---
kind: "section"
citation: "15 U.S.C. § 8541"
title: "15"
title_heading: "Commerce and Trade"
number: "8541"
heading: "Environmental Information Services Working Group"
release: "119-102"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/15/8541"
units:
  - "Chapter 111 — Weather Research and Forecasting Innovation"
  - "Subchapter III — Federal Weather Coordination"
---

# §8541. Environmental Information Services Working Group

- (a) **Establishment—** The National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/2203.md?p=2) Science Advisory [Board](/usc/15/205c.md?p=1) shall continue to maintain a standing [working group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) named the Environmental Information Services [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) (in this section referred to as the “[Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5)”)—
  - (1) to provide advice for prioritizing weather research [initiatives](/usc/15/9401.md?p=5) at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/2203.md?p=2) to produce real improvement in weather forecasting;
  - (2) to provide advice on existing or emerging technologies or techniques that can be found in private industry or the research community that could be incorporated into forecasting at the National Weather Service to improve forecasting skill;
  - (3) to identify opportunities to improve—
    - (A) communications between weather forecasters, Federal, [State](/usc/15/8501.md?p=2), local, tribal, and other emergency management personnel, and the public; and
    - (B) communications and partnerships among the National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/2203.md?p=2) and the private and academic sectors; and
  - (4) to address such other matters as the Science Advisory [Board](/usc/15/205c.md?p=1) requests of the [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5).
- (b) **Composition—**
  - (1) **In general—** The [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) shall be composed of leading experts and innovators from all relevant fields of science and engineering including atmospheric chemistry, atmospheric physics, meteorology, hydrology, social science, risk communications, electrical engineering, and computer sciences. In carrying out this section, the [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) may organize into subpanels.
  - (2) **Number—** The [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) shall be composed of no fewer than 15 members. Nominees for the [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) may be forwarded by the [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) for approval by the Science Advisory [Board](/usc/15/205c.md?p=1). Members of the [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) may choose a chair (or co-chairs) from among their number with approval by the Science Advisory [Board](/usc/15/205c.md?p=1).
- (c) **Annual report—** Not less frequently than once each year, the [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5) shall transmit to the Science Advisory [Board](/usc/15/205c.md?p=1) for submission to the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) a report on progress made by National Oceanic and Atmospheric [Administration](/usc/15/2203.md?p=2) in adopting the [Working Group](/usc/15/8951.md?p=5)’s recommendations. The Science Advisory [Board](/usc/15/205c.md?p=1) shall transmit this report to the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4). Within 30 days of receipt of such report, the [Under Secretary](/usc/15/8501.md?p=4) shall submit to the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the [Committee](/usc/15/2921.md?p=1) on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a copy of such report.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 115–25, title IV, § 401, Apr. 18, 2017, 131 Stat. 105.)