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(A) fairly assess and procure commercially
available technology from the marketplace in
the most efficient manner practicable;
(B) achieve a continuous pattern of inte-
grating advanced technology from the commer-
cial sector, and from Federal sources outside
the National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration, into the missions and programs of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administra-
tion;
(C) incorporate private sector buying and
bidding procedures, including fixed price con-
tracts, into procurements; and
(D) provide incentives for cost-plus con-
tractors of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration to integrate commercially avail-
able technology in subsystem contracts on a
fixed-price basis.
(2) CERTIFICATION.—Upon solicitation of any
procurement for space hardware, technology, or serv-
ices that are not commercially available, the Admin-
istrator shall certify, by publication of a notice and
opportunity to comment in the Commerce Business
Daily, for each such procurement action, that no
functional equivalent, commercially, available space
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hardware, technology, or service exists and that no
commercial method of procurement is available.
SEC. 256. ADDITIONAL NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND
SPACE ADMINISTRATION FACILITIES.
The Administrator shall not construct or enter into
a new lease for facilities to support National Aeronautics
and Space Administration programs unless the Adminis-
trator notifies the Congress that the Administrator re-
viewed existing National Aeronautics and Space Adminis-
tration and other federally owned facilities, including mili-
tary facilities scheduled for closing or reduction, and found
no such facilities appropriate for the intended use.
SEC. 257. PURCHASE OF SPACE SCIENCE DATA.
(a) IN GENERAL.—To the maximum extent possible,
the National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall,
where cost effective, purchase space science data from the
United States private sector. Examples of such data in-
clude scientific data concerning the elemental and mineral-
ogical resources of the moon and the planets, Earth envi-
ronmental data obtained through remote sensing observa-
tions, and solar storm monitoring.
(b) COMPETITIVE BIDDING.—(1) Contracts for the
purchase of space data under this section shall be awarded
in a process of full, fair, and open competitive bidding.
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(2) Submission of cost data, either for the purposes
of supporting the bid or fulfilling the terms of the con-
tract, shall not be required of bidders or awardees of the
contract.
(3) Reasonable performance specifications, rather
than design or construction specifications, shall be used
to the maximum extent feasible to define requirements for
United States private sector providers with respect to the
design, construction, or operation of equipment used in ob-
taining space science data under contracts entered into
under this section. This subsection shall not be construed
to prohibit the Federal Government from requiring com-
pliance with applicable safety standards.
(4) Contracts under this section shall not provide for
the Federal Government to obtain ownership of data not
specifically sought by the Federal Government.
SEC. 258. PLAN FOR MISSION TO PLANET EARTH.
(a) REQUIREMENT.—The Administrator shall, within
6 months after the date of the enactment of this Act,
transmit to the Congress a report containing a plan for
Mission to Planet Earth.
(b) CONTENTS.—The report required by subsection
(a) shall include—
(1) an analysis of Earth observation systems of
other countries and the ways in which the United
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States could benefit from such systems, including by
eliminating duplication of effort;
(2) an analysis of how the Department of De-
fense’s airborne and space sensor programs could be
used in Mission to Planet Earth;
(3) a plan for infusing advanced technology into
the Mission to Planet Earth program, including
milestones and an identification of available re-
sources;
(4) a plan to solicit proposals from the private
sector on how to innovatively accomplish the most
critical research on global climate change;
(5) an integrated plan for research in the Sci-
entific Research and Mission to Planet Earth enter-
prises described in the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration Strategic Plan issued in May,
1994;
(6) a plan for developing metrics and milestones
to quantify the performance of work on Mission to
Planet Earth; and
(7) a plan for the role, structure, and operation
of the Earth Observing Satellite Data Information
System.
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SEC. 259. ACQUISITION OF EARTH REMOTE SENSING DATA.
(a) ACQUISITION.—To the maximum extent possible,
the Administrator shall, where cost effective, acquire
space-based and airborne Earth remote sensing data, serv-
ices, distribution, and applications provided by the United
States private sector to meet Government goals for Mis-
sion to Planet Earth.
(b) STUDY.—(1) The Administrator shall conduct a
study to determine the extent to which the baseline sci-
entific requirements of Mission to Planet Earth can be
met by the private sector, and how the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration will meet such require-
ments which cannot be met by the private sector.
(2) The study conducted under this subsection
shall—
(A) make recommendations to promote the
availability of information from the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration to the private sec-
tor to enable the private sector to better meet the
baseline scientific requirements of Mission to Planet
Earth;
(B) determine and prioritize the appropriate
baseline scientific requirements for Mission to Planet
Earth, and reevaluate, scientifically justify, and
prioritize the data sets necessary to fulfill those
baseline scientific requirements;
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(C) make recommendations to promote the dis-
semination to the private sector of information on
advanced technology research and development per-
formed by or for the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration; and
(D) identify policy, regulatory, and legislative
barriers to the implementation of the recommenda-
tions made under this subsection.
(3) The results of the study conducted under this
subsection shall be transmitted to the Congress within 6
months after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(c) ADMINISTRATION.—This section shall be carried
out as part of the Commercial Remote Sensing Program
at the Stennis Space Center.
SEC. 260. SHUTTLE PRIVATIZATION.
(a) POLICY AND PREPARATION.—The Administrator
shall prepare for an orderly transition from the Federal
operation, or Federal management of contracted oper-
ation, of space transportation systems to the Federal pur-
chase of commercial space transportation services for all
nonemergency launch requirements, including human,
cargo, and mixed payloads. In those preparations, the Ad-
ministrator shall take into account the need for short-term
economies, as well as the goal of restoring the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration’s research focus
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and its mandate to promote the fullest possible commercial
use of space. As part of those preparations, the Adminis-
trator shall plan for the potential privatization of the
Space Shuttle program after the year 2012. Such plan
shall keep safety and cost effectiveness as high priorities.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration from studying, design-
ing, developing, or funding upgrades or modifications es-
sential to the safe and economical operation of the Space
Shuttle fleet.
(b) SAFE OPERATION.—In reviewing proposals for
moving to a single prime contractor the Administrator
shall give priority to continued safe operation of space
transportation systems.
(c) FEASIBILITY STUDY.—The Administrator shall
conduct a study of the feasibility of implementing the rec-
ommendation of the Independent Shuttle Management Re-
view Team that the National Aeronautics and Space Ad-
ministration transition toward the privatization of the
Space Shuttle. The study shall identify, discuss, and,
where possible, present options for resolving, the major
policy and legal issues that must be addressed before the
Space Shuttle is privatized, including—
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(1) whether the Federal Government or the
Space Shuttle contractor should own the Space
Shuttle orbiters and ground facilities;
(2) whether the Federal Government should in-
demnify the contractor for any third party liability
arising from Space Shuttle operations, and, if so,
under what terms and conditions;
(3) whether payloads other than National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration payloads should
be allowed to be launched on the Space Shuttle, how
missions will be prioritized, and who will decide
which mission flies and when;
(4) whether commercial payloads should be al-
lowed to be launched on the Space Shuttle and
whether any classes of payloads should be made in-
eligible for launch consideration;
(5) whether National Aeronautics and Space
Administration and other Federal Government pay-
loads should have priority over non-Federal payloads
in the Space Shuttle launch assignments, and what
policies should be developed to prioritize among pay-
loads generally;
(6) whether the public interest requires that
certain Space Shuttle functions continue to be per-
formed by the Federal Government; and
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(7) how much cost savings, if any, will be gen-
erated by privatization of the Space Shuttle.
(d) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Within 60 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration shall complete the study
required under subsection (c) and shall submit a report
on the study to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Science of the House of Representatives.
SEC. 261. LAUNCH VOUCHER DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM
AMENDMENTS.
Section 504 of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1993 (15
U.S.C. 5803) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)—
(A) by striking ‘‘the Office of Commercial
Programs within’’; and
(B) by striking ‘‘Such program shall not
be effective after September 30, 1995.’’;
(2) by striking subsection (c); and
(3) by redesignating subsections (d) and (e) as
subsections (c) and (d), respectively.
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SEC. 262. PRIVATIZATION OF MICROGRAVITY PARABOLIC
FLIGHT OPERATIONS.
(a) FINDING.—The Congress finds that no national
security or mission critical justification exists for the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration to maintain
its own fleet of aircraft to provide a short duration micro-
gravity environment via parabolic flight.
(b) PRIVATIZATION OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS.—(1)
The Administrator shall privatize all parabolic flight air-
craft operations conducted by or for the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration in support of micro-
gravity research, astronaut training, and other functions,
whose total cost can be reduced through issuance of one
or more long-term, renewable, block purchase contracts
for the performance of such operations by United States
commercial sector providers.
(2) Within 90 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, the Administrator shall issue a request for
proposals to provide services which meet all or part of the
microgravity flight needs of the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, as described in paragraph (1) at
a net savings to the United States Government. The Ad-
ministrator shall coordinate the process of review of such
proposals, and shall oversee the transfer of such oper-
ations to the commercial sector as specified in paragraph
(3).
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(3) Within 6 months after the issuance of a request
for proposals under paragraph (2), the Administrator
shall, where cost effective, award one or more contracts
for microgravity parabolic flight services to a microgravity
flight provider that is certified by the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration. Except as provided in paragraph (4), the Ad-
ministrator shall cease all National Aeronautics and Space
Administration-operated parabolic aircraft flights, and
shall thereafter procure all microgravity parabolic flight
services from commercial sector providers. National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration experimenters, and Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration-funded ex-
perimenters, who would otherwise use National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration-owned or operated
microgravity parabolic flight aircraft, shall be issued
vouchers for the procurement of microgravity parabolic
flight services from the commercial sector.
(4) The Administrator may, as necessary to ensure
the continuity of National Aeronautics and Space Admin-
istration operations, continue to operate parabolic aircraft
flights for up to 3 months after a contract is awarded
under paragraph (3). If the Administrator continues oper-
ations pursuant to this paragraph, the Administrator shall
concurrently transmit to the Congress an explanation of
the reasons for such action.
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(5) Six months after the National Aeronautics and
Space Administration ceases all parabolic aircraft flights
under paragraph (3), the Administrator shall transmit a
report to Congress on the effectiveness of privatization
under this section.
SEC. 263. UNITARY WIND TUNNEL PLAN ACT OF 1949
AMENDMENTS.
The Unitary Wind Tunnel Plan Act of 1949 is
amended—
(1) in section 101 (50 U.S.C. 511) by striking
‘‘transsonic and supersonic’’ and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘transonic, supersonic, and hypersonic’’; and
(2) in section 103 (50 U.S.C. 513)—
(A) by striking ‘‘laboratories’’ in sub-
section (a) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘labora-
tories and centers’’;
(B) by striking ‘‘supersonic’’ in subsection
(a) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘transonic, su-
personic, and hypersonic’’; and
(C) by striking ‘‘laboratory’’ in subsection
(c) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘facility’’.
SEC. 264. USE OF ABANDONED AND UNDERUTILIZED
BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND FACILITIES.
(a) IN GENERAL.—In meeting the needs of the Na-
tional Aeronautics and Space Administration for addi-
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tional facilities, the Administrator, whenever feasible, shall
select abandoned and underutilized buildings, grounds,
and facilities in depressed communities that can be con-
verted to National Aeronautics and Space Administration
facilities at a reasonable cost, as determined by the Ad-
ministrator.
(b) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section, the
term ‘‘depressed communities’’ means rural and urban
communities that are relatively depressed, in terms of age
of housing, extent of poverty, growth of per capita income,
extent of unemployment, job lag, or surplus labor.
SEC. 265. COST EFFECTIVENESS CALCULATIONS.
In calculating the cost effectiveness of the cost of the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration engaging
in an activity as compared to the private sector, the com-
parison shall be made based only on the price the private
sector provider will charge for such activity.
SEC. 266. PROCUREMENT OMBUDSMAN.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator shall es-
tablish the position of Procurement Ombudsman for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
(b) FUNCTIONS.—The Procurement Ombudsman
shall—
(1) be responsible, in consultation with the Of-
fice of Procurement, for reviewing proposed new
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missions for the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration to determine if such missions, or ele-
ments thereof, can be fulfilled by United States com-
mercial providers; and
(2) serve as a point of contact for—
(A) persons with whom the National Aero-
nautics and Space Administration has entered
into a procurement contract, with respect to
concerns of those persons about that contract;
and
(B) United States commercial providers,
with respect to issues relating to competition
between those providers and the Federal Gov-
ernment.
(c) REPORTS TO CONGRESS.—The Procurement Om-
budsman shall annually, in conjunction with the Presi-
dent’s annual budget request, transmit a report to Con-
gress describing the activities of the Ombudsman during
the previous year.
SEC. 267. AUTHORITY TO REDUCE OR SUSPEND CONTRACT
PAYMENTS BASED ON SUBSTANTIAL EVI-
DENCE OF FRAUD.
Section 2307(h)(8) of title 10, United States Code,
is amended by striking ‘‘and (4)’’ and inserting in lieu
thereof ‘‘(4), and (6)’’.
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TITLE III—UNITED STATES FIRE
ADMINISTRATION
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Fire Administration
Authorization Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 302. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and
Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(a)(1)) is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end of subpara-
graph (E);
(2) by striking the period at the end of sub-
paragraph (F) and inserting in lieu thereof ‘‘; and’’;
and
(3) by adding at the end the following new sub-
paragraph:
‘‘(G) $27,560,000 for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1997.’’.
SEC. 303. FIRE SAFETY SYSTEMS IN ARMY HOUSING.
Section 31(c)(1)(A)(ii)(II) is amended by inserting ‘‘,
or in the case of housing under the control of the Depart-
ment of the Army, 6 years after such date of enactment’’
after ‘‘date of enactment’’.
SEC. 304. SUCCESSOR FIRE SAFETY STANDARDS.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974
is amended—
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(1) in section 29(a)(1), by inserting ‘‘, or any
successor standard thereto,’’ after ‘‘Association
Standard 74’’;
(2) in section 29(a)(2), by inserting ‘‘or any
successor standards thereto,’’ after ‘‘whichever is ap-
propriate,’’;
(3) in section 29(b)(2), by inserting ‘‘, or any
successor standards thereto’’ after ‘‘Association
Standard 13 or 13–R’’;
(4) in section 31(c)(2)(B)(i), by inserting ‘‘or
any successor standard thereto,’’ after ‘‘Life Safety
Code),’’; and
(5) in section 31(c)(2)(B)(ii), by inserting ‘‘or
any successor standard thereto,’’ after ‘‘Association
Standard 101,’’.
SEC. 305. TERMINATION OR PRIVATIZATION OF FUNC-
TIONS.
The Administrator of the United States Fire Admin-
istration shall transmit to Congress a report providing no-
tice at least 60 days in advance of the termination or
transfer to a private sector entity of any significant func-
tion of the United States Fire Administration.
SEC. 306. REPORT ON BUDGETARY REDUCTION.
The Administrator of the United States Fire Admin-
istration shall transmit to Congress, within three months
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after the date of the enactment of this Act, a report set-
ting forth the manner in which the United States Fire
Administration intends to implement the budgetary reduc-
tion represented by the difference between the amount ap-
propriated to the United States Fire Administration for
fiscal year 1997 and the amount requested in the Presi-
dent’s budget request for such fiscal year. Such report
shall be prepared in consultation with the Alliance for Fire
and Emergency Management, the International Associa-
tion of Fire Chiefs, the International Association of Fire
Fighters, the National Fire Protection Association, the
National Volunteer Fire Council, the National Association
of State Fire Marshals, and the International Association
of Arson Investigators.
TITLE IV—NATIONAL OCEANIC
AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINIS-
TRATION
SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 402. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this title, the term—
(1) ‘‘Act of 1890’’ means the Act entitled ‘‘An
Act to increase the efficiency and reduce the ex-
penses of the Signal Corps of the Army, and to
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transfer the Weather Bureau to the Department of
Agriculture’’, approved October 1, 1890 (26 Stat.
653);
(2) ‘‘Act of 1947’’ means the Act entitled ‘‘An
Act to define the functions and duties of the Coast
and Geodetic Survey, and for other purposes’’, ap-
proved August 6, 1947 (33 U.S.C. 883a et seq.);
(3) ‘‘Act of 1970’’ means the Act entitled ‘‘An
Act to clarify the status and benefits of commis-
sioned officers of the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration, and for other purposes’’, ap-
proved December 31, 1970 (33 U.S.C. 857–1 et
seq.);
(4) ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Administrator
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis-
tration; and
(5) ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of Com-
merce.
Subtitle A—Atmospheric, Weather,
and Satellite Programs
SEC. 411. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
(a) OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH.—There are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to
carry out the operations and research duties of the Na-
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tional Weather Service, $450,668,000 for fiscal year 1997.
Such duties include meteorological, hydrological, and
oceanographic public warnings and forecasts, as well as
applied research in support of such warnings and fore-
casts.
(b) SYSTEMS ACQUISITION.—(1) There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry
out the public warning and forecast systems duties of the
National Weather Service, $68,984,000 for fiscal year
1997. 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 (e). None of the funds authorized under
this subsection shall be used for the purposes for which
funds are authorized under section 102(b) of the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization
Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567). None of the funds
authorized by such section 102(b) shall be expended for
a particular NEXRAD installation unless—
(A) it is identified as a National Weather Serv-
ice NEXRAD installation in the National Implemen-
tation Plan for modernization of the National
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Weather Service, required under section 703 of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102–567);
or
(B) it is to be used only for spare parts, not as
an installation at a particular site.
(2) Of the amounts authorized under paragraph (1),
$42,935,000 shall be for NEXRAD program manage-
ment, operations, and maintenance.
(c) NEW NEXRAD INSTALLATIONS.—No funds may
be obligated for NEXRAD installations not identified in
the National Implementation Plan for 1996, unless the
Secretary certifies that such NEXRAD installations can
be acquired within the authorization of NEXRAD con-
tained in section 102(b) of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992.
(d) ASOS PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION.—Of the sums
authorized in subsection (b)(1), $10,056,000 for fiscal
year 1997 are authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary, for the acquisition and deployment of—
(1) the Automated Surface Observing System
and related systems, including multisensor and
backup arrays for National Weather Service sites at
airports; and
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(2) Automated Meteorological Observing Sys-
tem and Remote Automated Meteorological Observ-
ing System replacement units.
and to cover all associated activities, including program
management and operations and maintenance.
(e) AWIPS COMPLETE
PROGRAM
AUTHORIZA-
TION.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), there are
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for all fiscal
years beginning after September 30, 1996, an aggregate
of $271,166,000, to remain available until expended, of
which up to $116,483,000 may be available for fiscal year
1997, to complete the acquisition and deployment of the
Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System and
NOAA Port and to cover all associated activities, including
program management and operations and maintenance
through September 30, 1999.
(2) 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 perform-
ance specifications included in the system con-
tract as in effect on August 11, 1995;
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(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 oper-
ations schedule; or
(B) submits to the Congress a report which de-
scribes—
(i) the circumstances which prevent a cer-
tification 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.
(f) CONSTRUCTION
OF WEATHER FORECAST OF-
FICES.—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 weath-
er forecast offices, $11,000,000 for fiscal year 1997. Such
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activities include planning, design, and land acquisition re-
lated to such offices.
(g) 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 affected
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 Sec-
retary of Transportation and the Committee, determines
as a result of an air safety appraisal that such action will
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result in degradation of service that affects aircraft safety.
This air safety appraisal shall be issued jointly by the De-
partment of Commerce and the Department of Transpor-
tation before September 30, 1996, and shall be based on
a coordinated review of all the airports in the United
States subject to the certification requirements of sub-
section (b). The appraisal shall—
‘‘(1) consider the weather information required
to safely conduct aircraft operations and the extent
to which such information is currently derived
through manual observations provided by the Na-
tional Weather Service and the Federal Aviation Ad-
ministration, and automated observations provided
from other sources including the Automated Weath-
er Observation Service (AWOS), the Automated Sur-
face Observing System (ASOS), and the Geo-
stationary 
Operational 
Environmental 
Satellite
(GOES); and
‘‘(2) determine whether the service provided by
ASOS, and ASOS augmented where necessary by
human observations, provides the necessary level of
service consistent with the service standards encom-
passed in the criteria for automation of the field of-
fices.
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‘‘(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 mod-
ernization and restructuring; and
‘‘(2) work with area weather service users, in-
cluding persons associated with general aviation,
civil defense, emergency preparedness, and the news
media, with respect to the provision of timely weath-
er warnings and forecasts.’’; and
(2) in section 707—
(A) by amending subsection (c) to read as
follows:
‘‘(c) DUTIES.—The Committee shall advise the Con-
gress 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 comprehen-
sive modernization of the National Weather Serv-
ice.’’; and
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(B) by amending subsection (f) to read as
follows:
‘‘(f) TERMINATION.—The Committee shall termi-
nate—
‘‘(1) on September 30, 1996; or
‘‘(2) 90 days after the deadline for public com-
ment on the modernization criteria for closure cer-
tification published in the Federal Register pursuant
to section 704(b)(2),
whichever occurs later.’’.
(h) BI-AGENCY WORKING GROUP.—The National
Weather Service is encouraged to follow through on the
recommendation contained in the document entitled ‘‘Sec-
retary’s Report to Congress on Adequacy of NEXRAD
Coverage and Degradation of Weather Services Under Na-
tional 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 further assess the potential for
National Weather Service operational use of Federal Avia-
tion Administration weather radar data, and to define en-
gineering considerations that would be involved in imple-
menting a data sharing link between the Federal Aviation
Administration and the National Weather Service.
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(i) NEXRAD OPERATIONAL AVAILABILITY AND RE-
LIABILITY.—(1) The Secretary of Defense, in conjunction
with the Administrator of the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration, shall take immediate steps to
ensure that NEXRADs operated by the Department of
Defense that provide primary detection coverage over a
portion of their range 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 De-
fense that provide primary detection coverage over a por-
tion of their range are to be considered as integral parts
of the National Weather Radar Network.
SEC. 412. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH.
(a) CLIMATE AND AIR QUALITY RESEARCH.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to en-
able the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion to carry out its climate and air quality research du-
ties, $99,272,000 for fiscal year 1997. Such duties include
internannual and seasonal climate research and long-term
climate and air quality research.
(b) ATMOSPHERIC PROGRAMS.—There are author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the Na-
tional Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry
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out its atmospheric research duties, $43,182,000 for fiscal
year 1997. Such duties include research for developing im-
proved prediction capabilities for atmospheric processes,
as well as solar-terrestrial research and services.
SEC. 413. 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,
$287,997,000 for fiscal year 1997, to remain available
until expended. Such duties include spacecraft procure-
ment, launch, and associated ground station systems in-
volving 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 sec-
tion 105(d) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad-
ministration 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 $147,664,000 for fiscal year
1997, to remain available until expended, for the procure-
ment and launch of, and supporting ground systems for,
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Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites, K, L, M, N, and
N1.
(c) GEOSTATIONARY OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL
SATELLITES.—Of the sums authorized in subsection (a),
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Adminis-
trator $70,757,000 for fiscal year 1997, to remain avail-
able until expended to procure up to three additional Geo-
stationary Operational Environmental NEXT Satellites
(GOES I–M clones), instruments, and supporting ground
systems.
(d) NATIONAL POLAR-ORBITING OPERATIONAL EN-
VIRONMENTAL SATELLITE SYSTEM PROGRAM AUTHOR-
IZATION.—Of the sums authorized in subsection (a), there
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, for fis-
cal year 1997, $19,024,000, to remain available until ex-
pended, for the procurement of the National Polar-Orbit-
ing Operational Environmental Satellite System, and the
procurement of the launching and supporting ground sys-
tems of such satellites.
(e) ENVIRONMENTAL
DATA
AND
INFORMATION
SERVICES.—There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration to carry out its environmental data
and information services duties, $44,898,000 for fiscal
year 1997. Such duties include climate data services, geo-
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physical data services, and environmental assessment and
information services.
Subtitle B—Program Support
SEC. 431. PROGRAM SUPPORT.
(a) EXECUTIVE DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE
ACTIVITIES.—There are authorized to be appropriated to
the Secretary, to enable the National Oceanic and Atmos-
pheric Administration to carry out executive direction and
administrative activities under the Act of 1970 and any
other law involving those activities, $20,000,000 for fiscal
year 1997.
(b) CENTRAL ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, to en-
able the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion to carry out central administrative support activities
under the Act of 1970 and any other law involving those
activities, $33,000,000 for fiscal year 1997.
(c) AIRCRAFT SERVICES.—There are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary, to enable the National Oce-
anic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out aircraft
services activities (including aircraft operations, mainte-
nance, and support) under the Act of 1970 and any other
law involving those activities, $9,153,000 for fiscal year
1997.
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(d) FACILITIES REPAIRS AND RENOVATIONS.—There
are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, to en-
able the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
tion to carry out facilities repairs and renovations,
$7,546,000 for fiscal year 1997.
Subtitle C—Streamlining of
Operations
SEC. 441. PROGRAMS.
(a) PROGRAMS.—No funds are authorized to be ap-
propriated for the following programs and accounts:
(1) Federal/State Weather Modification Grants.
(2) The Southeast Storm Research Account.
(3) National Institute for Environmental Re-
newal.
(4) National Weather Service non-Federal, non-
wildfire Fire Weather Service.
(5) National Weather Service Regional Climate
Centers.
(6) National Weather Service Samoa Weather
Forecast Office Repair and Upgrade Account.
(7) Dissemination of Weather Charts (Marine
Facsimile Service).
(8) Global Learning and Observations to Bene-
fit the Environment program.
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(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 Representa-
tives 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, 1996.
SEC. 442. REDUCTION IN TRAVEL BUDGET.
Of the sums appropriated under this Act for Oper-
ations, 
Research, 
and 
Facilities, 
no 
more 
than
$20,000,000 may be used for reimbursement of travel and
related expenses for National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration personnel.
Subtitle D—Miscellaneous
SEC. 451. WEATHER DATA BUOYS.
(a) PROHIBITION.—It shall be unlawful for any unau-
thorized person to remove, change the location of, ob-
struct, 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 author-
ized to assess a civil penalty against any person who vio-
lates 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
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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 Na-
tional Data Buoy Center; or for information leading to
the discovery of missing National Weather Service prop-
erty or the recovery thereof.
SEC. 452. 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 warnings;
(2) the issue of storm warnings;
(3) the collection, exchange, and distribution of
meteorological, hydrological, climatic, and oceano-
graphic data and information; and
(4) the preparation of hydrometeorological guid-
ance 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
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service is currently provided or can be provided by com-
mercial enterprise, unless—
(1) the Secretary finds that the private sector
is unwilling or unable to provide the services; and
(2) the service provides vital weather warnings
and forecasts for the protection of lives and property
of the general public.
(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 Representa-
tives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate a report detailing all Na-
tional Weather Service activities which do not conform to
the requirements of this section and outlining a timetable
for their termination.
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TITLE V—ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY
SEC. 501. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ‘‘Environmental Re-
search, Development, and Demonstration Authorization
Act of 1996’’.
SEC. 502. DEFINITIONS.
For the purposes of this title, the term—
(1) ‘‘Administrator’’ means the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency;
(2) ‘‘Agency’’ means the Environmental Protec-
tion Agency; and
(3) ‘‘Assistant Administrator’’ means the As-
sistant Administrator for Research and Development
of the Agency.
SEC. 503. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appro-
priated to the Administrator $487,126,600 for fiscal year
1997 for Science and Technology activities, including pro-
gram management and support, in the areas specified in
subsection (b).
(b) SPECIFIC PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES.—Of the
amount authorized in subsection (a), there are authorized
to be appropriated the following:
(1) For air related research, $74,119,900.
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(2) For global change research, $1,400,000.
(3) 
For 
water 
quality 
related 
research,
$26,294,000.
(4) For drinking water related research,
$26,593,700.
(5) For toxic substances related research,
$12,341,500.
(6) For lab and field expenses, $73,031,600.
(7) For headquarters expenses of the Office of
Research and Development, $9,254,800.
(8) For multimedia related research expenses,
$174,060,100, of which $5,000,000 shall be for
graduate student fellowships.
(9) 
For 
program 
management 
expenses,
$6,399,000.
(10) 
For 
pesticide 
related 
research,
$20,632,000.
(11) For research related to hazardous waste,
$12,000,000.
(12) For environmental research laboratories,
$51,000,000.
(c) ADDITIONAL AUTHORIZATIONS.—There are au-
thorized to be appropriated to the Administrator for fiscal
year 1997—