Title 15, Commerce and TradeRelease 119-110

§8561 Study on Precipitation Estimation

Title 15 › CHAPTER 111 — WEATHER RESEARCH AND FORECASTING INNOVATION › SUBCHAPTER IV — IMPROVING FEDERAL PRECIPITATION INFORMATION › § 8561

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Within 90 days after December 16, 2022, the Administrator must try to make an agreement with the National Academies to study how we estimate precipitation, including probable maximum precipitation. The Academies must finish a report within 24 months after the agreement is finalized. They must send the report to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and post it online. Up to $1,500,000 is authorized for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out the study. The report must look at current methods and why they might need to change; recommend best science-based practices that account for non-stationarity (changing conditions over time); outline a plan for a national guidance document and assess methods for extreme events like probable maximum precipitation; identify research and observation needs (ground, air, and space) and use of GIS; propose a Federal research and development plan with costs, schedules, and responsible agencies; describe roles for federal, academic, state, tribal, territorial, local, and private partners; and give recommendations on data management, data sharing, and how NOAA can access or improve non-Federal precipitation datasets.

Full Legal Text

Title 15, §8561

Commerce and Trade, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In general

Not later than 90 days after December 16, 2022, the Administrator, in consultation with other Federal agencies as appropriate, shall seek to enter an agreement with the National Academies—

(1)to conduct a study on the state of practice and research needs for precipitation estimation, including probable maximum precipitation estimation; and

(2)to submit, not later than 24 months after the date on which such agreement is finalized, to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and make publicly available on a website, a report on the results of the study under paragraph (1).

(b)Study

The report under subsection (a) shall include the following:

(1)An examination of the current state of practice for precipitation estimation at scales appropriate for decisionmaker needs, and rationale for further evolution of this field.

(2)An evaluation of best practices for precipitation estimation that are based on the best-available science, include considerations of non-stationarity, and can be utilized by the user community.

(3)A framework for—

(A)the development of a National Guidance Document for estimating extreme precipitation in future conditions; and

(B)evaluation of the strengths and challenges of the full spectrum of approaches, including for probable maximum precipitation studies.

(4)A description of existing research needs in the field of precipitation estimation in order to modernize current methodologies and consider non-stationarity.

(5)A description of in-situ, airborne, and space-based observation requirements, that could enhance precipitation estimation and development of models, including an examination of the use of geographic information systems and geospatial technology for integration, analysis, and visualization of precipitation data.

(6)A recommended plan for a Federal research and development program, including specifications for costs, timeframes, and responsible agencies for addressing identified research needs.

(7)An analysis of the respective roles in precipitation estimation of various Federal agencies, academia, State, tribal, territorial, and local governments, and other public and private stakeholders.

(8)Recommendations for data management to promote long-term needs such as enabling retrospective analyses and data discoverability, interoperability, and reuse.

(9)Recommendations for how data and services from the entire enterprise can be best leveraged by the Federal Government.

(10)A description of non-Federal precipitation data, its accessibility by the Federal Government, and ways for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to improve or expand such datasets.

(c)Authorization of appropriations

There is authorized $1,500,000 to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this study.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

15 U.S.C. § 8561

Title 15, Commerce and Trade

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110