National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018

To reauthorize and amend the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2017 2. Modification of findings and purpose (a) Findings Section 2 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 ( 42 U.S.C. 7701 (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) by inserting Oregon, New York, (B) by inserting Tennessee, South Carolina (2) in paragraph (2), by striking prediction techniques and (3) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following: (4) A well-funded seismological research program could provide the scientific understanding needed to fully implement an effective earthquake early warning system. ; (4) in paragraphs (6) and (7), by striking lifelines lifeline infrastructure (5) by adding at the end the following: (12) The built environment has generally been constructed and maintained to meet the needs of the users under normal conditions. When earthquakes occur, the built environment is generally designed to prevent severe injuries or loss of human life and is not expected to remain operational or able to recover under any specified schedule. (13) The National Research Council published a study on reducing hazards and risks associated with earthquakes based on the goals and objectives for achieving national earthquake resilience described in the strategic plan entitled Strategic Plan for the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program . (b) Purpose Section 3 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7702 (1) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), in the first sentence, by inserting and increase the resilience of communities future earthquakes (2) in paragraph (1), by inserting to individuals and the communities an earthquake (3) in paragraph (2), by striking in time of disaster to facilitate community-wide post-earthquake recovery and in times of disaster (4) in paragraph (3), by striking for predicting damaging earthquakes and (5) in paragraph (4), by inserting and planning model building (6) in paragraph (5), by striking reconstruction re-occupancy, recovery, reconstruction, (c) Definitions (1) Lifeline infrastructure (A) In general Section 4(6) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7703(6) lifelines lifeline infrastructure (B) Conforming amendment Such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7701 lifelines lifeline infrastructure (2) Community resilience Section 4 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7703 (3) The term community resilience . 3. Modification of National Earthquake Hazards Reduction program (a) Modification of program activities Subsection (a)(2) of section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 ( 42 U.S.C. 7704 (1) in subparagraph (B)— (A) in clause (iii), by inserting , community resilience, seismic risk (B) by adding at the end the following: (iv) publishing a systematic set of maps of active faults and folds, liquefaction susceptibility, susceptibility for earthquake induced landslides, and other seismically induced hazards; and ; and (2) in subparagraph (D), by striking develop, operate 7708), continue the development of the Advanced National Seismic System, including earthquake early warning capabilities (b) Amendments relating to Interagency Coordinating Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (1) Clarification regarding membership Subparagraph (B) of subsection (a)(3) of such section is amended, in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking The committee In addition to the Director, the committee (2) Reduction in minimum frequency of meetings of Interagency Coordinating Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction Subparagraph (C) of such subsection is amended by striking not less than 3 times a year not less frequently than once each year (3) Expansion of duties Subparagraph (D) of such subsection is amended to read as follows: (D) Duties (i) General duty The Interagency Coordinating Committee shall oversee the planning, management, and coordination of the Program. (ii) Specific duties The duties of the Interagency Coordinating Committee include the following: (I) Developing, not later than 6 months after the date of the enactment of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2004 and updating periodically— (aa) a strategic plan that establishes goals and priorities for the Program activities described under subsection (a)(2); and (bb) a detailed management plan to implement such strategic plan. (II) Developing a coordinated interagency budget for the Program that will ensure appropriate balance among the Program activities described under subsection (a)(2), and, in accordance with the plans developed under subclause (I), submitting such budget to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget at the time designated by the Director for agencies to submit biennial budgets. (III) Developing interagency memorandums of understanding with any relevant Federal agencies on data sharing and resource commitment in the event of an earthquake disaster. (IV) Coordinating with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on data sharing and resource allocation to ensure judicious use of Government resources and the free-flowing exchange of information related to earthquakes. (V) Coordinating with the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior on the use of public lands for earthquake monitoring and research stations, and related data collection. (VI) Coordinating with the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development on the effects of earthquakes on transportation and housing stocks. (iii) Assistance from Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of the Interior To the extent practicable, the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior shall expedite any request for a permit to use public land under clause (ii)(V). . (4) Reduction in frequency of reporting by Interagency Coordinating Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (A) In general Subsection (a)(4) of such section is amended— (i) in the paragraph heading, by striking Annual Biennial (ii) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (F) as clauses (i) through (vi), respectively, and adjusting the indentation of the margin of such clauses, as so redesignated, two ems to the right; (iii) in the matter preceding clause (i), as redesignated by clause (ii), by striking The Interagency Senate (A) In general Not less frequently than once every two years, the Interagency Coordinating Committee shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report on the Program ; and (iv) by adding at the end the following: (B) Support for preparation of report Each head of a Program agency shall submit to the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology such information as the Director may request for the preparation of a report under subparagraph (A) not later than 90 days after the date on which the Director requests such information. . (B) Effective date The amendments made by subparagraph (A) shall take effect on the first day of the first fiscal year beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. (c) Modification of responsibilities of National Institute of Standards and Technology Subsection (b) of such section is amended— (1) in paragraph (1)— (A) in subparagraph (A), by striking and constructing, constructing, evaluating, and retrofitting (B) in subparagraph (D), by inserting provide new and research to (2) in paragraph (5), in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), in the first sentence, by inserting community resilience through improve (d) Modification of responsibilities of Federal Emergency Management Agency Paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of such section is amended to read as follows: (2) Department of Homeland security; Federal emergency management agency (A) Program responsibilities The Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency— (i) shall operate a program of grants and assistance to enable States to develop mitigation, preparedness, and response plans, purchase necessary instrumentation, prepare inventories and conduct seismic safety inspections of critical structures and lifelines, update building, land use planning, and zoning codes and ordinances to enhance seismic safety, increase earthquake awareness and education, and provide assistance to multi-State groups for such purposes; (ii) shall support the implementation of a comprehensive earthquake education, outreach, and public awareness program, including development of materials and their wide dissemination to all appropriate audiences and support public access to locality-specific information that may assist the public in preparing for, mitigating against, responding to and recovering from earthquakes and related disasters; (iii) shall, in conjunction with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, other Federal agencies, and private sector groups, use research results to support the preparation, maintenance, and wide dissemination of seismic resistant design guidance and related information on building codes, standards, and practices for new and existing buildings, structures, and lifelines, aid in the development of performance-based design guidelines and methodologies, and support model codes that are cost effective and affordable in order to promote better practices within the design and construction industry and reduce losses from earthquakes; (iv) shall enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with States and local jurisdictions and other Federal agencies to establish demonstration projects on earthquake hazard mitigation, to link earthquake research and mitigation efforts with emergency management programs, or to prepare educational materials for national distribution; and (v) shall support the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the completion of programmatic goals. (B) State assistance program criteria In order to qualify for assistance under subparagraph (A)(i), a State must— (i) demonstrate that the assistance will result in enhanced seismic safety in the State; (ii) provide 25 percent of the costs of the activities for which assistance is being given, except that the Administrator may lower or waive the cost-share requirement for these activities in exceptional cases of economic hardship; and (iii) meet such other requirements as the Administrator shall prescribe. . (e) Modification of responsibilities of United States Geological Survey Subsection (b)(3) of such section is amended— (1) in the matter preceding subparagraph (A), in the first sentence— (A) by inserting report on significant domestic and international earthquakes and Survey shall (B) by striking predictions. forecasts. (2) in subparagraph (C), by striking predictions, including aftershock advisories alerts and early warnings (3) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the following: (D) issue when necessary and feasible, and notify the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, and State and local officials, an alert and an earthquake warning; ; (4) in subparagraph (E), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking using including (5) in subparagraph (I), by striking ; and (6) in subparagraph (J)— (A) by inserting and data hazard maps (B) by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (7) by adding at the end the following: (K) support the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the completion of programmatic goals. . (f) Modification of responsibilities of National Science Foundation Subsection (b)(4) of such section is amended— (1) in subparagraph (B), by inserting , State agencies, State geological surveys, (2) in subparagraph (C), by inserting to support applied science in the production of a systematic series of earthquake-related geologic hazard maps, and Survey (3) in subparagraph (D), by striking George E. Brown Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering and Simulation Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure (4) in subparagraph (G), by striking ; and (5) in subparagraph (H), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and (6) by adding at the end the following: (I) support the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology in the completion of programmatic goals. ; (7) by redesignating subparagraphs (A) through (I) as clauses (i) through (ix), respectively, and indenting such clauses accordingly; (8) in the matter before clause (i), as redesignated by paragraph (7), in the first sentence, by striking The National Science Foundation (A) In general The National Science Foundation ; and (9) by adding at the end the following: (B) Identification of funding The National Science Foundation shall— (i) note in any notice of Program funding or other funding possibilities under the Program that the funds are part of the Program; (ii) track the awarding of Federal funds through the Program; and (iii) not less frequently than once every 2 years, submit to the director of the Program a report specifying the amount of Federal funds awarded to conduct research that enhances the understanding of earthquake science. . 4. Review of risks posed by earthquakes to the United States (a) In general As soon as practicable, but not later than such date as is necessary for the Comptroller General of the United States to submit the report required by subsection (c) in accordance with such subsection, the Comptroller General shall complete a review of risks posed by earthquakes to the United States. (b) Elements The review conducted under subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) A comprehensive assessment of— (A) the risks and hazards to the United States posed by earthquakes, including risks and hazards resulting from tsunamis and landslides that are generated by earthquakes; (B) the efforts of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Institute of Standards and Technology to improve the resilience of the United States to earthquakes and to identify important gaps in the resilience of the United States to earthquakes; (C) the progress made by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Interagency Coordinating Committee to coordinate effectively the budget and activities of the Program agencies (as defined in section 4 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 ( 42 U.S.C. 7703 (D) the extent to which the Federal Government, States, local, and tribal governments, and the private sector are already implementing strategies to improve resilience of the United States to earthquakes; and (E) the extent to which the research done during the 40 years of the Program has been applied to both public and private earthquake risk and hazards reduction. (2) Identification of such legislative or administrative action as may be appropriate to improve the Program and the resilience of the United States to earthquakes. (c) Report As soon as practicable, but not later than 3 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce, the Committee on Natural Resources, and the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives a report on the findings of the Comptroller General with respect to the review completed under subsection (a). 5. Seismic standards Section 8 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 ( 42 U.S.C. 7705b 8. Seismic standards (a) Assessment and recommendations Not later than December 1, 2019, the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall jointly convene a committee of experts from Federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private sector entities, disaster management professional associations, engineering professional associations, and professional construction and homebuilding industry associations, to assess and recommend options for improving the built environment and critical infrastructure to reflect performance goals stated in terms of post-earthquake reoccupancy and functional recovery time. (b) Report to Congress Not later than June 30, 2020, the committee convened under paragraph (1) shall submit to Congress a report on recommended options for improving the built environment and critical infrastructure to reflect performance goals stated in terms of post-earthquake reoccupancy and functional recovery time. . 6. Management plan for Advanced National Seismic System (a) Plan required Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the United States Geological Survey shall submit to Congress a 5-year management plan for the continued operation of the Advanced National Seismic System. (b) Elements The plan required by subsection (a) shall include the following: (1) Strategies to continue the development of an earthquake early warning system. (2) A mechanism for securing the participation of State and regional level earthquake monitoring entities, including those defunded by the Advanced National Seismic System in the last five years. (3) A plan to encourage and support the integration of geospatial data products into earthquake monitoring in regions experiencing large earthquakes. (4) A plan to ensure that there is an active, geographically diverse, management and advisory structure for the Advanced National Seismic System. 7. Repeal of expired authorizations Section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 ( 42 U.S.C. 7706 8. Technical corrections (a) Correction of title of Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 ( 42 U.S.C. 7701 (1) in section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 ( 42 U.S.C. 7704 (A) in subsection (a)(3)(B), as amended by section 3(b)(1)— (i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking the directors of (ii) in clause (i), by inserting the Administrator of the (iii) in clauses (ii) through (v), by inserting the Director of the (B) in subsection (b)(3)(C), as amended by section 3(e), by striking Director of the Federal Administrator of the Federal (2) in section 9 of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7705c Director of the Agency Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (b) References to the Advanced National Seismic System Such Act is amended— (1) in section 13, in the section heading, by striking Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System Advanced National Seismic System (2) by striking Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System Advanced National Seismic System (c) Incorrect cross-References Paragraph (4) of section 5(a) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 7704(a) (1) in clauses (i) and (ii) of subparagraph (A), as redesignated by section 3(b)(4)(A), by striking subparagraph (3)(A) paragraph (3)(D)(i)(I) (2) in clause (iii), as redesignated, by striking under (3)(A) under paragraph (3)(D)(i)(I)

Summary: National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2018 This bill amends the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to reauthorize through FY2023, and expand activities under, the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program to include: (1) gathering information on community resilience (i.e., the ability of a community to prepare for, recover from, and adapt to earthquakes); (2) publishing a systematic set of maps of active faults and folds, liquefaction susceptibility, susceptibility for earthquake-induced landslides, and other seismically induced hazards; and (3) continuing the development of the Advanced National Seismic System, including earthquake early warning capabilities. (Sec. 2) The bill modifies the Act's findings to include Puerto Rico as vulnerable to the hazards of earthquakes, and adds Oregon and Tennessee to the list of states cited as having major or moderate seismic risk. (Sec. 3) With respect to earthquake hazard reduction activities, the bill revises or expands the duties of: (1) the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction, (2) the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), (3) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), (4) the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), and (5) the National Science Foundation. (Sec. 4) The Government Accountability Office shall complete a review of federal earthquake hazard risk reduction efforts. (Sec. 5) NIST and FEMA must jointly convene a committee of experts to assess and recommend options for improving seismic safety standards. (Sec. 6) The USGS must submit to Congress a five-year management plan for the continued operation of the Advanced National Seismic System.