Sec. 603. Water Data Council

605 words·~3 min read·/bill/117/hr/5118/eh/section-603

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

The heads of the Departments shall establish an interagency Council, to be known as the Water Data Council , to support the development and implementation of the National Water Data Framework. The Secretary, acting through the Director of the United States Geological Survey, shall— serve as the Chair of the Council; in collaboration with the Administrators of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Environmental Protection Agency, and the Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, convene the Council not less frequently than 4 times each year; and provide staff support for the Council through the United States Geological Survey.

Council Members shall include the heads of the following entities: The Departments. Bureaus and offices of the Departments that have a significant role or interest in water data, including— the Corps of Engineers; the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Bureau of Reclamation; the Federal Emergency Management Agency; the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; the United States Fish and Wildlife Service; the Indian Health Service; the Forest Service; the National Laboratories; the Natural Resources Conservation Service; the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and the Rural Development program of the Department of Agriculture.

Offices of the Executive Office of the President, including— the Council on Environmental Quality; the Office of Management and Budget; and the Office of Science and Technology Policy. Other Federal entities that the Chair and a majority of the members of the Council described in subparagraphs

(A)through

(C)determine to be appropriate. The Council shall— support the development and implementation of the National Water Data Framework; and facilitate communication and collaboration among members of the Council— to establish, adopt, and implement common national water data standards; to promote water data sharing and integration across Federal departments and agencies, including— water data collection, observation, documentation, maintenance, distribution, and preservation strategies; and development and use of water data infrastructure, tools, and technologies to support water management and planning; to align the policies, programs, protocols, budgets, and funding programs relating to water data of the members of the Council, as appropriate; and to promote partnerships across Federal entities and non-Federal entities— to advance innovation and solutions in water data, technology, tools, planning, and management; and to develop guidelines for data sharing and protecting data privacy and security. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, in conjunction with the annual budget submission of the President to Congress under section 1105(a) of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary, acting on behalf of the Council, shall submit to members of the Council and the appropriate committees of Congress and make available publicly online a report that describes— the National Water Data Framework; the actions undertaken by the Departments to implement this title pursuant to section 602; key water data sets, types, and infrastructure needed to support water management and planning; goals, targets, and actions to carry out the National Water Data Framework in the subsequent fiscal year; a summary and evaluation of the progress of the Departments in achieving any prior goals, targets, and actions to carry out the National Water Data Framework; recommendations to align policies, programs, and budgetary resources to carry out the National Water Data Framework, where appropriate, in the subsequent fiscal year; grants and assistance provided to State, Tribal, and local entities toward the development and adoption of new technologies and tools; opportunities to develop and incentivize the deployment of promising next-generation technologies, including new water data technologies and tools, in partnership with the private sector and others to accomplish the purposes of this title; and metrics for achieving the National Water Data Framework.