Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act

To help enhance commerce through improved seasonal forecasts, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act 2. Improving seasonal forecasts for agriculture and commerce Section 1762 of title XVII of Public Law 99–198 15 U.S.C. 313 (1) in subsection (a), by striking (a) (a) Findings (2) in subsection (b), by striking (b) (b) Policy (3) by adding at the end the following: (c) Functions The Under Secretary, through the National Weather Service and other appropriate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall— (1) collect and utilize information in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of seasonal temperature and precipitation; (2) leverage existing research and models from the academic sector to improve the forecasts under paragraph (1); (3) determine and provide information on how the forecasted conditions under paragraph (1) may impact— (A) the number and severity of droughts, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, heatwaves, or other relevant natural disasters; (B) snowpack; and (C) sea ice conditions; (4) provide the forecasts under paragraph (1) and the information under paragraphs (1) and (3) on both national and regional levels; and (5) develop an Internet clearinghouse with the forecasts of seasonal temperature and precipitation and other relevant seasonal forecasts and products produced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal and State departments and agencies, and the academic sector. (d) Communication The Under Secretary shall provide the forecasts and the information on their impacts under subsection (c) to the public, including public and private entities engaged in planning and preparedness, including— (1) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local levels of government; (2) the private sector; and (3) the public. (e) Cooperation The Under Secretary shall build upon existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including— (1) by designating research and monitoring activities related to seasonal forecasts as a priority in 1 or more Cooperative Institute solicitations; (2) by contributing to the interagency Earth System Prediction Capability; and (3) by consulting with the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security to determine the highest priority seasonal forecast needs to enhance national security. (f) Forecast communication coordinators (1) In general The Under Secretary shall provide grants to States, including territories, for each State to have a forecast communication coordinator to receive and disseminate the forecasts and information under subsection (c). Applications for grants under this subsection shall be submitted in such form and manner, and contain such information, as the Under Secretary prescribes. (2) Requirements For each State that requests assistance under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall— (A) provide funds to support an individual in that State to— (i) serve as a liaison among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, other Federal departments and agencies, the academic sector, the State, and relevant interests within that State; and (ii) receive the forecasts and information under subsection (c) and disseminate the forecasts and information throughout the State, including county and tribal governments; (B) provide 1 grant for the purpose described in paragraph (1); and (C) require matching funds from the State, a university, a non-governmental organization, trade association, or the private sector. (3) Limitation Each grant under this subsection shall not exceed $100,000. (g) Cooperation from other Federal agencies Each Federal department and agency shall cooperate as appropriate with the Under Secretary in carrying out this section. (h) Reports (1) In general Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of the Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act (A) an analysis of the how information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on seasonal forecasts, as provided under subsection (c), is utilized in public planning and preparedness; (B) specific plans and goals for the continued development of the seasonal forecasts and related products described in subsection (c); and (C) an identification of research, monitoring, observing, and forecasting requirements to meet the goals described in subparagraph (B). (2) Consultation In developing the report under paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall consult with relevant Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local government agencies, research institutions, and the private sector. (i) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section $26,500,000 for each of fiscal years 2015 through 2020. (j) Definitions In this section: (1) Seasonal The term seasonal (2) Under Secretary The term Under Secretary . 3. United States Weather Research Program (a) In general Section 108 of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 ( 15 U.S.C. 313 (1) in subsection (a)— (A) in paragraph (3), by striking ; and (B) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and inserting a semicolon; and (C) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following: (5) provide to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives an annual report, including— (A) a list of on-going research projects, including project goals and a point of contact for each project; and (B) the 5 projects related to observations, weather, or seasonal-scale forecasts within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research that are closest to operationalization, including for each project— (i) the potential benefit; (ii) any barrier to operationalization; and (iii) the plan for operationalization, including which line office will financially support the project and how much the line office intends to spend; (6) establish teams with staff from the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather Service to oversee the operationalization of research products developed by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research within the National Weather Service; (7) develop mechanisms for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research’s research priorities to be informed by both the relevant line offices within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the relevant user community, and the weather enterprise, including by exchanging detailees between the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the line offices; (8) develop an internal mechanism to track the progress of each research project within the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and mechanisms to terminate a project that is not adequately progressing; (9) for extramural research funded, the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research shall develop and implement a system to track whether the grant’s goals were accomplished; (10) provide facilities for products developed by the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to be tested in operational simulations, such as test beds; and (11) encourage academic collaboration with the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the National Weather Service by facilitating visiting scholars. ; and (2) in subsection (b), in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the The (b) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out section 108 of the Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 ( 15 U.S.C. 313 4. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite design and management (a) Short-Term management of environmental observations (1) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall take immediate action to manage the expense of environmental observations— (A) by improving the procurement practices of the Administration with respect to polar and geostationary satellites; and (B) by assessing the operational viability of alternate observation platforms, such as microsatellite constellations and ocean observing systems. (2) Procurement and acquisition of polar and geostationary satellites (A) Use of established competitive processes (i) In general Except as provided in clause (ii) and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall use the process established under section 3306 of title 41, United States Code, to acquire all the polar and geostationary weather satellites for use by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in a program phase via a single procurement action. (ii) Applicability Clause (i) shall apply to procurement and acquisition occurring in program phases beginning after the date of enactment of this Act. (iii) Definition of program phase In this subparagraph, the term program phase (B) Assessment of procurement and acquisition opportunities (i) In general The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall ensure that in procuring or acquiring polar and geostationary weather satellites that the Administrator only procures or acquires such satellites in a manner that secures the best value for each polar and geostationary program of the Administration. (ii) Best value In determining whether a procurement or acquisition secures the best value for a program, the Administrator shall consider— (I) integration with current ground systems for receiving, processing, and disseminating data; (II) integration of spacecraft and sensing instruments; (III) capacity to respond to changes in requirements and credibility of risk management; and (IV) continuity and consistency of capability. (3) Microsatellite constellations (A) In general The Administrator shall complete and operationalize the radio occultation program of record in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act— (i) by deploying constellations of microsatellites in both the equatorial and polar orbits; (ii) by integrating the resulting data and research into all national operational weather forecast models; and (iii) by ensuring that the resulting data is free and open to all communities. (B) Annual reports Not less frequently than once each year until the Administrator has completed and operationalized the program described in subparagraph (A) pursuant to such subparagraph, the Administrator shall submit to Congress a report on the status of the efforts of the Administrator to carry out such subparagraph. (4) Integration of data and research from Integrated Ocean Observing System into operational forecast models As soon as practicable, the Administrator shall integrate data and research from the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) of the Administration into such operational forecast models as the Administrator considers appropriate. (5) Limitation on procurement of additional polar orbiting satellites (A) In general The Administrator may not procure any future program phase of the Joint Polar Satellite System program of record if the aggregate cost for such future program phase that would be incurred by the Administration exceeds the aggregate cost that was incurred by the Administration in procuring the Joint Polar Satellite System 1 and 2. (B) Adjustment for inflation In determining aggregate costs under subparagraph (A), the Administrator may adjust the aggregate costs for inflation. (6) Specifications for new satellite systems determined by operational needs In developing specifications for any satellite systems of the Administration to follow after the Joint Polar Satellite System, Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites, and any other satellites of the Administration in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall ensure the specifications are determined to the extent practicable by the recommendations of the reports under subsection (b) of this section and section 6(d). (b) Independent study on future of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellite systems (1) Agreement (A) In general The Administrator shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences to perform the services covered by this subsection. (B) Timing The Administrator shall enter into the agreement described in subparagraph (A) before September 30, 2018. (2) Study (A) In general Under an agreement between the Administrator and the National Academy of Sciences under this subsection, the National Academy of Sciences shall conduct a study on matters concerning the future of the satellite systems of the Administration. (B) Elements In conducting the study under subparagraph (A), the National Academy of Sciences shall— (i) review the report of the Weather Commission described in section 6(d), and the 2017 update to the 2007 report by the National Research Council entitled Earth Science and Applications From Space (ii) develop recommendations on how to make the satellite portfolio of the Administration more robust and cost-effective; (iii) assess the costs and benefits of moving toward a constellation of many small satellites, standardizing satellite bus design, relying more on the purchasing of data, or acquiring data from other sources or methods; (iv) identify the environmental observations that are essential to the performance of weather models, based on an assessment of Federal, academic, and private sector weather research, and the cost of obtaining the environmental data; (v) identify environmental observations that improve the quality of weather forecasts, but are not essential for the generation of weather models in effect on the day before the date of enactment of this Act; and (vi) develop recommendations on a portfolio of environmental observations that balances essential and quality-improving data, private and nonprivate sources, and space- and Earth-based instruments. (C) Deadline and report In carrying out the study under subparagraph (A), the National Academy of Sciences shall complete and transmit to the Administrator a report containing the findings of the National Academy of Sciences with respect to the study not later than 2 years after the date on which the Administrator enters into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences under paragraph (1)(A). (D) Coordination of efforts In order to avoid duplication, the National Academy of Sciences may coordinate its efforts to draft the report under subparagraph (C) with the preparation of the 2017 study entitled Earth Science and Applications from Space (3) Alternate contract organization (A) In general If the Administrator is unable before the date prescribed in paragraph (1)(B) to enter into an agreement described in paragraph (1)(A) with the National Academy of Sciences on terms acceptable to the Administrator, the Administrator shall seek to enter into such an agreement with another appropriate organization that— (i) is not part of the Government; (ii) operates as a not-for-profit entity; and (iii) has expertise and objectivity comparable to that of the National Academy of Sciences. (B) Treatment If the Administrator enters into an agreement with another organization as described in subparagraph (A), any reference in this section to the National Academy of Sciences shall be treated as a reference to the other organization. (4) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this subsection $1,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2017 through 2019. 5. Designation of Federal Coordinator for Meteorology The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall designate a Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. 6. Establishment of Weather Commission (a) Establishment (1) In general The Federal Coordinator for Meteorology, designated under section 5, shall establish, and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration acting through the United States Weather Research Program of the Administration shall support, a commission— (A) to assess the weather forecasts and forecast products provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and (B) to provide advice to Congress on matters relating to the highest priority weather forecast needs of the community of users of the forecasts and products described in subparagraph (A). (2) Designation The commission established under paragraph (1) shall be known as the Weather Commission Commission (b) Membership (1) Composition (A) In general The Commission shall be composed of individuals selected by the Federal Coordinator from among leading experts and innovators from each relevant stakeholder group described in clauses (i) through (vii) of subparagraph (B). (B) Number The Commission shall be composed of no fewer than 14 members, including— (i) 2 representatives from State emergency management agencies; (ii) 2 representatives from State agriculture agencies; (iii) 1 representative from the Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native Hawaiian community; (iv) 2 representatives from the private aerospace industry; (v) 2 representatives from the operational forecasting community; (vi) 2 representatives from the academic community; (vii) 1 representative from a professional society that focuses on meteorology; (viii) the chair of the Science Advisory Board of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (ix) the chair of the National Science Board; (x) the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, ex officio; and (xi) the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, ex officio. (2) Co-chair The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall serve as co-chairs of the Commission. (c) Duties The duties of the Commission are as follows: (1) To assess the weather forecasts and forecast products of the Administration as described in subsection (a). (2) To provide advice to Congress as described in subsection (a). (3) To obtain public comment on the weather forecasts and products of the Administration that the Administrator determines are the highest priority for users of such forecasts and products. (d) Report (1) In general Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to Congress and make available to the public on an Internet website a report on matters relating to the activities of the Commission. (2) Contents The report submitted under paragraph (1) shall include the following: (A) The findings of the Commission with respect to the review conducted under paragraph (3) of subsection (c). (B) The findings of the Commission with respect to the public comments obtained under paragraph (4) of such subsection. (C) The recommendations developed under paragraph (5) of such subsection. (e) Exemption from FACA The Commission shall not be subject to the requirements of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (5 U.S.C. App.). (f) Termination The Commission shall terminate on the date that is 4 years after the date of enactment of this Act. (g) Authorization of appropriations There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this section $1,000,000 for the period of fiscal years 2015 through 2019.

Summary: Seasonal Forecasting Improvement Act (Sec. 2) The Department of Commerce, through the National Weather Service (NWS) and other appropriate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), shall: collect and utilize information in order to make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of seasonal temperature and precipitation in agriculture; leverage existing research and models from the academic sector to improve such forecasts; determine and provide information on how such forecasted conditions may impact the number and severity of droughts, fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, heat waves, coastal inundation, winter storms, high impact weather, or other relevant disasters, snowpack, and sea ice conditions; provide these forecasts and information on national and regional levels; and develop an Internet clearinghouse. Commerce shall provide forecasts and information on their impacts to the public. Commerce shall build upon existing forecasting and assessment programs and partnerships, including by: designating research and monitoring activities related to seasonal forecasts as a priority in one or more Cooperative Institute solicitations, contributing to the interagency Earth System Prediction Capability, and consulting with the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to determine the highest priority seasonal forecast needs to enhance national security. Commerce shall make grants of up to $100,000 each to states and territories to appoint a forecast communication coordinator to receive and disseminate forecasts and information. Commerce shall provide funds to each state requesting assistance to support an individual to: serve as a liaison among NOAA, other federal departments and agencies, the academic sector, the state, and relevant interests within that state; and receive and disseminate the forecasts and information throughout the state, including county and tribal governments. Commerce shall also require matching funds from the state, a university, a non-governmental organization, trade association, or the private sector. The bill reauthorizes the weather and climate information in agriculture program through FY2020. (Sec. 3) The U.S. Weather Research Program shall: (1) report annually to Congress about on-going research projects and the five NOAA projects related to observations, weather, or seasonal-scale forecasts closest to operationalization; (2) establish teams with staff from the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the NWS to oversee the operationalization of research projects; and (3) facilitate visiting scholars. The bill reauthorizes the U.S. Weather Research Program through FY2020. (Sec. 4) NOAA must take immediate action to manage the expense of environmental observations by: improving NOAA procurement practices with respect to polar and geostationary satellites; and assessing the operational viability of alternate observation platforms, such as microsatellite constellations and ocean observing systems. NOAA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) may acquire all the polar and geostationary weather satellites for use in a NOAA program phase via a single procurement action. NOAA shall ensure that it procures or acquires such satellites only by securing the best value for each NOAA polar and geostationary program, considering: integration with current ground systems for receiving, processing, and disseminating data; integration of spacecraft and sensing instruments; and capacity to respond to changes in requirements and credibility of risk management. NOAA shall complete and operationalize the radio occultation program of record in effect on the day before enactment of this Act by: deploying constellations of microsatellites in both the equatorial and polar orbits, integrating resulting data and research into all national operational weather forecast models, and ensuring that the resulting data is free and open to all communities. In NWS Regions where NOAA determines that ocean and coastal data would improve forecasts, NOAA shall: integrate additional coastal and ocean observations, and other data and research from NOAA Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS) into regional weather forecasts; and support the development of real time data-sharing products and forecast products in collaboration with the IOOS regional associations, including the private sector, academia, and research institutions. NOAA must identify degradation of existing monitoring and observation infrastructure that could lead to a reduction in forecast quality. NOAA shall enter into an agreement with the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) to study matters concerning the future of NOAA satellite systems. If it is unable to enter into an agreement with the NAS on acceptable terms, NOAA shall seek to enter into such an agreement with another appropriate organization that: is not a part of the government; operates as not-for-profit entity; and has expertise and objectivity comparable to that of the NAS. The bill authorizes appropriations to NOAA for FY2017-FY2019 to carry out this section. (Sec. 5) The Office of Science and Technology Policy shall designate a Federal Coordinator for Meteorology. (Sec. 6) NOAA shall establish and support a Weather Commission to: (1) assess NOAA weather forecasts and forecast products; and (2) advise the federal government, including Congress, on matters relating to the highest priority weather forecast needs of the community of users. The bill authorizes appropriations to NOAA through FY2019 for the Weather Commission. (Sec. 7) The NWS shall review existing research, products, and services that meet the specific needs of the urban environment, including those with the potential for improving modeling and forecasting capabilities by taking into account factors such as varying building heights, impermeable surfaces, lack of tree canopy, traffic pollution, and interbuilding wind effects. (Sec. 8) NOAA shall analyze the impacts of the proposed Air Force divestiture in the U.S. Weather Research and Forecasting Model, including the impact on: U.S. weather forecasting capabilities, the accuracy of civilian regional forecasts, the civilian readiness for traditional and extreme weather events in the United States, and the research necessary to develop the Weather Research and Forecasting Model. (Sec. 9) NOAA shall contract or continue to partner with an external organization to conduct a baseline analysis of the NWS operations and workforce. (Sec. 10) NOAA shall maintain a National Water Center, through which it shall: initiate research and development activities to develop operational water resource prediction products; collaborate with, and provide decision-support regarding total water prediction to, other relevant federal and state agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Environmental Protection Agency, and state water resource and emergency management agencies; and develop capabilities necessary for total water predictive capacity. The National Weather Center shall report on total water predictive capabilities and products, and may make recommendations for improving engineering, design, operations, and management of civil works projects, including the Central and Southern Florida Project and any project in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River System, to optimize water management. (Sec. 11) In collaboration with the American weather industry and appropriate academic entities, and through the NWS, NOAA shall plan and maintain a project to improve hurricane forecasting, including: the prediction of rapid intensification and track of hurricanes; the forecast and communication of storm surges from hurricanes; and risk communication research to create more effective watch and warning products.