81 FR 71573 - Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events

Executive Office of the President

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 201 (October 18, 2016)

Page Range		71573-71577
FR Document		2016-25290

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)]
[Presidential Documents]
[Pages 71573-71577]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[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. 
                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.

                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 and Technology Council (NSTC), 
                established by Executive Order 12881 of November 23, 
                1993 (Establishment of the National Science and 
                Technology Council).

[[Page 71574]]

                    (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.

                    (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.

                    (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.

[[Page 71575]]

                    (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).
                    (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.

                    (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.
                    (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

[[Page 71576]]

                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.

                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.
                    (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.

                    (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with 
                applicable law and subject to the availability of 
                appropriations.

[[Page 71577]]

                    (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]
Billing code 3295-F7-P

$Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents 71573 Presidential Documents Executive Order 13744 of October 13, 2016 Coordinating Efforts To Prepare the Nation for Space Weath- er 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 communica- tion, 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 transpor- tation. 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 indus- try, 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 stand- ards 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. Sec. 2. Objectives. This order defines agency roles and responsibilities and directs agencies to take specific actions to prepare the Nation for the haz- ardous 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 Na- tion. Sec. 3. Coordination. (a) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), in consultation with the Assistant to the President for Home- sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PRES DOCS land Security and Counterterrorism and the Director of the Office of Manage- ment and Budget (OMB), shall coordinate the development and implementa- tion 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 (Estab- lishment of the National Science and Technology Council). VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:01 Oct 17, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4790 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\18OCE1.SGM 18OCE1$

$71574 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents (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 agen- cies 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 implementa- tion 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 aware- ness, space weather preparedness, and continuous Federal Government oper- ations 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, watch- es, warnings, alerts, and real-time space weather monitoring for the govern- ment, civilian, and commercial sectors, exclusive of the responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense; and (ii) ensure the continuous improvement of operational space weather serv- ices, utilizing partnerships, as appropriate, with the research community, including academia and the private sector, and relevant agencies to de- velop, 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 con- tinuity 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 Administra- tion (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; sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PRES DOCS (ii) develop and operate space-weather-related research missions, instru- ment 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. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:01 Oct 17, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 4790 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\18OCE1.SGM 18OCE1$

Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents 71575

(h) The Secretary of State, in consultation with the heads of relevant
agencies, shall carry out diplomatic and public diplomacy efforts to strength-
en 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 ap-
proaches 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 (Na-
tional Continuity Policy), shall ensure that space weather events are ade-
quately addressed in their all-hazards preparedness planning, including miti-
gation, 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.
(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 Sub-
committee.
(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.
(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
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PRES DOCS

for sustaining and transitioning appropriate capabilities from research to
operations and operations to research, collaborating with industry and aca-
demia 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 Exec-
utive Order 13642 of May 9, 2013 (Making Open and Machine Readable

VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:01 Oct 17, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4790 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\18OCE1.SGM 18OCE1

$71576 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 201 / Tuesday, October 18, 2016 / Presidential Documents 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 develop- ment 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 pre- pare 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 ap- proaches, enhance community resilience and preparedness, and supply the services necessary to protect life and property and promote economic pros- perity, 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 tech- nologies 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. (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 knowl- edge 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 sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PRES DOCS 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, administra- tive, or legislative proposals. (b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations. VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:01 Oct 17, 2016 Jkt 241001 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4790 Sfmt 4790 E:\FR\FM\18OCE1.SGM 18OCE1$

Document Created: 2016-10-17 23:52:44
Document Modified: 2016-10-17 23:52:44

Category		Regulatory Information
Collection		Federal Register
sudoc Class		AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106:
Publisher		Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
Section		Presidential Documents
FR Citation		81 FR 71573