Environment

8 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he proposes to take on the conclusions of the Green 2000 Advisory Group report about the pollution of groundwater supplies, with particular reference to pollution from septic tank systems and landfill sites.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

8 Mr. L. Burke asked the Minister for the Environment the action, if any, he proposes to take on the conclusions of the Green 2000 Advisory Group report about the pollution of groundwater supplies, with particular reference to pollution from septic tank systems and landfill sites.

6 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for the Environment whether, in view of the housing problem in Dublin, particularly in terms of need and the condition of the housing stock, he will establish a single Dublin housing authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

6 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for the Environment whether, in view of the housing problem in Dublin, particularly in terms of need and the condition of the housing stock, he will establish a single Dublin housing authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

78 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment if the High Court judgment on clenbuterol use at the end of March 1993, will delay the implementation of other EC Directives, particularly the Directive on the Freedom of Access to environmental information which was due to be ratified over four months ago.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

78 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment if the High Court judgment on clenbuterol use at the end of March 1993, will delay the implementation of other EC Directives, particularly the Directive on the Freedom of Access to environmental information which was due to be ratified over four months ago.

24 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the recent report produced by Greenpeace which stated that a number of county councils were acting in breach of the EC directive on freedom of environmental information by refusing to release information on their environmental monitoring; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

24 Mr. Rabbitte asked the Minister for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to the recent report produced by Greenpeace which stated that a number of county councils were acting in breach of the EC directive on freedom of environmental information by refusing to release information on their environmental monitoring; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

5 Ms. Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to introduce regulations to implement EC Directive 90/313/EEC on freedom of access to information on the environment; whether the implementation process will be influenced by the High Court judgment on 31 March 1993, concerning the constitutionality of Ministerial regulations which purport to overrule an Act of the Oireachtas and which are currently under appeal to the Supreme Court; and whether the regulations will apply to An Bord Pleanála, including inspector's reports.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

5 Ms. Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to introduce regulations to implement EC Directive 90/313/EEC on freedom of access to information on the environment; whether the implementation process will be influenced by the High Court judgment on 31 March 1993, concerning the constitutionality of Ministerial regulations which purport to overrule an Act of the Oireachtas and which are currently under appeal to the Supreme Court; and whether the regulations will apply to An Bord Pleanála, including inspector's reports.

11 Ms. Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the additional measures, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that the impact of projects financed through the next round of Structural Funds and the Cohesion Funds are environmentally benign; and if this will involve an official monitoring role for environmental non-governmental organisations.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

11 Ms. Keogh asked the Minister for the Environment the additional measures, if any, he proposes to take to ensure that the impact of projects financed through the next round of Structural Funds and the Cohesion Funds are environmentally benign; and if this will involve an official monitoring role for environmental non-governmental organisations.

4 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment the measures, if any, he has taken to ensure that the cohesion fund will not be used to finance environmentally destructive projects.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

4 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment the measures, if any, he has taken to ensure that the cohesion fund will not be used to finance environmentally destructive projects.

10 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether it would be advisable to have the same mechanism adopted for re-zoning motions as is used to propose planning section 4 motions.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

10 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment his views on whether it would be advisable to have the same mechanism adopted for re-zoning motions as is used to propose planning section 4 motions.

7 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment if he has received an application from Dublin County Council for an extension of time to complete consideration of its development plan; if so, if he intends to grant any such extension; if, in view of his recent comments at the annual awards of the Irish Planning Institute regarding land rezoning in County Dublin, he intends to take any steps to communicate his views directly to the members of the Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

7 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for the Environment if he has received an application from Dublin County Council for an extension of time to complete consideration of its development plan; if so, if he intends to grant any such extension; if, in view of his recent comments at the annual awards of the Irish Planning Institute regarding land rezoning in County Dublin, he intends to take any steps to communicate his views directly to the members of the Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

3 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself with the operation of zoning or rezoning procedures during the development plan reviews under the Planning Act, 1963.

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 19 May 1993

3 Mrs. Doyle asked the Minister for the Environment if he has satisfied himself with the operation of zoning or rezoning procedures during the development plan reviews under the Planning Act, 1963.

Lower Mississippi Delta Initiatives Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Initiatives Within the Department of the Interior Title II: Initiatives Within the Department of Energy Lower Mississippi Delta Initiatives Act of 1993 - Title I: Initiatives Within the Department of the Interior - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (the Secretary) to: (1) establish a scholarship program for natural resource and environmental studies; (2) encourage pre-college enrichment programs in designated subject areas; (3) implement a volunteer education enrichment program in cooperation with State departments of education and local school districts in the Lower Mississippi Delta Region (the Delta Region); and (4) implement a program to encourage women and minorities in the Delta Region to pursue science careers. (Sec. 103) Directs the Secretary to transmit to the Congress: (1) a study of nationally significant sites within the Delta Region; (2) recommendations for a transportation network linking such sites; and (3) a study outlining recommendations for funding Native American and Delta African American Heritage Routes and Centers. (Sec. 105) Directs the Secretary to provide technical and financial assistance to historically Black colleges and universities to undertake a survey of historic and prehistoric structures on campus. Title II: Initiatives Within the Department of Energy - Directs the Secretary of Energy (the Secretary) to establish the Delta Energy Technology and Business Development Center (the Center). Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to the Center. (Sec. 203) Amends the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to require the Secretary to make grants to schools or hospitals for energy conservation projects, and to provide supplemental Federal financing for energy conservation projects at schools and hospitals in the Delta Region. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 204) Requires the Secretary to: (1) report annually to certain congressional committees regarding opportunities for minority colleges and universities to participate in Department of Energy (DOE) activities and laboratories; (2) encourage partnerships involving minority colleges or universities, or private sector entities owned or controlled by disadvantaged individuals; (3) establish scholarship programs for students pursuing energy-related and/or technical disciplines either at minority colleges and universities, or at colleges and universities in the Delta Region; (4) encourage pre-college enrichment programs in energy-related and/or technical disciplines; (5) implement a volunteer program for education enrichment at DOE; and (6) implement a program to encourage women and minorities in the Delta Region to pursue careers in technical disciplines. (Sec. 205) Directs the Secretary to conduct a research and demonstration program to determine the economic viability of integrated biomass energy systems within the Delta Region. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 206) Amends the Energy Conservation and Production Act to direct the Secretary to make grants to States and Indian tribal organizations in the Delta Region for weatherization of low-income dwelling units. Authorizes appropriations.

Minor Crop Pesticides Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993

Minor Crop Pesticides Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to define "minor use" as the use of a pesticide on an animal or a commercial agricultural crop or site or for the protection of public health where: (1) the use does not provide sufficient economic incentive to support registration; and (2) the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has not determined that the use presents an unreasonable adverse environmental effect. Prohibits data that relates solely to a minor use, without the permission of the original data submitter, from being considered by the Administrator to support a minor use application by another person for ten years following the submission of the data. Requires the Administrator, on the request of a registrant, to extend the deadline for the production of residue chemistry data required solely to support a minor use pesticide up to two years subject to specified conditions. Applies the same extension conditions to data for reregistrations. Permits the Administrator, with respect to the registration of a pesticide for a minor use, to waive applicable data requirements if such use does not have an adverse environmental effect. Provides for expedited review (within 180 days of submission) of applications to support minor use pesticide registrations. Requires the Administrator to conditionally amend a registration to permit additional minor uses even if data is insufficient if the applicant has submitted satisfactory data pertaining to the proposed minor use and amending such registration would not increase environmental risks. Authorizes the Administrator to conditionally register or amend the registration of a pesticide for a minor use if: (1) the active ingredient has been listed for reregistration; (2) the minor use was a registered use of a product that has been canceled, proposed for cancellation, or deleted as a use after December 24, 1988; and (3) the use requires only residue chemistry data for reregistration. Outlines additional requirements for conditional registrations. Directs the Administrator to establish a minor use program within the Office of Pesticide Programs. Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a minor use grant program to ensure the availability of a minor use crop protection chemical. Authorizes appropriations.

Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Authorization Title II: Personnel Management Improvement Title III: Miscellaneous Sections Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1993 - Title I: Authorization - Authorizes appropriations for the Coast Guard for: (1) operation and maintenance; (2) acquisition, construction, rebuilding, and improvement of aids to navigation, shore and offshore facilities, vessels, and aircraft; (3) research, development, test, and evaluation; (4) retirement pay and benefits; (5) alteration or removal of bridges; and (6) environmental compliance and restoration. Authorizes the Coast Guard end-of-year strength for active duty personnel and the average military training student loads. Title II: Personnel Management Improvement - Raises the ceiling on the number of active duty commissioned officers in the Coast Guard. Authorizes the Commandant to enter into cooperative agreements to accept and utilize voluntary services for the maintenance and improvement of natural and historic resources, or to benefit natural and historic research, on Coast Guard facilities, provided that any such agreement requires the parties to contribute funds or services on a matching basis to defray costs. Authorizes the Secretary of the respective department in which the Coast Guard is operating, where necessary to reduce the number of Reserve officers in an active status in any grade, to provide a steady flow of promotion, or where there is an excessive number of such officers in an active status in any grade, to appoint and convene a retention board to consider all of the Reserve officers in that grade in an active status who have 18 years or more of service for retirement, with exceptions. Makes the ten-month deadline established in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1989 with respect to the correction of military records mandatory and applicable to applications pending before the Board for Correction of Military Records or the Secretary of Transportation on June 12, 1990, where administrative remedies are exhausted and other specified conditions are met. Revises provisions regarding the retirement of a Commandant to provide for continuity of grade of admirals and vice admirals. Authorizes the President to appoint a Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard. Title III: Miscellaneous Sections - Repeals provisions of the Act of June 25, 1936, requiring: (1) public notice of North Atlantic Ocean vessel routes, avoidance of ice regions, and penalties for failure to comply with such provisions; and (2) publication of rules and regulations in the Federal Register. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) acquire real property or interests for use as Coast Guard family housing units and dispose of any such property or interests for adequate consideration; and (2) spend or obligate funds for improvements of buildings at Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Grants the Secretary long-term lease authority for specified navigation and communications systems sites. Authorizes the Coast Guard to compete for and accept Federal, State, or other educational research grants, provided that no award is accepted for the acquisition or construction of facilities, or for the routine functions of the Academy. Authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to: (1) expend specified sums for acquisition, construction, and improvement that are derived from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund to acquire and preposition oil response equipment at Port Arthur, Texas, and Helena, Arkansas, and to the New York Maritime College of the State of New York to purchase a marine oil spill management simulator; and (2) construct specified shore facilities improvements at Coast Guard Station, Little Creek, Virginia. Authorizes appropriations for the latter. Directs the: (1) Coast Guard to establish the Gulf of Mexico Regional Fisheries Law Enforcement Training Center in the Eighth Coast Guard District in southeastern Louisiana; and (2) Secretary of Transportation to establish a program to evaluate the technological feasibility and environmental benefits of having tank vessels carry oil spill prevention and response technology. Exempts from inspection an unmanned seagoing barge that does not carry oil in bulk or a reportable or harmful quantity of a hazardous material.

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Relief Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Relief Act of 1993 - Exempts municipal solid waste landfills existing as of October 8, 1993, which meet criteria under the Solid Waste Disposal Act applicable as of January 1, 1993, from any revised criteria (established for facilities which may receive hazardous wastes) for a six-month period. Provides for an additional 12-month extension of such exemption (but not beyond April 1, 1995) if the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency determines that a State has made a good faith effort to comply with such Act. Bars exemption extensions for landfills: (1) at which total waste receipts exceed 100 tons daily on average over the term of the extension; (2) which accept wastes other than municipal solid waste; and (3) which have expanded laterally or which are not in compliance with liner standards.

Harbor Environmental Dredging and Management Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 19 May 1993

Harbor Environmental Dredging and Management Act of 1993 - Amends the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 to establish a procedure for actions on permit applications for the dumping of dredged material into ocean waters. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to develop a national standard for the disposal of sediments contaminated with dioxin. Requires the Administrator and the Secretary of the Army to develop and submit to the Congress a plan for: (1) the construction of a containment island as an alternative to the Mud Dump Site in New Jersey for the disposal of contaminated dredged material; and (2) the containment, clean-up, and prevention of dioxin contamination in the Passaic River basin in the vicinity of Newark, New Jersey. Authorizes the Secretary to approve the establishment of a consortium of permittees for the testing, permitting, and disposal of dredged materials to promote the cost-effective disposal and environmental management of dredged materials.

National Environmental Technology Act of 1994

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: National Environmental Technology Panel Title II: National Environmental Technologies Institute; Clearinghouse Subtitle A: National Environmental Technologies Institute Subtitle B: Environmental Technology Clearinghouse Title III: Environmental Innovation Research Program; Technology Testing Subtitle A: Environmental Innovation Research Program Subtitle B: Innovative Technology Testing Title IV: Additional Programs Subtitle A: Verification of Environmental Technologies Program Subtitle B: Environmental Technology Advisory Council Subtitle C: Coordination With National Institute of Standards and Technology National Environmental Technology Act of 1993 - Title I: National Environmental Technology Panel - Establishes a National Environmental Technology Panel within the Office of Science and Technology Policy to coordinate Federal environmental technology programs and develop a national environmental technology strategy. Requires the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to: (1) consider all Federal agency requests for environmental technology research as one integrated multiagency request; and (2) review the Panel budget summary prior to submission of the President's annual budget request. Title II: National Environmental Technologies Institute; Clearinghouse - Subtitle A: National Environmental Technologies Institute - Establishes the National Environmental Technologies Institute within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to: (1) support products oriented research, development, and demonstration of environmental technology at the precommercial stage; (2) monitor and provide technical assistance to private research and development; (3) develop and transfer environmental technologies and mechanisms to address international environmental problems; (4) develop a clearinghouse on environmental technology; (5) advise Federal officials on programs for promoting the development and diffusion of environmental technology; (6) ensure the availability of an initial market for critical environmental technologies; and (7) make recommendations for changes in Federal procurement guidelines to ensure the availability of such market. Authorizes cooperative agreements and assistance to carry out such functions. Establishes the Environmental Advanced Research Projects Revolving Fund to assist entities that serve the U.S. environmental security needs in carrying out this subtitle. Authorizes appropriations. Requires the Institute Director to disseminate information for promoting the export of environmental technology through the clearinghouse established under this title. Subtitle B: Environmental Technology Clearinghouse - Directs the EPA Administrator to establish an electronic database to serve as a clearinghouse for the dissemination of nonproprietary information on environmental technology. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Environmental Innovation Research Program; Technology Testing - Subtitle A: Environmental Innovation Research Program - Requires the heads of covered Federal agencies (agencies for which more than $50 million per fiscal year is made available for environmental cleanup) to establish research programs for the commercialization of environmental technology to further the process of cleanup or pollution prevention activities. Directs agencies to set aside funding for such programs. Sets forth program phases and authorizes agreements with private entities to carry out research. Subtitle B: Innovative Technology Testing - Directs the Administrator to establish a program for testing environmental technology at federally owned facilities and sites on the National Priorities List (under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980) and on the inventory of Federal agency hazardous waste facilities (under the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976). Requires covered Federal agencies to incorporate demonstrated technologies in prevention or remediation of contamination at applicable sites. Title IV: Additional Programs - Subtitle A: Verification of Environmental Technologies - Directs the Administrator to establish a program to verify and disseminate performance and cost information on environmental technologies appropriate for compliance with regulations promulgated under Federal environmental laws. Authorizes appropriations. Subtitle B: Environmental Technology Advisory Council - Establishes the Environmental Technology Advisory Council. Subtitle C: Coordination with National Institute of Standards and Technology - Directs the Administrator and the Secretary of Commerce to enter into agreements to permit EPA to provide technical assistance to the Manufacturing Technology Centers administered by the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

Hazardous Pollution Prevention Planning Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1993

Hazardous Pollution Prevention Planning Act of 1993 - Requires owners or operators of facilities subject to toxic chemical release reporting requirements pursuant to the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986 to periodically prepare pollution prevention plans, summaries, and progress reports. Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish criteria pursuant to which owners or operators shall identify targeted production processes on which to focus pollution prevention strategies. Directs the Administrator to establish a small business pollution prevention compliance and technical assistance program. Provides for: (1) grants to States for programs to promote pollution prevention techniques by small businesses; and (2) the establishment of Small Business Pollution Prevention Panels within EPA regional offices. Exempts from plan preparation requirements research and development laboratories and pilot facilities. Permits the Administrator to provide technical assistance in pollution prevention planning to facilities within industrial categories identified as having the highest priority for pollution prevention. Authorizes States to exercise pollution prevention planning authorities, subject to the Administrator's approval. Requires the Administrator to carry out a pollution prevention research, development, and demonstration program in coordination with other Federal agencies. Prescribes civil penalties for failures to submit pollution prevention documents. Permits the Administrator or an authorized State to deny a permit under any environmental law to any owner or operator who fails to submit pollution prevention documents. Directs the Administrator to establish a demonstration program to provide regulatory incentives for achieving pollution prevention. Authorizes the Administrator, as part of such program, to modify requirements of existing permits or agreements. Authorizes appropriations.

Greentech Jobs Initiative Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Export Programs of the Environmental Protection Agency Title II: Amendments to the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 Greentech Jobs Initiative Act of 1993 - Title I: Export Programs of the Environmental Protection Agency - Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish the Greentech Jobs Initiative to carry out specified activities related to this Act. Requires the Administrator to establish a program to foster the international dissemination of information concerning the performance, costs, and environmental applications of competitive technologies. Directs the Administrator, in carrying out the program, to: (1) conduct field and laboratory testing of new and innovative environmental technologies; (2) establish a demonstration program for environmental technologies; (3) publish monographs of technological approaches to address specific environmental problems; and (4) establish a research and development program. Requires the Administrator to establish an environmental technology financing program to identify projects in foreign countries that could benefit from environmental technologies. Directs the Administrator, acting through the Administrator of the Agency for International Development, to: (1) establish financial mechanisms to increase the participation of domestic business concerns in supplying environmental technologies in developing countries; and (2) use financial assistance authorized by this Act to counterbalance assistance from foreign governments. Requires: (1) at least 50 percent of the cost of any equipment furnished for a project to be attributable to components manufactured in the United States; and (2) the maximum participation of domestic business concerns. Directs the Administrator to establish training programs for: (1) Environmental Export Assistance Officers designated pursuant to the Export Enhancement Act of 1988; and (2) individuals from developing countries concerning the operation and maintenance of environmental technologies. Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Amendments to the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 - Amends the Export Enhancement Act of 1988 to direct the Secretary of Commerce to establish an advisory committee to advise the Environmental Trade Promotion Working Group on increasing the number of exports of environmental technologies, goods, and services. Directs the Working Group to study the subsidies, incentives, and policies used by foreign countries to promote exports of such technologies, goods, and services and to identify any foreign trade barriers that restrict the import of U.S. technologies, goods, and services. Requires the Secretary to establish an environmental export information center.

Fairness in Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 18 May 1993

Fairness in Tobacco and Nicotine Regulation Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations governing the manufacture, distribution, sale, labeling, and advertising and promotion (manufacture) of tobacco products which are consistent with regulations governing other products which are ingested, but bars the Secretary from outlawing the sale and distribution of a tobacco product solely because tobacco causes disease. Sets minimum requirements pursuant to such regulations, including a prohibition on the sale or distribution of tobacco products to minors. Establishes in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the Tobacco and Nicotine Products Advisory Committee which shall review: (1) the available scientific evidence on the effects of tobacco products on human health, including the effects of environmental tobacco smoke on nonsmokers; (2) the manufacturing process of tobacco products; (3) the role of nicotine as part of the smoking habit; (4) the marketing and promotional techniques used by tobacco manufacturers; and (5) current Federal, State, and local laws governing the manufacture of tobacco products. Requires each tobacco product manufacturer to: (1) register with the Secretary; and (2) pay an annual fee determined by the Secretary based upon the total market share for each brand of tobacco product. Credits fees collected for a fiscal year to the appropriation account for salaries and expenses of the FDA. Amends: (1) the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act (FCLAA) and the Comprehensive Smokeless Tobacco Health Education Act of 1986 (CSTHEA) to modify warning labels to emphasize the addictive nature of smoking; and (2) the FFDCA to include tobacco products within recordkeeping requirements applicable to the interstate shipment and factory inspection of food, drugs, devices, and cosmetics. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) modify the warning labels required by the FCLAA and CSTHEA if the modification in the content of the label does not weaken the health message and is in the best interests of the public health; and (2) increase the size and placement of such required labels.

Toxic Cleanup Equity Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 17 May 1993

Toxic Cleanup Equity Act of 1993 - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to absolve municipalities or other persons of liability (other than to the President) for claims of contribution or other response costs for the generation, transportation, or arrangement for the transportation, treatment, or disposal of municipal solid waste or sewage sludge. Authorizes eligible persons or municipalities (defined as persons or municipalities against whom administrative or judicial actions are brought, or to whom notice is given of potential liability, for activities involving municipal solid waste or sewage sludge) to settle their liability with the President. Requires final settlements with eligible persons to: (1) allocate to all activities for the management of municipal solid waste or sewage sludge a combined maximum of four percent of the total response costs for the facility; (2) require eligible persons to pay only equitable shares of the maximum percentage; (3) limit payments based on inability to pay, litigative risks, and other equitable factors; (4) permit in-kind services with regard to response actions in lieu of cash contributions; (5) limit a publicly owned treatment works' payments if it has promoted the reuse of sewage sludge through land application; and (6) be reached even if a person is liable under other CERCLA provisions. Authorizes the President to provide a covenant not to sue to persons who have entered into settlements. Absolves such persons of liability for contributions or other response costs for matters addressed in settlements. Reduces others' potential liability by the amount of a settlement, but bars discharging potentially responsible parties unless the settlement so provides. Applies settlement provisions applicable to eligible persons to future disposal practices of municipalities or treatment works if specified conditions are met. Requires final settlements with eligible municipalities to conform to specified criteria, including: (1) public interest factors; (2) consideration of ability to pay; and (3) in-kind services in lieu of cash contributions. Makes this Act retroactively effective to all actions commenced before this Act's effective date unless a final court judgment or approval of a settlement agreement has been granted.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL AND PARLIAMENT AND THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE: GREEN PAPER ON REMEDYING ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE

European Union · European Commission · 14 May 1993

Reduction of Metals in Packaging Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1993

Reduction of Metals in Packaging Act - Prohibits the intentional introduction of lead, cadmium, mercury, or hexavalent chromium into a package or packaging component during manufacturing or distribution. Sets forth the maximum allowable concentration level of the sum of such elements in packaging. Makes such prohibition inapplicable for packaging: (1) that was manufactured prior to this Act's effective date; or (2) that would not exceed maximum concentration levels but for the addition of recycled materials. Provides for two-year exemptions from requirements for packaging to which lead, cadmium, mercury, or hexavalent chromium has been added to comply with Federal health or safety requirements or, because it is essential for the protection, safe handling, or function of the package contents. Permits for the renewal of exemptions. Requires packaging manufacturers or suppliers to furnish certificates of compliance (with respect to this Act's requirements) to purchasers. Makes certificates of compliance available to the public upon request. Authorizes the assessment of civil penalties for violations of this Act.

Freedom Exchange and Training Act

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Educational Exchange Programs Title II: Other Training and Exchange Programs Freedom Exchange and Training Act - Title I: Educational Exchange Programs - Requires the Director of the U.S. Information Agency to establish an exchange program with the independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic states, under which the Director shall award competitive grants to eligible organizations to finance exchanges of: (1) secondary school students; (2) secondary school teachers and administrators; (3) postsecondary students (both college and graduate); and (4) college and university educators (the "sister" university program). Authorizes appropriations. Title II: Other Training and Exchange Programs - Directs the President to establish technical assistance and exchange programs with the independent states of the former Soviet Union and the Baltic States, which may be implemented by grants to eligible organizations or otherwise. Funds the following types of exchange, training, and technical assistance programs under this title: (1) public administration and governance; (2) modification or restructuring of laws and legal systems; (3) agriculture and agribusiness; (4) energy and environment; (5) health and medicine; (6) trade and investment; and (7) leaders training. Requires foreign participants to be sufficiently proficient in English to fulfill program purposes. Requires the Agency for International Development or another Government agency with appropriate experience and expertise to administer training and other exchange programs under this title. Authorizes appropriations.

Toxic Cleanup Equity Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1993

Toxic Cleanup Equity Act of 1993 - Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) to absolve municipalities or other persons of liability (other than to the President) for claims of contribution or other response costs for the generation, transportation, or arrangement for the transportation, treatment, or disposal of municipal solid waste or sewage sludge. Authorizes eligible persons or municipalities (defined as persons or municipalities against whom administrative or judicial actions are brought, or to whom notice is given of potential liability, for activities involving municipal solid waste or sewage sludge) to settle their liability with the President. Requires final settlements with eligible persons to: (1) allocate to all activities for the management of municipal solid waste or sewage sludge a combined maximum of four percent of the total response costs for the facility; (2) require eligible persons to pay only equitable shares of the maximum percentage; (3) limit payments based on inability to pay, litigative risks, and other equitable factors; (4) permit in-kind services with regard to response actions in lieu of cash contributions; (5) limit a publicly owned treatment works' payments if it has promoted the reuse of sewage sludge through land application; and (6) be reached even if a person is liable under other CERCLA provisions. Authorizes the President to provide a covenant not to sue to persons who have entered into settlements. Absolves such persons of liability for contributions or other response costs for matters addressed in settlements. Reduces others' potential liability by the amount of a settlement, but bars discharging potentially responsible parties unless the settlement so provides. Applies settlement provisions applicable to eligible persons to future disposal practices of municipalities or treatment works if specified conditions are met. Requires final settlements with eligible municipalities to conform to specified criteria, including: (1) public interest factors; (2) consideration of ability to pay; and (3) in-kind services in lieu of cash contributions. Makes this Act retroactively effective to all actions commenced before this Act's effective date unless a final court judgment or approval of a settlement agreement has been granted.

Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 13 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Supplemental Appropriations Title II: General Provisions Supplemental Appropriations Act of 1993 - Makes emergency supplemental appropriations for FY 1993. Title I: Supplemental Appropriations - Makes additional appropriations available to the Department of Agriculture for the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Farmers Home Administration. Rescinds certain amounts available to the Rural Development Administration for salaries and expenses. Makes additional funds available to: (1) the Department of Health and Human Services for the Food and Drug Administration; (2) the Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and Other Judicial Services; and (3) the Small Business Administration for the business loans program account. Makes supplemental amounts available to the Department of Defense for military personnel, operation and maintenance, the Defense Business Operations Fund, and the Defense Health Program. Appropriates funds out of the National Security Education Trust Fund for scholarships, fellowships, and grants. Makes additional appropriations available to the Department of the Interior for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Alaska resupply program. Requires the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to use available funds for a grant to Ducks Unlimited, Inc., for a construction project in the Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Ohio. Makes additional funds available to the Department of Health and Human Services for the Health Resources and Services Administration and the Social Security Administration. Makes additional funds available for the Department of Education for student financial assistance. Makes additional funds available for construction by the Department of Defense. Rescinds certain other amounts from the Homeowners Assistance Fund, Defense. Reorganizes the Office of the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and makes certain fund transfers. Makes additional funds available to the Executive Office of the President through fund transfers. Provides additional amounts to the National Archives and Records Administration and the General Services Administration for allowances and office staff of former Presidents. Makes additional amounts available to the Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans benefits and the Department of Housing and Urban Development for certain housing programs. Makes additional amounts available by fund transfer to the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Title II: General Provisions - Provides for the utilization of sums collected and deposited into the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund.

To amend the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to promote the export of goods and services that benefit the environment.

United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1993

Amends the Export-Import Bank Act of 1945 to require the Export-Import Bank of the United States to take into account the potential beneficial and adverse environmental effects of projects for the export of goods and services in cases where medium- or long-term support of $7 million (currently, $10 million for long-term) or more is requested from the Bank for such projects. Directs the Bank to encourage the use of its programs to support the export of goods and services that have beneficial effects environmentally such as by encouraging environmentally sustainable development, promoting efficient use of resources, and promoting energy efficiency. Authorizes appropriations.

Environmental Justice Act of 1992

United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Identification of Environmental High Impact Areas Title II: Enforcement Initiatives Title III: Community Participation Title IV: Identification and Prevention of Health Impacts Environmental Justice Act of 1992 - Title I: Identification of Environmental High Impact Areas - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to publish a list, in rank order, of the total weight of toxic chemicals present in each county or other geographic unit in the most recent five-year period for which data are available. Designates the 100 counties with the highest total weight as Environmental High Impact Areas. Title II: Enforcement Initiatives - Directs the Administrator and the Assistant Secretary of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to conduct compliance inspections or reviews of all toxic chemical facilities in such Areas at least every two years. Title III: Community Participation - Authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to make a grant to individuals who may be affected by a release from any toxic chemical facility in such an Area to: (1) facilitate access to the public participation provisions of this and other Acts; and (2) obtain technical assistance relating to inspections, reviews, and studies. Directs the Administrator to impose user fees or assessments on toxic chemical facilities in such Areas to substitute for appropriations as the funding mechanism for the grant program. Title IV: Identification and Prevention of Health Impacts - Requires the Secretary to issue a report identifying the extent of acute and chronic health impacts in such Areas as compared to other counties. Requires the President, if the report identifies significant adverse impacts, to report proposed legislation to the Congress to remedy and prevent such impacts. Includes within such legislation: (1) expansion of the Emergency Planning and Community Right-To-Know Act of 1986 to include additional facilities or chemicals or reduced quantities of chemicals triggering reporting obligations; (2) a means to redress regulatory loopholes (such as wastes exempt from or subject to lessened regulatory requirements); and (3) taxes on emissions or restrictions on releases within such Areas to induce source reduction. Establishes a moratorium, with exceptions, on the siting or permitting of any toxic chemical facility in such Areas that may emit toxic chemicals in quantities that cause adverse health impacts if the report identifies adverse health impacts of environmental pollution. Continues the moratorium until certain health-based levels have been attained.

National Environmental Trade Development Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1993

National Environmental Trade Development Act of 1993 - Declares it is the policy of the United States: (1) to maintain its role as a leader in exporting environmental technology, including marine biotechnology, goods, and services to the global market for the benefit of the global environment; and (2) to increase private sector jobs in the environmental technology field, including marine biotechnology. Directs the President, through the Office of Environmental Policy and the National Economic Council, to coordinate Federal export promotion programs so they are consistent with the national strategy to increase environmental exports. Requires the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) to review the applicable programs of the Department of Commerce, including the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and other components of the International Trade Administration, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, to ensure that such programs are consistent with the national strategy to increase environmental exports. Requires the Secretary to report to the Congress regarding any Federal programs found to be inconsistent with the national strategy. Directs the Secretary to establish at the Department of Commerce and the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service one- stop shops to provide to U.S. businesses selling environmental technology (including marine biotechnology), goods, and services, information on technical and financial assistance programs, potential global market opportunities, including trade fairs, for those businesses, and on international environmental regulations. Directs the President to establish an Environmental Trade Promotion Council to develop the national strategy to increase U.S. exports of environmental technology, including marine biotechnology, goods, and services. Provides for the designation of Regional Environmental Business and Technology Cooperation Centers to supply assistance, education, and training for United States and foreign companies that provide and acquire such items. Provides for matching grants to up to six Centers for specified purposes. Establishes within the Peace Corps the Senior Environmental Service Corps which shall provide volunteers with experience in environmental management, environmental technology (including marine biotechnology), sustainable development, coastal zone management, or marine pollution and prevention, to countries requesting such help. Authorizes the Secretary to establish American Business Centers, including Environmental Business Centers, in countries that offer new market possibilities for the export of U.S. environmental technology, including marine biotechnology, goods, and services. Authorizes appropriations.

Clean Fuels Infrastructure and Incentives Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1993

Clean Fuels Infrastructure and Incentives Act of 1993 - Directs the Secretary of Energy to establish a program for providing grants to eligible States to fund the construction of clean fuel refueling facilities in certain ozone nonattainment areas. Authorizes appropriations. Provides for the distribution of funds based on the pro rata number of licensed motor vehicles in a State. Limits the total amount of funds to be received by a State. Requires recipient States to distribute at least 50 percent of funds for the installation of clean fuel refueling facilities in the private sector. Makes a State eligible for a grant only if it has: (1) submitted a revision of the applicable implementation plan expressing its intention to adopt standards under the California clean fuel vehicle pilot test program; and (2) has adopted such standards no later than model year 1996.

Many Neighbors, One Earth Resolution

United States · United States Congress · 12 May 1993

Many Neighbors, One Earth Resolution - Urges the President to develop and implement a coordinated economic and development policy and program of action designed to promote broadbased, sustainable development that will reduce global hunger and poverty in environmentally sound ways. Specifies that such policy and program should have as its principal objectives: (1) expanding economic opportunities; (2) meeting basic human needs; (3) promoting environmental protection and sustainable use of natural resources; and (4) promoting pluralism, democratic participation, and human rights. Specifies that such policy and program should involve all relevant international activities of the U.S. Government. Urges the President to take specific actions, including: (1) proposing the enactment of legislation providing for a post-Cold War foreign assistance program to promote sustainable development, especially the reduction of hunger and poverty in environmentally sound ways; (2) developing and implementing development cooperation programs and projects in pursuit of such objectives; (3) ensuring that development cooperation programs take into account relevant local perspectives of the rural and urban poor during the design, planning, and implementation process for project and program assistance; and (4) encouraging and supporting the efforts of countries to reduce their level of military spending when such spending is disproportionate to security needs and to spending on health, education, and environmental protection.

Recycling Enhancement Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1993

Recycling Enhancement Act - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to study and report to the Congress on the opportunities for recycling white goods (defined as major appliances such as refrigerators, washing machines, water heaters, stoves, dryers, and air conditioners) and automobile components and the steps needed to increase such recycling. Requires the Administrator to develop model construction guidelines that provide suitable space for the separation, collection, and temporary storage of material for recycling in construction or major renovation of multifamily or multiunit buildings. Directs the Administrator to encourage organizations involved in establishing national building construction standards and State and local building authorities to adopt such guidelines. Requires the Administrator to establish and make grants to three National Plastics Recycling Research and Development Centers at institutions of higher education. Authorizes appropriations. Requires plastic containers manufactured in or imported into the United States to be coded to identify the principal plastic resin used in such containers. Establishes a symbol and numbers identifying specific types of resins. Makes coding requirements inapplicable to manufacturers with respect to plastic products produced in quantities of fewer than 1,000 annually and that have an expected useful life of at least 15 years. Prohibits States or political subdivisions from enforcing any law applicable to plastic coding unless requirements are the same as requirements under this Act.

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Regulatory Extension Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1993

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Regulatory Extension Act of 1993 - Exempts municipal solid waste landfills existing as of October 8, 1993, which meet criteria under the Solid Waste Disposal Act as in effect on January 1, 1993, from meeting any revised criteria (established for facilities which may receive hazardous wastes) for a period of one year.

A bill to amend the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize consent to, and authorize appropriations for, the United States contribution to the Global Environment Facility, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1993

Amends the Bretton Woods Agreements Act to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to contribute a specified amount to the Global Environment Facility. Authorizes apropriations.

National Coastal Resources Development Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1993

National Coastal Resources Development Act of 1993 - Amends Federal law to provide that the National Coastal Resources Research and Development Institute shall be administered by the Oregon State System of Higher Education instead of the Oregon State Marine Science Center. Restates the duties of such Institute so that its duties are now to promote the economic growth and prosperity of the United States by transferring research and technology into applications to improve the economic, environmental, and social well-being of the Nation's coastal communities and the competitiveness of coastal businesses. Revises membership on the Board of Governors of such Institute.

United States Health Service Act

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Establishment and Operation of the United States Health Service Title II: Delivery of Health Care and Supplemental Services Title III: Health Labor Force Title IV: Other Functions of Health Boards Title V: Financing of the Service Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions United States Health Service Act - Title I: Establishment and Operation of the United States Health Service - Part A: Initial Organization - Establishes, as an independent entity within the executive branch, the United States Health Service (Service). Vests authority of the Service in the appropriate National Health Board and area health boards. Grants the Service the power of eminent domain. Directs the President to appoint individuals to serve as members of the Interim National Health Board of the Service. Declares that the members of the Interim National Board shall serve until the National Health Board holds its initial meeting in accordance with certain provisions of this Act. Sets forth the duties of the Interim National Board. Authorizes appropriations. Part B: Organization of Area Health Boards - Requires the Interim National Board to establish health care delivery regions throughout the United States which meet specified requirements. Sets forth procedures regarding election and appointment of members and certain officers of: (1) interim national, interim regional, and interim district health boards; and (2) initial and subsequent national, regional, district, and community health boards. Part C: General Provisions Regarding Health Boards - Sets forth the membership and terms of office of health boards. Provides for recall of board members for specified reasons and for filling vacancies on health boards. Sets forth procedures for the establishment by the National Board of guidelines and standards required by or in furtherance of the objectives of this Act. Requires each regional board to provide orientation, education, and technical assistance to district and community boards. Requires the appropriate national board to provide such assistance to regional boards. Title II: Delivery of Health Care and Supplemental Services - Part A: Patients' Rights in Health Care Delivery - Requires the Service to ensure that every user is given the right to receive high quality care and supplemental services without charge and without discrimination. Sets forth a list of other basic health rights. Amends the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1973 to entitle certain employees to health leave compensation, subject to specified exceptions which exist in current law as exceptions to minimum wage and maximum hours provisions. Part B: Eligibility for, Nature of, and Scope of Services Provided by the Service - Declares all individuals, while within the United States, to be eligible to receive health care and supplemental services under this Act. Excludes personal comfort or cosmetic services unless they are necessary for health-related reasons. Requires the Service to provide in the United States specified services in or through facilities established by the Service. Prohibits the Service from providing such services in a region, district, or community other than under the auspices of a regional, district, or community board established in accordance with this Act. Requires the Service to provide specified supplemental services in or through health care facilities established by the Service. Provides for reimbursement by the Service of the cost of emergency health care services under certain circumstances. Part C: Health Care Facilities and Delivery of Health Care Services - Requires each community board to establish and maintain such health care facilities as are necessary for efficient and effective delivery of comprehensive primary health care services, specialized health care services, special services, and community-oriented health measures which are provided, as much as possible, through a single comprehensive health center. Requires each district board to establish and maintain in its district a general hospital, such other health care facilities as are necessary, and such health care services of a specialized nature as may be provided most effectively and efficiently at the district level. Requires each regional board to establish and maintain: (1) a regional medical facility for highly specialized health care services; (2) health care and supplemental services for individuals whose needs cannot be met by community or district boards; and (3) such other facilities as are necessary. Requires each area health board to: (1) hire health workers; (2) purchase or lease necessary premises; and (3) seek to minimize fragmentation and duplication in delivery of health care. Requires each regional board to provide for affiliation and coordination within its region and with adjacent regions. Requires the National Board to establish guidelines for distribution and coordination of the delivery of health care services and plan and transition to the new facilities for affected workers. Requires regional boards, if a community or district board fails to provide health services, to provide the services. Requires each health board to establish policies and organizational plans consistent with provisions of this Act. Requires such boards, in establishing, implementing, and modifying such policies and plans, to seek participation of affected workers and users. Provides for a health board, if it determines that it cannot itself effectively manage the operation of all facilities, to establish a health care facility board or boards. Specifies elements to be provided for in the policies and organizational plans established by health boards. Prohibits a health board, on and after three years after the effective date of health services, from permitting its health care facilities to be used for the private delivery of health services. Prohibits individuals employed by a health board from engaging in the private delivery of health services. Requires each health board to ensure that health facilities it operates which provide outpatient services are open during hours which permit all users to make use of such services. Sets forth requirements for facilities providing inpatient services for 30 continuous days or longer. Requires each health board to provide that, at least once each year, the inpatients of facilities providing inpatient services for 30 continuous days or longer shall elect, from among themselves and representatives of certain user associations, a review committee of not less than three members. Provides for recall and proxies with respect to such committees. Requires various health boards to conduct regular inspections of specified facilities. Requires area health boards to provide: (1) contraception information and materials; (2) evaluation and treatment for venereal diseases and diseases of the reproductive organs; (3) information and counseling regarding pregnancy, child bearing, and possible genetically induced anomalies; (4) pregnancy testing; (5) prenatal services; (6) abortion services; and (7) counseling by women for specified services and counseling by men for specified services. Requires all such services to be delivered without coercion or harassment, with confidentiality, and without prior approval of individuals other than the individual receiving the services. Requires that individuals be permitted to be accompanied by a person of their choice during the provision of such services, subject to exception. Sets forth restrictions and requirements for informed consent regarding: (1) treatments or procedures which could affect an individual's reproductive capacity; and (2) mastectomy or other breast cancer treatment. Requires that women giving birth have the right to choose from a complete range of childbirth options. Title III: Health Labor Force - Part A: Job Categories and Certification - Declares that, notwithstanding State laws to the contrary, the Service shall be the sole judge of the qualifications of its employees. Requires each area health board to insure that work is performed by certified health workers. Requires the National Board to establish guidelines for classification, certification, and employment of health workers. Requires that such guidelines: (1) permit alternative approaches to healing, when such approaches have not been shown to be injurious to health; (2) have both flexibility and uniformity to meet stated objectives; and (3) require that each health worker employed by a community board work part of the time in a facility operated by a district or regional board and each health worker employed by a district or regional board work part of the time in a health care facility operated by a community board. States that each regional board, for job categories requiring advanced specialty training, shall establish certification standards. Part B: Education of Health Workers - Requires each regional board, in consultation with community and district boards, to establish a health team school (school) to provide initial and continuing basic education in health care delivery and initial and continuing advanced education in health care specialties and health science specialty fields. Requires that the schools be funded exclusively by the Service, prohibits them from charging or accepting tuition or fees, and requires them to provide each student with an allowance for living expenses, educational supplies, and any child care. Requires each regional board to establish and implement for the school: (1) admissions policies with certain required elements; (2) curriculum policies with stated elements; (3) faculty hiring procedures which will create a faculty which approximates the population of the region by race, sex, and language; and (4) a governance plan for the management of its school which gives significant decision making powers to staff and students. Prohibits enrolling any individual unless the individual agrees to perform health care services as an employee of the Service, in a job category for which training is being provided, for a period of time equal to the period of enrollment, but not less than two years, and subject to other terms and conditions. Entitles the Service, if an individual fails to start or fails to complete such service, to recover damages. Mandates that each area board periodically assess the ratio of the health workers employed by the board in each job category to the number of residents in the area. Gives priority in hiring individuals obligated to perform service to health worker shortage areas and, as a second level of priority, to the regional, district, or community board for the region, district, or community in which the program was completed. States that the National Board shall establish a program to match the preferences graduates have for locations with the needs and preferences of various boards. Requires the National Board to make payments of principal and interest on certain loans incurred by individuals for an educational program in health care delivery, health care specialties, or health science fields which is outstanding on the day that individual begins to work for the Service. Establishes a schedule for such payments. Part C: Employment and Labor-Management Relations Within the Service - Requires health boards to employ, classify, and fix the salaries and benefits of all employees of the Service. States that health boards shall give hiring preference to individuals employed as health workers before enactment of this Act. Requires the National Board to ensure that all such individuals desiring employment in the Service find appropriate employment in the Service. Places restrictions on hiring relating to the: (1) ratio of health workers to residents; and (2) existence of a health worker shortage area in the same region. Declares that employees of the Service are covered by specified Federal laws. Requires compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment to be the same on the effective date of health services as for Federal Government employees until changed by the Service. Prohibits changes in fringe benefits which result in a program which is less favorable to employees of the Service than fringe benefits for employees of the Federal Government on the effective date of health services. Declares that the provisions of the National Labor Relations Act shall apply to the Service and its employees, subject to specified exceptions. Declares that provisions of Federal law relating to participation in a strike shall not apply to employees of the Service. Amends the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 to include the Service in the definition of the term "employer" under that Act. Provides that the remedies provided by stated Federal laws regarding jurisdiction and tort claims shall be exclusive of any other civil action or proceeding. Declares that assault or battery arising out of negligence in various health care functions is not an exception under specified Federal law to tort claims and jurisdiction provisions of Federal law. Authorizes the National Board to hold harmless or provide liability insurance for any employee of the Service under certain circumstances. Title IV: Other Functions of Health Boards - Part A: Advocacy, Grievance Procedures, and Trusteeships - Requires each area health board to establish a program of health advocacy with specified elements. Requires the National Board to establish a health rights legal services program, for users and health workers, providing specified elements. Requires each appropriate regional board to provide that any user, health worker, user association, or specified health board may commence grievance proceedings before specified health boards with respect to alleged violations of this Act. Provides for review of adverse decisions. Authorizes, in certain circumstances, the entity before which a grievance proceeding is commenced or reviewed to: (1) set aside an election of a community board and require a new election; and (2) if not involving a community board, require that a new election be conducted or a new appointment be made. Requires such entity to transfer such functions as necessary to the appropriate higher health board until a new election is conducted or a new appointment is made. Authorizes a health board which receives functions under such a transfer to appoint a trustee or trustee committee to carry out transferred functions. Part B: Occupational Safety and Health Programs - Requires the National Board to oversee occupational safety and health programs conducted at the regional level and to participate in the establishment and administration of occupational safety and health standards under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, with the advice and comments of regional occupational safety and health action councils established under this Act. Amends the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to substitute references to the National Health Board for references to the Secretary of Health and Human Services throughout such Act, with one specified exception. Adds references to the National Health Board to existing provisions in such Act regarding promulgation, modification, and revocation of safety and health standards. Requires the National Board to establish guidelines for: (1) its participation in the establishment and administration of safety and health standards; (2) the election of community occupational safety and health action councils; (3) the establishment of regional occupational safety and health programs; (4) the establishment and operation of work place health facilities; and (5) the provision of assistance by various health boards to various safety and health councils, and to work place safety and health committees. Requires each community board to provide for the operation of a community occupational safety and health action council (COSHAC). Gives a formula for election of the members of COSHACs. Specifies the duties of each COSHAC. Requires each regional board to establish an occupational health and safety program for its region with specified elements, including staffing and supporting the operation of the regional occupational safety and health action council (ROSHAC). Specifies the responsibilities of each ROSHAC. Requires the employer in each work place to establish and maintain a health facility in or near the work place to meet occupational and emergency health care needs of employees, to be operated either by the community board or by the employer, and the cost, in either case, to be borne by the employer. Grants employees in each work place having 25 or more employees the right to establish work place occupational safety and health committees. Grants the members of such committees rights to engage in certain activities relating to inspections without loss of pay or other job rights. Authorizes employees to monitor conditions and to remove themselves from the site of any hazard without loss of pay or other job rights. Requires employers to minimize hazards and furnish employees with or reimburse employees for needed equipment or clothing. Specifies rights of employees regarding: (1) inspection of medical records maintained by their employers; (2) provision to employees of copies of all reports, studies, and data concerning health and safety in that work place; and (3) the seeking, through collective bargaining, of standards more restrictive than those established under the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970. Part C: Health and Health Care Delivery Research - Requires the Service to conduct a program of research concerning health and health care delivery. Transfers the National Institutes of Health from the Department of Health and Human Services to the National Health Board. States that the National Board shall establish five new national institutes: Epidemiology, Evaluative Clinical Research, Health Care Services, Pharmacy and Medical Supply, and Sociology of Health and Health Care. Specifies the duties of each such institute. Part D: Health Planning, Distribution of Drugs and Other Medical Supplies, and Miscellaneous Functions - Requires each area board to collect data on supply and demand regarding health workers and health care delivery. Requires each regional board to coordinate the planning and administration of health care delivery, health worker education, and health research in its region. Requires the National Board to formulate one-year and five-year national plans and budgets. Requires the National Board, after consultation with regional boards, to publish, and regularly update, a National Pharmacy and Medical Supply Formulary. Specifies the contents of the Formulary. Requires each regional board to establish a program for the purchase and distribution of drugs and other medical supplies. Authorizes the National Board to establish and operate drug and medical supply manufacturing facilities in certain circumstances. Title V: Financing of the Service - Part A: Health Service Taxes - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to add a new part imposing on individuals and corporations an additional tax of specified percentages of the normal tax and surtax imposed by a specified section of such code. Ends the income tax exclusion from gross income of amounts paid by third parties for medical care. Excludes from gross income employer contributions to accident or health plans to the extent that such contributions do not provide for health care available to such employees under the Health Service Act. Prohibits income tax deductions for: (1) health care expenses as a trade or business expense; and (2) contributions to certain medical and hospital facilities. Repeals provisions of the Internal Revenue Code relating to: (1) medical and dental expenses; (2) hospital insurance tax imposed on employment and self-employment income; and (3) receipts for railroad employees. Declares that no contractual or other nonstatutory obligation of any employer to pay or provide for health care for present or former employees and their dependents and survivors shall apply on or after the effective date of health services under this Act to the extent such individuals are eligible to receive such services under this Act. Prohibits Federal, State, or private workers' compensation programs from paying for or providing any health care on or after the effective date of health services under this Act to the extent such care is available under this Act. Part B: Health Service Trust Fund - Creates in the Treasury the Health Service Trust Fund (Trust Fund). Appropriates to the Trust Fund amounts equal to 100 percent of the expected net receipts from specified provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. Appropriates to the Trust Fund a Government contribution equal to 40 percent of the amount appropriated under such 100 percent provision. Transfers to the Trust Fund all assets and liabilities of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. Creates the Board of Trustees of the Trust Fund. Requires the investment of specified portions of the Trust Fund. Extends the purposes for which obligations of the United States may be issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act, to authorize the issuance at par of public debt obligations for purchase by the Trust Fund. Part C: Preparation of Plans and Budgets - Requires the National Board to annually fix the maximum amount of funds which may be expended from the Trust Fund during the fiscal year. Specifies criteria to be considered in determining such amount's maximum value. Authorizes the National Board to refix such maximum amount in certain circumstances. Authorizes the National Board to exceed such maximum amount as necessary because of epidemic, disaster, or other occurrence which was not and could not have been planned for. Authorizes the National Board to allocate, in addition to such maximum amount, funds borrowed under specified provisions of this Act. Requires each community, district, and regional board to annually submit fiscal year and five-year plans and budgets to the next higher level health board. Part D: Allocation and Distribution of Funds - Requires the National Board to annually transmit to regional boards a national health budget dividing the total funds available into funds for ordinary operating expenses, preventive health measures, capital expenses, research expenses, and special operating expenses. Requires funds for ordinary operating expenses, preventive health measures, and research expenses to be allocated to the regional boards on the basis of population. Requires funds for capital expenses to be allocated according to stated criteria. Declares the budget submitted to the regional boards by the National Board to be adopted upon the approval by a majority of the regional boards. Sets forth requirements, similar to those for the national health budget, for preparation and adoption of regional and district budgets. Defines "special operating expenses" to mean operating expenses associated with: (1) care and treatment for users 65 years of age and older; (2) care and treatment of persons confined to full-time residential institutions, including nursing homes and facilities for the treatment of mental illness; (3) the special health care needs of low-income users; (4) the special health care needs of rural users; (5) special health care needs arising from environmental or occupational health conditions; (6) special health care needs arising from unexpected occurrences, including epidemics and natural disasters; and (7) the conduct of environmental health inspection and monitoring services. Sets forth rules for allocation of special operating expenses. Requires funds allocated under the national health budget to be distributed by the National Board from the Trust Fund. Prohibits health boards from requesting or receiving funds from any other source. Mandates annual financial statements by area health boards. Part E: General Provisions - Authorizes the National Board to borrow money and to issue and sell obligations as necessary for this Act, but only in amounts specified in appropriations Acts. Limits the aggregate amount of such obligations outstanding at any one time. Authorizes the National Board to pledge the assets of the Trust Fund and pledge its revenues and receipts for various purposes related to such obligations. Authorizes the National Board to enter into a variety of covenants as necessary or desirable to enhance the marketability of such obligations. Declares that such obligations: (1) shall be negotiable or nonnegotiable, bearer or registered; (2) shall contain a recital that they are issued under a specified provision of this Act; (3) shall be lawful investments; (4) shall be exempt from State taxes; and (5) shall not, subject to exception, be obligations of the U.S. Government. Requires the National Board to advise the Secretary of the Treasury of the proposed sale of obligations. Authorizes such Secretary to elect to purchase the obligations. Authorizes the National Board, if the Secretary elects not to buy such obligations, to issue and sell them to a party or parties other than the Secretary, upon notice to the Secretary and consultation regarding various terms and conditions. Empowers the National Board to require the Secretary of the Treasury to purchase obligations of the Service. Prohibits any required purchase which would result in a holding by the Secretary in excess of a specified amount. Makes obligations issued by the Service obligations of the U.S. Government under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury, for the purpose of any purchase of the obligations of the Service, to use as a public debt transaction the proceeds from the sale of any securities issued under the Second Liberty Bond Act. Extends the purposes of such Act to include any purchases of the obligations of the Service under this part. Title VI: Miscellaneous Provisions - Repeals, on the effective date of health services, the Public Health Service Act, except for specified provisions relating to: (1) its short title and definitions; (2) licensing, quarantine, and inspections authority; and (3) safety of public water systems. Delays, until four years after the effective date of health services, repeal of portions of the Public Health Service Act regarding provision of assistance to educational institutions and their students, in areas which have not established health team schools under part A of title III of this Act. Repeals specified provisions of the Social Security Act relating to maternal and child health, Medicare, Medicaid, professional standards review, entitlement to hospital insurance benefits, uniform health reporting systems, limitation on Federal participation for capital expenditures, the program for determining qualification for certain health care personnel, disclosure of ownership and related information, disclosure of certain convictions, and payments to States for health care and supplemental services. Repeals specified provisions of Federal law relating to health insurance for Federal employees, medical benefits and programs relating to veterans, and the civilian health and medical program of the uniformed services. Repeals the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act of 1970, the Comprehensive Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Prevention, Treatment, and Rehabilitation Act Amendments of 1974, and a specified provision of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 relating to medical treatment of narcotic addiction. Repeals Federal law relating to hospitals, community hospitals, and other health facilities for Indians. Repeals the District of Columbia Medical Facilities Construction Act of 1968 and the District of Columbia Medical and Dental Manpower Act of 1970. Repeals specified provisions of the National Housing Act relating to mortgage insurance for nursing homes, hospitals, and group practice facilities. Repeals the Mental Retardation Facilities and Community Mental Health Centers Construction Act of 1963, the Family Planning Services and Population Research Act of 1970, the National Arthritis Act of 1974, and the National Diabetes Mellitus Research and Education Act. Repeals specified provisions of the Lead-Based Paint Poisoning Prevention Act relating to grant, demonstration, and research programs for lead-based paint poisoning prevention. Repeals the Act of March 2, 1897, relating to tea importation. Repeals specified provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 relating to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Requires the President to prepare and submit to the Congress legislation to repeal or amend provisions of laws which are inconsistent with this Act, including the transfers of authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, under specified provisions of Federal law, to the Service. Sets forth various requirements regarding review and reporting to the President and the Congress concerning how the Service is carrying out the purposes of the various programs authorized to be conducted by provisions repealed by this Act. Transfers to the Health Service Trust Fund amounts appropriated to carry out the purposes of any law repealed by this Act. Provides transition rules regarding contracts entered into or rights or obligations arising before the effective date of such repeals. Amends the Budget and Accounting Act, 1921 to require that each budget submitted by the President set forth items relating to the Health Service Trust Fund separately from other operations of the Government. Declares that, if any provisions of this Act are declared invalid, the remainder of the Act shall not be affected.

Recycling Research and Development Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 11 May 1993

Recycling Research and Development Act of 1993 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to direct the Secretary of Energy, acting through the Office of Conservation and Renewable Energy, to transmit comprehensive plastics, automobile, and appliance recycling plans to the Congress. Directs the Secretary to establish cooperative programs with the appropriate industries to conduct joint plastics, automobile, and appliance recycling technology research and development projects. Authorizes financial assistance for such projects. Requires the Secretary to establish three national recycling research and development centers at institutions of higher education to conduct plastics research projects. Provides for grants to such centers, subject to appropriations. Authorizes appropriations.

Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1993

Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to establish an independent peer review process with respect to listing and delisting of endangered and threatened species (species). Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) in cooperation with the affected State to develop species recovery plans. Gives priority to multispecies plans and sets forth plan deadlines. Requires each Federal land management agency to identify species and appropriate conservation measures on lands under its jurisdiction. Authorizes agency contracts with the Secretary for such purposes. Directs the Secretary to establish a Habitat Conservation Planning Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or interest-free advances from the Fund to State and local governments for conservation plan development. Provides financial and technical assistance to private landowners for species conservation measures. Provides for increased international cooperation and enforcement under the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Programs and Related Provisions Subtitle A: Programs Subtitle B: Related Provisions Title II: Organization Title III: Reauthorization Subtitle A: National and Community Service Act of 1990 Subtitle B: Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 Title IV: Technical and Conforming Amendments National Service Trust Act of 1993 - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to reauthorize, revise, and reorganize national and community service and domestic volunteer programs, establish a Corporation for National Service and a National Service Trust program of Federal investment in support of national service, and provide expanded opportunities for national service and educational awards for participants. Title I: Programs and Related Provisions - Subtitle A: Programs - (Sec. 101) Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (the Act) to establish the National Service Trust program, replacing the current American Conservation and Youth Service Corps. Authorizes the Corporation for National Service (CNS) to make matching grants to State and local governments, Indian tribes, public and private nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions for: (1) full- or part-time national service programs, including summer programs; and (2) subgrants for national service programs of other entities. Authorizes CNS to enter into agreements with other Federal agencies to support their national service programs. Directs CNS to approve national service educational awards for participants serving in CNS-assisted national service programs. Describes types of eligible national service programs addressing unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs, including community corps, youth corps, service-learning, special skills or specialized training, individualized placement, campus-based, preprofessional training, professional corps, disadvantaged youth community service, national service entrepreneur, intergenerational, or other programs. Directs CNS to establish qualification criteria. Authorizes CNS to provide the following types of program assistance: planning, operational, replication, subgrantee, training, technical, and other special assistance (including support for State commissions and challenge grants for national service programs). Requires CNS to ensure that participants in VISTA or the Civilian Community Corps receive national service educational awards, except in specified circumstances. Sets forth application and program requirements. Requires an assurance that the program assisted will not perform service that provides a direct benefit to any: (1) for-profit business; (2) labor union; (3) partisan political organization; or (4) organization engaged in religious activities (unless such service does not involve use of assistance or participants to give religious instruction, conduct worship services, or engage in any form of proselytization). Sets a minimum age for national service participants of 17, except for certain youth programs where the beginning of service may be between age 16 and 25. Sets rules for selection of participants, including selection and training of a national leadership pool. Sets a term of service at a minimum of 1,700 hours during: (1) a full-time period of nine months to one year; or (2) a part-time period of one to two years. Establishes requirements for participant living allowances. Limits the Federal share to not more than 85 percent of the VISTA volunteer allowance. Makes those who serve in approved national service positions eligible for national service educational awards. (Sec. 102) Establishes the National Service Trust in the Treasury to provide for the payment of national service educational awards. Sets forth eligibility standards for national service educational awards. Bases such awards on only the first and second terms of service. Requires that the award be used within five years after completion of the term of service. Sets the award's value at $5,000 for each term of service (up to two terms). Allows the use of such awards to: (1) repay outstanding student loans; (2) pay current educational expenses; (3) enable participation in approved school-to-work programs; and (4) pay interest during forbearance on loan repayment. Provides that awards shall not be considered: (1) in a means-test for Federal or federally-assisted benefits; or (2) as taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes conforming amendments to student loan provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Makes Stafford loan forgiveness available. (Sec. 103) Establishes School-Based and Community-Based Service-Learning programs to replace current Programs for Students and Out-of-School Youth. Revises the Serve-America program (currently named Service-America) to include: (1) school-based programs for students; (2) community-based service programs for school-age youth; and (3) a service-learning clearinghouse. Authorizes CNS to make planning grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) with respect to service-learning coordinators participating in an assisted national service program or receive a national service educational award. Authorizes grants for school-based service-learning programs and community-based service programs. Directs CNS to provide financial assistance to eligible public and private nonprofit organizations to establish a service-learning clearinghouse. Adds priority criteria for the making of grants for Higher Education Innovative Programs for Community Service. (Sec. 104) Establishes an Investment for Quality and Innovation program to carry out specified innovation and quality improvement activities. Directs CNS to provide assistance to appropriate entities to establish one or more clearinghouses, including the service-learning clearinghouse. Authorizes the President, acting through CNS, to make Presidential awards for service to individuals providing significant service, and to outstanding service programs. Provides that Civilian Community Corps members may receive educational awards (or suitable alternative benefits if ineligible for such awards). Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to extend the authority to conduct the Civilian Community Corps Demonstration Program. Subtitle B: Related Provisions - (Sec. 111-121) Makes conforming amendments and repealers to specified Federal law. Title II: Organization - (Sec. 201) Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to require the establishment of State commissions on national service as a condition for receiving certain grants or allotments or a distribution of approved national service positions. Sets commission membership standards and duties, including planning. (Sec. 202) Establishes the Corporation for National Service (CNS) as a Government corporation to administer programs under the Act. Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to require the Director of the ACTION Agency to report directly to the CNS Chairperson (under interim authorities). Directs the Chairperson to establish (or request the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to provide) job search and related assistance to employees of the ACTION Agency who are not transferred to CNS. (Sec. 202 & 203) Transfers to CNS functions of: (1) the Commission on National and Community Service (under interim authorities); and (2) the ACTION Agency (under final authorities). Title III: Reauthorization - Subtitle A: National and Community Service Act of 1990 - Extends the authorization of appropriations for the National and Community Service Act of 1990. Subtitle B: Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 - Domestic Volunteer Service Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1978 (DVSA) to reauthorize, reorganize, and revise its programs. Chapter I: VISTA and Other Anti-Poverty Programs - (Sec. 321) Adds to VISTA program objectives generating private sector resources commitment, encouraging local level volunteer service, and strengthening local agencies and organizations to carry out the program. (Sec. 322) Revises procedures and other requirements for selection and assignment of VISTA volunteers. Allows a sponsoring organization to recruit VISTA volunteers, subject to final approval of the Director of the ACTION Agency (the Director). (Sec. 323) Revises provisions for terms and periods of service. Authorizes a VISTA summer associates program. (Sec. 324) Revises postservice stipends. (Sec. 325) Requires encouragement of participation of both younger (18 through 27) and older (55 and older) VISTA volunteers. (Sec. 328) Repeals authority for student community service programs grants and contracts. (Sec. 329) Renames the University Year for ACTION the University Year for VISTA program. Shortens the minimum period of participation to an academic semester or equivalent. Allows volunteers to receive a living allowance or such other support the Director deems appropriate. (Sec. 330) Revises authority to establish and operate special volunteer and demonstration programs. Requires a competitive process for any grant or contract exceeding $100,000. (Sec. 331) Permits the Director to provide technical and financial assistance to employers and other private organizations that use or desire to use volunteers. (Sec. 332) Repeals a separate authority for drug abuse education and prevention programs under special volunteer programs. Chapter 2: National Senior Volunteer Corps - (Sec. 342) Renames the retired senior volunteer program the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). (Sec. 343) Expands RSVP eligibility to include older working persons and those over 55 (currently 60). (Sec. 345) Requires certain adjustments and minimums for stipends for low-income volunteers. (Sec. 346) Allows non-low-income persons to participate in the Foster Grandparent and the Senior Companion programs, without any financial support except reimbursement for related expenses. (Sec. 347) Repeals certain conditions for grants and contracts under those two programs, including a requirement that volunteers no longer be in the regular work force. (Sec. 348) Eliminates one type of evaluation of the Senior Companion Program. (Sec. 349) Encourages agreements with other Federal agencies involving retired, senior, intergenerational, and conservation volunteer programs. (Sec. 352) Authorizes grants and contracts for demonstration programs of innovative activities involving older volunteers. Prohibits reducing other older volunteer programs to support such demonstrations. Chapter 3: Administration - (Sec. 365) Bases disability or death benefits for VISTA volunteers on a grade GS-5 (rather than GS-7) Federal employee entrance salary. (Sec. 370) Grants copyright protection for the programs of the ACTION Agency. (Sec. 371) Authorizes the Director to establish a Center for Research and Training on Volunteerism. (Sec. 372) Amends Federal law relating to Federal employees to make retirement credit for time served as a VISTA volunteer available to all who become Federal employees subsequent to such volunteer service, upon their paying a deposit based on their post-service stipend. Chapter 4: Authorization of Appropriations and Other Amendments - (Sec. 381-383) Extends the authorization of appropriations for various programs under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. (Sec. 385) Repeals Youthbuild Projects authority. Chapter 5: General Provisions - (Sec. 391) Sets forth technical and conforming amendments. Title IV: Technical and Conforming Amendments - (Sec. 401-405) Sets forth various changes of definitions and references in specified Federal law.

National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1993

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Programs and Related Provisions Subtitle A: Programs Subtitle B: Related Provisions Title II: Organization Title III: Reauthorization Subtitle A: National and Community Service Act of 1990 Subtitle B: Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 Title IV: Technical and Conforming Amendments National Service Trust Act of 1993 - Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to reauthorize, revise, and reorganize national and community service and domestic volunteer programs, establish a Corporation for National Service and a National Service Trust program of Federal investment in support of national service, and provide expanded opportunities for national service and educational awards for participants. Title I: Programs and Related Provisions - Subtitle A: Programs - (Sec. 101) Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 (the Act) to establish the National Service Trust program, replacing the current American Conservation and Youth Service Corps. Authorizes the Corporation for National Service (CNS) to make matching grants to State and local governments, Indian tribes, public and private nonprofit organizations, and higher education institutions for: (1) full- or part-time national service programs, including summer programs; and (2) subgrants for national service programs of other entities. Authorizes CNS to enter into agreements with other Federal agencies to support their national service programs. Directs CNS to approve national service educational awards for participants serving in CNS-assisted national service programs. Describes types of eligible national service programs addressing unmet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs, including community corps, youth corps, service-learning, special skills or specialized training, individualized placement, campus-based, preprofessional training, professional corps, disadvantaged youth community service, national service entrepreneur, intergenerational, or other programs. Directs CNS to establish qualification criteria. Authorizes CNS to provide the following types of program assistance: planning, operational, replication, subgrantee, training, technical, and other special assistance (including support for State commissions and challenge grants for national service programs). Requires CNS to ensure that participants in VISTA or the Civilian Community Corps receive national service educational awards, except in specified circumstances. Sets forth application and program requirements. Requires an assurance that the program assisted will not perform service that provides a direct benefit to any: (1) for-profit business; (2) labor union; (3) partisan political organization; or (4) organization engaged in religious activities (unless such service does not involve use of assistance or participants to give religious instruction, conduct worship services, or engage in any form of proselytization). Sets a minimum age for national service participants of 17, except for certain youth programs where the beginning of service may be between age 16 and 25. Sets rules for selection of participants, including selection and training of a national leadership pool. Sets a term of service at a minimum of 1,700 hours during: (1) a full-time period of nine months to one year; or (2) a part-time period of one to two years. Establishes requirements for participant living allowances. Limits the Federal share to not more than 85 percent of the VISTA volunteer allowance. Makes those who serve in approved national service positions eligible for national service educational awards. (Sec. 102) Establishes the National Service Trust in the Treasury to provide for the payment of national service educational awards. Sets forth eligibility standards for national service educational awards. Bases such awards on only the first and second terms of service. Requires that the award be used within five years after completion of the term of service. Sets the award's value at $5,000 for each term of service (up to two terms). Allows the use of such awards to: (1) repay outstanding student loans; (2) pay current educational expenses; (3) enable participation in approved school-to-work programs; and (4) pay interest during forbearance on loan repayment. Provides that awards shall not be considered: (1) in a means-test for Federal or federally-assisted benefits; or (2) as taxable income under the Internal Revenue Code. Makes conforming amendments to student loan provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA). Makes Stafford loan forgiveness available. (Sec. 103) Establishes School-Based and Community-Based Service-Learning programs to replace current Programs for Students and Out-of-School Youth. Revises the Serve-America program (currently named Service-America) to include: (1) school-based programs for students; (2) community-based service programs for school-age youth; and (3) a service-learning clearinghouse. Authorizes CNS to make planning grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) with respect to service-learning coordinators participating in an assisted national service program or receive a national service educational award. Authorizes grants for school-based service-learning programs and community-based service programs. Directs CNS to provide financial assistance to eligible public and private nonprofit organizations to establish a service-learning clearinghouse. Adds priority criteria for the making of grants for Higher Education Innovative Programs for Community Service. (Sec. 104) Establishes an Investment for Quality and Innovation program to carry out specified innovation and quality improvement activities. Directs CNS to provide assistance to appropriate entities to establish one or more clearinghouses, including the service-learning clearinghouse. Authorizes the President, acting through CNS, to make Presidential awards for service to individuals providing significant service, and to outstanding service programs. Provides that Civilian Community Corps members may receive educational awards (or suitable alternative benefits if ineligible for such awards). Amends the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1993 to extend the authority to conduct the Civilian Community Corps Demonstration Program. Subtitle B: Related Provisions - (Sec. 111-121) Makes conforming amendments and repealers to specified Federal law. Title II: Organization - (Sec. 201) Amends the National and Community Service Act of 1990 to require the establishment of State commissions on national service as a condition for receiving certain grants or allotments or a distribution of approved national service positions. Sets commission membership standards, and duties, including planning. (Sec. 202) Establishes the Corporation for National Service (CNS) as a Government corporation to administer programs under the Act. Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to require the Director of the ACTION Agency to report directly to the CNS Chairperson (under interim authorities). Directs the Chairperson to establish (or request the Director of the Office of Personnel Management to provide) job search and related assistance to employees of the ACTION Agency who are not transferred to CNS. (Sec. 202 & 203) Transfers to CNS functions of: (1) the Commission on National and Community Service (under interim authorities); and (2) the ACTION Agency (under final authorities). Title III: Reauthorization - Subtitle A: National and Community Service Act of 1990 - Extends the authorization of appropriations for the National and Community Service Act of 1990. Subtitle B: Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 - Domestic Volunteer Service Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1978 (DVSA) to reauthorize, reorganize, and revise its programs. Chapter I: VISTA and Other Anti-Poverty Programs - (Sec. 321) Adds to VISTA program objectives generating private sector resource commitment, encouraging local level volunteer service, and strengthening local agencies and organizations to carry out the program. (Sec. 322) Revises procedures and other requirements for selection and assignment of VISTA volunteers. Allows a sponsoring organization to recruit VISTA volunteers, subject to final approval of the Director of the ACTION Agency (the Director). (Sec. 323) Revises provisions for terms and periods of service. Authorizes a VISTA summer associates program. (Sec. 324) Revises postservice stipends. (Sec. 325) Requires encouragement of participation of both younger (18 through 27) and older (55 and older) VISTA volunteers. (Sec. 328) Repeals authority for student community service programs grants and contracts. (Sec. 329) Renames the University Year for ACTION the University Year for VISTA program. Shortens the minimum period of participation to an academic semester or equivalent. Allows volunteers to receive a living allowance or such other support the Director deems appropriate. (Sec. 330) Revises authority to establish and operate special volunteer and demonstration programs. Requires a competitive process for any grant or contract exceeding $100,000. (Sec. 331) Permits the Director to provide technical and financial assistance to employers and other private organizations that use or desire to use volunteers. (Sec. 332) Repeals a separate authority for drug abuse education and prevention programs under special volunteer programs. Chapter 2: National Senior Volunteer Corps - (Sec. 342) Renames the retired senior volunteer program the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). (Sec. 343) Expands RSVP eligibility to include older working persons and those over 55 (currently 60). (Sec. 345) Requires certain adjustments and minimums for stipends for low-income volunteers. (Sec. 346) Allows non-low-income persons to participate in the Foster Grandparent and the Senior Companion programs, without any financial support except reimbursement for related expenses. (Sec. 347) Repeals certain conditions for grants and contracts under those two programs, including a requirement that volunteers no longer be in the regular work force. (Sec. 348) Eliminates one type of evaluation of the Senior Companion Program. (Sec. 349) Encourages agreements with other Federal agencies involving retired, senior, intergenerational, and conservation volunteer programs. (Sec. 352) Authorizes grants and contracts for demonstration programs of innovative activities involving older volunteers. Prohibits reducing other older volunteer programs to support such demonstrations. Chapter 3: Administration - (Sec. 365) Bases disability or death benefits for VISTA volunteers on a grade GS-5 (rather than GS-7) Federal employee entrance salary. (Sec. 370) Grants copyright protection for the programs of the ACTION Agency. (Sec. 371) Authorizes the Director to establish a Center for Research and Training on Volunteerism. (Sec. 372) Amends Federal law relating to Federal employees to make retirement credit for time served as a VISTA volunteer available to all who become Federal employees subsequent to such volunteer service, upon their paying a deposit based on their post-service stipend. Chapter 4: Authorization of Appropriations and Other Amendments - (Sec. 381-383) Extends the authorization of appropriations for various programs under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973. (Sec. 385) Repeals Youthbuild Projects authority. Chapter 5: General Provisions - (Sec. 391) Sets forth technical and conforming amendments. Title IV: Technical and Conforming Amendments - (Sec. 401-405) Sets forth various changes of definitions and references in specified Federal law.

Solid Waste Incinerator Ash Testing Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1993

Solid Waste Incinerator Ash Testing Act of 1993 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require ash generated from municipal solid waste incinerators to be tested for hazardous waste constituents prior to disposal. Permits ash shown to contain such constituents to be disposed of only by land disposal meeting requirements for hazardous waste disposal under such Act.

Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 6 May 1993

Endangered Species Act Amendments of 1993 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to establish an independent peer review process with respect to listing and delisting of endangered and threatened species (species). Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) in cooperation with the affected State to develop species recovery plans. Gives priority to multispecies plans and sets forth plan deadlines. Requires each Federal land management agency to identify species and appropriate conservation measures on lands under its jurisdiction. Authorizes agency contracts with the Secretary for such purposes. Directs the Secretary to establish a Habitat Conservation Planning Fund. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants or interest-free advances from the Fund to State and local governments for conservation plan development. Provides financial and technical assistance to private landowners for species conservation measures. Provides for increased international cooperation and enforcement under the Convention on Nature Protection and Wildlife Preservation in the Western Hemisphere and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.

Les problèmes de l'eau

France · Senate · 5 May 1993

Les problèmes de l'eau

Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1993

Environmental Research, Development, and Demonstration Authorization Act of 1993 - Authorizes appropriations to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for FY 1994 for environmental research, development, and demonstration activities and for program management and support of the Office of Research and Development. Prohibits the Administrator from using any funds appropriated in this Act for office closings or reductions in force unless a congressional notice and wait procedure has been complied with by the Administrator. Requires the Administrator to establish separately identified core research programs consisting of fundamental ecological, health, and risk reduction research to support efforts to assess and mitigate serious environmental risks. Requires the Science Advisory Board to review and make recommendations on core research program activities. Directs the Administrator to establish an Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program to conduct comprehensive, long-term environmental monitoring, data collection, and data analysis to assess and respond to the current and long-term status and trends of the ecological resources of the United States. Requires the Administrator to make available to the public and the Congress statistical data summaries and interpretive reports on ecological status and trends. Directs the Administrator to: (1) establish a modernization program to identify, acquire, and maintain modern buildings, facilities, supplies, and equipment needed to conduct high quality research; and (2) conduct studies and make assessments of the adequacy of the equipment and facilities to meet the needs of EPA and to attract well-qualified scientists, engineers, and other appropriate personnel. Repeals a required annual report from the Administrator of a five-year plan for environmental research, development, and demonstration. Directs the Administrator to: (1) carry out a program of environmental technology transfer and exchange of scientific information to make full use of EPA's research, development, and demonstration efforts; and (2) establish a separately identified research program to improve EPA's capability to identify and assess risks to public health and ecosystems resulting from environmental contamination.

Rural Community Water Pollution Control Assistance Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1993

Rural Community Water Pollution Control Assistance Act of 1993 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with respect to the use of a State water pollution control revolving fund to: (1) allow loans for terms of up to 40 years in the case of loans to economically distressed rural communities (EDRCs); (2) allow annual interest payments on such loans to commence within three years after completion of the water control project in the case of loans to EDRCs; and (3) require no less than 15 percent of the funds deposited into the revolving fund after the date of enactment of this Act to be used to make loans to EDRCs. Authorizes the use of such revolving fund for providing technical assistance to EDRCs in the operation, management, and maintenance of waste water treatment works. Defines an EDRC as a rural community in which the: (1) median household income is less than 75 percent of such income statewide; or (2) rate of poverty is greater than the national poverty rate. Increases the percentage of such revolving fund authorized to be used for administrative expenses to four and one-half percent of the total funds.

Endangered Species Improvement Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 5 May 1993

Endangered Species Improvement Act of 1993 - Amends the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to require the Secretary of the Interior (or of Commerce or Agriculture, under specified circumstances) to determine that a species is endangered or threatened if the Secretary determines that: (1) the species warrants listing as an endangered or threatened species because of natural or manmade factors affecting its continued existence; and (2) such listing is in the public interest (after considering specified factors, including any beneficial or adverse effects which may result from the application of or the protections of the Act to such species). Directs the Secretary, prior to making any such determination, to submit for peer review all information on and analyses of the species or habitat upon which such determination will be made to a panel of experts who are not employed by, under contract to, or recipients of grants from the department of the Secretary. Bars any person who participates formally in such determination from receiving any funding pursuant to the Act or any other authority of the Secretary to study, conduct research on, undertake conservation activities for, or otherwise address the species involved. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) estimating the number of a species subject to a proposed rule; (2) applying the emergency listing process to situations involving "an immediate threat of extinction" (currently, "a significant risk to the well-being" of a species); (3) limiting application of the taking prohibition prior to completion of a recovery plan; and (4) eliminating citizen suits against private parties. Directs the head of any Federal agency who takes an action under the Act to compensate the owner of private property for any diminution in value caused by the action.

Minimum Tax Reform Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1993

Minimum Tax Reform Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise adjustments in computing alternative minimum taxable income and allow companies to use the 150-percent declining balance method to compute depreciation, except for environmental assets. Allows a 200 percent declining balance method in the case of computer or peripheral equipment. Allows companies to use pre-1993 minimum tax credits against alternative tax liability for up to 50 percent of that liability, with limitations. Allows businesses to reduce up to 25 percent of their minimum tax liabilty with general business credits.

Tire Recycling and Recovery Act of 1991

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1993

Tire Recycling and Recovery Act of 1991 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to require States to submit scrap tire management plans to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency for approval. Requires the Administrator to: (1) distribute guidelines and a model plan to States; (2) review and audit plans periodically; and (3) promulgate plans for States that fail to do so. Sets forth plan requirements and declares that plans must: (1) address the reduction and elimination of existing scrap tire piles that contain more than 3,000 scrap tires; (2) address current and future disposal, recycling, recovery, and reuse of scrap tires; and (3) provide for the issuance of permits to owners or operators of scrap tire collection sites and others who handle scrap tires. Authorizes the Administrator to provide financial assistance to States for conducting surveys of scrap tire piles and for developing and implementing tire plans. Prohibits: (1) the disposal of scrap tires in a landfill, monocell, or monofill; (2) the operation of collection sites, except in compliance with specified regulations; (3) the storage of more than 3,000 scrap tires for more than 60 days at collection sites, unless necessary for further reuse, recovery, or recycling; (4) the commingling of new scrap tires with existing scrap tire piles; (5) the transfer of control over scrap tires for transportation to a collection site to a transporter without a permit; and (6) the operation and maintenance of a pile or collection site, or the delivery or receipt of scrap tires for storage or disposal at a collection site, except in compliance with a permit. Exempts specified persons from such prohibitions if no threat of an adverse health or environmental effect will result from the exemption. Authorizes civil or criminal penalties for violations of this Act. Directs the Administrator to prepare guidelines for the Federal procurement of items that make use of rubber from scrap or used tires. Requires the Administrator to implement a plan for, and report to the Congress on, the abatement of scrap tire piles on Federal land. Repeals a provision concerning grants for discarded tire disposal.

To establish a scrap tire trust fund to provide financial assistance to States to eliminate current scrap tire piles and to manage the future disposal of scrap tires.

United States · United States Congress · 4 May 1993

Establishes the Scrap Tire Trust Fund in the Treasury. Provides that the Fund shall consist of a Scrap Tire Reduction Account and a Scrap Tire Recycling Account. Appropriates amounts equivalent to fees collected under this Act to the Accounts. Makes amounts in the Accounts available for: (1) financial assistance to States for conducting surveys of scrap tire piles, developing State tire management plans, reducing and eliminating scrap tire piles, and carrying out tire disposal under such plans and (2) administration of such assistance. Imposes fees on new tires sold by manufacturers or importers from January 1, 1993, through December 31, 2004.

Product Liability Fairness Act

United States · United States Congress · 3 May 1993

Product Liability Fairness Act - Title I - Declares that this Act governs any product liability action brought against a manufacturer or product seller, on any theory, for harm caused by a product. States that a civil action brought against a manufacturer or product seller for loss or damage to a product itself or commercial loss shall be governed by applicable commercial or contract law. Supersedes any inconsistent State law regarding recovery in such actions. Lists specific laws not superseded, including: (1) defense of sovereign immunity asserted by any State or by the United States; (2) any Federal law (except the Federal Employees Compensation Act and the Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act); (3) the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976; (4) State choice-of-law rules; (5) the right of any court to transfer venue or to apply the law of a foreign nation or to dismiss a claim of a foreign nation or citizen on the ground of inconvenient forum; and (6) any statutory or common law cause of action, including an action to abate a nuisance, that authorizes a State or person to institute an action for civil damages or civil penalties, cleanup costs, injunctions, restitution, cost recovery, punitive damages, or any other form of relief from contamination or pollution of the environment or the threat of it. Declares that U.S. district courts shall not have jurisdiction over any civil action under this Act, based on specified provisions of Federal law relating to district court jurisdiction. Declares that, if any provision of this Act would shorten the period during which a manufacturer or seller would otherwise be exposed to liability, the claimant may, notwithstanding that period, bring any civil action under this Act within one year after the effective date of this Act. Title II - Allows any claimant to bring a civil action for damages against a person for harm caused by a product under applicable State law, except to the extent such law is superseded by this title. Sets forth expedited settlement measures, including: (1) an option to include an offer of settlement, for a specific dollar amount, by the plaintiff in the complaint and by the defendant in a responsive pleading; and (2) awarding attorney's fees and costs, in certain circumstances, to the prevailing party if the other party does not accept the settlement offer. Sets forth alternative dispute resolution procedures, including: (1) an option, in lieu of or in addition to a settlement offer, for a claimant or a defendant to offer to proceed under any voluntary alternative dispute resolution procedure established or recognized under the law of the State in which the action is brought or maintained; and (2) awarding of attorney's fees and costs to the offering party if the court determines that a refusal to so proceed was unreasonable or not in good faith. Creates a rebuttable presumption that a refusal to so proceed was unreasonable, or not in good faith, if a verdict is rendered in favor of the offeror. Title III - Allows a person seeking to recover for harm caused by a product to bring a civil action against the manufacturer or seller under applicable State or Federal law, except to the extent such law is superseded by this Act. Establishes a standard of product seller liability for proximate causes of harm, established by a preponderance of the evidence, which fall under the categories of negligence or express warranty. Sets forth: (1) limitations on the award of punitive damages; and (2) statutes of limitation. Requires reduction in the damages awarded by the sum of all State or Federal workers' compensation benefits to which the employee is or would be entitled. Prohibits a third party tortfeasor, where workers' compensation is involved, from maintaining any action for implied indemnity or contribution against the employer, any coemployee, or the exclusive representative of the injured person, with exceptions. Declares that, in any product liability action, the liability of each defendant for noneconomic damages shall be several and not joint. Requires the trier of fact to determine the proportion of responsibility of each party for the claimant's harm. Establishes a complete defense, in any civil action under this Act in which all defendants are manufacturers or sellers, that the claimant was under the influence of alcohol or any drug and that, as a result, the claimant was more than 50 percent responsible for the event which resulted in the harm.

Minimum Tax Reform Act of 1993

United States · United States Congress · 30 April 1993

Minimum Tax Reform Act of 1993 - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to revise adjustments in computing alternative minimum taxable income and allow companies to use the 150-percent declining balance method to compute depreciation, except for environmental assets. Allows companies to use pre-1993 minimum tax credits against alternative tax liability for up to 50 percent of that liability, with limitations. Allows businesses to reduce up to 25 percent of their minimum tax liability with general business credits.