications included in

the system contract as in effect on August 11, 1995;

(ii) the systems can be fully deployed, sited, and operational without requiring further appropriations beyond amounts authorized under paragraph

(1); and

(iii) the Secretary does not foresee any delays in the systems deployment

and operations schedule; or

(B) submits to the Congress a report which describes—

(i) the circumstances which prevent a certification under subparagraph

(A);

(ii) remedial actions undertaken or to be undertaken with respect to such

circumstances;

(iii) the effects of such circumstances on the systems deployment and operations schedule and systems coverage; and

(iv) a justification for proceeding with the program, if appropriate.

(g) CONSTRUCTION OF WEATHER FORECAST OFFICES.—There are authorized to be

appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out construction, repair, and modification activities relating to

new and existing weather forecast offices, $13,823,000 for fiscal year 1998 and

$8,189,000 for fiscal year 1999. Such activities include planning, design, and land

acquisition related to such offices.

(h) NATIONAL CENTERS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PREDICTION RESTRUCTURING.—There

are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration to carry out restructuring of the National Meteorological Center into the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, $700,000 for

fiscal year 1998 and $809,000 for fiscal year 1999.

(i) FACILITIES.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out NEXRAD

Weather Service Office maintenance, $2,950,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $2,950,000

for fiscal year 1999.

(j) WEATHER SERVICE MODERNIZATION.—The Weather Service Modernization Act

(15 U.S.C. 313 note) is amended—

(1) in section 706—

(A) by amending subsection (b) to read as follows:

‘‘(b) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary may not close, automate, or relocate any field

office unless the Secretary has certified to the Committee on Commerce, Science,

and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science of the House of

Representatives that such action will not result in degradation of service to the af-
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fected area. Such certification shall be in accordance with the modernization criteria

established under section 704.’’;

(B) by striking subsections (c), (d), (e), and (f); and

(C) by inserting after subsection (b) the following new subsections:

‘‘(c) SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.—The Secretary may not close or relocate any field

office which is located at an airport, if the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Committee, determines as a result of the Air Safety Appraisal, completed and signed by the National Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Administration on December 9, 1996, that such action will result in

degradation of service that affects aircraft safety.

‘‘(d) PUBLIC LIAISON.—The Secretary shall maintain for a period of at least two

years after the closure of any weather office a program to—

‘‘(1) provide timely information regarding the activities of the National

Weather Service which may affect service to the community, including modernization and restructuring; and

‘‘(2) work with area weather service users, including persons associated with

general aviation, civil defense, emergency preparedness, and the news media,

with respect to the provision of timely weather warnings and forecasts.’’; and

(2) in section 707—

(A) by amending subsection (c) to read as follows:

‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall advise the Congress and the Secretary on—

‘‘(1) the implementation of the Strategic Plan, annual development of the

Plan, and establishment and implementation of modernization criteria; and

‘‘(2) matters of public safety and the provision of weather services which relate to the comprehensive modernization of the National Weather Service.’’; and

(B) by amending subsection (f) to read as follows:

‘‘(f) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall terminate—

‘‘(1) on September 30, 1997; or

‘‘(2) 90 days after the deadline for public comment on the modernization criteria for closure certification published in the Federal Register pursuant to section 704(b)(2),

whichever occurs later.’’.

(k) BI-AGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The National Weather Service is encouraged to

follow through on the recommendation contained in the document entitled ‘‘Secretary’s Report to Congress on Adequacy of NEXRAD Coverage and Degradation of

Weather Services Under National Weather Service Modernization for 32 Areas of

Concern’’, dated October 12, 1995, to initiate a dialogue with the Federal Aviation

Administration to form a bi-agency working group to assess further the potential for

National Weather Service operational use of Federal Aviation Administration

weather radar data, and to define engineering considerations that would be involved

in implementing a data-sharing link between the Federal Aviation Administration

and the National Weather Service.

(l) NEXRAD OPERATIONAL AVAILABILITY AND RELIABILITY.—(1) The Secretary of

Defense, in conjunction with the Administrator, shall take steps to ensure that

NEXRADs operated by the Department of Defense that provide primary detection

coverage over a portion of their ranges function as fully committed, reliable elements of the National Weather Radar Network, operating with the same standards,

quality, and availability as the National Weather Service-operated NEXRADs.

(2) NEXRADs operated by the Department of Defense that provide primary detection coverage over a portion of their ranges are to be considered as integral parts

of the National Weather Radar Network.

SEC. 102. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.

(a) CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY RESEARCH.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out its climate and air quality research duties, $116,902,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $118,803,000 for fiscal year 1999. Such duties include interannual

and seasonal climate research, long-term climate and air quality research, and highperformance computing and communications.

(b) ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out

its atmospheric research duties, $43,456,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $44,194,000 for

fiscal year 1999. Such duties include research for developing improved prediction capabilities for atmospheric processes, as well as solar-terrestrial research and services.

(c) BOULDER LABORATORY ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT CENTER.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to continue the modifications to the Boulder Laboratory in
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Boulder, Colorado, to meet programmatic requirements, $1,900,000 for fiscal year

1998 and $9,078,000 for fiscal year 1999.

SEC. 103. NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE, DATA, AND INFORMATION SERVICE.

(a) SATELLITE OBSERVING SYSTEMS.—There are authorized to be appropriated to

the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to

carry out its satellite observing systems duties, $342,544,000 for fiscal year 1998

(reduced by $12,400,000) and $518,455,000 for fiscal year 1999 (reduced by

$7,000,000), to remain available until expended. Such duties include spacecraft procurement, launch, and associated ground station systems involving polar orbiting

and geostationary environmental satellites, as well as the operation of such satellites. None of the funds authorized under this subsection shall be used for the purposes for which funds are authorized under section 105(d) of the National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567).

(b) POES PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.—Of the sums authorized in subsection (a),

there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $82,905,000 for fiscal year

1998 and $172,684,000 for fiscal year 1999, to remain available until expended, for

the procurement and launch of, and supporting ground systems for, Polar Orbiting

Environmental Satellites (POES), K, L, M, N, and N′.

(c) NPOESS PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.—Of the sums authorized in subsection (a),

there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, $51,503,000 for fiscal year

1998 and $35,000,000 for fiscal year 1999, to remain available until expended, for

the procurement of the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite

System (NPOESS), and the procurement and launch of, and supporting ground systems for, such satellites.

(d) GOES N–Q.—Of the sums authorized in subsection (a), there are authorized

to be appropriated to the Secretary $147,819,000 for fiscal year 1998 and

$256,421,000 for fiscal year 1999 to procure up to three Geostationary Operational

Environmental NEXT follow-on Satellites (GOES N–Q), instruments, launching, and

supporting ground systems.

(e) OTHER PROGRAMS.—Of the sums authorized in subsection (a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $9,970,000 for fiscal year 1998 and

$5,400,000 for fiscal year 1999, for the Wallops Island backup, product development,

and operating adjustment activities of the Geostationary Operational Environmental

Satellite program.

(f) ENVIRONMENTAL OBSERVING SERVICES.—Of the sums authorized in subsection

(a), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out Environmental Observing

Services, $50,347,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $48,950,000 for fiscal year 1999.

(g) ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND INFORMATION SERVICES.—There are authorized to

be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration to carry out its environmental data and information services duties,

$43,835,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $43,835,000 for fiscal year 1999. Such duties

include climate data services, geophysical data services, and environmental assessment and information services.

TITLE II—OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE

RESEARCH

SEC. 201. OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE RESEARCH.

(a) COASTAL OCEAN PROGRAM.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the

Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry

out the Coastal Ocean Program, $15,200,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $15,458,000

for fiscal year 1999.

(b) ACQUISITION OF DATA.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out

data acquisition activities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research,

$15,400,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $15,700,000 for fiscal year 1999.

(c) OCEAN REMOTE SENSING.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out

ocean remote sensing activities, $3,800,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $3,800,000 for

fiscal year 1999.

(d) OCEANOGRAPHY AND MARINE PREDICTION RESEARCH.—There are authorized to

be appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration to carry out marine prediction research activities under the Act of
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1890, and any other law involving those activities, $19,851,000 for fiscal year 1998

and $19,851,000 for fiscal year 1999.

(e) ARCTIC RESEARCH.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary,

to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the

Arctic research activities of the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research

$2,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998 and 1999.

(f) UNDERSEA RESEARCH PROGRAM.—

(1) AUTHORIZATION.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry

out the National Undersea Research Program, $18,000,000 for each of fiscal

years 1998 and 1999.

(2) PEER REVIEW.—No funds appropriated pursuant to this Act may be obligated for any research grant unless such grant is competitively awarded and

subject to a peer review process established pursuant to the plan submitted

under paragraph (3).

(3) RESTRUCTURING PLAN.—By January 15, 1998, the Secretary shall submit

to the Committees on Resources and Science of the House of Representatives

and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a

plan for carrying out the National Undersea Research Program that will ensure

the quality of scientific research carried out by the Program, the responsiveness

of the Program to the mission needs of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration, and responsiveness of the Program to key national needs in

oceanographic research.

(g) OCEAN SERVICES.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary,

to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out ocean

services duties, $2,800,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $2,848,000 for fiscal year 1999.

Such duties include acquisition of sea-surface and ocean temperature profiles from

specially instrumented commercial vessels, and storing and archiving the acquired

data.

(h) NATIONAL OCEANOGRAPHIC PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM.—The National Oceanic

and Atmospheric Administration is authorized to participate in the National Oceanic Partnership Program established by the National Oceanic Partnership Act

(Public Law 104–201).

TITLE III—PROGRAM SUPPORT AND OTHER

ACCOUNTS

SEC. 301. PROGRAM SUPPORT.

(a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES.—There are authorized

to be appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration to carry out executive direction and administrative activities under

the Act of 1970 and any other law involving those activities, $18,240,000 for fiscal

year 1998 and $17,328,000 for fiscal year 1999.

(b) SYSTEMS ACQUISITION OFFICE.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the

Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry

out Systems Acquisition Office activities, $1,423,000 for fiscal year 1998 and

$1,351,000 for fiscal year 1999.

(c) CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—There are authorized to be appropriated

to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

to carry out central administrative support activities under the Act of 1970 and any

other law involving those activities, $31,350,000 for fiscal year 1998 and

$29,783,000 for fiscal year 1999.

(d) AIRCRAFT SERVICES.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out

aircraft services activities (including aircraft operations, maintenance, and support)

under the Act of 1970 and any other law involving those activities, $9,900,000 for

fiscal year 1998 and $9,900,000 for fiscal year 1999.

SEC. 302. RECOVERIES FROM PRIOR YEARS.

The total amount authorized to be appropriated pursuant to title I is reduced by

$25,500,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $14,000,000 for fiscal year 1999 to reflect the

use of prior year balances.
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TITLE IV—STREAMLINING OF OPERATIONS

SEC. 401. PROGRAMS.

(a) PROGRAMS.—No funds are authorized to be appropriated for the following programs and accounts:

(1) Federal/State Weather Modification Grants.

(2) The Southeast Storm Research Account.

(3) National Institute for Environmental Renewal.

(4) National Weather Service non-Federal, non-wildfire Fire Weather Service.

(5) National Weather Service Regional Climate Centers.

(6) Goddard Science Center.

(7) National Weather Service Samoa Weather Forecast Office Repair and Upgrade Account.

(b) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,

the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate

a report certifying that all the programs listed in subsection (a) will be terminated

no later than September 30, 1997.

SEC. 402. LIMITATIONS ON APPROPRIATIONS.

(a) MAXIMUM AMOUNTS; OPERATIONS, RESEARCH, AND FACILITIES.—No more than

$1,039,206,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $1,020,131,000 for fiscal year 1999 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary by title I of this Act to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out all activities associated

with Operations, Research, and Facilities for which funds are authorized by this

Act.

(b) MAXIMUM AMOUNTS; CAPITAL ASSETS ACQUISITION.—No more than

$410,808,000 for fiscal year 1998 and $548,101,000 for fiscal year 1999 are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary by title I of this Act to enable the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out all activities associated with

Capital Assets Acquisition for which funds are authorized by this Act.

TITLE V—MISCELLANEOUS

SEC. 501. WEATHER DATA BUOYS.

(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful for any unauthorized person to remove,

change the location of, obstruct, willfully damage, make fast to, or interfere with

any weather data buoy established, installed, operated, or maintained by the National Data Buoy Center.

(b) CIVIL PENALTIES.—The Administrator is authorized to assess a civil penalty

against any person who violates any provision of this section in an amount of not

more than $10,000 for each violation. Each day during which such violation continues shall be considered a new offense. Such penalties shall be assessed after notice

and opportunity for a hearing.

(c) REWARDS.—The Administrator may offer and pay rewards for the apprehension

and conviction, or for information helpful therein, of persons found interfering, in

violation of law, with data buoys maintained by the National Data Buoy Center; or

for information leading to the discovery of missing National Weather Service property or the recovery thereof.

SEC. 502. DUTIES OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.

(a) IN GENERAL.—To protect life and property and enhance the national economy,

the Secretary, through the National Weather Service, except as outlined in subsection (b), shall be responsible for—

(1) forecasts and shall serve as the sole official source of weather and flood

warnings;

(2) the issue of storm warnings;

(3) the collection, exchange, and distribution of meteorological, hydrological,

climatic, and oceanographic data and information; and

(4) the preparation of hydrometeorological guidance and core forecast information.

(b) COMPETITION WITH PRIVATE SECTOR.—The National Weather Service shall not

compete, or assist other entities to compete, with the private sector when a service

not specified in subsection (a) is currently provided or can be provided by commercial enterprise, unless the Secretary finds that the private sector is unwilling or unable to provide the services.
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(c) AMENDMENTS.—The Act of 1890 is amended—

(1) by striking section 3 (15 U.S.C. 313); and

(2) in section 9 (15 U.S.C. 317), by striking all after ‘‘Department of Agriculture’’ and inserting in lieu thereof a period.

(d) REPORT.—Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,

the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate

a report detailing all National Weather Service activities which do not conform to

the requirements of this section and outlining a timetable for their termination.

SEC. 503. PROHIBITION OF LOBBYING ACTIVITIES.

None of the funds authorized by this Act shall be available for any activity whose

purpose is to influence legislation pending before the Congress, except that this subsection shall not prevent officers or employees of the United States or of its departments or agencies from communicating to Members of Congress on the request of

any Member or to Congress, through the proper channels, requests for legislation

or appropriations which they deem necessary for the efficient conduct of the public

business.

SEC. 504. NOTICE.

(a) NOTICE OF REPROGRAMMING.—If any funds authorized by this Act are subject

to a reprogramming action that requires notice to be provided to the Appropriations

Committees of the House of Representatives and the Senate, notice of such action

shall concurrently be provided to the Committees on Science and Resources of the

House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate.

(b) NOTICE OF REORGANIZATION.—The Administrator shall provide notice to the

Committees on Science, Resources, and Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the Committees on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Appropriations of the Senate, not later than 15 days before any major reorganization of

any program, project, or activity of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

SEC. 505. SENSE OF CONGRESS ON THE YEAR 2000 PROBLEM.

With the year 2000 fast approaching, it is the sense of Congress that the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration should—

(1) give high priority to correcting all 2-digit date-related problems in its computer systems to ensure that those systems continue to operate effectively in

the year 2000 and beyond;

(2) assess immediately the extent of the risk to the operations of the National

Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration posed by the problems referred to in

paragraph (1), and plan and budget for achieving Year 2000 compliance for all

of its mission-critical systems; and

(3) develop contingency plans for those systems that the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration is unable to correct in time.

SEC. 506. BUY AMERICAN.

(a) COMPLIANCE WITH BUY AMERICAN ACT.—No funds appropriated pursuant to

this Act may be expended by an entity unless the entity agrees that in expending

the assistance the entity will comply with sections 2 through 4 of the Act of March

3, 1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a–10c, popularly known as the ‘‘Buy American Act’’).

(b) SENSE OF CONGRESS.—In the case of any equipment or products that may be

authorized to be purchased with financial assistance provided under this Act, it is

the sense of Congress that entities receiving such assistance should, in expending

the assistance, purchase only American-made equipment and products.

(c) NOTICE TO RECIPIENTS OF ASSISTANCE.—In providing financial assistance

under this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall provide to each recipient of the assistance a notice describing the statement made in subsection (a) by the Congress.

PURPOSE OF THE BILL

The purpose of H.R. 1278 is to authorize certain programs within

the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for

Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999.
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BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

consists of five line offices: National Ocean Service (NOS), National

Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR), National Weather Service (NWS), and National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service

(NESDIS). The Resources Committee has jurisdiction over programs in NMFS and NOS. The Resources and Science Committees

share jurisdiction over certain of the ocean and marine-related

components of OAR and NESDIS. The Science Committee has jurisdiction over NWS and the weather and atmospheric components

of OAR and NESDIS.

NOS includes: the Coast Survey, which produces charts and

navigational information crucial to the conduct of safe marine and

aviation navigation; the National Geodetic Survey, which maintains the Nation’s vertical reference system; the Coastal Ocean Program, which conducts research to improve the quality of information available to coastal resource managers; the Office of Resources

Conservation and Assessment, which conducts environmental monitoring, hazardous materials planning and response, and environmental restoration; and the Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource

Management, which oversees the Coastal Zone Management and

National Marine Sanctuaries programs.

NMFS is responsible for the management of marine and anadromous fisheries in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, including

implementation of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation

and Management Act. NMFS is also responsible for the implementation of the Endangered Species Act for marine and anadromous

species and the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

OAR provides the research and technology development necessary to improve NOAA services and provide the scientific foundation for national policy decisions on marine resources, ocean, climate, and atmospheric issues. Research is conducted by NOAA and

university scientists through a network of 11 Environmental Research Laboratories, 29 National Sea Grant programs, six Undersea Research Centers, and eight cooperative laboratories with universities.

NOAA needs a certain number of days at sea on NOAA-owned

or contracted vessels to acquire the data it needs to prepare nautical charts, assess fishery stocks, conduct oceanographic measures

and to otherwise carry out its mission. In prior years, ship time

was provided from a central Marine Services Account. In Fiscal

Year 1997, the central account was replaced by ‘‘Acquisition of

Data’’ line items in NOS, NMFS, and OAR. This change was made

to provide line offices with the maximum amount of flexibility in

determining how to acquire ship time. The Administration’s Fiscal

Year 1998 Budget Request proposed reductions in these line items.

The Resources Committee strongly opposes these reductions. If

NOAA cannot go to sea, it cannot gather the data it needs to carry

out the responsibilities Congress has given it. Therefore, the Resources Committee reported version of H.R. 1278 increases the authorization for OAR’s Acquisition of Data line to $15.4 million.
10

The vast majority of NOAA’s oceanography and fisheries programs are authorized by separate statute, such as the MagnusonStevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the Coastal

Zone Management Act, title II of the Marine Protection, Research

and Sanctuaries Act, the Coastal and Geodetic Survey Act, and the

National Marine Sanctuaries Act. These programs are not authorized under H.R. 1278 as reported from the Committee on Resources. Rather, H.R. 1278 provides more specific authority for certain programs which have been created administratively under

NOAA’s more general authority.

The version of H.R. 1278 reported from the Committee on Resources removes the authorization of appropriations and deletes

other provisions for programs within the Committee’s jurisdiction.

While the Committee is sympathetic to the idea of a NOAA authorization bill as a convenient one-stop financial statement for NOAA

and as a vehicle for policy change, the Committee strongly believes

that it should provide the appropriate authorization levels and

other policy changes for its programs. Therefore, section 402 of the

Committee on Resources-reported bill should not be read as an

overall authorization level for NOAA. The section 402 cap applies

only to the activities authorized under title I of the bill, which contains programs within the Committee on Science’s jurisdiction. The

overall numbers in section 402 remain unchanged from those in

H.R. 1278 as introduced even though the cap applies to only a subset of NOAA activities; the Committee on Resources did not presume to create an overall authorization level for programs not

under its jurisdiction.

COMMITTEE ACTION

H.R. 1278 was introduced on April 10, 1997, by Congressman

Ken Calvert (R–CA). The bill was referred to the Committees on

Science and Resources. Within the Resources Committee, the bill

was referred to the Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans. On February 27, 1997, the Subcommittee held a

hearing on NOAA’s Fiscal Year 1998 budget. The Honorable Diana

Josephson, Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and

Atmosphere, Department of Commerce, testified on the budget request. This hearing reviewed many of the issues and programs addressed in H.R. 1278.

On May 22, 1997, the Subcommittee met to mark up H.R. 1278.

An amendment in the nature of a substitute was offered by Congressman Jim Saxton (R–NJ), and adopted by voice vote. The substitute made several changes to the bill as introduced. First, it

amends the title of the bill to ‘‘The Oceanographic and Atmospheric

Research Authorization Act of 1997.’’ The Science Committee entitled the bill ‘‘The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1997.’’ The bill does not deal with NOAA’s

fisheries, coastal zone management or marine sanctuary programs,

and the substitute drops the provisions in the bill that deal with

navigation services, coastal monitoring and assessment, and the

NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and Fleet. Therefore, the bill

does not provide an agency-wide authorization. Second, the amendment increases the authorization level for the National Undersea

Research Program (NURP), and deletes the requirement to estab-
11

lish two new NURP oversight entities; Third, the amendment drops

provisions authorizing navigation services and coastal monitoring

and assessment, areas that are not within the jurisdiction of the

Science Committee. Fourth, the amendment deletes the provisions

dealing with the NOAA Commissioned Officer Corps and the

NOAA Fleet. The Corps and Fleet issues primarily affect the agency’s hydrographic and fisheries responsibilities, not the agency’s

oceanographic work.

In addition, Congressman Neil Abercrombie offered an amendment to the Saxton amendment that authorized $7 million in Fiscal

Year 1998 and Fiscal Year 1999 for the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program. The

amendment was accepted by unanimous consent. The Saxton

amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, was adopted

by voice vote, and the bill, as amended, was ordered favorably reported to the Full Committee by voice vote.

On June 11, 1997, the Full Resources Committee met to consider

H.R. 1278. An amendment to reduce NOAA’s administrative costs

by five percent was offered by Congressman Calvert, and adopted

by voice vote. The bill as amended was then ordered favorably reported to the House of Representatives by voice vote.

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of Rule XI of

the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 2(b)(1) of

Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Resources’ oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Article I, section 8 of the Constitution of the United States

grants Congress the authority to enact H.R. 1278.

COST OF THE LEGISLATION

Clause 7(a) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the Committee of

the costs which would be incurred in carrying out H.R. 1278. However, clause 7(d) of that Rule provides that this requirement does

not apply when the Committee has included in its report a timely

submitted cost estimate of the bill prepared by the Director of the

Congressional Budget Office under section 403 of the Congressional

Budget Act of 1974.

COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XI

1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of Rule XI

of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 308(a) of

the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 1278 does not contain

any new budget authority, credit authority, or an increase or decrease in tax expenditures. Enactment of H.R. 1278 could result in

additional discretionary spending and also, by establishing a civil

penalty for the tampering with data buoys, could increase Federal

Government receipts.
12

2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of Rule XI

of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee has

received no report of oversight findings and recommendations from

the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight on the subject of H.R. 1278.

3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of Rule XI

of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 403 of the

Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the

following cost estimate for H.R. 1278 from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE COST ESTIMATE

U.S. CONGRESS,

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE,

Washington, DC, June 19, 1997.

Hon. DON YOUNG,

Committee on Resources, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 1278, the Oceanographic

and Atmospheric Research Authorization Act of 1997.

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased

to provide them. The CBO staff contacts are Gary Brown (for federal costs), and Marge Miller (for the State and local impact).

Sincerely,

JAMES L. BLUM,

(for June E. O’Neill, Director).

Enclosure.

H.R. 1278—Oceanographic and Atmospheric Research Authorization Act of 1997

Summary: H.R. 1278 would authorize appropriations for certain

programs and activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (NOAA) for fiscal years 1998 and 1999. NOAA’s

mission is to describe and predict changes in the Earth’s environment, and to conserve and manage coastal and marine resources.

Other provisions in the bill would authorize NOAA to use carryover

balances from certain programs for other purposes within the agency, eliminate certain NOAA programs, and authorize NOAA to collect civil penalties from individuals for tampering with weather

data buoys.

Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that enacting H.R. 1278 would result in additional discretionary spending of about $2.8 billion over the 1998–2002 period.

The legislation could affect governmental receipts by establishing a

civil penalty for tampering with data buoys; therefore, pay-as-yougo procedures would apply. However, CBO estimates that any new

receipts would be negligible. The bill contains no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded

Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (UMRA) and would impose no costs

on state, local, or tribal governments.

Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated budgetary impact of H.R. 1278 is shown in the following table.
13

[By fiscal year, in millions of dollars]

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

SPENDING SUBJECT TO APPROPRIATION

Spending under current law:

Budget Authority 1 ................................................................. 1,381 0 0 0 0 0

Estimated Outlays ................................................................. 1,381 591 206 102 3 1

Proposed Changes:

Authorization Level ................................................................ 0 1,308 1,469 0 0 0

Estimated Outlays ................................................................. 0 726 1,142 544 241 104

Spending under H.R. 1278:

Authorization Level 1 ............................................................. 1,381 1,308 1,469 0 0 0

Estimated Outlays ................................................................. 1,381 1,317 1,348 646 244 105

1 The 1997 level is the amount appropriated for that year for the activities authorized in this bill.

The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 300 (natural resources and environment).

BASIS OF ESTIMATE

Spending subject to appropriation

For purposes of this estimate, CBO assumes that all amounts authorized in H.R. 1278 will be appropriated by the start of each fiscal year and that outlays will follow the historical spending patterns for the authorized programs.

H.R. 1278 would authorize new budget authority of $1,308 million in fiscal year 1998 and $1,469 million in 1999. Those levels include downward adjustments from the gross authorization levels

stated in the bill. Those adjustments reflect a directive in the bill

requiring that NOAA use $26 million in 1998 and $14 million in

1999 from prior-year balances and reducing authorizations of appropriations by those amounts. CBO estimates that provisions in

H.R. 1278 directing NOAA to use unobligated balances from various programs for other purposes within the agency.

Total authorizations estimated for this bill reflect (1) authorizations of $1,196 million for 1998 and $1,347 million in 1999 for atmospheric, weather, and satellite programs in NOAA, (2) reductions from those amounts of $26 million and $14 million, respectively, to come from prior-year balances, and (3) authorizations of

$138 million in 1998 and $136 million in 1999 for oceanography research, marine research, program support, and other accounts. The

bill contains an overall limitation on authorizations of appropriations for atmospheric, weather, and satellite programs that is more

than $200 million greater in each of fiscal years 1998 and 1999

than the sum of the bill’s specific authorizations for these programs, but it does not authorize these additional amounts.

We expect that the amounts authorized under the bill would be

sufficient to pay for the costs of terminating those NOAA programs

targeted for elimination.

Revenues

H.R. 1278 would establish a civil penalty of $10,000 for tampering with weather data buoys established, installed, or maintained

by the National Data Buoy Center. Collections from imposing this

penalty would be governmental receipts. CBO expects that any collections from this penalty would total significantly less than

$500,000 a year.
14

Pay-as-you-go considerations: Section 252 of the Balanced Budget

and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 sets up pay-as-you-go

procedures for legislation affecting direct spending or receipts

through 1998. The bill’s provision establishing a penalty for tampering with data buoys could affect receipts, but CBO estimates

that any new revenues would be negligible.

Estimated impact on State, local, and tribal governments: H.R.

1278 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in

UMRA, and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. The bill would abolish five NOAA programs that provide research funds or grants to state governments and universities.

Three of these programs did not receive funding in fiscal year 1997;

the other two programs received a total of $3 million for the year.

Two provisions in the bill concern NOAA grant conditions and

procedures for awarding grants. One provision would require compliance with the ‘‘Buy American Act.’’ Another would require that

all research grants funded under this bill be competitively awarded

and subject to peer review. Based on information provided by

NOAA officials, CBO expects that the first provision would impose

no additional costs on grantees. Grantees and grant applicants

would incur some additional costs as a result of the latter provision, however, and NOAA grants could go to different institutions.

CBO cannot predict how the share of research funding awarded to

public universities and colleges would change, however.

Estimated impact on the private sector: The bill would impose no

new private-sector mandates as defined in UMRA.

Previous CBO estimate: On April 21, 1997, CBO provided an estimate for H.R. 1278, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1997, as ordered reported by the

House Committee on Science. Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimated that enacting that version of the

bill would result in additional discretionary spending of about $3

billion over the 1998–2002 period—about $200 million more than

the version approved by the Resources Committee.

Estimate prepared by: Federal Costs: Gary Brown; Impact on

State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie Miller.

Estimate approved by: James R. Horney for Paul N. Van de

Water, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis.

COMPLIANCE WITH PUBLIC LAW 104–4

H.R. 1278 contains no unfunded mandates.

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of the House

of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted

is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italics, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman):

WEATHER SERVICE MODERNIZATION ACT

* * * * * * *
15

SEC. 706. RESTRUCTURING FIELD OFFICES.

SEC. 706. (a)***

ø(b) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary shall not close, consolidate,

automate, or relocate any field office, unless the Secretary has certified that such action will not result in any degradation of service.

Such certification shall include—

ø(1) a description of local weather characteristics and weather-related concerns which affect the weather services provided

within the service area;

ø(2) a detailed comparison of the services provided within

the service area and the services to be provided after such action;

ø(3) a description of any recent or expected modernization of

National Weather Service operations which will enhance services in the service area;

ø(4) an identification of any area within any State which

would not receive coverage (at an elevation of 10,000 feet) by

the next generation weather radar network;

ø(5) evidence, based upon operational demonstration of modernized National Weather Service operations, which was considered in reaching the conclusion that no degradation in service will result from such action; and

ø(6) any report of the Committee submitted under section

707(c) that evaluates the proposed certification.¿

ø(c) PUBLIC REVIEW.—Each certification decision shall be preceded by—

ø(1) publication in the Federal Register of a proposed certification; and

ø(2) a 60-day period after such publication during which the

public may provide comments to the Secretary on the proposed

certification.

ø(d) FINAL DECISION.—If after consideration of the public comment received under subsection (c) the Secretary, in consultation

with the Committee, decides to close, consolidate, automate, or relocate any such field office, the Secretary shall publish a final certification in the Federal Register and submit the certification to the

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the

House of Representatives.

ø(e) SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.—The Secretary may not close or

relocate any field office—

ø(1) which is located at an airport, unless the Secretary, in

consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the

Committee, first conducts an air safety appraisal, determines

that such action will not result in degradation of service that

affects aircraft safety, and includes such determination in the

certification required under subsection (b); or

ø(2) which is the only office in a State, unless the Secretary

first evaluates the effect on weather services provided to inState users, such as State agencies, civil defense officials, and

local public safety offices, and includes in the certification required under subsection (b) the Secretary’s determination that

a comparable level of weather services provided to such inState users will remain.
16

ø(f) LIAISON OFFICER.—The Secretary may not close, consolidate,

automate, or relocate a field office until arrangements have been

made to maintain for a period of at least 2 years at least one person in the service area to act as a liaison officer who—

ø(1) provides timely information regarding the activities of

the National Weather Service which may affect service to the

community, including modernization and restructuring; and

ø(2) works with area weather service users, including persons associated with general aviation, civil defense, emergency

preparedness, and the news media, with respect to the provision of timely weather warnings and forecasts.¿

(b) CERTIFICATION.—The Secretary may not close, automate, or relocate any field office unless the Secretary has certified to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and

the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives that such

action will not result in degradation of service to the affected area.

Such certification shall be in accordance with the modernization

criteria established under section 704.

(c) SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.—The Secretary may not close or relocate any field office which is located at an airport, if the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the

Committee, determines as a result of the Air Safety Appraisal, completed and signed by the National Weather Service and the Federal

Aviation Administration on December 9, 1996, that such action will

result in degradation of service that affects aircraft safety.

(d) PUBLIC LIAISON.—The Secretary shall maintain for a period

of at least two years after the closure of any weather office a program to—

(1) provide timely information regarding the activities of the

National Weather Service which may affect service to the community, including modernization and restructuring; and

(2) work with area weather service users, including persons

associated with general aviation, civil defense, emergency preparedness, and the news media, with respect to the provision of

timely weather warnings and forecasts.

SEC. 707. MODERNIZATION TRANSITION COMMITTEE.

(a) * * *

* * * * * * *

ø(c) DUTIES.—(1) The Committee may review any proposed certification under section 706 for which the Secretary has provided

a notice of intent to certify in the Plan, and should review such a

proposed certification if there is a significant possibility of degradation of service within the affected service area. Upon the request

of the Committee, the Secretary shall make available to the Committee the supporting documents developed by the Secretary in

connection with the proposed certification. The Committee may

prepare and submit to the Secretary, prior to publication of the

proposed certification, a report which evaluates the proposed certification on the basis of the modernization criteria and with respect to the requirement that there be no degradation of service.

ø(2) The Committee shall advise the Congress and the Secretary

on—
17

ø(A) the implementation of the Strategic Plan, annual development of the Plan, and establishment and implementation of

modernization criteria; and

ø(B) matters of public safety and the provision of weather

services which relate to the comprehensive modernization of

the National Weather Service.¿

(c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall advise the Congress and the

Secretary on—

(1) the implementation of the Strategic Plan, annual development of the Plan, and establishment and implementation of

modernization criteria; and

(2) matters of public safety and the provision of weather services which relate to the comprehensive modernization of the National Weather Service.

* * * * * * *

ø(f) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall terminate on December

31, 1999.¿

(f) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall terminate—

(1) on September 30, 1997; or

(2) 90 days after the deadline for public comment on the modernization criteria for closure certification published in the Federal Register pursuant to section 704(b)(2),

whichever occurs later.

* * * * * * *

THE ACT OF OCTOBER 1, 1890

An act to increase the efficiency and reduce the expenses of the Signal Corps of the

Army, and to transfer the Weather Service to the Department of Agriculture.

* * * * * * *

øSEC. 3. That the Chief of the Weather Bureau, under the direction of the Secretary of Agriculture, on and after July first, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, shall have charge of the forecasting

of weather, the issue of storm warnings, the display of weather and

flood signals for the benefit of agriculture, commerce, and navigation, the gauging and reporting of rivers, the maintenance and operation of sea-coast telegraph lines and the collection and transmission of marine intelligence for the benefit of commerce and

navigation, the reporting of temperature and rain-fall conditions for

the cotton interests, the display of frost and cold-wave signals, the

distribution of meteorological information in the interests of agriculture and commerce, and the taking of such meteorological observations as may be necessary to establish and record the climatic

conditions of the United States, or as are essential for the proper

execution of the foregoing duties.¿

* * * * * * *

SEC. 9. That on and after July first, eighteen hundred and ninety-one, the appropriations for the support of the Signal Corps of the

Army shall be made with those of other staff corps of the Army,

and the appropriations for the support of the Weather Bureau shall

be made with those of the other bureaus of the Department of Agriculture øand it shall be the duty of the Secretary of Agriculture to
18

prepare future estimates for the Weather Bureau which shall be

hereafter specially developed and extended in the interests of agriculture.¿.

* * * * * * *

Æ