[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2441 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
103d CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 2441
To provide for an independent review of the implementation of the
National Implementation Plan for modernization of the National Weather
Service at specific sites, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
September 19 (legislative day, September 12), 1994
Mr. Heflin introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide for an independent review of the implementation of the
National Implementation Plan for modernization of the National Weather
Service at specific sites, 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 ``Weather Service Modernization Review
Act of 1994''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
Congress finds that--
(1) the safety and welfare of the public depends on the
provision of accurate and timely weather information;
(2) in general, the National Implementation Plan for
modernization of the National Weather Service required under
the Weather Service Modernization Act provides a cost effective
approach to initiation of weather service modernization;
(3) some geographic areas may not realize the full benefits
of weather service implementation under the plan; and
(4) no independent process presently exists to receive
public comment, provide technical review, or recommend
remediation plans for communities or regions of the country
that assert that the National Implementation Plan has resulted
in or will result in a degradation of existing service.
SEC. 3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY.
(a) The Secretary of Commerce (in this Act referred to as the
``Secretary'') shall provide for the public safety by ensuring that the
implementation of the National Implementation Plan for the
modernization of the National Weather Service required under the
Weather Service Modernization Act (in this Act referred to as the
``National Implementation Plan'') does not result in a degradation of
service in any specific geographic area, which shall include
maintaining radar coverage with no degradation of service for areas
served by the National Weather Service system, and also shall provide
for radar coverage in some areas which might not otherwise be adequate
with respect to specific unique weather phenomena which pose a
substantial threat to public safety.
(b) Within 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and
biennially thereafter until 2 years have passed after the
implementation of the National Implementation Plan is completed, the
Secretary shall publish a notice in the Federal Register soliciting
public comment for a period of 60 days on specific geographic areas
where there is uncertainty whether such implementation will result in
or has resulted in any degradation in service.
(c) Within 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and
within 60 days after the end of each biennial comment period under
subsection (b), the Secretary shall enter into an agreement for an
independent review, to be completed within 180 days, by the National
Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences. The Secretary, in
consultation with the Modernization Transition Committee established
under section 707 of the Weather Service Modernization Act, shall
select geographic areas for such independent review, based on comments
received through a public comment period under subsection (b). Such
review shall, for each geographical area selected--
(1) evaluate any unique or extraordinary weather conditions
in the area;
(2) consider the proposed NEXRAD radar coverage for the
area, particularly to determine if the area is or will be in an
area of weak radar coverage;
(3) consider the effects of closing any local Weather
Service office on local weather service and interaction with
local emergency management agencies;
(4) consider the effects of transferring local warning
responsibility to a remote Weather Forecast Office, including
the effect on issuing weather warnings by that remote office
and communicating with emergency management personnel with
regard to weather emergencies; and
(5) evaluate and compare the feasibility and cost of
proposed remedial actions, including options for relocating
overlapping military and civilian NEXRAD facilities.
(d) The National Research Council shall submit recommendations,
including any dissenting views, to the Secretary regarding the need to
supplement the National Implementation Plan, revise any specific siting
plans, establish radar coverage at altitudes less than 10,000 feet, or
improve radar coverage service.
(e) Within 60 days after receiving recommendations from the
National Research Council under subsection (d), the Secretary shall
transmit to the Congress a report containing--
(1) the recommendations of the National Research Council;
and
(2) the actions the Secretary proposes to take in response
to those recommendations.
(f) For any area selected for review under subsection (c), the
Secretary shall take no action which may result in a reduction of
public safety, including the closure of weather service offices,
transfer of responsibilities or duties of those offices,
decommissioning of any warning radar, or transfer or reduction in
personnel in those offices, until such time as the independent review
is completed and a report with respect to such review is transmitted to
the Congress under subsection (e).
(g) In carrying out this Act, the Secretary shall consult with the
Secretary of Defense and with the Secretary of Transportation with
respect to coverage of those Department of Defense radars and
Department of Transportation radars, respectively, which supplement the
civil system.
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