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

Bill Number: S. 1052
Origin Chamber: Senate
Congress: 119th Congress, Session 1
Policy Area: Emergency Management
Status: Introduced
Latest Action: 2025-03-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
Last Updated: 2026-03-24T12:48:03Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

This bill (S. 1052) aims to update and extend the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System (NVEWS), a program established under the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. The goal is to improve volcano monitoring technology, coordination among agencies, and public safety by providing better early warnings for volcanic activity, while increasing funding and extending the program's authorization through 2034.

Key Provisions

Modernization of Technology: Requires the system to incorporate advanced tools, including the Global Navigation Satellite System (a more precise update to GPS for tracking ground movement), unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), infrasound arrays (devices to detect low-frequency sounds from eruptions), visible and infrared cameras (for real-time imaging), and advanced digital telemetry networks (systems for transmitting data over long distances). It also mandates maintaining or expanding the infrastructure for these tools.
Management Plan Updates: Strengthens partnerships through new or existing cooperative agreements with states and others. Requires the plan to be updated regularly, including comprehensive revisions at least every 5 years after initial submission.
Coordination and Implementation: Adds the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service to the interagency coordination group. Establishes an implementation committee with representatives from state agencies, universities, and volcano observatories to recommend requirements, steps, and performance standards for the system. Clarifies roles for public communication between federal and state emergency management partners to prevent confusion or overlap.
Funding Reauthorization: Authorizes $75 million annually for fiscal years 2024 through 2033 (up from $55 million previously) for program operations, with funding extended through fiscal year 2034.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

Expands the list of monitoring technologies beyond basic GPS and drones to include newer tools like infrasound arrays, advanced cameras, and digital networks, emphasizing infrastructure maintenance.
Shifts management plan updates from a one-time requirement to ongoing revisions every 5 years.
Introduces a new implementation committee and includes the Forest Service in coordination, which were not previously specified.
Increases annual funding by $20 million and extends the program's life by a decade (from 2023/2024 to 2033/2034).

Potential Impacts

Government Agencies: Enhances capabilities for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS, led by the Secretary of the Interior) and other federal entities like the Forest Service to monitor U.S. volcanoes more effectively, potentially reducing response times to eruptions. State emergency management agencies will have clearer communication roles, improving coordination.
Citizens: Improves public safety in volcanic regions (e.g., Alaska, Hawaii, Pacific Northwest) by enabling faster, more accurate warnings, which could save lives and property during eruptions, ash falls, or related hazards like lahars (volcanic mudflows).
International Relations: Minimal direct impact, though better U.S. monitoring could indirectly support global volcano research and data sharing with international partners, as volcanic activity can affect air travel and cross-border environments.

Main Stakeholders Affected

Federal Agencies: USGS (primary operator of NVEWS), Department of the Interior, U.S. Forest Service, and other involved federal entities.
State and Local Governments: State emergency management agencies and volcano observatories (e.g., in Alaska, Hawaii, California), which will participate in partnerships and the implementation committee.
Academic and Research Institutions: Universities and higher education institutions contributing to technology development and monitoring.
Citizens and Communities: Residents, businesses, and travelers in areas near active volcanoes (about 169 potentially active volcanoes in the U.S.), who benefit from enhanced warnings.
Sponsors and Policymakers: Introduced by Senators Murkowski, Cantwell, Hirono, and Sullivan, indicating focus on states with volcanic risks like Alaska and Hawaii.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

Legal: Builds on existing authority under the 2019 Dingell Act without creating new mandates, but requires cooperative agreements, which could involve federal funding to states and need compliance with environmental laws like the National Environmental Policy Act for infrastructure expansions.
Constitutional: No significant challenges; aligns with Congress's power to regulate interstate commerce and public safety, particularly for natural hazards affecting multiple states.
Political: Demonstrates bipartisan support (Republican and Democratic sponsors from volcanic states), emphasizing disaster preparedness. The funding increase may spark debates on federal spending priorities, but it promotes long-term resilience without controversial elements like regulatory overhauls.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Sen. Murkowski, Lisa [R-AK]

Cosponsors (3)

Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA], Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]

Recent Actions

2025-03-13: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
2025-03-13: Introduced in Senate

Bill Versions

To amend the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act to reauthorize the National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-03-13 — PDF (5 pages)