Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 120.djvu/2949

 120 STAT. 2918

PUBLIC LAW 109–430—DEC. 20, 2006

Public Law 109–430 109th Congress An Act Dec. 20, 2006 [H.R. 5136]

National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006. 15 USC 311 note. 15 USC 313d note.

15 USC 313d.

To establish a National Integrated Drought Information System within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve drought monitoring and forecasting capabilities.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006’’. SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

In this Act: (1) DROUGHT.—The term ‘‘drought’’ means a deficiency in precipitation— (A) that leads to a deficiency in surface or subsurface water supplies (including rivers, streams, wetlands, ground water, soil moisture, reservoir supplies, lake levels, and snow pack); and (B) that causes or may cause— (i) substantial economic or social impacts; or (ii) substantial physical damage or injury to individuals, property, or the environment. (2) UNDER SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Under Secretary’’ means the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere. SEC. 3. NIDIS PROGRAM.

(a) IN GENERAL.—The Under Secretary, through the National Weather Service and other appropriate weather and climate programs in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, shall establish a National Integrated Drought Information System. (b) SYSTEM FUNCTIONS.—The National Integrated Drought Information System shall— (1) provide an effective drought early warning system that— (A) is a comprehensive system that collects and integrates information on the key indicators of drought in order to make usable, reliable, and timely drought forecasts and assessments of drought, including assessments of the severity of drought conditions and impacts; (B) communicates drought forecasts, drought conditions, and drought impacts on an ongoing basis to— (i) decisionmakers at the Federal, regional, State, tribal, and local levels of government; (ii) the private sector; and

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