,,ii #aafth ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 #decj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,august #ac1 #bjbj,mrs4 ,feinstein 7for herself and ,ms4 ,harris7 introduced the following bill2 which was read twice and referred to the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources ,a ,,bill ,to establish a ,snow ,water ,supply ,forecasting ,program within the ,department of the ,interior1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,snow ,water ,supply ,forecasting ,program ,authorization ,act4 #b4 ,definitions ,in this ,act3 7#a7 ,program ,the term program means the ,snow ,water ,supply ,forecasting ,program established by section #c4 7#b7 ,reclamation ,state ,the term ,reclamation ,state means a ,state or territory described in the first section of the ,act of ,june #ag1 #aijb 7#cb ,stat4 #chh1 chapter #ajic2 #dc ,u4,s4,c4 #cia74 7#c7 ,secretary ,the term ,secretary means the ,secretary of the ,interior4 #c4 ,snow ,water ,supply ,forecasting ,program 7a7 ,program establishment ,the ,snow ,water ,supply ,forecasting ,program is hereby established within the ,department of the ,interior4 7b7 ,program implementation ,to implement the program1 the ,secretary shall-- 7#a7 develop the program framework in coordination with other ,federal agencies pursuant to section #d1 culminating in the report required under section #d7;c72 and 7#b7 after submitting the report required by section #d7;c71 implement activities to improve snowpack measurement in particular watersheds pursuant to section #e4 #d4 ,development of program framework in coordination with other ,federal agencies 7a7 ,snowpack measurement data ,when determining water supply forecasts or allocations to ,federal water contractors1 the ,secretary1 acting through the ,commissioner of the ,bureau of ,reclamation1 shall incorporate1 to the greatest extent practicable1 information from emerging technologies for snowpack measurement1 such as-- 7#a7 synthetic aperture radar2 7#b7 laser altimetry2 and 7#c7 other emerging technologies that the ,secretary determines are likely to provide more accurate or timely snowpack measurement data4 7b7 ,coordination ,in carrying out subsection 7a71 the ,secretary shall coordinate data use and collection efforts with other ,federal agencies that use or may benefit from the use of emerging technologies for snowpack measurement4 7c7 ,emerging ,technologies ,report ,not later than ,october #a1 #bjba1 the ,secretary shall submit to ,congress a report that-- 7#a7 summarizes the use of emerging technologies pursuant to this section2 7#b7 describes benefits derived from the use of technologies summarized under paragraph 7#a7 related to the environment and increased water supply reliability2 and 7#c7 describes how ,federal agencies will coordinate to implement emerging technologies4 #e4 ,program implementation 7a7 ,activities implementing framework ,after submitting the report required under section #d7;c71 the ,secretary shall participate with program partners in implementing activities to improve snowpack measurement in particular watersheds4 7b7 ,focus ,the program shall focus on activities that will maintain1 establish1 expand1 or advance snowpack measurement consistent with the report required by section #d7;c71 with an emphasis on-- 7#a7 enhancing activities in river basins to achieve improved snow and water supply forecasting results2 7#b7 activities in river basins where snow water supply forecasting related activities described in this section are not occurring on the date of the enactment of this ,act2 and 7#c7 demonstrating or testing new1 or improving existing1 snow and water supply forecasting technology4 7c7 ,information sharing ,the ,secretary may provide information collected and analyzed under this ,act to program partners through appropriate mechanisms1 including interagency agreements with ,federal agencies1 ,states1 ,state agencies1 or a combination thereof1 leases1 contracts1 cooperative agreements1 grants1 loans1 and memoranda of understanding4 7d7 ,program partners ,program partners with whom the ,secretary enters into cooperative agreements pursuant to subsection 7e7 may include water districts1 irrigation districts1 water associations1 universities1 ,state agencies1 other ,federal agencies1 private sector entities1 non-governmental organizations1 and other entities1 as determined by the ,secretary4 7e7 ,cooperative agreements ,the ,secretary may-- 7#a7 enter into cooperative agreements with program partners to allow the program to be administered efficiently and cost effectively through cost-sharing or by providing additional in-kind resources necessary for program implementation2 and 7#b7 provide nonreimbursable matching funding for programmatic and operational activities under this section in consultation with program partners4 7f7 ,environmental laws ,nothing in this ,act shall modify any obligation of the ,secretary to comply with applicable ,federal and ,state environmental laws in carrying out this ,act4 #f4 ,program implementation report ,not later than #d years after the date of the enactment of this ,act1 the ,secretary shall submit a report to the ,committee on ,natural ,resources and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,house of ,representatives and the ,committee on ,energy and ,natural ,resources and the ,committee on ,appropriations of the ,senate1 that includes-- 7#a7 a list of basins and sub-basins for which snowpack measurement technologies are being used under the program1 including a description of each technology used2 and 7#b7 a list of ,federal agencies and program partners participating in each basin or sub-basin listed in paragraph 7#a74 #g4 ,authorization of appropriations ,there is authorized to be appropriated to the ,secretary to carry out this ,act #ae1jjj1jjj1 in the aggregate1 for fiscal years #bjbb through #bjbf4