Sec. 414. STUDY ON GAPS IN NEXRAD COVERAGE AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS SUCH GAPS
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## SEC. 414 STUDY ON GAPS IN NEXRAD COVERAGE AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO ADDRESS SUCH GAPS ###
(a)Study on Gaps in NEXRAD Coverage ####
(1)In general Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (“NEXRAD”). ####
(2)Elements In conducting the study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall— #####
(A)identify areas in the United States where limited or no NEXRAD coverage has resulted in— ######
(i)instances in which no or insufficient warnings were given for hazardous weather events, including tornadoes; or ######
(ii)degraded forecasts for hazardous weather events that resulted in fatalities, significant injuries, or substantial property damage; and #####
(B)for the areas identified under subparagraph (A)— ######
(i)identify the key weather effects for which prediction would improve with improved radar detection; ######
(ii)identify additional sources of observations for high impact weather that were available and operational for such areas on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act, including dense networks of x-band radars, Terminal Doppler Weather Radar (commonly known as “TDWR”), air surveillance radars of the Federal Aviation Administration, and cooperative network observers; ######
(iii)assess the feasibility and advisability of efforts to integrate and upgrade Federal radar capabilities that are not owned or controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including radar capabilities of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense; ######
(iv)assess the feasibility and advisability of incorporating State-operated and other non-Federal radars into the operations of the National Weather Service; ######
(v)identify options to improve hazardous weather detection and forecasting coverage; and ######
(vi)provide the estimated cost of, and timeline for, each of the options identified under clause (v). ####
(3)Report Upon the completion of the study required under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall 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 that includes the findings of the Secretary with respect to the study. ###
(b)Recommendations to Improve Radar Coverage Not later than 90 days after the completion of the study under subsection (a)(1), the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the congressional committees referred to in subsection (a)(3) recommendations for improving hazardous weather detection and forecasting coverage in the areas identified under subsection (a)(2)(A) by integrating additional observation solutions to the extent practicable and meteorologically justified and necessary to protect public safety. ###
(c)Third-party Consultation Regarding Recommendations to Improve Radar Coverage The Secretary of Commerce may seek reviews by, or consult with, appropriate third parties regarding the scientific methodology relating to, and the feasibility and advisability of implementing, the recommendations submitted under subsection (b), including the extent to which warning and forecast services of the National Weather Service would be improved by additional observations. # TITLE V TSUNAMI WARNING, EDUCATION, AND RESEARCH ACT OF 2017