Deputy Undersecretary to Testify before Senate Commerce Committee on the Status of the U.S. Tsunami Warning System The Deputy Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
(S 50) was introduced on January 24th. The bill authorizes NOAA to establish, operate, and maintain a national tsunami warning system that would provide maximum tsunami detection capability. The system would build on the model established in the Pacific and provide for its repair, expansion and modernization by the close of FY 2007. The bill also instructs NOAA to assist the international community “to develop a fully functional global tsunami warning system.” The bill authorizes $35 million for each of the Fiscal Years 2006-2012 to carry out the bill’s provisions. A hearing on the bill has been scheduled by the Senate Commerce Committee for February 2 nd. –Global Tsunami Detection and Warning System Act (S 34). The bill was introduced by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT). The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to identify deficiencies in the existing system of worldwide (including those maintained by Interior Department) seismic stations that can identify in real or near real time potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes in any location in the Pacific, Atlantic, or Indian Oceans and associated seas. The Secretary is also directed to procure and deploy such sensors throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and associated seas, and any other bodies of water of concern, to provide a system offering complete global coverage for detection of a tsunami. The bill authorizes $30 million for FY ’05 and $7.5 million for each of the fiscal years 2006-2014.
Deputy Undersecretary to Testify before Senate Commerce Committee on the Status of the U.S. Tsunami Warning System
The Deputy Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere
BG John (Jack) J. Kelly, Jr., USAF (Ret.), will testify on the status of the U.S. tsunami warning system before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee (Chair Ted Stevens, R-AK) on February 2nd at 10 am ET. The hearing will be webcast by the Committee. In connection with the hearing, the Department of Commerce Acting General Counsel Jane T. Dana has issued a views letter on S 50, the Tsunami Preparedness Act, which was introduced by Ranking Committee Minority Member Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and Chair Stevens.
(S 50) was introduced on January 24th. The bill authorizes NOAA to establish, operate, and maintain a national tsunami warning system that would provide maximum tsunami detection capability. The system would build on the model established in the Pacific and provide for its repair, expansion and modernization by the close of FY 2007. The bill also instructs NOAA to assist the international community “to develop a fully functional global tsunami warning system.” The bill authorizes $35 million for each of the Fiscal Years 2006-2012 to carry out the bill’s provisions. A hearing on the bill has been scheduled by the Senate Commerce Committee for February 2 nd. –Global Tsunami Detection and Warning System Act (S 34). The bill was introduced by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT). The bill directs the Secretary of Commerce to identify deficiencies in the existing system of worldwide (including those maintained by Interior Department) seismic stations that can identify in real or near real time potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes in any location in the Pacific, Atlantic, or Indian Oceans and associated seas. The Secretary is also directed to procure and deploy such sensors throughout the Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans, and associated seas, and any other bodies of water of concern, to provide a system offering complete global coverage for detection of a tsunami. The bill authorizes $30 million for FY ’05 and $7.5 million for each of the fiscal years 2006-2014.