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S. 3533Senate117th Congress (2021-2023)In Committee

Volcanic Ash and Fumes Act of 2022

Sponsored by Brian SchatzSen. Brian Schatz (D-HI)
Introduced January 20, 2022

AI-Generated Summary

Updated February 8, 2026 at 8:57 AM UTC

The Volcanic Ash and Fumes Act of 2022 amends the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to strengthen the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System. It adds new definitions, expands cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers, and requires planning and cost reporting. The changes affect the Department of Commerce, NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Interior Department, and aviation stakeholders.

Key Provisions

  • Defines the Secretary of Commerce for this purpose as the Secretary acting through the Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere.
  • Adds a definition for a Volcanic Ash Advisory Center, an entity designated by the International Civil Aviation Organization to inform aviation about volcanic ash.
  • Expands monitoring by integrating NOAA’s capabilities and the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers in Anchorage and Washington, DC, to observe and model volcanic emissions, gases, aerosols, and related atmospheric and ocean chemistry.
  • Allows the use of unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) as part of emissions monitoring equipment.
  • Requires the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior to create a memorandum of understanding with NOAA for cooperative support, including personnel assignments and environmental observations.
  • Mandates annual cost estimates and updates to the system’s management plan, and requires a publicly available implementation plan to be developed within 180 days covering a five‑year rollout.

Legislative Activity

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4 earlier actions
SenateCalendars Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 645.

December 14, 2022

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SenateIntro Referral

Introduced in Senate

January 20, 2022

SenateIntro Referral

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

January 20, 2022

SenateCommittee

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment favorably.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

May 11, 2022

SenateCommittee

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment. Without written report.

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

December 14, 2022

SenateCalendars

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 645.

December 14, 2022

Bill Text

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Reported to SenateIssued December 14, 2022

II

Calendar No. 645

117th CONGRESS

2d Session

S. 3533

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

January 20, 2022

Mr. Schatz (for himself and Ms. Murkowski) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

December 14, 2022

Reported by Ms. Cantwell, with an amendment

Omit the part struck through and insert the part printed in italic

A BILL

To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to improve the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Volcanic Ash and Fumes Act of 2022.

2.

Modifications to National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System

(a)

Definitions

Subsection (a) of section 5001 of the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act (43 U.S.C. 31k) is amended—

(1)

by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);

(2)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

Secretary of Commerce

The term Secretary of Commerce means the Secretary of Commerce, acting through the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere.

; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(4)

Volcanic Ash Advisory Center

The term Volcanic Ash Advisory Center means an entity designated by the International Civil Aviation Organization that is responsible for informing aviation interests about the presence of volcanic ash in the airspace.

.

(b)

Purposes

Subsection (b)(1)(B) of such section is amended—

(1)

in clause (i), by striking and at the end;

(2)

in clause (ii), by striking the period at the end and inserting ; and; and

(3)

by adding at the end the following:

(iii)

to strengthen the warning and monitoring systems of volcano observatories in the United States by integrating relevant capacities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centers located in Anchorage, Alaska, and Washington, DC, to observe and model emissions of gases, aerosols, and ash, atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, and ocean chemistry resulting from volcanic eruptions.

.

(c)

System components

Subsection (b)(2) of such section is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (B)—

(A)

by striking and before spectrometry; and

(B)

by inserting , and unoccupied aerial vehicles after emissions; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(C)

Memorandum of understanding

The Secretary and the Secretary of Commerce shall develop and execute a memorandum of understanding to establish cooperative support for the activities of the System from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including environmental observations, modeling, and temporary duty assignments of personnel to support emergency activities, as necessary or appropriate.

.

(d)

Management

Subsection (b)(3) of such section is amended—

(1)

in subparagraph (A), by adding at the end the following:

(iii)

Update

(I)

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration cost estimates

The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Secretary annual cost estimates for modernization activities and support of the System for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

(II)

Update of management plan

The Secretary shall update the management plan submitted under clause (i) to include the cost estimates submitted under subclause (I).

; and

(2)

by adding at the end the following:

(E)

Collaboration

The Secretary of Commerce shall collaborate with the Secretary to implement activities carried out under this section related to the expertise of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, including observations and modeling of emissions of gases, aerosols, and ash, atmospheric dynamics and chemistry, and ocean chemistry resulting from volcanic eruptions.

.

(e)

Funding

Subsection (c) of such section is amended—

(1)

in paragraph (1)—

(A)

in the paragraph heading, by inserting , United States Geological Survey after appropriations; and

(B)

by inserting to the United States Geological Survey after appropriated;.

(2)

by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3);

(3)

by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:

(2)

Authorization of appropriations, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

There is authorized to be appropriated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to carry out this section such sums as may be necessary for the period of fiscal years 2022 through 2023.

; and

(4)

in paragraph (3), as redesignated by paragraph (2)—

(A)

by striking United States Geological Survey; and

(B)

by inserting of the United States Geological Survey and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration after programs.

(f)

Implementation plan

(1)

Development of plan

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall develop a plan to implement the amendments made by this Act during the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the plan is developed.

(2)

Elements

The plan developed under paragraph (1) shall include an estimate of the cost and schedule required for the implementation described in such paragraph.

(3)

Public availability

Upon completion of the plan developed under paragraph (1), the Secretary of Commerce shall make the plan publicly available.

December 14, 2022

Reported with an amendment