PRECIP Act
Bill: S.3053 | Sponsor: Sen. Booker, Cory A. (D-NJ)
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Providing Research and Estimates of Changes In Precipitation Act or the PRECIP Act
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to take actions regarding precipitation estimation.
NOAA shall, no less than every 10 years, update probable maximum precipitation estimates for the United States. NOAA must include specified information in the updates and must make publicly available certain probable maximum precipitation studies developed by NOAA.
NOAA must seek to enter an agreement with the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to conduct a study on the state of practice and research needs for precipitation estimation, including probable maximum precipitation estimation.
NOAA, in consideration of the study's recommendations, shall consult with relevant partners on the development of a plan to update probable maximum precipitation estimates.
NOAA shall develop a national guidance document regarding probable maximum precipitation estimates that (1) provides best practices for federal and state regulatory agencies, private meteorological consultants, and other users that perform probable maximum precipitation studies; (2) considers the recommendations provided in the National Academies study; (3) facilitates review of probable maximum precipitation studies by regulatory agencies; and (4) provides confidence in regional and site-specific probable maximum precipitation estimates.

To amend the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 to 
   require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
  Administration to develop a plan and national guidance document to 
        improve precipitation estimates, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

<DELETED>SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    This Act may be cited as the ``Providing Research and 
Estimates of Changes In Precipitation Act'' or the ``PRECIP 
Act''.</DELETED>

<DELETED>SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING 
              INNOVATION ACT OF 2017 TO IMPROVE FEDERAL PRECIPITATION 
              INFORMATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    (a) In General.--The Weather Research and Forecasting 
Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended by adding at 
the end the following:</DELETED>

       <DELETED>``TITLE VI--IMPROVEMENT OF FEDERAL PRECIPITATION 
                         INFORMATION</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 601. STUDY ON PRECIPITATION ESTIMATION.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of the PRECIP Act, the Administrator, in consultation 
with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall seek to enter an 
agreement with the National Academies under which the National 
Academies shall--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) conduct a study on the state of practice and 
        research needs for precipitation estimation, including probable 
        maximum precipitation estimation; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) not later than 2 years after the date on 
        which such agreement is finalized--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) submit to the Committee on Commerce, 
                Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 
                Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the 
                House of Representatives a report on the results of the 
                study conducted under paragraph (1); and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) make the report submitted under 
                subparagraph (A) publicly available on a 
                website.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) Report on Study.--The report submitted under 
subsection (a)(2)(A) shall include the following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) An examination of the current state of 
        practice for precipitation estimation at scales appropriate for 
        the needs of decisionmakers, and rationale for further 
        evolution of that field.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) An evaluation of best practices for 
        precipitation estimation that--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) are based on the best available 
                science, including assumptions of non-stationarity; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) can be utilized by the user 
                community.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) A framework for--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(A) the development of a national 
                guidance document for estimating extreme precipitation; 
                and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    ``(B) evaluation of the strengths and 
                challenges of the full spectrum of approaches for such 
                estimation, including for probable maximum 
                precipitation studies.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) A description of existing research needs in 
        the field of precipitation estimation in order to modernize 
        current methodologies and incorporate the best available 
        science.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) A description of in-situ, airborne, and 
        space-based observation requirements that could enhance 
        precipitation estimation and development of models, including 
        an examination of the use of geographic information systems and 
        geospatial technology for integration, analysis, and 
        visualization of precipitation data.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) A recommended plan for a Federal research 
        and development program, including specifications for costs, 
        timeframes, and responsible agencies for addressing identified 
        research needs.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(7) An analysis of the respective roles in 
        precipitation estimation of various Federal agencies, academia, 
        State, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and other 
        public and private stakeholders.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(8) Recommendations for data management to 
        promote long-term needs such as enabling retrospective analyses 
        and data discoverability, interoperability, and 
        reuse.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(9) Recommendations for how data and services 
        from the entire enterprise can be best leveraged by the Federal 
        Government.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(10) Such other topics as the Administrator or 
        the National Academies consider appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration $1,500,000 to carry out the study under this 
section.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 602. IMPROVING PROBABLE MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION 
              ESTIMATES.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date 
on which the National Academies makes publicly available the report 
under section 601, the Administrator, shall, in consideration of the 
recommendations included in the report and in consultation with 
relevant partners, including users of the data, develop a plan to--
</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) not later than 6 years after the completion 
        of the report submitted under section 601 and not less 
        frequently than once every 10 years thereafter, update probable 
        maximum precipitation estimates for the United States, such 
        that each update includes estimates that incorporate 
        assumptions of non-stationarity;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) coordinate with partners to conduct research 
        in the field of extreme precipitation estimation, in accordance 
        with the research needs identified in the report submitted 
        under section 601;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) make publicly available, in a searchable, 
        interoperable format, all probable maximum precipitation 
        studies developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration that the Administrator has the legal right to 
        redistribute and considers to be at an appropriate state of 
        development on an internet website of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration; and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) ensure all probable maximum precipitation 
        estimate data, products, and supporting documentation and 
        metadata developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration are preserved, curated, and served by the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as 
        appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(b) National Guidance Document for the Development of 
Probable Maximum Precipitation Estimates.--The Administrator, in 
collaboration with Federal agencies, State, territorial, tribal and 
local governments, academia, and other partners the Administrator 
considers appropriate, shall develop a national guidance document 
that--</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) provides best practices that can be followed 
        by Federal and State regulatory agencies, private 
        meteorological consultants, and other users that perform 
        probable maximum precipitation studies;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) considers the recommendations included in 
        the report submitted under section 601;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) facilitates review of probable maximum 
        precipitation studies by regulatory agencies;</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) provides confidence in regional and site-
        specific probable maximum precipitation estimates; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) includes such other topics as the 
        Administrator considers appropriate.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(c) Publication.--Not later than 2 years after the date 
on which the National Academies makes publicly available the report 
under section 601, the Administrator shall make publicly available the 
national guidance document developed under subsection (b) on an 
internet website of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(d) Updates.--The Administrator shall update the 
national guidance document developed under subsection (b) not less 
frequently than once every 10 years after the publication of the 
document under subsection (c) and make such updates publicly available 
in accordance with such subsection.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    ``(e) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are 
authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration to carry out this section amounts as follows:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) $13,000,000 for fiscal year 2022.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2023.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2024.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(4) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2025.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(5) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2026.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(6) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 2027.</DELETED>

<DELETED>``SEC. 603. DEFINITIONS.</DELETED>

<DELETED>    ``In this title:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' 
        means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere 
        and the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) National academies.--The term `National 
        Academies' means the National Academies of Sciences, 
        Engineering, and Medicine.</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(3) United states.--The term `United States' 
        means, collectively, each State of the United States, the 
        District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American 
        Samoa, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, 
        the Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other 
        territory or possession of the United States.''.</DELETED>
<DELETED>    (b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of contents in 
section 1(b) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 
2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 91) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:</DELETED>

 <DELETED>``TITLE VI--IMPROVEMENT OF FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION

<DELETED>``Sec. 601. Study on precipitation estimation.
<DELETED>``Sec. 602. Improving probable maximum precipitation 
                            estimates.
<DELETED>``Sec. 603. Definitions.''.

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Providing Research and Estimates of 
Changes In Precipitation Act'' or the ``PRECIP Act''.

SEC. 2. AMENDMENT TO THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION 
              ACT OF 2017 RELATING TO IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION 
              INFORMATION.

    (a) In General.--The Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation 
Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 
the following:

        ``TITLE VI--IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION

``SEC. 601. STUDY ON PRECIPITATION ESTIMATION.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
enactment of the PRECIP Act, the Administrator, in consultation with 
other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall seek to enter an agreement 
with the National Academies--
            ``(1) to conduct a study on the state of practice and 
        research needs for precipitation estimation, including probable 
        maximum precipitation estimation; and
            ``(2) to submit, not later than 24 months after the date on 
        which such agreement is finalized, to the Committee on Science, 
        Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the 
        Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 
        Senate, and make publicly available on a website, a report on 
        the results of the study under paragraph (1).
    ``(b) Study.--The report under subsection (a) shall include the 
following:
            ``(1) An examination of the current state of practice for 
        precipitation estimation at scales appropriate for 
        decisionmaker needs, and rationale for further evolution of 
        this field.
            ``(2) An evaluation of best practices for precipitation 
        estimation that are based on the best-available science, 
        include considerations of non-stationarity, and can be utilized 
        by the user community.
            ``(3) A framework for--
                    ``(A) the development of a National Guidance 
                Document for estimating extreme precipitation in future 
                conditions; and
                    ``(B) evaluation of the strengths and challenges of 
                the full spectrum of approaches, including for probable 
                maximum precipitation studies.
            ``(4) A description of existing research needs in the field 
        of precipitation estimation in order to modernize current 
        methodologies and consider non-stationarity.
            ``(5) A description of in-situ, airborne, and space-based 
        observation requirements, that could enhance precipitation 
        estimation and development of models, including an examination 
        of the use of geographic information systems and geospatial 
        technology for integration, analysis, and visualization of 
        precipitation data.
            ``(6) A recommended plan for a Federal research and 
        development program, including specifications for costs, 
        timeframes, and responsible agencies for addressing identified 
        research needs.
            ``(7) An analysis of the respective roles in precipitation 
        estimation of various Federal agencies, academia, State, 
        tribal, territorial, and local governments, and other public 
        and private stakeholders.
            ``(8) Recommendations for data management to promote long-
        term needs such as enabling retrospective analyses and data 
        discoverability, interoperability, and reuse.
            ``(9) Recommendations for how data and services from the 
        entire enterprise can be best leveraged by the Federal 
        Government.
            ``(10) A description of non-Federal precipitation data, its 
        accessibility by the Federal Government, and ways for National 
        Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve or expand 
        such datasets.
    ``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
$1,500,000 to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to 
carry out this study.

``SEC. 602. IMPROVING PROBABLE MAXIMUM PRECIPITATION ESTIMATES.

    ``(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date on which 
the National Academies makes public the report under section 601, the 
Administrator, in consideration of the report recommendations, shall 
consult with relevant partners, including users of the data, on the 
development of a plan to--
            ``(1) not later than 6 years after the completion of such 
        report and not less than every 10 years thereafter, update 
        probable maximum precipitation estimates for the United States, 
        such that each update considers non-stationarity;
            ``(2) coordinate with partners to conduct research in the 
        field of extreme precipitation estimation, in accordance with 
        the research needs identified in such report;
            ``(3) make publicly available, in a searchable, 
        interoperable format, all probable maximum precipitation 
        studies developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration that the Administrator has the legal right to 
        redistribute and deemed to be at an appropriate state of 
        development on an internet website of the National Oceanic and 
        Atmospheric Administration; and
            ``(4) ensure all probable maximum precipitation estimate 
        data, products, and supporting documentation and metadata 
        developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration are preserved, curated, and served by the 
        National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as 
        appropriate.
    ``(b) National Guidance Document for the Development of Probable 
Maximum Precipitation Estimates.--The Administrator, in collaboration 
with Federal agencies, State, territorial, Tribal and local 
governments, academia, and other partners the Administrator deems 
appropriate, shall develop a National Guidance Document that--
            ``(1) provides best practices that can be followed by 
        Federal and State regulatory agencies, private meteorological 
        consultants, and other users that perform probable maximum 
        precipitation studies;
            ``(2) considers the recommendations provided in the 
        National Academies study under section 601;
            ``(3) facilitates review of probable maximum precipitation 
        studies by regulatory agencies; and
            ``(4) provides confidence in regional and site-specific 
        probable maximum precipitation estimates.
    ``(c) Publication.--Not later than 2 years after the date on which 
the National Academies makes public the report under section 601, the 
Administrator shall make publicly available the National Guidance 
Document under subsection (b) on an internet website of the National 
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    ``(d) Updates.--The Administrator shall update the National 
Guidance Document not less than once every 10 years after the 
publication of the National Guidance Document under subsection (c) and 
publish such updates in accordance with such subsection.
    ``(e) Funding.--Amounts available to carry out this section shall 
be derived from existing funds otherwise appropriated to the 
Administrator.

``SEC. 603. DEFINITIONS.

    `` In this title:
            ``(1) Administrator.--The term `Administrator' means the 
        Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and 
        Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration.
            ``(2) National academies.--The term `National Academies' 
        means the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and 
        Medicine.
            ``(3) United states.--The term `United States' means, 
        collectively, each State of the United States, the District of 
        Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, 
        Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, the 
        Virgin Islands of the United States, and any other territory or 
        possession of the United States.''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and 
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8501 note) is amended in 
the table of contents by adding at the end the following:

        ``TITLE VI--IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION

``Sec. 601. Study on precipitation estimation.
``Sec. 602. Improving probable maximum precipitation estimates.
``Sec. 603. Definitions.''.
                                                       Calendar No. 596

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 3053

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