Sec. 8. Fire weather testbed
247 words·~1 min read·
/bill/117/hr/8449/ih/section-8A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
The Under Secretary shall establish a fire weather testbed that enables engagement across the Federal Government, State and local governments, academia, private and federally funded research laboratories, the private sector, and end-users in order to evaluate the accuracy and usability of technology, models, fire weather products and services, and other research to accelerate the implementation, transition to operations, and use of new capabilities by the Administration, Federal and land management agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
The Under Secretary shall— research and assess the role and potential of uncrewed aircraft systems to improve data collection in support of modeling, observations, predictions, forecasts, and impact-based decision support services; and transition uncrewed aircraft systems technologies from research to operations as the Under Secretary considers appropriate. In carrying out paragraph (1), not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Under Secretary shall conduct at least 1 pilot of uncrewed aircraft systems for fire weather and fire environment observations.
In carrying out activities under this subsection, the Under Secretary shall ensure that any testing or deployment of uncrewed aircraft systems follow procedures, restrictions, and protocols established by the heads of the Federal agencies with statutory or regulatory jurisdiction over any airspace in which wildfire response activities are conducted during an active wildfire event. The Under Secretary shall consult and coordinate with relevant Federal land management agencies and the Federal Aviation Administration to develop processes for the appropriate deployment of the systems described in subparagraph (A).