Volcanic Ash and Fumes Act of 2022
Bill: S.3533 | Sponsor: Sen. Schatz, Brian (D-HI)
Policy area: Emergency Management

Summary:
Volcanic Ash and Fumes Act of 2022
This bill incorporates the capacities and expertise of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) into the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System.
Specifically, the bill integrates into the purposes of the system relevant capacities of NOAA to strengthen the warning and monitoring systems of volcano observatories in the United States. This includes observations and modeling of the results from volcanic eruptions (e.g., emissions of gases, aerosols, and ash; atmospheric dynamics and chemistry; and ocean chemistry) that are carried out by NOAA's Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers located in Anchorage, Alaska, and the District of Columbia.
The bill provides for a memorandum of understanding to establish cooperative support for the activities of the system from NOAA, including environmental observations, modeling, and temporary duty assignments of personnel to support emergency activities.
The Department of Commerce must (1) submit to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) annual cost estimates for modernization activities and support of the system for NOAA; and (2) collaborate with the USGS to implement activities related to the expertise of NOAA, including observations and modeling of results from volcanic eruptions.
Commerce must develop a plan to implement this bill during the five-year period beginning on the date on which the plan is developed. The plan shall include an estimate of the cost and schedule required for implementation. Upon the plan's completion, Commerce shall make it publicly available.

To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and 
   Recreation Act to improve the National Volcano Early Warning and 
               Monitoring System, and for other purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Volcanic Ash and Fumes Act of 
2022''.

SEC. 2. MODIFICATIONS TO NATIONAL VOLCANO EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING 
              SYSTEM.

    (a) Definitions.--Subsection (a) of section 5001 of the John D. 
Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (43 U.S.C. 
31k) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);
            (2) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
            ``(2) Secretary of commerce.--The term `Secretary of 
        Commerce' means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the 
        Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
            ``(4) Volcanic ash advisory center.--The term `Volcanic Ash 
        Advisory Center' means an entity designated by the 
        International Civil Aviation Organization that is responsible 
        for informing aviation interests about the presence of volcanic 
        ash in the airspace.''.
    (b) Purposes.--Subsection (b)(1)(B) of such section is amended--
            (1) in clause (i), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following:
                            ``(iii) to strengthen the warning and 
                        monitoring systems of volcano observatories in 
                        the United States by integrating relevant 
                        capacities of the National Oceanic and 
                        Atmospheric Administration, including with the 
                        Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers located in 
                        Anchorage, Alaska, and Washington, DC, to 
                        observe and model emissions of gases, aerosols, 
                        and ash, atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, 
                        and ocean chemistry resulting from volcanic 
                        eruptions.''.
    (c) System Components.--Subsection (b)(2) of such section is 
amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (B)--
                    (A) by striking ``and'' before ``spectrometry''; 
                and
                    (B) by inserting ``, and unoccupied aerial 
                vehicles'' after ``emissions''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(C) Memorandum of understanding.--The Secretary 
                and the Secretary of Commerce shall develop and execute 
                a memorandum of understanding to establish cooperative 
                support for the activities of the System from the 
                National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
                including environmental observations, modeling, and 
                temporary duty assignments of personnel to support 
                emergency activities, as necessary or appropriate.''.
    (d) Management.--Subsection (b)(3) of such section is amended--
            (1) in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the 
        following:
                            ``(iii) Update.--
                                    ``(I) National oceanic and 
                                atmospheric administration cost 
                                estimates.--The Secretary of Commerce 
                                shall submit to the Secretary annual 
                                cost estimates for modernization 
                                activities and support of the System 
                                for the National Oceanic and 
                                Atmospheric Administration.
                                    ``(II) Update of management plan.--
                                The Secretary shall update the 
                                management plan submitted under clause 
                                (i) to include the cost estimates 
                                submitted under subclause (I).''; and
            (2) by adding at the end the following:
                    ``(E) Collaboration.--The Secretary of Commerce 
                shall collaborate with the Secretary to implement 
                activities carried out under this section related to 
                the expertise of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
                Administration, including observations and modeling of 
                emissions of gases, aerosols, and ash, atmospheric 
                dynamics and chemistry, and ocean chemistry resulting 
                from volcanic eruptions.''.
    (e) Funding.--Subsection (c) of such section is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1)--
                    (A) in the paragraph heading, by inserting ``, 
                united states geological survey'' after 
                ``appropriations''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``to the United States Geological 
                Survey'' after ``appropriated'';.
        <DELETED>    (2) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph 
        (3);</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the 
        following:</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    ``(2) Authorization of appropriations, national 
        oceanic and atmospheric administration.--There is authorized to 
        be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
        Administration to carry out this section such sums as may be 
        necessary for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2023.''; 
        and</DELETED>
        <DELETED>    (4) in paragraph (3), as redesignated by paragraph 
        (2)--</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (A) by striking ``United States Geological 
                Survey''; and</DELETED>
                <DELETED>    (B) by inserting ``of the United States 
                Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and 
                Atmospheric Administration'' after 
                ``programs''.</DELETED>
    (f) Implementation Plan.--
            (1) Development of plan.--Not later than 180 days after the 
        date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, 
        in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall 
        develop a plan to implement the amendments made by this Act 
        during the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the 
        plan is developed.
            (2) Elements.--The plan developed under paragraph (1) shall 
        include an estimate of the cost and schedule required for the 
        implementation described in such paragraph.
            (3) Public availability.--Upon completion of the plan 
        developed under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Commerce shall 
        make the plan publicly available.
                                                       Calendar No. 645

117th CONGRESS

  2d Session

                                S. 3533

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