article: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atmospheric and Satellite Program Authorization Act of 1993''. TITLE I--AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS SEC. 101. NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. (a) Operations and Research.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Commerce (in this Act referred to as the ``Secretary'') to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the operations and research duties of the National Weather Service, $473,256,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $492,185,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include meteorological, hydrological, and oceanographic public warnings and forecasts, as well as applied research in support of such warnings and forecasts. (b) Systems Acquisition.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the public warning and forecast systems duties of the National Weather Service, $76,299,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $14,600,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include the development, acquisition, and implementation of major public warning and forecast systems. 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 under this subsection for fiscal year 1995 shall be used for the purposes for which funds are authorized under subsections (c) and (d) of this section. No funds may be expended for Next Generation Doppler Weather Radar (NEXRAD) until the requirements of paragraph (2)(A) or (B) of such section 102(b) have been fulfilled by the Secretary. None of the funds authorized by such section 102(b) shall be expended for a particular NEXRAD installation unless-- (1) it is identified as a National Weather Service NEXRAD installation in the National Implementation Plan for modernization of the National Weather Service for fiscal year 1994, required under section 703 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567); (2) the Secretary, in consultation with the Modernization Transition Committee established under section 707 of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992, has made a determination of technical and programmatic necessity with respect to such installation and a period of 60 legislative days after the transmittal to the Congress of such determination, or the period between such transmittal and the next October 1, whichever period is longer, has passed; or (3) it is to be used only for spare parts, not as an installation at a particular site. For purposes of this subsection, the term ``legislative day'' means any day on which either House of Congress is in session. (c) ASOS Complete Program Authorization.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for all fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1994, an aggregate of $30,808,000, to remain available until expended, to complete the acquisition and deployment of-- (A) the Automated Surface Observing System and related systems, including multisensor and backup arrays for National Weather Service sites at airports; and (B) Automated Meteorological Observing System and Remote Automated Meteorological Observing System replacement units, and to cover all associated activities, including program management and operations and maintenance through September 30, 1996. (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 performance specifications included in the system contract as in effect on February 20, 1991; (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 operations schedule; or (B) submits to the Congress a report which describes-- (i) the circumstances which prevent a certification 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. (d) AWIPS Complete Program Authorization.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for all fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1994, an aggregate of $315,887,000, to remain available until expended, 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 performance specifications included in the system contract as in effect on January 5, 1993; (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 operations schedule; or (B) submits to the Congress a report which describes-- (i) the circumstances which prevent a certification 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. (e) Construction of Weather Forecast Offices.--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 weather forecast offices, $62,784,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $14,739,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such activities include planning, design, and land acquisition related to such offices. SEC. 102. ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH. (a) Climate and Air Quality Research.-- (1) In general.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out its climate and air quality research duties, $105,922,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $138,737,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include interannual and seasonal climate research and long-term climate and air quality research. (2) Climate and global change.--Of the sums authorized under paragraph (1), $66,902,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $84,573,000 for fiscal year 1995 are authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of studying climate and global change, including global observations, monitoring, and data and information management relating to the study of changes in the Earth's climatic system, and fundamental research on oceanic and atmospheric processes critical to climate prediction and diagnostics. (b) Atmospheric Programs.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out its atmospheric research duties, $42,103,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $52,980,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include research for developing improved prediction capabilities for atmospheric processes, as well as solar-terrestrial research and services. SEC. 103. 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, $206,383,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $217,710,000 for fiscal year 1995, except that no funds may be expended for Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite until the requirements of section 105(d)(2) (A) or (B) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567) have been fulfilled by the Secretary. Such duties include spacecraft procurement, launch, and associated ground station systems involving 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 section 105(d) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-567). None of the funds authorized under this subsection for fiscal year 1995 shall be used for the purposes for which funds are authorized under subsection (b) of this section. (b) POES Complete Program Authorization.--(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for all fiscal years beginning after September 30, 1994, an aggregate of $196,343,000, to remain available until expended, to complete the procurement of Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites J, K, L, and M, and the procurement of the launching and supporting ground systems of such satellites. (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 satellite instruments meet the technical performance specifications included in the satellite contracts as in effect on July 27, 1988; (ii) the procurements can be completed without requiring further appropriations beyond amounts authorized under paragraph (1); and (iii) the Secretary does not foresee any gaps in two-satellite service operations resulting from nonperformance of the satellite contract; or (B) submits to the Congress a report which describes-- (i) the circumstances which prevent a certification under subparagraph (A); (ii) remedial actions undertaken or to be undertaken with respect to such circumstances; (iii) the effects of such circumstances on the launch schedule and satellite coverage; and (iv) a justification for proceeding with the program, if appropriate. (3) No funds for Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites, other than for Polar Orbiting Environmental Satellites J, K, L, and M, are authorized to be appropriated under subsection (a) unless the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy submits an implementation plan for a single operational polar environmental and weather satellite system and the policy for polar satellite system convergence with the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT). (c) Environmental Data and Information Services.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to enable the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out its environmental data and information services duties, $34,068,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $41,227,000 for fiscal year 1995. Such duties include climate data services, geophysical data services, and environmental assessment and information services. SEC. 104. PROGRAM SUPPORT. (a) Administration and Services.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for Administration and Services, $73,319,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $76,252,000 for fiscal year 1995. (b) Aircraft Services.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary for Aircraft Services and Aircraft Critical Safety and Instrumentation, $9,495,000 for fiscal year 1994 and $9,875,000 for fiscal year 1995. SEC. 105. LIMITATION ON APPROPRIATIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, except as provided in section 101(c) and (d) and section 103(b), no funds are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year after fiscal year 1995 for carrying out the programs for which funds are authorized by this Act. This section shall not apply to the programs described in section 102(a)(2) or section 104(a). TITLE II--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS SEC. 201. STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LABORATORIES. (a) Assessment.--The Secretary shall conduct an assessment of the long-term role and mission of the Environmental Research Laboratories of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the relevance of the research conducted therein to issues of global and national importance. In conducting such assessment, the Secretary shall take into consideration-- (1) the adequacy of resources provided to support the missions of the Environmental Research Laboratories; (2) the ability of the Environmental Research Laboratories to provide research support for the coastal and ocean management and regulatory responsibilities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; (3) the capacity of the Environmental Research Laboratories to process and disseminate environmental data and information collected and processed, or expected to be collected and processed, by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other appropriate Federal departments and agencies; (4) the mission of the Environmental Research Laboratories to provide solar-terrestrial services to the Nation; (5) the ability of the Environmental Research Laboratories to provide continued support for the modernization of weather services; (6) the responsibilities of the Environmental Research Laboratories to monitor, assess, and predict changes in the Earth's climate; (7) the capability of the Environmental Research Laboratories to integrate and interpret scientific data in order to provide information useful to policy makers for responding to national and global environmental concerns; (8) the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the Environmental Research Laboratories; (9) the interaction of the Environmental Research Laboratories with the academic community, including Joint and Cooperative Institutes, and the ability of these interactions to improve the quality and effectiveness of research; (10) the number, location, and geographic distribution of the Environmental Research Laboratories; and (11) any other issues that the Secretary may identify. (b) Comprehensive Strategic Plan.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall develop and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries of the House of Representatives a comprehensive strategic plan, based on the assessment conducted under subsection (a), to modernize and improve the role and mission of the Environmental Research Laboratories of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The assessment conducted under subsection (a) shall be submitted along with such plan. SEC. 202. HYDROLOGICAL RESEARCH AND FLOOD FORECAST MODERNIZATION REPORT. (a) In General.--Not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, shall prepare and 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 identifying the actions required to improve the hydrological research programs and to modernize the Flood Forecasting System of the National Weather Service. (b) Report Contents.--The report required under subsection (a) shall include consideration of-- (1) current, planned, and potential technological improvements in the collection of observational hydrological data; (2) use of additional satellite remote-sensing data and airborne surveys, including those systems operated by other Federal agencies, for hydrological data collection; (3) improvements in data analysis and computer modeling in support of flood forecasts and predictions; and (4) full integration of the River Forecast Centers in the National Weather Service Modernization Plan. SEC. 203. SENSE OF CONGRESS. It is the sense of Congress that any transfers of National Weather Service employees from field offices necessitated by the National Implementation Plan for Modernization of the National Weather Service be carried out in a manner that will not result in the degradation of services in the service area of such field office. Passed the House of Representatives November 20, 1993. Attest: DONNALD K. ANDERSON, Clerk. By Dallas L. Dendy, Jr., Assistant to the Clerk. HR 2811 RFS----2
summary: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Atmospheric and Satellite Program Authorization Act of 1993 - Title I: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of Commerce for: (1) the National Weather Service (operations and research, systems acquisition, and construction of NEXRAD facilities and weather forecast offices); (2) atmospheric research (climate and air quality research and atmospheric programs); (3) national environmental data and information services and satellite observing systems; and (4) program support (administration and services and aircraft services). Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions - Directs the Secretary to: (1) develop a strategic plan for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's environmental research laboratories; and (2) prepare a hydrological research and flood forecasting modernization report. Expresses the sense of the Congress that any transfers of National Weather Service field office employees necessitated by the National Implementation Plan for Modernization of the National Weather Service be carried out in a manner that will not degrade field services.