United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Amends title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act to increase from $255 to $750 the amount of the lump-sum death payment allowed thereunder, in the case of an individual whose estate is valued at $5,000 or less.
United States · United States Congress · 2 August 1979
Sales Representatives Protection Act - Title I: Contracts Between Sales Representatives and Principals - Requires a principal to furnish specified information to a sales representative concerning orders placed through the representative's account and a monthly accounting of commissions due such representative. Enumerates items which must be set forth in any contract between a sales representative and a principal. Title II: Indemnification - Exempts principals conforming with such information requirements from the indemnification provisions set forth in this Act. Requires a principal who, without good cause, terminates a contract between such principal and a sales representative, or reduces the rate of commission for orders solicited on behalf of such principal, to indemnify the representative according to this Act. Requires a principal who reduces the size of the geographic territory assigned to a representative for a specified account, which results in a specified reduction in commissions, to indemnify such representative. Sets forth formulae for the indemnification of such representatives. Title III: Miscellaneous - Allows a plaintiff to bring an action to enforce any rights or liabilities created by this Act in a United States district court. Stipulates the procedure for such action.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1979
North Pacific Fur Seal Protection Act of 1979 - Title I: Termination of Convention - Expresses the sense of Congress that the Interim Convention on the Conservation of North Pacific Fur Seals should not be continued. Declares that the President should terminate such Convention and enter into negotiations for an international agreement banning all killing of such seals. Title II: Protection of Seals - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Pribilof Wildlife Refuge. Directs the Secretary of Commerce to designate that part of the fishery conservation zone extending seaward of the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, as a marine sanctuary. Prohibits the taking of seals within such Refuge and marine sanctuary, unless by the natives for subsistence purposes. Sets forth sanctions for violations of these provisions. Directs the Secretaries to employ, to the greatest extent possible, Pribilof Islands natives as rangers and guides. Stipulates that this title shall become effective upon termination of the Convention. Title III: Advisory Council; Social Services Programs - Provides for the establishment of an advisory committee to study and recommend to Congress alternative means of developing a livelihood for Pribilof Islands natives in lieu of the taking of seals, upon the termination of the Convention. Requires the Secretary of the Interior to assure that the income of Pribilof Islands natives engaged in the taking of seals be maintained, after the prohibition on the taking of seals takes effect. Title IV: Other Provisions of Law - Repeals title I (Conservation and Protection of North Pacific Fur Seals) of the Fur Seal Act of 1966. Stipulates that the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 shall not apply if the taking of seals is prohibited under this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 31 July 1979
Expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the Congress should promptly enact the President's April 5, 1979, proposal providing for solar energy tax credits and that such enactment should take effect retroactively to such date.
United States · United States Congress · 27 July 1979
Title I: Purposes and Definitions - Declares that the purpose of this Act is to provide for a coordinated, simplified, and prompt process for Federal approval of nonnuclear energy facilities which are determined to be in the national interest. Title II: Priority Projects - Authorizes the President to establish an Energy Mobilization Board to be composed of members appointed by the President. Sets forth the general duties and powers of such Board. Stipulates that any action by the Board in designating a priority energy project shall not be considered as a "major Federal action" for purposes of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Directs the Council on Environmental Quality to determine whether any Federal action relating to the Priority Energy Project, after it has been so designated and prior to establishing the Project Schedule, will be a "major Federal action" for purposes of compliance with NEPA. Directs the Board to designate Priority Energy Projects, based on specified criteria, and to publish a Project Decision Schedule containing deadlines for all Federal actions relating to such projects. Directs the President to make any decisions or perform any actions in the event that an agency or department fails to meet its deadline. Stipulates that nothing in this Act shall prohibit any agency from making a negative determination with regard to such projects if it is within the agency's authority to do so, and provides that in the event a negative decision is rendered, the Priority Energy Project designation shall be terminated. Limits to 24 the number of Priority Energy Projects to be designated in any one year. Provides for coordination of the actions of Federal, State, and local governments. Directs the Board to recommend to any State Governor and to the Congress actions to alleviate or prevent any delays in a priority project created or threatened by any State or local government. Authorizes waivers of Federal, State, or local law upon the Board's determination that any Federal, State, or local time requirement for agency action is unreasonable and would impede the making of any agency decision. Specifies the procedure for obtaining such waivers. Title III: Judicial Review and Miscellaneous Provisions - Limits judicial review to cases of absolute necessity involving alleged denial of rights under the United States Constitution or violations of statutory jurisdiction, authority, limitations, or rights. Sets time limits for filing claims arising out of actions taken pursuant to this Act, and bars any claims filed thereafter. Stipulates that such claims shall be brought in the district court of the district in which the Priority Energy Project would be located, and grants exclusive original jurisdiction to such court in such matters. Directs such court to give precedence to such matters over all other matters on the court's docket, to the greatest extent practicable. Authorizes the Supreme Court, exclusively, to review interlocutory judgments or orders of the district court pursuant to this title, and directs the Supreme Court to give precedence to such matters. Terminates the Board's authority to designate priority projects seven years after the date of enactment of this Act. Authorizes the appropriation of $2,000,000 for fiscal year 1980 to carry out this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 16 July 1979
Research Modernization Act - Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to establish within the National Institutes of Health a National Center for Alternative Research to develop and coordinate alternative methods of research and testing which do not involve the use of live animals. Directs that the Center will be managed by a Director who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and that the head of any Federal agency which conducts or sponsors research or testing involving the use of live animals shall appoint one employee to serve as a member of the Center. Requires the Center to submit annual plans to the Secretary which shall include: (1) the identification and development of alternative methods of research and testing which do not involve the use of live animals; (2) directives to agencies which conduct or sponsor such research or testing; (3) an evaluation of the activities of the Center; and (4) an evaluation of the extent to which the goals of the plan have been achieved. Requires the Secretary to submit a report annually to Congress summarizing the plan. Requires the Secretary to make and publish in the Federal Register descriptions of alternative methods of testing which meet the regulatory scientific needs of the agencies and which have been reported in summary or plan. Prohibits the use of Federal funds to sponsor research or testing involving the use of live animals if alternative methods have been published in the Federal Register or if such work duplicates work performed by another agency. Requires each agency conducting research involving the use of live animals to: (1) implement a program to develop and utilize alternative methods of research and testing that would reduce or eliminate reliance on the use of live animals; (2) implement a program to develop and utilize methods which minimize or eliminate the pain, suffering, and fear of animals used in such research and testing; and (3) make grants and enter into contracts with educational institutions to establish courses for the training of scientists in methods of research and testing which do not involve the use of live animals.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Directs the Secretary of Energy to construct and operate national demonstration facilities for the conversion of garbage and other solid waste materials into fuels. Sets forth requirements for the siting and operating of such facilities, and specifies that one such facility shall be located in New Jersey.
United States · United States Congress · 13 July 1979
Farm Credit Act Amendments of 1979 - Title I: Federal Land Banks and Associations - Amends the Farm Credit Act of 1971 to authorize any Federal land bank, under the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions (i.e., Federal land banks, Federal land bank associations, Federal intermediate credit banks, production credit associations, and banks for cooperatives); (2) participate in loans which the land banks are authorized to make with lenders which are not Farm Credit System institutions; (3) sell interests in loans to such lenders; (4) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance, and nonvoting stock; (5) make other investments; (6) accept contributions to their capital from Federal land bank associations; (7) enter into agreements with other Farm Credit System institutions to share loan and other losses; (8) issue nonvoting stock to borrowers as a patronage refund; and (9) make or participate with other lenders in long-term real estate mortgage loans not exceeding 85 percent of the appraised value of the real estate security. Makes producers and harvesters of aquatic products eligible for Federal land bank services. Authorizes Federal land bank associations to make capital contributions to a Federal land bank. States that a member of a Federal land bank association need not make the required purchases of land stock with respect to that part of a loan derived from a lender which is not a Farm Credit System institution. Authorizes the Federal land bank associations to pay dividends on a differential basis between different classes and issues of stock and participation certificates corresponding to the value of such classes and issues to the capital or earnings of the Federal land bank in its district. Permits the Federal land bank associations to agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions. Title II: Federal Intermediate Credit Banks and Production Credit Associations - Authorizes the Federal Intermediate Credit Banks, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other extended financial assistance and nonvoting stock; (2) make other investments; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; (4) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; and (5) issue nonvoting stock to such institutions. Authorizes the Federal intermediate credit banks to discount for, or purchase from other financial institutions loans made to producers and harvesters of aquatic products. Permits any Federal intermediate credit bank to transfer more than 2.5 percent of its net earnings after expenses to its allocated reserve account (presently, not more than 25 percent of such earnings may be transferred to this account). Authorizes each production credit association, subject to the supervision of the intermediate credit bank in its district and the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) buy from and sell to any bank in the Farm Credit System interests in loans, other financial assistance extended, and nonvoting stock; (2) participate in loans with other Farm Credit System institutions; (3) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System Institutions; (4) issue participation certificates to eligible borrowers in lieu of nonvoting stock; and (5) issue participation certificates or nonvoting stock to any financial institution outside the Farm Credit System with which the association participates in a loan in satisfaction of the requirement that a borrower own such stock or participation certificates. Requires a borrower to own only that amount of stock or participation certificates which is proportionate to that portion of a loan retained by a production credit association when it participates with another lender in making a loan. Authorizes the production credit association to extend loan assistance to bona fide farmers, ranchers, and producers and harvesters of aquatic products for basic processing and marketing directly related to the borrower's operations. Title III: Banks and Cooperatives - Empowers each bank for cooperatives, subject to the supervision of the Farm Credit Administration, to: (1) participate with other Farm Credit System institutions in making loans; (2) deposit its securities and current funds with any domestic or foreign financial organization (presently, such deposits must be made at a member bank in the Federal Reserve System); (3) buy and sell bankers acceptances which are obligations of member banks in the Federal Reserve System; (4) buy and sell other obligations including those which arise in the course of transactions which the bank has assisted through loans; (5) buy from and sell to Farm Credit System institutions interests in loans, other financial assistance extended and nonvoting stock; (6) make other investments; (7) invest in foreign and domestic business entities to facilitate the obtaining of credit information and the performance of services related to international transactions; (8) maintain credit balances to assist in the transfer of funds between parties to authorized transactions; (9) agree to share loan and other losses with other Farm Credit System institutions; and (10) issue participation certificates to parties who may not be issued voting stock. Requires all participation certificates, voting and nonvoting stock issued by the banks for cooperatives to be retired at par value. Authorizes the banks for cooperative to: (1) offer a currency exchange for eligible cooperative associations; and (2) extend loans, loan participation commitments, and other technical and financial assistance to any domestic or foreign party in which a member cooperative has an ownership interest or which engages with the cooperative in dealings in agricultural or aquatic products, farm supplies or the lease of property, provided such assistance substantially benefits the member cooperative. Enables cooperatives solely engaged in furnishing aquatic business services to borrow from the banks for cooperatives. Reduces the degree of ownership in a cooperative which must be held by farmers, producers or harvesters of aquatic products, or other cooperative associations in order to make such a cooperative eligible to borrow from a bank for cooperatives. Requires a bank for cooperatives to retire any equity held by a borrower in default or dissolution at fair market value not to exceed the par value of the equity interest of the borrower. Prohibits the retirement or cancellation of such an equity interest if the bank's capital structure would be adversely affected. Permits each bank for cooperatives to transfer more than 25 percent of its net annual savings to a surplus account. Authorizes the banks for cooperatives to pay patronage refunds to borrowers in the form of participation certificates. Title IV: Provisions Applicable to Two or More Classes of Institutions of the System - Declares that interest rates established by the Farm Credit Administration for loans made by Farm Credit System institutions shall preempt any interest rate limitation imposed by State law. States that when two or more Farm Credit System institutions participate in a loan as authorized by this Act, the terms of such loan shall be those agreed upon by the institutions. Requires that such factors as borrower eligibility, membership, term, amount, loan security and purchase of stock or participation certificates by the borrower are to be governed by the provisions of law applicable to the institution originating the loan. Exempts credit transactions of Farm Credit System institutions from the provisions of any State statute or any other law or regulation which impose, with regard to a credit transaction, any duty or requirement which had been imposed by the Truth in Lending Act before amendment. Authorizes the institutions of the Farm Credit System to organize corporations to perform non-lending functions and services which such institutions are authorized to perform. Empowers the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration to review and revise the charters of such corporations. States that such corporations shall be subject to supervision and examination by the Administration. Title V: District and Farm Credit Administration Organization - Revises the process for the election of farm credit district directors by reducing from three to two the number of nominees in the election poll. Establishes the rate of compensation for the Federal Farm Credit Board at the daily equivalent of the rate prescribed for grade GS-18 of the General Schedule. Authorizes the Board to fix the salary of the Governor of the Farm Credit Administration at any level not exceeding the maximum rate of basic pay in the Executive Schedule. Authorizes the Governor to appoint Deputy Governors to provide assistance in the functioning of the Farm Credit Administration. Exempts the Administration from provisions of Federal law relating to appointments in the competitive civil service, travel expenses, allowances, procurement, and property disposition. Credits employees of Farm Credit System institutions with specified leave and retirement benefits when they are transferred to Federal service in the Farm Credit Administration.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Declares that the Soviet authorities should: (1) release a copy of the judgment against Anatoly Shcharansky; and (2) free Shcharansky and other Prisoners of Conscience and permit their emigration to Israel.
United States · United States Congress · 10 July 1979
Declares it the sense of Congress that the Postmaster General and the Citizens Stamp Advisory Committee should give favorable consideration to the issuance of a commemorative postage stamp in honor of Americans of Italian descent and the 250th anniversary of the birth of Philip Mazzei on December 25, 1980, or as soon as possible thereafter. States that the Postmaster General and the Committee should honor other foreign-born contributors to the revolutionary cause, from countries which have not yet been commemorated, prior to the conclusion of the American Bicentennial celebration in 1983.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Smaller Enterprise Regulatory Improvement Act - Amends the Small Business Act to require each Federal agency to publish semiannually an agenda of those rules which may be proposed during the upcoming six-month period affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and small organizations. Defines "small organizations" to include unincorporated businesses, sheltered workshops, nonprofit enterprises which are not dominant in their fields and such other groups and enterprises as each Federal agency shall establish by rule. Requires each published agenda to be transmitted to the Office of Advocacy of the Small Business Administration for comments. Directs each Federal agency to endeavor to provide notice of each agenda to affected small enterprises by means other than publication in the Federal Register. Directs each Federal agency to publish a written analysis prior to the issuance of any rule affecting a substantial number of small business concerns and organizations which considers: (1) the effect of such rule on small enterprises and competition; (2) whether an exemption could be provided such small enterprises; (3) whether lesser compliance standards could be adopted for small enterprises; and (4) the expected nature of reporting and recordkeeping requirements necessitated by such rule. Requires each Federal agency to issue a rule containing an exemption or differing compliance standards for such small business concerns and organizations if it is lawful, desirable, and feasible to do so. States that such small enterprises shall be given an opportunity to participate in agency rulemaking. Requires each agency to review its existing rules and prepare an analysis for purposes of eliminating those rules which are most burdensome to small businesses and organizations. Permits any agency to perform the analyses required by this Act in conjunction with any other analysis required by law. Declares that such other analysis shall not in itself satisfy the requirements of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 28 June 1979
Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to require the Secretary of Transportation to appoint Type Certification Boards comprised of individuals knowledgeable in the fields of aeronautics and aviation safety to participate in the aircraft type certification process.
United States · United States Congress · 27 June 1979
Animal Welfare Act Amendments of 1979 - Amends the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit coursing (the use of live animals as visual lures in dog racing and training). Sets forth the penalties for violation of this Act. Exempts any dog trained by the use of any live visual lure, or sponsored or exhibited in a coursing venture, or any animal used as a live visual lure in a coursing venture before the effective date of this Act from the provisions of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to increase from $100 to $500 the payment limitation for outpatient physical therapy services under the Medicare program. Stipulates that a physical therapist who furnishes outpatient services exclusively in individuals' homes need not maintain an equipped office if the therapist maintains a single identifiable repository for records and has access to the necessary equipment. States that the term "outpatient physical therapy services" includes the services rendered by a therapist either under the control of an employer or on his or her own responsibility. Provides, as an alternative to the salary plus expenses method of payment for determining the cost of physical therapy services, that such determination may be based on the average professional personnel cost per patient visit furnished in a hospital, home health agency, or skilled nursing facility, plus expenses.
United States · United States Congress · 26 June 1979
Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should instruct the U.S. delegation to the 1980 Madrid meeting of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe to seek free elections supervised by the United Nations in Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, after the withdrawal of all Soviet military and civilian personnel. Expresses the sense of Congress that the President should inform and gain the support and cooperation of other nations in realizing independence for the Baltic States. Expresses the sense of Congress that the: (1) President should warn the Soviet Union against making citizenship claims on U.S. citizens; and (2) Secretary of State should inform U.S. citizens planning to visit the Soviet Union of the implications of the Soviet law on citizenship.
United States · United States Congress · 21 June 1979
Oil, Hazardous Substances, and Hazardous Waste Response, Liability, and Compensation Act of 1979 - Title I: Amendments to the Solid Waste Disposal Act - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to grant subpoena power to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Attorney General for purposes of administering or enforcing the hazardous waste management provisions of such Act. Title II: Oil, Hazardous Substance, and Hazardous Waste Response, Liability Compensation, and Fund - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to add a new title VI, Oil, Hazardous Substances, and Hazardous Response, Liability, Compensation and Fund. Directs the Administrator to revise and promulgate regulations which designate certain substances as hazardous. Directs the Administrator to determine the quantities of oil and any hazardous substance which would be harmful to the public health or safety, or to the environment if released. Prohibits the release of such substances in such quantities except: (1) where permitted under the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution of the Sea by Oil or other international agreements; or (2) where permitted by regulation. Requires any person in charge of a vessel or facility who has knowledge of any release of oil or hazardous substance from such vessel or facility to notify the United States Government immediately. Establishes criminal penalties for failure to provide notice of a release of such substances. Requires any person who may be subject to liability for an uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal site to notify the Administrator of the location and risk of release of hazardous substances from such site within a specified time-period. Eliminates the limitation of liability otherwise provided in this title for persons who fail to provide such notice. Empowers the Administrator, in the event of a release, to deduct reasonable costs from the liability of any person who acts to remove, mitigate, or lessen the likelihood of a release. Prohibits the destruction or concealment by anyone subject to the notification provisions of this section of any records relating to an uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal site. Subjects owners or operators of onshore or offshore facilities and vessels to civil penalties in the event of any release of hazardous substances from such facility or vessel. Sets forth procedures and considerations involved in the imposition of such penalties, including the good faith effort of the owner or operator in preventing the release and in mitigating its effects. Stipulates that any costs of removal incurred in connection with such a release shall be recoverable from the owner or operator of the source of the release, and deposited in the Oil and Hazardous Substances Liability Fund. Authorizes the Executive (defined as the head of any Federal agency or department delegated or assigned duties by the President pursuant to this Act) to remove or arrange for the removal of any substances released which may present an imminent and substantial danger to the public health or welfare unless it is determined that the removal will be properly done by the owner or operator of the source of the release. Directs the Administrator to terminate such removal action if it is determined that the source of the release is an uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal site. Authorizes the Administrator to supply emergency assistance and containment whenever any hazardous substance is or appears about to be released, provided the State in which the site is located first provides for or assures: (1) the maintenance of containment and containment costs within one year of containment, continuing for the life of the containment or 19 years, whichever is less; and (2) the availability of an acceptable hazardous waste disposal facility for any necessary offsite storage, destruction, treatment, or redisposal of the hazardous substances. Limits Federal emergency assistance for containment when: (1) costs are projected at over $200,000, unless the Administrator determines that it is the least costly method; and (2) the uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal site is owned by a State or political subdivision of a State. Sets forth the percentage of costs of containment the Administrator must pay under specified circumstances and the matching funds the State or political subdivision must provide. States that the State or political subdivision must bear the cost of any remedial measures it chooses to take instead of the least cost containment as determined by the Administrator. Authorizes the Administrator to reimburse the State for containment costs up to the amount of the Federal share in lieu of providing for or arranging containment himself. Authorizes the Administrator to provide for complete or partial waste transport, storage, destruction, or treatment and redisposal if he determines that such actions are the least costly means of containment. Authorizes the Administrator to conduct activities for two or more uncontrolled hazardous waste sites at a centralized location, unless the costs are prohibitive. Empowers the Administrator to enforce the terms of a containment contract in any court or to recover from the State or political subdivision the costs of maintaining such containment and the State and local matching shares of the costs of containment at that site. Authorizes the Administrator to provide technical and legal assistance in connection with the administration or enforcement of any contract concerning emergency assistance or containment where a State or political subdivision is acting on behalf of the Administrator. Directs the Executive to revise and republish the National Contingency Plan for the removal of oil and hazardous substances to reflect changes made by this title. Directs the Executive to hold public hearings on the National Uncontrolled Hazardous Waste Disposal Site Response Plan, such plan to include: (1) methods of discovering and investigating such sites; (2) methods for valuating and containing releases and threats of releases from site which pose substantial danger to public health or the environment; (3) methods and criteria for determining the appropriate extent of emergency assistance, containment, and other measures authorized by this title; (4) appropriate roles and responsibilities for Federal, State, and local governments in effectuating the Plan; (5) provision for identification, procurement, maintenance, and storage of response equipment and supplies; and (6) a method for and assignment of responsibility for reporting the existence of uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal sites which may be located on federally-owned or controlled properties and any releases of hazardous substances from such sites. Makes the revised National Contingency Plan the standard for the removal of oil and hazardous substances and for minimizing the damage from such substances. Authorizes the Executive to issue regulations, consistent with the Plan, maritime safety, marine and navigation laws: (1) establishing methods and procedures for removal of released oil and hazardous substances; (2) establishing criteria for the development and implementation of local and regional oil and hazardous substance removal contingency plans; (3) establishing procedures, methods, and equipment to prevent release of oil and hazardous substances from vessels or facilities, and to contain such releases; and (4) governing the inspection of vessels carrying cargoes of oil or hazardous substances to reduce the likelihood of release. Establishes civil penalties for the violation of such regulations, with specified exemptions. Sets forth procedures and criteria for determining the amount of such penalties. Authorizes the United States, in the event of a marine disaster creating a substantial threat of pollution and endangering the public health or welfare, to: (1) coordinate and direct all public and private efforts directed at the removal or elimination of such threat; and (2) summarily remove, and, if necessary, destroy such vessel. Provides compensation for expenses thus incurred. Authorizes the Attorney General, at the request of the Executive, to seek relief in U.S. district court whenever the Executive determines they may be an actual or threatened release of oil or a hazardous substance from a facility or an uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal site. Makes the owner and operator of a private vessel or of a facility which is the source or threatened source of pollution jointly and severally liable for all damages resulting from the pollution or the threat of pollution. Sets forth monetary limitations on such persons' liability except when the pollution or threat thereof is caused in whole or in part by: (1) willful misconduct or gross negligence within the privity or knowledge of such owner or operator; (2) violation of applicable regulations of the Federal Government and health and safety standards. Excepts owners or operators who fail to furnish the notice of a hazardous substance release as required by this Act or who fail to provide reasonable cooperation and assistance as requested in furtherance of cleanup and removal from such limitations. Makes the owner or operator of an uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal site, or any other person who caused or contributed to the release of a hazardous substance from such site jointly and severally liable for all costs of emergency assistance and containment, with specified exceptions. Requires all owners and operators of vessels carrying oil or hazardous substances and owners and operators of facilities used for oil transportation, production, processing or storage to furnish evidence of financial responsibility in an amount sufficient to satisfy applicable liability limits. Imposes civil penalties on such owners and operators for failure to comply with such requirements. Directs the Executive to conduct a study to determine the availability of private insurance protection for such vessel and facility owners and operators at competitive rates. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States an Oil and Hazardous Substances Liability Fund for the purpose of paying for removal and containment of hazardous substances, emergency assistance, compensation of claims, and administrative and personnel costs of the Federal Government incident to the administration of this title. Enumerates the sources of the moneys to be deposited in such Fund, including fees on owners of facilities receiving oil, and on suppliers of petrochemical feedstocks, and specified inorganic elements and compounds. Authorizes the appropriation to such Fund of up to $50,000,000 in fiscal year 1981, $75,000,000 in fiscal year 1982, and $100,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1983 and 1984. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, to invest up to $50,000,000 of the Fund in public debt securities. Lists the types of injuries which may be compensated under this Act and the potential claimants who have standing to assert claims involving such damages. Directs the Administrator to establish a priority system for responding to releases or threats of release from uncontrolled hazardous waste disposal sites. Specifies procedures whereby the Executive shall designate and advertise a pollution sources. Sets forth procedures for the disposition and appeal of claims submitted to the fund. Stipulates that final orders of the Executive on claims shall not be subject to judicial review. Authorizes the fund to intervene in any claims action as a cause of right. Subrogates any person or government entity, including the fund, which pays compensation for damages to all rights, claims, and causes of action of a claimant. Specifies procedures for and the measure of recovery in actions brought by the fund owners, operators, or guarantors of alleged pollution sources. Grants jurisdiction to the United States district courts over all controversies arising under this Act. Authorizes judicial review of any regulation issued under this Act only in the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. Excludes from such jurisdictional provisions controversies or other matters involving the assessment or collection of fees or regulations issued under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. Declares that the rights and remedies under this Act shall be exclusive with respect to economic loss resulting from oil or hazardous substance pollution, except that States shall not be precluded from establishing liability funds or liability limits, setting financial responsibility requirements, or imposing any taxes or fees for losses or costs not compensated by this Act. Authorizes the President to delegate and assign duties or powers imposed upon him by the Executive and to promulgate necessary regulations. Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions - Sets forth effective dates, and makes conforming amendments to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act, the Intervention on the High Seas Act, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
United States · United States Congress · 19 June 1979
Lifelong Learning Act of 1979 - Amends title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965: (1) to repeal provisions of such title dealing with community service and continuing education programs, including the National Advisory Council on Extension and Continuing Education; and (2) to establish a new title I "Lifelong Learning" which is to make education and training opportunities available to all citizens throughout life. Authorizes appropriations for purposes of this Act through fiscal year 1985. Stipulates that 35 percent of such appropriated funds shall be used for comprehensive State planning programs. Provides that individual, eligible States shall receive such funds based on population, with a minimum grant of $50,000. Authorizes a State to request that a part of its allotment be transferred to another State for certain purposes. Requires States receiving less than $100,000 for such planning programs to use not less than 40 percent nor more than 50 percent of such funds for such purpose, and States receiving more than $100,000 to use not less than 30 percent nor more than 40 percent of such funds for such purpose. Authorizes States to use the remainder of such planning funds to implement statewide planning through grants to, or contracts with, appropriate State agencies and institutions. Stipulates that 30 percent of such Federal funds appropriated under this Act shall be used by eligible States for grants to institutions of higher education for post secondary continuing education and related adult education programs and services. Stipulates that 30 percent of such Federal funds appropriated under this Act shall be used for grants to, and contracts with, public and private agencies, institutions, and individuals for special purpose grants. Prohibits such grants from being given without the appropriate State agency having been given an opportunity to comment upon such grant's relevance to the State's comprehensive statewide planning program. Stipulates that five percent of such Federal funds appropriated under this Act shall be used for Federal lifelong learning activities, including the convening of a Lifelong Learning Conference in 1983. Requires States wishing to receive Federal funds for comprehensive planning programs and grants to institutions of higher education to submit an agreement. Sets forth guidelines for such agreement. Transfers responsibility for such programs from the Assistant Secretary to the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Directs the President to appoint a National Advisory Council on Lifelong Learning within 90 days of enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 18 June 1979
Amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to direct the Commissioner of Education to enter into agreements with credit bureau organizations providing for the exchange of information concerning defaulting student borrowers. States that such agreements: (1) shall provide for disclosure by the Commissioner to such credit organizations; and (2) may provide for the disclosure, by such credit organizations to the Commissioner, of information concerning the defaulting borrower's address and other relevant information. Directs the Commissioner, within 90 days of enactment of this Act, to establish a system for the prompt notification to a defaulting borrower of any disclosure made under this Act. Includes notice of such system of disclosure to credit organizations among the terms of the written agreement evidencing: (1) a federally-guaranteed student loan made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act; (2) subsidy payments for such loans to State and nonprofit private institutions made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act; (3) Federal contributions to an institution for direct student loans; and (4) a direct student loan to an eligible student from his or her institution made more than 180 days after enactment of this Act.
United States · United States Congress · 14 June 1979
Directs the Postmaster General to issue a special postage stamp in honor of Filippo Mazzei, and in tribute to the millions of Americans of Italian descent who have played an important role in American history.
United States · United States Congress · 11 June 1979
Declares the sense of the Congress that the President and the Secretary of State should take all necessary steps to bring the Baltic States question before the United Nation and the 1980 Madrid Conference on the Helsinki Agreements to urge both such bodies to request the Soviet Union: (1) to withdraw all non-native troops, agents, colonists, and controls from the Republics of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia; and (2) to return all Baltic exiles from Siberia and from prisons and labor camps in the Soviet Union. Requires the Secretary of State to do his utmost to bring the matter of the Baltic States to the attention of all nations by means of special radio programs and publications. Declares that the United States should not agree to the recognition of the Soviet Union's annexation of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Directs the President to take steps to provide that all maps of Europe show the Republics of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia as independent states. Calls for a return of self-determination to the peoples of Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia through free elections conducted under the auspices of the United Nations.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the Walnut Street Theatre, Philadelphia, constructed in 1809, for inclusion in Independence National Historical Park in that city.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Amends title IV of the Public Health Service Act (National Research Institutes) to stipulate that the institute currently authorized to conduct research on neurological diseases shall be named the "National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke." Requires at least $16,000,000 of the sums appropriated for such Institute to be obligated for research in the area of regeneration of the spinal cord.
United States · United States Congress · 6 June 1979
Diabetes Research and Training Amendments and National Diabetes Advisory Board Extension Act of 1979 - Amends title IV of the Public Health Service Act (National Research Institutes) to redesignate the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, and Digestive Diseases and the Advisory Council to such Institute as the National Institute of Arthritis, Metabolism, Diabetes, and Digestive Diseases and the National Arthritis, Metabolism, Diabetes, and Digestive Diseases Advisory Council. Establishes within the Advisory Council separate subcommittees on diabetes, arthritis, digestive diseases, and kidney diseases. Directs these subcommittees to: (1) review applications made to the Director of the Institute for research projects relating to such diseases and make recommendations to the Advisory Council; and (2) review and evaluate programs directed at such diseases. Establishes within the Institute the position of Associate Director for Diabetes. Sets forth the duties of the Associate Director, including: (1) having primary responsibility for all diabetes-mellitus-related activities supported or conducted by the National Institutes of Health; (2) providing information to public and private agencies with respect to such activities; and (3) reporting and making recommendations to the Director of the National Institutes of Health with respect to other enumerated functions. Extends the authorization of appropriations for diabetes research and training centers in the following amounts: $14,000,000 for fiscal year 1981, $17,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, and $20,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1983 through 1985. Directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to provide from such amounts up to ten training stipends through each center in any fiscal year. Eliminates as an ex officio member of the National Diabetes Advisory Board the Secretary of Defense or his designee; adds as such a member the Director of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development or his designee. Revises the terms of appointed members of the Board. Directs the Board to amend the Diabetes Plan (formulated by the National Commission on Diabetes under the National Diabetes Mellitus Research and Education Act) as is necessary to insure its continuing relevance. Extends the current level of authorizations for the purposes of the Board ($300,000 per fiscal year) through fiscal year 1985. Extends the expiration date of the Board from September 30, 1980, to September 30, 1985.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Establishes the Legionville National Historic Site in the State of Pennsylvania to preserve and protect the site of the first United States military training camp. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to acquire specified lands for such purpose and to administer such property pursuant to applicable law. Directs the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements with appropriate public or private entities for the management, development, and interpretation of such property.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Antarctic Preservation Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to develop a plan for the establishment of a Historic and Natural Preserve to consist of such areas of the Antarctic Continent and surrounding waters as may be necessary to preserve outstanding geological, historical, and natural values. Authorizes the Secretary to establish the Antarctic Historic and Natural Preserve subsequent to ratification by those interested nations deemed by him to be required to assure adequate protection of the resource. Authorizes the Secretary to commit personnel, funds, and other resources to establish, operate, and maintain facilities required for the protection of the preserve. Authorizes all Federal agencies to assist the Secretary in this endeavor. Prohibits the executive branch from taking any action contrary to the intent of this Act regarding the Antarctic Continent to a distance of 500 nautical miles from the mean annual projection of the Antarctic ice shelf. Requires the submission of annual progress reports to the appropriate committees of the House of Representatives and of the Senate.
United States · United States Congress · 5 June 1979
Congratulates the men and women of the Apollo program upon the tenth anniversary of the first manned landing on the Moon and requests the President to designate the period of July 16 through July 24, 1979, as "United States Space Observance" in honor of such event.
United States · United States Congress · 30 May 1979
Establishes a Joint Select Committee to Investigate Oil and Gasoline Production and Pricing to: (1) review the availability, production, marketing, and pricing of oil to determine the extent of the oil and gasoline shortage; and (2) propose a national petroleum energy policy. Sets forth the requirements for appointment to the joint select committee.
United States · United States Congress · 24 May 1979
Amends the Commodity Credit Corporation Act to designate the Commodity Credit Corporation as the seller or marketing agent for all export sales of wheat, feed grains, rice, and soybeans. Allows an exporter to enter into a sale for export of any such commodity only if it is purchased from the Corporation and such sale is approved by the Corporation. Prohibits any contract for sale of a commodity at less than its established price. Establishes a civil penalty for violations of this Act. Authorizes the Board of Directors of the Corporation, acting as the National Grain Board, to negotiate such export sales, to barter such commodities for other goods, to accept purchase bids from foreign purchasers, and to offer selling bids in the world market. Permits the Corporation to acquire commodities on the domestic market to meet the objectives of this Act, and to establish reserves to meet future export sales. Establishes in the Treasury of the United States a revolving Export Sales Fund to receive revenues made by the Corporation in such sales in excess of costs. Allocates the moneys in such Fund for the making of deficiency payments under the Agricultural Act of 1949 with respect to the agricultural commodities concerned. Allocates ten percent of such Fund to establish and maintain a reserve to provide international famine relief assistance. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, at the beginning of each crop year, to increase the established price of an agricultural commodity, according to a specified formula, if any moneys in the Export Sales Fund are derived from such commodity. Directs the Secretary to establish a permanent advisory committee to advise the Secretary, the Corporation, and the National Grain Board. Requires the Corporation to make statistics and other information concerning export sales available to the public on a quarterly basis.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1979
Integrated Environmental Assistance Act of 1979 - States that the objective of this Act is to provide a mechanism to encourage recipients of assistance under programs administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to design integrated environmental programs tailored to their specific needs which will result in a more effective and efficient method of dealing with interrelated environmental problems. Authorizes the Administrator of EPA to award assistance to support proposals intended to meet such objective. Sets forth requirements for approval of such integrated environmental programs, including the requirement that an integrated environmental plan address the objectives of at least two programs covered by EPA categorical grants. Provides that in the event an integrated environmental plan is not acceptable, the applicant is still permitted to apply for categorical assistance for the particular program. Requires the Governor of a State and the chief executive officer of a local government to sign integrated assistance applications to assure high level support and involvement in program integration. Authorizes the Administrator to award integrated assistance in lieu of categorical assistance. Limits the use of such integrated assistance funds. Limits the number of States and local governments which may participate in such program. Authorizes EPA to directly award integrated assistance to local governments and interstate agencies when the State either does not apply for integrated assistance or does not make adequate provision for the local government or interstate agency. Directs the States to consult with local governments during the process of developing such program plans. Authorizes the Administrator to permit applicants flexibility in proposing to transfer funds among the covered programs in their approved plans, with specified limitations. Allows each applicant for integrated assistance to compete with others for supplementary assistance for nonrecurring projects which are innovative, of special national significance, or which address other special environmental needs. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to unobligated sums and maintenance of effort. Authorizes the appropriation of $25,000,000 for supplementary assistance for fiscal year 1980 and authorizes appropriations of necessary sums for each of fiscal years 1981-1984, in addition to funds authorized to be appropriated under the covered programs. Authorizes the Administrator to detail EPA personnel to a recipient to assist in carrying out approved integrated program plan. Terminates this Act on September 30, 1984. Directs the Administrator to report to the Congress on such integrated assistance programs, including an evaluation of such programs and recommendations concerning their continuation.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1979
Requires the Chicago, Milwaukee, Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad Company to continue specified freight service for a period of 45 days unless: (1) any discontinuance or abandonment is authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission; and (2) no affected State (or local or regional or transportation authority) opposes such action. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, pursuant to the Emergency Rail Services Act of 1970, to guarantee trustee certificates of such railroad.
United States · United States Congress · 23 May 1979
Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Department of Energy must expedite and strengthen its efforts to verify energy information in order to be fully independent of industry statistics and become the primary energy information data bank.
United States · United States Congress · 22 May 1979
Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention Act of 1979 - Title I: Findings and Purposes - States the findings and purposes of the Act. Title II: Improved Security for Motor Vehicles and Motor Vehicle Parts - Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to establish standards for motor vehicle safety which include standards to reduce motor vehicle theft by taking into account: (1) the costs and benefits of implementing such standards; (2) the effect of such implementation on automobile insurance costs; (3) savings in terms of time and convenience; and (4) safety considerations. Directs the Secretary to consult with specified individuals and groups interested in the problem of automobile theft when establishing such standards. Requires the Secretary, within 12 months of the enactment of this Act, to issue notices of rulemaking covering the unauthorized starting of a motor vehicle and the identification of major automobile components. Stipulates that proposed rules shall consider current technological developments in such areas. Directs the Secretary to issue final rules within 24 months after the enactment of this Act. Requires that a final rule shall become effective within two calendar years or before the introduction of two model years after such rule is issued. States that a Federal automobile security standard supercedes any State or local standard. Title III: Antifencing Measures - Establishes penalties for anyone who knowingly removes, obliterates, tampers with, or alters any identification number for any motor vehicle or motor vehicle part required by regulations prescribed by the Secretary. Requires the forfeiture of any vehicle or vehicle part which has had such number removed unless: (1) the vehicle or part is owned by an innocent purchaser; or (2) the number is replaced according to applicable law. States that all provisions of law relating to the seizure and forfeiture of vessels, vehicles, merchandise, and baggage shall apply to seizures and forfeitures of motor vehicles and vehicle parts. Establishes penalties for anyone who buys, receives, possesses, or obtains control of, with intent to sell or otherwise dispose of, any motor vehicle or motor vehicle part knowing that such identification number has been removed or altered. Designates as nonmailable matter any manipulative type device which is designed or adapted to operate, circumvent, remove, or render inoperative the ignition switch or lock, or door or trunk lock of two or more motor vehicles, or any advertisement for the sale of such device. Title IV: Importation and Exportation Measures - Establishes criminal and civil penalties for anyone who imports, exports, or attempts to import or export any self-propelled vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or part knowing it to have been stolen, or any self-propelled vehicle or vehicle part knowing that its identification number has been altered. Amends the Tariff Act of 1930 to require persons who export or attempt to export a used self-propelled vehicle to present to the appropriate customs officer the vehicle and a document describing that vehicle. Authorizes customs officers to carry firearms, execute and serve search and arrest warrants, serve subpoenas and summonses, and make arrests. Title V: Reporting and Requirements - Directs the Attorney General, after consultation with the Secretaries of Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation, and the Treasury, to report to Congress on: (1) developments in the area of identification of off-highway vehicles and parts thereof; and (2) other specified measures to help prevent the theft of such vehicles and parts.
United States · United States Congress · 21 May 1979
Authorizes the President to award the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously to Vincent Pantozzi for his distinguished military service during World War I.
United States · United States Congress · 14 May 1979
Amends title XVIII (Medicare) of the Social Security Act to provide payment for occupational therapy services under the supplementary medical insurance program.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1979
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Amendments of 1979 - Authorizes appropriations for carrying out the Solid Waste Disposal Act for fiscal year 1980. Amends such Act to authorize the Administrator to establish separate standards for new and existing hazardous waste treatment, storage, and disposal facilities. Excludes drilling fluids, produced waters and other wastes associated with crude oil and natural gas exploration, development, and production from the provisions of such Act. Grants interim permit status to any person owning or operating a hazardous waste facility in existence on the effective date of applicable regulations under such Act. Expands the authority of the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to request information or examine the records of a person handling solid waste. Amends the criminal penalty provisions of such Act to impose such penalties on any person who handles hazardous wastes and: (1) fails to comply with the requirements of the hazardous waste site inventory to be conducted under this Act; or (2) destroys, alters, or conceals records maintained in connection with such handling of hazardous waste. Removes the notification requirement and the 30 day grace period for violators of any requirement of such Act. Amends the scope of the program of grants to States for State hazardous waste programs to include grants for the development and execution of programs to protect health and the environment from inactive hazardous waste facilities. Directs each States to undertake a continuing program to compile, publish, and submit to the Administrator an inventory of hazardous waste storage and disposal sites, including their location, and the amount, nature, and toxicity of the hazardous waste at each such site. Authorizes the Administrator to undertake such an inventory program in any State which fails to adequately provide such information. Authorizes the Administrator to make grants to States for the purposes of carrying out such a program. Provides that both States and local governments may enter into long-term contracts for the operation of hazardous waste disposal facilities or for securing long-term markets for material and energy recovered from such facilities. Prohibits open dumping of solid waste or hazardous waste after promulgation of criteria defining this practice. Requires each Federal procuring agency, to procure products composed of the highest percentage of recovered materials practicable, consistent with maintaining competition, pursuant to guidelines to be promulgated by the Administrator for the use of such agencies. Directs contracting officers to require vendors to certify adherence to contract specifications and requirements with respect to the percentage of recovered materials to be used in performance of the contract and to estimate the percentage of the total material utilized for such performance which is recovered material. Extends the deadline for changing procurement specifications to allow use of recovered materials from 18 months to five years. Requires that such specifications include the use of recovered materials to the maximum extent possible without jeopardizing the intended end use of a procured item. Modifies the components of the procurement guidelines to be issued by the Administrator for the use of procuring agencies in complying with the requirements of such Act. Modifies the authority of the Administrator to handle any imminent and substantial endangerment to health or the environment which may be caused by the handling, storage, treatment, or transportation of solid waste or hazardous waste by authorizing the issuance of administrative orders as well the commencement of civil actions. Imposes a fine of up to $5,000 for each day of noncompliance with such an order. Modifies the judicial review provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act to permit review of the Administrator's action: (1) in issuing, denying, modifying, or revoking any treatment, storage, or disposal permit; and (2) in granting, denying, or withdrawing authorization of State hazardous waste programs. Directs the Administrator to prepare and submit to the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and to the House Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce a Study on: (1) the adverse health and environmental effects, if any of drilling fluids, produced waters and other wastes associated with crude oil and natural gas exploration, development, or production; and (2) the adequacy of existing regulatory programs related thereto. Requires the Administrator to prepare a plan for research, development and demonstration respecting the findings of such study and to submit appropriate recommendations. Repeals the provisions of the Resource Recovery and Conservation Act of 1976 concerning solid waste cleanup on Federal lands in Alaska and the Llangollen Landfill, Delaware, leachate control research and assistance program.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1979
Amends the Noise Control Act of 1972 to authorize the appropriation of $15,000,000 for fiscal years 1980 and 1981 to carry out the purposes of such Act. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop and submit to the Congress a five-year plan for carrying out the Administrator's authority under such Act. Specifies that the plan shall include: (1) the objectives of each program; (2) the relative priorities among the programs; (3) proposed annual levels of funding; and (4) a timetable of specific actions proposed. Specifies that a separate portion of the plan be devoted to noise control research. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to study and report to Congress on noise abatement technology and standards necessary to attenuate noise emitted by railroad equipment and facilities.
United States · United States Congress · 8 May 1979
Title I: Amtrak Reorganization - Amtrak Reorganization Act of 1979 - Amends the Rail Passenger Service Act to direct the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to issue preferred stock to the Federal Financing Bank to cover the purchase of capital equipment and facilities for which the Corporation is currently obligated against previously authorized guaranteed loan authority. Directs the Bank to accept such stock in full settlement of all the guaranteed loans which it made to the Corporation and which are outstanding. Directs the Bank to transfer such stock to the Secretary of the Treasury in full settlement of all obligations of the Bank to the Secretary in connection with the Bank's loans to the Corporation. Directs the Secretary, in return for additional preferred stock to provide additional resources to the Corporation, as required for payment to vendors to liquidate obligations of the Corporation for capital equipment and facilities. Repeals the present program under which the Secretary guarantees loans of the Corporation. Directs the Corporation, by January 1, 1981, to develop and submit to the President and the Congress, a comprehensive plan for the improvement of all intercity rail passenger service in the basic system. Stipulates that such plan shall include: (1) a zero-based assessment of all operating practices and implementation of changes to achieve the minimum use of employees consistent with safe operation and adequate service; (2) a systematic program for optimizing the ratio of train size to passenger demand; (3) a systematic program for trip time reductions; (4) the establishment of training programs to achieve on-time departures and priorities for passenger trains over freight trains en route; (5) an adjustment of food and beverage pricing and purchasing to increase profitability; and (6) cooperative marketing campaigns between the Corporation and governmental entities having intercity rail passenger service as well as campaigns with specified Federal agencies. Directs the Corporation, by January 1, 1980, to establish a Regional Maintenance Plan to provide systematic preventive maintenance, a systemwide inventory of spare parts, and a method for the periodic evaluation of maintenance costs, time lags, and parts shortages. Directs the Corporation to establish a Performance Evaluation Center to conduct an ongoing review of railroad operations and to make recommendations for improving such operations. Grants the President of the Corporation the power to direct the conductor of any Amtrak train to report to the Center regarding any inadequacy of train operation. Repeals the Interstate Commerce Commission's authority to promulgate adequacy of service regulations for Amtrak trains. Exempts the Corporation from the provisions of the Interstate Commerce Act with respect to the issuance of securities or the assumption of obligations or liabilities with respect to the securities of others. Authorizes the Commission to establish through routes and joint fares with any domestic or international motor, air, or water carrier (previously the Commission could only establish such routes or fares with motor carriers). Stipulates that the Corporation shall not be subject to any State or local law relating to pay periods or dates for payment of employees. Directs the Corporation to enter into a contract with rail carriers on an industrywide basis to establish rights for the operation of special or charter trains between specific routes and points anywhere in the Nation. Stipulates that a facility or service agreement between the Corporation and another railroad may include terms which provide an incentive for the achievement of a certain level of on-time performance by reducing the railroad's payments for failure to meet such level of performance. Stipulates that an application of a State or local agency for subsidized rail passenger service outside the basic system must be accompanied by a statement that the State or local share of the costs of such service shall be 20 percent of the solely related costs during the first year, 35 percent during the second, and 50 percent for each year thereafter. Requires that such an application include a statement that the State or local share of associated capital costs and maintenance costs shall be 20 percent. Requires the convening of Technical Assistance Panels to review such applications by the Corporation. Establishes the composition of such panels. Stipulates that such rail services may be operated by the Corporation or the applicant. Directs the Corporation to continue to operate rail passenger service over any long distance route which is recommended for discontinuance by the Secretary if the short term avoidable loss per passenger is below a certain level and the passenger mile per train mile ratio is above a specified level. Sets forth the level of reimbursement to the Corporation by other railroads for the free or reduced rate transportation for railroad employees if the Corporation and the railroad involved cannot agree on another basis of compensation. Prohibits the downgrading or disposal of railroad facilities utilized by the Corporation as of February 1, 1979, without the approval of the Secretary. Stipulates that if the Corporation does not object to such an action the Secretary shall approve the application for downgrading or disposal. Stipulates that in the event the Corporation does object the Secretary shall approve of the proposed action unless the Corporation agrees to pay the costs which the railroad could avoid if it was not required to maintain the facility in the condition requested by the Corporation. Sets forth considerations which the Corporation is to take into account in determining whether to pay such avoidable costs. Authorizes appropriations in specified amounts for specified costs of the Corporation for fiscal years 1980 through 1982. Directs the Secretary to establish an Employee Compensation and Incentive Commission to evaluate the salary paid officers of Amtrak and to develop a program for improving Amtrak employee incentive and morale. Requires the Commission, by March 1, 1980, to submit its recommendations to the board of directors of the Corporation. Directs the board to report to the Congress within 90 days any action it plans to take to implement such recommendations. Directs the Commission to establish an Employee Incentive Program to provide recognition awards to individuals, labor organizations, or carriers in recognition of outstanding achievement in meeting the performance standards established by this Act or by the board. Directs the Commission to issue a new class of common stock to qualified employees in accordance with a specified schedule. Directs the Corporation to develop a Job Placement Program for employees who will be affected by the reduction in work force caused by the Secretary's recommendations for the restructuring of routes. Directs the Secretary to establish a National Carrier Coordination Committee to review and evaluate ways for improving cooperation between the Corporation and other carriers in achieving improvement in intercity rail passenger service. Requires the Committee to submit annual reports to the Congress regarding its activities. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the payment of taxes by the Corporation to State and local governments and to make recommendations to Congress by January 1, 1980, regarding the advisability of relieving the Corporation of its obligation to make such payments. Amends the Amtrak Improvement Act of 1978 to authorize the Corporation to defer the Secretary's recommendations for the restructuring of certain routes. Amends the Department of Transportation Act to remove the time limitation during which railroad terminals must be converted into intermodal transportation terminals in order to receive Federal financial assistance for such a project and grants the Secretary the power to establish the time period during which such a conversion must be completed. Title II: Amendments to the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 - Amends the Regional Rail Reorganization Act of 1973 to authorize appropriations to the United States Railway Association for fiscal year 1980 to carry out its administrative expenses under such Act. Requires the Association to submit quarterly reports to Congress regarding the proceedings before the special court to determine the valuation of the rail properties conveyed to the Consolidated Rail Corporation (ConRail) pursuant to such Act. Requires the Comptroller General to submit annual reports to Congress regarding the use of Federal funds in connection with such litigation. Directs the Association and the Attorney General to develop and submit to Congress a plan for the transfer of such litigation functions of the Association to an appropriate Federal agency by March 1, 1980. Directs the Association together with the Department of Transportation to develop and submit to Congress a plan to transfer the other functions of the Association to an appropriate Federal agency by such date. Sets forth procedures for the monitoring of contractors employed by the Association. Directs the special court established pursuant to such Act to include in its order a requirement that ConRail maintain medical and life insurance coverage for employees of railroads in reorganization. Stipulates that the Association shall have a direct claim, as a current expense of administering the estate of a railroad in reorganization, for loans forgiven by the Association pursuant to such Act. Title III: Office of Rail Public Counsel - Authorizes appropriations to the Office of Rail Public Counsel for fiscal year 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 1 May 1979
Requires the Chicago, Milwaukee, Saint Paul and Pacific Railroad Company to continue specified freight service for a period of 90 days unless: (1) any discontinuance or abandonment is authorized by the Interstate Commerce Commission; and (2) no affected State (or local or regional or transportation authority) opposes such action. Directs the Secretary of Transportation to provide such financial assistance as may be required to maintain the existing level of service by such railroad.
United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1979
Department of Energy Civilian Programs 1980 Authorization Act - Title I: Research and Development - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for operating expenses and capital investment for fossil fuel programs related to gas, petroleum and enhanced gas recovery. Authorizes appropriations for specified fossil energy construction projects related to coal. Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses and capital investment for energy supply research and development programs and specified projects related to solar energy, biomass energy, nuclear fission, magnetic fusion, geothermal energy, low head hydroelectric power, environmental protection, basic research, and electric energy systems and storage. Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses and capital investment for specified conservation research and development programs. Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses and capital investment for specified general science and research programs and projects. Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses and capital investment for the uranium enrichment process development program. Authorizes appropriations for expenses of the Geothermal Resources Development Fund. Title II: Regulatory and Related Functions - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for expenses of the Economic Regulatory Administration, the Office of Hearings and Appeals, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Energy Information Administration and the Strategic Petroleum program. Title III: Commercialization and Related Activities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for expenses for specified fossil energy, renewable resources, and conservation commercialization programs and related activities. Title IV: Power Marketing, Federal Leasing and Other Activities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for the Alaska Power Administration, the Southeastern Power Administration, the Southwestern Power Administration, and the Western Area Power Administration. Authorizes appropriations for specified Federal leasing and fuel data gathering and analysis programs. Title V: Nuclear Assessment, Spent Fuel Disposition, Operations and Decontamination and Decommissioning - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for uranium resource assessment operating expenses and capital investment. Authorizes appropriations for spent fuel disposition and decontamination and decommissioning programs. Directs the Secretary of Energy to conduct a study regarding the temporary storage of fuel withdrawn from licensed nuclear reactors and specified foreign nuclear reactors and authorizes the Secretary to select and acquire sites for such storage, and to design such facilities as appropriate for such sites. Authorizes the appropriation of up to $5,000,000 for such purposes. Sets forth the components of such study, and imposes specified reporting and public hearing requirements upon the Secretary relating to such study and site selection. Directs the Secretary to investigate whether Federal funding is appropriate for the cost of stabilization, decommissioning, and decontamination of the uranium mill tailings site owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority, and located at Edgemont, South Dakota. Title VI: Other Renewable Resources and Conservation Activities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for expenses for other renewable resources and conservation activities programs. Title VII: Other Departmental Activities - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal year 1980 for operating expenses and capital investment for specified uranium enrichment activities programs and projects. Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses and capital investment for the commercial waste management program. Authorizes appropriations for operating expenses and capital investment for specified Department of Energy administrative activities programs and projects. Title VIII: Provisions Regarding Use of Funds - Prohibits the use of appropriated funds for any program in excess of the amount actually authorized for that program in this Act and any reprogramming that decreases certain authorizations by more than five percent, unless the Congress is notified and a 30-day waiting period expires. Sets forth limitations on the use of amounts appropriated pursuant to this Act regarding management support services and unexpended balances. Amends the Department of Energy Organization Act to allow the Department to use certain revenues received from uranium enrichment services, when permitted in an annual appropriation Act. Limits the use of such revenues to the payment of the costs incurred in providing the services. Requires that all monies, other than enrichment revenues and certain other receipts, collected by the Department and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission in fiscal year 1980 and thereafter shall be deposited into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. Requires that the Secretary submit to the Congress an annual report concerning enrichment service revenues. Permits the Department to use operating funds for construction purposes and to transfer funds to other agencies to perform work for the Department. Allows authorizations in this Act for construction line item projects to remain effective without fiscal year limitation through fiscal year 1982. Authorizes appropriations to pay for automatic pay increases. Limits the Department's travel expenses. Prohibits the Department from using funds appropriated under this Act for renovation, furnishing, or repair of facilities to provide temporary or permanent space for personnel relocated as a result of the establishment of the Department. Limits the use of funds available for direct and indirect purchases of gasoline in amounts in excess of 80 percent of the amount purchased by the Department in fiscal year 1980. Exempts from the provisions of this Act authorization for appropriations in any other law for fiscal year 1980 for any military application of nuclear energy, for research and development in support of the armed forces, or for the common defense and security of the United States. Title IX: Extension of Mandatory Crude Oil Price Control Authority - Extends the provisions of the Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 relating to Federal controls on oil pricing. Sets as the expiration date of the authority to issue regulations or orders or to enforce such regulations or orders September 30, 1981.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1979
Title I: Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands - Authorizes appropriations for fiscal years after 1980 of such sums as may be necessary for certain assistance programs for the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior equal to 50 percent of sums necessary to satisfy all adjudicated claims and final awards made before the enactment of this Act by the Micronesian Claims Commission. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to provide, for the people of specified atolls in the Marshall Islands, a program of medical care and treatment and environmental research and monitoring for any injury, illness, or condition which may have been the result of the United States nuclear weapons testing program at or near such atolls. Authorizes appropriations for such program. Requires the express approval of Congress before any Federal program not terminated for all recipients may cease to apply to such Territory either before or after the termination of the trusteeship. Title II: Northern Mariana Islands - Requires that the salary and expenses of the government comptroller for the Northern Mariana Islands be paid from funds authorized to be appropriated to the Department of the Interior. Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary of the Interior for a health care services grant to the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Subjects such grant to the approval of the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to administer and enforce, by hiring and training Islands residents, a local territorial income tax and customs duties, without cost to such Islands government and with proceeds covered into the Treasury of Islands. Amends the Covenant to establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America to stipulate that United States income tax laws will not come into force in the Northern Mariana Islands as a local territorial income tax until January 1, 1982. Authorizes appropriations of such sums as may be necessary for the development, maintenance, and operation of the American Memorial Park, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, but not to exceed $3,000,000 for development. Title III: Guam - Amends the Organic Act of Guam to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to administer and enforce (by hiring and training Guam residents and without cost to the Guam government) the collection of: (1) all customs duties derived from Guam and the Guam territorial income tax; and (2) certain other taxes the proceeds of which are covered into the Guam treasury and any tax imposed by local law (upon the request of the Governor of Guam until the legislature of Guam seeks discontinuance of such enforcement). Requires that all amounts heretofore withheld from the Guam treasury (from sums collected as such duties and taxes) as interest on specified Federal assistance be credited as reimbursement payments by Guam on the principal amount advanced by the United States. Directs the Secretary of the Interior, upon certain findings, to extend for 30 years the time limitation on guarantees for purchase by the Federal Financing Bank of bonds or other obligations of the Guam Power Authority. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, under certain conditions, to deduct interest payments due from such Authority from duties and taxes collected and paid to the government of Guam, with such government to receive payments of principal and interest from such Authority. Title IV: Virgin Islands - Extends for ten years the time limitation on Federal commitments to guarantee the issuance of certain bonds and other obligations issued by the Virgin Islands government. Amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to direct the Secretary of the Treasury to administer and enforce (by hiring and training Islands residents and without cost to the government of the Islands) the collection of: (1) all customs duties derived from such Islands and the United States income tax, the proceeds of which are to be covered into the treasury of the Islands; and (2) certain other taxes which are also to be covered into such treasury, with such Secretary's enforcement to be at the request of the Governor of the Islands until the legislature of the Islands requests discontinuance. Amends the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands to transfer to the Virgin Islands Government title to all property in the Virgin Islands which may have been acquired by the United States from Denmark under a specified convention. Excludes from such transfer certain lands and property already reserved or retained by the United States. Title V: American Samoa - Requires the salary and expenses of the government comptroller of American Samoa to be paid from funds to be appropriated to the Department of the Interior. Directs the Secretary of the Treasury, upon the request of the Governor of American Samoa, to administer and enforce the collection of all customs duties derived from American Samoa, without cost to its government and by making every effort to employ and train its residents to carry out such activities. Title VI: Miscellaneous - Directs the Department of the Interior, in administering grants to any Insular Area: (1) to consolidate such grants for any fiscal year or years; and (2) to waive, in its discretion, certain matching funds and written report requirements for grants. Stipulates that authorizations of appropriations by this Act and appropriations pursuant to this Act for any fiscal year shall carry over for appropriation or expenditure in succeeding fiscal years. Permits, to the extent practicable, Federal agencies and instrumentalities to make available their services, facilities, and equipment to the governments of the territories and possessions of the United States and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands on a reimbursable basis or, if otherwise authorized by law, without reimbursement.
United States · United States Congress · 26 April 1979
Amends the National Parks and Recreation Act of 1978 to make specific amount changes in the limitations on funds for development within DeSoto National Memorial and Pecos National Monument. Increases the authorization of appropriations, from $166,000 to $265,000, for the acquisition of lands within the Great Sand Dunes National Monument. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to designate and publish notice of these acquisitions. Changes the date of the maps referencing the Point Reyes National Seashore. Directs the Secretary to accept and manage any land and improvements within or adjacent to the seashore which are donated by the State of California or its subdivisions. Removes the exclusion of specified lands from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. Authorizes the acquisition of lands for Ebey's Landing National Reserves with appropriated, as well as donated, funds. Amends the National Trails System Act to include North Country Scenic Trail. Permits the National Academy of Sciences to retain title to a certain property while used as a memorial to Albert Einstein. Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to terminate the Upper Delaware Citizens Advisory Council ten years after the date of its establishment. Provides for the appointment of additional members to the Delta Region Preservation Commission. Provides for termination of the Commission ten years from the date of approval of this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from charging entrance or admission fees in excess of January 1, 1979, levels or in National Park System units where such fees were not in effect as of such date. Amends such Act to designate a portion of the Birch River in West Virginia as a river to be studied for potential addition to the national wild and scenic river system. Entitles the Farallon National Wildlife Refuge in California to those protections accorded the Point Reyes National Seashore. Amends the Act of October 27, 1972, to change the date of the maps referring to the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Increases the authorization of appropriations, from $61,610,000 to $71,610,000, for the acquisition of lands within such recreation area. Reduces the development ceiling from $58,000,000 to $48,000,000. Directs the Secretary to acquire by donation or purchase a suitable collection of whaling artifacts and associated items for preservation and display at the National Maritime Museum located within such recreation area. Authorizes the appropriation of $3,000,000 for such purchase. Amends the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965 to extend the availability of appropriations from the special account for the acquisition of lands and waters within areas for public use and recreation administered by the Secretary to those areas and authorizations enacted prior to the convening of the Ninety-sixth Congress. Exempts those funds allotted for the acquisition of land, waters, or interests in same for the National Park System, recreation areas, and National Forest System from statutory ceilings enacted prior to the convening of the Ninety-sixth Congress. Permits the Secretary to make minor changes to boundaries or appropriations relating to such Federal lands which boundaries were established subsequent to January 1, 1965. Authorizes the purchase of such lands with appropriated funds. Amends the Act of August 18, 1970, to eliminate the printing of certain newly submitted identical reports if adequate supplies of previously printed identical reports remain available. Directs the Secretary to submit annually a comprehensive "National Park System Plan" to the designated congressional committees. Directs the Secretary to submit to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate an annual "State of the Parks" report. Directs that the annual report be printed as a House document and shall cease to be prepared and submitted after the fifth submission. Revises the boundaries of the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site in North Carolina. Directs that the maps and descriptions of such historical site shall be published by the Secretary within 12 months after the date of the enactment of this Act. Provides for the acquisition and disposal of lands within such boundaries. Amends the Act of October 21, 1976, to increase the authorization of appropriations, from $13,000,000 to $23,700,000, for the acquisition of lands, aquatic lands, or interests therein for Olympic National Park. Makes authorizations of appropriations under this Act effective in fiscal year 1980.
United States · United States Congress · 23 April 1979
Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act of 1979 - Title I: Findings, Policy, and Definitions - Declares it the purpose of this Act to preserve for the benefit of present and future generations certain lands in the State of Alaska in order to: (1) preserve unrivaled scenic, geologic, and wildlife values; (2) perpetuate significant and diverse ecosystems; (3) protect and preserve cultural values of Native and non-Native people; (4) provide recreation; (5) maintain wilderness resource values; (6) preserve rivers; (7) maintain opportunities for research; and (8) utilize natural resources, consistent with sound ecological principles. Provides that: (1) intangible values should be considered on an equal basis with tangible values; (2) the management policies should cause the least adverse impact possible to people who depend on subsistence uses of resources; and (3) the interests of the State of Alaska and the Native Corporations shall be continually considered in carrying out provisions of this Act to maintain a viable economy and provide employment for citizens of Alaska. Title II: National Park System - Designates as units of the National Park System: (1) Bering Land Bridge National Monument; (2) Cape Krusenstern National Monument; (3) Gates of the Arctic National Monument; (4) Kenal Fjords National Monument; (5) Kobuk Valley National Monument; (6) Lake Clark National Monument; (7) Yukon-Charley National Monument; and (8) Katmai National Monument. Expands and redesignates: (1) Aniakchak National Monument by the addition of 160,000 acres of public lands to be redesignated as Aniakchak National Park and National Preserve; (2) Mount McKinley National Park by the addition of Denali National Monument to be redesignated as Denali National Park and National Preserve; (3) Glacier Bay National Monument by the addition of 40,000 acres of public lands to be redesignated as Glacier Bay National Park; (4) Noatak National Monument by the addition of 660,000 acres of public lands to be redesignated as Noatak National Preserve; and (5) Wrangell-Saint Elias National Monument by the addition of 1,230,000 acres of public lands to be redesignated as Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve. Establishes as units of the National Park System: (1) Aniakchak National Preserve; and (2) Lake Clark National Preserve. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer lands, waters, and interests of all National Park System units in accordance with applicable laws and this Act. Incorporates the redesignated national monuments specified in this Act as part of the appropriate national park. Makes available for the appropriate national park any funds which were available for the corresponding monument. Subjects the portion of the Alaska Railroad right-of-way within Denali National Park to laws and regulations applicable to fish and wildlife protection. Permits the continuation of reindeer grazing within Bering Land Bridge National Park. Prohibits the Secretary, generally, from acting to restrict unreasonably the exercise of valid commercial fishing rights or privileges obtained pursuant to State or Federal law, within respect to the Malaspina Glacier area of Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and the Dry Bay area of Glacier Bay National Park. Requires the Secretary to recognize and convey valid Native selections or nominations of land within boundaries of the Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and Preserve in accordance with the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Prohibits the charging of fees for admission to any unit of the National Park System located in Alaska. Title III: National Wildlife Refuge System - Redesignates Becharof National Monument as Becharof National Wildlife Refuge and Yukon Flats National Monument as Yukon Flats National Wildlife Refuge. Designates as units of the National Wildlife Refuge System: (1) Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; (2) Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge; (3) Innoko National Wildlife Refuge; (4) Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge; (5) Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge; (6) Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge; (7) Selawik National Wildlife Refuge; (8) Teshekpuk National Wildlife Refuge; (9) Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge; and (10) Utukok National Wildlife Refuge. Expands the following units of the National Wildlife Refuge System: (1) Arctic National Wildlife Range; (2) Cape Newenham National Wildlife Refuge; (3) Clarence Rhode National Wildlife Range and Hazen Bay National Wildlife Refuge; (4) Kenai National Moose Range; and (5) Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge. Declares that all Executive orders and other administrative actions which were in effect before the date of enactment of this Act will remain in force, except to the extent that they are inconsistent with this Act or the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Makes available for the purposes of any conservation units established under this Act all funds that were previously available. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to administer each wildlife refuge subject to valid existing rights and in accordance with applicable law and this Act. Prohibits the Secretary from permitting uses or granting easements in the above-designated refuges which are not compatible with the purposes of the refuge. Withdraws, subject to valid existing rights, all public lands in each refuge from all forms of appropriation under the mining laws and from operation of the mineral leasing laws. Authorizes the Secretary to permit oil and gas development under a leasing program. Directs that the area of the Iliamna watershed be managed for the primary purposes of watershed protection and fish production. Prohibits the Secretary from conveying any lands in such area to the State of Alaska, unless the State devises a plan for the protection of management of the watershed and fishery resources of such area. Provides that nothing in this title shall limit the Secretary's responsibility with respect to the exploration of oil reserves under the Naval Petroleum Reserves Production Act of 1976. Prohibits the Secretary from acting to restrict unreasonably the exercise of valid commercial fishing rights or privileges obtained pursuant to State or Federal law with respect to designed or redesignated units of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Directs the Secretary to undertake to enter into cooperative management agreements with Native Corporations, the State, or persons owning land within the refuge. States that land subject to the agreement shall be managed by the owner in a manner compatible with the major purposes of the refuge, and in a manner which will not diminish opportunities for subsistence uses in the refuge. Sets forth terms and conditions for such agreements. States that the Congress finds that barren-ground caribou are a migratory species deserving special protection and that the Western Arctic and Porcupine herds of such caribou are of national and international significance. Directs the Secretary to conduct a study of the barren-ground caribou herds north of the Yukon and Tanna Rivers, and, acting through the Secretary of State, to initiate negotiations with the Government of Canada in order to enter into a treaty to protect the Porcupine caribou herd and its habitat. Title IV: National Forest System - Expands as units of the National Forest System the Tongass National Forest and the Chugach National Forest. Directs that such lands as are added to the Tongass and Chugach National Forests shall be administered by the Secretary of Agriculture in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the laws applicable to the National Forest System. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to modify any existing national forest timber sale contracts applying to lands designated by this Act as wilderness by substituting other national forest lands of corresponding quality, quantity, and access, to the extent practicable. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire timber rights to those lands selected for the village of Angoon under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act by purchase or exchange for timber rights elsewhere within the Tongass National Forest. Allows, at the election of the shareholders of Kootznoowoo, Inc., the conveyance of timber rights to lands selected by the corporation to the Secretary of Agriculture, and within one year after such a conveyance the conveyance to Kootznoowoo, Inc. of timber rights which are of equal value to those conveyed to the Secretary. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to designate alternative lands, of equal or greater timber value, for the benefit of Shee Atika, Inc., in satisfaction of the rights of the Natives of Sitka as provided by the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Specifies that such lands shall be located in southeast Alaska other than Admiralty Island. Sets forth procedures for conveyance of surface and subsurface rights, and the release of such rights. Directs the Secretary to convey specified lands to: (1) Goldbelt, Inc., representing the Natives of Juneau with respect to their land entitlements under the Alaska Natives Claims Settlement Act; and (2) S.E. Alaska, Inc. Exempts such conveyances from the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Directs the Secretary of the Interior to reimburse Shee Atika, Inc., Goldbelt, Inc., and Kootznoowoo, Inc. for reasonable and necessary land selection costs. Specifies that permits issued by the Forest Service, before the enactment of this Act, for a dwelling or campsite in the Admiralty Island National Monument, Misty Fjords National Monument, or any wilderness area, shall expire not later than ten years after the enactment of this Act. Provides a limited exception to such permit expiration for Thayer Lake Lodge. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to permit the taking of fish and wildlife in national forest wilderness areas designated by this Act. Designates Admiralty Island National Monument and Misty Fjords National Monument as conservation system units. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to issue regulations with respect to mining activities on national forest lands in Alaska in order to protect water quality in such areas. Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to prohibit any land conveyed to a Native Corporation pursuant to this Act, which is within a contingency area designated in a U.S. timber sale contract, from being subject to such contract or to entry or timbering by the contractor. Prohibits a timber contractor from entering or cutting timber from land in a contingency area that has been withdrawn or selected by a Native Corporation until such Corporation has received all conveyances. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to improve timber production from high quality timber growing sites in the Tongass National Forest through a program of precommercial thinning. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish an insured or guaranteed loan program for purchasers of national forest materials in Alaska to assist such purchasers in the acquisition of equipment to use wood products which might not otherwise be utilized. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a study and report to Congress to identify opportunities to increase timber yields on national forest lands in Alaska, and to reduce inefficient timber uses or waste of national forest produced fiber. Title V: National Wild and Scenic Rivers System - Amends the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act by adding to the Wild and Scenic Rivers System the following rivers (or segments thereof) which are outside the boundaries of other conservation system units: Birch Creek, Colville, Copper, Delta, Etivluk-Nigu, Fortymile, Gulkana, Alagnak, Killik, Nowitna, Selawik, Unalakleet, and Yukon (Ramparts section). Adds to the system the following rivers (or segments thereof) which form the boundary of, or are within, any national preserves in Alaska: Aniakchak and Charley (including their major tributaries), Chilikadrotna, Chitina, Mulchatna, Noatak, Stony, and Telaquana. Adds to the system portions of the following rivers which form the boundary of, or are within, any national wildlife refuge in Alaska: Nowitna, Colville, Porcupine, Beaver Creek, Sheenjek, Andreafsky, Selawik, Ivishak, Kanektok, Kisaralik, Squirrel, and Utukok. Requires that detailed boundaries and development plans be established for specified rivers within one to three years of the date of enactment of this Act. Designates the following rivers to be studied for possible inclusion in the system: Ikpikpuk, Koyuk, Kuskokwim, Melozitna, Mulchatna, Nelchina-Tazlina, Nuyakuk, Situk, and Susitna. Sets forth requirement for the completion of such studies. Authorizes the Secretary to seek cooperative agreement with the owners of non-Federal lands adjoining rivers which are newly designated units of the Wild and Scenic Rivers System. Permits the Secretary to establish a river protection zone extending two miles from the banks of such rivers. Withdraws the minerals in Federal lands within the boundaries of such rivers and within each such river protection zone from all forms of appropriation under the United States mining laws. Authorizes the Secretary to permit the use of snowmobiles for customary purposes by local residents and by authorized subsistence users, if such use was occurring on or before January 1, 1979. Authorizes the Secretary to grant permits to oil and gas pipelines to cross areas designated as wild, scenic, or recreational river areas in Alaska, if the Secretary determines that no feasible alternative route exists. Title VI: National Wilderness Preservation System - Designates as units of the National Wilderness Preservation System certain lands in: (1) Aniakchak National Park and Preserve; (2) Bering Land Bridge National Preserve; (3) Denali National Park and Preserve; (4) Gates of the Arctic National Park; (5) Glacier Bay National Park; (6) Katmai National Park; (7) Kenai Fjords National Park; (8) Kobuk Valley National Park; (9) Lake Clark National Park and Preserve; (10) Noatak National Preserve; (11) Wrangell-Saint Elias National Park and National Preserve; and (12) Yukon-Charley National Preserve. Designates as wilderness areas within the National Wilderness Reservation System certain lands in: (1) Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge; (2) Arctic National Wildlife Range; (3) Becharof National Wildlife Refuge; (4) Innoko National Wildlife Refuge; (5) Izembek National Wildlife Range; (6) Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge; (7) Kenai National Wildlife Range; (8) Koyukuk National Wildlife Refuge; (9) Nowitna National Wildlife Refuge; (10) Nunivak National Wildlife Refuge; (11) Sulawik National Wildlife Refuge; (12) Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge; (13) Togiak National Wildlife Range; (14) Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge; and (15) Afognak Island. Designates as wilderness areas within the National Forest System certain lands in Chugach National Forest and Tongass National Forest. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to study the feasibility of designating Prince William Sound, Chugach National Forest as a wilderness area and to report his findings to the President and the Congress within three years. Authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to permit fishery research, management, enhancement, and rehabilitation activities within national forest wilderness areas in Alaska. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a cooperative planning process for the enhancement of fisheries resources in the Chugach and Tongass National Forests. Provides for the maintenance of existing public use cabins located in national forest wilderness areas and the construction of a limited number of new cabins for the protection of the public health and safety. Directs the Secretary to review nondesignated wilderness areas and to report to the President and the Congress on the feasibility of designating such areas as wilderness areas. Title VII: Subsistence - Declares that the first priority consumptive use of public land resources under this Act shall be the taking of fish and other renewable resources for nonwasteful subsistence uses by local rural residents. Stipulates that restrictions on the taking of populations of fish and wildlife on such lands for subsistence uses in order to protect the continued viability of such populations, or to continue such uses, shall be based on: (1) customary and direct dependence upon the populations as the mainstay of livelihood; (2) local residency; and (3) the availability of alternative resources. Authorizes the States to regulate the taking of fish and wildlife on public lands for subsistence uses in a manner consistent with the policies and requirements of this Act. Directs the Secretary, if the State fails to exercise its authority to regulate subsistence uses, to establish: (1) at least seven Alaska subsistence resource regions which, taken together, include all public lands; (2) such local advisory committees within each region, as necessary, based upon a finding that the existing State fish and game advisory committees do not adequately assist in the preparation of the reports required of the regional councils; and (3) a regional advisory council in each subsistence region, to be composed of residents of the affected region. Sets forth the duties of such regional councils in regard to subsistence uses of fish and wildlife within the regions, including the preparation of annual reports to the Secretary. Requires that such reports contain identifications, evaluations and recommended strategies for the management of fish and wildlife populations within the regions, as well as recommendations concerning policies, standards, guidelines, and regulations to implement such strategies. Directs the Secretary to follow the advice of such councils unless he determines in writing that such advice is not supported by substantial evidence, violates recognized principles of fish and wildlife conservation, or would be detrimental to the satisfaction of subsistence needs. Directs the Secretary to monitor State regulation of the subsistence preference granted under this title and to advise the States and Congress of his findings and recommendations. Directs the local and regional advisory councils established by this title to notify the Secretary if any such council determines that the State has not adequately provided for a system of subsistence preference in the region or locality which such council represents. Directs the Secretary to review the determinations of any council and advise the State of his findings. Directs the Secretary to close public areas to all consumptive uses except subsistence uses by local residents if he determines that the States has failed to comply with directives from the Secretary regarding improvements in the subsistence preference program and that such failure endangers the fish or wildlife population in an area or the ability of rural residents to satisfy their subsistence needs. Sets forth procedures for hearing and appeal by the State. Gives the Secretary emergency authority to close any public land to subsistence uses if necessary for public safety, administration, or to insure the natural stability and continued productivity of one or more fish or wildlife populations. Authorizes the Secretary to enter into cooperative agreements or to otherwise cooperate with other Federal agencies, the State of Alaska, Native Corporations, and other appropriate persons and organizations, (including, through coordination with the Secretary of State, other nations) in order to protect subsistence resources and uses. Prohibits Federal agencies from withdrawal, reservation, lease, permit, or other use, occupancy or disposition of lands within their jurisdiction if the effect would be to significantly restrict the subsistence uses unless the head of the agency: (1) gives notice to the appropriate State agency, local committees and regional councils; (2) gives notice of, and holds, a hearing in the vicinity of the area involved; and (3) makes specific determinations regarding the purpose and the effect of the restriction. Directs the Secretary to insure the access to subsistence resources on public lands to persons engaged in subsistence uses. Directs the Secretary, acting through the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and National Park Service to undertake research on fish and wildlife resources and subsistence activities on the public lands. Title VIII: Administrative and Miscellaneous Provisions - Authorizes the Secretary to acquire by purchase, donation, or exchange any lands within the boundaries of any conservation system unit. Stipulates that land owned by the State, a political subdivision, or a Native Corporation may only be acquired with their consent. Sets forth administrative provisions relating to such acquisitions. Allows the Secretary to permit on conservation system units the use of snow machines, motorboats, airplanes, and nonmotorized transportation methods, subject to reasonable regulation. Authorizes the Secretary to acquire up to 7,500 acres of archaeological or paleontological sites outside of the Cape Krusenstern National Park, Bering Land Bridge National Park, Kobuk Valley National Park, and the Yukon-Charley Rivers National Park. Requires the Secretary, prior to acquiring any such property in excess of 100 acres, to submit notice of the proposed acquisition to the appropriate committees of the Congress, and publish notice of such proposed acquisition in the Federal Register. Directs the Secretary to provide advice, assistance, and technical expertise to an applying Native Corporation or Native Group for the purpose of preserving cultural resources, without regard to whether title to such resources is in the United States. Authorizes the Secretary to investigate and plan for an information and education center for visitors to Alaska, on no more than 1,000 acres of land adjacent to the Alaska Highway. Authorizes the Secretary to investigate and plan for such centers in Anchorage and Fairbanks, and authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to investigate and plan for centers in Juneau, Ketchikan, or Sitka. Authorizes the Secretary to establish administrative sites and visitor facilities within the conservation units, if compatible, or outside the units. Directs the Secretary to locate such sites and facilities on Native lands where practicable and desirable. Sets forth the authorities of the Secretary in regard to establishing such sites and facilities. Directs the Secretary, under reasonable terms, to permit a person who on or before January 1, 1979, was adequately providing any type of visitor service to a conservation system unit, to continue providing the services if they are consistent with the purposes of the unit. Requires that the Secretary, in selecting persons to provide visitor services, give preference to Native Corporations most directly affected by the conservation system unit, and local residents. Directs the Secretary to establish a local-hire program, under which the Secretary will consider for selection qualified local residents to positions in any of the conservation system units, without regard to civil service regulations which require minimum periods of formal training or experience, other preference provisions, or numerical limitations on personnel. Requires the Secretary to submit annual reports and recommendations to Congress on such program. Requires the Secretary to prepare detailed management plans for national park and wildlife refuge units and submit them to Congress within five years of the date of enactment of this Act. Sets forth requirements for such plans, factors which must be considered, public hearings requirements, and requirements for reports to the appropriate committees of Congress. Closes all areas of the National Park System in Alaska to the taking of fish and wildlife, except for authorized subsistence use, fishing, and sport hunting as the Secretary may permit within national preserves. Stipulates that other conservation units will be subject to applicable Federal and State law with respect to the taking of fish and wildlife. Authorizes the issuance of permits to certain sport hunting guide services and nonsubsistence trappers to continue the taking of wildlife in connection with their business for a period not to exceed ten years from the enactment of this Act, if the Secretary determines that a termination of such privilege would result in serious economic hardship for such individuals. Requires that the boundary maps described in this Act shall be on file and available for public inspection in the office of the Secretary of the Interior and Secretary of Agriculture. Specifies that in the event of discrepancies between the acreages stated in this Act and those depicted on such maps, the maps shall be controlling. Prohibits the boundaries of areas added to the national systems to extend beyond the mean high tide line to include lands owned by the State unless the State concurs. Directs that a map and legal description of each change in land management status effected by this Act be published in the Federal Register and filed with the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate, and that each such description shall have the same force as if included in this Act. Directs that the Secretary shall make each such map and description available for public inspection. Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to make minor adjustments in the boundaries or areas added to or established by this Act, as appropriate, following reasonable notice in writing to Congress. Permits reasonable access to and operation and maintenance of existing air and navigation aids and facilities for weather, climate, and fisheries research and monitoring in accordance with applicable law. Authorizes reasonable access to and operation and maintenance of, existing facilities for national defense purposes, notwithstanding any other provision of this Act. Permits the establishment of new facilities for national defense purposes within any conservation unit after consultation with the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture by the head of the applicable Federal department, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be mutually agreed in order to minimize the adverse effects within such unit. Amends the Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park to provide that lands owned by the State or any political subdivision may be acquired by exchange or donation and that the State may include minerals in any such transaction. Withdraws all public lands within a specified area near the Denali National Park from all forms of entry or appropriation under the mining laws and from operation of mineral leasing laws of the United States, for the purpose of establishing Denali Scenic Highway. Directs the Secretary to study the desirability of establishing a Denali Scenic Highway and within three years after the date of enactment to report to the President, who shall advise the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives of any legislation to create such a scenic highway (if so recommended). Withdraws all public lands within the conservation system units in Alaska, subject to valid existing rights, from the mining and mineral leasing laws of the United States. Directs any holder of a valid existing mineral claim or lease to exercise their rights in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Secretary to assure such activities are compatible with the conservation unit. Denies valid lease status to certain noncompetitive oil and gas leases. Allows any holder of a mining claim who feels he has suffered loss to bring an action against the United States in the U.S. District Court for Alaska. Directs the Secretary to assess the oil, gas, and other mineral potential on all public lands in the State of Alaska in order to expand the data base with respect to mineral potential of such lands. Authorizes the appropriation of such sums as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act for fiscal years beginning after fiscal year 1979. Title IX: Implementation of Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act and Alaska Statehood Act - Amends the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to cancel all stock issued previous to December 18, 1991, and to issue shares of appropriate class stock to each shareholder. Makes further provisions for permissible restrictions on stockholders; amendments to the articles of incorporation; and stock alienation, annual audits, and transfer of stock ownership. Allows the Secretary, upon the request of a Village Corporation, to waive the requirement that a Corporation select land in whole sections (and that natural features are to be used as boundaries) where such waiver is justified and appears to be beneficial. Provides for the selection of land by Regional Corporations where the public lands consist only of a mineral estate. Makes provisions for the conveyance of real property by a Village Corporation to a shareholder of such Corporation to provide homesites and for the reconveyance of less than 1,280 acres by a Village Corporation to a Municipal Corporation or the State in trust. Places restrictions on the conveyance to Regional Corporations of lands which are located in a wildlife refuge. Permits a Regional Corporation which is precluded from receiving title to protected lands to file a claim to certain other lands designated by the Secretary for such purpose. Provides that the 20 year moratorium on the payment of State and local real property taxes on land conveyed pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act shall begin with the vesting of title in such lands. Provides that the moratorium shall not apply to land which is leased or developed for purposes other than exploration. States that fire protection of Native land provided by the Department of the Interior shall cover wildland. Provides for the selection of additional lands by a Village Corporation which has not fulfilled its entitlement under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Withdraws from further entry all lands located in patented townsites or which are the subject of an application for patent. Provides for the conveyance of unoccupied townsite lands. Requires the Secretary to act on any pending townsite entry and to issue patent, if appropriate, to the townsite trustee. Approves Alaska Native allotment applications which were pending before the Department of the Interior on December 18, 1971, and which describe land that was unreserved on December 13, 1968, except when provided otherwise by the applicable provisions of this Act. Makes exceptions to such approval for: (1) allotment applications describing land within the boundaries of a National Park system unit established before or by this Act and the described land not withdrawn; (2) allotment applications describing land patented or deeded to the State of Alaska, or land selected by, or tentatively approved or confirmed to the State of Alaska and not withdrawn; (3) allotment applications where a Native Corporation files a protest stating the applicant is not entitled and the land is withdrawn for selection by the Corporation; (4) allotment applications where the State of Alaska files a protest stating the land in the allotment application is necessary for access to public lands; (5) allotment applications where a person or entity files a protest and the land is a situs of an improvement by that person or entity; and (6) an allotment application that was pending before the Department of the Interior on December 18, 1971, which was knowingly and voluntarily relinquished by the applicant. Sets forth procedures for the Secretary to adjust descriptions of lands in allotment applications to eliminate conflicts. Allows the allotment applicant to amend the land description in the allotment if such description describes land that the applicant did not intend to claim. Directs the Secretary to notify the State and all interested parties of such intended correction and gives parties an opportunity to file a protest. Deems vacant, unappropriated and unreserved land described in an allotment application pending before the Department of the Interior on December 18, 1971, which was at such time withdrawn, reserved, or classified for powersite or power-project purposes unless the described land is included as part of a project under the Federal Power Act or is presently utilized for purposes of transmitting or generating electrical power. Reserves such land to be allotted subject to a right of reentry for a specified 20-year period. Directs the Secretary to identify and adjudicate any record entry or application for title made under an Act other than the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, the Alaska Statehood Act, or the Act of May 17, 1906, prior to issuing a certificate for an allotment subject to this Act. Directs the Secretary to determine whether such entry or application represents a valid existing right. Disallows the affecting of existing rights acquired by actual use of the described lands prior to its withdrawal or classification. Requires that payments under such Act shall be deposited into the Alaska Native Fund on the first day of the fiscal year for which the monies are appropriated, and shall be distributed at the end of the first quarter of the fiscal year. Directs the Secretary to pay by grant to certified Native Group Corporations an amount not more than $100,000 or less than $50,000 for planning, development, or other authorized purposes. Provides for a two year statute of limitation for the filing of any appeal from a decision of the Secretary under this title or under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Conveys to a Village Corporation found eligible by the Secretary of Interior, the surface estate to public land in its "core" township or townships (towns or townships in which the Native Villages are located). Stipulates that where two or more corporations have claim to the same township, the conveyance is delayed until an arbitration decision or other binding agreement between or among the Corporations is filed with and published by the Secretary. Conveys to a Village Corporation found eligible by the Secretary, the surface estate to certain lands in the "core" township. Conveys the surface and subsurface estate in the former Indian Reserve to certain village Corporations. Excludes the Village Corporation for the Native Village of Klukwan from such conveyances. Conveys the subsurface estate in "core" townships conveyed to Village Corporations, to Regional Corporations to the extent they would otherwise have obtained such subsurface estate pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. Sets forth requirements with respect to the granting of easements on such lands. Provides for the relinquishment of all claims by the United States to submerged lands under a nonnavigable meanderable stream or a lake having a surface area of 160 acres or more which is adjacent to land which is conveyed to a Native Corporation pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of this Act. Provides that such submerged lands shall not be charged toward the acreage entitlement of any Native Corporation. Retains in Federal ownership submerged lands within the boundaries of any conservation system unit. Lists specified lands of: (1) Nana/Cook Inlet Regional Corporation, the Ahtna Regional Corporation, and the Bering Straits Regional Corporation to be withdrawn for selection, and (2) the Doyon Regional Corporation to be exchanged for lands relinquished. Requires the Hodzana River area to be managed as a study area by the Fish and Wildlife Service in cooperation with Doyon, Limited. Lists lands, previously selected by Doyon, Limited which such corporation may identify in partial satisfaction of its entitlement under such Act. Provides for the settlement of certain claims and litigation to implement such Act under the unique circumstances of the Native Village of Eklutna. Directs the Secretary to convey the surface and subsurface estates of specified lands on Afognak Island to Koniag, Incorporated. Directs the Secretary to negotiate with specified Native Corporations for boundaries and prices of certain areas of the Pribilof Islands group to be included in the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. Authorizes the Secretary to accept from Arctic Slope Regional Corporation a relinquishment of all right, title, and interest of such Corporation in specified Alaskan lands. Directs the Secretary to make specified conveyances of land pursuant to the Cook Inlet Village Settlement. Grants final approval to all tentative approvals of the State of Alaska land selections pursuant to the Alaska Statehood Act. Vests title in all such lands in the State as of the date of tentative approval. Directs the Secretary to convey public lands selected by the Chugach Regional Corporation from certain lands within the Chugach National Forest. Directs the Secretary to study the land ownership and use patterns in the Chugach region in cooperation with the Secretary of Agriculture, the Alaska Advisory Coordinating Council, Chugach Natives, Inc., and the State of Alaska (if the State chooses to participate). Title X: Transportation and Utility Systems - Declares that applications for rights-of-way in conservation system units in Alaska shall be made only as provided by this title. Provides that transportation and utility systems subject to this title are: (1) water transportation systems; (2) pipelines and other systems for the transportation of their liquids and gases, including oil, natural gas, synthetic liquid and gaseous fuels, and any refined produce produced from such sources; (3) pipeline, slurry and emulsion systems, and conveyor belts for transportation of solid materials; (4) systems for the transmission and distribution of electric energy; (5) systems for the transmission of radio, television, telephone, telegraph, and other electronic signals, and other means of communication; (6) improved rights-of-way for snow machines, air cushion vehicles, and other all-terrain vehicles; and (7) roads, highways, railroads, tunnels, tramways, airports, and other systems of transportation. Directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture, in consultation with other appropriate Federal agencies, to prepare and publish a consolidated application form to be used for applying for a right-of-way for a transportation or utility system subject to this title. Requires any Federal agency which receives an application for a right-of-way to notify the applicant within 60 days of the receipt of the application that such application is either complete or that more information is required. Sets forth filing requirements for environmental impact statements required to be filed with an application for a right-of-way. Requires the heads of Federal agencies to coordinate their procedures for processing applications for rights-of-way for transportation or utility systems which require the approval of more than one agency. Sets forth procedures for the consideration, processing, and approval of applications for rights-of-way. Requires the Secretary to submit his recommendation for the approval or disapproval of an application to Congress. Provides that such application shall be deemed approved only upon enactment of a joint resolution by the Senate and the House of Representatives. Title XI: Federal-State Coordination - Establishes the Alaska Advisory Coordinating Council, cochaired by the Secretary of the Interior and the Governor of Alaska and composed of the Alaska field directors of the Federal land managing and planning agencies; the Commissioners of the Alaska Departments of Natural Resources, Fish and Game, and Environmental Conservation; and representatives from a Village Corporation and a Regional Corporation. Requires that all Council meetings be open to the public, with at least 15 days prior notice in the Federal Register and in newspapers of general circulation in Alaska. Directs the Council to conduct studies and advise the Secretary, other Federal agencies, the State, and Native Corporations regarding land and resource uses in Alaska, including natural resource management, economic development, and other land administration programs. Authorizes the Council to recommend cooperative planning and management zones where the management of lands or resources of one member materially affects another. Authorizes Federal members of the Council to enter into cooperative agreements with Federal agencies, with State and local agencies, and with Native Corporations for mutual consultation, review, and coordination of resource management plans within such zones. Authorizes the Secretary to provide technical and other assistance to landowners whose lands or resources are subject to a cooperative agreement, for fire control, trespass control, law enforcement, resource use, and planning. States that such assistance may be provided without reimbursement if the Secretary determines that doing so would further the purposes of the cooperative agreement and would be in the public interest. Provides that the Council will terminate in ten years, unless extended by Congress. Directs the Council to establish a citizens' advisory committee of land-use advisors. Establishes the Alaska Land Bank Program to facilitate the coordinated management and protection of Federal, State, Native, and other private lands. Authorizes certain private landowners to enter into agreements with the Secretary for ten years, with five year renewal periods, concerning the management of the affected lands. Sets forth required terms of such agreements, as well as benefits to private landowners. Provides, as to Native Corporations and other persons or groups that have received or will receive lands or interests therein pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act on this title, immunity from adverse possession, Federal and State taxation, and judgment in any action at law or equity to recover sums owned or penalties incurred by any Native Corporation, or any officer, director, or stockholder of any such Corporation. Title XII: Oil and Gas Exploration, Development, and Production - States as the purpose of this title the furtherance of exploration, development, and production, through private enterprise with appropriate environmental safeguards, of oil and gas resources on certain public lands in Alaska. Provides that this title shall apply to: (1) the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska; (2) nonwilderness portions of all units of the wildlife refuge system in Alaska; and (3) all public lands in Alaska which are not within any conservation system unit and which are managed by the Secretary of the Interior through the Bureau of Land Management. Provides that exploration, development, and production of oil and gas on lands to which this title applies shall be conducted pursuant to the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 except to the extent otherwise provided by this title. Authorizes the Secretary to issue permits for the exploration for oil and gas resources which is conducted pursuant to a plan approved by the Secretary. Requires the holder of any permit issued by the Secretary to disclose to the Secretary any information obtained as a result of any exploration activities. Requires the Secretary to maintain the confidentiality of such information until the permittee acquires a lease for the lands on which the permit data was acquired or at such time as the data ceases to hold proprietary value, but in no case longer than ten years. Directs the Secretary to study such information and to consult with the Secretary of Energy regarding the national interest involved in exploring for and developing oil and gas from lands subject to this title. Directs the Secretary to encourage the State to undertake studies on lands associated with lands subject to this title. Provides that leases shall be issued only by competitive bidding with respect to the following lands: (1) the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska; (2) nonwilderness portions of all units of the wildlife refuge system in Alaska; and (3) all public lands in Alaska which are not within any conservation system unit and which are managed by the Secretary through the Bureau of Land Management and are determined by the Secretary to be within an area favorable for the occurrence of oil or gas. Requires the development and production of oil or gas on leased lands to be carried out in accordance with a development and production plan approved by the Secretary. Directs the Secretary to suspend or cancel such leases if he determines that operations under such lease pose environmental threats to the land. Requires the Secretary to issue a permit for oil and gas exploration on public lands within six months of a request if the applicant is not required to file an environmental impact statement, or three months after the filing of such a statement if such a statement is required. Requires the Secretary to include in reports required under the Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970 information with respect to oil and gas development activities under this title. Requires the Secretary to establish a program for the consideration and issuance of exploration permits to applicants for public lands within the National Petroleum Reserve - Alaska, including public lands within the Teshekpuk and Utukok National Wildlife Refuges within 240 days after the date of the enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary to publish a schedule of proposed lease sales covering such land and to hold the first lease sale on such lands within 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. Provides that exploration for, and development and production of, oil and gas on nonwilderness areas within the National Wildlife Refuge System shall be carried out according to the provisions of this title, except for lands that have been withdrawn from such use under this Act. Directs the Secretary to establish a program for issuance of exploration permits and for lease sales of lands subject to the Bureau of Land Management.
United States · United States Congress · 10 April 1979
Amends the Internal Revenue Code to tax income of married individuals filing tax returns separate from their spouses at the same rates applicable to unmarried individuals.
![Official portrait of Rep. Florio, James J. [D-NJ-1]](https://www.congress.gov/img/member/dfda094a48c87dccd97fd47288d44ac3_200.jpg)