What This Bill Does
This bill directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (a federal weather and ocean agency) to start and maintain a program that improves how wildfires are predicted and detected. The bill also authorizes the creation of weather research testbeds (experimental facilities that test new weather forecasting methods) to develop better wildfire detection and forecasting tools.
Who It Affects
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and its staff will be directly responsible for running the program. The United States weather industry and academic institutions will collaborate with the agency. The public benefits from improved wildfire warnings and forecasts.
Key Provisions
• The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration must establish a program that works with the weather industry and academic institutions to improve wildfire forecasting and detection (Sec. 2(a)(1)).
• The program must focus on four specific improvements: predicting how fast wildfires intensify and spread, forecasting where smoke will go and communicating that information, creating better warning products, and detecting wildfires early (Sec. 2(a)(2)).
• The Administrator can develop and test advanced satellite detection products, fuel moisture assessments, fire modeling systems, climate prediction links to land management decisions, and improved observation systems in high latitude areas (Sec. 2(a)(3)).
• Within 180 days of the bill becoming law, the Assistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research must establish one or more weather research testbeds to develop improved wildfire detection and forecasting (Sec. 2(b)(1)).
What Changes
If this bill becomes law, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration must create a new wildfire forecasting and detection program where currently one may not formally exist. The agency must also establish weather research testbeds to test new wildfire detection and forecasting methods.
Important Definitions
None defined in the bill text.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 550
To direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin-
istration to maintain a program that improves wildfire forecasting and
detection, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 26, 2023
Mr. MIKE GARCIA of California (for himself, Mrs. KIM of California, Ms. CHU,
and Ms. BROWNLEY) introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
A BILL
To direct the Administrator of the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to maintain a program that
improves wildfire forecasting and detection, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Fire Information and
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Reaction Enhancement Act of 2023’’ or the ‘‘FIRE Act
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of 2023’’.
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SEC. 2. WILDFIRE FORECASTING AND DETECTION.
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(a) IN GENERAL.—
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(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Administrator of
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the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra-
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tion, in collaboration with the United States weather
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industry and such academic entities as the Adminis-
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trator considers appropriate, shall establish a pro-
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gram within such Administration to improve wildfire
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forecasting and detection.
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(2) GOALS.—The goals of the program under
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paragraph (1) shall be to develop and extend accu-
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rate wildfire forecasts and warnings in order to re-
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duce loss of life, injury, property, and damage to the
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economy, with a focus on improving the following:
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(A) The prediction of intensification and
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spread of wildfires.
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(B) The forecast and communication of
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smoke dispersion from wildfires.
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(C) Information dissemination and risk
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communication to create more effective watch
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and warning products.
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(D) The early detection of wildfires to con-
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tain their growth and mitigate damages.
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(3) ELEMENTS.—In order to meet the goals
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specified in paragraph (2), the Administrator of the
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is
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•HR 550 IH
authorized to conduct development, testing, and de-
1
ployment activities related to the following:
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(A) Advanced satellite detection products.
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(B) Grid-based assessments and outlooks
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of fuel moisture and danger levels.
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(C) Coupled atmosphere and fire modeling
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systems.
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(D) Systems to link climate predictions to
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achievable land management decisions.
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(E) Improved spatial and temporal resolu-
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tion observations in high latitudes.
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(b) CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION.—
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(1) IN
GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days
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after the date of the enactment of this Act, the As-
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sistant Administrator for the Office of Oceanic and
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Atmospheric Research, in partnership with industry
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and academic partners, shall establish a program to
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create one or more weather research testbeds to de-
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velop improved detection of and forecast capabilities
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for wildfire events and their impacts.
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(2) RESOURCES.—In carrying out the program
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under paragraph (1), the Assistant Administrator
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for the Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research
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may not utilize resources for such testbeds from the
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
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cooperative institutes in existence as of the date of
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enactment of this Act.
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(3) AUTHORIZATION
OF
APPROPRIATIONS.—
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There is authorized to be appropriated $15,000,000
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for fiscal year 2024 to carry out the program under
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paragraph (1).
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Æ
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