[Senate Report 107-344]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 765
107th Congress Report
2d Session SENATE 107-344
_______________________________________________________________________
FIREFIGHTING RESEARCH AND COORDINATION ACT
__________
R E P O R T
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
on
S. 2862
[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
November 18, 2002.--Ordered to be printed
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred seventh congress
second session
ERNEST F. HOLLINGS, South Carolina, Chairman
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii JOHN McCAIN, Arizona
JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West TED STEVENS, Alaska
Virginia CONRAD BURNS, Montana
JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts TRENT LOTT, Mississippi
JOHN B. BREAUX, Louisiana KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas
BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine
RON WYDEN, Oregon SAM BROWNBACK, Kansas
MAX CLELAND, Georgia GORDON SMITH, Oregon
BARBARA BOXER, California PETER G. FITZGERALD, Illinois
JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada
JEAN CARNAHAN, Missouri GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia
BILL NELSON, Florida
Kevin D. Kayes, Staff Director
Moses Boyd, Chief Counsel
Gregg Elias, General Counsel
Jeanne Bumpus, Republican Staff Director and General Counsel
Ann Begeman, Republican Deputy Staff Director
Robert W. Chamberlin, Republican Chief Counsel
Calendar No. 765
107th Congress Report
2d Session SENATE 107-344
======================================================================
FIREFIGHTING RESEARCH AND COORDINATION ACT
_______
November 18, 2002.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Hollings, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2862]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred the bill (S. 2862) to provide for the
establishment of a scientific basis for new firefighting
technology standards, improve coordination among Federal,
State, and local fire officials in training for and responding
to terrorist attacks and other national emergencies, and for
other purposes, having considered the same, reports favorably
thereon with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and
recommends that the bill (as amended) do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of this legislation, as reported, is to establish
and authorize funding for programs under the United States Fire
Administration (USFA) to support the development of voluntary
consensus standards for new firefighting technology, improve
coordination between Federal, State, and local fire officials,
and authorize the National Fire Academy to train firefighters
in responding to acts of terrorism.
Background and Needs
As was demonstrated during the terrorist attacks of September
11, 2001, local firefighters are likely to be the first to
respond to an incident of domestic terrorism. Nearly 75 percent
of the 1.1 million firefighters in the United States are
volunteers. These volunteer fire departments protect most of
the rural areas and smaller communities in the United States,
as well as many of the suburban areas surrounding large cities.
Career firefighters, including municipal firefighters, cover
mostly metropolitan cities and cities with populations greater
than 50,000. The career fire service is estimated to include
about 3,000 fire departments and approximately 275,000 full-
time paid firefighters. The largest career fire department has
more than 14,000 full-time employees, although most have fewer
than 50 employees. Some jurisdictions include fire departments
that use both career and volunteer firefighters. The
firefighting profession is one of the most hazardous
professions in the country. In 2001, 446 firefighters died in
the line of duty, including 347 on September 11.
THE U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION
The U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) is a directorate within
the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Its mission is
to provide leadership, coordination, and support for the
nation's fire prevention and control, fire training and
education, and emergency medical services (EMS) activities.
USFA's goal is the reduction of the nation's loss of life from
fire, while also achieving a reduction in property loss and
non-fatal injury due to fire.
The USFA contains the following programs:
Data Collection--USFA's National Fire Data Center
administers a national system for collecting, analyzing, and
disseminating data and information on fire and other emergency
incidents to State and local governments and the fire fighting
community.
Public Education and Awareness--Through partnerships and
special initiatives, USFA involves the fire service, the media,
other Federal agencies, and safety interest groups in the
development of fire safety awareness and education programs.
Training--USFA's National Fire Academy offers educational
opportunities to advance professional development of mid-level
and senior fire/EMS officers and allied professionals involved
in fire prevention and life safety activities. The Academy
develops and delivers educational and training programs with a
national focus that supplements and supports State and local
fire service training.
Technology--Through research, testing, and evaluation, USFA
works with public and private entities to promote and improve
fire and life safety. Research and special studies are
conducted on fire detection, suppression, and notification
systems. These studies are made available to the public free of
charge through the USFA Publications Center.
Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program--This program was
established by Title XVII of the Floyd D. Spence Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year (FY) 2001 (the authorizing
legislation is referred to as the Firefighter Investment and
Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act). Congress appropriated
$360,000,000 in FY 2002 for this program to provide competitive
grants to local fire departments. It is expected that 5500 fire
departments will receive awards before the end of calendar year
2002. The grants are used for training, wellness and fitness
programs, vehicles, firefighting equipment, personal protective
equipment, and fire prevention.
NEEDS OF THE FIRE SERVICES
The Science, Technology, and Space Subcommittee held a
hearing on October 11, 2001, to examine the needs of the fire
service in responding to terrorism. According to the testimony
at that hearing, and press reports on the events of September
11, 2001, the fire service has identified the need for
assistance in several areas, including equipment
standardization, coordination, and training.
Equipment Standardization--Today's firefighters use a
variety of technologies including thermal imaging equipment,
devices for locating firefighters and victims, and state-of-
the-art protective suits to fight fires, clean up chemical or
hazardous materials spills, and contend with potential
terrorist devices. For FY 2003, $900 million was authorized for
the Assistance to the Fire Fighters Grant Program as part of
the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2002 (P.L. 107-
107), to provide Federal funding assistance for career and
volunteer fire departments to buy necessary equipment and
prepare for fires and other emergencies.
It is important to point out that there are no uniform
technical standards for new equipment for combating fires and
other safety threats. Without such standards, local fire
companies may purchase equipment that do not satisfy their
needs, or even purchase faulty equipment. For example,
Montgomery County, Maryland, spent $40,000 on ``Level B''
protective suits, but they cannot use them because the suits
have ``booties'' that are not compatible with the firefighters'
boots. Also, in Virginia, Arlington County Chief Edward P.
Plaugher has raised concerns about the lack of equipment
standards, as well as the lack of guidelines for training the
workers charged with responding to future terrorist attacks. In
a September 10, 2002, story in The Washington Post, Chief
Plaugher stated, ``Without clear goals, we risk undermining
ourselves while wasting precious resources.'' In addition, a
1998 Blue Ribbon Panel review of the USFA recommended greater
coordination between USFA and other agencies, such as National
Institute of Standards and Technology, in order to promote
state-of-the-art technology for fire safety.
Coordination--Another major obstacle facing the fire
service concerns coordination. Many issues regarding
coordination surfaced on September 11, 2001. On July 23, 2002,
Titan Systems Corporation issued an after-action report, on
behalf of the fire department of Arlington County, Virginia,
which highlighted problems between the coordination of
Washington, D.C., and Arlington County fire departments in
responding to the attack on the Pentagon. The report also cited
the confusion caused by a large influx of self-dispatched
volunteers, and increased risks faced by the ``bona fide
responders.'' These conclusions are consistent with an article
by the current U.S. Fire Administrator, R. David Paulison, in
the June 1993 issue of Fire Chief magazine, where he described
being overwhelmed by the number of uncoordinated volunteer
efforts that poured into Florida after Hurricane Andrew.
Additionally, many fire officials and the General Accounting
Office have highlighted the duplicative nature of many Federal
programs and the need for better coordination between Federal,
State, and local officials.
Training--The events of September 11, 2001, also
demonstrated a need for improved training, especially in the
areas of building collapse rescue and tactics to respond to
terrorist-caused catastrophes. In his testimony before the
Committee in October 2001, Kenneth Burris, the Chief Operating
Officer of USFA, testified on the need for greater training in
leadership and strategic skills, including incident management
systems and integrated response. Further, the growing trend of
wildfires invading urban areas highlights the need for urban
firefighters to be prepared to deal with these threats.
Legislative History
On October 11, 2001, the Subcommittee on Science, Technology,
and Space conducted a hearing on the ``Needs of the Fire
Service.'' At this hearing, witnesses included: Senator Joseph
Biden, Jr.; Senator Christopher Dodd; Congressman William
Pascrell, Jr.; Congressman Curt Weldon; Mr. Kenneth O. Burris,
Jr., Chief Operating Officer, USFA; Chief John M. Buckman,
President, International Association of Fire Chiefs; Battalion
Chief Robert Ingram, New York City Fire Department; Chief Ed
Plaugher, Arlington County, Virginia, Fire Department; Mr.
Harold A. Schaitberger, General President, International
Association of Fire Fighters; and Mr. James E. Turner,
Executive Director of the Delaware Volunteer Fireman's
Association, on behalf of the National Volunteer Fire Council.
On August 1, 2002, Senator John McCain introduced S. 2862,
the Firefighting Research and Coordination Act. The legislation
was cosponsored by Senator Ernest Hollings, Senator Maria
Cantwell, and Senator Joseph Biden.
On September 19, 2002, the Committee met in open executive
session and, by a voice vote, ordered S. 2862 to be reported
with a substitute amendment offered by Senator McCain. The
substitute included two major changes: (1) an authorization of
$2.2 million to USFA for FY 2003 for activities to support the
development of voluntary consensus standards for new
firefighting technology; and (2) a requirement that the
Director of FEMA revise the Federal Response Plan to
incorporate plans for responding to terrorist attacks,
particularly in urban areas, and to submit a report on these
revisions to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee on
Science.
Estimated Costs
In compliance with subsection (a)(3) of paragraph 11 of rule
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee states
that, in its opinion, it is necessary to dispense with the
requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) of that subsection in
order to expedite the business of the Senate.
Regulatory Impact Statement
In accordance with paragraph 11(b) of rule XXVI of the
Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee provides the
following evaluation of the regulatory impact of the
legislation, as reported:
NUMBER OF PERSONS COVERED
Section 2(a) of this legislation would direct the U.S. Fire
Administrator (the Administrator) to support the development of
new voluntary consensus standards for new firefighting
technologies through national voluntary consensus standards
organizations. Recipients of grants through the FIRE Act, as
defined by section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and
Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229), would be required by
regulation to purchase equipment for which applicable voluntary
consensus standards have been established.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
This legislation would not have an adverse economic impact on
the Nation. The bill would promote the development of more
effective equipment and the establishment of better
coordination and training to respond to fires, terrorist
attacks, and other national emergencies.
PRIVACY
S. 2862 would not have a negative impact on the personal
privacy of individuals.
PAPERWORK
The legislation would not increase paperwork requirements for
private individuals or businesses. The bill would require two
reports from the Federal government. The first report would be
from the Administrator to the Senate Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation and the House of Representatives
Committee on Science, within 90 days after the enactment of
this legislation, on the need for a strategy concerning the
deployment of volunteers and emergency response personnel,
including a national credentialing system, in the event of a
national emergency. The second report would be from the
Director of FEMA to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science,
and Transportation and the House of Representatives Committee
on Science, within 180 days after the date of enactment, on
revisions that the Director has made to the Federal Response
Plan for responding to terrorist attacks, particularly in urban
areas, including fire detection and suppression, and related
emergency services.
Section-by-section Analysis
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
The section would cite the Act as the ``Firefighting Research
and Coordination Act.''
SEC. 2. NEW FIREFIGHTING TECHNOLOGY.
Subsection (a) would establish a new section 8(e) of the
Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C.
2207). This new subsection would direct the Administrator, in
consultation with the National Institute of Standards and
Technology, the Inter-Agency Board for Equipment
Standardization and Inter-Operability, national voluntary
consensus standards development organizations, and other
interested parties, to develop new, and utilize existing,
measurement techniques and testing methodologies for evaluating
the performance of new firefighting technology, including:
personal protection equipment;
devices for advance warning of extreme
hazard;
equipment for enhanced vision;
devices to locate victims, firefighters, and
other rescue personnel in above-ground and below-ground
structures;
equipment and methods to provide information
for incident command, including the monitoring and
reporting of individual personnel welfare;
equipment and methods for training,
especially for virtual reality training; and
robotics and other remote-controlled
devices.
Under new section 8(e), the Administrator would also be
required to evaluate the compatibility of new equipment and
technology with existing firefighter technology, and support
the development of new voluntary consensus standards through
national voluntary consensus standards organizations for new
firefighting technologies.
For equipment for which applicable voluntary consensus
standards have been established, the Administrator would be
directed to require, by regulation, that equipment purchased
through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program
established by section 33 of the Federal Fire Prevention and
Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2229) meet or exceed applicable
voluntary consensus standards. For the purposes of this
subsection, the Administrator would have the discretion to
determine the applicability of voluntary consensus standards to
an application under this program. The Committee recognizes
that the establishment of voluntary consensus standards can be
a time-consuming process and that developments in new
firefighting technology may supersede these standards. In order
to enable fire departments to have access to state-of-the-art
equipment, the Committee recommends that the Administrator
exercise some flexibility in the rare case when a newly
developed firefighting technology may make an existing
voluntary consensus standard irrelevant.
Subsection (b) would amend section 17 of the Federal Fire
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216) by
authorizing appropriations of $2.2 million for FY 2003 to carry
out this section.
SEC. 3. COORDINATION OF RESPONSE TO NATIONAL EMERGENCY.
Subsection (a) would create a new section 10(b) of the
Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C.
2209). New subsection (b) would require the Administrator,
after consultation with the Director of FEMA, to provide
technical assistance and training to State and local fire
service officials to establish nationwide and State mutual aid
systems for dealing with national emergencies. These mutual aid
systems would include threat assessment and equipment
deployment strategies, and include means of collecting asset
and resource information to provide accurate and timely data
for regional deployment. These mutual aid systems also would
have to be consistent with FEMA's Federal Response Plan. The
Administrator, in consultation with the Director of FEMA, would
be required to develop and make available to State and local
fire service officials model mutual aid plans for both
intrastate and interstate assistance.
Subsection (b) would require the Administrator to report to
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
and the House of Representatives Committee on Science, within
90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, on the need
for a strategy concerning the deployment of volunteers and
emergency response personnel (as defined in section 6 of the
Firefighters' Safety Study Act (15 U.S.C. 2223e)), including a
national credentialing system, in the event of a national
emergency.
Subsection (c) would require the Director of FEMA to revise
the Federal Response Plan within 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act to incorporate plans for responding to
terrorist attacks, particularly in urban areas, including fire
detection and suppression and related emergency services. The
Director of FEMA would also be required to transmit a report to
the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
and the House of Representatives Committee on Science on these
revisions.
SEC. 4. TRAINING.
Subsection (a) would amend section 8(d)(1) of the Federal
Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)
to authorize the Superintendent of the National Fire Academy to
conduct training in the following areas:
(i) strategies for building collapse rescue;
(ii) the use of technology in response to fires,
including terrorist incidents and other national
emergencies;
(iii) response, tactics, and strategies for dealing
with terrorist-caused national catastrophes;
(iv) use of and familiarity with FEMA's Federal
Response Plan;
(v) leadership and strategic skills, including
integrated management systems operations and integrated
response;
(vi) applying new technology and developing
strategies and tactics for fighting forest fires;
(vii) integrating terrorism response agencies into
the national terrorism incident response system; and
(viii) response tactics and strategies for fighting
fires at United States ports, including fires on the
water and aboard vessels.
Subsection (b) would authorize the Superintendent of the
National Fire Academy to consult with other Federal, State, and
local government officials in developing curricula for classes
at the Academy.
Subsection (c) would require the Administrator to coordinate
the training provided under section 8(d)(1) of the Federal Fire
Prevention and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2206(d)(1)) with
the Attorney General, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, and the heads of other Federal agencies, to ensure
that such training does not duplicate existing courses
available to fire service personnel and to establish a
mechanism for eliminating duplicative training programs.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, changes in existing law made by the bill,
as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be
omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new material is printed
in italic, existing law in which no change is proposed is shown
in roman):
FEDERAL FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACT OF 1974
SEC. 8. NATIONAL ACADEMY FOR FIRE PREVENTION AND CONTROL.
[15 U.S.C. 2206]
(a) Establishment.--The Director shall establish, at the
earliest practicable date, a National Academy for Fire
Prevention and Control. The purpose of the Academy shall be to
advance the professional development of fire service personnel
and of other persons engaged in fire prevention and control
activities.
(b) Superintendent.--The Academy shall be headed by a
Superintendent, who shall be appointed by the Director. In
exercising the powers and authority contained in this section
the Superintendent shall be subject to the direction of the
Administrator.
(c) Powers of Superintendent.--The Superintendent is
authorized to--
(1) develop and revise curricula, standards for
admission and performance, and criteria for the
awarding of degrees and certifications;
(2) appoint such teaching staff and other personnel
as he determines to be necessary or appropriate;
(3) conduct courses and programs of training and
education, as defined in subsection (d) of this
section;
(4) appoint faculty members and consultants without
regard to the provisions of title 5, United States
Code, governing appointments in the competitive
service, and, with respect to temporary and
intermittent services, to make appointments to the same
extent as is authorized by section 3109 of title 5,
United States Code;
(5) establish fees and other charges for attendance
at, and subscription to, courses and programs offered
by the Academy. Such fees may be modified or waived as
determined by the Superintendent;
(6) conduct short courses, seminars, workshops,
conferences, and similar education and training
activities in all parts and localities of the United
States;
(7) enter into such contracts and take such other
actions as may be necessary in carrying out the
purposes of the Academy; and
(8) consult with officials of the fire services and
other interested persons in the exercise of the
foregoing powers.
(d) Program of the Academy.--The Superintendent is authorized
to--
(1) train fire service personnel in such skills and
knowledge as may be useful to advance their ability to
prevent and control fires, including, but not limited
to--
(A) techniques of fire prevention, fire
inspection, firefighting, and fire and arson
investigation;
(B) tactics and command of firefighting for
present and future fire chiefs and commanders;
(C) administration and management of fire
services;
(D) tactical training in the specialized
field of aircraft fire control and crash
rescue;
(E) tactical training in the specialized
field of fire control and rescue aboard
waterborne vessels; [and]
(F) strategies for building collapse rescue;
(G) the use of technology in response to
fires, including terrorist incidents and other
national emergencies;
(H) response, tactics, and strategies for
dealing with terrorist-caused national
catastrophes;
(I) use of and familiarity with the Federal
Emergency Management Agency's Federal Response
Plan;
(J) leadership and strategic skills,
including integrated management systems
operations and integrated response;
(K) applying new technology and developing
strategies and tactics for fighting forest
fires;
(L) integrating terrorism response agencies
into the national terrorism incident response
system;
(M) response tactics and strategies for
fighting fires at United States ports,
including fires on the water and aboard
vessels; and
[(F)] (N) the training of present and future
instructors in the aforementioned subjects;
(2) develop model curricula, training programs, and
other educational materials suitable for use at other
educational institutions, and to make such materials
available without charge;
(3) develop and administer a program of
correspondence courses to advance the knowledge and
skills of fire service personnel;
(4) develop and distribute to appropriate officials
model questions suitable for use in conducting entrance
and promotional examinations for fire service
personnel; and
(5) encourage the inclusion of fire prevention and
detection technology and practices in the education and
professional practice of architects, builders, city
planners, and others engaged in design and planning
affected by fire safety problems.
(e) Technical Assistance.--The Administrator is authorized,
to the extent that he determines it necessary to meet the needs
of the Nation, to encourage new programs and to strengthen
existing programs of education and training by local fire
services, units, and departments, State and local governments,
and private institutions, by providing technical assistance and
advice to--
(1) vocational training programs in techniques of
fire prevention, fire inspection, firefighting, and
fire and arson investigation;
(2) fire training courses and programs at junior
colleges; and
(3) four-year degree programs in fire engineering at
colleges and universities.
(f) Assistance to State and Local Fire Service Training
Programs.--The Administrator is authorized to provide
assistance to State and local fire service training programs
through grants, contracts, or otherwise. Such assistance shall
not exceed 4 per centum of the amount authorized to be
appropriated in each fiscal year pursuant to section 17 of this
Act.
(g) Site Selection.--The Academy shall be located on such
site as the Director selects, subject to the following
provisions:
(1) The Director is authorized to appoint a Site
Selection Board consisting of the Academy
Superintendent and two other members to survey the most
suitable sites for the location of the Academy and to
make recommendations to the Director.
(2) The Site Selection Board in making its
recommendations and the Director in making his final
selection, shall give consideration to the training and
facility needs of the Academy, environmental effects,
and the possibility of using a surplus Government
facility, and such other factors as are deemed
important and relevant. The Director shall make a final
site selection not later than 2 years after the date of
enactment of this Act.
(h) Construction Costs.--Of the sums authorized to be
appropriated for the purpose of implementing the programs of
the Administration, not more than $9,000,000 shall be available
for the construction of facilities of the Academy on the site
selected under subsection (g) of this section. Such sums for
such construction shall remain available until expended.
(i) Educational and Professional Assistance.--The
Administrator is authorized to--
(1) provide stipends to students attending Academy
courses and programs, in amounts up to 75 per centum of
the expense of attendance, as established by the
Superintendent;
(2) provide stipends to students attending courses
and non-degree training programs approved by the
Superintendent at universities, colleges, and junior
colleges, in amounts up to 50 per centum of the cost of
tuition;
(3) make or enter into contracts to make payments to
institutions of higher education for loans, not to
exceed $2,500 per academic year for any individual who
is enrolled on a full-time basis in an undergraduate or
graduate program of fire research or engineering which
is certified by the Superintendent. Loans under this
paragraph shall be made on such terms and subject to
such conditions as the Superintendent and each
institution involved may jointly determine; and
(4) establish and maintain a placement and promotion
opportunities center in cooperation with the fire
services, for firefighters who wish to learn and take
advantage of different or better career opportunities.
Such center shall not limit such assistance to students
and graduates of the Academy, but shall undertake to
assist all fire service personnel.
(j) Board of Visitors.--Upon establishment of the Academy,
the Director shall establish a procedure for the selection of
professionals in the field of fire safety, fire prevention,
fire control, research and development in fire protection,
treatment and rehabilitation of fire victims, or local
government services management to serve as members of a Board
of Visitors for the Academy. Pursuant to such procedure, the
Director shall select eight such persons to serve as members of
such Board of Visitors to serve such terms as the Director may
prescribe. The function of such Board shall be to review
annually the program of the Academy and to make comments and
recommendations to the Director regarding the operation of the
Academy and any improvements therein which such Board deems
appropriate. Each member of such Board shall be reimbursed for
any expenses actually incurred by him in the performance of his
duties as a member of such Board.
(k) Accreditation.--The Superintendent is authorized to
establish a Committee on Fire Training and Education which
shall inquire into and make recommendations regarding the
desirability of establishing a mechanism for accreditation of
fire training and education programs and courses, and the role
which the Academy should play if such a mechanism is
recommended. The Committee shall consist of the Superintendent
as Chairman and eighteen other members appointed by the
Administrator from among individuals and organizations
possessing special knowledge and experience in the field of
fire training and education or related fields. The Committee
shall submit to the Administrator within two years after its
appointment a full and complete report of its findings and
recommendations. Upon the submission of such report, the
Committee shall cease to exist. Each appointed member of the
Committee shall be reimbursed for expenses actually incurred in
the performance of his duties as a member.
(l) Admission.--The Superintendent is authorized to admit to
the courses and programs of the Academy individuals who are
members of the firefighting, rescue, and civil defense forces
of the Nation and such other individuals, including candidates
for membership in these forces, as he determines can benefit
from attendance. Students shall be admitted from any State,
with due regard to adequate representation in the student body
of all geographic regions of the Nation. In selecting students,
the Superintendent may seek nominations and advice from the
fire services and other organizations which wish to send
students to the Academy.
SEC. 8. FIRE TECHNOLOGY.
[15 U.S.C. 2207]
(a) Development.--The Administrator shall conduct a
continuing program of development, testing, and evaluation of
equipment for use by the Nation's fire, rescue, and civil
defense services, with the aim of making available improved
suppression, protective, auxiliary, and warning devices
incorporating the latest technology. Attention shall be given
to the standardization, compatibility, and interchangeability
of such equipment. Such development, testing, and evaluation
activities shall include, but need not be limited to--
(1) safer, less cumbersome articles of protective
clothing, including helmets, boots, and coats;
(2) breathing apparatus with the necessary duration
of service, reliability, low weight, and ease of
operation for practical use;
(3) safe and reliable auxiliary equipment for use in
fire prevention, detection, and control, such as fire
location detectors, visual and audio communications
equipment, and mobile equipment;
(4) special clothing and equipment needed for forest
fires, brush fires, oil and gasoline fires, aircraft
fires and crash rescue, fires occurring aboard
waterborne vessels, and in other special firefighting
situations;
(5) fire detectors and related equipment for
residential use with high sensitivity and reliability,
and which are sufficiently inexpensive to purchase,
install, and maintain to insure wide acceptance and
use;
(6) in-place fire prevention systems of low cost and
of increased reliability and effectiveness;
(7) methods of testing fire alarms and fire
protection devices and systems on a non-interference
basis;
(8) the development of purchase specifications,
standards, and acceptance and validation test
procedures for all such equipment and devices; and
(9) operation tests, demonstration projects, and fire
investigations in support of the activities set forth
in this section.
(b) Limitation on Manufacture and Sale of Equipment.--The
Administration shall not engage in the manufacture or sale of
any equipment or device developed pursuant to this section,
except to the extent that it deems it necessary to adequately
develop, test, or evaluate such equipment or device.
(c) Management Studies.--
(1) The Administrator is authorized to conduct,
directly or through contracts or grants, studies of the
operations and management aspects of fire services,
utilizing quantitative techniques, such as operations
research, management economics, cost effectiveness
studies, and such other techniques and methods as may
be applicable and useful. Such studies shall include,
but need not be limited to, the allocation of
resources, the optimum location of fire stations, the
optimum geographical area for an integrated fire
service, the manner of responding to alarms, the
operation of citywide and regional fire dispatch
centers, firefighting under conditions of civil
disturbance, and the effectiveness, frequency, and
methods of building inspections.
(2) The Administrator is authorized to conduct,
directly or through contracts or grants, research
concerning and productivity and efficiency of fire
service personnel, the job categories and skills
required by fire services under varying conditions, the
reduction of injuries to fire service personnel, the
most effective fire prevention programs and activities,
and techniques for accurately measuring and analyzing
the foregoing.
(3) The Administrator is authorized to conduct,
directly or through contracts, grants, or other forms
of assistance, development, testing, and demonstration
projects to the extent deemed necessary to introduce
and to encourage the acceptance of new technology,
standards, operating methods, command techniques, and
management systems for utilization by the fire
services.
(4) The Administrator is authorized to assist the
Nation's fire services, directly or through contracts,
grants, or other forms of assistance, to measure and
evaluate, on a cost-benefit basis, the effectiveness of
the programs and activities of each fire service and
the predictable consequences on the applicable local
fire services of coordination or combination, in whole
or in part, in a regional, metropolitan, or statewide
fire service.
(d) Rural Assistance.--The Administrator is authorized to
assist the Nation's fire services, directly or through
contracts, grants, or other forms of assistance, to sponsor and
encourage research into approaches, techniques, systems, and
equipment to improve fire prevention and control in the rural
and remote areas of the Nation.
(e) Development of New Technology.--
(1) In general.--In addition to, or as part of, the
program conducted under subsection (a), the
Administrator, in consultation with the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, the Inter-Agency
Board for Equipment Standardization and Inter-
Operability, national voluntary consensus standards
development organizations, and other interested
parties, shall--
(A) develop new, and utilize existing,
measurement techniques and testing
methodologies for evaluating new firefighting
technologies, including--
(i) personal protection equipment;
(ii) devices for advance warning of
extreme hazard;
(iii) equipment for enhanced vision;
(iv) devices to locate victims,
firefighters, and other rescue
personnel in above-ground and below-
ground structures;
(v) equipment and methods to provide
information for incident command,
including the monitoring and reporting
of individual personnel welfare;
(vi) equipment and methods for
training, especially for virtual
reality training; and
(vii) robotics and other remote-
controlled devices;
(B) evaluate the compatibility of new
equipment and technology with existing
firefighting technology; and
(C) support the development of new voluntary
consensus standards through national voluntary
consensus standards organizations for new
firefighting technologies based on techniques
and methodologies described in subparagraph
(A).
(2) New equipment must meet standards.--For equipment
for which applicable voluntary consensus standards have
been established, the Administrator shall, by
regulation, require that equipment or systems purchased
through the assistance program established by section
33 meet or exceed applicable voluntary consensus
standards.
[(e)] (f) Coordination.--In establishing and conducting
programs under this section, the Administrator shall take full
advantage of applicable technological developments made by
other departments and agencies of the Federal Government, by
State and local governments, and by business, industry, and
nonprofit associations.
SEC. 10. MASTER PLANS.
[15 U.S.C. 2209]
(a) Encouragement by Administrator.-- The establishment of
master plans for fire prevention and control are the
responsibility of the States and the political subdivisions
thereof. The Administrator is authorized to encourage and
assist such States and political subdivisions in such planning
activities, consistent with his powers and duties under this
Act.
(b) Mutual Aid Systems.--
(1) In general.--The Administrator, after
consultation with the Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, shall provide technical assistance
and training to State and local fire service officials
to establish nationwide and State mutual aid systems
for dealing with national emergencies that--
(A) include threat assessment and equipment
deployment strategies;
(B) include means of collecting asset and
resource information to provide accurate and
timely data for regional deployment; and
(C) are consistent with the Federal Emergency
Management Agency's Federal Response Plan.
(2) Model mutual aid plans.--The Administrator, in
consultation with the Director of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, shall develop and make available to
State and local fire service officials model mutual aid
plans for both intrastate and interstate assistance.
[(b)] (c) Master plan defined.--For the purposes of this
section, a ``master plan'' is one which will result in the
planning and implementation in the area involved of a general
program of action for fire prevention and control. Such master
plan is reasonably expected to include (1) a survey of the
resources and personnel of existing fire services and an
analysis of the effectiveness of the fire and building codes in
such area; (2) an analysis of short and long term fire
prevention and control needs in such area; (3) a plan to meet
the fire prevention and control needs in such area; and (4) an
estimate of cost and realistic plans for financing the
implementation of the plan and operation on a continuing basis
and a summary of problems that are anticipated in implementing
such master plan.
SEC. 17. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
[15 U.S.C. 2216]
(a) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the
foregoing provisions of this Act, except as otherwise
specifically provided, with respect to the payment of claims,
under section 11 of this Act, an amount not to exceed
$25,210,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980,
which amount includes--
(1) $4,781,000 for programs which are recommended in
the report submitted to the Congress by the
Administrator pursuant to section 24(b)(1);
(2) $9,430,000 for the National Academy for Fire
Prevention and Control;
(3) $307,000 for adjustments required by law in
salaries, pay, retirement, and employee benefits;
(4) $500,000 for additional rural firefighting
technical assistance and information activities;
(5) $500,000 for the study required by section 26 of
this Act; and
(6) $110,000 for the study required by section 27 of
this Act.
(b) There are authorized to be appropriated for the
additional administrative expenses of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, which are related to this Act and which
result from Reorganization Plan Numbered 3 of 1978 (submitted
June 19, 1978) and related Executive orders, an amount not to
exceed $600,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980.
(c) There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this
Act, except as otherwise specifically provided with respect to
the payment of claims under section 11 of this Act, an amount
not to exceed $23,814,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1981, which amount includes--
(1) not less than $1,100,000 for the first year of a
three-year concentrated demonstration program of fire
prevention and control in two States with high fire
death rates;
(2) not less than $2,575,000 for rural fire
prevention and control; and
(3) not less than $4,255,000 for research and
development for the activities under section 18 of this
Act at the Fire Research Center of the National Bureau
of Standards, of which not less than $250,000 shall be
available for adjustments required by law in salaries,
pay, retirement, and employee benefits.
The funds authorized in paragraph (3) shall be in addition to
funds authorized in any other law for research and development
at the Fire Research Center.
(d) Except as otherwise specifically provided with respect to
the payment of claims under section 11 of this Act, to carry
out the purposes of this Act, there are authorized to be
appropriated-
(1) $20,815,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1982, and $23,312,800 for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1983, which amount shall include--
(A) such sums as may be necessary for the
support of research and development at the Fire
Research Center of the National Bureau of
Standards under section 18 of this Act, which
sums shall be in addition to those funds
authorized to be appropriated under the
National Bureau of Standards Authorization Act
for fiscal years 1981 and 1982; and
(B) $654,000 for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1982, and $732,480 for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1983, for executive
direction by the Federal Emergency Management
Agency of program activities for which
appropriations are authorized by this
subsection; and
(2) such further sums as may be necessary in each of
the fiscal years ending September 30, 1982, and
September 30, 1983, for adjustments required by law in
salaries, pay, retirement, and employee benefits
incurred in the conduct of activities for which funds
are authorized by paragraph (1) of this subsection.
The funds authorized under section 18 shall be in addition to
funds authorized in any other law for research and development
at the Fire Research Center of the National Bureau of
Standards.
(e) Except as otherwise specifically provided with respect to
the payment of claims under section 11 of this Act, to carry
out the purposes of this Act, there are authorized to be
appropriated--
(1) $15,720,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1984, and $20,983,000 for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1985; and
(2) such further sums as may be necessary in each of
the fiscal years ending September 30, 1984, and
September 30, 1985, for adjustments required by law in
salaries, pay, retirement, and employee benefits
incurred in the conduct of activities for which funds
are authorized by paragraph (1) of this subsection.
The funds authorized under this subsection shall be in addition
to funds authorized in any other law for research and
development at the Fire Research Center of the National Bureau
of Standards.
(f) Except as otherwise specifically provided with respect to
the payment of claims under section 11 of this Act, to carry
out the purposes of this Act, there are authorized to be
appropriated $22,037,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1986 and $18,300,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1987.
(g)(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided with respect
to the payment of claims under section 11 of this Act, there
are authorized to be appropriated to carry out the purposes of
this Act--
(A) $17,039,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1989;
(B) $17,737,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1990;
(C) $18,464,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1991;
(D) $25,550,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1992;
(E) $26,521,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1993;
(F) $27,529,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1994;
(G) $29,664,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1998;
(H) $30,554,000 for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1999;
(I) $44,753,000 for fiscal year 2001, of which
$3,000,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may
be used for contracts or grants to non-Federal entities
for data analysis, including general fire profiles and
special fire analyses and report projects, and of which
$6,000,000 is for anti-terrorism training, including
associated curriculum development, for fire and
emergency services personnel;
(J) $47,800,000 for fiscal year 2002, of which
$3,250,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may
be used for contracts or grants to non-Federal entities
for data analysis, including general fire profiles and
special fire analyses and report projects, and of which
$7,000,000 is for anti-terrorism training, including
associated curriculum development, for fire and
emergency services personnel; and
(K) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, of which
$3,500,000 is for research activities, and $250,000 may
be used for contracts or grants to non-Federal entities
for data analysis, including general fire profiles and
special fire analyses and report projects, and of which
$8,000,000 is for anti-terrorism training, including
associated curriculum development, for fire and
emergency services personnel.
(2) Of the amounts referred to in paragraph (1), not more
than $4,150,000 is authorized to be appropriated for each
fiscal year for National Emergency Training Center site
administration.
(h) In addition to any other amounts that are authorized to
be appropriated to carry out this Act, there are authorized to
be appropriated to carry out this Act--
(1) $500,000 for fiscal year 1995 for basic research
on the development of an advanced course on arson
prevention;
(2) $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1996 for the expansion
of arson investigator training programs at the Academy
under section 24 and at the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center, or through regional delivery sites;
(3) $4,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1995 and 1996
for carrying out section 25, except for salaries and
expenses for carrying out section 25; and
(4) $250,000 for each of the fiscal years 1995 and
1996 for salaries and expenses for carrying out section
25.
(i) Development of New Technology.--There are authorized to
be appropriated to the Administrator to carry out section 8(e)
$2,200,000 for fiscal year 2003.