Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
june 2016
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natural hazards
Encouraging private sector partnerships with NOAA in weather forecasting
June 8, 2016
The House Science, Space and Technology Committee, Subcommittee on Environment held a hearing to discuss how partnerships between the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the private sector can be strengthened to improve weather forecasting. Congressman Jim Bridenstine (R-OK) chaired the hearing alongside Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR). Testimony was provided by Barry Myers of AccuWeather, Jim Block of Schneider Electric, Neil Jacobs of Panasonic Weather Solutions, Antonio Busalacchi of the University of Maryland, and Sandy MacDonald of Spire Global.
Panelists attributed the achievement of weather forecasting in the U.S. to the weather enterprise, or the integrated and complementary contributions of the public and private sectors and academia. Academia provides education and scientific understanding, the private sector supports innovation and customization, and NOAA provides access to free and open data.
Rep. Bridenstine, Dr. Busalacchi, and Mr. Myers repeatedly cited the role of NOAA and the National Weather Service in protecting life and property, safeguarding national security, and ensuring economic success as reasons to continue federal contributions to the weather enterprise. Mr. Meyers and others discussed the intersection of private-sector weather products with NOAA, emphasizing the high-resolution data provided by Panasonic’s TAMDAR weather monitoring system, the pervasiveness of AccuWeather forecasting on devices globally, Schneider Electric’s private weather consulting, and Spire’s growing constellation of satellites.
Though data redistribution was cited as a concern, all witnesses agreed that in order to improve forecasting, the data partnership between the private sector and NOAA must be strengthened, while maintaining the integrity of each partner’s contribution to the enterprise.
Sources: National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association
Updated 7/11/16
Senate CST Committee passes Coastal Coordination Act of 2016
June 15, 2016
The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation held an executive session to consider the Coastal Coordination Act of 2016 (S. 3038), which would update and reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA).
Enacted in 1972, the CZMA created three national programs to manage coastal resources: the National Coastal Zone Management Program, the National Estuarine Research Reserve System, and the Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program. Since then, the act has been amended only once, in 1990.
The new bill would make changes that emphasize coastal resilience and remove a vague provision requiring the Commerce Secretary to evaluate state proposals based on “benefits to the public.” It also recognizes the need for local, state, and federal coordination during emergency situations, such as oil spills and hurricanes, in order to minimize conflict and duplication of efforts. For example, the bill designates the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (GOMA), an existing regional partnership between federal agencies, five Gulf states, and other organizations, as a Regional Coordination Entity of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) praised the act for helping Florida test flood adaptation plans in Fort Lauderdale. He also credited the act with providing funds for research on freshwater discharge into the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River system and its associated oyster fishery.
Although Republicans previously asserted that such a bill could hinder coastal energy development, the Senate committee unanimously passed the bill.
Source: E&E News, fortlauderdate.gov, Gulf of Mexico Alliance, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Senate.gov
Updated 7/11/16
Briefing underscores the importance of earth science data in decision making
June 22, 2016
The Advances in Earth Science Coalition, a group of professional geoscience societies and federal agencies, held a briefing moderated by Virginia Burkett (U.S. Geological Survey) to discuss how earthquake, air quality, and environmental data can inform policy making on natural resource management and disaster preparedness. The speakers included Katrin Hafner of Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), Tim Dye of Sonoma Technology Inc. (STI), and Mark Bennett of the U.S. Geological Survey.
Hafner explained that seismological data collected from 150 stations worldwide can identify earthquake-prone areas and facilitate disaster preparedness. These data are incorporated into a freely available archive to increase public awareness of earthquake hazards and support disaster monitoring by agencies such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Dye summarized Sonoma Technology’s effort to help federal agencies, state and local government, industry, nonprofits, and the public make informed decisions regarding air pollution. AirNow, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program operated by STI, provides daily air quality forecasts and has become a primary resource for a broad audience of organizations, agencies, and the public.
Bennett highlighted land subsidence issues in the Chesapeake Bay and the ways in which continued monitoring may help experts project future sea level rise and prepare for future changes. According to Bennett, long-term datasets capture Earth’s dynamic environmental conditions, allow the comparison of information through time, and guide decision makers as they formulate appropriate policies.
Sources: Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), Sonoma Technology Inc., U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency
National Academies Roundtable holds forum and workshop on community resilience
June 28, 2016
The National Academies’ ResilientAmerica Roundtable held their State of Resilience Leadership Forum and Community Workshop on June 28-29, 2016. The event featured representatives from local, state, and federal government; insurance companies; environmental organizations; universities; private foundations; and other interested parties.
The two-day event aimed to assess the current state of resilience on a variety of scales and to identify areas for improvement. A major focus was on community resilience to natural disasters, with notable case studies including the 2011 tornado in Joplin, MO; the 2008 floods in Cedar Rapids, IA; hurricane resilience in southeast Florida; and the response to Hurricane Sandy in New York and New Jersey.
Sessions addressed a wide range of issues, including public health, community engagement and education, social cohesion, public health, town planning and infrastructure, insuring against disasters, and the relationship between public and private contributions to community resilience.
Video recordings of all the sessions will be made available on the ResilientAmerica Roundtable’s website.
Source: The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine