Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)]

[Presidential Documents]

[Pages 71573-71577]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2016-25290]

Presidential Documents

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 /

Presidential Documents

[[Page 71573]]

Executive Order 13744 of October 13, 2016

Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for

Space Weather Events

By the authority vested in me as President by the

Constitution and the laws of the United States of

America, and to prepare the Nation for space weather

events, it is hereby ordered as follows:

Section 1. Policy. Space weather events, in the form of

solar flares, solar energetic particles, and

geomagnetic disturbances, occur regularly, some with

measurable effects on critical infrastructure systems

and technologies, such as the Global Positioning System

(GPS), satellite operations and communication,

aviation, and the electrical power grid. Extreme space

weather events--those that could significantly degrade

critical infrastructure--could disable large portions

of the electrical power grid, resulting in cascading

failures that would affect key services such as water

supply, healthcare, and transportation. Space weather

has the potential to simultaneously affect and disrupt

health and safety across entire continents

critical infrastructure--could disable large portions

of the electrical power grid, resulting in cascading

failures that would affect key services such as water

supply, healthcare, and transportation. Space weather

has the potential to simultaneously affect and disrupt

health and safety across entire continents.

Successfully preparing for space weather events is an

all-of-nation endeavor that requires partnerships

across governments, emergency managers, academia, the

media, the insurance industry, non-profits, and the

private sector.

It is the policy of the United States to prepare for

space weather events to minimize the extent of economic

loss and human hardship. The Federal Government must

have (1) the capability to predict and detect a space

weather event, (2) the plans and programs necessary to

alert the public and private sectors to enable

mitigating actions for an impending space weather

event, (3) the protection and mitigation plans,

protocols, and standards required to reduce risks to

critical infrastructure prior to and during a credible

threat, and (4) the ability to respond to and recover

from the effects of space weather. Executive

departments and agencies (agencies) must coordinate

their efforts to prepare for the effects of space

weather events.

equired to reduce risks to

critical infrastructure prior to and during a credible

threat, and (4) the ability to respond to and recover

from the effects of space weather. Executive

departments and agencies (agencies) must coordinate

their efforts to prepare for the effects of space

weather events.

Sec. 2. Objectives. This order defines agency roles and

responsibilities and directs agencies to take specific

actions to prepare the Nation for the hazardous effects

of space weather. These activities are to be

implemented in conjunction with those identified in the

2015 National Space Weather Action Plan (Action Plan)

and any subsequent updates. Implementing this order and

the Action Plan will require the Federal Government to

work across agencies and to develop, as appropriate,

enhanced and innovative partnerships with State,

tribal, and local governments; academia; non-profits;

the private sector; and international partners. These

efforts will enhance national preparedness and speed

the creation of a space-weather-ready Nation.

Sec. 3. Coordination. (a) The Director of the Office of

Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in consultation

with the Assistant to the President for Homeland

Security and Counterterrorism and the Director of the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB), shall coordinate

the development and implementation of Federal

Government activities to prepare the Nation for space

weather events, including the activities established in

section 5 of this order and the recommendations of the

National Science

rector of the

Office of Management and Budget (OMB), shall coordinate

the development and implementation of Federal

Government activities to prepare the Nation for space

weather events, including the activities established in

section 5 of this order and the recommendations of the

National Science and Technology Council (NSTC),

established by Executive Order 12881 of November 23,

1993 (Establishment of the National Science and

Technology Council).

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(b) To ensure accountability for and coordination

of research, development, and implementation of

activities identified in this order and in the Action

Plan, the NSTC shall establish a Space Weather

Operations, Research, and Mitigation Subcommittee

(Subcommittee). The Subcommittee member agencies shall

conduct activities to advance the implementation of

this order, to achieve the goals identified in the 2015

National Space Weather Strategy and any subsequent

updates, and to coordinate and monitor the

implementation of the activities specified in the

Action Plan and provide subsequent updates.

Sec. 4. Roles and Responsibilities. To the extent

permitted by law, the agencies below shall adopt the

following roles and responsibilities, which are key to

ensuring enhanced space weather forecasting,

situational awareness, space weather preparedness, and

continuous Federal Government operations during and

after space weather events.

the extent

permitted by law, the agencies below shall adopt the

following roles and responsibilities, which are key to

ensuring enhanced space weather forecasting,

situational awareness, space weather preparedness, and

continuous Federal Government operations during and

after space weather events.

(a) The Secretary of Defense shall ensure the

timely provision of operational space weather

observations, analyses, forecasts, and other products

to support the mission of the Department of Defense and

coalition partners, including the provision of alerts

and warnings for space weather phenomena that may

affect weapons systems, military operations, or the

defense of the United States.

(b) The Secretary of the Interior shall support the

research, development, deployment, and operation of

capabilities that enhance the understanding of

variations of the Earth's magnetic field associated

with solar-terrestrial interactions.

(c) The Secretary of Commerce shall:

(i) provide timely and accurate operational space weather forecasts,

watches, warnings, alerts, and real-time space weather monitoring for the

government, civilian, and commercial sectors, exclusive of the

responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense; and

(ii) ensure the continuous improvement of operational space weather

services, utilizing partnerships, as appropriate, with the research

community, including academia and the private sector, and relevant agencies

to develop, validate, test, and transition space weather observation

platforms and models from research to operations and from operations to

research.

f the Secretary of Defense; and

(ii) ensure the continuous improvement of operational space weather

services, utilizing partnerships, as appropriate, with the research

community, including academia and the private sector, and relevant agencies

to develop, validate, test, and transition space weather observation

platforms and models from research to operations and from operations to

research.

(d) The Secretary of Energy shall facilitate the

protection and restoration of the reliability of the

electrical power grid during a presidentially declared

grid security emergency associated with a geomagnetic

disturbance pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 824o-1.

(e) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall:

(i) ensure the timely redistribution of space weather alerts and warnings

that support national preparedness, continuity of government, and

continuity of operations; and

(ii) coordinate response and recovery from the effects of space weather

events on critical infrastructure and the broader community.

(f) The Administrator of the National Aeronautics

and Space Administration (NASA) shall:

(i) implement and support a national research program to understand the Sun

and its interactions with Earth and the solar system to advance space

weather modeling and prediction capabilities applicable to space weather

forecasting;

(ii) develop and operate space-weather-related research missions,

instrument capabilities, and models; and

(iii) support the transition of space weather models and technology from

research to operations and from operations to research.

(g) The Director of the National Science Foundation

(NSF) shall support fundamental research linked to

societal needs for space weather information through

investments and partnerships, as appropriate.

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ransition of space weather models and technology from

research to operations and from operations to research.

(g) The Director of the National Science Foundation

(NSF) shall support fundamental research linked to

societal needs for space weather information through

investments and partnerships, as appropriate.

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(h) The Secretary of State, in consultation with

the heads of relevant agencies, shall carry out

diplomatic and public diplomacy efforts to strengthen

global capacity to respond to space weather events.

(i) The Secretaries of Defense, the Interior,

Commerce, Transportation, Energy, and Homeland

Security, along with the Administrator of NASA and the

Director of NSF, shall work together, consistent with

their ongoing activities, to develop models,

observation systems, technologies, and approaches that

inform and enhance national preparedness for the

effects of space weather events, including how space

weather events may affect critical infrastructure and

change the threat landscape with respect to other

hazards.

(j) The heads of all agencies that support National

Essential Functions, defined by Presidential Policy

Directive 40 (PPD-40) of July 15, 2016 (National

Continuity Policy), shall ensure that space weather

events are adequately addressed in their all-hazards

preparedness planning, including mitigation, response,

and recovery, as directed by PPD-8 of March 30, 2011

(National Preparedness).

tial Policy

Directive 40 (PPD-40) of July 15, 2016 (National

Continuity Policy), shall ensure that space weather

events are adequately addressed in their all-hazards

preparedness planning, including mitigation, response,

and recovery, as directed by PPD-8 of March 30, 2011

(National Preparedness).

(k) NSTC member agencies shall coordinate through

the NSTC to establish roles and responsibilities beyond

those identified in section 4 of this order to enhance

space weather preparedness, consistent with each

agency's legal authority.

Sec. 5. Implementation. (a) Within 120 days of the date

of this order, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation

with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall develop

a plan to test and evaluate available devices that

mitigate the effects of geomagnetic disturbances on the

electrical power grid through the development of a

pilot program that deploys such devices, in situ, in

the electrical power grid. After the development of the

plan, the Secretary shall implement the plan in

collaboration with industry. In taking action pursuant

to this subsection, the Secretaries of Energy and

Homeland Security shall consult with the Chairman of

the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

the electrical power grid. After the development of the

plan, the Secretary shall implement the plan in

collaboration with industry. In taking action pursuant

to this subsection, the Secretaries of Energy and

Homeland Security shall consult with the Chairman of

the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

(b) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the

heads of the sector-specific agencies that oversee the

lifeline critical infrastructure functions as defined

by the National Infrastructure Protection Plan of

2013--including communications, energy, transportation,

and water and wastewater systems--as well as the

Nuclear Reactors, Materials, and Waste Sector, shall

assess their executive and statutory authority, and

limits of that authority, to direct, suspend, or

control critical infrastructure operations, functions,

and services before, during, and after a space weather

event. The heads of each sector-specific agency shall

provide a summary of these assessments to the

Subcommittee.

(c) Within 90 days of receipt of the assessments

ordered in section 5(b) of this order, the Subcommittee

shall provide a report on the findings of these

assessments with recommendations to the Director of

OSTP, the Assistant to the President for Homeland

Security and Counterterrorism, and the Director of OMB.

The assessments may be used to inform the development

and implementation of policy establishing authorities

and responsibilities for agencies in response to a

space weather event.

Director of

OSTP, the Assistant to the President for Homeland

Security and Counterterrorism, and the Director of OMB.

The assessments may be used to inform the development

and implementation of policy establishing authorities

and responsibilities for agencies in response to a

space weather event.

(d) Within 60 days of the date of this order, the

Secretaries of Defense and Commerce, the Administrator

of NASA, and the Director of NSF, in collaboration with

other agencies as appropriate, shall identify

mechanisms for advancing space weather observations,

models, and predictions, and for sustaining and

transitioning appropriate capabilities from research to

operations and operations to research, collaborating

with industry and academia to the extent possible.

(e) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the

Secretaries of Defense and Commerce shall make

historical data from the GPS constellation and other

U.S. Government satellites publicly available, in

accordance with Executive Order 13642 of May 9, 2013

(Making Open and Machine Readable

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the New Default for Government Information), to enhance

model validation and improvements in space weather

forecasting and situational awareness.

U.S. Government satellites publicly available, in

accordance with Executive Order 13642 of May 9, 2013

(Making Open and Machine Readable

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the New Default for Government Information), to enhance

model validation and improvements in space weather

forecasting and situational awareness.

(f) Within 120 days of the date of this order, the

Secretary of Homeland Security, through the

Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management

Agency and in coordination with relevant agencies,

shall lead the development of a coordinated Federal

operating concept and associated checklist to

coordinate Federal assets and activities to respond to

notification of, and protect against, impending space

weather events. Within 180 days of the publication of

the operating concept and checklist, agencies shall

develop operational plans documenting their procedures

and responsibilities to prepare for, protect against,

and mitigate the effects of impending space weather

events, in support of the Federal operating concept and

compatible with the National Preparedness System

described in PPD-8.

Sec. 6. Stakeholder Engagement. The agencies identified

in this order shall seek public-private and

international collaborations to enhance observation

networks, conduct research, develop prediction models

and mitigation approaches, enhance community resilience

and preparedness, and supply the services necessary to

protect life and property and promote economic

prosperity, as consistent with law.

international collaborations to enhance observation

networks, conduct research, develop prediction models

and mitigation approaches, enhance community resilience

and preparedness, and supply the services necessary to

protect life and property and promote economic

prosperity, as consistent with law.

Sec. 7. Definitions. As used in this order:

(a) ``Prepare'' and ``preparedness'' have the same

meaning they have in PPD-8. They refer to the actions

taken to plan, organize, equip, train, and exercise to

build and sustain the capabilities necessary to

prevent, protect against, mitigate the effects of,

respond to, and recover from those threats that pose

the greatest risk to the security of the Nation. This

includes the prediction and notification of space

weather events.

(b) ``Space weather'' means variations in the space

environment between the Sun and Earth (and throughout

the solar system) that can affect technologies in space

and on Earth. The primary types of space weather events

are solar flares, solar energetic particles, and

geomagnetic disturbances.

(c) ``Solar flare'' means a brief eruption of

intense energy on or near the Sun's surface that is

typically associated with sunspots.

(d) ``Solar energetic particles'' means ions and

electrons ejected from the Sun that are typically

associated with solar eruptions.

(e) ``Geomagnetic disturbance'' means a temporary

disturbance of Earth's magnetic field resulting from

solar activity.

typically associated with sunspots.

(d) ``Solar energetic particles'' means ions and

electrons ejected from the Sun that are typically

associated with solar eruptions.

(e) ``Geomagnetic disturbance'' means a temporary

disturbance of Earth's magnetic field resulting from

solar activity.

(f) ``Critical infrastructure'' has the meaning

provided in section 1016(e) of the USA Patriot Act of

2001 (42 U.S.C. 5195c(e)), namely systems and assets,

whether physical or virtual, so vital to the United

States that the incapacity or destruction of such

systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on

security, national economic security, national public

health or safety, or any combination of those matters.

(g) ``Sector-Specific Agency'' means the agencies

designated under PPD-21 of February 12, 2013 (Critical

Infrastructure Security and Resilience), or any

successor directive, to be responsible for providing

institutional knowledge and specialized expertise as

well as leading, facilitating, or supporting the

security and resilience programs and associated

activities of its designated critical infrastructure

sector in the all-hazards environment.

Sec. 8. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order

shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary,

administrative, or legislative proposals.

d critical infrastructure

sector in the all-hazards environment.

Sec. 8. General Provisions. (a) Nothing in this order

shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:

(i) the authority granted by law to an agency, or the head thereof; or

(ii) the functions of the Director of OMB relating to budgetary,

administrative, or legislative proposals.

(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with

applicable law and subject to the availability of

appropriations.

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(c) This order is not intended to, and does not,

create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural,

enforceable at law or in equity by any party against

the United States, its departments, agencies, or

entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any

other person.

(Presidential Sig.)

THE WHITE HOUSE,

October 13, 2016.

[FR Doc. 2016-25290

Filed 10-17-16; 8:45 am]

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