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A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-572| Senate 
| Updated: 3/8/2017
Richard Burr

Richard Burr

Republican Senator

North Carolina

Cosponsors (2)
Thomas Tillis (Republican)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill directs the Department of Commerce to complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (NEXRAD). Commerce shall identify areas in the United States with limited or no NEXRAD coverage below 6,000 feet above ground level of the surrounding terrain. For those areas identified, Commerce shall also: identify the key weather effects for which prediction would improve with improved radar detection; identify additional sources of observations for high impact weather available and operational for such areas, including Terminal Doppler Weather Radar, air surveillance radars of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and cooperative network observers; and assess the feasibility and advisability of efforts to integrate and upgrade federal radar capabilities in such areas that are not owned or controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including radar capabilities of the FAA and the Department of Defense. In addition, under such study Commerce shall: assess the feasibility and advisability of incorporating state-operated and other nonfederal radars into the operations of the National Weather Service (NWS); and identify options to improve radar coverage in all of the areas identified as having limited or no NEXRAD coverage. After completing the study, Commerce shall submit a plan for improving radar coverage in the identified areas by integrating and upgrading additional observation solutions to improve hazardous weather detection and forecasting. Commerce shall seek third-party reviews on scientific methodology related to, and the feasibility and advisability of, implementing the plan to improve radar coverage, including the extent to which warning and forecast services of the NWS would be improved by additional NEXRAD coverage.
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Timeline
Mar 8, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Mar 8, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Apr 25, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-1427
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
  • March 8, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 8, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • April 25, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-1427
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 115-1427: To require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting.
Atmospheric science and weatherCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigations

A bill to require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting, and for other purposes.

USA115th CongressS-572| Senate 
| Updated: 3/8/2017
This bill directs the Department of Commerce to complete a study on gaps in the coverage of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service (NEXRAD). Commerce shall identify areas in the United States with limited or no NEXRAD coverage below 6,000 feet above ground level of the surrounding terrain. For those areas identified, Commerce shall also: identify the key weather effects for which prediction would improve with improved radar detection; identify additional sources of observations for high impact weather available and operational for such areas, including Terminal Doppler Weather Radar, air surveillance radars of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and cooperative network observers; and assess the feasibility and advisability of efforts to integrate and upgrade federal radar capabilities in such areas that are not owned or controlled by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including radar capabilities of the FAA and the Department of Defense. In addition, under such study Commerce shall: assess the feasibility and advisability of incorporating state-operated and other nonfederal radars into the operations of the National Weather Service (NWS); and identify options to improve radar coverage in all of the areas identified as having limited or no NEXRAD coverage. After completing the study, Commerce shall submit a plan for improving radar coverage in the identified areas by integrating and upgrading additional observation solutions to improve hazardous weather detection and forecasting. Commerce shall seek third-party reviews on scientific methodology related to, and the feasibility and advisability of, implementing the plan to improve radar coverage, including the extent to which warning and forecast services of the NWS would be improved by additional NEXRAD coverage.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
Mar 8, 2017
Introduced in Senate
Mar 8, 2017
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Apr 25, 2017

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 115-1427
Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
  • March 8, 2017
    Introduced in Senate


  • March 8, 2017
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • April 25, 2017

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 115-1427
    Referred to the Subcommittee on Environment.
Richard Burr

Richard Burr

Republican Senator

North Carolina

Cosponsors (2)
Thomas Tillis (Republican)Maria Cantwell (Democratic)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 115-1427: To require the Secretary of Commerce to study the coverage gaps of the Next Generation Weather Radar of the National Weather Service and to develop a plan for improving radar coverage and hazardous weather detection and forecasting.
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Atmospheric science and weatherCongressional oversightGovernment studies and investigations