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NSF & Congress
Hearing
Summary: Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation's
Subcommittee on Science, Technology and Space Reauthorization
Hearing on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Program (NEHRP)
June 29, 1999
On June 29, 1999 the Subcommittee on Science, Technology
and Space of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science
and Transportation held a reauthorization hearing
on the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
(NEHRP). Witnesses included Michael J. Armstrong,
Associate Director for Mitigation, FEMA; Dr. P. Patrick
Leahy, Chief Geologist, U.S. Dept. of Interior, USGS;
Dr. Eugene Wong, Assistant Director for Engineering,
NSF; and Raymond Kammer, Director, NIST.
FEMA - Mr. Armstrong said earthquakes represent
the largest potential for damage and reducing this
loss potential is a matter of national concern. He
discussed the various efforts of the four NEHRP agencies
in mitigating earthquake hazards; research, technology
development and education, and that NEHRP agencies
are working collaboratively on these efforts. He discussed
FEMA's two roles as part of NEHRP; being the lead
agency, and applying the results of research and technology
development into effective loss reduction measures
at state and local levels of government. He also explained
FEMA's strategic plan for supporting loss reduction
activities, developed in concert with other NEHRP
agencies. He said the strategic plan and cooperative
relationship between the agencies moves mitigation
efforts forward.
USGS - Dr. Leahy stated that applied Earth science
is the USGS contribution to NEHRP. He noted that the
USGS has three main roles under NEHRP; 1) earthquake
hazard assessment (producing products for earthquake
loss reduction); 2) monitoring and reporting on earthquakes
(to provide timely and accurate notification of earthquakes);
3) supporting research (to carry out research on earthquake
occurrence and effects). He noted under #1 above that
the USGS is increasing its focus on urban areas like
Puget Sound, Memphis and the San Francisco Bay area.
He noted further that 1/4 of the funds requested for
supporting research go to external grants.
NSF - Dr. Wong said NSF's participation in NEHRP
is consistent with its policy of integrating NSF's
activities with those of other agencies when it facilitates
the achievement of national goals, in this case reducing
deaths, injuries and property damage caused by earthquakes.
He stated that the Foundation supports numerous individual
investigators and small group projects, two university
consortia, and four university-based earthquake centers
that advance NEHRP goals. Other NEHRP-related activities
include programs involving earthquake research facilities,
post-earthquake investigations, international cooperation,
and information dissemination. Dr. Wong concluded
his remarks by focusing on three NSF activities, all
of which involve efforts to ensure U.S. researchers
have the requisite research facilities to conduct
cutting-edge research well into the next century.
The first is the Network for Earthquake Engineering
Simulation (NEES). The NSB gave its approval for NSF
to include the cost of initiating the development
of NEES in its FY 2000 budget request. NEES is estimated
to cost nearly $82 million over the next five years.
Recent NEHRP reauthorizing legislation passed by the
House of Representatives, 414-3, H.R. 1184, authorizes
NEES for the full five-year period. The second activity
Dr. Wong discussed is a major facility under consideration
by NSF called EarthScope. EarthScope is an integrated
instrumentation and research effort that looks downward
into crustal and mantle processes beneath the U.S.
The major focus of the components of EarthScope is
earthquake hazard. And, finally, Dr. Wong discussed
the Incorporated Research Institutes in Seismology
(IRIS).
NIST - Mr. Kammer discussed NIST's role in NEHRP,
which is to conduct research to improve codes, practices,
and standards that will allow buildings and lifelines
to survive earthquakes. Mr. Kammer noted that NIST
works very cooperatively with the other NEHRP agencies,
and he highlighted some of NIST's recent work as part
of NEHRP, describing successful partnerships.
Senator Frist's questions mainly focused on private
sector involvement in establishing building codes
and standards, the NEES project, and the National
Earthquake Program (NEP). The Senator questioned the
private sector's contribution to building codes, as
well as technology transfer efforts. Mr. Kammer noted
that there is a large infrastructure of voluntary
standards organizations, and stated that NIST has
enlisted their help. Mr. Armstong said there is a
lot of interaction with the development community,
and that by transferring knowledge, for example, of
how buildings perform during seismic events to builders,
better building codes and standards can be established
to build smarter next time. Dr. Wong said NSF works
with the community on engineering research, with new
designs tested on shaketables and centrifuges.
Senator Frist then questioned Dr. Wong about leveraging
existing public/private investments with respect to
NEES -- specifically, will NEES use Internet 2 and
NGI. Dr. Wong responded that it would, and that the
project would cost more without it. He said he expects
high-speed connections at all sites through the vBNS.
The Senator also questioned Dr. Wong about benefits
to NEES as a result of potential funding for IT2,
as well as the number of universities involved in
NEES. Dr. Wong noted that NEES would indirectly benefit
from IT2 funding, and commented that he expects the
number of universities involved to be large.
Senator Frist concluded his questioning by engaging
witnesses' in a discussion of NEP. Mr. Armstrong said
NEP compliments and is a logical extension of NEHRP,
as it builds on the four NEHRP agencies to involve
other federal agencies with research functions that
are beneficial to earthquake preparedness. Dr. Leahy,
on the other hand, said NEHRP is the core of earthquake
mitigation and that this program should be encouraged
rather than having parallel programs. Dr. Wong noted
that the Army Corps of Engineers will play a major
role in the NEES project, thus demonstrating that
other government agencies outside the NEHRP group
are participating in the spirit of the NEP.
See also:
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