[115th Congress Public Law 423]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[[Page 5453]]
NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF
2018
[[Page 132 STAT. 5454]]
Public Law 115-423
115th Congress
An Act
To reauthorize the National Integrated Drought Information System, and
for other purposes. <<NOTE: Jan. 7, 2019 - [S. 2200]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, <<NOTE: National
Integrated Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018. 15
USC 8501 note.>>
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``National Integrated Drought
Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018''.
SEC. 2. NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM PROGRAM.
(a) In General.--Section 3 of the National Integrated Drought
Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d) is amended--
(1) in subsection (b)--
(A) in paragraph (1)(A), by striking ``in order to
make usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought,
including'' and inserting ``, including precipitation,
soil moisture, and evaporative demand, in order to make
usable, reliable, and timely forecasts of drought and'';
(B) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``watershed,''
after ``regional,'';
(C) in paragraph (4)--
(i) by inserting ``, through interagency
agreements'' after ``integrate''; and
(ii) by inserting ``information'' after
``warning'';
(D) by amending paragraph (5) to read as follows:
``(5) utilize existing forecasting and assessment programs
and partnerships, including forecast communication coordinators
and cooperative institutes, and improvements in seasonal
precipitation and temperature, subseasonal precipitation and
temperature, and low flow water prediction; and''; and
(E) in paragraph (6), by inserting ``the
prediction,'' after ``relating to'';
(2) by redesignating subsections (c) through (e) as
subsections (d) through (f), respectively;
(3) by inserting after subsection (b) the following:
``(c) Partnerships.--The National Integrated Drought Information
System may--
``(1) engage with the private sector to improve drought
monitoring, forecast, and communication if the Under Secretary
determines the partnership is appropriate, cost-effective, and
beneficial to the public and decisionmakers described in
subsection (b)(2)(A);
[[Page 132 STAT. 5455]]
``(2) facilitate the development of 1 or more academic
cooperative partnerships to assist with National Integrated
Drought Information System functions; and
``(3) utilize and support, as appropriate, monitoring by
citizen scientists, including by developing best practices to
facilitate maximum data integration.'';
(4) in subsection (d), as redesignated, by inserting ``and
sustainment'' after ``development''; and
(5) by striking subsection (f), as redesignated, and
inserting the following:
``(f) <<NOTE: Deadline. Strategy.>> Soil Moisture.--Not later than
1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated Drought
Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018, the Under Secretary,
acting through the National Integrated Drought Information System, shall
develop a strategy for a national coordinated soil moisture monitoring
network.''.
(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 4 of the National
Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006 (15 U.S.C. 313d note)
is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act--
``(1) $13,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;
``(2) $13,750,000 for fiscal year 2020;
``(3) $14,000,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(4) $14,250,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
``(5) $14,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.''.
SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION OF TITLE II OF THE WEATHER RESEARCH AND
FORECASTING INNOVATION ACT OF 2017.
(a) Reauthorization of Title II of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017.--Section 1762 of the Food Security
Act of 1985 (15 U.S.C. 8521) is amended--
(1) by amending subsection (j) to read as follows:
``(j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be
appropriated to carry out the activities under this section--
``(1) $26,500,000 for fiscal year 2019;
``(2) $27,000,000 for fiscal year 2020;
``(3) $27,500,000 for fiscal year 2021;
``(4) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 2022; and
``(5) $28,500,000 for fiscal year 2023.''; and
(2) by adding at the end the following:
``(k) Derivation of Funds.--Amounts made available to carry out this
section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made
available to the National Weather Service.''.
(b) United States Weather Research and Forecasting Improvement.--
Section 110 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of
2017 (15 U.S.C. 8519) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 110. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research to carry out this title--
``(1) $136,516,000 for fiscal year 2019, of which--
``(A) $85,758,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
[[Page 132 STAT. 5456]]
``(B) $30,758,000 is authorized for weather and air
chemistry research programs; and
``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4);
``(2) $148,154,000 for fiscal year 2020, of which--
``(A) $87,258,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $40,896,000 is authorized for weather and air
chemistry research programs; and
``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4);
``(3) $150,154,000 for fiscal year 2021, of which--
``(A) $88,758,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $41,396,000 is authorized for weather and air
chemistry research programs; and
``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4);
``(4) $152,154,000 for fiscal year 2022, of which--
``(A) $90,258,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $41,896,000 is authorized for weather and air
chemistry research programs; and
``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4); and
``(5) $154,154,000 for fiscal year 2023, of which--
``(A) $91,758,000 is authorized for weather
laboratories and cooperative institutes;
``(B) $42,396,000 is authorized for weather and air
chemistry research programs; and
``(C) $20,000,000 is authorized for the joint
technology transfer initiative described in section
102(b)(4).
``(b) Limitation.--No additional funds are authorized to carry out
this title and the amendments made by this title.''.
SEC. 4. EARTH PREDICTION INNOVATION CENTER.
(a) Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation.--Section 102(b) of
the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C.
8512(b)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(4) Advancing weather modeling skill, reclaiming and
maintaining international leadership in the area of numerical
weather prediction, and improving the transition of research
into operations by--
``(A) leveraging the weather enterprise to provide
expertise on removing barriers to improving numerical
weather prediction;
``(B) enabling scientists and engineers to
effectively collaborate in areas important for improving
operational global numerical weather prediction skill,
including model development, data assimilation
techniques, systems architecture integration, and
computational efficiencies;
``(C) strengthening the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's ability to undertake
research projects in pursuit of substantial advancements
in weather forecast skill;
[[Page 132 STAT. 5457]]
``(D) utilizing and leverage existing resources
across the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration enterprise; and
``(E) creating a community global weather research
modeling system that--
``(i) is accessible by the public;
``(ii) meets basic end-user requirements for
running on public computers and networks located
outside of secure National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration information and technology systems;
and
``(iii) utilizes, whenever appropriate and
cost-effective, innovative strategies and methods,
including cloud-based computing capabilities, for
hosting and management of part or all of the
system described in this subsection.''.
(b) United States Weather Research Program.--Section 108(a) of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Authorization Act of
1992 (15 U.S.C. 8520(a)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (10), by striking ``; and'' and inserting a
semi-colon;
(2) in paragraph (11), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(12) carry out the activities of the Earth Prediction
Innovation Center as described in section 102(b)(2) of the
Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15
U.S.C. 8512(b)(2)).''.
SEC. 5. COMPUTING RESOURCES PRIORITIZATION.
(a) In General.--Section 108 of the Weather Research and Forecasting
Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8518) is amended to read as follows:
``SEC. 108. COMPUTING RESOURCE EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENT AND ANNUAL
REPORT.
``(a) <<NOTE: Assessments. Contracts.>> Computing Resources.--
``(1) In general.--In acquiring computing capabilities,
including high performance computing technologies and
supercomputing technologies, that enable the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration to meet its mission requirements,
the Under Secretary shall, when appropriate and cost-effective,
assess and prioritize options for entering into multi-year lease
agreements for computing capabilities over options for
purchasing computing hardware outright.
``(2) Acquisition.--In carrying out the requirements of
paragraph (1), the Under Secretary shall structure multi-year
lease agreements in such a manner that the expiration of the
lease is set for a date on or around--
``(A) the expected degradation point of the
computing resources; or
``(B) the point at which significantly increased
computing capabilities are expected to be available for
lease.
``(3) Pilot programs.--
``(A) In general.--In order to more efficiently and
effectively meet the mission requirements of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the
Under Secretary may create 1 or more pilot programs for
assessing
[[Page 132 STAT. 5458]]
new or innovative information and technology
capabilities and services.
``(B) Program requirements.--Any program created
under paragraph (3) shall assess only those capabilities
and services that--
``(i) meet or exceed the standards and
requirements of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, including for
processing speed, cybersecurity, and overall
reliability; or
``(ii) meet or exceed, or are expected to meet
or exceed, the performance of similar, in-house
information and technology capabilities and
services that are owned and operated by the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
prior to the establishment of the pilot program.
``(C) Authorization of appropriations.--There is
authorized to be appropriated, out of funds appropriated
to the National Environmental Satellite, Data, and
Information Service, to carry out this paragraph
$5,000,000 for fiscal year 2019, $10,000,000 for fiscal
year 2020, and $5,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2021
through 2023, to remain available until expended.
``(b) <<NOTE: Coordination. Public information.>> Reports.--Not
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of the National Integrated
Drought Information System Reauthorization Act of 2018, and triennially
thereafter until the date that is 6 years after the date on which the
first report is submitted, the Under Secretary, acting through the Chief
Information Officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration and in coordination with the Assistant Administrator for
Oceanic and Atmospheric Research and the Director of the National
Weather Service, shall produce and make publicly available a report that
explains how the Under Secretary intends--
``(1) to continually support upgrades to pursue the fastest,
most powerful, and cost-effective high performance computing
technologies in support of its weather prediction mission;
``(2) to ensure a balance between the research to operations
requirements to develop the next generation of regional and
global models as well as highly reliable operational models;
``(3) to take advantage of advanced development concepts to,
as appropriate, make next generation weather prediction models
available in beta-test mode to operational forecasters, the
United States weather industry, and partners in academic and
Government research;
``(4) to use existing computing resources to improve
advanced research and operational weather prediction;
``(5) to utilize non-Federal contracts to obtain the
necessary expertise for advanced weather computing, if
appropriate;
``(6) to utilize cloud computing; and
``(7) to create a long-term strategy to transition the
programming language of weather model code to current and
broadly-used coding language.''.
(b) Table of Contents.--Section 1(b) of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (Public Law 115-25; 131 Stat. 91) is
amended by striking the item relating to section 108 and inserting the
following:
``Sec. 108. Computing resource efficiency improvement and annual
report.''.
[[Page 132 STAT. 5459]]
SEC. 6. SATELLITE ARCHITECTURE PLANNING.
Section 301 of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531) is amended by adding at the end the following:
``(c) Next Generation Satellite Architecture.--
``(1) <<NOTE: Analysis.>> In general.--The Under Secretary
shall analyze, test, and plan the procurement of future data
sources and satellite architectures, including respective ground
system elements, identified in the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration's Satellite Observing System
Architecture Study that--
``(A) lower the cost of observations used to meet
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's
mission requirements;
``(B) disaggregate current satellite systems, where
appropriate;
``(C) include new, value-adding technological
advancements; and
``(D) improve weather forecasting and predictions.
``(2) Quantitative assessments and partnership authority.--
In meeting the requirements described in paragraph (1), the
Under Secretary--
``(A) may partner with the commercial and academic
sectors, non-governmental and not-for-profit
organizations, and other Federal agencies; and
``(B) <<NOTE: Analyses.>> shall, consistent with
section 107 of this Act, undertake quantitative
assessments for objective analyses, as the Under
Secretary considers appropriate, to evaluate relative
value and benefits of future data sources and satellite
architectures described in paragraph (1).
``(d) <<NOTE: Contracts.>> Additional Forms of Transaction
Authorized.--
``(1) In general.--Subject to paragraph (2), in order to
enhance the effectiveness of data and satellite systems used by
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to meet its
missions, the Under Secretary may enter into and perform such
transaction agreements on such terms as the Under Secretary
considers appropriate to carry out basic, applied, and advanced
research projects to meet the objectives described in
subparagraphs (A) through (D) subsection (c)(1).
``(2) Method and scope.--
``(A) In general.--A transaction agreement under
paragraph (1) shall be limited to research and
development activities.
``(B) Permissible uses.--A transaction agreement
under paragraph (1) may be used--
``(i) for the construction, use, operation, or
procurement of new, improved, innovative, or
value-adding satellites, instrumentation, ground
stations, and data;
``(ii) to make determinations on how to best
use existing or planned data, systems, and assets
of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; and
``(iii) only when the objectives of the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
cannot be met using a cooperative research and
development agreement, grants procurement
contract, or cooperative agreement.
[[Page 132 STAT. 5460]]
``(3) Termination of effectiveness.--The authority provided
in this subsection terminates effective September 30, 2023.
``(e) Transparency <<NOTE: Deadline. Public information. Web
posting. Estimate.>> .--Not later than 60 days after the date that a
transaction agreement is made under subsection (d), the Under Secretary
shall make publicly available, in a searchable format, on the website of
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration all uses of the
authority under subsection (d), including an estimate of committed
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration resources and the
expected benefits to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
objectives for the transaction agreement, with appropriate redactions
for proprietary, sensitive, or classified information.
``(f) Reports.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after September 30
of each fiscal year through September 30, 2023, the Under
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
on the use of additional transaction authority by the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration during the previous
fiscal year.
``(2) Contents.--Each report shall include--
``(A) for each transaction agreement in effect
during the fiscal year covered by the report--
``(i) an indication of whether the transaction
agreement is a reimbursable, non-reimbursable, or
funded agreement;
``(ii) a description of--
``(I) the subject and terms;
``(II) the parties;
``(III) the responsible National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
line office;
``(IV) the value;
``(V) the extent of the cost sharing
among Federal Government and non-Federal
sources;
``(VI) the duration or schedule; and
``(VII) all milestones;
``(iii) an indication of whether the
transaction agreement was renewed during the
previous fiscal year;
``(iv) the technology areas in which research
projects were conducted under that agreement;
``(v) the extent to which the use of that
agreement--
``(I) has contributed to a
broadening of the technology and
industrial base available for meeting
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration needs; and
``(II) has fostered within the
technology and industrial base new
relationships and practices that support
the United States; and
``(vi) the total value received by the Federal
Government under that agreement for that fiscal
year; and
[[Page 132 STAT. 5461]]
``(B) <<NOTE: List.>> a list of all anticipated
reimbursable, non-reimbursable, and funded transaction
agreements for the upcoming fiscal year.
``(g) Rule of Construction.--Nothing in this section may be
construed as limiting the authority of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to use cooperative research and development
agreements, grants, procurement contracts, or cooperative agreements.''.
SEC. 7. INTEGRATION OF OCEAN AND COASTAL DATA FROM THE INTEGRATED
OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEM.
(a) In General.--Section 301(a)(2) of the Weather Research and
Forecasting Innovation Act of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8531(a)(2)) is amended--
(1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``; and'' and inserting
a semicolon;
(2) in subparagraph (B), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(C) support increasing use of autonomous, mobile
surface, sub-surface, and submarine vehicle ocean and
fresh water sensor systems and the infrastructure
necessary to share and analyze these data in real-time
and feed them into predictive early warning systems.''.
(b) Commercial Weather Data; Authorization of Appropriations.--
Section 302(c)(3) of the Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation Act
of 2017 (15 U.S.C. 8532(c)(3)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``2017 through 2020'' and inserting ``2019
through 2023''; and
(2) by inserting ``the'' before ``National''.
SEC. 8. <<NOTE: 15 USC 8550.>> IMPROVEMENTS TO COOPERATIVE
OBSERVER PROGRAM OF NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
(a) In General.--The Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and
Atmosphere, acting through the National Weather Service, shall improve
the Cooperative Observer Program by--
(1) providing support to--
(A) State-coordinated programs relating to the
Program; and
(B) States and regions where observations provided
through the Program are scarce;
(2) working with State weather service headquarters to
increase participation in the Program and to add stations in
States and regions described in paragraph (1)(B);
(3) where feasible, ensuring that data streams from stations
that have been contributing data to the Program for more than 50
years are maintained and continually staffed by volunteers;
(4) prioritizing the recruitment of new volunteers for the
Program;
(5) ensuring that opportunities exist for automated
reporting to lessen the burden on volunteers to collect and
report data by hand; and
(6) ensuring that integrated reporting is available for
qualitative observations that cannot be automated, such as
drought conditions, snow observations, and hazardous weather
events, to ensure that volunteers in the Program can report and
upload observations quickly and easily.
[[Page 132 STAT. 5462]]
(b) Coordination With States and Regions <<NOTE: Time period.>> .--
Not less frequently than every 180 days, the National Weather Service
shall coordinate with State and regional offices with respect to the
status of Cooperative Observer Program stations.
(c) Coordination With Federal Agencies.--The National Weather
Service shall coordinate with other Federal agencies, including the
Forest Service, the Department of Agriculture, and the United States
Geological Survey, to leverage opportunities to grow the Cooperative
Observer Program network and to more effectively use existing
infrastructure, weather stations, and staff of the Program.
SEC. 9. <<NOTE: Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and
Control Amendments Act of 2017.>> HARMFUL
ALGAL BLOOM AND HYPOXIA RESEARCH AND CONTROL.
(a) <<NOTE: 33 USC 4001 note.>> Short Title.--This section may be
cited as the ``Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control
Amendments Act of 2017''.
(b) References to the Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and
Control Act of 1998.--Except as otherwise expressly provided, wherever
in this section an amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an
amendment to, or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference
shall be considered to be made to a section or other provision of the
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998 (33
U.S.C. 4001 et seq.).
(c) Inter-Agency Task Force.--Section 603(a) (33 U.S.C. 4001(a)) is
amended--
(1) in paragraph (12), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (13) as paragraph (14); and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (12) the following:
``(13) the Army Corps of Engineers; and''.
(d) Scientific Assessments of Freshwater Harmful Algal Blooms.--
Section 603 (33 U.S.C. 4001) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (f);
(2) by redesignating subsections (g), (h), (i), and (j) as
subsections (f), (g), (h), and (i), respectively; and
(3) by amending subsection (g) to read as follows:
``(g) Scientific Assessments of Marine and Freshwater Harmful Algal
Blooms <<NOTE: Time period.>> .--Not less than once every 5 years the
Task Force shall complete and submit to Congress a scientific assessment
of harmful algal blooms in United States coastal waters and freshwater
systems. Each assessment shall examine both marine and freshwater
harmful algal blooms, including those in the Great Lakes and upper
reaches of estuaries, those in freshwater lakes and rivers, and those
that originate in freshwater lakes or rivers and migrate to coastal
waters.''.
(e) National Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Program.--
(1) Program duties.--Section 603A(e) (33 U.S.C. 4002(e)) is
amended--
(A) in paragraph (1), by inserting ``, including to
local and regional stakeholders through the
establishment and maintenance of a publicly accessible
Internet website that provides information as to Program
activities completed under this section'' after
``Program'';
(B) in paragraph (3)--
[[Page 132 STAT. 5463]]
(i) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and''
and inserting a semicolon;
(ii) in subparagraph (C), by inserting ``and''
after the semicolon at the end; and
(iii) by adding at the end the following:
``(D) to accelerate the utilization of effective
methods of intervention and mitigation to reduce the
frequency, severity, and impacts of harmful algal bloom
and hypoxia events;'';
(C) in paragraph (4), by striking ``and work
cooperatively with'' and inserting ``, and work
cooperatively to provide technical assistance to,''; and
(D) in paragraph (7)--
(i) by inserting ``and extension'' after
``existing education''; and
(ii) by inserting ``intervention,'' after
``awareness of the causes, impacts,''.
(2) National oceanic and atmospheric administration
activities.--Section 603A(f) (33 U.S.C. 4002(f)) is amended--
(A) in paragraph (3), by inserting ``, which shall
include unmanned systems,'' after ``infrastructure'';
(B) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the
end;
(C) in paragraph (6)(C), by striking the period at
the end and inserting a semicolon; and
(D) by adding at the end the following:
``(7) use cost effective methods in carrying out this Act;
and
``(8) develop contingency plans for the long-term monitoring
of hypoxia.''.
(f) Consultation Required.--Section 102 of the Harmful Algal Bloom
and Hypoxia Amendments Act of 2004 (33 U.S.C. 4001a) is amended by
striking ``the amendments made by this title'' and inserting ``the
Harmful Algal Bloom and Hypoxia Research and Control Act of 1998''.
(g) <<NOTE: 33 USC 4010.>> Hypoxia or Harmful Algal Bloom of
National Significance.--
(1) Relief.--
(A) <<NOTE: Assessment.>> In general.--Upon a
determination under paragraph (2) that there is an event
of national significance, the appropriate Federal
official is authorized to make sums available to the
affected State or local government for the purposes of
assessing and mitigating the detrimental environmental,
economic, subsistence use, and public health effects of
the event of national significance.
(B) Federal share.--The Federal share of the cost of
any activity carried out under this paragraph for the
purposes described in subparagraph (A) may not exceed 50
percent of the cost of that activity.
(C) Donations.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, an appropriate Federal official may accept
donations of funds, services, facilities, materials, or
equipment that the appropriate Federal official
considers necessary for the purposes described in
subparagraph (A). Any funds donated to an appropriate
Federal official under this paragraph may be expended
without further appropriation and without fiscal year
limitation.
(2) Determinations.--
[[Page 132 STAT. 5464]]
(A) In general.--At the discretion of an appropriate
Federal official, or at the request of the Governor of
an affected State, an appropriate Federal official shall
determine whether a hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event
is an event of national significance.
(B) Considerations.--In making a determination under
subparagraph (A), the appropriate Federal official shall
consider the toxicity of the harmful algal bloom, the
severity of the hypoxia, its potential to spread, the
economic impact, the relative size in relation to the
past 5 occurrences of harmful algal blooms or hypoxia
events that occur on a recurrent or annual basis, and
the geographic scope, including the potential to affect
several municipalities, to affect more than 1 State, or
to cross an international boundary.
(3) Definitions.--In this subsection:
(A) Appropriate federal official.--The term
``appropriate Federal official'' means--
(i) in the case of a marine or coastal hypoxia
or harmful algal bloom event, the Under Secretary
of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; and
(ii) in the case of a freshwater hypoxia or
harmful algal bloom event, the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency.
(B) Event of national significance.--The term
``event of national significance'' means a hypoxia or
harmful algal bloom event that has had or will likely
have a significant detrimental environmental, economic,
subsistence use, or public health impact on an affected
State.
(C) Hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event.--The term
``hypoxia or harmful algal bloom event'' means the
occurrence of hypoxia or a harmful algal bloom as a
result of a natural, anthropogenic, or undetermined
cause.
(h) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 609(a) (33 U.S.C.
4009(a)) is amended by inserting ``, and $20,500,000 for each of fiscal
years 2019 through 2023'' before the period at the end.
Approved January 7, 2019.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2200:
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
SENATE REPORTS: No. 115-256 (Comm. on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 164 (2018):
Dec. 18, considered and passed Senate.
Dec. 20, considered and passed House.
<all>