§ 8548. Weather enterprise outreach

• (a) The Under Secretary may establish mechanisms for outreach to the weather enterprise—
  • (1) to assess the weather forecasts and forecast products provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; and
  • (2) to determine the highest priority weather forecast needs of the community described in subsection (b).
• (b) In conducting outreach under subsection (a), the Under Secretary shall contact leading experts and innovators from relevant stakeholders, including the representatives from the following:
  • (1) State or local emergency management agencies.
  • (2) State agriculture agencies.
  • (3) Indian tribes (as defined in section 5304 of title 25 ) and Native Hawaiians (as defined in section 7517 of title 20 ).
  • (4) The private aerospace industry.
  • (5) The private earth observing industry.
  • (6) The operational forecasting community.
  • (7) The academic community.
  • (8) Professional societies that focus on meteorology.
  • (9) Such other stakeholder groups as the Under Secretary considers appropriate.