The 2004 re-authorization of
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) was established in 1977 by the United States Congress as part of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977. The original stated purpose for NEHRP was "to reduce the risks of life and p ...
(NEHRP) directed that the Director of the U.S.
National Institute of Standards and Technology
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is an agency of the United States Department of Commerce whose mission is to promote American innovation and industrial competitiveness. NIST's activities are organized into Outline of p ...
(NIST) establish the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction (ACEHR) to assess:
* trends and developments in the science and engineering of earthquake hazards reduction;
* the effectiveness of NEHRP in performing its statutory activities:
** improved design and
construction
Construction are processes involved in delivering buildings, infrastructure, industrial facilities, and associated activities through to the end of their life. It typically starts with planning, financing, and design that continues until the a ...
methods and practices;
**
land use
Land use is an umbrella term to describe what happens on a parcel of land. It concerns the benefits derived from using the land, and also the land management actions that humans carry out there. The following categories are used for land use: fo ...
controls and redevelopment;
**
prediction
A prediction (Latin ''præ-'', "before," and ''dictum'', "something said") or forecast is a statement about a future event or about future data. Predictions are often, but not always, based upon experience or knowledge of forecasters. There ...
techniques and
early-warning systems;
** coordinated
emergency preparedness
Emergency management (also Disaster management) is a science and a system charged with creating the framework within which communities reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management, despite its name, does not actua ...
plans; and
** public education and involvement programs;
* any need to revise NEHRP; and
* the management, coordination, implementation, and activities of the NEHRP.
On June 27, 2006, the official ''Charter of the Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction''
was established by the
U.S. Department of Commerce, parent agency for NIST. The committee is to be widely representative of the stakeholder community. Federal employees may not serve on the committee. As established by the charter, ACEHR will have 11–15 voting members, in addition to having the Chairperson of the
United States Geological Survey
The United States Geological Survey (USGS), founded as the Geological Survey, is an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior whose work spans the disciplines of biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The agency was founded on Mar ...
(USGS) Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee (SESAC) serve in an capacity.
References
External links
*{{official website, http://www.nehrp.gov/index.htm
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
United States Department of Commerce
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Disaster preparedness in the United States
Earthquake and seismic risk mitigation
Government agencies established in 2006
2006 establishments in the United States