[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC313]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 9--NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
Sec. 313. Duties of Secretary of Commerce
The Secretary of Commerce shall have charge of the forecasting of
weather, the issue of storm warnings, the display of weather and flood
signals for the benefit of agriculture, commerce, and navigation, the
gauging and reporting of rivers, the maintenance and operation of
seacoast telegraph lines and the collection and transmission of marine
intelligence for the benefit of commerce and navigation, the reporting
of temperature and rain-fall conditions for the cotton interests, the
display of frost and cold-wave signals, the distribution of
meteorological information in the interests of agriculture and commerce,
and the taking of such meteorological observations as may be necessary
to establish and record the climatic conditions of the United States, or
as are essential for the proper execution of the foregoing duties.
(Oct. 1, 1890, ch. 1266, Sec. 3, 26 Stat. 653; May 20, 1926, ch. 344,
Sec. 5 (e), 44 Stat. 571; June 23, 1938, ch. 601, title XI,
Sec. 1107(k), 52 Stat. 1029; 1940 Reorg. Plan No. IV, Sec. 8, eff. June
30, 1940, 5 F.R. 2421, 54 Stat. 1236; 1965 Reorg. Plan No. 2, Secs. 1,
2, eff. July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318.)
Amendments
1938--Act June 23, 1938, repealed second paragraph relating to
duties as to air navigation.
1926--Act May 20, 1926, inserted second paragraph relating to duties
as to air navigation.
Repeals
Pub. L. 85-726, title XIV, Sec. 1401(b), Aug. 23, 1958, 72 Stat.
806, repealed act June 23, 1938, ch. 601, title XI, Sec. 1107(k), 52
Stat. 1029, cited to the credit of this section.
Transfer of Functions
Office of Chief of Weather Bureau abolished and functions
transferred to Secretary of Commerce by Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1965, eff.
July 13, 1965, 30 F.R. 8819, 79 Stat. 1318. Reorg. Plan No. IV of 1940
transferred Weather Bureau from Department of Agriculture to Department
of Commerce. For further details, see notes set out under section 311 of
this title.
Hurricane Reconnaissance Program
Pub. L. 102-567, title I, Sec. 107, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4275,
provided that:
``(a) Establishment of Program.--(1) The Secretary of Defense and
the Secretary of Commerce shall establish a 5-year joint program for
collecting operational and reconnaissance data, conducting research, and
analyzing data on tropical cyclones to assist the forecast and warning
program and increase the understanding of the causes and behavior of
tropical cyclones.
``(2) The Secretary of Commerce shall establish the Tropical Cyclone
Research Advisory Committee, an advisory committee of tropical cyclone
research scientists, to make recommendations for tropical cyclone
research activities and reconnaissance procedures.
``(b) Responsibilities.--(1) The Secretary of Defense shall have the
responsibility for maintaining, flying, and funding tropical cyclone
reconnaissance aircraft to accomplish the program established under this
section and to transfer the data to the Secretary of Commerce. Program
responsibility may not be transferred to any other Federal department or
agency, including the Coast Guard, without the agreement and approval of
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of Commerce, and the head of any
other Federal agency or department to which the responsibility is
transferred.
``(2) The Secretary of Commerce shall have the responsibility to
provide funding for data gathering and research by remote sensing,
ground sensing, research aircraft, and other technologies necessary to
accomplish the program established under this section.
``(c) Management Plans.--(1) The Secretary of Defense and the
Secretary of Commerce shall jointly develop and, within 120 days after
the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 29, 1992], submit to the
Congress a management plan for the program established under this
section, which shall include organizational structure, goals, major
tasks, and funding profiles for the 5-year duration of the program.
``(2) The Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Commerce, in
consultation with the Tropical Cyclone Research Advisory Committee
established by section 107(a)(2), shall jointly develop and, within 4
years after the date of enactment of this Act, submit to the Congress a
management plan providing for continued tropical cyclone surveillance
and reconnaissance which will adequately protect the citizens of the
coastal areas of the United States.
``(3) The management plans and programs required by this section
shall in every sense provide for at least the same degree and quality of
protection (such as early warning capability and accuracy of fixing a
storm's location) as currently exists with a combination of satellite
technology and manned reconnaissance flights. Additionally, such plans
and programs shall in no way allow any reduction in the level, quality,
timeliness, sustainability, or area served (including the State of
Hawaii) of both the existing principal and back-up tropical cyclone
reconnaissance and tracking systems.''
United States Weather Research Program
Pub. L. 102-567, title I, Sec. 108, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4276,
provided that:
``(a) Establishment.--The Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with
the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering, and
Technology through the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences,
shall establish a United States Weather Research Program to--
``(1) increase benefits to the Nation from the substantial
investment in modernizing the public weather warning and forecast
system in the United States;
``(2) improve local and regional weather forecasts and warnings;
``(3) address critical weather-related scientific issues; and
``(4) coordinate governmental, university, and private-sector
efforts.
``(b) Implementation Plan.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act [Oct. 29, 1992], the Secretary of Commerce, in
cooperation with the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences,
shall prepare and submit to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives a plan for implementation of
the United States Weather Research Program which shall--
``(1) establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year
the plan is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal weather
research which most effectively advance the scientific understanding
of weather processes and provide information to improve weather
warning and forecast systems in the United States;
``(2) describe specific activities, including research
activities, data collection and data analysis requirements,
predictive modeling, participation in international research
efforts, demonstration of potential operational forecast
applications, and education and training required to achieve such
goals and priorities; and
``(3) set forth the role of each Federal agency and department
to be involved in the United States Weather Research Program,
identifying and addressing, as appropriate, relevant programs and
activities of the Federal agencies and departments that would
contribute to such Program.''
Weather Service Modernization
Pub. L. 102-567, title VII, Oct. 29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4303, provided
that:
``SEC. 701. SHORT TITLE.
``This title may be cited as the `Weather Service Modernization
Act'.
``SEC. 702. DEFINITIONS.
``For the purposes of this title, the term--
``(1) `automate' means to replace employees with automated
weather service equipment;
``(2) `change operations at a field office' means transfer
service responsibility, commission weather observation systems,
decommission a National Weather Service radar, change staffing
levels significantly, or move a field office to a new location
inside the local commuting and service area;
``(3) `Committee' means the Modernization Transition Committee
established by section 707;
``(4) `degradation of service' means any decrease in or failure
to maintain the quality and type of weather services provided by the
National Weather Service to the public in a service area, including
but not limited to a reduction in existing weather radar coverage at
an elevation of 10,000 feet;
``(5) `field office' means any National Weather Service Office
or National Weather Service Forecast Office;
``(6) `Plan' means the National Implementation Plan required
under section 703;
``(7) `relocate' means to transfer from one location to another
location that is outside the local commuting or service area;
``(8) `Secretary' means the Secretary of Commerce;
``(9) `service area' means the geographical area for which a
field office provides services or conducts observations, including
but not limited to local forecasts, severe weather warnings,
aviation support, radar coverage, and ground weather observations;
and
``(10) `Strategic Plan' means the 10-year strategic plan for the
comprehensive modernization of the National Weather Service,
required under section 407 of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1989 (15 U.S.C. 313
note).
``SEC. 703. NATIONAL IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.
``(a) National Implementation Plan.--As part of the budget
justification documents submitted to Congress in support of the annual
budget request for the Department of Commerce, the Secretary shall
include a National Implementation Plan for modernization of the National
Weather Service for each fiscal year following fiscal year 1993 until
such modernization is complete. The Plan shall set forth the actions,
during the 2-year period beginning with the fiscal year for which the
budget request is made, that will be necessary to accomplish the
objectives described in the Strategic Plan, and shall include--
``(1) detailed requirements for new technologies, facilities,
staffing levels and positions, and funding, in accordance with the
overall schedule for modernization;
``(2) notification of any proposed action to change operations
at a field office and the intended date of such operational change;
``(3) identification of any field office that the Secretary
intends to certify under section 706, including the intended date of
such certification;
``(4) special measures to test, evaluate, and demonstrate key
elements of the modernized National Weather Service operations prior
to national implementation, including a multistation operational
demonstration which tests the performance of the modernization in an
integrated manner for a sustained period;
``(5) detailed plans and funding requirements for meteorological
research to be accomplishment [sic] under this title to assure that
new techniques in forecasting will be developed to utilize the new
technologies being implemented in the modernization; and
``(6) training and education programs to ensure that employees
gain the necessary expertise to utilize the new technologies and to
minimize employee displacement as a consequence of modernization.
``(b) Transmittal to Committee.--The Secretary shall transmit a copy
of each annual Plan to the Committee.
``(c) Consultation.--In developing the Plan, the Secretary shall
consult, as appropriate, with the Committee and public entities
responsible for providing or utilizing weather services.
``SEC. 704. MODERNIZATION CRITERIA.
``(a) National Research Council Review.--The Secretary shall
contract with the National Research Council for a review of the
scientific and technical modernization criteria by which the Secretary
proposes to certify action to close, consolidate, automate, or relocate
a field office under section 706. In conducting such review, the
National Research Council shall prepare and submit to the Secretary, no
later than 9 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 29,
1992], a report which--
``(1) assesses requirements and procedures for commissioning new
weather observation systems, decommissioning an outdated National
Weather Service radar, and evaluating staffing needs for field
offices in an affected service area;
``(2) assesses the statistical and analytical measures that
should be made for a service area to form an adequate basis for
determining that there will be no degradation of service; and
``(3) includes such other recommendations as the National
Research Council determines are appropriate to ensure public safety.
``(b) Criteria.--No later than 12 months after the date of enactment
of this Act [Oct. 29, 1992], the Secretary, in consultation with the
National Research Council and the Committee and after notice and
opportunity for public comment, shall publish in the Federal Register
modernization criteria (including all requirements and procedures),
based on the report required under this section, for--
``(1) commissioning new weather observation systems,
decommissioning an outdated National Weather Service radar, and
evaluating staffing needs for field offices in an affected service
area; and
``(2) certifying action to close, consolidate, automate, or
relocate a field office under section 706.
``SEC. 705. CHANGES IN FIELD OFFICE OPERATIONS.
``(a) Notification.--The Secretary shall not change operations at a
field office pursuant to implementation of the Strategic Plan unless the
Secretary has provided the notification required by section 703.
``(b) Weather Radar Decommissioning.--The Secretary shall not remove
or permanently decommission any National Weather Service radar until the
Secretary has prepared radar commissioning and decommissioning reports
documenting that such action would be consistent with the modernization
criteria established under section 704(b)(1). The commissioning report
shall document that the radar system performs reliably, satisfactory
maintenance support is in place, sufficient staff with adequate training
are present to operate the system, technical coordination with weather
service users has been completed, and the radar being commissioned
satisfactorily supports field office operations. The decommissioning
report shall document that the replacement radar has been commissioned,
technical coordination with service users has been completed, and the
radar being decommissioned is no longer needed to support field office
operations.
``(c) Surface Observing System Commissioning.--The Secretary may not
commission an automated surface observing system located at an airport
unless it is determined, in consultation with the Secretary of
Transportation, that the weather services provided after commissioning
will continue to be in full compliance with applicable flight aviation
rules promulgated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
``SEC. 706. RESTRUCTURING FIELD OFFICES.
``Sec. 706. (a) Prohibition.--The Secretary shall not close, before
January 1, 1996, any field office pursuant to implementation of the
Strategic Plan.
``(b) Certification.--The Secretary shall not close, consolidate,
automate, or relocate any field office, unless the Secretary has
certified that such action will not result in any degradation of
service. Such certification shall include--
``(1) a description of local weather characteristics and
weather-related concerns which affect the weather services provided
within the service area;
``(2) a detailed comparison of the services provided within the
service area and the services to be provided after such action;
``(3) a description of any recent or expected modernization of
National Weather Service operations which will enhance services in
the service area;
``(4) an identification of any area within any State which would
not receive coverage (at an elevation of 10,000 feet) by the next
generation weather radar network;
``(5) evidence, based upon operational demonstration of
modernized National Weather Service operations, which was considered
in reaching the conclusion that no degradation in service will
result from such action; and
``(6) any report of the Committee submitted under section 707(c)
that evaluates the proposed certification.
``(c) Public Review.--Each certification decision shall be preceded
by--
``(1) publication in the Federal Register of a proposed
certification; and
``(2) a 60-day period after such publication during which the
public may provide comments to the Secretary on the proposed
certification.
``(d) Final Decision.--If after consideration of the public comment
received under subsection (c) the Secretary, in consultation with the
Committee, decides to close, consolidate, automate, or relocate any such
field office, the Secretary shall publish a final certification in the
Federal Register and submit the certification to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives.
``(e) Special Circumstances.--The Secretary may not close or
relocate any field office--
``(1) which is located at an airport, unless the Secretary, in
consultation with the Secretary of Transportation and the Committee,
first conducts an air safety appraisal, determines that such action
will not result in degradation of service that affects aircraft
safety, and includes such determination in the certification
required under subsection (b); or
``(2) which is the only office in a State, unless the Secretary
first evaluates the effect on weather services provided to in-State
users, such as State agencies, civil defense officials, and local
public safety offices, and includes in the certification required
under subsection (b) the Secretary's determination that a comparable
level of weather services provided to such in-State users will
remain.
``(f) Liaison Officer.--The Secretary may not close, consolidate,
automate, or relocate a field office until arrangements have been made
to maintain for a period of at least 2 years at least one person in the
service area to act as a liaison officer who--
``(1) provides timely information regarding the activities of
the National Weather Service which may affect service to the
community, including modernization and restructuring; and
``(2) works with area weather service users, including persons
associated with general aviation, civil defense, emergency
preparedness, and the news media, with respect to the provision of
timely weather warnings and forecasts.
``SEC. 707. MODERNIZATION TRANSITION COMMITTEE.
``(a) Establishment.--There is established a committee of 12 members
to be known as the Modernization Transition Committee.
``(b) Membership and Terms.--(1) The Committee shall consist of--
``(A) five members representing agencies and departments of the
United States which are responsible for providing or using weather
services, including but not limited to the National Weather Service,
the Department of Defense, the Federal Aviation Administration, and
the Federal Emergency Management Agency; and
``(B) seven members to be appointed by the Secretary from civil
defense and public safety organizations, news media, any labor
organization certified by the Federal Labor Relations Authority as
an exclusive representative of weather service employees,
meteorological experts, and private sector users of weather
information such as pilots and farmers.
``(2) The terms of office of a member of the Committee shall be 3
years; except that, of the original membership, four shall serve a 5-
year term, four shall serve a 4-year term, and four shall serve a 3-year
term. No individual may serve for more than one additional 3-year term.
``(3) The Secretary shall designate a chairman of the Committee from
among its members.
``(c) Duties.--(1) The Committee may review any proposed
certification under section 706 for which the Secretary has provided a
notice of intent to certify in the Plan, and should review such a
proposed certification if there is a significant possibility of
degradation of service within the affected service area. Upon the
request of the Committee, the Secretary shall make available to the
Committee the supporting documents developed by the Secretary in
connection with the proposed certification. The Committee may prepare
and submit to the Secretary, prior to publication of the proposed
certification, a report which evaluates the proposed certification on
the basis of the modernization criteria and with respect to the
requirement that there be no degradation of service.
``(2) The Committee shall advise the Congress and the Secretary on--
``(A) the implementation of the Strategic Plan, annual
development of the Plan, and establishment and implementation of
modernization criteria; and
``(B) matters of public safety and the provision of weather
services which relate to the comprehensive modernization of the
National Weather Service.
``(d) Pay and Travel Expenses.--Members of the Committee who are not
employees of the United States shall each be paid at a rate equal to the
daily equivalent of the rate for GS-18 of the General Schedule under
section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including
travel time) during which the member is engaged in the actual
performance of duties vested in the Committee. Members shall receive
travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, as
authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code.
``(e) Staff.--The Secretary shall make available to the Committee
such staff, information, and assistance as it may reasonably require to
carry out its activities.
``(f) Termination.--The Committee shall terminate on December 31,
1999.
``SEC. 708. WEATHER SERVICE REPORT.
``(a) Report.--The Secretary shall prepare a report on the proposed
modernization of the National Weather Service and transmit the report,
not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct.
29, 1992], to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate and the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the
House of Representatives.
``(b) Contents.--(1) The report required by subsection (a) shall
identify the size of the geographic area of responsibility of each
proposed Weather Forecast Office and shall include an explanation of the
number and type of personnel required at each Weather Forecast Office.
For each proposed Weather Forecast Office covering a geographic area
greater than two times the average geographic area of responsibility of
Weather Forecast Offices nationwide, the report shall detail the reasons
for assigning those Weather Forecast Offices a geographic area which
differs significantly from the national average.
``(2) The report shall list the number of next generation weather
radars that will be associated with each Weather Forecast Office
nationwide under the proposed modernization plan. If some Weather
Forecast Offices will be associated with more than one such radar, the
report shall explain the deviation from the National Weather Service's
stated policy of associating one such radar with one Weather Forecast
Office, and shall analyze and compare any differences in the expected
efficiency of those Weather Forecast Offices with Weather Forecast
Offices that will be associated with only one such radar.
``(c) Consultation.--In preparing portions of the report that
address Weather Forecast Offices located in areas of the Nation that are
uniquely dependent on general aviation as a means of transportation, the
Secretary shall consult with local aviation groups. In the case of
Alaska, such local groups shall include the Alaska Aviation Safety
Foundation, the Alaska Airmen's Association, and the regional
representatives of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
``SEC. 709. REPEALS.
``[Amended section 407 of Pub. L. 100-685, set out below, and
repealed section 408 of Pub. L. 100-685, formerly set out below.]''
[References in laws to the rates of pay for GS-16, 17, or 18, or to
maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered
references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5,
Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I,
Sec. 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101-509, set out in a note under section 5376
of Title 5.]
Purchase of Atmospheric Wind Data
Pub. L. 101-595, title III, Sec. 320, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 2989,
provided that: ``The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is
authorized to enter into a contract for the future purchase of
atmospheric wind data. Any and all obligations of the Government under
such contract shall be contingent upon the following terms:
``(1) the data to be purchased must meet technical criteria
specified in the contract and must be satisfactory to the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
``(2) the availability of appropriated funds.''
National Weather Service 10-Year Strategic Plan
Pub. L. 100-685, title IV, Sec. 407, Nov. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 4098,
as amended by Pub. L. 102-567, title VII, Sec. 709(1), Oct. 29, 1992,
106 Stat. 4309, directed Secretary of Commerce to prepare and submit to
Congress, not later than 90 days after Nov. 17, 1988, a 10-year
strategic plan for comprehensive modernization of National Weather
Service, setting forth basic service improvement objectives of
modernization as well as critical new technological components and
associated operational changes necessary to fulfill objectives of
weather and flood warning service improvements.
Degradation-of-Weather-Services Standard for Providing Services
Pub. L. 100-685, title IV, Sec. 408, Nov. 17, 1988, 102 Stat. 4099,
prohibited Secretary of Commerce from closing, consolidating,
automating, or relocating, any Weather Service Office or Weather Service
Forecast Office pursuant to the implementation of the strategic plan
required by section 407 of Pub. L. 100-685 [formerly set out above]
unless the Secretary certified to Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate and Committee on Science, Space, and
Technology of the House of Representatives that such action would not
result in any degradation of weather services provided to the affected
area, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 102-567, title VII, Sec. 709(2), Oct.
29, 1992, 106 Stat. 4309.
Weather and Climate Information in Agriculture
Pub. L. 99-198, title XVII, Sec. 1762, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1651,
provided that:
``(a) Congress finds that--
``(1) agricultural and silvicultural operations are vulnerable
to damage from atmospheric conditions that accurate and timely
reporting of weather information can help prevent;
``(2) the maintenance of current weather and climate analysis
and information dissemination systems, and Federal, State, and
private efforts to improve these systems, is essential if
agriculture and silviculture are to mitigate damage from atmospheric
conditions;
``(3) agricultural and silvicultural weather services at the
Federal level should be maintained with joint planning between the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Department
of Agriculture; and
``(4) efforts should be made, involving user groups, weather and
climate information providers, and Federal and State governments, to
expand the use of weather and climate information in agriculture and
silviculture.
``(b) It, therefore, is declared to be the policy of Congress that
it is in the public interest to maintain an active Federal involvement
in providing agricultural and silvicultural weather and climate
information and that efforts should be made, among users of this
information and among private providers of this information, to improve
use of this information.''
National Weather Service; Congressional Approval Requisite To Sale,
Lease, Transfer, or Dismantling of Agency
Pub. L. 98-8, title I, Sec. 104, Mar. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 34,
provided that:
``Since the Administration has proposed to sell the weather (METSAT)
and land (LANDSAT) satellite systems;
``Since there are concerns about possible commercialization of the
National Weather Service;
``Since our country should provide weather service information for
the protection of life and property;
``Since our Nation's economy--its agriculture, aviation, ocean
shipping and construction--is heavily affected by weather and our
ability to forecast and disseminate vital information about its
behavior: Now, therefore,
``It is the sense of the Congress that a reliable and comprehensive
national weather information system responsive to the needs of national
security; agriculture, transportation and other affected sectors; and
individual citizens must be maintained through a strong central National
Weather Service that can work closely with the private sector, other
Federal and State government agencies, and the weather services of other
nations.
``Further, the Nation's civil operational remote sensing satellites
(METSAT and LANDSAT) shall remain under the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration. No effort shall be made to dismantle,
transfer, lease or sell any portion of these systems without prior
congressional approval.''
Study of Thunderstorms and Atmospheric Disturbances; Reports;
Expenditures; Cooperation of Other Departments
Act June 16, 1948, ch. 483, 62 Stat. 470, as amended Oct. 19, 1980,
Pub. L. 96-470, title I, Sec. 103(b), 94 Stat. 2237, provided: ``That
the Chief of the Weather Bureau is authorized and directed to study
fully and thoroughly the internal structure of thunderstorms,
hurricanes, cyclones, and other severe atmospheric disturbances,
particularly the degree of turbulence within such storms and the
development, maintenance, and magnitude of updrafts and downdrafts with
a view to establishing methods by which the characteristics of
particular thunderstorms may be forecast and methods by which the
characteristics of such storms may be determined on visual observation
from outside of the immediate thunderstorm area. Such study shall be
concluded at the earliest practicable date and a final report submitted
to Congress.
``Sec. 2. The Chief of the Weather Bureau is empowered to make such
expenditures at the seat of government and elsewhere as may be necessary
to carry out the purposes of this Act and as from time to time may be
appropriated for by Congress, including expenditures for the development
and purchase of special meteorological instruments and other equipment
(including motor vehicles and aircraft), without regard to the
provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes [section 5 of Title
41, Public Contracts]. There is hereby authorized to be appropriated
such sums as are necessary for the purpose of carrying out the
provisions of this Act.
``Sec. 3. Any executive department or independent establishment is
hereby authorized to cooperate with the Chief of the Weather Bureau in
carrying out the purposes of this Act, and for such purposes may lend or
transfer to the Chief of the Weather Bureau any officer or employee of
such department or establishment and any pr
