Sec. 4. Modification of tsunami forecasting and warning program
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Subsection
(a)of section 4 ( 33 U.S.C. 3203(a) ) is amended by striking Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico region and inserting Atlantic Ocean region, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico . Subsection
(b)of section 4 ( 33 U.S.C. 3203(b) ) is amended— in paragraph (1), by striking established and inserting supported or maintained ; by redesignating paragraphs
(7)through
(9)as paragraphs
(8)through (10), respectively; by redesignating paragraphs
(2)through
(6)as paragraphs
(3)through (7), respectively; by inserting after paragraph
(1)the following: to the degree practicable, maintain not less than 80 percent of the Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis buoy array at operational capacity to optimize data reliability; . by amending paragraph (5), as redesignated by paragraph (3), to read as follows: provide tsunami forecasting capability based on models and measurements, including tsunami inundation models and maps for use in increasing the preparedness of communities and safeguarding port and harbor operations, that incorporate inputs, including— the United States and global ocean and coastal observing system; the global Earth observing system; the global seismic network; the Advanced National Seismic system; tsunami model validation using historical and paleotsunami data; digital elevation models and bathymetry; newly developing tsunami detection methodologies using satellites and airborne remote sensing; and any other data the Administrator determines is necessary; ; by amending paragraph (7), as redesignated by paragraph (3), to read as follows: include a cooperative effort among the Administration, the United States Geological Survey, and the National Science Foundation under which the Director of the United States Geological Survey and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall— provide rapid and reliable seismic information to the Administrator from international and domestic seismic networks; and support seismic stations installed before the date of the enactment of the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015 to supplement coverage in areas of sparse instrumentation; ; in paragraph (8), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— by inserting , including graphical warning products, after warnings ; by inserting , territories, after States ; and by inserting and Wireless Emergency Alerts after Hazards Program ; and in paragraph (9), as redesignated by paragraph (2)— by inserting provide and before allow ; and by inserting and commercial and Federal undersea communications cables after observing technologies . Subsection
(c)of section 4 ( 33 U.S.C. 3203(c) ) is amended to read as follows: The program under this section shall operate a tsunami warning system that— is capable of forecasting tsunami, including forecasting tsunami arrival time and inundation estimates, anywhere in the Pacific and Arctic Ocean regions and providing adequate warnings; is capable of forecasting and providing adequate warnings, including tsunami arrival time and inundation models where applicable, in areas of the Atlantic Ocean, including the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico, that are determined— to be geologically active, or to have significant potential for geological activity; and to pose significant risks of tsunami for States along the coastal areas of the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, or Gulf of Mexico; and supports other international tsunami forecasting and warning efforts. . Subsection
(d)of section 4 ( 33 U.S.C. 3203(d) ) is amended to read as follows: The Administrator shall support or maintain centers to support the tsunami warning system required by subsection (c). The Centers shall include— the National Tsunami Warning Center, located in Alaska, which is primarily responsible for Alaska and the continental United States; the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, located in Hawaii, which is primarily responsible for Hawaii, the Caribbean, and other areas of the Pacific not covered by the National Center; and any additional forecast and warning centers determined by the National Weather Service to be necessary. The responsibilities of the centers supported or maintained under paragraph
(1)shall include the following: Continuously monitoring data from seismological, deep ocean, coastal sea level, and tidal monitoring stations and other data sources as may be developed and deployed. Evaluating earthquakes, landslides, and volcanic eruptions that have the potential to generate tsunami. Evaluating deep ocean buoy data and tidal monitoring stations for indications of tsunami resulting from earthquakes and other sources. To the extent practicable, utilizing a range of models, including ensemble models, to predict tsunami, including arrival times, flooding estimates, coastal and harbor currents, and duration. Using data from the Integrated Ocean Observing System of the Administration in coordination with regional associations to calculate new inundation estimates and periodically update existing inundation estimates. Disseminating forecasts and tsunami warning bulletins to Federal, State, tribal, and local government officials and the public. Coordinating with the tsunami hazard mitigation program conducted under section 5 to ensure ongoing sharing of information between forecasters and emergency management officials. In coordination with the Coast Guard, evaluating and recommending procedures for ports and harbors at risk of tsunami inundation, including review of readiness, response, and communication strategies, and data sharing policies. Making data gathered under this Act and post-warning analyses conducted by the National Weather Service or other relevant Administration offices available to the public. Integrating and modernizing the program operated under this section with advances in tsunami science to improve performance without compromising service. The tsunami warning centers supported or maintained under paragraph
(1)shall maintain a fail-safe warning capability and perform back-up duties for each other. The Administrator shall coordinate with the forecast offices of the National Weather Service, the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), and such program offices of the Administration as the Administrator or the coordinating committee, as established in section 5(d), consider appropriate to ensure that regional and local forecast offices— have the technical knowledge and capability to disseminate tsunami warnings for the communities they serve; leverage connections with local emergency management officials for optimally disseminating tsunami warnings and forecasts; and implement mass communication tools in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of the Tsunami Warning, Education, and Research Act of 2015 used by the National Weather Service on such date and newer mass communication technologies as they are developed as a part of the Weather-Ready Nation program of the Administration, or otherwise, for the purpose of timely and effective delivery of tsunami warnings. The Administrator shall— develop uniform operational procedures for the centers supported or maintained under paragraph (1), including the use of software applications, checklists, decision support tools, and tsunami warning products that have been standardized across the program supported under this section; ensure that processes and products of the warning system operated under subsection (c)— reflect industry best practices when practicable; conform to the maximum extent practicable with internationally recognized standards for information technology; and conform to the maximum extent practicable with other warning products and practices of the National Weather Service; ensure that future adjustments to operational protocols, processes, and warning products— are made consistently across the warning system operated under subsection (c); and are applied in a uniform manner across such warning system; establish a systematic method for information technology product development to improve long-term technology planning efforts; and disseminate guidelines and metrics for evaluating and improving tsunami forecast models. The Administrator, through the National Weather Service, shall ensure that resources are available to fulfill the obligations of this Act. This includes ensuring supercomputing resources are available to run, as rapidly as possible, such computer models as are needed for purposes of the tsunami warning system operated under subsection (c). . Subsection
(e)of section 4 ( 33 U.S.C. 3203(e) ) is amended to read as follows: In carrying out this section, the Administrator shall— develop requirements for the equipment used to forecast tsunami, including— provisions for multipurpose detection platforms; reliability and performance metrics; and to the maximum extent practicable, requirements for the integration of equipment with other United States and global ocean and coastal observation systems, the global Earth observing system of systems, the global seismic networks, and the Advanced National Seismic System; develop and execute a plan for the transfer of technology from ongoing research conducted as part of the program supported or maintained under section 6 into the program under this section; and ensure that the Administration’s operational tsunami detection equipment is properly maintained. . Subsection
(f)of section 4 ( 33 U.S.C. 3203(f) ) is amended to read as follows: When deploying and maintaining tsunami detection technologies under the program under this section, the Administrator shall— identify which assets of other Federal agencies are necessary to support such program; and work with each agency identified under paragraph (1)— to acquire the agency’s assistance; and to prioritize the necessary assets in support of the tsunami forecast and warning program. . Section 4 ( 33 U.S.C. 3203 ) is further amended— by striking subsection (g); by striking subsections
(i)through (k); and by redesignating subsection
(h)as subsection (g). Subsection
(g)of section 4 ( 33 U.S.C. 3203(g) ), as redesignated by subsection (g)(3), is amended— in the matter before paragraph (1), by striking 30 and inserting 90 ; by redesignating paragraphs
(1)and
(2)as subparagraphs
(A)and (B), respectively, and moving such subparagraphs 2 ems to the right; in the matter before subparagraph (A), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking The Administrator and inserting the following: The Administrator ; in paragraph (1), as redesignated by paragraph (3)— in subparagraph (A), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking and at the end; in subparagraph (B), as redesignated by paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and ; and by adding at the end the following: the occurrence of a significant tsunami warning. ; and by adding at the end the following: In a case in which notice is submitted under paragraph
(1)within 90 days of a significant tsunami warning described in subparagraph
(C)of such paragraph, such notice shall include, as appropriate, brief information and analysis of— the accuracy of the tsunami model used; the specific deep ocean or other monitoring equipment that detected the incident, as well as the deep ocean or other monitoring equipment that did not detect the incident due to malfunction or other reasons; the effectiveness of the warning communication, including the dissemination of warnings with State, territory, local, and tribal partners in the affected area under the jurisdiction of the National Weather Service; and such other findings as the Administrator considers appropriate. .
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Sec. 4
Modification of tsunami forecasting and warning program
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