Environment

Enhancement of Trade, Security, and Human Rights Through Sanctions Reform Act

United States · United States Congress · 24 March 1999

Enhancement of Trade, Security, and Human Rights Through Sanctions Reform Act - Declares that it is the purpose of this Act to establish an effective framework for consideration by the legislative and executive branches of unilateral economic sanctions in order to ensure coordination of U.S. policy with respect to trade, security, and human rights. (Sec. 3) Declares that it is U.S. policy to: (1) pursue U.S. interests through vigorous and effective diplomatic, political, commercial, charitable, educational, cultural, and strategic engagement with other countries, while recognizing that U.S. national security interests may sometimes require the imposition of economic sanctions on other countries; (2) foster multilateral cooperation on vital matters of U.S. foreign policy, including promoting human rights and democracy, combating international terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, and international narcotics trafficking, and ensuring adequate environmental protection; (3) promote U.S. economic growth and job creation by expanding exports of goods, services, and agricultural commodities, and by encouraging investment that supports the sale abroad of U.S. products and services; (4) maintain the reputation of U.S. businesses and farmers as reliable suppliers to international customers of quality products and services; (5) avoid the use of restrictions on exports of agricultural commodities as a foreign policy weapon; and (6) oppose policies of other countries designed to discourage economic interaction with countries friendly to the United States or with any U.S. national, and to avoid use of such measures as instruments of U.S. foreign policy. States that when economic sanctions are necessary, it is U.S. policy to: (1) target them as narrowly as possible on those foreign governments, entities, and officials that are responsible for the conduct being targeted, thereby minimizing unnecessary or disproportionate harm to individuals who are not responsible for such conduct; and (2) to the extent feasible, avoid any adverse impact of economic sanctions on the humanitarian activities of the United States and foreign nongovernmental organizations in a country against which sanctions are imposed. (Sec. 5) Expresses the sense of Congress that any bill or joint resolution imposing or authorizing the imposition of a unilateral economic sanction by the executive branch, and considered by the House of Representatives or the Senate, should: (1) state the U.S. foreign policy or national security objective; (2) terminate after two years unless specifically reauthorized; (3) provide for contract sanctity; (4) provide presidential authority to adjust or waive the sanction in the national interest; (5) target the sanction as narrowly as possible against the parties responsible for the conduct being targeted (without restricting medicine, medical equipment, or food, disaster relief or refugee assistance, or other specified foreign assistance); and (6) provide for expanded export promotion programs if sanctions are likely to target an export market for American farmers. (Sec. 6) Sets forth a procedure for congressional consideration of any bill or joint resolution that imposes, or authorizes the imposition of, any unilateral economic sanction by the executive branch. Requires specified reports: (1) from the President assessing the likelihood that the proposed unilateral economic sanction will achieve its stated objective within a reasonable period of time, as well as the impact of the proposed unilateral economic sanction on U.S. foreign policy, national security, and humanitarian activities; and (2) from the Secretary of Agriculture assessing the extent to which any country or countries proposed or likely to be sanctioned are markets that accounted for more than three percent of all U.S. agricultural export sales in the preceding calendar year, as well as the likelihood that U.S. agricultural exports will be affected by the proposed sanction or by retaliation by any country proposed or likely to be sanctioned, and specific commodities which are most likely to be affected. Considers any bill or joint resolution that imposes any unilateral economic sanction to include a Federal private sector mandate for purposes of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. Requires the Congressional Budget Office, in its report pursuant to such Act, to assess the likely short- and long-term costs of the proposed sanction to the U.S. economy. (Sec. 7) Requires the President to publish notice in the Federal Register at least 45 days in advance of the imposition of a unilateral economic sanction of his intention to implement such sanction. Authorizes the President to waive such notice in cases where the sanction involves freezing the assets of a foreign country or entity, if it is determined that U.S. national interest would be jeopardized. Requires any executive sanction to include an assessment of whether the sanction is likely to achieve a specific U.S. foreign policy or national security objective within a reasonable and specified period of time. Requires, before imposition of a unilateral economic sanction, that the President and the Secretary of Agriculture report to appropriate congressional committees the same assessments required in connection with any bill or joint resolution imposing or authorizing the imposition of a unilateral economic sanction by the executive branch. Requires the President to request a report by the U.S. International Trade Commission on the likely short- and long-term costs of the proposed sanction to the U.S. economy, including the potential impact on U.S. competitiveness. Provides, in the case of a national emergency, for allowing the President temporarily to waive most of the requirements for executive action in order to act immediately, generally requiring the waived requirements to be met within 60 days after imposition of the sanction (which shall terminate after 90 days if such requirements are not met). Establishes within the executive branch an interagency Sanctions Review Committee to coordinate U.S. policy regarding unilateral economic sanctions and provide appropriate recommendations to the President. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the President to waive any sanction or prohibition contained in specified sections of the Arms Export Control Act, the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, or the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 for periods of six months each if it is determined that it would advance the purposes of such Acts or the national security interests of the United States.

Abwasserentsorgung in der Gemeinde Unterpremstätten

Austria · National Council · 23 March 1999

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Andreas Wabl und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Land- und Forstwirtschaft betreffend Abwasserentsorgung in der Gemeinde Unterpremstätten

gesetzwidriges Verhalten Stadtrat Svihalek

Austria · National Council · 23 March 1999

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Andreas Wabl und Genossen an den Bundesminister für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend gesetzwidriges und elementaren Grundsätzen der Führung eines öffentlichen Amtes widersprechendes Verhalten des Vorsitzenden der Kommission für Siedlungswasserwirtschaft, Stadtrat Svihalek <i>(Preisabsprachen des Baukartells für</i> <i>Siedlungswasserwirtschaft)</i>

To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to permit grants for the national estuary program to be used for the development and implementation of a comprehensive conservation and management plan, to reauthorize appropriations to carry out the program, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 23 March 1999

Amends the Clean Water Act to require grants made under the National Estuary Program to be used for assisting activities necessary for the development and implementation of conservation and management plans (currently, for research and other technical work necessary for the development of such plans). Reauthorizes appropriations for the Program for FY 2000 through 2004.

Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2000

United States · United States Congress · 22 March 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations Title II: Department of State Authorities and Activities Title III: Organization of the Department of State; Personnel of the Department of State; Foreign Service Title IV: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs Title V: International Broadcasting Title VI: International Organizations and Commissions Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2000 and 2001 - Title I: Authorizations of Appropriations - Chapter 1: Department of State - Authorizes appropriations for the Department of State for FY 2000 and 2001 for: (1) the administration of foreign affairs; (2) contributions to international organizations and international peacekeeping activities; (3) international commissions; (4) migration and refugee assistance; (5) public diplomacy programs; (6) certain voluntary contributions to international organizations; and (7) the Asia Foundation. Withholds a certain amount of funds from the United Nations Development Program that will be spent in Burma during each fiscal year unless the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Program's activities in Burma: (1) are focused on eliminating human suffering and addressing the needs of the poor; (2) are undertaken only through international or private voluntary organizations that are independent of the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) (formerly known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC)); (3) provide no financial, political, or military benefit to the SPDC; and (4) are carried out only after consultation with the leadership of the National League for Democracy and the national Coalition Government of the Union of Burma. Prohibits the use of U.S. voluntary contributions to international organizations for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) unless the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that: (1) the UNFPA has terminated all activities in China; or (2) during the 12 months preceding the certification, there have been no abortions as the result of coercion by the Government of China. Chapter 2: Broadcasting Board of Governors - Authorizes appropriations for FY 2000 and 2001 for the Broadcasting Board of Governors to carry out certain international broadcasting activities. Title II: Department of State Authorities and Activities - Chapter 1: Authorities and Activities - Authorizes the Secretary of State and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to lease commercial aircraft to transport equipment and personnel in the event of a terrorist attack abroad, provided there have been reasonable efforts to obtain appropriate Department of Defense (DOD) aircraft and such aircraft are unavailable. (Sec. 202) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the extent of international drug trafficking from or through Cuba. (Sec. 203) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees on the compliance by the parties of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction with such convention. (Sec. 204) Repeals specified Federal laws eliminating certain reports. (Sec. 205) Amends the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (as enacted by division D of the Omnibus Consolidated and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1999) to make permanent certain reporting requirements, including reports on: (1) claims by U.S. firms against the Government of Saudi Arabia; (2) certain determinations under title IV of the Libertad Act; and (3) relations with Vietnam. Extends through January 1, 2002, the requirement that the President report to specified congressional committees on cooperative projects with Russia in the area of ballistic missile defense, including in the area of early warning. (Sec. 206) Repeals a provision concerning the return of passport fees upon refusal to vise'. (Sec. 207) Directs the President to attempt, through negotiations with all Wassenaar Arrangement countries, to achieve the foreign policy goal of an international arms sales code of conduct that restricts or prohibits arms transfers to countries that: (1) do not respect democratic processes and the rule of law; (2) do not adhere to internationally recognized norms on human rights; (3) are engaged in acts of armed aggression; or (4) do not participate in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms. Directs the President to report on such countries and negotiations to specified congressional committees. (Sec. 208) Establishes within the Department of State the Human Rights and Democracy Fellowship Program. Provides for the employment of not more than 12 fellows in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor who have expertise in human rights policy, human rights law, or related subjects and who are not permanent employees of the U.S. Government. (Sec. 209) Authorizes interest accrued on certain joint funds under agreements for cooperation in environmental, scientific, cultural and related areas to be used by the Department of State without return to the Treasury and without further appropriation by Congress. Chapter 2: Consular and Related Activities - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to revise provisions concerning the State Department and the death of U.S. citizens abroad. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) notification of next of kin by consular officers; (2) the appointment of such officers as administrators of the estate; and (3) losses in connection with the conservation of the estate. Chapter 3: Refugees - Bars the use of funds (including migration and refugee assistance) for the involuntary return of a person to a country in which the person has a well founded fear of persecution on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. (Sec. 272) Requires a certain human rights report in connection with the provision of security assistance to a foreign country to include the extent to which such country has extended protection to refugees (including the provision of first asylum and resettlement). (Sec. 273) Includes State Department employees within guidelines that address potential biases by such personnel that are hired abroad and involved with duties which could constitute a barrier to a refugee claim if such personnel carries a bias against the claimant on the grounds of religion, race, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion. Directs the Secretary to issue regulations to ensure that persons with potential biases against a refugee applicant shall not be used in processing determinations of refugee status, including interpretation of conversations or examination of documents presented by such applicants. (Sec. 274) Bars the use of funds to support a larger number of personnel assigned to U.S. diplomatic or consular posts in Vietnam than the number assigned to such posts on March 22, 1999, unless the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that certain conditions with respect to Vietnamese refugees have been met. Title III: Organization of the Department of State; Personnel of the Department of State; Foreign Service - Chapter 1: Organization of the Department of State - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to establish within the Department of State the Bureau for International Information Programs and the Bureau for Educational and Cultural exchange Programs. (Sec. 302) Amends specified Federal laws to remove the Inspector General of the Foreign Service from its provisions. Chapter 2: Personnel of the Department of State - Provides for the award of the Foreign Service Star. (Sec. 322) Eliminates provisions allowing leaves of absence with pay in accordance with prevailing law and employment practices in the locality of employment for non-family members of foreign national employees of the Foreign Service and U.S. citizens hired abroad for employment in positions customarily filled by Foreign Service employees. (Sec. 323) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require a Foreign Service employee who regularly commutes from his or her place of residence in the United States to an official duty station in Canada or Mexico to receive a border equalization adjustment (locality pay adjustment). (Sec. 324) Declares that nothing shall prevent a Foreign Service grievant from placing a rebuttal to accompany a record of disciplinary action in such grievant's personnel records nor prevent the Department of State from including a response to such rebuttal, including documenting those cases in which the Foreign Service Labor Relations Board has reviewed and upheld the discipline. (Sec. 325) Directs the Secretary to report to the appropriate congressional committees concerning the extent to which administrative and technical personnel posted to U.S. missions abroad who do not have diplomatic status suffer financial disadvantages from their lack of such status, including proposals to alleviate such disadvantages. (Sec. 326) Authorizes the Secretary to extend hiring authority to the heads of Federal agencies or other Government entities to appoint individuals abroad (including family members of the Foreign Service or of other Government employees) to positions to which career Foreign Service employees are not customarily assigned. (Sec. 327) Amends Federal law to authorize up to three months advance pay to be paid to: (1) a U.S. citizen employee of a Government agency (other than family members of Government employees) who is assigned or located, and must (or a family member who must) undergo medical treatment, outside the United States; and (2) each foreign national employee or nonfamily member U.S. citizen who is located, and must undergo medical treatment, outside of the country of employment. (Sec. 528) Authorizes the spouse and dependents of Foreign Service employees who have died in a foreign country to receive a transfer allowance (extraordinary, necessary, and reasonable subsistence and other relocation expenses). Title IV: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs - Amends the Human Rights, refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996 to designate educational and cultural exchange programs between the United States and Tibet as the 'Ngawang Choephel Exchange Programs'. (Sec. 401) Extends through FY 2001 scholarships for Tibetan and Burmese students and professionals who live outside Tibet and Burma, respectively. (Sec. 402) Prohibits any educational and cultural exchange program between the United States and a foreign country from being conducted through a contractor or grantee that is associated with any government that denies democracy or violates the right to freedom of expression or other internationally-recognized human rights. (Sec. 403) Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to prohibit the Secretary (currently, the United States Information Agency (USIA)) from awarding any grant or contract with respect to educational and cultural exchange programs until 45 days (currently, 15 days) after notice is provided to specified congressional committees of the intent to award such grant or contract. (Sec. 404) Directs the Secretary to take all appropriate steps to ensure that no foreign espionage agent is a participant in any educational and cultural exchange program. (Sec. 405) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to: (1) rename the North-South Center Act of 1991 as the Dante B. Fascell North-South Center Act of 1991; and (2) redesignate the North-South Center as the Dante B. Fascell North-South Center. (Sec. 406) Repeals a specified section of the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 calling for the abolition of the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy (effectively continuing the Commission). (Sec. 407) Prohibits the State Department (currently, the USIA) from expending any funds for a U.S. Government funded pavilion or other major exhibit at any international exposition or world's fair registered by the Bureau of International Expositions in excess of amounts expressly authorized and appropriated, with specified exceptions. Title V: International Broadcasting - Amends the United States International Broadcasting Act of 1994 to make permanent the authorization of funding for Radio Free Asia. Repeals Radio Free Asia funding limits. (Sec. 502) Repeals policy statements urging the privatization of Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty, Incorporated (RFE-RL). Increases the limit on grant amounts to RFE-RL, Incorporated. (Sec. 503) Grants immunity from civil liability to members of the Broadcasting Board of Governors when acting in their capacities as members of the board of directors of RFE-RL, Incorporated and Radio Free Asia. Title VI: International Organizations and Commissions - Provides for the appointment of members as part of the American delegation to the conference of the Bureau of the Interparliamentary Union whenever Congress does not appoint its allotment of members to the American delegation. Renames the United States-European Community Interparliamentary Group as the Transatlantic Legislative Dialogue. (Sec. 602) Authorizes the Commissioner of the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission to provide technical tests, evaluations, information, surveys, or other similar services to state or local governments upon request on a reimbursable basis.

Bundes-Abfallwirtschaftsplan, Bundesabfallbericht 1998

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Bericht (III-145 d.B.) des Bundesministers für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Bundes-Abfallwirtschaftsplan, Bundesabfallbericht 1998

Reduzierung der CO₂-Emission bei gleichzeitiger Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen durch die Förderung erneuerbarer Energieträger

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Antrag 680/A(E) der Abgeordneten Mag. Karl Schweitzer und Genossen betreffend Reduzierung der CO₂-Emission <i>(Kohlendioxid-Emission)</i> bei gleichzeitiger Schaffung von Arbeitsplätzen durch die Förderung erneuerbarer Energieträger

Antibiotika-resistente Bakterien im Tierfutter

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Klara Motter und Genossen an die Bundesministerin für Frauenangelegenheiten und Verbraucherschutz betreffend Antibiotika-resistente Bakterien im Tierfutter

Umweltwirkungsgesetz - UWG

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Antrag 347/A der Abgeordneten Mag. Thomas Barmüller und Genossen betreffend Umweltwirkungsgesetz

Vollziehung des Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfungsgesetzes (UVP-G)

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Bericht (III-171 d.B. und Zu III-171 d.B.) des Bundesministers für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie über die Vollziehung des Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfungsgesetzes (UVP-G)

umgehende Sanierung der Fischer-Deponie

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Entschließungsantrag des Umweltausschusses betreffend Fortsetzung der bereits eingeleiteten Maßnahmen zur Sanierung und Räumung der Fischer-Deponie

Umweltförderungen für die Altlastensanierung

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Antrag 707/A(E) der Abgeordneten Mag. Karl Schweitzer und Genossen betreffend Umweltförderungen für die Altlastensanierung

Behandlung der Thematik "Sicherung/Sanierung der Fischer-Deponie"

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Antrag 566/A(E) der Abgeordneten Mag. Karl Schweitzer und Genossen betreffend Behandlung der Thematik "Sicherung/Sanierung der Fischer-Deponie"

Strategische Umweltprüfung von Politiken, Plänen und Programmen

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Antrag 424/A(E) der Abgeordneten Mag. Thomas Barmüller und Genossen betreffend die Erarbeitung von Leitlinien für die Strategische Umweltprüfung von Politiken, Plänen und Programmen

Machbarkeitsstudie über Strategische Umweltprüfungen für Pläne und Programme

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Antrag 423/A(E) der Abgeordneten Mag. Thomas Barmüller und Genossen betreffend eine Machbarkeitsstudie über Strategische Umweltprüfungen für Pläne und Programme

Ozonbericht 1997 der Bundesregierung

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses betreffend den Ozonbericht (III-120 d.B.) 1997 der Bundesregierung

Änderung des Montrealer Protokolls über Stoffe, die zu einem Abbau der Ozonschicht führen

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über die Regierungsvorlage (1523 d.B.): Änderung des Montrealer Protokolls über Stoffe, die zu einem Abbau der Ozonschicht führen

Atomenergie und Osterweiterung

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

<i>(EU-)</i> Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Antrag 709/A(E) der Abgeordneten Mag. Karl Schweitzer und Genossen betreffend Atomenergie und <i>(EU-)</i> Osterweiterung

Vereinbarung mit dem Land Burgenland zur Erhaltung und Weiterentwicklung des Nationalparks Neusiedler See-Seewinkel

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über die Regierungsvorlage (1389 d.B.): Vereinbarung zwischen dem Bund und dem Land Burgenland zur Erhaltung und Weiterentwicklung des Nationalparks Neusiedler See-Seewinkel samt Anlagen

Bericht betreffend Umweltförderungen des Bundes 1997

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Bericht des Umweltausschusses über den Bericht (III-142 d.B.) des Bundesministers für Umwelt, Jugend und Familie betreffend Umweltförderungen des Bundes, 1997, sowie die Finanzvorschau über die dem Bund aus der Vollziehung des Umweltförderungsgesetzes erwachsenden Belastungen

Verbesserung der Förderungen für erneuerbare Energieträger

Austria · National Council · 19 March 1999

Entschließungsantrag des Umweltausschusses betreffend Verbesserung der Rahmenbedingungen zur Förderung erneuerbarer Energieträger, um damit den österreichischen umwelt- und klimapolitischen Zielsetzungen Rechnung zu tragen

Federal Facilities Clean Water Compliance Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1999

Federal Facilities Clean Water Compliance Act of 1999 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to waive immunity of the United States with respect to Federal, State, interstate, and local requirements pertaining to water pollution control, including requirements for permits or reporting, injunctive relief, sanctions to enforce relief, payment of reasonable service charges, administrative orders, and penalties or fines. Absolves Federal employees of personal liability for civil penalties under water pollution control laws for acts or omissions within the scope of official duties. Makes Federal employees subject to criminal sanctions under Federal or State water pollution control laws, but prohibits applying criminal sanctions to Federal agencies. Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Secretary of the Army, and the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating to pursue enforcement actions against Federal agencies under the Act. Requires States, unless a State law or constitution requires otherwise, to use penalties collected from the Federal Government under the Act only for projects to improve or protect the environment or to defray the costs of environmental protection or enforcement. Includes Federal agencies within the definition of "person" for purposes of the Act. Authorizes citizen lawsuits for the collection by the Government of a penalty against a Federal agency assessed by the Administrator under the Act. Revises notice requirements to allow an action for a violation of standards of performance or toxic pollutant standards provisions to be brought immediately after giving notice.

Omnibus Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 19 March 1999

Omnibus Mercury Emissions Reduction Act of 1999 - Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to promulgate regulations to establish standards for mercury and mercury compound emissions applicable to: (1) electric utility steam generating units; (2) coal- and oil-fired commercial and industrial boiler units that have a maximum design heat input capacity of ten mmBtu (millions of British thermal units) per hour or greater; (3) chlor-alkali plants that use the mercury cell production process; and (4) dust from Portland cement plants. Requires such units and plants to have permits no later than two years after this Act's enactment. Prescribes a minimum required emission reduction, such that a unit or plant reduce annual poundage of mercury emitted below its mercury emission baseline by at least 95 percent. Authorizes emission trading among electric utility or coal- and oil-fired units contained at a single site if the aggregate annual reduction from all units is at least 95 percent. Requires the Administrator to authorize methods of control of mercury emissions. Sets forth permit requirements, including requirements for monitoring and analysis, inspection, entry, compliance certification, and reporting. Establishes specific mercury emission baselines for classes of electric utility and coal- and oil-fired boiler units, including those in operation before January 1, 11996, and those beginning operation after this Act's enactment. Requires the regulations to ensure that mercury that is captured or recovered is disposed of in a manner that ensures that: (1) the mercury hazards are not transferred from one environmental medium to another; and (2) there is no release of mercury into the environment. Directs the Administrator to establish a program of long-term research to develop and disseminate information on methods such as separating, solidifying, recycling, and encapsulating mercury-bearing waste so that the mercury does not volatize, migrate to groundwater or surface water, or contaminate the soil. Requires the Administrator to make emission data for each unit and plant available annually to the public. (Sec. 5) Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Administrator to publish a list of mercury-containing items to be separated and removed from the waste steams that feed solid waste management facilities. Requires manufacturers of listed items to label items (or, in the case of button cell batteries, packages) to indicate that a product contains mercury. Requires persons that transfer solid waste that may contain a mercury-containing item listed by the Administrator under this Act to submit plans for: (1) separating and removing listed mercury-containing items from waste streams that feed such facilities; (2) transferring separated waste to a recycling facility or treatment, storage, or disposal facility permitted under hazardous waste management provisions of the Solid Waste Disposal Act; (3) monitoring and reporting on plan compliance; and (4) achieving full compliance with the plan within 18 months of plan approval. Directs the Administrator or a State to develop and enforce plans for facilities without approved plans. Amends the Clean Air Act to direct the Administrator to promulgate regulations prescribing procedures for monitoring and analysis for mercury emissions from solid waste combustion flue gases and determining compliance with such requirements. Requires permits for solid waste incineration units to specify inspection, entry, monitoring, compliance certification, and reporting requirements. Directs the Administrator to require incineration units that exceed the maximum mercury emission rate to install control equipment and techniques that will result, within three years, in an emission rate below the specified maximum. Directs the Administrator to make mercury emission data for each unit available annually to the public. Prohibits, three years after this Act's enactment, the sale of mercury-containing products by manufacturers unless the manufacturer has been granted an exemption by the Administrator. Permits an exemption if the Administrator determines that: (1) the product has an essential use; (2) there is no comparable product that does not contain mercury and that is available in the marketplace at a reasonable cost; and (3) through submitted documentation, the manufacturer has established a program to take back, after consumer use, all products subject to the exemption that are manufactured after the date of approval of the exemption application. Provides for maximum three-year exemptions and for renewals. (Sec. 8) Requires the Administrator to report to Congress on the extent to which the annual poundage of mercury and mercury compound emissions from medical waste incinerators and hazardous waste combustors in the United States has been reduced below specific baselines. (Sec. 10) Directs the Secretary of Defense to report to Congress on the use of mercury and mercury compounds by the Department of Defense. (Sec. 11) Requires the Administrator to report to Congress on the sources and extent of mercury emissions in North America. (Sec. 12) Directs the Administrator to establish: (1) a program to characterize and quantify the potential mercury-related health effects on high-risk populations; and (2) a mercury public awareness and prevention program targeted at populations most at risk from exposure to mercury. Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Administrator to establish an advisory committee to report on the progress made by the Federal Government, State and local governments, industry, and other regulated entities in complying with the mercury-related amendments to the Clean Air Act made by this Act. Directs the Administrator to submit to Congress a report that characterizes mercury and mercury-compound sedimentation trends in Lake Champlain, the Chesapeake Bay, the Great Lakes, the finger lakes region of upstate New York, Tampa Bay, and other water bodies of concern. Requires the Administrator to evaluate: (1) data collected by EPA and each State concerning mercury contamination of fish; and (2) advisories to warn the public about the consumption of mercury-contaminated fish. Directs the Administrator to: (1) implement any changes necessary to improve the quality and ensure consistency from State to State of Federal and State data collection, reporting, characterization of mercury contamination, and thresholds above which advisories will be issued; and (2) make biennial reports available to the public concerning mercury levels in fish and any consumption advisories that have been issued.

Zusendung der Pressemitteilungen des Bundesministeriums für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit an die Mitglieder des für diese Bereiche zuständigen Bundestagsausschusses (G-SIG: 14050557)

Germany · German Bundestag · 19 March 1999

Solid Waste Interstate Transportation and Local Authority Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999

Solid Waste Interstate Transportation and Local Authority Act of 1999 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit a landfill or incinerator (facility) from receiving out-of-State municipal solid waste (MSW) for disposal or incineration unless the waste is received pursuant to a new (entered into on or after enactment of this Act) or existing host community agreement or an exemption from this prohibition (which may be limited by the State, as provided in this Act). Requires owners or operators to make specified information regarding the facility available prior to seeking authorization from an affected local government to receive such waste pursuant to a new host community agreement. Sets forth other formal requirements for the authorization process, including those for notification of the State, contiguous local governments, and contiguous Indian tribes. Requires, for an exemption, that the owner or operator provide either information establishing that the owner or operator of the facility: (1) received before enactment of this Act a State permit specifically authorizing acceptance of the waste; or (2) has entered into a binding contract before March 18, 1999, committing to the delivery and receipt of a specific quantity of out-of-State MSW and has permitted capacity actually available on the date of enactment of this Act for receipt of the quantity committed to in the contract. Authorizes States to establish limits on the amount of out-of-State waste received annually for disposal at each facility and affected local governments to limit the amount received at a particular facility pursuant to such an exemption. Prohibits State limits from conflicting with permits or host community agreements that set higher (or no) limits. Sets the limitation amount for any facility that began receiving documented out-of-State waste before enactment of this Act at the amount received during 1993. Requires such documentation to be such as would result in criminal penalties under State law in case of false or misleading information. Prohibits discrimination against shipments of such waste on the basis of State of origin. Allows a State to provide by law that it will deny or refuse to renew a permit for the construction or operation of a facility (or a major modification thereto) if: (1) the State has approved a State or local comprehensive MSW management plan developed under Federal or State law; and (2) such denial is based on a determination that there is no local or regional need for the facility in the State. Allows States to require that a permit issued for a new facility or an expansion include an annual limitation of not less than 20 percent on the total quantity of out-of-State MSW relative to the total waste received by the facility. Allows a facility with specific authorization to receive a specific quantity of out-of-State waste pursuant to a host community agreement entered into prior to enactment of this Act to receive that quantity, notwithstanding the foregoing State requirement. Requires percentage limitations to be uniform for all facilities and not discriminate against out-of-State waste according to the State of origin. Allows a State to limit the amount of out-of-State MSW received annually at each facility to the amount received during 1995 if the State has enacted a comprehensive, statewide recycling program. Prohibits such limits from conflicting with permits or host community agreements that set higher (or no) limits. Prohibits, in the establishment of limitations, discrimination against shipments of out-of-State waste on the basis of State of origin. Allows States to impose cost recovery surcharges on the processing, combustion, or disposal of out-of-State waste in a facility in the State and prescribes procedures for the collection and use of such charges. Declares that prohibitions, limitations, and the planning and permitting processes under, and laws and regulations implementing, this Act shall not be considered to impose an undue burden on or to otherwise impair, restrain, or discriminate against interstate commerce. Requires owners or operators of facilities to annually report to Governors of the States in which the facilities are located the amount of out-of-State waste received during the preceding year. Requires States to publish annual reports on the amount of such waste received for disposal in the State. Requires the General Accounting Office to report annually to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on incidents or circumstances in each State importing MSW in which materials not authorized by permit to be disposed of at a facility have been discovered in such waste. (Sec. 3) Authorizes States and political subdivisions to exercise flow control authority for municipal solid waste and recyclable materials voluntarily relinquished by the owner or generator (recyclables), directing such waste and materials to particular waste management or recyclables facilities designated as of the suspension date (defined below) if: (1) the waste and recyclables are generated within the jurisdictional boundaries of the State or subdivision, determined as of the suspension date; (2) such authority is imposed through the adoption or execution of a law, regulation, or other legally binding provision or official act that was in effect on the suspension date, or was in effect prior to the issuance of an injunction or other court order based on a ruling that the law or provision violated the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, or was in effect immediately prior to suspension of the law by legislative or administrative action expressly because of such a court order; and (3) the State or political subdivision has for one or more such designated facilities, on or before the suspension date, presented eligible bonds for sale, made certain official preparations for such sale, or executed a legally binding contract or agreement for delivery of, and payment for, a minimum quantity of waste or recyclables. (The "suspension date" is either: May 16, 1994; the date of an injunction or court order based on a ruling that a law or other official act violated the Commerce Clause of the Constitution; or the date of a suspension or partial suspension of a law or official act expressly because of the existence of an injunction or court order described above.) Imposes identification and volume restrictions on the exercise of flow control authority to the classes or categories of materials to which such authority was applicable on the suspension date. Sets dates for expiration of such authority. Prohibits a State or political subdivision from requiring any person to transport, or deliver for transportation, such waste or materials to any active portion of a MSW landfill unit if contamination of such portion is a basis for listing on the National Priorities List established under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, unless the person has been indemnified by the government or the owner-operator against all liability under that Act with respect to such materials. Imposes limitations on the use of revenues derived by a State or political subdivision from the exercise of flow control authority. Provides for the enforceability under State law of certain legally binding interim contracts. Allows a State to exercise flow control authority over solid waste if, on or before January 1, 1984, the State: (1) adopted regulations under a State law that required or directed the transportation, management, or disposal of such waste from residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial sources to specifically identified waste management facilities and applied those regulations to every political subdivision; and (2) subjected the facilities to the jurisdiction of a State public utilities commission. Provides for expiration of such authority. Lists additional conditions under which: (1) solid waste districts or political subdivisions of a State may exercise flow control authority for 20 years after enactment of this Act; and (2) a facility will be treated as having been designated for the exercise of flow control authority by all members of a consortium of political subdivisions. Prohibits recovery of damages or costs in a claim against a State or local government, or official or employee thereof, based on the exercise of flow control authority on or before May 16, 1994.

Solid Waste Interstate Transportation and Local Authority Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999

Solid Waste Interstate Transportation and Local Authority Act of 1999 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to prohibit a landfill or incinerator (facility) from receiving out-of-State municipal solid waste (MSW) for disposal or incineration unless the waste is received pursuant to a new (entered into on or after enactment of this Act) or existing host community agreement or an exemption from this prohibition (which may be limited by the State, as provided in this Act). Requires owners or operators to make specified information regarding the facility available prior to seeking authorization from an affected local government to receive such waste pursuant to a new host community agreement. Sets forth other formal requirements for the authorization process, including those for notification of the State, contiguous local governments, and contiguous Indian tribes. Requires, for an exemption, that the owner or operator provide either information establishing that the owner or operator of the facility: (1) received before enactment of this Act a State permit specifically authorizing acceptance of the waste; or (2) has entered into a binding contract before March 18, 1999, committing to the delivery and receipt of a specific quantity of out-of-State MSW and has permitted capacity actually available on the date of enactment of this Act for receipt of the quantity committed to in the contract. Authorizes States to establish limits on the amount of out-of-State waste received annually for disposal at each facility and affected local governments to limit the amount received at a particular facility pursuant to such an exemption. Prohibits State limits from conflicting with permits or host community agreements that set higher (or no) limits. Sets the limitation amount for any facility that began receiving documented out-of-State waste before enactment of this Act at the amount received during 1993. Requires such documentation to be such as would result in criminal penalties under State law in case of false or misleading information. Prohibits discrimination against shipments of such waste on the basis of State of origin. Allows a State to provide by law that it will deny or refuse to renew a permit for the construction or operation of a facility (or a major modification thereto) if: (1) the State has approved a State or local comprehensive MSW management plan developed under Federal or State law; and (2) such denial is based on a determination that there is no local or regional need for the facility in the State. Allows States to require that a permit issued for a new facility or an expansion include an annual limitation of not less than 20 percent on the total quantity of out-of-State MSW relative to the total waste received by the facility. Allows a facility with specific authorization to receive a specific quantity of out-of-State waste pursuant to a host community agreement entered into prior to enactment of this Act to receive that quantity, notwithstanding the foregoing State requirement. Requires percentage limitations to be uniform for all facilities and not discriminate against out-of-State waste according to the State of origin. Allows a State to limit the amount of out-of-State MSW received annually at each facility to the amount received during 1995 if the State has enacted a comprehensive, statewide recycling program. Prohibits such limits from conflicting with permits or host community agreements that set higher (or no) limits. Prohibits, in the establishment of limitations, discrimination against shipments of out-of-State waste on the basis of State of origin. Allows States to impose cost recovery surcharges on the processing, combustion, or disposal of out-of-State waste in a facility in the State and prescribes procedures for the collection and use of such charges. Declares that prohibitions, limitations, and the planning and permitting processes under, and laws and regulations implementing, this Act shall not be considered to impose an undue burden on or to otherwise impair, restrain, or discriminate against interstate commerce. Requires owners or operators of facilities to annually report to Governors of the States in which the facilities are located the amount of out-of-State waste received during the preceding year. Requires States to publish annual reports on the amount of such waste received for disposal in the State. Requires the General Accounting Office to report annually to the House Committee on Commerce and the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works on incidents or circumstances in each State importing MSW in which materials not authorized by permit to be disposed of at a facility have been discovered in such waste. (Sec. 3) Authorizes States and political subdivisions to exercise flow control authority for municipal solid waste and recyclable materials voluntarily relinquished by the owner or generator (recyclables), directing such waste and materials to particular waste management or recyclables facilities designated as of the suspension date (defined below) if: (1) the waste and recyclables are generated within the jurisdictional boundaries of the State or subdivision, determined as of the suspension date; (2) such authority is imposed through the adoption or execution of a law, regulation, or other legally binding provision or official act that was in effect on the suspension date, or was in effect prior to the issuance of an injunction or other court order based on a ruling that the law or provision violated the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, or was in effect immediately prior to suspension of the law by legislative or administrative action expressly because of such a court order; and (3) the State or political subdivision has for one or more such designated facilities, on or before the suspension date, presented eligible bonds for sale, made certain official preparations for such sale, or executed a legally binding contract or agreement for delivery of, and payment for, a minimum quantity of waste or recyclables. (The "suspension date" is either: May 16, 1994; the date of an injunction or court order based on a ruling that a law or other official act violated the Commerce Clause of the Constitution; or the date of a suspension or partial suspension of a law or official act expressly because of the existence of an injunction or court order described above.) Imposes identification and volume restrictions on the exercise of flow control authority to the classes or categories of materials to which such authority was applicable on the suspension date. Sets dates for expiration of such authority. Prohibits a State or political subdivision from requiring any person to transport, or deliver for transportation, such waste or materials to any active portion of a MSW landfill unit if contamination of such portion is a basis for listing on the National Priorities List established under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, unless the person has been indemnified by the government or the owner-operator against all liability under that Act with respect to such materials. Imposes limitations on the use of revenues derived by a State or political subdivision from the exercise of flow control authority. Provides for the enforceability under State law of certain legally binding interim contracts. Allows a State to exercise flow control authority over solid waste if, on or before January 1, 1984, the State: (1) adopted regulations under a State law that required or directed the transportation, management, or disposal of such waste from residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial sources to specifically identified waste management facilities and applied those regulations to every political subdivision; and (2) subjected the facilities to the jurisdiction of a State public utilities commission. Provides for expiration of such authority. Lists additional conditions under which: (1) solid waste districts or political subdivisions of a State may exercise flow control authority for 20 years after enactment of this Act; and (2) a facility will be treated as having been designated for the exercise of flow control authority by all members of a consortium of political subdivisions. Prohibits recovery of damages or costs in a claim against a State or local government, or official or employee thereof, based on the exercise of flow control authority on or before May 16, 1994.

Environmental Equalization and Energy Security Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 18 March 1999

Environmental Equalization and Energy Security Act of 1999 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an excise tax on imported crude oil and petroleum products (except those imported from Canada) equal to the applicable environmental equalization fee per barrel of crude oil, as determined by the Secretary of Energy. States that the fee shall be the amount of the Secretary's estimate: (1) in the case of crude oil, of the average amount per barrel of the price of domestic crude oil attributable to costs of complying with U.S. environmental laws and regulations; and (2) in the case of petroleum products, of the average amount per barrel of the price of domestic petroleum products attributable to such costs. Exempts from such tax: (1) the sale of crude oil or petroleum products for export or for resale by the purchaser to a second purchaser for export; and (2) the sale or use of any petroleum product during any period when the President determines that it is in the national interest not to impose the tax.

Verträge zwischen der Verbundgesellschaft und den Illwerken

Austria · National Council · 17 March 1999

Schriftliche Anfrage der Abgeordneten Ing. Wolfgang Nußbaumer und Genossen an den Bundesminister für wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten betreffend Verträge zwischen der Verbundgesellschaft und den Illwerken

A bill to amend the Clean Air Act to waive the oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline that results in no greater emissions of air pollutants than reformulated gasoline meeting the oxygen content requirement.

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1999

Amends the Clean Air Act to allow the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to waive application of the oxygen content requirement for reformulated gasoline that: (1) contains less than two percent by weight oxygen; (2) meets the other requirements for reformulated gasoline; and (3) will result in total emissions of ozone forming volatile organic compounds and toxic air pollutants no greater than the total emissions of those compounds and pollutants resulting from reformulated gasoline meeting the oxygen content requirement.

American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 17 March 1999

American Sovereignty Restoration Act of 1999 - Repeals: (1) the United Nations Participation Act of 1945; (2) the United Nations Headquarters Agreement Act; (3) the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization Act; and (4) the United Nations Environment Program Participation Act of 1973. Directs the President to terminate U.S. participation in the United Nations (UN), including any organ, specialized agency, commission, or other affiliated body. Requires closure of the United States Mission to the UN. Prohibits the authorization of funds for the U.S. assessed or voluntary contribution to the UN. Prohibits: (1) the authorization of funds for any U.S. contribution to any UN military operation; and (2) the expenditure of funds to support the participation of U.S. armed forces as part of any UN military or peacekeeping operation. Bars U.S. armed forces from serving under UN command. Prohibits the use of any U.S. facility or property by the UN or any of its affiliated agencies. Repeals diplomatic immunity for foreign UN employees (including families or servants of such employees). Terminates the United States: (1) membership in World Health Organization (WHO); and (2) participation in all conventions and-or agreements with the UN. Declares that nothing in this Act shall affect the rights regarding reemployment of employees with the Government after service with an international organization. Requires the Secretary of State to notify the UN of the provisions of this Act.

Proposal for a Council Decision concerning the approval, on behalf of the Community, of the amendments to the Annexes to the Convention on the protection of the Marine Environment of the Baltic Sea Area (Helsinki Convention)

European Union · European Commission · 17 March 1999

Dakota Water Resources Act of 2000

United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1999

Dakota Water Resources Act of 1999 - Amends Federal provisions relating to the Garrison water diversion unit, North Dakota (part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program), to include within authorized unit purposes the development of municipal, rural, and industrial water systems, fish, wildlife, and other natural resource conservation and development, recreation, flood control, ground water recharge, and augmented stream flows (currently, only irrigation is authorized). Authorizes the State of North Dakota (currently, only the Secretary of the Interior) to plan and construct within the State a multipurpose water resource development irrigation project. Directs the Secretary to estimate the actual construction cost of unit facilities already in existence, as well as their annual operation, maintenance, and replacement costs. Makes the Secretary responsible for operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of that portion of the capacity of such facilities that remain unused. Requires the Secretary to enter into one or more contracts with North Dakota to carry out this Act, including O&M of the completed unit facilities and design and construction of new facilities. Authorizes water systems constructed under this Act to deliver Missouri River water into the Hudson Bay basin, after a certain determination. (Sec. 3) Revises provisions concerning unit operational costs to make nonreimbursable: (1) all fish and wildlife enhancement costs incurred in connection with waterfowl refuges or production areas, as well as wildlife conservation areas proposed for Federal or State administration; and (2) 50 percent of recreation area costs, if non-Federal public bodies assume the remainder of such costs. Provides for the determination of such non-Federal share. Deauthorizes Taayer Reservoir and Lonetree Dam and Reservoir as project features. (Sec. 4) Allows the calculation of interest during construction of a feature only until such feature is substantially complete, and regardless of whether it is placed into service. (Sec. 5) Includes certain areas of North Dakota within the area in which the Secretary is authorized to develop irrigation facilities, but prohibits the development of any such facility in the Hudson Bay-Devils Lake Basin. Allows such developed irrigation to receive Pick-Sloan pumping power. Directs the Secretary to investigate and report on an undesignated 28,000 acres of irrigation areas in North Dakota. (Sec. 6) Prohibits any reallocation of project costs to Pick-Sloan customers. (Sec. 7) Revises provisions authorizing the construction of municipal, rural, and industrial water systems in North Dakota to: (1) authorize the State to use Federal and non-Federal funds for grants or loans for such systems; (2) make additional projects eligible for such funding; (3) authorize the State to develop and implement a water conservation program; (4) make nonreimbursable the costs of features constructed on the Missouri River by the Secretary of the Army before the date of enactment of this Act; and (5) add Turtle Mountain to the areas in which the Secretary is required to maintain necessary water systems. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to select and construct a feature or features to deliver Missouri River water to the Sheyenne River water supply and release facility. Directs the Secretary and the State to jointly report to Congress on the comprehensive water quality needs of the Red River Valley and options for meeting those needs. Requires environmental impact statements to be provided. Directs the Secretary to construct, operate, and maintain a Sheyenne River water supply and release feature capable of delivering a specified water supply for the cities of Fargo and Grand Forks and surrounding communities. (Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the State to convey U.S. rights and interests in the Oakes Test Area. (Sec. 10) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out provisions added by this Act. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary, from funds authorized under this Act, to make an annual Federal contribution to the Natural Resources Trust (previously named the Wetlands Trust), limiting such annual contribution to $12 million. Directs the Secretary to make additional annual contributions equal to five percent of the total amount appropriated for such Trust in a fiscal year. Adds to authorized Trust uses the enhancement, restoration, and management of grassland conservation and riparian areas. Adds to Trust authority the power to fund incentives for conservation practices by landowners.

Colusa Basin Watershed Integrated Resources Management Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1999

Colusa Basin Watershed Integrated Resources Management Act - Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance for use by the Colusa Basin Drainage District, California, or by local agencies for planning, design, environmental compliance, and construction required to carry out eligible projects in the Colusa Basin Watershed to: (1) reduce the risk of damage to urban and agricultural areas from flooding or the discharge of drainage water or tailwater; (2) assist in groundwater recharge efforts to alleviate overdraft and land subsidence; or (3) construct, restore or preserve wetland and riparian habitat; and (4) capture surface or stormwater for conservation, conjunctive use, and increased water supplies. Requires the Secretary to ensure that funded projects are not inconsistent with watershed protection and environmental restoration efforts being carried out under the Central Valley Project Improvement Act or the CALFED Bay-Delta Program. Directs the Secretary to require that the District and cooperating non-Federal agencies or organizations pay: (1) 25 percent of project costs; and (2) 100 percent of project operation, maintenance, and replacement and rehabilitation costs. Permits funds appropriated pursuant to this Act to be made available: (1) to fund all costs incurred for planning, design, and environmental compliance activities by the District or by local agencies in accordance with agreements with the Secretary; and (2) only to a District or a local agency that has entered into a binding agreement with the Secretary under which the District or local agency is required to pay the non-Federal share of construction costs and which governs the funding of planning, design, and compliance activities costs. Authorizes specified expenditures within existing budget authority to carry out this Act.

Dakota Water Resources Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 16 March 1999

Dakota Water Resources Act of 1999 - Amends Federal provisions relating to the Garrison water diversion unit, North Dakota (part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program), to include within authorized unit purposes the development of municipal, rural, and industrial water systems, fish, wildlife, and other natural resource conservation and development, recreation, flood control, ground water recharge, and augmented stream flows (currently, only irrigation is authorized). Authorizes the State of North Dakota (currently, only the Secretary of the Interior) to plan and construct within the State a multipurpose water resource development irrigation project. Directs the Secretary to estimate the actual construction cost of unit facilities already in existence, as well as their annual operation, maintenance, and replacement costs. Makes the Secretary responsible for operation and maintenance (O&M) costs of that portion of the capacity of such facilities that remain unused. Requires the Secretary to enter into one or more contracts with North Dakota to carry out this Act, including O&M of the completed unit facilities and design and construction of new facilities. Authorizes water systems constructed under this Act to deliver Missouri River water into the Hudson Bay basin, after a certain determination. (Sec. 3) Revises provisions concerning unit operational costs to make nonreimbursable: (1) all fish and wildlife enhancement costs incurred in connection with waterfowl refuges or production areas, as well as wildlife conservation areas proposed for Federal or State administration; and (2) 50 percent of recreation area costs, if non-Federal public bodies assume the remainder of such costs. Provides for the determination of such non-Federal share. Deauthorizes Taayer Reservoir and Lonetree Dam and Reservoir as project features. (Sec. 4) Allows the calculation of interest during construction of a feature only until such feature is substantially complete, and regardless of whether it is placed into service. (Sec. 5) Includes certain areas of North Dakota within the area in which the Secretary is authorized to develop irrigation facilities, but prohibits the development of any such facility in the Hudson Bay-Devils Lake Basin. Allows such developed irrigation to receive Pick-Sloan pumping power. Directs the Secretary to investigate and report on an undesignated 28,000 acres of irrigation areas in North Dakota. (Sec. 6) Prohibits any reallocation of project costs to Pick-Sloan customers. (Sec. 7) Revises provisions authorizing the construction of municipal, rural, and industrial water systems in North Dakota to: (1) authorize the State to use Federal and non-Federal funds for grants or loans for such systems; (2) make additional projects eligible for such funding; (3) authorize the State to develop and implement a water conservation program; (4) make nonreimbursable the costs of features constructed on the Missouri River by the Secretary of the Army before the date of enactment of this Act; and (5) add Turtle Mountain to the areas in which the Secretary is required to maintain necessary water systems. (Sec. 8) Directs the Secretary to select and construct a feature or features to deliver Missouri River water to the Sheyenne River water supply and release facility. Directs the Secretary and the State to jointly report to Congress on the comprehensive water quality needs of the Red River Valley and options for meeting those needs. Requires environmental impact statements to be provided. Directs the Secretary to construct, operate, and maintain a Sheyenne River water supply and release feature capable of delivering a specified water supply for the cities of Fargo and Grand Forks and surrounding communities. (Sec. 9) Directs the Secretary to enter into an agreement with the State to convey U.S. rights and interests in the Oakes Test Area. (Sec. 10) Authorizes additional appropriations to carry out provisions added by this Act. (Sec. 11) Directs the Secretary, from funds authorized under this Act, to make an annual Federal contribution to the Natural Resources Trust (previously named the Wetlands Trust), limiting such annual contribution to $12 million. Directs the Secretary to make additional annual contributions equal to five percent of the total amount appropriated for such Trust in a fiscal year. Adds to authorized Trust uses the enhancement, restoration, and management of grassland conservation and riparian areas. Adds to Trust authority the power to fund incentives for conservation practices by landowners.

National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1999

National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999 - Amends the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 to revise requirements for the responsibilities of the U.S. Geological Survey with respect to the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, including to require the: (1) development of national priorities (currently, priorities) and standards; (2) development of a five-year strategic plan (currently, an implementation plan); (3) appointment of a new geologic mapping advisory committee; and (4) biennial submission of the report on the development and implementation of the program. Revises requirements for program components, including by: (1) including among the objectives of each component determining the geologic framework of areas determined to be vital to environmental welfare; (2) deleting provisions governing a geologic mapping support component and including interdisciplinary studies that add value to geologic mapping under the Federal geologic mapping component's responsibilities; (3) basing mapping priorities for the State geologic mapping component on State requirements for geologic map information in areas of multiple-issue need or of compelling single-issue need and in areas where mapping is required to solve critical earth science problems; (4) prohibiting the Survey and recipients of grants under the State or education component from using more than a specified percentage of the Federal funds made available under such component for any fiscal year to pay indirect, servicing, or program management charges; and (5) limiting to 50 percent the Federal share of the cost of activities under such components for any fiscal year. (Sec. 5) Revises provisions regarding the geologic mapping advisory committee, including by requiring such committee to update the five-year strategic plan. (Sec. 6) Sets forth requirements for the five- year strategic plan (similar to those for the implementation plan). (Sec. 7) Revises the provisions establishing the National geologic-map database, including by requiring that such database serve as a national catalog and archive (currently, archive), distributed through links to Federal and State geologic map holdings; and (2) provide for such database to include all maps developed under the Federal and education components (currently all maps developed pursuant to the Act). (Sec. 9) Authorizes appropriations. Allocates 48 percent of any amounts appropriated in excess of the amount appropriated for FY 2000 for the State component and two percent for the education component.

Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 15 March 1999

Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999 - Amends the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982 to revise and rename it the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1999. Instructs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to: (1) develop and operate a repository for the permanent geologic disposal of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste; (2) accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste by no later than June 30, 2003; (3) provide for the transportation of such wastes; (4) pursue expeditiously the development of each component of the integrated management system; and (5) engage private sector participation to the greatest extent possible in the implementation of this Act. Shields the United States from any financial liability for the Secretary's failure to meet acceptance or emplacement deadlines under this Act. Instructs the Secretary to utilize truck transport to move spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from the mainline rail line at Caliente, Nevada, to the interim storage facility site. Authorizes the Secretary to use rail transportation to meet the requirements of this Act if direct rail access becomes available to the interim storage facility site. Sets a deadline for the Secretary to develop the capability to commence rail to truck intermodal transfer at Caliente, Nevada. Provides for heavy-haul transportation route and truck transportation. Requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Caliente and Lincoln County, Nevada, to provide advice to the Commission regarding intermodal transfer and to facilitate on-site representation. Provides that reasonable expenses of such representation shall be paid by the Secretary. Prescribes procedural guidelines for the availability of safe transportation for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from Department of Energy sites and sites designated by the contract holders to mainline transportation facilities and from mainline transportation facilities to the interim storage facility or repository, using routes that minimize transportation through populated areas. Mandates development of a comprehensive management plan that ensures safe transportation of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste from Department of Energy sites and sites designated by the contract holders to the interim storage facility site. Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary shall: (1) develop a transportation plan for the implementation of each shipping campaign from each site at which high-level nuclear waste is stored; and (2) evaluate the relative safety of proposed shipping routes and modes from each shipping origin to the interim storage facility or repository compared with the safety of alternative modes and routes. Prescribes general transportation requirements, including technical assistance and funds for: (1) States, Indian tribes, and nonprofit employee and joint labor-management organizations for worker health and safety training and education programs; and (2) emergency response situations. Prohibits shipments of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste through any grant-eligible jurisdiction: (1) until the Secretary has determined that personnel in all State, local, and tribal jurisdictions on primary and alternative shipping routes have met acceptable standards of training for emergency responses to accidents involving spent nuclear fuel and high-level nuclear waste; and (2) unless technical assistance and funds to implement safe transportation procedures and emergency response situations have been available for at least three years prior to shipment. Directs the Secretary to award grants to States and Indian tribes for development and implementation of plans to prepare for such shipments. Requires a transporter of nuclear waste under contract with the Secretary to comply with all governmental and Indian tribal transportation regulations. Instructs the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate employee protection training standards for workers directly involved in nuclear waste transportation, storage, and disposal. Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary of Energy is instructed to design, construct, and operate an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste in accordance with Federal licensing regulations governing independent spent fuel storage installations. Prescribes guidelines under which the Secretary is instructed to implement site characterization activities at the Yucca Mountain site in accordance with the Secretary's program approach to site characterization (Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Program Plan). Prescribes authorization guidelines for an interim storage facility, and for a permanent repository, including: (1) licensing standards; (2) compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act; and (3) land withdrawal. Instructs the Secretary to offer Nye County, Nevada, an opportunity to designate an on-site oversight representative to conduct on-site oversight activities at the Yucca Mountain site. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) make grants to enable affected Indian tribes or local governmental units to monitor and review the impact of the integrated management system upon residents at the Yucca Mountain site; and (2) offer financial and technical assistance, as well as payments in lieu of taxes, to help a tribe or local governmental unit to mitigate such impact. Instructs the Secretary to offer to enter into separate benefits agreements with Lincoln and Nye Counties concerning the integrated management system. Provides that acceptance of benefits under this Act by any affected Indian tribe or local government shall not be deemed an expression of consent to the siting of an interim storage facility or repository in Nevada. Sets a deadline by which the Secretary of the Interior shall convey all Federal interest in specified property to Nye County, Lincoln County, or to the city of Caliente, Nevada. Authorizes the Secretary to grant payments in lieu of taxes to any affected Indian or local jurisdiction until the termination of the integrated management system activities. Prescribes contract guidelines for the Secretary to accept title to, and transport, store, and dispose of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste. Prescribes a schedule of annual fees payable to the Secretary of Energy for electricity generated and sold by civilian nuclear power reactors, and of a one-time fee for spent nuclear fuel used in such generation. Requires the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to suspend the license of any licensee who fails or refuses to pay such fee. States that payment of the fee relieves the payer of further financial obligation to the Federal Government for its long-term storage or permanent disposal of spent fuel or waste derived from spent nuclear fuel used to generate electricity in a civilian power reactor before January 7, 1983. Continues the Nuclear Waste Fund. Prohibits the Secretary from expending certain funds to design or construct packages for the transportation, storage, or disposal of spent nuclear fuel from civilian nuclear power reactors. Establishes the Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management within the Department of Energy, whose Director shall be directly responsible to the Secretary for executing the Secretary's functions under this Act. Mandates audits of Office operations, including its contractors and subcontractors at all tiers, and audits of management practices and performances every five years. Directs the Secretary to issue a final rule establishing the appropriate portion of the costs of managing high-level radioactive waste and spent nuclear fuel allocable to the interim storage or permanent disposal of high-level radioactive waste from atomic energy defense activities and spent nuclear fuel from foreign research reactors. Authorizes appropriations. Preempts State and local law in favor of this Act. Precludes this Act from being construed as: (1) constituting either an express or implied Federal reservation of water rights for any purpose arising under it; (2) authorizing the Federal use of eminent domain to acquire water rights; or (3) limiting the exercise of water rights as provided under Nevada State laws. Grants U.S. courts of appeals original and exclusive jurisdiction over civil actions under this Act. Prescribes guidelines for NRC licensing hearings regarding facility expansions and transshipments. Prohibits the Secretary from conducting site-specific activities for a second repository unless the Congress has specifically authorized and appropriated funds for them. Requires the NRC to promulgate regulatory guidelines for: (1) financial arrangements for low-level radioactive waste site closures; and (2) training and qualification of civilian nuclear powerplant personnel. Delineates an emplacement schedule for contract holders' spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste. Prohibits: (1) subseabed or ocean water disposal of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste; and (2) any obligation of funds for any such related activity. States that the Secretary's acceptance of spent nuclear fuel or high-level radioactive waste constitutes a transfer of title to the Secretary. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) accept all spent nuclear fuel withdrawn from Dairyland Power Cooperative's La Crosse Reactor; and (2) pay for the on-site storage of such fuel until DOE removes it from the site. Expresses the sense of the Congress that to the greatest extent practicable all equipment and products purchased with funds made available under this Act should be American-made. Requires each Federal agency to give notice of this policy to any entity to which it provides financial assistance or contracts. Prohibits contracts with persons falsely labeling products as "Made in America." Continues the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board. Authorizes appropriations. Directs the Secretary to take necessary action to improve the management of the civilian radioactive waste management program to ensure to the maximum extent its operation like a private business. Directs the Secretary to employ, on an on-going basis, integrated performance modeling regarding site characterization. Instructs the Secretary to report to the Congress on actions planned to implement this Act, (including the development of the Integrated Waste Management System) and to provide annual status updates. Provides for continuation of specified contracts executed under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.

Umweltinformationsgesetz, Änderung (UIG-Novelle 1999)

Austria · National Council · 11 March 1999

Bundesgesetz, mit dem das Umweltinformationsgesetz geändert wird (UIG-Novelle 1999)

Healthy Kids 2000 Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999

Healthy Kids 2000 Act - Title I: Health Care Accessibility and Accountability for Mothers and Newborns - Subtitle A: Accessibility of Mothers and Newborns to Health Insurance - Mothers and Newborns Health Insurance Act of 1999 - Amends title XXI (Children's Health Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize a State child health plan, under the State Children's Health Insurance Program, to provide for optional coverage of pregnancy-related assistance for targeted low-income, uninsured pregnant women. (Sec. 103) Makes a child born to a woman receiving such pregnancy-related assistance automatically eligible for child health assistance. (Sec. 104) Provides for the expanded availability of funding for administrative costs related to certain outreach and eligibility determinations under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program with regard to children and pregnant women. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a procedure with regard to the participation of local and community-based public or nonprofit organizations in outreach and enrollment activities if States do not otherwise obligate the amounts made available for such activities. Subtitle B: Patient Rights With Respect to Care - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to require group health plans (other than fully insured plans) that provide coverage for gynecological or obstetric care and provide for designation of a participating primary care provider to: (1) allow a participant to designate a non-specialist without authorization or referral by the primary care provider; and (2) treat the ordering of other routine care related to obstetrical or gynecological care by the participating physician as the authorization of the primary care provider with respect to such care. Requires a group health plan that provides for a participant to designate a participating pediatric primary care provider for a child of such participant to: (1) permit the participant to designate a provider who specializes in pediatrics as the child's primary care provider; and (2) consider appropriate pediatric expertise in mandatorily assigning a participant to a pediatric primary care provider if a participant has not designated such a provider. Requires such plans, in the case of a covered child with a mental or physical condition, disability, or disease of sufficient seriousness to require diagnosis or treatment by a specialist, to provide for referral to a specialist who has extensive experience or training and is available and accessible to provide treatment, including referrals to nonparticipating providers in cases where the plan does not have an appropriate specialist. Provides that services pursuant to referrals to nonparticipating providers shall be provided at no additional cost beyond what the participant would pay to a participating provider. Directs such plans, with respect to the coverage of children, to make certain information regarding structures, processes, and outcomes regarding each offered health insurance product publicly available. (Sec. 112) Amends ERISA to require group health plans or health insurance issuers, in connection with the provisions of coverage, to establish, with respect to the coverage of children, a system to provide for the resolution of complaints and appeals regarding such coverage. Sets forth requirements for an independent external review process in connection with such coverage. (Sec. 113) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to incorporate ERISA requirements for patients' rights described by this Act. Title II: Payments to Children's Hospitals That Operate GME Programs - Pediatric Medical Education, Training, and Research Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of HHS to make payment as specified to each children's hospital for each hospital cost reporting period under Medicare (title XVIII of the SSA) beginning after FY 1999 and before FY 2004 for the direct and indirect expenses associated with operating approved medical residency training programs. Makes appropriations for such payments. Provides that such payments are in lieu of certain Medicare payments to hospitals for medical education, but shall not affect the amounts otherwise payable to such hospitals under a State Medicaid (SSA title XIX) plan. Title III: Pediatric Public Health Promotion - Subtitle A: National Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Transfers to the Center all activities, budgets, and personnel of the National Center for Environmental Health that relate to birth defects, folic acid, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, child development, newborn screening, autism, fragile X syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, pediatric genetics, and disability prevention. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Pregnant Mothers and Infants Health Promotion - Pregnant Mothers and Infants Health Protection Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to carry out programs to: (1) collect, analyze, and make available data on prenatal smoking and alcohol and illegal drug usage; (2) conduct applied epidemiological research on the prevention of prenatal and postnatal smoking and alcohol and illegal drug usage; (3) support, conduct, and evaluate the effectiveness of educational and cessation programs; and (4) provide information and education to the public on the prevention and implications of prenatal and postnatal smoking and alcohol and illegal drug usage. Authorizes grants to, and contracts with, public and nonprofit entities as well as technical assistance for carrying out this subtitle. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Safe Motherhood Monitoring and Prevention Research - Safe Motherhood Monitoring and Prevention Research Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to: (1) establish a national monitoring and surveillance program to identify and promote the investigation of deaths and severe complications that occur during pregnancy; (2) expand the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to provide surveillance and collect data in each State; and (3) expand the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program to provide technical support, financial assistance, or the time-limited assignment of senior epidemiologists to maternal and child health programs in each State. Authorizes appropriations. Permits the Secretary, acting through the Centers, to: (1) expand research relating to specified maternal health topics; and (2) carry out activities to promote safe motherhood. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Poison Control Center Enhancement - Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act - Directs the Secretary of HHS to provide coordination and assistance to regional poison control centers for the establishment of a nationwide toll-free phone number to be used to access such centers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 335) Mandates a national media campaign to educate the public about poison prevention and the availability of local poison control resources and to conduct advertising campaigns concerning the nationwide toll-free number. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 336) Mandates grants for certified regional poison control centers to achieve financial stability and to prevent, and provide treatment recommendations for, poisoning. Mandates other grant uses. Sets forth center certification requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Pediatric Research - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Pediatric Research Initiative within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary, acting through the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, to provide support for extramural activities relating to the training and career development of pediatric researchers. Permits the Secretary to establish a pediatric research loan repayment program. Authorizes appropriations.

Alternative Water Sources Act of 2000

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999

Alternative Water Sources Act of 1999 - Authorizes the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants for alternative water source projects to State, interstate, and intrastate water resource development agencies, local government agencies, private utilities, and nonprofit entities that have authority under State law to develop or provide water for municipal, industrial, or agricultural uses in areas experiencing critical water supply needs. Permits grants only if the purpose of the project is to meet critical water supply needs. Requires, for projects for which the Federal share of costs exceeds $3 million, approval by a resolution of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure or the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. Makes projects located within the boundaries of a State or area referred to in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, and within the geographic scope of the reclamation and reuse program under the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 ineligible for grants under this Act. Requires the Administrator to report to Congress on progress made toward meeting the critical water supply needs of grant recipients. Authorizes appropriations.

Debt Relief for Poverty Reduction Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999

Debt Relief for Poverty Reduction Act of 1999 - Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to direct the President, subject to authorization of appropriations, to cancel or reduce all amounts owed to the United States by heavily indebted poor countries (HIPCs) as a result of concessional and nonconcessional loans made, guarantees issued, or credits extended prior to January 1, 1996, under any provision of law. Sets forth eligibility requirements for cancellation or reduction of debt for HIPCs. Directs the President, in canceling or reducing debt, to give priority to HIPCs that have demonstrated a sustained commitment to poverty alleviation or have recently suffered a major natural disaster. (Sec. 2) Provides that cancellation or reduction of debt shall not be considered to be assistance for purposes of any law limiting assistance to a country. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth certain procedures for the making of new loans, extending new credits, or issuing new guarantees to the governments of developing countries. (Sec. 3) Amends the International Financial Institutions Act to urge the President, in order to accelerate multilateral debt relief and promote economic and human development and poverty alleviation in HIPCs, to commence diplomatic efforts within the Paris Club of Official Creditors, as well as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank), the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and other appropriate multilateral development institutions to make certain modifications in the Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative, including: (1) the placing of a limit on maximum waiting period before a country receives debt relief; (2) the incorporation of poverty reduction and environmental protection as conditions for HIPC debt relief; (3) the revision of country eligibility requirements under the HIPC Initiative; (4) the adoption of a human development action plan and fund by HIPCs; (5) limits on the amount of debt reduction; (6) transparency and participation by HIPCs in HIPC decision making; and (7) the provision of HIPC review. Authorizes appropriations for the HIPC Trust Fund. Declares the sense of Congress that the amounts that would otherwise be provided by the United States for development aid or other debt relief should not be reduced on account of any such appropriations. Directs the President to work with the member countries of international financial institutions to ensure transparency and public participation in decisions to make new loans (including terms and conditions of such loans) to developing countries.

DeLauro-Lowey Water Pollution Control and Estuary Restoration Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999

DeLauro-Lowey Water Pollution Control and Estuary Restoration Act - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the State water pollution control revolving fund program through FY 2006. Requires a specified percentage (increasing with each succeeding fiscal year) of such appropriations to be used for capitalization grants for estuary plans to qualified States. Prohibits a qualified State from submitting an estimate of needs unless the estimate is approved by each management conference that is implementing an approved estuary plan and of which the State is a member. Makes States that fail to submit approved need estimates ineligible for assistance. Directs States to establish separate Estuary Accounts in their water pollution control revolving funds, to be used for implementing approved estuary plans. Permits loans made with Account funds to be for terms of up to 40 years or for the useful life of a facility constructed with the loan, whichever is less, if the borrower demonstrates financial hardship. Establishes a State matching requirement for deposits into Accounts. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants for the implementation of estuary conservation and management plans. Authorizes appropriations. Permits certain grants under the National Estuary Program to be used for interim actions adopted by management conferences to protect the water and sediment quality of estuaries. Extends the authorization of appropriations for management conferences, grants, conservation and management plans, and research under the National Estuary Program through FY 2004. Requires a management conference to be convened for at least five years (currently, not to exceed five years). Sets forth conditions under which management conferences may be extended or terminated. Sets forth provisions regarding the reconvening of conferences. Revises approval and implementation procedures for estuary conservation and management plans and establishes procedures for interim actions. Prohibits any activity located in U.S. waters or which serves new development in such waters from being included in a conservation and management plan or a State needs estimate unless specified Federal officials determine that: (1) the activity is essential to reduce the discharge of pollutants into navigable waters; and (2) there is no practicable alternative to the proposed activity that would have a less adverse impact on the aquatic habitat.

Healthy Kids 2000 Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 March 1999

Healthy Kids 2000 Act - Title I: Health Care Accessibility and Accountability for Mothers and Newborns - Subtitle A: Accessibility of Mothers and Newborns to Health Insurance - Mothers and Newborns Health Insurance Act of 1999 - Amends title XXI (Children's Health Insurance) of the Social Security Act (SSA) to authorize a State child health plan, under the State Children's Health Insurance Program, to provide for optional coverage of pregnancy-related assistance for targeted low-income, uninsured pregnant women. (Sec. 103) Makes a child born to a woman receiving such pregnancy-related assistance automatically eligible for child health assistance. (Sec. 104) Provides for the expanded availability of funding for administrative costs related to certain outreach and eligibility determinations under Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program with regard to children and pregnant women. Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish a procedure with regard to the participation of local and community-based public or nonprofit organizations in outreach and enrollment activities if States do not otherwise obligate the amounts made available for such activities. Subtitle B: Patient Rights With Respect to Care - Amends the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) to require group health plans (other than fully insured plans) that provide coverage for gynecological or obstetric care and provide for designation of a participating primary care provider to: (1) allow a participant to designate a non-specialist without authorization or referral by the primary care provider; and (2) treat the ordering of other routine care related to obstetrical or gynecological care by the participating physician as the authorization of the primary care provider with respect to such care. Requires a group health plan that provides for a participant to designate a participating pediatric primary care provider for a child of such participant to: (1) permit the participant to designate a provider who specializes in pediatrics as the child's primary care provider; and (2) consider appropriate pediatric expertise in mandatorily assigning a participant to a pediatric primary care provider if a participant has not designated such a provider. Requires such plans, in the case of a covered child with a mental or physical condition, disability, or disease of sufficient seriousness to require diagnosis or treatment by a specialist, to provide for referral to a specialist who has extensive experience or training and is available and accessible to provide treatment, including referrals to nonparticipating providers in cases where the plan does not have an appropriate specialist. Provides that services pursuant to referrals to nonparticipating providers shall be provided at no additional cost beyond what the participant would pay to a participating provider. Directs such plans, with respect to the coverage of children, to make certain information regarding structures, processes, and outcomes regarding each offered health insurance product publicly available. (Sec. 112) Amends ERISA to require group health plans or health insurance issuers, in connection with the provisions of coverage, to establish, with respect to the coverage of children, a system to provide for the resolution of complaints and appeals regarding such coverage. Sets forth requirements for an independent external review process in connection with such coverage. (Sec. 113) Amends the Internal Revenue Code to incorporate ERISA requirements for patients' rights described by this Act. Title II: Payments to Children's Hospitals That Operate GME Programs - Pediatric Medical Education, Training, and Research Act of 1999 - Directs the Secretary of HHS to make payment as specified to each children's hospital for each hospital cost reporting period under Medicare (title XVIII of the SSA) for FY 2000 and 2001 beginning after FY 1999 and before FY 2004 for the direct and indirect expenses associated with operating approved medical residency training programs. Makes appropriations for such payments. Provides that such payments are in lieu of certain Medicare payments to hospitals for medical education, but shall not affect the amounts otherwise payable to such hospitals under a State Medicaid (SSA title XIX) plan. Title III: Pediatric Public Health Promotion - Subtitle A: National Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention - Amends the Public Health Service Act to establish a National Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Transfers to the Center all activities, budgets, and personnel of the National Center for Environmental Health that relate to birth defects, folic acid, cerebral palsy, mental retardation, child development, newborn screening, autism, fragile X syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, pediatric genetics, and disability prevention. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Pregnant Mothers and Infants Health Promotion - Pregnant Mothers and Infants Health Protection Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to carry out programs to: (1) collect, analyze, and make available data on prenatal smoking and alcohol and illegal drug usage; (2) conduct applied epidemiological research on the prevention of prenatal and postnatal smoking and alcohol and illegal drug usage; (3) support, conduct, and evaluate the effectiveness of educational and cessation programs; and (4) provide information and education to the public on the prevention and implications of prenatal and postnatal smoking and alcohol and illegal drug usage. Authorizes grants to, and contracts with, public and nonprofit entities as well as technical assistance for carrying out this subtitle. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle C: Safe Motherhood Monitoring and Prevention Research - Safe Motherhood Monitoring and Prevention Research Act - Amends the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, to: (1) establish a national monitoring and surveillance program to identify and promote the investigation of deaths and severe complications that occur during pregnancy; (2) expand the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System to provide surveillance and collect data in each State; and (3) expand the Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology Program to provide technical support, financial assistance, or the time-limited assignment of senior epidemiologists to maternal and child health programs in each State. Authorizes appropriations. Permits the Secretary, acting through the Centers, to: (1) expand research relating to specified maternal health topics; and (2) carry out activities to promote safe motherhood. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle D: Poison Control Center Enhancement - Poison Control Center Enhancement and Awareness Act - Directs the Secretary of HHS to provide coordination and assistance to regional poison control centers for the establishment of a nationwide toll-free phone number to be used to access such centers. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 335) Mandates a national media campaign to educate the public about poison prevention and the availability of local poison control resources and to conduct advertising campaigns concerning the nationwide toll-free number. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 336) Mandates grants for certified regional poison control centers to achieve financial stability and to prevent, and provide treatment recommendations for, poisoning. Mandates other grant uses. Sets forth center certification requirements. Authorizes appropriations. Title IV: Pediatric Research Center - Amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish a Pediatric Research Initiative within the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 402) Directs the Secretary, acting through the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, to provide support for extramural activities relating to the training and career development of pediatric researchers. Permits the Secretary to establish a pediatric research loan repayment program. Authorizes appropriations.

Living Wage, Jobs for All Act

United States · United States Congress · 10 March 1999

A Living Wage, Jobs for All Act - Declares that the Congress affirms the basic economic rights and responsibilities under the 1944 "Economic Bill of Rights," while updating and extending it to include: (1) certain rights to decent jobs, income security for individuals unable to work for pay, a decent living for farm families, freedom from monopolies, decent housing, adequate health services, social security in old age, sickness, accidental injury, and unemployment, and education and work training; and (2) certain other rights relating to collective bargaining, a safe working environment, information on trends in pollution sources and products and processes that affect the well-being of workers throughout the world, voting and campaigning, and personal security. Recognizes specified personal responsibilities of persons benefitting from such rights. (Sec. 3) Sets forth requirements relating to corporate responsibility. Requires each corporation registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to include in its annual reports to the SEC a full and fair disclosure of the impact of its activities in the United States and other countries on environmental quality and on the rights of other stakeholders, including employees, consumers, and communities. Requires each State, in order to be entitled to receive any Federal grants or enter into any Federal contracts, to have initiated a time-phased program to require that all State-chartered corporations submit annual reports including such disclosures of information. Requires the Secretary of Labor and the Director of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) identify corporations that have gone the furthest in managing their enterprises with responsible action toward environmental quality and the rights of other stakeholders, including employees, consumers, and communities; and (2) recommend to the President a special annual award to those chief executives and boards of directors that have made the greatest progress in this direction. Directs the Attorney General, with the assistance of business leaders and organizations, to establish an ongoing computerized registration program of all corporations found guilty of violating a Federal or State law. Authorizes the President, in the absence of clear and convincing evidence of rehabilitation, to deny Federal contracts, loans, or loan guarantees to non-compliant corporations. Makes it the responsibility of each Federal agency and commission, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, to perform so as to help establish and maintain conditions under which all adult Americans may freely exercise the economic rights specified in 1944 and in this Act. Prohibits Federal agencies or commissions from directly or indirectly promoting recession, stagnation, or unemployment as a means of reducing wages and salaries or inflation. (Sec. 4) Directs the President to establish a framework for the annual budget submitted to the Congress that meets specified goals with respect to: (1) quality of life and environment; (2) responsible and sustainable growth; (3) reduction of officially measured unemployment; and (4) support for international human rights declarations. Requires such framework also to include specific legislative proposals, budgets, and executive policies and initiatives such as: (1) conversion from military to civilian economy; (2) truth in budgets; (3) improved indicators of progress and regress; (4) anti-inflation policies; (5) lower real interest rates; (6) public works and services; (7) international economic policy; (8) international conferences on reducing unemployment and underemployment; (9) reductions in work hours; (10) part-time employment with social benefits; (11) insurance protection for pension fund investments; and (12) other specified matters. (Sec. 5) Mandates Joint Economic Committee oversight of actions under this Act. Requires the Joint Economic Committee to submit an annual Concurrent Resolution on Economic Policy setting forth its proposed goals for employment by type of employment, with special attention to hours, wages, and social benefits, and for reducing unemployment, underemployment, and poverty in urban, suburban and rural areas. Requires these goals to serve as the framework for any concurrent resolutions on the Federal budget. (Sec. 6) Authorizes appropriations.

Airport Air Quality Improvement Act

United States · United States Congress · 9 March 1999

Airport Air Quality Improvement Act - Directs the Secretary of Transportation to carry out an inherently low-emission airport vehicle pilot program which makes grants to the sponsors of not more than ten public-use airports eligible for airport development assistance. Makes a public-use airport eligible for such assistance if it is located in an air quality nonattainment area. Directs the Secretary in selecting an applicant sponsor for a grant to give priority consideration to applicants that achieve the greatest air quality benefits measured by the amount of emission reduced per dollar of grant funds. Sets forth fund requirements. Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees evaluating the effectiveness of the pilot program. Authorizes appropriations.

Interstate Transportation of Municipal Solid Waste Control Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999

Interstate Transportation of Municipal Solid Waste Control Act of 1999 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to authorize a Governor of a State that imported more than 1 million tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) during 1998 to: (1) restrict the quantity of such waste received for disposal at each landfill during a calendar year to the quantity received at the landfill during 1998; (2) restrict the quantity in calendar years succeeding the year the State first imports more than 1 million tons of such waste to the quantity received for disposal at the landfill to the first calendar year of such importation; and (3) prohibit, beginning in 2001, importation of such waste from a "super exporting State" (one that exports to other States at least 6 million tons of such waste in the aggregate). Prohibits discrimination against any particular landfill, against shipments on the basis of State of origin, or contrary to State law. Authorizes a Governor, upon written request of an affected local government and subject to certain documentation requirements, to: (1) increase the annual quantity of out-of-State waste to be disposed at a landfill; and (2) terminate the prohibition on imports from super exporting States. Prohibits a landfill from receiving any such waste unless it is received under: (1) specified exemptions regarding the metropolitan statistical area and a per landfill maximum tonnage; or (2) authorization from the affected local government or pursuant to a host community agreement (a legally binding document executed by local government officials specifically authorizing a landfill or incinerator to receive out-of-State MSW) entered into before enactment of this Act. Sets forth information and notification requirements applicable to the authorization process. Requires reports of out-of-State MSW activity by owners and operators and by States. Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to publish a list disclosing, for each State, quantities of out-of-State MSW imports and exports. Allows States that import MSW for disposal in a landfill in the State to impose and collect fees on such importation.

Credit for Voluntary Reduction Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999

Credit for Voluntary Reductions Act - Authorizes the President to enter into legally binding early action agreements with any person under which the United States agrees to provide greenhouse gas reduction credit usable beginning in the compliance period (during which a domestic greenhouse gas regulatory statute is in effect) if such person reduces greenhouse gas emissions or sequesters carbon before the end of the credit period. Defines the credit period as: (1) the period of January 1, 1999, through the earlier of the day before the compliance period begins or the end of the ninth calendar year beginning after enactment of this Act; or (2) a different period determined under extension or adjustment provisions of this Act . (Sec. 5) Requires a participant to receive greenhouse gas reduction credit under such an agreement if such participant takes an action that: (1) reduces such emissions or sequesters carbon before the end of the credit period; and (2) will result in an addition to the U.S. quantified emission limitation for the compliance period under any applicable international agreement. Authorizes agreements to entitle a participant to receive credit for a reduction or sequestration that is not creditable under such requirements and is for a project accepted before December 31, 2000, under the U.S. Initiative for Joint Implementation, financing for which was provided or construction of which was commenced before such date. Limits the period in which credit may be earned to the earlier of the earliest date on which credit may be earned for a reduction, sequestration, or comparable project under an international agreement or the end of the credit period. Grants a participant credit if, during the credit period, the participant's aggregate greenhouse gas emissions from domestic sources covered by the agreement are less than the sum of the participant's annual source baselines during such period. Treats the amount by which the aggregate net carbon sequestration for such period in a participant's domestic carbon reservoirs exceeds the sum of the annual reservoir baselines for such period as an emission reduction. Sets forth circumstances under which a participant is entitled to receive one ton of reduction credit for reductions or sequestration for 1991 through 1998. Authorizes an extension of the period during which credit may be earned if the Congress so permits by law. Entitles participants, at the end of the credit period, to one ton of reduction credit for each creditable ton. (Sec. 6) Establishes annual source or reservoir baselines for the years in the credit period equal to a participant's average annual greenhouse gas emissions from domestic sources or average level of carbon stocks in reservoirs during a 1996 through 1998 base period, with specified adjustments. Provides for alternative base periods if data is unavailable or unrepresentative. Authorizes participants to elect a base period earlier than 1996 through 1998 (excluding years earlier than 1990) to reflect voluntary reductions made before 1996. Provides for adjustment of the period during which credit may be earned if an election is made for a base period earlier than 1996. (Sec. 7) Requires agreements to cover all greenhouse gas sources that a participant owns on the date on which an agreement is entered into. Permits agreements to exclude small or diverse sources or sources owned by more than one person. Authorizes coverage for other owned sources and reservoirs. (Sec. 8) Establishes reporting, measurement, and verification procedures and requires public availability of participants' reports. (Sec. 9) Permits the President to enter into agreements that do not meet this Act's requirements with participants that manufacture or construct for sale to end-users equipment or facilities that emit greenhouse gases if such requirements are infeasible and such agreements would achieve comparable tonnage reductions. (Sec. 10) Permits participants to purchase credit from and sell credit to other participants and sell credit to non-participants. Authorizes pooling arrangements under which a group of participants acts as a single participant for purposes of entering into an agreement. (Sec. 11) Requires agreements to provide that: (1) credit earned under an agreement shall be provided in addition to any otherwise available authorizations of the participant to emit greenhouse gases in the first compliance period under a domestic statute; and (2) if the allocation of authorizations under such statute is based on the level of a participant's emissions in a historic period later than the participant's base period under the agreement, any credit to which the participant was entitled during such historic period shall be added back to the participant's emissions level for such period.

Wendell H. Ford National Air Transportation System Improvement Act of 1999

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorizations Title II: Airport Improvement Program Amendments Title III: Amendments to Aviation Law Title IV : Title 49 Technical Corrections Title V: Miscellaneous Title VI: Aviation Competition Promotion Title VII: National Park Overflights Title VIII: Centennial of Flight Commemoration Title IX: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Expenditure Authority Wendell H. Ford National Air Transportation System Improvement Act of 1999 - Title I: Authorizations - Amends the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 to authorize appropriations for FY 1999 and 2000 for Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) operations. Earmarks amounts for: (1) wildlife hazard mitigation measures and management of the wildlife strike database of the FAA; and (2) a university consortium established to provide an air safety and security management certificate program. (Sec. 102) Amends Federal aviation law to authorize appropriations for FY 1999 and 2000 for: (1) the FAA Facilities and Equipment Program; and (2) continuation through FY 2000 of the instrument landing system inventory program. Directs the Administrator of the FAA to establish life-cycle cost estimates for any air traffic control modernization project whose costs equal or exceed $50 million. (Sec. 103) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 and 2000 for airport planning and development and noise compatibility planning programs. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary of Transportation (Secretary), in order to improve security at U.S. public airports, to carry out at least one project to test and evaluate innovative airport security systems and related technology. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 106) Authorizes appropriations to the Secretary to carry out the Federal Contract Tower Program. (Sec. 107) Prohibits the FAA Administrator from terminating human weather observers for Automated Surface Observation System stations until 60 days after the Secretary determines and reports to Congress that the System provides consistent reporting of changing meteorological conditions. Title II: Airport Improvement Program Amendments - Repeals the cap on the amounts to be credited annually to the Secretary's discretionary fund for aviation programs. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary to carry out a demonstration program of up to 20 projects for grants to implement innovative financing techniques for airport development projects. (Sec. 203) Limits to no more than 90 percent the Federal share of costs for a project at a non-primary airport having at least .25 percent of the total number of passenger boardings each year at all commercial service airports. (Sec. 204) Increases from 31 percent to 35 percent the minimum apportionment from the discretionary fund for airport improvement grant funds for airport noise compatibility programs. (Sec. 205) Authorizes the use of airport improvement funds apportioned to Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico for any of their public airports. Authorizes the use of the supplemental apportionment of airport improvement funds for Alaska for any of its public airports. Repeals a certain limitation on the apportionment of airport improvement funds for commercial airports in Alaska. Revises the amount of certain funds apportioned to the discretionary and small airport funds. Authorizes the Secretary to distribute a certain percentage of funds from the small airport fund for grants for projects at small hub airports. Declares that an airport development project shall remain eligible for funding from the discretionary fund (subject to the availability of funds) even though the airport's status changes from primary to non-primary. Revises the definition of "public-use airport," for purposes of grant eligibility for airport development funds, to include a privately-owned airport that, as a reliever airport, received Federal aid for airport development before October 9, 1996, but only if the FAA Administrator issues revised administrative guidance after July 1, 1998, for the designation of reliever airports. Repeals the eligibility of reliever airports for the issuance of a letter of intent to obligate airport development funds. Prohibits the collection of a passenger facility fee from a passenger in Alaska aboard an aircraft having a seating capacity of less than 20 passengers. Permits certain regulations to authorize a public agency to request waiver of a passenger facility fee for: (1) any class of domestic or foreign air carrier that enplanes not more than one percent of the total number of passengers enplaned annually at a airport; or (2) passengers enplaned on a flight to an airport with scheduled passenger service but fewer than 2,500 passenger boardings each year, or in a community with a population of less than 10,000 and not connected by land to the National Highway System. Requires any Federal agency to grant priority to a request by any non-Federal public agency for surplus property for use at a public airport. Increases the apportionment of airport improvement funds to sponsors of cargo-only airports. Declares that the Secretary may permit the use of State highway specifications for airfield pavement construction using airport development funds at non-primary airports with runways of 5,000 feet or shorter serving aircraft that do not exceed 60,000 pounds, if the Secretary determines that: (1) safety will not be negatively affected; and (2) the life of the pavement will not be shorter than it would be if constructed using FAA standards. Prohibits an airport from seeking airport development funds for runway rehabilitation or reconstruction of any such airfield pavement constructed using State highway specifications for a period of ten years after construction is completed. (Sec. 206) Amends the Federal Aviation Reauthorization Act of 1996 to repeal the termination of certain amendments regarding apportionments and their uses, the discretionary fund, and the designation of current and former military airports (thus making them permanent). (Sec. 207) Directs the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on FAA efforts to implement capacity improvements, such as precision runway monitoring systems and the time frame for implementation of such improvements. (Sec. 208) Directs the Administrator of the FAA to discourage airport sponsors and airports from using discretionary funds for lower priority projects by giving lower priority to discretionary projects they have submitted which have used entitlement funds for projects with a lower priority than the projects for which discretionary funds are being requested. (Sec. 209) Prohibits the Secretary from waiving certain required assurances that property be used for aeronautical purposes with respect to the grant of airport development funds, unless the Secretary provides public notice at least 30 days before issuing such waiver. (Sec. 210) Amends Federal aviation safety law to revise the term "public aircraft" to include non-government-owned passenger aircraft operated for prisoner transport. (Sec. 211) Authorizes the Secretary, in order to enable additional air service by an air carrier with less than 50 percent of the scheduled passenger traffic at an airport, to consider the shell of a terminal building (including heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) and aircraft fueling facilities adjacent to the building to be an eligible airport-related project. (Sec. 212) Directs the FAA Administrator to evaluate specified options for improving the quality of information available to the FAA on airfield pavement conditions for national air transportation system airports. (Sec. 213) Authorizes the Secretary to use certain unobligated funds to make discretionary grants for airport noise abatement activities. Title III: Amendments to Aviation Law - Amends Federal aviation law to authorize the FAA Administrator to contract for procurement of severable services for a period that begins in one fiscal year and ends in the next fiscal year if (without regard to any option to extend it) the contract period does not exceed one year. Declares that funds available for a fiscal year may be obligated for the total amount of the contract. (Sec. 302) Amends the Airport Noise and Capacity Act to make foreign air carriers eligible for a waiver from stage three noise level requirements for certain aircraft. (Sec. 303) Authorizes the FAA Administrator to establish consortia of government and aviation industry representatives at airports to provide advice on matters related to aviation security and safety. (Sec. 304) Authorizes the Administrator of the FAA to enter into bilateral agreements with the aeronautical authorities of another country to exchange with that country all or part of their respective safety oversight functions and duties with respect to certain domestic and foreign aircraft. (Sec. 305) Directs the FAA Administrator to establish a schedule of new fees for services (other than air traffic control services) provided to any entity obtaining services outside the United States. (Sec. 306) Amends the Pilot Records Improvement Act to require an employment investigation (including a criminal history check) in the case of passenger, baggage, or property screening at airports if the FAA Administrator decides it is necessary to ensure air transportation security. Permits an air carrier that has not obtained information about a pilot from a foreign government or entity that has employed the pilot to allow such pilot to begin service as a pilot of certain small aircraft if the carrier has made a documented good faith attempt to obtain it. (Sec. 307) Authorizes a person to bring a civil action in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (as well as in a U.S. district court) against the United States when: (1) the person is subrogated to the rights against the U.S. Government of a party insured under the aviation insurance program under a contract between the person and such insured party; and (2) the person has paid to the insured party an amount for a covered physical damage loss. Extends Federal aviation insurance and reinsurance programs through FY 2003. (Sec. 309) Establishes criminal penalties for any individual who: (1) knowingly and willfully serves or attempts to serve as an airman without an airman's certificate; (2) knowingly and willfully employs for service or uses as an airman an individual who does not have such certificate; or (3) without an airman's certificate provides for the air transportation of a controlled substance. (Sec. 310) Requires major air carriers providing air service to essential airport facilities that have interline agreements involving ticketing, baggage and ground handling, and terminal and gate access with other carriers, to provide on a nondiscriminatory basis the same services to any requesting air carrier that offers air service to a small community airport. Title IV: Title 49 Technical Corrections - Sets forth certain technical corrections to specified sections of Title 49 of the United States Code. Title V: Miscellaneous - Directs the FAA Administrator to report to specified congressional committees every three months on electronic data processing problems associated with the year 2000 (Y2K problem) within the FAA. (Sec. 502) Directs the FAA Administrator to require by regulation that collision avoidance equipment (TCAS II) be installed on each cargo aircraft with a payload capacity of 15,000 kilograms or more. (Sec. 503) Directs the FAA Administrator to solicit comments on the need for: (1) improvement of runway safety areas; and (2) the installation of precision approach path indicators. (Sec. 504) Makes applicable to other specified types of aircraft (currently exempted from them), including turbojet-powered aircraft and aircraft equipped to carry only one individual, certain requirements that commercial aircraft be outfitted with an emergency locator transmitter. (Continues to exempt from such requirements aircraft used in scheduled flights by scheduled air carriers holding certificates issued by the Secretary, training operations conducted entirely within a 50-mile radius of the airport from which the training operations begin, flight operations related to design and testing, the manufacture, preparation, and delivery of aircraft, showing compliance with regulations, exhibition, or air racing, or the aerial application of a substance on agricultural crops.) (Sec. 505) Prohibits the FAA Administrator, except for the facilitation of law enforcement, from issuing a certificate to any person: (1) convicted of a violation of any Federal or State law relating to the installation, production, repair, or sale of a counterfeit or falsely represented aviation part or material; or (2) subject to a controlling or ownership interest of an individual convicted of such violation. Directs the Administrator to revoke any such certificates issued to convicted persons or persons who knowingly facilitate such a violation. Prohibits the employment of an individual convicted of counterfeit parts dealing to perform a function related to the procurement, sale, production, or repair of a part or material, or the installation of a part into a civil aircraft. (Sec. 506) Subjects to a civil penalty of up to $10,000 any individual who interferes with the duties or responsibilities of the flight crew or cabin crew of a civil aircraft, or who poses an imminent threat to the safety of the aircraft or other individuals on the aircraft. (Sec. 507) Directs the Secretary to work with appropriate international organizations and aviation authorities of other nations to bring about their establishment of higher standards for accommodating handicapped passengers in air transportation, particularly with respect to foreign air carriers that code-share with domestic air carriers. Establishes a civil penalty for any air carrier that discriminates against handicapped persons while providing air transportation, unless such carrier provides such individual a credit or voucher in a certain amount for the purchase of a ticket on that carrier or any affiliated carrier. (Sec. 508) Authorizes the Secretary to request the head of any Federal department, agency, or instrumentality to convey land or airspace owned or controlled by it to a public agency for use that will complement, facilitate, or augment airport development, including the development of additional revenue from both aviation and nonaviation sources. Authorizes the Secretary, upon making certain determinations, to grant a release from any conditions contained in such conveyances in order to facilitate the development of additional revenue from aeronautical and nonaeronautical sources. Authorizes the Administrators of the FAA or the General Services Administration (GSA) to convey all right, title, and interest in 12 acres of property at Lake Minchumina, Alaska, to the Iditarod Area School District. (Sec. 509) Directs the FAA Administrator to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking to develop procedures to protect air carriers and their employees from civil enforcement action under the Flight Operations Quality Assurance program. (Sec. 510) Directs the FAA Administrator to identify or develop a plan to implement the wide area augmentation system (WAAS) to provide navigation and landing approach capabilities for civilian use and make a determination as to whether a backup system is necessary. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 511) Directs the FAA Administrator to reissue, and provide for public comment on, the notice to operators published in the Federal Register on January 2, 1998, which advised Alaska guide pilots of the applicability of part 135 of CFR title 14 to guide pilot operations. (Sec. 513) Directs the FAA Administrator to establish an advanced qualification program oversight committee to give advice on the development and execution of Advanced Qualification Programs (alternative methods for qualifying, training, certifying, and ensuring the competency of flight crews and other commercial aviation operations personnel (human factors training program)) for air carriers, and to encourage their adoption and implementation. (Sec. 514) Directs the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to initiate an independent assessment that ensures that the method for capturing and distributing overall FAA costs is appropriate and reasonable. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 515) Provides for the enforcement of whistleblower laws for FAA employees. (Sec. 516) Directs the FAA Administrator to report to Congress on a plan to modernize the oceanic air traffic control system (including a budget for such program). (Sec. 517) Directs the FAA Administrator to report biannually to Congress on the air transportation oversight system program announced on May 13, 1998, in detail on the training of inspectors, the number of them using the system, air carriers subject to the system, and the budget for the system. (Sec. 518) Declares that the Secretary may authorize the use, in whole or in part, of a completed environmental assessment or environmental impact study for a new airport construction project that is substantially similar in nature to one previously constructed pursuant to a completed assessment or study in order to avoid unnecessary duplication of expense and effort. (Sec. 519) Prohibits air carriers, contractors, and subcontractors from discharging or otherwise discriminating against an employee as to pay, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment because the employee: (1) is about to provide or has provided to the Federal Government information relating to any violation of any FAA order, regulation, or standard or any other Federal law relating to air carrier safety; or (2) is about to file or has filed a proceeding, or testified, or otherwise participated in a proceeding relating to such violations. Sets forth a Department of Labor complaint procedure for persons who believe they have been discharged or discriminated against in violation of this Act. Provides for award of attorney's fees of up to $5,000 to a prevailing employer for any such complaint found frivolous or brought in bad faith. Specifies civil penalties for violation of this Act. (Sec. 520) Authorizes the FAA Administrator to improve real property leased for air navigation facilities without regard to the costs of such improvements in relation to the cost of the lease, if certain conditions are met. (Sec. 521) Declares that the denial to air carriers (that conduct operations as a public charter with aircraft that are designed to carry more than nine passengers per flight) of access to certain reliever airports shall not be considered to be unreasonable or unjust discrimination. (Sec. 522) Directs the Secretary of Commerce to establish an Intergovernmental Task Force for International Visitor Assistance. Requires the Task Force to: (1) examine, and report to the President and the Congress its recommendation on, signage at U.S. facilities (including airports, seaports, land border crossings, highways, and bus, train, and other public transit stations); and (2) identify and suggest solutions to existing inadequacies, such as the adoption of uniform standards on international signage for use throughout the United States in order to facilitate international visitors' travel here. Requires the Task Force also to examine and report on: (1) the availability of multilingual travel and tourism information and means of disseminating it; and (2) establishment of a toll-free, private-sector operated telephone number, staffed by multilingual operators, to provide assistance to international tourists coping with an emergency. Directs the Secretary to complete, as soon as may be practicable, a satellite system of accounting for the travel and tourism industry. Authorizes appropriations for U.S. National Tourism Organization international promotional activities. Prohibits the use of such funds for any purpose other than marketing, research, outreach, or any other activity designed to promote the United States as the premiere travel and tourism destination in the world. States that the Organization's general and administrative expenses shall be borne by the private sector. (Sec. 523) Directs the FAA Administrator to determine whether its safety regulations are equivalent to the safety standards set forth in European Union Directive 89-336EEC. Directs the Administrator, if such standards are equivalent, to work with the Secretary of Commerce to gain acceptance of such determination pursuant to the Mutual Recognition Agreement between the United States and the European Union of May 18, 1998, in order to ensure that aviation products approved by the FAA are acceptable under the Directive. (Sec. 524) Expresses the sense of the Senate that: (1) the property taxes on public-use airports should be assessed fairly, regardless of the location of the airport owner; and (2) the property tax recently assessed on the City of The Dalles, Oregon, as the owner and operator of the Columbia Gorge Regional-The Dalles Municipal Airport, State of Washington, should be repealed. (Sec. 525) Amends the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1996 to authorize FAA employees under the new FAA personnel management system to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board and seek judicial review of Board decisions. (Sec. 526) Establishes an Aircraft Repair and Maintenance Advisory Panel to review issues related to the use and oversight of aircraft and aviation component repair and maintenance facilities located within, or outside of, the United States. Authorizes the Administrator to seek the advice of the panel on issues related to methods to improve the safety of domestic or foreign contract aircraft and aviation component repair facilities. Directs the Administrator to request aircraft and aviation component repair stations located outside or inside the United States to submit information necessary to assess safety issues and enforcement actions with respect to the work performed at those stations on aircraft used by U.S. air carriers. Requires such information to include: (1) the existence and administration of employee drug and alcohol testing programs; and (2) the amount and type of aircraft and aviation component repair work performed on U.S. and foreign aircraft. (Sec. 527) Directs the Secretary to study and report to Congress on the desirability and implications of: (1) decreasing from 75 to 51 percent the portion of the voting interest owned or controlled by U.S. citizens necessary to qualify a corporation or association as a U.S. citizen under Federal transportation law; and (2) revising the definition of air carrier under such law to cover any company whose principal place of business is in the United States (currently, such an air carrier must be a U.S. citizen). (Sec. 528) Declares that a memorandum of agreement between the FAA Administrator and any person that directly obtains aircraft situational display data shall require that such person: (1) demonstrate the capability of selectively blocking the display of any aircraft-situation-display-to-industry derived data related to any identified aircraft registration number; and (2) agree to block selectively the aircraft registration numbers of any aircraft owner or operator upon FAA request. (Sec. 529) Expresses the sense of the Senate that the Secretary should: (1) act vigorously to ensure the enforcement of U.S. rights under the Bermuda II Agreement; (2) intensify efforts to obtain assurances from the United Kingdom to allow U.S. air carriers to operate commercially viable, competitive service for the Charlotte-London (Gatwick) and Cleveland-London (Gatwick) routes; and (3) ensure that the rights of the United States and U.S. citizens and air carriers are enforced under the Agreement before seeking to renegotiate a broader bilateral agreement to establish additional rights for U.S. air carriers and foreign air carriers of the United Kingdom, including the right to commercially viable competitive slots at Gatwick Airport and Heathrow Airport in London, England, for U.S. air carriers. (Sec. 531) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to report annually to the Secretary the amount of State taxes collected during the preceding fiscal year that were transferred to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund. Directs the Secretary to report annually to the Congress for the preceding fiscal year: (1) the State dollar contribution to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund; and (2) the amount of airport development and noise compatibility funds made available to the State. (Sec. 532) Directs the FAA Administrator to work with the Taos Pueblo to study the feasibility of conducting a demonstration project to require all aircraft that fly over Taos Pueblo and the Blue Lake Wilderness Area of Taos Pueblo, New Mexico, to maintain a mandatory minimum altitude of at least 5,000 feet above ground level. (Sec. 533) Directs the Secretary to promulgate regulations to provide for improved oral and written disclosure to each consumer of air transportation concerning the corporate name of the air carrier that provides such transportation. (Sec. 534) Directs the FAA to use necessary funds to contract for the operation of air traffic control towers in Salisbury, Maryland, Bozeman, Montana, and Boca Raton, Florida. (Sec. 535) Amends the Death on the High Seas Act to authorize, in addition to any pecuniary damages, the recovery of up to $750,000 (adjusted for inflation beginning FY 2000) of nonpecuniary damages for wrongful death caused during commercial aviation. Title VI: Aviation Competition Promotion - Directs the Secretary to establish a four-year pilot aviation development program to provide funds to up to 40 small communities or consortia of communities and States with inadequate access to the national transportation system to improve their access to such system. (Sec. 603) Directs the FAA Administrator, in order to facilitate the use of, and improve the safety at, small airports, to establish a pilot program (community-carrier air service program) to contract for Level I air traffic control services at 20 facilities not eligible for participation in the Federal Contract Tower Program. Waives the State or local contribution requirement with respect to such program. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 604) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1999 through 2002 for the community-carrier air service program. (Sec. 605) Directs the Secretary to review the marketing practices of air carriers that may inhibit the availability of quality, affordable air transportation services to small and medium-sized communities. Requires the Secretary, if such practices are found to inhibit the availability of such service, to promulgate regulations to address the problem. (Sec. 606) Requires the Secretary, after receiving an application for an exemption to provide nonstop regional jet air service between an airport with fewer than two million annual enplanements and a high density airport, to grant or deny the exemption in accordance with established principles of safety and the promotion of competition. Authorizes the Secretary to permit: (1) an air carrier or an affiliated air carrier to upgrade its service under the exemption to a larger jet aircraft; and (2) an air carrier to change the nonhub airport or small hub airport for which the exemption was granted to provide the same service to a different airport that is smaller than a large hub airport, if certain conditions are met. Provides for the termination of an exemption if the air carrier uses the slot for any purpose other than the purpose for which it was granted or in violation of the conditions under which it was granted. (Sec. 607) Directs the Secretary, subject to specified conditions, to grant exemptions from the prohibitions against the operation of aircraft nonstop between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and another airport more than 1,250 miles away (perimeter rule), and against the increase or decrease by the Administrator in the number of takeoffs and landings (the High Density Rule), to any air carrier that operates limited frequencies and aircraft on select routes between National Airport and domestic hub airports. Mandates such an exemption if the Secretary finds that it will: (1) provide air transportation service with domestic network benefits in areas beyond the perimeter; (2) increase competition in multiple markets; (3) not reduce travel options for communities served by small hub airports and medium hub airports within the perimeter; and (4) not result in meaningfully increased travel delays. Sets forth specified requirements with respect to such exemptions. Directs the Secretary to: (1) grant exemptions from the High Density Rule to commuter air carriers (not including Stage 3 aircraft) for service to airports with fewer than two million annual enplanements within the perimeter established for aircraft at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport; and (2) develop criteria for distributing slot exemptions for flights within the perimeter to such airports in a manner consistent with the promotion of air transportation. Directs the Secretary to assess the impact of granting slot exemptions, including the impacts of additional slots and flights at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on safety, noise levels, and the environment. Declares that certain provisions prohibiting the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority from increasing or decreasing instrument flight rule takeoffs and landings under the High Density Rule shall not apply to any increase in the number of such takeoffs or landings necessary to implement slot exemptions granted by the Secretary under this Act. Directs the Secretary to give priority in making grants to applications for airport noise compatibility planning and programs at and around airports where operations increase under this Act. (Sec. 608) Directs the Secretary to grant 30 slot exemptions over a three-year period at Chicago O'Hare International Airport provided certain conditions are met. Directs the Secretary to study and submit a report three years after the first slot exemption granted is used on the impact of the additional slots on the safety, environment, noise, access to underserved markets, and competition at such airport. Requires the Secretary to study community noise levels in the areas surrounding the four high-density airports after the 100 percent Stage 3 fleet requirements are in place, and compare those levels with the levels in such areas before 1991. (Sec. 609) Declares that it shall be an unfair or deceptive practice for any carrier utilizing electronically transmitted tickets to fail to notify the purchaser of a ticket's expiration date, if any. (Sec. 610) Defines major air carrier joint venture agreements as agreements with regard to code-sharing, blocked-space arrangements, long-term wet leases of a substantial number of aircraft, or frequent flyer programs, or any other cooperative working arrangement between two or more major air carriers that affects more than 15 percent of the total number of available seat miles offered by such carriers. Requires any major air carrier that has entered into such an agreement to submit to the Secretary certain information regarding it. (Sec. 611) Directs the Secretary to study and report to specified congressional committees on the efficacy of a program of Federal loan guarantees for the purchase of regional jets by commuter air carriers that service underserved markets. (Sec. 612) Directs the General Accounting Office (GAO) to study the current state of the national airport network and its ability to meet the air transportation needs of the United States over the next 15 years. Title VII: National Parks Overflights - Prohibits a commercial air tour operator from conducting commercial air tour operations over a national park or tribal lands, except in accordance with this Act, conditions prescribed for that operator by the FAA Administrator, and with any commercial air tour management plan for the park or tribal lands. (Sec. 702) Sets forth specified requirements with respect to: (1) the granting of authority to commercial air tour operators to conduct air tour operations over national parks or tribal lands, with specified exceptions; and (2) establishment of commercial air tour management plans. Exempts from the requirements of this Act: (1) the Grand Canyon National Park, or any Indian country within or abutting such park; or (2) any land or waters located in Alaska. (Sec. 703) Directs the FAA Administrator and the Director of the National Park Service (Director) to establish, jointly, an advisory group to provide continuing advice and counsel with respect to the operation of commercial air tours over and near national parks. Directs the FAA Administrator and the Director to report jointly to Congress on the effectiveness of this Act in providing incentives for the development and use of quiet aircraft technology. (Sec. 704) Directs the FAA Administrator to report to Congress on the effects proposed overflight fees are likely to have on the commercial air tour industry. (Sec. 705) Prohibits any commercial air tour from operating in the airspace over the Rocky Mountain National Park. Title VIII: Centennial of Flight Commemoration - Centennial of Flight Commemoration Act - Establishes the Centennial of Flight Commission to: (1) represent the United States and take a leadership role with other countries in recognizing the importance of aviation history and the centennial of powered flight; (2) encourage and promote participation and sponsorships in commemoration of the centennial of powered flight by certain companies, individuals, institutions, organizations, and governments; (3) plan and develop programs and activities with the First Flight Centennial Commission, the First Flight Centennial Foundation of North Carolina, and the 2003 Committee of Ohio; (4) provide a central clearinghouse for information regarding aviation history and the centennial of powered flight; and (5) coordinate celebration dates during the centennial year and assist in conducting activities relating to the centennial throughout the United States. (Sec. 812) Establishes a First Flight Centennial Federal Advisory Board. (Sec. 815) Authorizes appropriations. Title IX: Extension of Airport and Airway Trust Fund Expenditure Authority - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to extend the expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund through October 1, 2000. Sets forth certain limits on transfers to the Fund.

Beaches Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health Act of 2000

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999

Beaches Environmental Assessment, Cleanup, and Health Act of1999 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to require States to adopt water quality criteria for coastal recreation waters consistent with those published by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under such Act. Directs the Administrator to conduct studies for use in developing: (1) a more complete list of potential health risks; and (2) appropriate and effective indicators and appropriate, accurate, and expeditious methods for detecting or predicting the presence of pathogens in coastal recreational waters. Requires the Administrator to issue revised water quality criteria for pathogens in such waters that are harmful to human health. Directs the Administrator to publish performance criteria for the monitoring of, and specifying methods to be used by States to monitor, coastal recreation waters for compliance with water quality criteria and protection of public safety. Requires notification of local governments, the public, and the Administrator of exceedances, or the likelihood of exceedances, of water quality criteria for such waters. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a national coastal recreation water pollution occurrence database; (2) provide technical assistance for development of assessment and monitoring procedures for floatable materials in such waters; and (3) make grants to States and local governments to implement approved monitoring and notification programs. Allows delegation of such programs to local government authorities. Makes State grant moneys available to such authorities if the programs are so delegated. Authorizes appropriations.

Carlsbad Irrigation Project Acquired Land Conveyance Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999

Carlsbad Irrigation Project Acquired Land Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Carlsbad Irrigation District specified lands and interests within the Carlsbad Project in New Mexico in consideration of the District accepting the Federal Government obligations for the project, and subject to the completion of payments by the District required under this Act. Directs the Secretary to complete such conveyance expeditiously, if no changes in Project operations are expected following such conveyance, but within 180 days after the enactment of this Act. Requires the Secretary, if the District intends to change Project operations as a result of the conveyance, to: (1) take into account those potential changes for the purpose of completing any required environmental evaluation associated with the conveyance; and (2) complete the conveyance within two years after enactment. Provides for: (1) the full cost of administrative action and environmental compliance for the conveyance to be borne by the Secretary if he or she fails to complete the conveyance before the applicable deadline; and (2) one-half of such cost to be paid by the District if the Secretary completes the conveyance before that deadline. Directs the Secretary to: (1) provide a written identification of all mineral and grazing leases in effect on such lands; and (2) notify all such leaseholders of the conveyance made by this Act. Requires receipts from leases, licenses, and permits accruing after the conveyance date to be used for Project purposes and for financing the portion of operations, maintenance, and replacement at the Summer Dam that, prior to conveyance, was the responsibility of the Bureau of Reclamation, with the exception of major maintenance programs in progress prior to the conveyance. Requires amounts paid into the reclamation fund as construction credits to the Project to be credited to deficit reduction or retirement of the Federal debt. Makes the District ineligible for any emergency loan from the Bureau for maintenance or replacement of any facility conveyed after the completion of such conveyance.

Sly Park Unit Conveyance Act

United States · United States Congress · 4 March 1999

Sly Park Unit Conveyance Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Sly Park Dam and Reservoir, Camp Creek Diversion Dam and Tunnel, and conduits and canals held by the United States pursuant to the authorization of the American River Basin Development, California (the Project) to the El Dorado Irrigation District of Placerville, El Dorado County, California, in consideration of the District accepting the Government's obligations for the Project and subject to the payment by the District of the net present value of the remaining repayment obligation. Subjects such transfer to a reversion in favor of the United States if the remaining repayment obligations to the United States are not completed. Requires: (1) the full cost of administrative action and environmental compliance for the conveyance to be borne by the Secretary if he or she fails to complete the conveyance before the prescribed deadline; and (2) one-half of such cost be paid by the District if the Secretary completes the conveyance before that deadline. Permits the District, at any time, to elect to prepay its remaining repayment obligations. Exempts the Project from application of the Reclamation Act of 1902 upon such conveyance, except that the District is required to continue to make payments into the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund until 2029. Calculates the District's obligation in the same manner as Central Valley Project water contractors.