[107th Congress Public Law 253]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
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[DOCID: f:publ253.107]
[[Page 116 STAT. 1731]]
Public Law 107-253
107th Congress
An Act
To authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
through the United States Weather Research Program, to conduct research
and development, training, and outreach activities relating to inland
flood forecasting improvement, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Oct. 29,
2002 - [H.R. 2486]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of <<NOTE: Inland Flood
Forecasting and Warning System Act of 2002.>> Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. <<NOTE: 15 USC 311 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Inland Flood Forecasting and Warning
System Act of 2002''.
SEC. 2. <<NOTE: 15 USC 313c.>> AUTHORIZED ACTIVITIES.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, through the
United States Weather Research Program, shall--
(1) improve the capability to accurately forecast inland
flooding (including inland flooding influenced by coastal and
ocean storms) through research and modeling;
(2) develop, test, and deploy a new flood warning index that
will give the public and emergency management officials fuller,
clearer, and more accurate information about the risks and
dangers posed by expected floods;
(3) train emergency management officials, National Weather
Service personnel, meteorologists, and others as appropriate
regarding improved forecasting techniques for inland flooding,
risk management techniques, and use of the inland flood warning
index developed under paragraph (2);
(4) conduct outreach and education activities for local
meteorologists and the public regarding the dangers and risks
associated with inland flooding and the use and understanding of
the inland flood warning index developed under paragraph (2);
and
(5) assess, through research and analysis of previous
trends, among other activities--
(A) the long-term trends in frequency and severity
of inland flooding; and
(B) how shifts in climate, development, and erosion
patterns might make certain regions vulnerable to more
continual or escalating flood damage in the future.
SEC. 3. <<NOTE: 15 USC 313c note.>> AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
There are authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration for carrying out this Act $1,250,000 for each
of the fiscal years 2003 through 2005, of which $100,000 for each fiscal
year shall be available for competitive
[[Page 116 STAT. 1732]]
merit-reviewed grants to institutions of higher education (as defined in
section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001)) to
carry out the activities described in section 2(5), and $1,150,000 for
each of the fiscal years 2006 and 2007. Of the amounts authorized under
this section, $250,000 for each fiscal year shall be available for
competitive merit-reviewed grants to institutions of higher education
(as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20
U.S.C. 1001)) to develop models that can improve the ability to forecast
the coastal and estuary-inland flooding that is influenced by tropical
cyclones. The models should incorporate the interaction of such factors
as storm surges, soil saturation, and other relevant phenomena.
SEC. 4. <<NOTE: Deadlines. 15 USC 313c note.>> REPORT.
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
and annually thereafter through fiscal year 2007, the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration shall transmit to the Committee on
Science of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation of the Senate a report on its activities
under this Act and the success and acceptance of the inland flood
warning index developed under section 2(2) by the public and emergency
management professionals. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration shall also, not later than January 1, 2006, transmit to
the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
report on the likely long-term trends in inland flooding, the results of
which shall be used in outreach activities conducted under section 2(4),
especially to alert the public and builders to flood hazards.
Approved October 29, 2002.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 2486:
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 107-495 (Comm. on Science).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 107-310 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 148 (2002):
July 11, considered and passed House.
Oct. 16, considered and passed Senate.
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