[106th Congress Public Law 503]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]
<DOC>
[DOCID: f:publ503.106]
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FIRE ADMINISTRATION AND EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION AUTHORIZATIONS
[[Page 114 STAT. 2298]]
Public Law 106-503
106th Congress
An Act
To authorize appropriations for the United States Fire Administration,
and for carrying out the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, for
fiscal years 2001, 2002, and 2003, and for other purposes. <<NOTE: Nov.
13, 2000 - [H.R. 1550]>>
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
TITLE <<NOTE: Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2000.>> I--UNITED
STATES FIRE ADMINISTRATION
SEC. 101. <<NOTE: 15 USC 2201 note.>> SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Fire Administration Authorization
Act of 2000''.
SEC. 102. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
Section 17(g)(1) of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of
1974 (15 U.S.C. 2216(g)(1)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' at the end of subparagraph (G);
(2) by striking the period at the end of subparagraph (H)
and inserting a semicolon; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(I) $44,753,000 for fiscal year 2001, of which $3,000,000
is for research activities, and $250,000 may be used for
contracts or grants to non-Federal entities for data analysis,
including general fire profiles and special fire analyses and
report projects, and of which $6,000,000 is for anti-terrorism
training, including associated curriculum development, for fire
and emergency services personnel;
``(J) $47,800,000 for fiscal year 2002, of which $3,250,000
is for research activities, and $250,000 may be used for
contracts or grants to non-Federal entities for data analysis,
including general fire profiles and special fire analyses and
report projects, and of which $7,000,000 is for anti-terrorism
training, including associated curriculum development, for fire
and emergency services personnel; and
``(K) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003, of which $3,500,000
is for research activities, and $250,000 may be used for
contracts or grants to non-Federal entities for data analysis,
including general fire profiles and special fire analyses and
report projects, and of which $8,000,000 is for anti-terrorism
training, including associated curriculum development, for fire
and emergency services personnel.''.
[[Page 114 STAT. 2299]]
None of the funds authorized for the United States Fire Administration
for fiscal year 2002 may be obligated unless the Administrator has
verified to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and
the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
that the obligation of funds is consistent with the strategic plan
transmitted under section 103 of this Act.
SEC. 103. STRATEGIC PLAN.
(a) Requirement.--Not <<NOTE: Deadline.>> later than April 30, 2001,
the Administrator of the United States Fire Administration shall prepare
and transmit to the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives
and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate
a 5-year strategic plan of program activities for the United States Fire
Administration.
(b) Contents of Plan.--The plan required by subsection (a) shall
include--
(1) a comprehensive mission statement covering the major
functions and operations of the United States Fire
Administration in the areas of training; research, development,
test and evaluation; new technology and non-developmental item
implementation; safety; counterterrorism; data collection and
analysis; and public education;
(2) general goals and objectives, including those related to
outcomes, for the major functions and operations of the United
States Fire Administration;
(3) a description of how the goals and objectives identified
under paragraph (2) are to be achieved, including operational
processes, skills and technology, and the human, capital,
information, and other resources required to meet those goals
and objectives;
(4) an analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of,
opportunities for, and threats to the United States Fire
Administration;
(5) an identification of the fire-related activities of the
National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department
of Defense, and other Federal agencies, and a discussion of how
those activities can be coordinated with and contribute to the
achievement of the goals and objectives identified under
paragraph (2);
(6) a description of objective, quantifiable performance
goals needed to define the level of performance achieved by
program activities in training, research, data collection and
analysis, and public education, and how these performance goals
relate to the general goals and objectives in the strategic
plan;
(7) an identification of key factors external to the United
States Fire Administration and beyond its control that could
affect significantly the achievement of the general goals and
objectives;
(8) a description of program evaluations used in
establishing or revising general goals and objectives, with a
schedule for future program evaluations;
(9) a plan for the timely distribution of information and
educational materials to State and local firefighting services,
including volunteer, career, and combination services throughout
the United States;
(10) a description of how the strategic plan prepared under
this section will be incorporated into the strategic plan and
[[Page 114 STAT. 2300]]
the performance plans and reports of the Federal Emergency
Management Agency;
(11)(A) a description of the current and planned use of the
Internet for the delivery of training courses by the National
Fire Academy, including a listing of the types of courses and a
description of each course's provisions for real time
interaction between instructor and students, the number of
students enrolled, and the geographic distribution of students,
for the most recent fiscal year;
(B) an assessment of the availability and actual use by the
National Fire Academy of Federal facilities suitable for
distance education applications, including facilities with
teleconferencing capabilities; and
(C) an assessment of the benefits and problems associated
with delivery of instructional courses using the Internet,
including limitations due to network bandwidth at training
sites, the availability of suitable course materials, and the
effectiveness of such courses in terms of student performance;
(12) timeline for implementing the plan; and
(13) the expected costs for implementing the plan.
SEC. 104. RESEARCH AGENDA.
(a) Requirement.--Not <<NOTE: Deadline.>> later than 120 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the United
States Fire Administration, in consultation with the Director of the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Director of the National
Institute of Standards and Technology, representatives of trade,
professional, and non-profit associations, State and local firefighting
services, and other appropriate entities, shall prepare and transmit to
the Committee on Science of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate a
report describing the United States Fire Administration's research
agenda and including a plan for implementing that agenda.
(b) Contents of Report.--The report required by subsection (a)
shall--
(1) identify research priorities;
(2) describe how the proposed research agenda will be
coordinated and integrated with the programs and capabilities of
the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the
Department of Defense, and other Federal agencies;
(3) identify potential roles of academic, trade,
professional, and non-profit associations, and other research
institutions in achieving the research agenda;
(4) provide cost estimates, anticipated personnel needs, and
a schedule for completing the various elements of the research
agenda;
(5) describe ways to leverage resources through
partnerships, cooperative agreements, and other means; and
(6) discuss how the proposed research agenda will enhance
training, improve State and local firefighting services, impact
standards and codes, increase firefighter and public safety, and
advance firefighting techniques.
(c) Use in Preparing Strategic Plan.--The research agenda prepared
under this section shall be used in the preparation of the strategic
plan required by section 103.
[[Page 114 STAT. 2301]]
SEC. 105. SURPLUS AND EXCESS FEDERAL EQUIPMENT.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 is amended by
adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 33. <<NOTE: 15 USC 2229.>> SURPLUS AND EXCESS FEDERAL EQUIPMENT.
``The Administrator shall make publicly available, including through
the Internet, information on procedures for acquiring surplus and excess
equipment or property that may be useful to State and local fire,
emergency, and hazardous material handling service providers.''.
SEC. 106. COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL FACILITIES.
The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974, as amended by
section 105, is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. 34. <<NOTE: 15 USC 2230.>> COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH FEDERAL
FACILITIES.
``The <<NOTE: Public information. Internet.>> Administrator shall
make publicly available, including through the Internet, information on
procedures for establishing cooperative agreements between State and
local fire and emergency services and Federal facilities in their region
relating to the provision of fire and emergency services.''.
SEC. 107. NEED FOR ADDITIONAL TRAINING IN COUNTERTERRORISM.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Fire
Administration shall conduct an assessment of the need for additional
capabilities for Federal counterterrorism training of emergency response
personnel.
(b) Contents of Assessment.--The assessment conducted under this
section shall include--
(1) a review of the counterterrorism training programs
offered by the United States Fire Administration and other
Federal agencies;
(2) an estimate of the number and types of emergency
response personnel that have, during the period between January
1, 1994, and October 1, 1999, sought training described in
paragraph (1), but have been unable to receive that training as
a result of the oversubscription of the training capabilities;
and
(3) a recommendation on the need to provide additional
Federal counterterrorism training centers, including--
(A) an analysis of existing Federal facilities that
could be used as counterterrorism training facilities;
and
(B) a cost-benefit analysis of the establishment of
such counterterrorism training facilities.
(c) Report.--Not <<NOTE: Deadline.>> later than 180 days after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare and
submit to the Congress a report on the results of the assessment
conducted under this section.
SEC. 108. WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE FIRE SAFETY RESEARCH PROGRAM.
From the funds authorized to be appropriated by the amendments made
by section 102, $1,000,000 may be expended for the Worcester Polytechnic
Institute fire safety research program.
[[Page 114 STAT. 2302]]
SEC. 109. INTERNET AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION.
Upon the conclusion of the research under a research grant or award
of $50,000 made with funds authorized by this title (or any amendments
made by this title), the Administrator of the United States Fire
Administration shall make available through the Internet home page of
the Administration a brief summary of the results and importance of such
research grant or award. Nothing in this section shall be construed to
require or permit the release of any information prohibited by law or
regulation from being released to the public.
SEC. 110. CONFORMING AMENDMENTS AND REPEALS.
(a) 1974 Act.--
(1) In general.--The Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act
of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended--
(A) by striking subsection (b) of section 10 (15
U.S.C. 2209) and redesignating subsection (c) of that
section as subsection (b);
(B) by striking sections 26 and 27 (15 U.S.C. 2222;
2223);
(C) by striking ``(a) The'' in section 24 (15 U.S.C.
2220) and inserting ``The''; and
(D) by striking subsection (b) of section 24.
(2) References to secretary.--The Federal Fire Prevention
and Control Act of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2201 et seq.) is amended--
(A) in section 4 (15 U.S.C. 2203)--
(i) by inserting ``and'' after the semicolon
in paragraph (7);
(ii) by striking paragraph (8); and
(iii) by redesignating paragraph (9) as
paragraph (8);
(B) by striking ``Secretary'' and inserting
``Director''--
(i) in section 5(b) (15 U.S.C. 2204(b));
(ii) each place it appears in section 7 (15
U.S.C. 2206);
(iii) the first place it appears in section
11(c) (15 U.S.C. 2210(c));
(iv) in section 15(b)(2), (c), and (f ) (15
U.S.C. 2214(b)(2), (c), and (f ));
(v) the second place it appears in section
15(e)(1)(A) (15 U.S.C. 2214(e)(1)(A));
(vi) in section 16 (15 U.S.C. 2215);
(vii) the second place it appears in section
19(a) (42 U.S.C. 290a(a));
(viii) both places it appears in section 20
(15 U.S.C. 2217); and
(ix) in section 21(c) (15 U.S.C. 2218(c)); and
(C) in section 15, by striking ``Secretary's'' each
place it appears and inserting ``Director's''.
(b) Department of Commerce.--Section 12 of the Act of February 14,
1903 (15 U.S.C. 1511) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``and'' after ``Census;'' in paragraph (5);
(2) by striking paragraph (6); and
(3) by redesignating paragraph (7) as paragraph (6).
[[Page 114 STAT. 2303]]
SEC. 111. NATIONAL FIRE ACADEMY CURRICULUM REVIEW.
(a) In General.--The Administrator of the United States Fire
Administration, in consultation with the Board of Visitors and
representatives of trade and professional associations, State and local
firefighting services, and other appropriate entities, shall conduct a
review of the courses of instruction available at the National Fire
Academy to ensure that they are up-to-date and complement, not
duplicate, courses of instruction offered
elsewhere. <<NOTE: Deadline. Report.>> Not later than 180 days after
the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall prepare
and submit a report to the Committee on Science of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation of the Senate.
(b) Contents of Report.--The report required by subsection (a)
shall--
(1) examine and assess the courses of instruction offered by
the National Fire Academy;
(2) identify redundant and out-of-date courses of
instruction;
(3) examine the current and future impact of information
technology on National Fire Academy curricula, methods of
instruction, and delivery of services; and
(4) make recommendations for updating the curriculum,
methods of instruction, and delivery of services by the National
Fire Academy considering current and future needs, State-based
curricula, advances in information technologies, and other
relevant factors.
SEC. 112. REPEAL OF EXCEPTION TO FIRE SAFETY REQUIREMENT.
(a) Repeal.--Section 4 of Public Law 103-195 (107 Stat. 2298) is
hereby repealed.
(b) Effective Date.--Subsection (a) shall take effect 1 year after
the date of the enactment of this Act.
SEC. 113. NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS FOUNDATION TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS.
(a) Purposes.--Section 151302 of title 36, United States Code, is
amended--
(1) by striking paragraph (1) and inserting the following:
``(1) primarily--
``(A) to encourage, accept, and administer private
gifts of property for the benefit of the National Fallen
Firefighters' Memorial and the annual memorial service
associated with the memorial; and
``(B) to, in coordination with the Federal
Government and fire services (as that term is defined in
section 4 of the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act
of 1974 (15 U.S.C. 2203)), plan, direct, and manage the
memorial service referred to in subparagraph (A);'';
(2) by inserting ``and Federal'' in paragraph (2) after
``non-Federal'';
(3) in paragraph (3)--
(A) by striking ``State and local'' and inserting
``Federal, State, and local''; and
(B) by striking ``and'' after the semicolon;
(4) by striking ``firefighters.'' in paragraph (4) and
inserting ``firefighters;''; and
(5) by adding at the end the following:
[[Page 114 STAT. 2304]]
``(5) to provide for a national program to assist families
of fallen firefighters and fire departments in dealing with
line-of-duty deaths of those firefighters; and
``(6) to promote national, State, and local initiatives to
increase public awareness of fire and life safety.''.
(b) Board of Directors.--Section 151303 of title 36, United States
Code, is amended--
(1) by striking subsections (f ) and (g) and inserting the
following:
``(f ) Status and Compensation.--
``(1) Appointment to the board shall not constitute
employment by or the holding of an office of the United States.
``(2) Members of the board shall serve without
compensation.''; and
(2) by redesignating subsection (h) as subsection (g).
(c) Officers and Employees.--Section 151304 of title 36, United
States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``not more than 2'' in subsection (a); and
(2) by striking ``are not'' in subsection (b)(1) and
inserting ``shall not be considered''.
(d) Support by the Administrator.--Section 151307(a)(1) of title 36,
United States Code, is amended--
(1) by striking ``The Administrator'' and inserting ``During
the 10-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of the
Fire Administration Authorization Act of 2000, the
Administrator''; and
(2) by striking ``shall'' in subparagraph (B) and inserting
``may''.
TITLE <<NOTE: Earthquake Hazards Reduction Authorization Act of
2000.>> II--EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION
SEC. <<NOTE: 42 USC 7701 note.>> 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the ``Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Authorization Act of 2000''.
SEC. 202. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
(a) Federal Emergency Management Agency.--Section 12(a)(7) of the
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(a)(7)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``and'' after ``1998,''; and
(2) by striking ``1999.'' and inserting ``1999; $19,861,000
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, of which $450,000
is for National Earthquake Hazard Reduction Program-eligible
efforts of an established multi-state consortium to reduce the
unacceptable threat of earthquake damages in the New Madrid
seismic region through efforts to enhance preparedness,
response, recovery, and mitigation; $20,705,000 for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2002; and $21,585,000 for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2003.''.
(b) United States Geological Survey.--Section 12(b) of the
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(b)) is
amended--
(1) by inserting after ``operated by the Agency.'' the
following: ``There are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of the Interior for purposes of carrying out, through
[[Page 114 STAT. 2305]]
the Director of the United States Geological Survey, the
responsibilities that may be assigned to the Director under this
Act $48,360,000 for fiscal year 2001, of which $3,500,000 is for
the Global Seismic Network and $100,000 is for the Scientific
Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee established under section
210 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Authorization Act of
2000; $50,415,000 for fiscal year 2002, of which $3,600,000 is
for the Global Seismic Network and $100,000 is for the
Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee; and
$52,558,000 for fiscal year 2003, of which $3,700,000 is for the
Global Seismic Network and $100,000 is for the Scientific
Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee.'';
(2) by striking ``and'' at the end of paragraph (1);
(3) by striking ``1999,'' at the end of paragraph (2) and
inserting ``1999;''; and
(4) by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
``(3) $9,000,000 of the amount authorized to be appropriated
for fiscal year 2001;
``(4) $9,250,000 of the amount authorized to be appropriated
for fiscal year 2002; and
``(5) $9,500,000 of the amount authorized to be appropriated
for fiscal year 2003,''.
(c) Real-time Seismic Hazard Warning System.--Section 2(a)(7) of the
Act entitled ``An Act To authorize appropriations for carrying out the
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 for fiscal years 1998 and 1999,
and for other purposes'' (111 Stat. 1159; 42 U.S.C. 7704 note) is
amended by striking ``1999.'' and inserting ``1999; $2,600,000 for
fiscal year 2001; $2,710,000 for fiscal year 2002; and $2,825,000 for
fiscal year 2003.''.
(d) National Science Foundation.--Section 12(c) of the Earthquake
Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(c)) is amended--
(1) by striking ``1998, and'' and inserting ``1998,''; and
(2) by inserting after ``1999.'' the following: ``There are
authorized to be appropriated to the National Science Foundation
$19,000,000 for engineering research and $11,900,000 for
geosciences research for fiscal year 2001; $19,808,000 for
engineering research and $12,406,000 for geosciences research
for fiscal year 2002; and $20,650,000 for engineering research
and $12,933,000 for geosciences research for fiscal year
2003.''.
(e) National Institute of Standards and Technology.--Section 12(d)
of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7706(d)) is
amended--
(1) by striking ``1998, and'' and inserting ``1998,''; and
(2) by striking ``1999.'' and inserting ``1999, $2,332,000
for fiscal year 2001, $2,431,000 for fiscal year 2002, and
$2,534,300 for fiscal year 2003.''.
SEC. 203. REPEALS.
Section 10 and subsections (e) and (f ) of section 12 of the
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7705d and 7706(e)
and (f )) are repealed.
SEC. 204. ADVANCED NATIONAL SEISMIC RESEARCH AND MONITORING SYSTEM.
The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701 et
seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
[[Page 114 STAT. 2306]]
``SEC. 13. <<NOTE: 42 USC 7707.>> ADVANCED NATIONAL SEISMIC RESEARCH AND
MONITORING SYSTEM.
``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the United States Geological
Survey shall establish and operate an Advanced National Seismic Research
and Monitoring System. The purpose of such system shall be to organize,
modernize, standardize, and stabilize the national, regional, and urban
seismic monitoring systems in the United States, including sensors,
recorders, and data analysis centers, into a coordinated system that
will measure and record the full range of frequencies and amplitudes
exhibited by seismic waves, in order to enhance earthquake research and
warning capabilities.
``(b) Management <<NOTE: Deadline.>> Plan.--Not later than 90 days
after the date of the enactment of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction
Authorization Act of 2000, the Director of the United States Geological
Survey shall transmit to the Congress a 5-year management plan for
establishing and operating the Advanced National Seismic Research and
Monitoring System. The plan shall include annual cost estimates for both
modernization and operation, milestones, standards, and performance
goals, as well as plans for securing the participation of all existing
networks in the Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System
and for establishing new, or enhancing existing, partnerships to
leverage resources.
``(c) Authorization of Appropriations.--
``(1) Expansion and modernization.--In addition to amounts
appropriated under section 12(b), there are authorized to be
appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior, to be used by the
Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish the
Advanced National Seismic Research and Monitoring System--
``(A) $33,500,000 for fiscal year 2002;
``(B) $33,700,000 for fiscal year 2003;
``(C) $35,100,000 for fiscal year 2004;
``(D) $35,000,000 for fiscal year 2005; and
``(E) $33,500,000 for fiscal year 2006.
``(2) Operation.--In addition to amounts appropriated under
section 12(b), there are authorized to be appropriated to the
Secretary of the Interior, to be used by the Director of the
United States Geological Survey to operate the Advanced National
Seismic Research and Monitoring System--
``(A) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2002; and
``(B) $10,300,000 for fiscal year 2003.''.
SEC. 205. NETWORK FOR EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING SIMULATION.
The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C. 7701 et
seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following new section:
``SEC. <<NOTE: 42 USC 7708.>> 14. NETWORK FOR EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING
SIMULATION.
``(a) Establishment.--The Director of the National Science
Foundation shall establish the George E. Brown, Jr. Network for
Earthquake Engineering Simulation that will upgrade, link, and integrate
a system of geographically distributed experimental facilities for
earthquake engineering testing of full-sized structures and their
components and partial-scale physical models. The system shall be
integrated through networking software so that integrated
[[Page 114 STAT. 2307]]
models and databases can be used to create model-based simulation, and
the components of the system shall be interconnected with a computer
network and allow for remote access, information sharing, and
collaborative research.
``(b) Authorization of Appropriations.--In addition to amounts
appropriated under section 12(c), there are authorized to be
appropriated to the National Science Foundation for the George E. Brown,
Jr. Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation--
``(1) $28,200,000 for fiscal year 2001;
``(2) $24,400,000 for fiscal year 2002;
``(3) $4,500,000 for fiscal year 2003; and
``(4) $17,000,000 for fiscal year 2004.''.
SEC. 206. BUDGET COORDINATION.
Section 5 of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42 U.S.C.
7704) is amended--
(1) by striking subparagraph (A) of subsection (b)(1) and
redesignating subparagraphs (B) through (F) of subsection (b)(1)
as subparagraphs (A) through (E), respectively; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
``(c) Budget Coordination.--
``(1) Guidance.--The Agency shall each year provide guidance
to the other Program agencies concerning the preparation of
requests for appropriations for activities related to the
Program, and shall prepare, in conjunction with the other
Program agencies, an annual Program budget to be submitted to
the Office of Management and Budget.
``(2) Reports.--Each Program agency shall include with its
annual request for appropriations submitted to the Office of
Management and Budget a report that--
``(A) identifies each element of the proposed
Program activities of the agency;
``(B) specifies how each of these activities
contributes to the Program; and
``(C) states the portion of its request for
appropriations allocated to each element of the
Program.''.
SEC. 207. <<NOTE: 42 USC 7701 note.>> REPORT ON AT-RISK POPULATIONS.
Not <<NOTE: Deadline.>> later than 1 year after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and after a period for public comment, the
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall transmit to
the Congress a report describing the elements of the Program that
specifically address the needs of at-risk populations, including the
elderly, persons with disabilities, non-English-speaking families,
single-parent households, and the poor. Such report shall also identify
additional actions that could be taken to address those needs and make
recommendations for any additional legislative authority required to
take such actions.
SEC. 208. PUBLIC ACCESS TO EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION.
Section 5(b)(2)(A)(ii) of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of
1977 (42 U.S.C. 7704(b)(2)(A)(ii)) is amended by inserting ``, and
development of means of increasing public access to available locality-
specific information that may assist the public in preparing for or
responding to earthquakes'' after ``and the general public''.
[[Page 114 STAT. 2308]]
SEC. 209. LIFELINES.
Section 4(6) of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 (42
U.S.C. 7703(6)) is amended by inserting ``and infrastructure'' after
``communication facilities''.
SEC. 210. <<NOTE: 42 USC 7709.>> SCIENTIFIC EARTHQUAKE STUDIES ADVISORY
COMMITTEE.
(a) Establishment.--The Director of the United States Geological
Survey shall establish a Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory
Committee.
(b) Organization.--The Director shall establish procedures for
selection of individuals not employed by the Federal Government who are
qualified in the seismic sciences and other appropriate fields and may,
pursuant to such procedures, select up to 10 individuals, one of whom
shall be designated Chairman, to serve on the Advisory Committee.
Selection of individuals for the Advisory Committee shall be based
solely on established records of distinguished service, and the Director
shall ensure that a reasonable cross-section of views and expertise is
represented. In selecting individuals to serve on the Advisory
Committee, the Director shall seek and give due consideration to
recommendations from the National Academy of Sciences, professional
societies, and other appropriate organizations.
(c) Meetings.--The Advisory Committee shall meet at such times and
places as may be designated by the Chairman in consultation with the
Director.
(d) Duties.--The <<NOTE: Deadline. Reports.>> Advisory Committee
shall advise the Director on matters relating to the United States
Geological Survey's participation in the National Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Program, including the United States Geological Survey's
roles, goals, and objectives within that Program, its capabilities and
research needs, guidance on achieving major objectives, and establishing
and measuring performance goals. The Advisory Committee shall issue an
annual report to the Director for submission to Congress on or before
September 30 of each year. The report shall describe the Advisory
Committee's activities and address policy issues or matters that affect
the United States Geological Survey's participation in the National
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program.
Approved November 13, 2000.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 1550 (S. 1639):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-133 (Comm. on Science).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106-384 accompanying S. 1639 (Comm. on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD:
Vol. 145 (1999):
May 11, considered and passed House.
Vol. 146 (2000):
Oct. 18, considered and passed
Senate, amended.
Oct. 27, House concurred in Senate
amendment with amendments.
Oct. 31, Senate concurred in House
amendments.
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