Earthquake Hazards Redictuion Act of 1977 [42 U.S.C. 7706] Amended

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[DOCID: f:publ47.105]

[[Page 111 STAT. 1159]]

Public Law 105-47

105th Congress

An Act

<<NOTE: Oct. 1, 1997 - [S. 910]>> To authorize appropriations for

carrying out the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 for fiscal

years 1998 and 1999, 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. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

Section 12 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42

U.S.C. 7706) is amended--

(1) in subsection (a)(7)--

(A) by striking ``and'' after ``1995,''; and

(B) by inserting before the period at the end the

following: ``, $20,900,000 for the fiscal year ending

September 30, 1998, and $21,500,000 for the fiscal year

ending September 30, 1999'';

(2) in subsection (b)--

(A) by striking ``and'' after ``September 30,

1995;'';

(B) by inserting before the period at the end the

following: ``; $52,565,000 for the fiscal year ending

September 30, 1998, of which $3,800,000 shall be used

for the Global Seismic Network operated by the Agency;

and $54,052,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30,

1999, of which $3,800,000 shall be used for the Global

Seismic Network operated by the Agency''; and

(C) by adding at the end the following: ``Of the

amounts authorized to be appropriated under this

subsection, at least--

``(1) $8,000,000 of the amount authorized to be appropriated

for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998; and

``(2) $8,250,000 of the amount authorized for the fiscal

year ending September 30, 1999,

shall be used for carrying out a competitive, peer-reviewed program

under which the Director, in close coordination with and as a complement

to related activities of the United States Geological Survey, awards

grants to, or enters into cooperative agreements with, State and local

governments and persons or entities from the academic community and the

private sector.'';

(3) in subsection (c)--

(A) by striking ``and'' after ``September 30,

1995,''; and

(B) by inserting before the period at the end the

following: ``, (3) $18,450,000 for engineering research

and $11,920,000 for geosciences research for the fiscal

year ending September 30, 1998, and (4) $19,000,000 for

engineering research and $12,280,000 for geosciences

[[Page 111 STAT. 1160]]

research for the fiscal year ending September 30,

1999''; and

(4) in the last sentence of subsection (d)--

(A) by striking ``and'' after ``September 30,

1995,''; and

(B) by inserting before the period at the end the

following: ``, $2,000,000 for the fiscal year ending

September 30, 1998, and $2,060,000 for the fiscal year

ending September 30, 1999''.

<<NOTE: 42 USC 7704 note.>> SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION OF REAL-TIME

SEISMIC HAZARD WARNING SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT, AND

OTHER ACTIVITIES.

(a) Automatic Seismic Warning System Development.--

(1) Definitions.--In this section:

(A) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the

Director of the United States Geological Survey.

(B) High-risk activity.--The term ``high-risk

activity'' means an activity that may be adversely

affected by a moderate to severe seismic event (as

determined by the Director). The term includes high-

speed rail transportation.

(C) Real-time seismic warning system.--The term

``real-time seismic warning system'' means a system that

issues warnings in real-time from a network of seismic

sensors to a set of analysis processors, directly to

receivers related to high-risk activities.

(2) In general.--The Director shall conduct a program to

develop a prototype real-time seismic warning system. The

Director may enter into such agreements or contracts as may be

necessary to carry out the program.

(3) Upgrade of seismic sensors.--In carrying out a program

under paragraph (2), in order to increase the accuracy and speed

of seismic event analysis to provide for timely warning signals,

the Director shall provide for the upgrading of the network of

seismic sensors participating in the prototype to increase the

capability of the sensors--

(A) to measure accurately large magnitude seismic

events (as determined by the Director); and

(B) to acquire additional parametric data.

(4) Development of communications and computation

infrastructure.--In carrying out a program under paragraph (2),

the Director shall develop a communications and computation

infrastructure that is necessary--

(A) to process the data obtained from the upgraded

seismic sensor network referred to in paragraph (3); and

(B) to provide for, and carry out, such

communications engineering and development as is

necessary to facilitate--

(i) the timely flow of data within a real-time

seismic hazard warning system; and

(ii) the issuance of warnings to receivers

related to high-risk activities.

(5) Procurement of computer hardware and computer

software.--In carrying out a program under paragraph (2), the

Director shall procure such computer hardware and computer

software as may be necessary to carry out the program.

(6) Reports on progress.--

(A) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the

date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall

prepare and submit to Congress a report that contains a

plan

[[Page 111 STAT. 1161]]

for implementing a real-time seismic hazard warning

system.

(B) Additional reports.--Not later than 1 year after

the date on which the Director submits the report under

subparagraph (A), and annually thereafter, the Director

shall prepare and submit to Congress a report that

summarizes the progress of the Director in implementing

the plan referred to in subparagraph (A).

(7) Authorization of appropriations.--In addition to the

amounts made available to the Director under section 12(b) of

the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C.

7706(b)), there are authorized to be appropriated to the

Department of the Interior, to be used by the Director to carry

out paragraph (2), $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1998 and

1999.

(b) Seismic Monitoring Networks Assessment.--

(1) In general.--The Director shall provide for an

assessment of regional seismic monitoring networks in the United

States. The assessment shall address--

(A) the need to update the infrastructure used for

collecting seismological data for research and

monitoring of seismic events in the United States;

(B) the need for expanding the capability to record

strong ground motions, especially for urban area

engineering purposes;

(C) the need to measure accurately large magnitude

seismic events (as determined by the Director);

(D) the need to acquire additional parametric data;

and

(E) projected costs for meeting the needs described

in subparagraphs (A) through (D).

(2) Results.--The Director shall transmit the results of the

assessment conducted under this subsection to Congress not later

than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act.

(c) Earth Science Teaching Materials.--

(1) Definitions.--In this subsection:

(A) Local educational agency.--The term ``local

educational agency'' has the meaning given that term in

section 14101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education

Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 8801).

(B) School.--The term ``school'' means a nonprofit

institutional day or residential school that provides

education for any of the grades kindergarten through

grade 12.

(2) Teaching materials.--In a manner consistent with the

requirement under section 5(b)(4) of the Earthquake Hazards

Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(4)) and subject to a

merit based competitive process, the Director of the National

Science Foundation may use funds made available to him or her

under section 12(c) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 7706(c)) to develop,

and make available to schools and local educational agencies for

use by schools, at a minimal cost, earth science teaching

materials that are designed to meet the needs of elementary and

secondary school teachers and students.

(d) Improved Seismic Hazard Assessment.--

[[Page 111 STAT. 1162]]

(1) In general.--As soon as practicable after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Director shall conduct a project to

improve the seismic hazard assessment of seismic zones.

(2) Reports.--

(A) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the

date of enactment of this Act, and annually during the

period of the project, the Director shall prepare, and

submit to Congress, a report on the findings of the

project.

(B) Final report.--Not later than 60 days after the

date of termination of the project conducted under this

subsection, the Director shall prepare and submit to

Congress a report concerning the findings of the

project.

(e) Study of National Earthquake Emergency Training Capabilities.--

(1) In general.--The Director of the Federal Emergency

Management Agency shall conduct an assessment of the need for

additional Federal disaster-response training capabilities that

are applicable to earthquake response.

(2) Contents of assessment.--The assessment conducted under

this subsection shall include--

(A) a review of the disaster training programs

offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency at

the time of the assessment;

(B) an estimate of the number and types of emergency

response personnel that have, during the period

beginning on January 1, 1990 and ending on July 1, 1997,

sought the training referred to in subparagraph (A), but

have been unable to receive that training as a result of

the oversubscription of the training capabilities of the

Federal Emergency Management Agency; and

(C) a recommendation on the need to provide

additional Federal disaster-response training centers.

(3) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of

enactment of this Act, the Director shall prepare and submit to

Congress a report that addresses the results of the assessment

conducted under this subsection.

SEC. 3. COMPREHENSIVE ENGINEERING RESEARCH PLAN.

(a) National Science Foundation.--Section 5(b)(4) of the Earthquake

Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(4)) is amended--

(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);

(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E)

and inserting ``; and''; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

``(F) develop, in conjunction with the Federal

Emergency Management Agency, the National Institute of

Standards and Technology, and the United States

Geological Survey, a comprehensive plan for earthquake

engineering research to effectively use existing testing

facilities and laboratories (in existence at the time of

the development of the plan), upgrade facilities and

equipment as needed, and integrate new, innovative

testing approaches to the research infrastructure in a

systematic manner.''.

[[Page 111 STAT. 1163]]

(b) Federal Emergency Management Agency.--Section 5(b)(1) of the

Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(1)) is

amended--

(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (D);

(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (E)

and inserting ``; and''; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

``(F) work with the National Science Foundation, the

National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the

United States Geological Survey, to develop a

comprehensive plan for earthquake engineering research

to effectively use existing testing facilities and

laboratories (existing at the time of the development of

the plan), upgrade facilities and equipment as needed,

and integrate new, innovative testing approaches to the

research infrastructure in a systematic manner.''.

(c) United States Geological Survey.--Section 5(b)(3) of the

Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(3)) is

amended--

(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (E);

(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (G)

and inserting ``; and''; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

``(H) work with the National Science Foundation, the

Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the National

Institute of Standards and Technology to develop a

comprehensive plan for earthquake engineering research

to effectively use existing testing facilities and

laboratories (in existence at the time of the

development of the plan), upgrade facilities and

equipment as needed, and integrate new, innovative

testing approaches to the research infrastructure in a

systematic manner.''.

(d) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--Section 5(b)(5)

of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(5))

is amended--

(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (B);

(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (C)

and inserting ``; and''; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

``(D) work with the National Science Foundation, the

Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the United

States Geological Survey to develop a comprehensive plan

for earthquake engineering research to effectively use

existing testing facilities and laboratories (in

existence at the time of the development of the plan),

upgrade facilities and equipment as needed, and

integrate new, innovative testing approaches to the

research infrastructure in a systematic manner.''.

[[Page 111 STAT. 1164]]

SEC. 4. REPEALS.

Sections 6 and 7 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42

U.S.C. 7705 and 7705a) are repealed.

Approved October 1, 1997.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 910 (H.R. 2249):

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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 105-238, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Science) accompanying H.R.

2249.

SENATE REPORTS: No. 105-59 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and

Transportation).

CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 143 (1997):

July 31, considered and passed Senate.

Sept. 16, considered and passed House.

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