S1278-119

What This Bill Does

The Fog Observations and Geographic Forecasting Act directs the NOAA Under Secretary to conduct a project improving coastal marine fog forecasts. The goal is to improve vessel safety and reduce economic impacts from coastal fog. The project must add marine observations from federal platforms and commercially acquired observations in high-impact areas, including buoys, meteorological stations, stationary platforms, drifting instruments, vessels, unmanned systems, remote sensing, rapid-refresh hyperspectral satellite imagery, and algorithms for early detection and monitoring.

NOAA must improve geographic coverage, resolution, skill, and accuracy of marine fog modeling, including marine channel forecasts when feasible. It must improve communication of fog advisories, communicate hazardous fog risks in ways that support public decisions, and provide actionable decision support. NOAA must meet with public and private stakeholders and Indian Tribes, then develop a plan within one year describing research, development, technology transfer, resources, and timelines.

Who Benefits and How

Commercial vessel operators benefit from better coastal fog forecasts and advisories. Coastal ports benefit if improved fog information reduces delays and accident risk. NOAA forecasters benefit from more observations, models, and algorithms. Tribal coastal communities benefit from required consultation during project planning. Marine technology vendors benefit from potential use of commercial observations, unmanned systems, remote sensing, and hyperspectral imagery. Recreational boaters benefit from clearer hazard communication.

Who Bears the Burden and How

NOAA weather program staff must design the project, meet stakeholders and Tribes, acquire or integrate observations, improve models, and write a one-year plan. Commercial data providers must meet NOAA quality and integration needs. Public and private stakeholders must participate in planning. Tribal governments must evaluate consultation requests. NOAA budget planners must identify resources and timelines.

Key Provisions

• Requires NOAA to conduct a project improving coastal marine fog forecasts.
• Expands observations through buoys, stations, vessels, unmanned systems, remote sensing, satellite imagery, and algorithms.
• Improves fog model coverage, resolution, skill, accuracy, advisories, and decision support.
• Requires public, private, and Tribal stakeholder meetings.
• Directs a one-year project plan with research, development, technology transfer, resources, and timelines.