[Senate Report 109-356]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Calendar No. 653
109th Congress Report
2nd Session SENATE 109-356
_______________________________________________________________________
NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2006
__________
R E P O R T
OF THE
COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
on
S. 2751
September 29, 2006.--Ordered to be printed
_______
U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
49-010 WASHINGTON : 2006
SENATE COMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, SCIENCE, AND TRANSPORTATION
one hundred ninth congress
second session
TED STEVENS, Alaska, Chairman
DANIEL K. INOUYE, Hawaii, Co-Chairman
JOHN McCAIN, Arizona JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West
CONRAD BURNS, Montana Virginia
TRENT LOTT, Mississippi JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts
KAY BAILEY HUTCHISON, Texas BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine BARBARA BOXER, California
GORDON H. SMITH, Oregon BILL NELSON, Florida
JOHN ENSIGN, Nevada MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia FRANK LAUTENBERG, New Jersey
JOHN E. SUNUNU, New Hampshire E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska
JIM DEMINT, South Carolina MARK PRYOR, Arkansas
DAVID VITTER, Louisiana
Lisa Sutherland, Staff Director
Christine Kurth, Deputy Staff Director
Kenneth Nahigian, Chief Counsel
Margaret Cummisky, Democratic Staff Director and Chief Counsel
Samuel Whitehorn, Democratic Deputy Staff Director and General Counsel
Calendar No. 653
109th Congress Report
SENATE
2nd Session 109-356
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NATIONAL INTEGRATED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM ACT OF 2006
_______
September 29, 2006.--Ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Stevens, from the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany S. 2751]
The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, to
which was referred the bill (S. 2751) to strengthen the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's drought
monitoring and forecasting capabilities, having considered the
same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and
recommends that the bill do pass.
Purpose of the Bill
The purpose of S. 2751, is to create an effective drought
early warning system, coordinate Federal drought research,
build upon existing drought, weather, and climate monitoring
and assessment programs and be incorporated into the Global
Earth Observing System of System.
Background and Needs
Droughts are a regular and historical phenomena that have
impacted various regions of the United States throughout
history. They are a normal part of climate. According to the
glossary of meteorology, a drought is defined as ``a period of
abnormally dry weather sufficiently prolonged for the lack of
water to cause serious hydrologic imbalance in the affected
area.'' Put simply, a drought is a period of long-term dry
weather that persists long enough to cause significant problems
such as crop damage, water supply shortages, and fire risks.
Deficiencies in precipitation may include reduced rain or snow
levels (compared to climate norms) but may also be aggravated
by such factors as wind, temperature, relative humidity, and
cloud cover.
The severity of the drought depends upon how little rain
falls/snow melts, the duration of the lack of rain/snow melt,
and the size of the affected area. Droughts are primarily
broken down into four categories: meteorological, where there
is less rain than usual; agricultural, where the amount of
moisture in the soil no longer meets the needs of a particular
crop; hydrological, where surface and subsurface water supplies
are below normal; and socioeconomic where physical water
shortages begin to affect the population at large.
Summary of Provisions
The bill would direct the Undersecretary for Oceans and
Atmosphere to establish a National Integrated Drought
Information System within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Agency (NOAA). The bill states that the system shall provide an
effective early warning system that shall allow for ``usable,
reliable, and timely drought forecasts'' that shall be
communicated to all stakeholdlers and shall be transmitted in
real time when possible. The bill also would instruct the
Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere to work with other
Federal agencies and to coordinate with Federal, State, local
and tribal governments, research institutions and the private
sector.
Existing efforts by Federal, State, and other entities
provide a broad base of monitoring and assessment information
on which the National Integrated Drought Information System
(NIDIS) can be built. The Committee expects NOAA to coordinate
the activities of NIDIS with existing established monitoring,
assessment, and prediction programs with relevance to drought,
such as: the National Drought Mitigation Center at the
University of Nebraska, NOAA's Regional Climate Centers and
Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments program, and
university-based programs with expertise in climatic, mesonet,
or drought-related issues, including NOTAA's regional and State
partnerships and Cooperative Institutes.
The legislation would authorize $8 million in fiscal year
(FY) 2007, $9 million in FY 2008, $10 million in FY 2009 and FY
2010 and $11 million in FY 2011 and FY 2012.
Legislative History
National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006
(S. 2751) was introduced by Senator Ben Nelson on May 4, 2006,
and referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation. On July 19, 2006, the Committee considered the
bill in an open Executive Session. The Committee, without
objection, adopted the bill and ordered S. 2751 be reported.
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
The bill does not authorize any new regulations and therefore
will not subject any individuals or businesses to new
regulations.
ECONOMIC IMPACT
S. 2751 would authorize $8 million in FY 2007, $9 million in
FY 2008, $10 million in FY 2009 and FY 2010 and $11 million for
each of FY 2011 and FY 2012 in appropriations to Secretary of
Commerce for use by the Undersecretary for Oceans and
Atmosphere. These funding levels are not expected to have an
inflationary impact on the nation's economy.
PRIVACY
The reported bill would have little, if any, impact on the
personal privacy of U.S. citizens.
PAPERWORK
The reported bill should not significantly increase paperwork
requirements for individuals and businesses.
Section-by-Section Analysis
Section 1. Short title.
Section 1 would establish the short title of the bill as the
``National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006.''
Section 2. NOAA program to monitor and forecast droughts.
Section 2 would establish a National Integrated Drought
Information System within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.
The section would require that the system shall provide an
effective early warning system that shall allow for ``usable,
reliable, and timely drought forecasts'' that shall be
communicated to all stakeholders and shall be transmitted in
real time when possible. The section also would require the
system to communicate drought information to policymakers at
all levels of government and to the public and the private
sector. The section also would require that other Federal
agencies cooperate with the Undersecretary. Finally, the
section would provide a definition of drought.
Section 3. Authorization of appropriations.
Section 3 would authorize $8 million in FY 2007, $9 million
in FY 2008, $10 million in FY 2009 and FY 2010 and $11 million
in FY 2011 and FY 2012 in appropriations to Secretary of
Commerce for use by the Undersecretary for Oceans and
Atmosphere.
Changes in Existing Law
In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the Standing
Rules of the Senate, the Committee states that the bill as
reported would make no change to existing law.