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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [Updated December 13, 2018]
"Portions of all 50 states and the District of Columbia are vulnerable to earthquake hazards, although risks vary greatly across the country and within individual states. Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state, experiencing a magnitude 7 earthquake almost every year and a magnitude 8 earthquake every 13 years, on average, since 1900. [...] Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These agencies assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program encompasses how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. [...] The review and report would look at how states, tribes, and local governments are using NEHRP-generated information and implementing measures to reduce their earthquake risk."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-12-13
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [December 3, 2018]
"Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These agencies assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program encompasses how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. Better coordination was a concern that led to changes to the program in legislation enacted in 2004 (the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2004; P.L. 108-360; 42 U.S.C. 7704)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-12-03
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Changes in the Arctic: Background and Issues for Congress [October 25, 2018]
"The diminishment of Arctic sea ice has led to increased human activities in the Arctic, and has heightened interest in, and concerns about, the region's future. The United States, by virtue of Alaska, is an Arctic country and has substantial interests in the region. Record low extents of Arctic sea ice over the past decade have focused scientific and policy attention on links to global climate change and projected ice-free seasons in the Arctic within decades. These changes have potential consequences for weather in the United States, access to mineral and biological resources in the Arctic, the economies and cultures of peoples in the region, and national security. The five Arctic coastal states--the United States, Canada, Russia, Norway, and Denmark (of which Greenland is a territory)--have made or are in the process of preparing submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf regarding the outer limits of their extended continental shelves. The Russian submission includes the underwater Lomonosov Ridge, a feature that spans a considerable distance across the center of the Arctic Ocean."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
O'Rourke, Ronald; Comay, Laura B.; Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin) . . .
2018-10-25
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Geospatial Data Act of 2018 [October 22, 2018]
"The federal government has recognized the need to organize and coordinate the collection and management of geospatial data since at least 1990. In that year,the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) revised Circular A-16--which provides guidance regarding coordination of federal surveying, mapping, and related spatial data activities--to establish the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) and to promote the coordinated use, sharing, and dissemination of geospatial data nationwide. OMB Circular A-16 also called for the development of a national resource for digital spatial information to enable the sharing and transfer of spatial data between users and producers, linked by criteria and standards. Executive Order 12906, issued in 1994, strengthened and enhanced Circular A-16 and specified that the FGDC shall coordinate development of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI)."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-10-22
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief
"Portions of all 50 states and the District of Columbia are vulnerable to earthquake hazards, although risks vary greatly across the country and within individual states. Seismic hazards are greatest in the western United States, particularly in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska,and Hawaii. Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state, experiencing a magnitude-7 earthquake almost every year and a magnitude-8 earthquake every 13 years, on average, since 1900. Because of its low population and low infrastructure density, Alaska has a relatively low risk for large economic losses from an earthquake. In contrast, California has more earthquake risk than any other state because of its frequent seismic activity, large population, and extensive infrastructure."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-09-20
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Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in the United States [August 9, 2018]
"Carbon capture and sequestration (or storage)--known as CCS--is a process that involves capturing man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) at its source and storing it permanently underground. (CCS is sometimes referred to as CCUS--carbon capture, utilization, and storage.) CCS could reduce the amount of CO2--an important greenhouse gas--emitted to the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants and other large industrial facilities. The concept of carbon utilization has gained interest within Congress and in the private sector as a means for capturing CO2 and converting it into potentially commercially viable products, such as chemicals, fuels, cements, and plastics, thereby reducing emissions to the atmosphere and helping offset the cost of CO2 capture. Direct air capture is also an emerging technology, with the promise to remove atmospheric CO2 directly and reduce its concentration."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-08-09
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National Hurricane Center and Forecasting Hurricanes: 2017 Overview and 2018 Outlook [July 19, 2018]
"The National Hurricane Center (NHC), part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service (NWS), is responsible for forecasting hurricanes in the Atlantic Ocean and the eastern Pacific Ocean. The NHC provides estimates of the path of a storm (i.e., hurricane track), the intensity, and the size and structure of the storm, as well as predictions of storm surge, rainfall, and even tornadoes. Depending on the storm's status, this information may be used to create a hurricane watch or a hurricane warning and public advisories, which are issued on an increasingly frequent basis if a storm strengthens and approaches the U.S. coastline."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-07-19
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Federal Role in Groundwater Supply: Overview and Legislation in the 115th Congress [July 18, 2018]
"Groundwater, the water in aquifers accessible by wells, is a critical component of the U.S. water supply. It is important for both domestic and agricultural water needs, among other uses. Nearly half of the nation's population uses groundwater to meet daily needs; in 2015, about 149 million people (46% of the nation's population) relied on groundwater for their domestic indoor and outdoor water supply. The greatest volume of groundwater used every day is for agriculture, specifically for irrigation. In 2015, irrigation accounted for 69% of the total fresh groundwater withdrawals in the United States. For that year, California pumped the most groundwater for irrigation, followed by Arkansas, Nebraska, Idaho, Texas, and Kansas, in that order. Groundwater also is used as a supply for mining, oil and gas development, industrial processes, livestock, and thermoelectric power, among other uses."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin); Stern, Charles V.; Carter, Nicole T. . . .
2018-07-18
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FY2019 Funding for CCS and Other DOE Fossil Energy R&D [July 2, 2018]
"Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS, sometimes called carbon capture and storage) is a process that aims to capture man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) at its source and store it to prevent its release to the atmosphere. CCS could reduce the amount of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants and other large, industrial facilities. An integrated CCS system would include three main steps: (1) separating CO2 from other gases and capturing it; (2) purifying, compressing, and transporting the CO2 to the sequestration site; and (3) injecting the CO2 into subsurface geological reservoirs. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has supported research and development (R&D) of aspects of the three main steps leading to an integrated CCS system since 1997. From FY2012 to FY2018, Congress has provided more than $4 billion in appropriations for CCS activities at DOE. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act(P.L. 111-5)provided an additional $3.4 billion to that total."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-07-02
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National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Legislation in the 115th Congress [May 9, 2018]
"In the 115th Congress, two bills authorizing a National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System (NVEWS) have been reported out of committee (H.R. 4475, reported out of the House Natural Resources Committee and S. 346, reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee). Legislation nearly identical to S. 346 is included as Title X, Subtitle A, of S. 1460, the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017. (A hearing has been held on this bill.) The activities authorized in these bills include directing the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a nationwide volcano early warning and monitoring system to lower the impacts of volcanic eruptions on U.S. citizens. USGS is a bureau within the Department of the Interior. USGS has indicated that progressively implementing an NVEWS to address a monitoring gap within its Volcano Hazards Program has been a priority since 2005. These bills would provide an explicit authorization for an NVEWS, with an objective to monitor U.S. volcanoes at a level commensurate with the volcanic threat. Assessing the volcanic threat involves combining the volcano hazards--the destructive phenomena produced by a volcano, such as lava flows, ash clouds, volcanic landslides--and the exposure to the hazard, such as the people and property at risk from a volcanic eruption (Figure 1). The bills state that the NVEWS would have two purposes: (1) to organize, modernize, standardize, and stabilize the monitoring systems of the five U.S. volcano observatories (the Alaska Volcano Observatory, California Volcano Observatory, Cascades Volcano Observatory, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and Yellowstone Volcano Observatory) and (2) to unify the monitoring systems of these observatories into a single interoperative system."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin); Sheikh, Pervaze A.
2018-05-09
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Federal Reserved Water Rights and Groundwater: Quantity, Quality, and Pore Space [February 8, 2018]
"Tribal rights to groundwater have not been legally established to the same extent as rights to other natural resources (e.g., surface water, timber, minerals). A March 2017 decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the rights of a California Indian tribe (the Agua Caliente band of Cahuilla Indians) to groundwater beneath the tribe's reservation in the Coachella Valley. In November 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the decision; the case now proceeds to other phases that may partially shape this ruling's significance. [...] This Insight explores three aspects of groundwater relevant to Agua Caliente: quantity, quality, and 'pore space.' The legal outcome may affect how groundwater is allocated among tribal and nontribal interests and may influence groundwater allocations at other federal reservations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-02-08
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [January 31, 2018]
"Portions of all 50 states and the District of Columbia are vulnerable to earthquake hazards, although risks vary greatly across the country and within individual states. Seismic hazards are greatest in the western United States, particularly in California, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and Hawaii. Alaska is the most earthquake-prone state, experiencing a magnitude-7 earthquake almost every year and a magnitude-8 earthquake every 13 years, on average, since 1900. Because of its low population and infrastructure density, Alaska has a relatively low risk for large economic losses from an earthquake. In contrast, California has more citizens and infrastructure at risk than any other state because of its frequent seismic activity, large population, and extensive infrastructure."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2018-01-31
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Volcano and Landslide Provisions in Title X of S. 1460, the Energy and Natural Resources Act of 2017 [November 21, 2017]
"Title X of S. 1460 would authorize a national volcano early warning and monitoring system (Subtitle A) and a National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program (Subtitle B) within the Department of the Interior (DOI). These activities would be led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a bureau within DOI. [...] Subtitle A states that the objective of the volcano early warning system is to monitor U.S. volcanoes at a level commensurate with the volcanic threat. The volcanic threat combines the volcano hazards--the destructive phenomena produced by a volcano such as lava flows, ash clouds, volcanic landslides--and the exposure to the hazard (i.e., the people and property at risk from a volcanic eruption). [...] Subtitle B would provide an explicit authorization for a national landslide hazards reduction program within USGS that would broaden its current activities and require coordination with other federal agencies. Its purpose would be to identify landslide risks and hazards from landslides, reduce losses, protect communities at risk, and improve communication and emergency preparedness. The legislation would require the program to map and assess landslide hazards, respond to landslide events, coordinate with states and Indian tribes to identify regional and local priorities, and develop and implement landslide hazard guidelines for geologists, engineers, and land-use decisionmakers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2017-11-21
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Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in the United States [November 14, 2017]
"Carbon capture and sequestration (or storage)--known as CCS--is a process that involves capturing man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) at its source and storing it to avoid its release to the atmosphere. (CCS is sometimes referred to as CCUS--carbon capture, utilization, and storage.) CCS could reduce the amount of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants and other large industrial facilities. An integrated CCS system would include three main steps: (1) capturing and separating CO2 from other gases; (2) purifying, compressing, and transporting the captured CO2 to the sequestration site; and (3) injecting the CO2 in underground geological reservoirs (the process is explained more fully below in 'CCS Primer'). [...] The Trump Administration's proposal to curtail funding for CCS, coupled with the successful launch of one large CCS plant in January 2017 (the Petra Nova plant in Texas) and the suspension of another in June 2017 (the Kemper County Energy Facility in Mississippi), has contributed to uncertainty about the future of CCS. This report provides a summary and analysis of the current state of CCS in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2017-11-14
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Drought in the United States: Causes and Current Understanding [November 9, 2017]
"Drought is a natural hazard with potentially significant economic, social, and ecological consequences. History suggests that severe and extended droughts are inevitable and part of natural climate cycles. Drought has for centuries shaped the societies of North America and will continue to do so into the future. The likelihood of extended periods of severe drought and its effects on 21st-century society in the United States raise several issues for Congress. These issues include how to respond to recurrent drought incidents, how to prepare for future drought, and how to coordinate federal agency actions, among other policy choices. [...] This report discusses why drought occurs in the United States; how drought is defined (e.g., why drought in one region of the country is different from drought in another region); and how droughts are classified and reported (e.g., what is meant by moderate, severe, extreme, and exceptional drought). The report briefly describes periods of drought in the country's past that equaled or exceeded drought conditions experienced during the 20th century, and the effects of those droughts on major western rivers such as the Colorado. Lastly, the report discusses the possible influence of human-induced climate change on drought, and current limits on our understanding for forecasting droughts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2017-11-09
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [October 12, 2017]
"Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These agencies assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program encompasses how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. Better coordination was a concern that led to changes to the program in legislation enacted in 2004 [...]. [...] Although authorization for appropriations expired in 2009, Congress has continued to appropriate funds for NEHRP activities. [...] The budget request for FY2018 would reduce total funding for NEHRP activities to $124.1 million, a decrease of about 8% compared to FY2017. Legislation introduced in the 115th Congress, S. 1768 (the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act of 2017), largely would leave the current four-agency NEHRP program intact, while providing some new areas of emphasis and omitting specific authorization of appropriations levels for the member agencies. The bill, introduced on September 6, 2017, would emphasize activities to promote greater resilience to earthquakes and activities that would enhance the effectiveness of an earthquake early warning system, among other changes. S. 1768 would remove statutory language referring to an original purpose of the program to seek a capability to predict earthquakes."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2017-10-12
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Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) in the United States [July 24, 2017]
"Carbon capture and sequestration (or storage)-known as CCS-is a process that involves capturing man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) at its source and storing it to avoid its release to the atmosphere. (CCS is sometimes referred to as CCUS-carbon capture, utilization, and storage.) CCS could reduce the amount of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels at power plants and other large industrial facilities. An integrated CCS system would include three main steps: [1] capturing and separating CO2 from other gases; [2] purifying, compressing, and transporting the captured CO2 to the sequestration site; and [3] injecting the CO2 in underground geological reservoirs (the process is explained more fully below in 'CCS Primer'). The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has long supported research and development (R&D) on CCS within its Fossil Energy Research and Development portfolio (FER&D); however, the Trump Administration proposed to cut FER&D funding substantially in its FY2018 budget request. The Trump Administration's proposal differs from the policy trends of the previous two Administrations, which supported R&D on CCS and emphasized the development of large-scale demonstration projects-nearly first-of-their-kind ventures using technologies developed at a pilot or smaller scale that have been ramped up to commercial scale-to evaluate how CCS might be deployed commercially. The Trump Administration's proposal to curtail funding for CCS, coupled with the successful launch of one large CCS plant in January 2017 (the Petra Nova plant in Texas) and the suspension of another in June 2017 (the Kemper County Energy Facility in Mississippi), has contributed to uncertainty about the future of CCS. This report provides a summary and analysis of the current state of CCS in the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2017-07-24
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U.S. Tsunami Program Reauthorization in P.L. 115-25: Section-by-Section Comparison to P.L. 109-479, Title VIII [May 3, 2017]
"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service (NWS) manages two tsunami warning centers, which monitor, detect, and issue warnings for tsunamis. The NWS operates the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) at Ford Island, HI, and the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) at Palmer, AK. The tsunami warning centers monitor and evaluate data from seismic networks and determine if a tsunami is likely based on the location, magnitude, and depth of an earthquake. The centers monitor relevant water-level data, typically with tide-level gauges, and data from NOAA's network of Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunami (DART) detection buoys to confirm that a tsunami has been generated or to cancel any warnings if no tsunami is detected. In the 114th Congress, the House passed legislation amending U.S. tsunami activities (H.R. 34) and the Senate passed similar legislation (Title V of H.R. 1561). However, the 114th Congress did not enact a final version of the legislation. [...] This report compares the enacted legislation text with P.L. 109-479, Title VIII, section by section, with brief comments on selected comparisons about how changes in P.L. 115-25, Title V, affect P.L. 109-479, Title VIII, and the authorized tsunami activities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2017-05-03
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Human-Induced Earthquakes from Deep-Well Injection: A Brief Overview [September 30, 2016]
"Although only a small fraction of U.S. wastewater disposal wells appears to be problematic for causing damaging earthquakes, the potential for injection-related earthquakes has raised an array of issues and has affected oil and gas wastewater disposal in some areas. In response to induced seismicity concerns, both EPA [Environmental Protection Agency] and state work groups have issued recommendations for best practices to minimize and manage such risks. Several states have increased regulation and oversight of Class II disposal wells. Congress may be interested in oversight of EPA's UIC [Underground Injection Control] Human-Induced Earthquakes from Deep-Well Injection: A Brief Overview Congressional Research Service program or in federally sponsored research on the relationship between energy development activities and induced seismicity."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin); Tiemann, Mary
2016-09-30
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Sea-Level Rise and U.S. Coasts: Science and Policy Considerations [September 12, 2016]
"Policymakers are interested in sea-level rise because of the risk to coastal populations and infrastructure and the consequences for coastal species and ecosystems. From 1901 to 2010, global sea levels rose an estimated 187 millimeters (mm; 7.4 inches), averaging a 1.7 mm (0.07 inch) rise annually. Estimates are that the annual rate rose to 3.2 mm (0.13 inches) from 1992 to 2010. Although the extent of future sea-level rise remains uncertain, sea-level rise is anticipated to have a range of effects on U.S. coasts. It is anticipated to contribute to flood and erosion hazards, permanent or temporary land inundation, saltwater intrusion into coastal freshwaters, and changes in coastal terrestrial and estuarine ecosystems. Some states, such as Florida and Louisiana, and U.S. territories have a considerable share of their assets, people, economies, and water supplies vulnerable to sea-level rise. In 2010, roughly 100 million people lived in U.S. coastal shoreline counties. Increased flood risk associated with sea-level rise may increase demand for federal disaster assistance and challenge the National Flood Insurance Program. Federal programs support local and state infrastructure investments such as roads, bridges, and municipal water facilities that may be damaged or impaired. Sea-level rise also is anticipated to affect numerous federal facilities. [...] Policy choices related to sea-level rise have the potential to shape the future development and resiliency of U.S. coasts. Policy options include a continuation of current government programs and policies, actions that address the forces contributing to sea-level rise globally or locally, and actions that reduce the vulnerability to and consequences of sea-level rise on U.S. coasts."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin); Carter, Nicole T.
2016-09-12
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Funding for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) at DOE: In Brief [May 26, 2016]
From the introduction: "Carbon capture and sequestration (or storage)--known as CCS--is a physical process that involves capturing man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) at its source and storing it before its release to the atmosphere. CCS could reduce the amount of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere from the continued use of fossil fuels at power plants and other large, industrial facilities. An integrated CCS system would include three main steps: (1) capturing CO2 before it is emitted to the atmosphere and separating it from other gases; (2) purifying, compressing, and transporting the captured CO2 to the sequestration site; and (3) injecting the CO2 into subsurface geological reservoirs. Following its injection into a subsurface reservoir, the CO2 would need to be monitored for leakage and to verify that it remains in the target geological reservoir. Once injection operations cease, a responsible party would need to take title to the injected CO2 and ensure that it stays underground in perpetuity. The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has pursued research and development (R&D) [Research and Development] of aspects of the three main steps leading to an integrated CCS system since 1997. Congress has long been interested in the future of CCS as a mitigation strategy for lowering global emissions of CO2. Since FY2008, Congress has appropriated more than $7 billion for CCS activities at DOE. Nearly half that funding, $3.4 billion, came from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (P.L. 111-5; enacted February 17, 2009; hereinafter referred to as the Recovery Act). Authority to expend Recovery Act funding expired at the end of FY2015 [Fiscal Year]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2016-05-26
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Earthquake Risk and U.S. Highway Infrastructure: Frequently Asked Questions [May 19, 2016]
"Earthquakes and related events, such as soil liquefaction, landslides, tsunamis, flooding, and fires, pose risks to highway infrastructure. Concerns about the U.S. highway system's seismic vulnerability stem from interest in protecting public safety, facilitating response and recovery efforts, and minimizing economic loss and social disruption. This report addresses a number of frequently asked questions about earthquake risk and highway system components, especially bridges."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Mallett, William; Carter, Nicole T.; Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2016-05-19
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National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP): Issues in Brief [April 19, 2016]
"Under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP), four federal agencies have responsibility for long-term earthquake risk reduction: the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). These agencies assess U.S. earthquake hazards, deliver notifications of seismic events, develop measures to reduce earthquake hazards, and conduct research to help reduce overall U.S. vulnerability to earthquakes. Congressional oversight of the NEHRP program encompasses how well the four agencies coordinate their activities to address the earthquake hazard. [...] The NEHRP program's effectiveness is a perennial issue for Congress; the effectiveness of mitigation measures taken before an earthquake occurs is inherently difficult to capture precisely, in terms of dollars saved or fatalities prevented. A major earthquake in a populated urban area within the United States would cause damage, and in question is how much damage would be prevented by mitigation strategies underpinned by the NEHRP program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2016-04-19
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Funding for Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CSS) at DOE: In Brief [April 19, 2016]
"Carbon capture and sequestration (or storage)-known as CCS-is a physical process that involves capturing man-made carbon dioxide (CO2) at its source and storing it before its release to the atmosphere. CCS could reduce the amount of CO2 emitted to the atmosphere from the continued use of fossil fuels at power plants and other large, industrial facilities. An integrated CCS system would include three main steps: (1) capturing CO2 before it is emitted to the atmosphere and separating it from other gases; (2) purifying, compressing, and transporting the captured CO2 to the sequestration site; and (3) injecting the CO2 into subsurface geological reservoirs. Following its injection into a subsurface reservoir, the CO2 would need to be monitored for leakage and to verify that it remains in the target geological reservoir. Once injection operations cease, a responsible party would need to take title to the injected CO2 and ensure that it stays underground in perpetuity."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2016-04-19
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Recovery Act Funding for DOE Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) Projects [February 18, 2016]
"Federal policymakers have long been interested in the potential of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) as a mitigation strategy for lowering global emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2). Congress has appropriated more than $7 billion since FY2008 to CCS activities at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Obama Administration has promulgated rules on CO2 emissions from fossil fuel-burning power plants and entered into a global agreement to limit CO2 emissions. Congress remains divided over those executive branch decisions. DOE, however, has continued to embrace CCS as part of the Administration's strategy to reduce CO2 emissions from power plants. Several bills introduced in the 114th Congress address CCS directly or indirectly (e.g., S. 601, S. 1283, H.R. 3392, and others). The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act; P.L. 111-5) provided $3.4 billion for CCS projects and activities at DOE. The large infusion of funding was intended to help develop technologies that would allow for commercial-scale demonstration of CCS in both new and retrofitted power plants and industrial facilities by 2020. Nine individual projects garnered approximately $2.65 billion of the $3.4 billion--about 78%. Each of the nine projects was awarded more than $100 million, and these projects illustrate that DOE prioritized large-scale demonstration projects with Recovery Act funding. The lion's share of funding went to DOE's flagship CCS project FutureGen, which was awarded nearly $1 billion from the Recovery Act."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2016-02-18
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U.S. Tsunami Program: A Brief Overview [Updated November 20, 2015]
From the Summary: "The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service (NWS) manages two tsunami warning centers that monitor, detect, and issue warnings for tsunamis. The NWS operates the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) at Ford Island, Hawaii, and the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) at Palmer, Alaska. The tsunami warning centers monitor and evaluate data from seismic networks and determine if a tsunami is likely based on the location, magnitude, and depth of an earthquake. The centers monitor relevant water-level data, typically with tide-level gauges, and data from NOAA's network of Deep-Ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) detection buoys to confirm that a tsunami has been generated or to cancel any warnings if no tsunami is detected. As of November 18, 2015, 4 of the United States' 39 DART buoys (10%) were not operational. This figure represents an improvement over the course of the year; in March 2015, 9 of the buoys were not operational (23%). The inoperable stations likely would not prevent the issuance of tsunami warnings, which are primarily a function of seismic data from an earthquake or landslide, combined with location information about the event."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2015-11-20
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California Drought: Hydrological and Regulatory Water Supply Issues [August 14, 2015]
"California is in its fourth year of drought. As of late July 2015, 47% of California was experiencing exceptional drought--the most severe U.S. federal drought classification--and approximately 71% of the state was experiencing extreme drought. The 2014 water year (October 2013 through September 2014) was the third driest on record. Water users that receive water supplies from the state of California and federal water projects are experiencing unprecedented water supply shortages due to the drought. Severe water supply shortages also hampered the state during a recent three-year drought (2008-2010). Paleontological and tree-ring records indicate that California has experienced many multiyear droughts over several millennia; however, some experts estimate that the current drought may be the most severe in the past 1,200 years. This report focuses on hydrological and regulatory compliance issues that affect operation and management of two large water supply projects that serve farms and communities throughout California: the federal Central Valley Project (CVP), owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) in the Department of the Interior, and the State Water Project (SWP), owned and operated by the California Department of Water Resources (DWR). Reductions in water supplied by these projects in drought years result in economic disruption across the state such as concentrated crop and financial losses in agricultural areas throughout the Central Valley, including portions of the San Joaquin Valley. At the same time, several fish species--one of which may be close to extinction--whose habitat lies at the heart of California's water supply system and throughout its northern rivers are in decline. Declining fish species, exacerbated by drought, also may have economic implications, resulting in job and income losses in coastal areas. In addition, the drought and low water supplies affect recreation, power production, other industries, and small and large communities."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Cody, Betsy A.; Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin); Brown, Cynthia
2015-08-14
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Human-Induced Earthquakes from Deep-Well Injection: A Brief Overview [May 12, 2015]
"The development of unconventional oil and natural gas resources using horizontal drilling and high-volume hydraulic fracturing has created new demand for wastewater disposal wells that inject waste fluids into deep geologic strata. Deep-well injection has long been the environmentally preferred method for managing produced brine and other wastewater associated with oil and gas production. However, an increasing concern in the United States is that injection of these fluids may be responsible for increasing rates of seismic activity. The number of earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater in the central and eastern United States has increased dramatically since about 2009 from an average of approximately 20 per year between 1970 and 2000 to over 100 per year in the period 2010-2013. Some of these earthquakes may be felt at the surface. […] The Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Underground Injection Control (UIC) program under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) regulates the subsurface injection of fluids to protect underground drinking water sources. EPA has issued regulations for six classes of injection wells, including Class II wells used for oil and gas wastewater disposal and enhanced recovery. Most oil and gas states administer the Class II program. Although the SDWA does not address seismicity, EPA rules for certain well classes require evaluation of seismic risk. Such requirements do not apply to Class II wells; however, EPA has developed a framework for evaluating seismic risk when reviewing Class II permit applications in states where EPA administers this program."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin); Tiemann, Mary
2015-05-12
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U.S. Tsunami Program: A Brief Overview [March 18, 2015]
"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service (NWS) manages two tsunami warning centers that monitor, detect, and issue warnings for tsunamis. The NWS operates the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) at Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) at Palmer, Alaska. The tsunami warning centers monitor and evaluate data from seismic networks and determine if a tsunami is likely based on the location, magnitude, and depth of an earthquake. The centers monitor coastal water-level data, typically with tide-level gauges, and data from NOAA's network of Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) detection buoys to confirm that a tsunami has been generated or to cancel any warnings if no tsunami is detected. As of January 20, 2015, 12 of the United States' 39 DART buoys were not operational. According to NOAA, the inoperable stations would not prevent the issuance of tsunami warnings, which are primarily a function of seismic data from an earthquake or landslide, combined with location information about the event. However, lacking these stations could mean the warnings encompass a larger area than would be the case if all stations were operating, and it could lengthen the time a warning remains in effect."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2015-03-18
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U.S. Tsunami Program: A Brief Overview [February 20, 2015]
"The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) National Weather Service (NWS) manages two tsunami warning centers that monitor, detect, and issue warnings for tsunamis. The NWS operates the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) at Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) at Palmer, Alaska. The tsunami warning centers monitor and evaluate data from seismic networks and determine if a tsunami is likely based on the location, magnitude, and depth of an earthquake. The centers monitor coastal water-level data, typically with tide-level gauges, and data from NOAA's network of Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) detection buoys to confirm that a tsunami has been generated or to cancel any warnings if no tsunami is detected. As of January 20, 2015, 12 of the United States' 39 DART buoys were not operational. According to NOAA, the inoperable stations would not prevent the issuance of tsunami warnings, which are primarily a function of seismic data from an earthquake or landslide, combined with location information about the event. However, lacking these stations could mean the warnings encompass a larger area than would be the case if all stations were operating, and it could lengthen the time a warning remains in effect."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Folger, Peter (Peter Franklin)
2015-02-20
