Environment

Negotiations in the trade and environment committee (WTO)

European Union · European Parliament · 1 January 1996

Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 22 December 1995

Accountable Pipeline Safety and Partnership Act of 1995 - Amends Federal natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety transportation law to revise the exclusion from the meaning of the term "transporting gas" (thus from coverage by such law) of the gathering of gas in a rural area outside a populated, non-rural area to specified locations outside the limits of any incorporated or unincorporated city, town, or village. Extends coverage, however, to the movement of gas through regulated lines, regardless of location. (Sec. 4) Repeals the mandate that Federal minimum safety standards for pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities to include a requirement that all individuals responsible for the operation and maintenance of pipeline facilities be tested for their qualifications. Requires only that they be qualified. Requires such qualifications to address the ability to recognize and react to abnormal operating conditions that may indicate a dangerous situation or a condition exceeding design limits. Directs the Secretary of Transportation, in prescribing minimum safety standards for pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities, to: (1) consider compliance costs and any comments and recommendations received; (2) prepare a risk assessment document assessing costs and benefits under such standards; and (3) submit each such document to either the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee or the Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee, as appropriate. Requires such committees, serving as peer review panels, to evaluate and report to the Secretary on such documents. Directs the Secretary to review such evaluations and certify that the incremental benefits of a standard will likely justify its incremental costs. Authorizes the Secretary to suspend the application of a standard during an emergency. Requires a report from the Secretary to the Congress on the implementation of the risk assessment requirements of this section. Directs the Secretary, to the extent appropriate and practicable, to update incorporated industry standards that have been adopted as part of the Federal pipeline safety regulatory program. (Sec. 5) Directs the Secretary to establish risk management demonstration projects under which owners and operators of gas pipeline and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities voluntarily demonstrate applications of risk management. Authorizes the Secretary, during a demonstration project, to waive the applicability of all or a portion of safety standards that would otherwise apply. Outlines demonstration project requirements. (Sec. 6) Eliminates the application of certain inspection and maintenance requirements to persons who transport gas or hazardous liquids. Repeals the requirement of biennial pipeline facility inspections (leaving their frequency to the Secretary's discretion). (Sec. 7) Requires the Secretary to prescribe regulations that establish criteria by which operators of hazardous liquid pipeline facilities and gathering lines shall identify each such facility or line that crosses waters where a substantial likelihood of commercial navigation exists. (Currently, such requirement applies to all navigable waters, regardless of such likelihood.) Requires the Secretary, when identifying an area as unusually sensitive to environmental damage if there is a hazardous liquid pipeline accident, to consider including locations that are critical to drinking water, as well as critical wetlands, national parks, wilderness and wildlife preservation areas, wild and scenic rivers, and critical habitat areas for threatened or endangered species. Repeals the mandate to consider earthquake and landslide zones, freshwater lakes, rivers and waterways, and river deltas and other areas subject to soil erosion or subsidence from flooding. (Sec. 8) Authorizes the Secretary to adopt industry accepted performance standards for the performance of excess flow valves used to protect lines in a natural gas distribution system. (Sec. 9) Repeals the requirement that the Secretary promote the adoption of measures to improve the safety of customer-owned natural gas service lines. (Sec. 10) Redesignates the one-call notification system as the underground facility damage prevention program. Repeals the requirement for criminal penalties in regulations establishing a one-call notification system with respect to the safety of pipeline facilities. (Sec. 11) Requires the Technical Pipeline Safety Standards Committee and the Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards Committee to serve as peer review committees. Deems such service to be in compliance with the requirements of other applicable Federal statutes. Requires committee members to be experienced in risk management. Requires at least one of the individuals selected for each committee from the natural gas or hazardous liquid industry and from the general public to have education, background, or experience in risk assessment and cost-benefit analysis. Requires the Secretary, when presenting each committee each standard proposed for transporting gas and hazardous liquid and for gas and hazardous liquid pipeline facilities, to include a risk assessment document and other supporting analyses. Requires each committee to meet with the Secretary at least four times (currently, twice) annually. (Sec. 12) Requires each owner or operator of a natural gas pipeline facility to provide a program for educating the public on the use of an underground facility damage prevention program prior to excavation. Repeals the requirement that persons transporting gas conduct public education programs. (Sec. 13) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into grants and other cooperative agreements with any State, local government, or private entity to carry out pipeline safety programs, including the development, improvement, and promotion of "one-call" damage prevention programs, research, risk assessment, and mapping. (Sec. 14) Deems owners and operators of pipeline facilities who participate in risk management demonstration projects to be in compliance with safety standards or regulatory requirements prescribed under such project. (Sec. 15) Subjects to civil and criminal penalties any person who knowingly and willfully excavates and subsequently damages a pipeline facility and does not report such damage promptly to the operator of the pipeline facility and other appropriate authorities. (Sec. 16) Changes from annual to biennial certain required reports from the Secretary to the Congress concerning gas and hazardous liquid transportation safety requirements. (Sec. 17) Directs the Secretary to make available to the appropriate official of each State the land use recommendations contained in the special report entitled "Pipelines and Public Safety." Requires the evaluation and implementation of recommendations contained in such report. (Sec. 18) Directs the Secretary to analyze and report to the Congress on the assessment of pipeline safety user fees based solely on mileage and the Secretary's determinations with respect to such assessment. (Sec. 19) Prohibits any person from excavating for unauthorized disposal (dumping) of solid waste within the right-of-way of an interstate gas or hazardous liquid pipeline facility. (Sec. 20) Authorizes the Secretary to conduct promotional activities relating to prevention of damage to gas and hazardous liquid pipelines. (Sec. 22) Extends and increases annually through FY 1999 the authorization of appropriations for gas and hazardous liquid pipeline safety programs and activities carried out through the Department of Transportation.

Mercury Environmental Risk and Comprehensive Utilization Reduction Initiative

United States · United States Congress · 22 December 1995

Mercury Environmental Risk and Comprehensive Utilization Reduction Initiative - Amends the Toxic Substances Control Act to prohibit the sale or offering for sale or promotional purposes of: (1) alkaline-manganese batteries manufactured on or after January 1, 1996, with a mercury content that was intentionally introduced (limits the content in alkaline-manganese button cells to 25 milligrams of mercury per button cell); (2) zinc carbon batteries manufactured on or after January 1, 1997, that contain mercury that was intentionally introduced; (3) button cell mercuric-oxide batteries for use in the United States on or after January 1, 1997; and (4) any mercuric-oxide battery on or after January 1, 1997. Authorizes imposition of civil penalties and commencement of civil actions by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to enforce these prohibitions. Defines a "regulated battery" as a rechargeable battery that contains a cadmium or lead electrode or contains other electrode chemistries and is the subject of a specified determination by the Administrator. Prohibits any person from selling for use in the United States a regulated battery or a rechargeable consumer product introduced into interstate commerce on or after one year after this Act's enactment date unless: (1) the battery is easily removable from the product, is contained in a battery pack that is easily removable from the product, or is sold separately; and (2) the rechargeable consumer product and the battery are labeled in accordance with this Act. Sets forth labeling requirements, including that the label contain a statement that the battery must be recycled or disposed of properly. Authorizes the Administrator, upon determining that other rechargeable batteries having electrode chemistries different from regulated batteries are toxic and may cause substantial harm if discarded for land disposal or incineration, to promulgate requirements for: (1) labeling such batteries and related products; and (2) easy removability of regulated batteries from rechargeable consumer products designed to contain such batteries. Provides for exemptions from these requirements under certain conditions. Makes certain EPA regulations regarding reclamation of spent lead-acid batteries, as in effect on January 1, 1993, applicable to persons collecting, storing, or transporting batteries or products regulated under this Act. Sets forth requirements for a report to the Congress by the Administrator on the disposal of used regulated batteries and rechargeable consumer products. Directs the Administrator to establish a program to provide information on the proper handling and disposal of such batteries and rechargeable consumer products with easily removable batteries. Establishes civil penalties for violations of the regulated battery and rechargeable consumer product requirements of this Act, recordkeeping requirements, and access authorities for the Administrator. Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 4) Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) to prohibit the sale or offering for sale of an alkaline or lead-acid battery unless the container is clearly labeled with a refund value, to be determined by the Administrator according to class or category. Requires distributors of batteries to collect amounts of refund values from retailers and retailers to collect such amounts from consumers. Establishes procedures for return of refund values (and handling costs) and disposition of refunds that are unclaimed or in excess of amounts collected. Makes amounts of unclaimed refunds available for pollution prevention and recycling programs in the State. Prohibits disposal of such a battery by a retailer or distributor in any landfill or other solid waste disposal facility. Makes the refund program's requirements inapplicable in States with procedures substantially identical to those imposed by this Act or which demonstrate a battery recycling or reuse rate of at least 70 percent. Establishes civil penalties for violations of refund program requirements. (Sec. 5) Prohibits, with stated exceptions, the intentional introduction of mercury to the manufacturing or distribution of packaging or a packaging component. Sets threshold levels for mercury presence in packaging or components. Requires manufacturers and suppliers to furnish certificates of compliance to purchasers and make such certificates available, upon request, to the public. Establishes civil penalties for violation of these prohibitions. (Sec. 6) Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act to prohibit the Administrator from registering or reregistering any fungicide containing phenylmercuric acetate and cancels existing registrations of such fungicides. (Sec. 7) Requires the Administrator to study and report to the Congress on the use and disposal of mercury by the Department of Defense. Requires the Secretary of Defense to submit a program to the Congress, within three years after enactment of this Act, for reducing mercury use in military products. (Sec. 8) Amends SWDA to prohibit Federal agencies, State and local governments, and other waste management jurisdictions, after December 31, 1996, from issuing a permit or other prior approval for the construction or expansion of a municipal solid waste incinerator unless the applicant completes an environmental impact statement. Requires State solid waste plans to provide for separation, for recycling purposes, of mercury-containing items to be listed by the Administrator, including batteries, fluorescent light bulbs, electrical switches, and thermostats. (Sec. 9) Amends the Clean Air Act to remove an exemption of electric utility steam generating units from the applicability of standards promulgated by the Administrator regarding certain hazardous air pollutants. Requires as part of a permit program administered by an air pollution control agency, in the case of such generating units and municipal and medical waste incinerators, the imposition of an additional fee of $500 per pound of mercury emissions from the unit or a greater amount determined by the Administrator to be necessary to cover the costs of a program to research technologies to reduce mercury emissions and remediate mercury contamination. (Sec. 10) Requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the Food and Drug Administration, to: (1) compile a list of drugs and foods containing intentionally introduced mercury compounds, together with a quantitative and qualitative analysis of such compounds; and (2) study the effect on humans of the use of such compounds in nasal sprays.

Public Debt Relief Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 22 December 1995

Public Debt Relief Act of 1995 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act to allow a State to exercise flow control authority over solid waste if, on or before January 1, 1984, the State: (1) adopted regulations under a State law that required or directed the transportation, management, or disposal of such waste from residential, commercial, institutional, or industrial sources to specifically identified waste management facilities and applied those regulations to every political subdivision; and (2) subjected the facilities to the jurisdiction of a State public utilities commission. Allows a State or political subdivision of the State meeting the requirements of this Act to exercise flow control authority over all classes and categories of solid waste that were subject to flow control by the State or subdivision on May 16, 1994, by directing it from any existing waste management facility to any other such facility, existing or proposed. Sets limitations on the duration of authority under this Act according to the length of a revenue or general obligation bond issued to finance waste management facilities.

Land Disposal Program Flexibility Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 21 December 1995

Land Disposal Program Flexibility Act of 1995 - Amends the Solid Waste Disposal Act (SWDA) to exempt from land disposal restrictions (other than requirements pertaining to applicable specific methods of treatment promulgated by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under SWDA) solid waste identified as hazardous based on characteristic alone if such waste: (1) is managed in a treatment system that subsequently discharges to waters of the United States pursuant to a permit issued under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act), undergoes pretreatment for purposes of compliance with toxic and pretreatment effluent standards of such Act, or is managed under a zero-discharge system that the Administrator determines to be engaging in Clean Water Act-equivalent treatment; (2) no longer exhibits such characteristic prior to land disposal; (3) has met any applicable specific method of treatment promulgated by the Administrator; and (4) would not generate toxic gases, vapors, or fumes due to the presence of cyanide at the point of generation when exposed to pH conditions of a specified range. Requires the Administrator to conduct a study of hazardous waste managed in accordance with this Act to characterize the risks to human health or the environment associated with such management, upon completion of which the Administrator may impose additional requirements or defer management of such risks to other State or Federal programs or authorities. Amends SWDA to exempt from land disposal restrictions solid waste identified as hazardous based on characteristic alone if the waste no longer exhibits a hazardous characteristic at the point of injection into any Class I deep well regulated under safe drinking water provisions of the Public Health Service Act.

Snowbasin Land Exchange Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 21 December 1995

Snowbasin Land Exchange Act of 1995 - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, subject to specified terms and conditions, to transfer certain lands within the Cache National Forest in Utah to the Sun Valley Company in exchange for specified Company lands of approximate equal value to become a part of the Wasatch or Cache National Forests as appropriate. Adjusts the boundaries of such Forests to encompass the lands. Requires such lands to be managed in accordance with the Weeks Act and other applicable laws, rules, and regulations of National Forest System lands. Finds that, based on congressional review, the Phase I facilities identified and described in the Snowbasin Ski Area Master Development Plan dated October 1995 to be located on National Forest System lands, or any modifications thereof mutually agreed to by the Secretary and the Company, are reasonable and necessary to accommodate the 2002 Olympics. Directs the Secretary to issue all necessary permits and authorizations for construction and operation of such facilities in accordance with specified procedures and provisions of this Act. Requires the Secretary to report to specified congressional committees on whether construction and operation of Phase I facilities have provided for sufficient environmental protection on National Forest lands affected by such facilities.

Sound Science for the Environment Act

United States · United States Congress · 21 December 1995

Sound Science for the Environment Act - Establishes as an independent agency the National Institute for the Environment to: (1) initiate, facilitate, and perform comprehensive assessments of the current state of knowledge of environmental issues and their implications; (2) establish a Center for Environmental Assessment; (3) award competitively grants and contracts for extramural scientific research; (4) establish a Directorate of Research and a universally accessible National Library for the Environment; and (5) sponsor education and training of environmental scientists and professionals and improve public environmental literacy. Establishes a Board of Governors for the Institute. Provides for interagency acquisition of information and establishes an Interagency Advisory Committee to ensure that the environmental efforts of the Institute and other Federal agencies are complementary. Makes scientists, engineers, and other researchers eligible to receive funding from the Institute. Requires the President to submit to the Congress recommendations regarding existing non-regulatory Federal programs that are appropriate for transfer to the Institute, together with legislation to effect such transfers.

Antimicrobial Pesticide Registration Reform Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1995

Antimicrobial Pesticide Registration Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to exclude: (1) bacteria from the definition of "fungus"; and (2) liquid chemical sterilant products for use on a critical or semi-critical medical or dental device from the definition of "pesticide." Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to: (1) coordinate data requirements, test protocols, timetables, and standards of review and reduce burdens and redundancy caused to the registrant, whenever data in support of a pesticide registration is requested by one or more State or Federal agencies; and (2) develop a process to identify and assist in alleviating future disparities between Federal and State data requirements. Provides, with respect to the labeling of an antimicrobial pesticide product, that: (1) a registrant may modify the labeling to include relevant information on the product's efficacy, composition, or container or other characteristics unrelated to a pesticidal claim or activity; (2) such labeling shall not be false or misleading or in conflict with statements required as a condition of registration and be substantiated upon request; (3) modifications shall be subject to a notification and approval process; and (4) different cautionary statements for use dilutions may be included in the labeling upon approval of the Administrator. Directs the Administrator, to the maximum extent practicable, to identify and evaluate changes to the process for registration of antimicrobial pesticides that will reduce current time periods for review. Details rulemaking requirements regarding the review of such pesticides. Requires an annual report to the Congress on measures taken to effect such changes. Exempts from applicability of certain FIFRA storage, disposal, transportation, and container requirements household, industrial, or institutional antimicrobial products that are not subject to regulation under the Solid Waste Disposal Act, unless the Administrator determines that their application is necessary to prevent an unreasonable adverse effect on the environment.

To provide for the transfer of six obsolete tugboats of the Navy.

United States · United States Congress · 20 December 1995

Directs the Secretary of the Navy to transfer six specified obsolete tugboats of the Navy to the Wisconsin Railroad Transportation Commission, subject to the condition that the Commission shall not use a vessel until it complies with the terms of any necessary environmental agreement.

Education Trust Fund Act

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Tax and Trust Fund Title II: Educational Enhancement Education Trust Fund Act - Title I: Tax and Trust Fund - Amends the Internal Revenue Code to impose an additional five percent tax on the net payment of wagering proceeds paid during any calendar quarter. Reduces the tax imposed on the net wagering proceeds (but not below zero) by an amount credited for the dedicated State tax imposed on such proceeds. Limits the tax imposed to apply only to wagers accepted in the United States or placed by a person who is in the United States: (1) with a person who is a U.S. citizen or resident; or (2) in a wagering pool or lottery conducted by a U.S. citizen or resident. (Sec. 102) Establishes the National Education Trust Fund to consist of such amounts as may be appropriated or credited to such Fund. Authorizes appropriations to the Fund in amounts equivalent to the net revenues received in the Treasury from the taxes imposed on wagers. Requires that amounts in the Fund be made available only for the purposes of making expenditures to carry out title II of the Education Trust Fund Act. Title II: Educational Enhancement - Permits the use of funds from the Fund by local educational agencies only for educating students, including improving classroom instructional materials, renovating or building school facilities and buildings, and increasing teacher salaries. (Sec. 202) Authorizes the Secretary of Education to provide grants from the Fund to State educational agencies for use by local educational agencies to improve education in elementary and secondary schools for the purposes described in the preceding clause. Requires that 74 percent of the funds from such fund be made available for grants to local educational agencies and sets forth a specified formula for the amount a local educational agency in a State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico is eligible to receive for any fiscal year. (Sec. 203) Provides for low-interest loans from the Fund to local educational agencies for any fiscal year payable over a period not to exceed 30 years. Requires that 24 percent of the funds from such fund be made available for loans to local educational agencies and sets forth a specified formula for the amount a local educational agency in a State, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico are eligible to receive for any fiscal year. Requires that interest on a loan be based upon administrative costs, but not exceed two percent of the loan amount. (Sec. 204) Establishes the National Commission on Educational Enhancement to make recommendations to the Secretary of Education to enhance educational programs for elementary and secondary school students, including the purchasing of necessary textbooks and providing a safe physical environment by improving the structural soundness of school facilities. Directs that the Commission be composed of nine members with not less than two individuals to represent local educational agencies, teachers or principals, and parents. Prohibits members of the Commission who are full-time officers or employees of the United States or Members of Congress from receiving additional pay, allowances, or benefit by reason of their service on the Commission. Requires that the Commission transmit an annual report to the Secretary of Education, President, and the Congress containing a detailed statement of the findings and conclusions of the Commission and a review of how funds from the Fund were spent. Allows two percent of the funds made available for the Trust Fund to be used by the Commission.

To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to provide that the United States Army Corps of Engineers perform contract oversight of Fund financed remedial actions under that Act.

United States · United States Congress · 18 December 1995

Amends the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to require that administration of contracts awarded for design and construction associated with Superfund lead remedial actions be performed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers, except in the case of certain remedial actions carried out by a State or political subdivision.

COMMON POSITION (EC) No 17/96 Adopted by the Council on 18 December 1995 with a view to adopting Council Regulation (EC) No .../96 of amending Regulation (EEC) No 1973/92 establishing a financial instrument for the environment (LIFE)

European Union · Council of the European Union · 18 December 1995

Nepal: negotiation of a (third generation) cooperation agreement (trade, R&D, environment, training, health, etc.)

European Union · European Parliament · 15 December 1995

Food and Drug Administration Performance and Accountability Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 13 December 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Mission and Accountability Title II: Expedited Access to Products for Seriously Ill Patients Title III: Revitalizing the Investigation of New Products Title IV: Efficient, Accountable, and Fair Product Review Title V: Drug, Biological Products, Devices Export Reform Title VI: Drug and Biological Products Regulatory Reform Title VII: Device Regulatory Reform Title VIII: Animal Drug Regulatory Reform Title IX: Food Regulatory Reform Food and Drug Administration Performance and Accountability Act of 1995 - Title I: Mission and Accountability - Food and Drug Administration Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) to set forth a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mission statement. (Sec. 103) Mandates: (1) performance standards for FDA product reviews; (2) an applicant-accessible information system; and (3) a procedure regarding policy statements of general applicability. (Sec. 106) Authorizes the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to delegate authority related to scientific review groups to a center director. (Sec. 107) Requires an intra-FDA appeal system. Empowers any person to request an evaluation by a scientific review group. Title II: Expedited Access to Products for Seriously Ill Patients - Patient Rights Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Establishes or modifies requirements regarding: (1) distribution of an investigational drug or device for a serious condition; (2) humanitarian device exemptions; and (3) a time limit for approval of certain biological product or new drug applications. Title III: Revitalizing the Investigation of New Products - Investigational Products Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Regulates: (1) automatic commencement of new drug clinical investigations; (2) criteria for the safety information that must be initially submitted; (3) regarding a mechanism to ensure the fair application of clinical investigation safety standards; (4) investigational device exemptions; and (5) concerning meetings between the sponsor proposing a preclinical or clinical investigation and the Secretary. Title IV: Efficient, Accountable, and Fair Product Review - Product Review Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Establishes or modifies requirements regarding: (1) a mechanism to ensure fair and consistent filing requirements; (2) automatic classification in the class specified by the sponsor; (3) criteria for the information to be included in the application; (4) contracts with outside organizations and individuals to review applications; (5) collaborative review; (6) accreditation of organizations to conduct good manufacturing practice inspections; (7) environmental consideration of FDA action; (8) dissemination of certain information on treatment use of investigational new drugs, a use of a new drug for which approval is in effect, and a use of a device produced by a registered manufacturer; (9) approval of a new use drug, biological product, or device application; and (10) the matters that may be considered in determining effectiveness. Title V: Drug, Biological Products, Devices Export Reform - Drug, Biological Products, Devices Export Reform Act of 1995 - Revises requirements regarding the importing and exporting of a drug, biological product, or device. (Sec. 503) Amends the Public Health Service Act to modify partially processed biological product export requirements. Title VI: Drug and Biological Products Regulatory Reform - Drug and Biological Product Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the FDCA with regard to: (1) what constitutes substantial evidence; (2) using a small facility to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of a new drug or biological product; and (3) requirements regarding changes in the manufacture of a new drug, biological product, or new animal drug. (Sec. 605) Repeals provisions regarding the certification of drugs containing insulin or containing antibiotics. Allows export of insulin and antibiotics in certain circumstances. (Sec. 606) Amends the Public Health Service Act to regulate biological products in interstate commerce. (Sec. 607) Mandates proposed regulations governing products of human tissue and cell therapy. Title VII: Device Regulatory Reform - Medical Device Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the FDCA to establish or modify requirements regarding: (1) premarket notification requirements; (2) device classification standards; and (3) the circumstances in which device tracking or postmarket surveillance may be required. (Sec. 706) Removes references to distributors from provisions relating to records and reports on devices. Removes provisions regarding reports of removals and corrections. (Sec. 707) Modifies premarket approval requirements. (Sec. 708) Establishes procedures regarding the recognition of an existing performance standard for a device. Title VIII: Animal Drug Regulatory Reform - Animal Drug Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Sets forth what constitutes substantial evidence. Regulates what must be considered in evaluating an animal drug containing more than one active ingredient or to be used in combination with other drugs. Modifies approval and residue requirements. (Sec. 804) Sets forth the circumstances in which an animal drug will be considered adulterated. Title IX: Food Regulatory Reform - Food Regulatory Reform Act of 1995 - Establishes an alternate approval procedure for an indirect food additive (a food additive intended to contact food but not intended for consumption as a food ingredient).

93 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's current input into environmental research. [14277/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

93 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's current input into environmental research. [14277/95]

45 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, there are to solve the growing traffic problems in the greater Dublin area, in particular in the inner city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18632/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

45 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, there are to solve the growing traffic problems in the greater Dublin area, in particular in the inner city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18632/95]

42 Mr. Noonan (Limerick West) asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's input into environmental research. [12564/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

42 Mr. Noonan (Limerick West) asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's input into environmental research. [12564/95]

13 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment his views in relation to the report entitled Analysis of Social Housing Need commissioned by him from the ESRI. [5064/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

13 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment his views in relation to the report entitled Analysis of Social Housing Need commissioned by him from the ESRI. [5064/95]

45 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, there are to solve the growing traffic problems in the greater Dublin area, in particular in the inner city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18632/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

45 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, there are to solve the growing traffic problems in the greater Dublin area, in particular in the inner city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18632/95]

12 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment if he will ban heavy vehicles and machinery from travelling into and passing through Dublin City at rush hours. [18634/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

12 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment if he will ban heavy vehicles and machinery from travelling into and passing through Dublin City at rush hours. [18634/95]

93 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's current input into environmental research. [14277/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

93 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's current input into environmental research. [14277/95]

42 Mr. Noonan (Limerick West) asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's input into environmental research. [12564/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

42 Mr. Noonan (Limerick West) asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's input into environmental research. [12564/95]

11 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's input into environmental research. [12565/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

11 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for the Environment the plans, if any, he has to increase the State's input into environmental research. [12565/95]

10 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to undertake an appraisal of road safety promotion in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18603/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

10 Miss Quill asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to undertake an appraisal of road safety promotion in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18603/95]

9 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the shortage of good quality accommodation, particularly for single people in the private rented sector, the proposals, if any, he will introduce to retain such accommodation for persons genuinely in need of accommodation in order to discourage people from leaving the family home without cause and taking up private rented accommodation nearby. [18594/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

9 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for the Environment in view of the shortage of good quality accommodation, particularly for single people in the private rented sector, the proposals, if any, he will introduce to retain such accommodation for persons genuinely in need of accommodation in order to discourage people from leaving the family home without cause and taking up private rented accommodation nearby. [18594/95]

8 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to publish the strategic management initiative drawn up by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18812/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 12 December 1995

8 Mr. Dempsey asked the Minister for the Environment if he intends to publish the strategic management initiative drawn up by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18812/95]

To require additional research prior to the promulgation of a standard for sulfate under the Safe Drinking Water Act, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 12 December 1995

Requires the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control, prior to promulgating a national primary drinking water regulation for sulfate, to jointly conduct additional research to establish a reliable dose-response relationship for the adverse health effects that may result from exposure to sulfate in drinking water. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) consideration of health effects that may be experienced by groups within the general population, such as infants and travelers, that are potentially at greater risk; (2) the conduct of research in consultation with interested States and based on the best available, peer-reviewed science and supporting studies; and (3) notice, time, and rulemaking requirements for promulgating such standard.

Fort Peck Rural County Water Supply System Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 11 December 1995

Fort Peck Rural County Water Supply System Act of 1995 - Requires the Secretary of the Interior, upon request of the Fort Peck Rural County Water District, Inc., in Montana, to enter into a cooperative agreement with the District for the planning, design, and construction by the District of the Fort Peck Rural County Water Supply System. Requires the System to provide for safe and adequate rural water supplies under the District's jurisdiction in Valley County, northeastern Montana. Requires the Secretary, under such agreement, to pay: (1) 80 percent, without reimbursement, of costs associated with the planning, design, and construction of the System (as described in the Final Engineering Report and Alternative Evaluation for the Fort Peck Rural County Water District, dated September 1994); and (2) such sums as are necessary to defray increases in the budget. Prohibits the amount of the Federal funds made available under the agreement from exceeding the authorized appropriations under this Act. Allows not more than five percent of such funds to be used by the Secretary for activities associated with: (1) compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969; and (2) oversight of the planning, design, and construction by the District of the System. Authorizes appropriations.

Proposal for a COUNCIL DECISION on a Community action programme promoting non-governmental organisations primarily active in the field of environmental protection

European Union · European Commission · 8 December 1995

An original bill to provide for uniform management of livestock grazing on Federal land, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Management of Grazing on Federal Land Subtitle A: General Provisions Subtitle B: Qualifications and Grazing Preferences Subtitle C: Grazing Management Subtitle D: Authorization of Grazing Use Subtitle E: Civil violations and Failures of Compliance Subtitle F: Unauthorized Grazing Use Subtitle G: Procedure Subtitle H: Advisory Committees Subtitle I: Reports Title II: Management of National Grasslands Public Rangelands Management Act of 1995 - Title I: Management of Grazing on Federal Land - Subtitle A: General Provisions - Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary): (1) to establish standards and guidelines for addressing rangeland condition and trend on a State or regional level in consultation with the Resource Advisory Councils (established in section 171 of this Act) and in cooperation with the State departments of agriculture or other appropriate agencies and academic institutions in each interested State; and (2) where appropriate, to authorize and encourage the use of coordinated resource management practices. Authorizes and directs the Secretaries of the Interior and Agriculture (Secretaries), as appropriate, to enter into cooperative agreements to coordinate the associated activities of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Forest Service, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service where coordinated resource management involves private land, State land, and Federal land managed by BLM or the Forest Service. (Sec. 106) Requires an authorized officer to manage livestock grazing on Federal land under the principles of multiple use and sustained yield and in accordance with applicable land use plans. Requires a land use plan, with respect to grazing administration, to: (1) consider the impacts of all multiple uses, including livestock and wildlife grazing, on the environment and condition of public rangelands and the contributions of these uses to the management, maintenance, and improvement of such rangelands; (2) establish allowable grazing use (in combination with other multiple uses), related levels of production or use to be maintained, areas of use, and resource condition goals and objectives to be obtained; and (3) set forth programs and general management practices needed to achieve the purposes of this title. Requires land use plans and amendments thereto to continue to be developed in conformance with the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA). Specifies that livestock grazing activities and management actions approved by the authorized officer, including the issuance, renewal, or transfer of grazing permits or leases (permits), shall not constitute major Federal actions requiring consideration under NEPA in addition to that which is necessary to support the land use plan and amendments thereto. Subtitle B: Qualifications and Grazing Preferences - Requires a grazing permit to specify: (1) a historical grazing preference; (2) active use, based on the amount of forage available for livestock grazing established in the land use plan; (3) suspended use; and (4) voluntary and temporary nonuse. Specifies that: (1) a grazing preference identified in a grazing permit shall attach to the base property supporting the grazing permit; and (2) the animal unit months of a grazing preference shall attach to the acreage of land base property on a pro rata basis, or water base property on the basis of livestock forage production within the service area of the water. Subtitle C: Grazing Management - Directs the Secretary, if he or she elects to develop an allotment management plan for a given area, to do so in consultation, cooperation, and coordination with the lessees, permittees, and landowners involved, the resource advisory and grazing advisory councils, and any States having lands within the area to be covered by such allotment management plan. (Sec. 122) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into a cooperative agreement with a permittee or lessee (permittee) for the construction, installation, modification, maintenance, removal, or use of a permanent range improvement or development of a rangeland to achieve a management or resource condition objective. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) cost-sharing; (2) title; (3) nonstructural range improvements; (4) incentives for investing in range improvements; (5) range improvement permits; and (5) assignment of range improvements. (Sec. 123) Requires that: (1) monitoring of a grazing allotment be performed by qualified Federal, State, or local agency personnel (personnel), qualified consultants as agreed to in an approved allotment management plan, or qualified range consultants retained by the United States (U.S. consultants); (2) inspection of a grazing allotment be performed by such personnel or U.S. consultants; (3) rangeland monitoring be conducted according to regional or State criteria and protocols that are scientifically based; and (4) criteria and protocols be developed by the Secretary in consultation with the Resource Advisory Councils and in cooperation with State departments of agriculture or other appropriate agencies and academic institutions in each interested State. Sets forth provisions regarding permittee participation in allotment monitoring, with exceptions. (Sec. 124) Prohibits any water rights on Federal land from being acquired, perfected, owned, controlled, maintained, administered, or transferred in connection with livestock grazing management other than in accordance with State law concerning the use and appropriation of water. Directs the Secretary, in managing livestock grazing on Federal land, to follow State law regarding water right ownership and appropriation. Prohibits the Secretary from imposing or requiring any transfer, restriction, or limitation on the use of any water right as a term or condition of any permit or as a requirement for approval of the transportation, storage, or conveyance of water on or across Federal land. Subtitle D: Authorization of Grazing Use - Requires a grazing permit to be issued for a 15-year term unless: (1) the land disposal is pending; (2) the land will be devoted to a public purpose that precludes grazing prior to the end of 15 years; or (3) the Secretary determines that it would be in the best interest of sound land management to specify a shorter term, if the decision to specify a shorter term is supported by appropriate and accepted resource analysis and evaluation, and a shorter term is determined to be necessary, based upon monitoring information, to achieve land management goals and objectives. Directs that a permittee holding a grazing permit be given first priority at the end of the term for renewal of the grazing permit if: (1) the land for which the grazing permit is issued remains available for domestic livestock grazing; (2) the permittee is in compliance with this title and the terms and conditions of the grazing permit; and (3) the permittee accepts the terms and conditions included by the authorized officer in the new grazing permit. (Sec. 132) Allows the Secretary to authorize subleasing of a Federal grazing permit, in whole or in part, only if the permittee is unable to make full grazing use due to ill health or death or under a cooperative agreement with a grazing permittee. (Sec. 133) Specifies that a permittee shall own or control and be responsible for the management of the livestock that graze the Federal land under a grazing permit. Prohibits an authorized officer from imposing any marking or tagging requirement beyond State law requirements. (Sec. 134) Subjects a grazing permit to such reasonable terms or conditions as may be required by this Act or as contained in an approved allotment management plan. Specifies that no term or condition of a grazing permit shall be imposed pertaining to past practice or present willingness of an applicant or permittee to relinquish control of public access to Federal land across private land. Allows an authorized officer to modify the terms and conditions of a grazing permit if monitoring data show that the grazing use is not meeting the land use plan or management objectives. (Sec. 135) Sets the fee for each animal unit month in a grazing fee year to be determined by the Secretary at an amount equal to the three-year average of the total gross value of production for beef cattle for the three years preceding the grazing fee year, multiplied by the ten-year average of the United States Treasury Securities six-month bill "new issue" rate, divided by 12. Specifies that the gross value of production for beef cattle shall be determined by the Economic Research Service of the Department of Agriculture (ERS). Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the definition of "animal unit month"; (2) livestock not counted as an animal unit month; and (3) other fees and charges. Directs ERS to continue to compile and report the gross value of production of beef cattle on a dollars-per-bred-cow basis for the United States. Subtitle E: Civil Violations and Failures of Compliance - Establishes civil sanctions for any of the following: (1) failing to make grazing use under the terms and conditions of a grazing permit, or under a cooperative agreement; (2) placing supplemental feed on land covered by a grazing permit without authorization; (3) failing to comply with a term, condition, or stipulation of a range improvement cooperative agreement or range improvement permit; (4) entering into an unauthorized sublease; or (5) allowing unauthorized livestock or other privately owned or controlled animals to graze on or be driven across Federal land. Allows an authorized officer, in a case of a violation or failure of compliance, to: (1) withhold issuance of a grazing permit; (2) suspend the grazing use authorized under a grazing permit; or (3) cancel a grazing permit and grazing preference or other grazing authorization. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) cancellation, suspension, or modification of grazing permits; (2) second or subsequent willful violations; (3) consideration of severity; (4) subleases; and (5) failure to make grazing use under the terms and conditions of a grazing permit or under a cooperative agreement. Subtitle F: Unauthorized Grazing Use - Allows an authorized officer to approve a nonmonetary settlement of a case of a violation upon determining that: (1) evidence shows that the unauthorized use occurred through no fault of the livestock operator; (2) the forage use is insignificant; (3) Federal land has not been damaged; and (4) nonmonetary settlement is in the best interests of the United States. (Sec. 152) Directs that any impoundment and sale of unauthorized livestock on Federal land be conducted in accordance with State law. Subtitle G: Procedure - Requires the authorized officer to: (1) serve, by certified mail or personal delivery, a proposed decision on any applicant, permittee, or lienholder, or agent thereof that is affected by a proposed action on an application for, or relating to a term or condition of, a grazing permit or range improvement permit; and (2) send copies of a proposed decision to affected interests. (Sec. 162) Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) protests of proposed decisions; (2) final decisions; and (3) appeals. Subtitle H: Advisory Committees - Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior, in consultation with the Governors of the affected States, to establish and operate joint Resource Advisory Councils on a State or regional level to provide advice on management issues for all lands administered by BLM and the Forest Service within such area, with an exception. Sets forth provisions regarding Council duties, disregard of advice, membership, subgroups, terms, applicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act, and other advisory councils under the Federal Land Policy Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). (Sec. 172) Requires the Secretary, in consultation with the Governor of the affected State and with affected counties, to appoint between five and nine persons to serve on a Grazing Advisory Council for each district and each national forest within the 17 contiguous Western States having jurisdiction over more than 500,000 acres of public lands subject to commercial livestock grazing. Allows the Secretaries to establish joint Grazing Advisory Councils wherever practicable. Sets forth provisions regarding the duties of the Grazing Advisory Councils, disregard of advice, membership, and applicability of the Federal Advisory Committee Act. (Sec. 173) Defines "district" for purposes of this subtitle as a grazing district administered, or other lands within a State boundary which are eligible for grazing, under specified provisions of the Taylor Grazing Act. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) termination of service of an advisory committee member; and (2) compensation and expense reimbursement. (Sec. 174) Repeals FLPMA provisions regarding grazing advisory boards. Subtitle I: Reports - Directs the Secretaries to submit annual reports that contain: (1) itemization of revenues received and costs incurred directly in connection with the management of grazing on Federal land; and (2) recommendations for reducing administrative costs and improving the overall efficiency of Federal rangeland management. Title II: Management of National Grasslands - National Grasslands Management Act of 1995 - Amends the Forest Rangeland Renewable Resource Planning Act of 1974 to remove the National Grasslands from the National Forest System. Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to: (1) manage the National Grasslands as a separate entity; (2) administer grazing permits and implement grazing management decisions in consultation, cooperation, and coordination with local grazing associations and other grazing permit holders; and (3) promulgate regulations to manage and protect the National Grasslands. Makes conforming amendments to the Bankhead-Jones Farm Tenant Act. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) hunting, fishing, and recreational activities on National Grasslands; (2) valid existing rights; and (3) fees and charges.

Water Supply Infrastructure Assistance Act of 1996

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1995

Water Supply Infrastructure Assistance Act of 1995 - Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to make grants to States for establishing water supply infrastructure accounts in State water pollution control revolving loan fund programs to provide assistance for the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of water supply systems. Sets forth specific requirements for grant agreements. Applies certain provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act regarding authorized uses of water pollution control revolving funds, corrective action, and auditing, reporting, and fiscal controls to water supply construction accounts. Sets forth amounts to be allotted to States and U.S. territories. Reserves a specified amount for grants to Indian tribes. Directs the Administrator to develop and submit to the Congress: (1) an estimate of the cost of needed construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of water supply systems in all States; and (2) a study of the economic impact on affected units of government of the cost of installation of water supply systems. Expresses the sense of the Congress that a recipient of assistance under this Act should purchase American-made equipment and products. Directs the Administrator to provide to each recipient of assistance a notice describing such sense of the Congress. Authorizes appropriations.

To set aside a portion of the funds available under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to be used encourage the redevelopment of marginal brownfield sites, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1995

Makes available to the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency a specified fraction of amounts in the Hazardous Substance Superfund for each fiscal year for a program of grants to States to be used for decontamination and remediation of brownfield sites to make such sites available for proposed new uses. Defines a "brownfield site" as a parcel of land that was previously used for industrial purposes but is contaminated with hazardous or toxic waste and not currently used for any purpose. Prohibits, with respect to a site at which decontamination or remediation is being carried out under an approved State brownfield cleanup program, any action for: (1) decontamination or remediation under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) or the Solid Waste Disposal Act; and (2) recovery of costs or damages arising from a hazardous substance release or threatened release under CERCLA against a person who is engaging or has engaged in the cleanup of such a site under a State program approved under this Act. Imposes reporting requirements upon participating States.

To make amendments to the Central Valley Project Improvement Act and to the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act, and for other purposes.

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Central Valley Project Reform Title II: Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Title I: Central Valley Project Reform - Central Valley Project Reform Act of 1995 - Amends the Central Valley Project Improvement Act to redefine: (1) "anadromous fish" to exclude striped bass, sturgeon, and American shad; (2) "Central Valley Project water" to mean water developed, diverted, stored, or delivered by the Secretary of the Interior in accordance with statutes authorizing the Central Valley Project (CVP) and with the terms and conditions of water rights permits or licenses acquired by or issued to the United States pursuant to California law; and (3) "repayment contract" and "water service contract" to exclude contracts which contain terms or agreements for water rights settlements or exchanges. Excludes from the definition of CVP water "base supply" water as defined in certain contracts between the United States and diverters of water from the Sacramento River. (Sec. 104) Prohibits the Secretary from entering into any new short-term, temporary, or long-term contracts or agreements for water supply from the CVP for other than fish or wildlife purposes before the Secretary has completed appropriate environmental review and determined that there is sufficient water to meet existing contractual and legal obligations. Directs the Secretary, upon request, to renew any existing long-term repayment or water service contracts which provide for the delivery of water from the CVP for a period of 25 years and to renew such contracts for successive 25-year periods. Validates and ratifies all contracts renewed by the Secretary between January 1, 1988, and October 31, 1992, with an exception. (Sec. 105) Revises provisions regarding: (1) water transfers, their approval or disapproval, and the appeal of such determination; (2) water conservation standards; (3) fish, wildlife, and habitat restoration; and (4) the CVP Restoration Fund. (Sec. 108) Authorizes the Secretary to enter into contracts with any (currently, only nonprofit) organizations for the additional storage and delivery of CVP water. Directs the Secretary, on a priority basis and within two years, to develop and submit to the Congress a least-cost plan to increase CVP yield by the amount reserved and managed for fish and wildlife purposes and otherwise required to meet CVP purposes. Authorizes and directs the Secretary to coordinate with California in implementing measures for the long-term solutions to problems in the San Francisco Bay-Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Estuary. Directs the Secretary to identify the water supply impacts resulting from the reallocation of Stanislaus River water for fish and wildlife purposes and to develop and implement a plan to provide long-term replacement water in an amount equal to the identified impacts on out-of-basin entities which have contracted with the Secretary for water from the New Melones Project. (Sec. 109) Prohibits the reduction by more than a specified amount of the first preference entitlement to CVP electrical power provided to Calaveras and Tuolumne Counties, California. Title II: Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities - Reclamation Recycling and Water Conservation Act of 1995 - Amends the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 to authorize the Secretary to participate in the design, planning, and construction of the following water reclamation and reuse projects: the North San Diego County Area Water Recycling Project, the Calleguas Municipal Water District Recycling Project, the Central Valley Water Recycling Project, the St. George Area Water Recycling Project, the Watsonville Area Water Recycling Project, the Southern Nevada Water Recycling Project, the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area Water Reclamation and Reuse Study, the El Paso Water Reclamation and Reuse Project, the Pasadena, California reclaimed water project, Phase 1 of the Orange County Regional Water Reclamation Project, the West Jordan Water Reuse Project, the Hi-Desert Water District in Yucca Valley, California wastewater collection and treatment project, the Oceanside, California Groundwater Desalting Demonstration Project, the Water Replenishment District of Southern California, and the San Joaquin Area Water Recycling and Reuse Project. Limits to 25 percent the Federal share of the total design, planning, and construction costs. (Sec. 203) Authorizes the Secretary to participate in the design, planning, and construction of the Long Beach Desalination Research and Development Project in Los Angeles County, California. Limits to 50 percent the Federal share of such costs. Prohibits the Secretary from providing operation and maintenance funds for such project.

Restoration of Natural Resources Laws on the Public Lands Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 7 December 1995

Restoration of Natural Resources Laws on the Public Lands Act of 1995 - Amends Federal law to repeal the emergency salvage timber sale program. Directs the Secretaries of Agriculture and the Interior to suspend respective activities until they have determined that any such activity complies with applicable environmental and natural resource laws.

Northwest California Forest Health and Economic Recovery Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Designation of Wilderness Areas in the King Range National Conservation Area to be Administered by the Bureau of Land Management Title II: Acquisition of Headwaters Forest Title III: Elkhorn Ridge Timber Sale Title IV: Smith River National Recreation Area Title V: Contract Out Demonstration of Resource Management Activities Title VI: Hoopa Valley Reservation Title VII: Adaptive Management of Timber Resources for Old Growth Dependent Species Title VIII: Del Norte County Unified School District Land Conveyance Northwest California Forest Health and Economic Recovery Act - Title I: Designation of Wilderness Areas in the King Range National Conservation Area to be Administered by the Bureau of Land Management - King Range Wilderness Act of 1995 - Designates specified lands in California as the King Range Wilderness. Finds and directs that: (1) all public lands in the King Range National Conservation Area managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) have been adequately studied for wilderness designation pursuant to the Federal Lands Policy and Management Act of 1976; and (2) those public lands within such Area managed by BLM not designated as wilderness by this title are no longer subject to specified requirements of such Act but shall be managed for the full range of nonwilderness multiple uses. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) administration of wilderness areas; (2) future acquisitions; and (3) disposition under mining laws. Directs the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary) to assure access to the wilderness areas by Native Americans for traditional cultural and religious purposes. Title II: Acquisition of Headwaters Forest - Headwaters Forest Acquisition and Protection Act - Directs the Secretary to: (1) acquire specified lands in Humboldt County, California (Headwaters Forest Addition) from the Pacific Lumber Company (and corporations owned and controlled by it) with the Company's consent; and (2) refrain from designating any other timberland owned by the Company in such county as critical habitat under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) and give the Company credit for the habitat value of the Addition when issuing incidental take permits under that Act. Requires the designation of the Addition as a National Biological Diversity Reserve to be taken into account for purposes of planning for Federal lands in such county under the Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resources Planning Act of 1974 (FRRRPA) and the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. Directs the Secretary to negotiate with the Company for a written agreement providing for the acquisition of the Addition at its appraised fair market value in exchange for certain land containing harvestable and marketable timber harvesting rights (and other property to the extent the appraised fair market value of the Headwaters Forest exceeds that of the land containing such rights). Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the conclusive effect of the acquisition agreement; (2) the effect of failure to reach agreement; and (3) special rules applicable to the negotiation, execution, delivery, and consummation of the acquisition agreement. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) areas of priority in determining which property and property rights to transfer to the Company under this title; (2) marketable timber harvesting rights; (3) other property; (4) a special rule for Federal transfers; and (5) payments to local governments. Designates specified lands as the Headwaters Forest Wilderness and as a National Biological Diversity Reserve. Authorizes the Secretary to: (1) accept donations of property for use in acquiring the Addition; and (2) convey such property to the owners without further appropriation and without fiscal year limitation. Authorizes appropriations. Title III: Elkhorn Ridge Timber Sale - Authorizes the Secretary, acting through BLM, to substitute, without competition, a contract for timber identified for harvest located on public lands administered by BLM in California for the terminated Elkhorn Ridge Timber Sale contract. Title IV: Smith River National Recreation Area - Sets the amount of timber offered for sale each year from the prescribed timber management area, with respect to the Smith River National Recreation Area, at between two and five million board feet. Specifies that administration of the other seven management areas of such Area in a manner consistent with the land and resource management plan for the Six Rivers National Forest (Six Rivers) shall be deemed sufficient protection of species habitat for purposes of the FRRRPA and ESA. Title V: Contract Out Demonstration of Resource Management Activities - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a demonstration program to contract out to the private sector certain resource management activities at Six Rivers, utilizing private sector skills in communities adversely affected by reductions in the timber sale program for the National Forest System (NFS). Includes among the types of activities to be contracted out: (1) preparation of analyses required under Option 9 of the Final Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement on Management of Habitat for Late Successional and Old Growth Forests Related Species within the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl and of environmental assessments required in connection with timber sales in Six Rivers; and (2) performance of resource field work, and of forest plan implementation monitoring. Directs such Secretary to use employees of the Forest Service to conduct forest planning and set resource management outputs for Six Rivers, including timber sale levels. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) funding; and (2) submission to the Congress of an annual report and evaluation of the program. Title VI: Hoopa Valley Reservation - Hoopa Valley Reservation South Boundary Correction Act - Directs that all rights of the United States in specified lands be held in trust by the United States for the benefit of the Hoopa Valley Tribe and be part of the Hoopa Valley Reservation. Directs the Secretary, acting through BLM, to survey and monument that portion of the boundary of the Hoopa Valley Reservation established by the addition of lands made by this title. Title VII: Adaptive Management of Timber Resources for Old Growth Dependent Species - Requires the Secretary of Agriculture to submit to the Congress and implement a research plan, including supporting environmental documents, that provides for the implementation and evaluation of controlled silvicultural treatments in late successional and old growth timber stands in specified units of the NFS (the Hayfork Adaptive Management Area of the Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the Six Rivers National Forest, and the Lower Trinity and Mad River Ranger Districts in the Six Rivers National Forest)(NFS units) for the purpose of testing the effect of selected partial-cut harvesting of late successional and old growth timber on old growth dependent species, such as the northern spotted owl. Directs the Secretary to prepare and implement such plan using the Pacific Southwest Research Branch of the Forest Service. Requires that administrative and resource management activities historically provided in the NFS units by the National Forest Systems Branch be conducted by private contractors. Directs the Secretary to: (1) select private contractors on the basis of the skills necessary to perform the anticipated task, with special consideration given to local contractors that reside in communities adversely affected by reductions in the timber sale program for the NFS; and (2) use at least 75 percent of the funds calculated based on a specified formula for payments to private contractors for planning, implementation of, and monitoring the plan. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) the schedule for silvicultural treatments; (2) the use of receipts generated from the sale of forest products resulting from silvicultural treatments under the plan; and (3) monitoring activities. Title VIII: Del Norte County Unified School District Land Conveyance - Directs the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the Del Norte County Unified School District of Del Norte County, California, all rights of the United States in specified property, without consideration, except as required by this title. Makes such conveyance subject to the following conditions: (1) that such School District covenant that the property conveyed will be used primarily for educational or recreational purposes for a minimum of 25 years after the date of conveyance; (2) that Del Norte County shall be provided, for no consideration, an easement for county road number 318 which crosses the Northeast corner of the property conveyed; (3) that the Pacific Power and Light Company shall be provided, for no consideration, an easement for utility equipment as necessary to maintain the level of service provided by the utility equipment on the property as of the conveyance date; and (4) that the United States shall be provided, for no consideration, an easement to provide access to the United States property that is south of the property conveyed. Requires the School District, if the covenant is breached, to pay monetary damages to the United States in an amount equal to the fair market value of the property conveyed as of the time such covenant was breached or forfeit to the United States all rights in the property conveyed. Makes such conveyance subject to such additional terms and conditions as such Secretary and the School District agree are necessary to protect U.S. interests.

Fair International Standards in Trade (FIST) Act

United States · United States Congress · 5 December 1995

Fair International Standards in Trade (FIST) Act - Authorizes the President to enter into a trade agreement only if it requires each country party to the agreement to: (1) adopt laws that afford internationally recognized worker rights to workers and that promote internationally recognized environmental standards in that country; and (2) treat as an actionable unfair trade practice the denial of such rights and standards as a means for such country to gain a competitive trade advantage.

Einwände der Bundesministerin für Umwelt, Naturschutz und Reaktorsicherheit, Dr. Angela Merkel, gegen eine Erhöhung der Mittel für das EU-Umweltfinanzierungsinstrument LIFE 1996 bis 1999 (G-SIG: 13053064)

Germany · German Bundestag · 1 December 1995

Foreign Relations Revitalization Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 30 November 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Division A: Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1996-1999 Title I: Department of State and Related Agencies Chapter 1: Authorization of Appropriations Chapter 2: Authorities and Activities Chapter 3: Personnel Chapter 4: Consular and Related Activities Title II: United Nations Chapter 1: Funding; Budgetary and Management Reform Chapter 2: United Nations Peacekeeping Title III: Other International Organizations Chapter 1: Authorization of Appropriations Chapter 2: General Provisions Title IV: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs Chapter 1: Authorizations of Appropriations Chapter 2: USIA and Related Agencies Authorities and Activities Title V: United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the Agency for International Development Title VI: Foreign Policy Division B: Consolidation and Reinvention of Foreign Affairs Agencies Title XI (sic): Organization of the Department of State and Foreign Service Title XII: United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency Title XIII: United States Information Agency Title XIV: Agency for International Development and the International Development Cooperation Agency Title XV: Proposed Reorganization of the United Nations Title XVI: Plan for Reorganization of United States Export Promotion and Trade Activities Title XVII: Transition Provisions Foreign Relations Revitalization Act of 1995 - Division A: Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1996-1999 - Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1996-1999 - Title I: Department of State and Related Agencies - Chapter 1: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1999 for the administration of foreign affairs. (Sec. 111) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1999 for: (1) offsetting adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; and (2) migration and refugee assistance. Chapter 2: Authorities and Activities - Authorizes the Secretary of State to acquire by lease-purchase during FY 1996 through 1999 appropriate housing for Department of State personnel stationed abroad and other facilities, in locations in which the United States has a diplomatic mission. Requires the Secretary and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to certify and notify the appropriate congressional committees that the lease-purchase arrangement will result in a net cost savings to the Federal Government when compared to a lease, a direct purchase, or direct construction of comparable property. (Sec. 122) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of State should: (1) utilize property held by the United States in the vicinity of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, as the U.S. Embassy to Germany; and (2) be authorized to make necessary improvements. (Sec. 125) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956, with respect to the Secretary of State's authority to transfer to the Buying Power Maintenance account any unobligated funds used to offset adverse fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates, to repeal the permanent requirement that such authority only be exercised to the extent and in such amounts as specifically provided for in advance in appropriations Acts. (Sec. 137 of this Act does require, nonetheless, that such authority be exercised only to the extent or in the amounts provided in appropriations Acts, without limiting this requirement to provision in advance in such Acts.) (Sec. 128) Authorizes the Secretary of State to charge a fee for use of the Department of State diplomatic reception rooms. (Sec. 129) Requires a contracting officer of a U.S. agency that performs functions at diplomatic posts abroad to avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, entering into contracts for procurement of property and services that can be procured for it under an existing contract of another U.S. agency performing such functions abroad. (Sec. 130) Amends the State Department Basic Authorities Act of 1956 to authorize the Secretary of State to procure personal services in prosecuting a proceeding before an international tribunal or a claim by or against a foreign entity. (Sec. 131) Amends the Department of State and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1995 to limit funding to the Diplomatic Telecommunications Service (DTS). Requires the two agencies providing the greatest funding to the DTS Program Office (DTS-PO) to submit to the appropriate congressional committees a DTS-PO management plan and strategic plan with specified contents. (Sec. 133) Authorizes the Secretary of State to deposit international center maintenance and security reserve funds retained in interest bearing accounts. (Sec. 134) Authorizes certain joint funds under international agreements for cooperation in environmental, scientific, and cultural areas to be deposited in interest bearing accounts, such interest to be used for program and administrative purposes. (Sec. 135) Authorizes the Secretary of State to lease or acquire an office and residence in Pristina, Kosova, for use by U.S. diplomatic or consular personnel. (Sec. 136) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the United States should urge foreign countries to adopt certain antibribery principles set forth in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 in order to implement effective means of combating bribery of foreign public officials, including the imposition of administrative, civil, and criminal sanctions for such bribery. Directs the Secretary of State to conduct, and submit to specified congressional committees, a study to develop proposals to end the discrimination against U.S. exports that result from bribery and corruption in international business transactions. (Sec. 137) Requires that authorities contained in specified sections of this Act be exercised only to the extent or in the amounts provided in appropriations Acts. Chapter 3: Personnel - Establishes limits on the number of Foreign Service personnel (including noncareer limited appointments) in the Department of State, the U.S. Information Agency (USIA), and the Agency for International Development (AID). (Sec. 142) Amends Federal criminal law to subject to both criminal and civil penalties any person who serves in the position of chief of mission and who, within one year after termination from such position, engages in certain lobbying activities. (Sec. 143) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of State should require the National Center for Humanities, Education, Languages, and Management Studies (the National Foreign Affairs Training Center, as redesignated) to increase the emphasis on commercial activity, export promotion, and trade in carrying out its core programs and should offer additional classes in such subjects. (Sec. 144) Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish a financial system by which the State Department is reimbursed by other Federal agencies that maintain an overseas presence for the incremental expenses incurred by the Department in providing administrative support to such agencies at U.S. posts abroad. Directs the President to establish an interagency committee consisting of representatives from Federal agencies maintaining a significant number of personnel overseas and headed by the Secretary of State to implement such system. Establishes a working capital fund. (Sec. 145) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to revise provisions relating to Foreign Service performance pay, meritorious and distinguished service awards, and expedited separation of low- ranking employees from the Service. Declares that one objective of the Act is to strengthen and improve the Service by establishing a consolidated and uniform administration of a single Foreign Service by the Director General of the Service, under the direction of the President and the Secretary of State. (Sec. 146) Excludes certain individuals who are not involved in the administration or formulation of personnel policies and programs of the State Department from specified prohibitions with respect to participation in the management of labor organizations by Foreign Service personnel, and vice versa. (Sec. 148) Amends Federal law to authorize the Secretary of State, under the State Department health care program, to collect from a third party payer the reasonable costs incurred by the Department on behalf of covered beneficiaries for health care services to the same extent that such a beneficiary would be eligible to receive indemnification from the third party payer for such costs. (Sec. 151) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to authorize the Secretary of State to provide training through the Foreign Service Institute to U.S. company employees and their families that are engaged in business abroad when such training is in the U.S. national interest. Authorizes the Secretary to provide on a reimbursable basis foreign language training programs to Members of Congress. (Sec. 152) Redesignates the National Foreign Affairs Training Center as the National Center for Humanities, Education, Languages, and Management Studies. Chapter 4: Consular and Related Activities - Authorizes the Secretary of State to establish a fee to be paid by each diversity immigrant issued a visa under the Immigration and Nationality Act. (Sec. 162) Amends Federal law to authorize the Secretary of State by regulation to authorize State Department officials or the U.S. Postal Service to retain fees for the execution and issuance of passports. (Sec. 163) Authorizes the Secretary of State to collect up to certain amounts for fees charged for processing machine readable nonimmigrant visas. (Sec. 166) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to exclude from admission into the United States any alien who: (1) is a member of a terrorist organization or who actively supports or advocates terrorist activity; (2) has advocated terrorism or has incited targeted racial vilification or has advocated the death or destruction of U.S. citizens, U.S. officials, or the overthrow of the U.S. Government; or (3) has confiscated, traffics in confiscated, or converts for personal gain confiscated, property which is owned by a U.S. national. (Sec. 168) Requires the U.S. Embassy in each country to report to the Secretary of State a list of those foreign nationals who have confiscated, converted, or trafficked in property the claim to which is held by a U.S. national and in which the confiscation claim has not been fully resolved. (Sec. 169) Permits the President of Taiwan to be admitted to the United States for a visit in 1995. (Sec. 170) Directs the Secretary of State to establish within each U.S. Embassy a Terrorist Lookout Committee. (Sec. 171) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.S. Government should not impose a border crossing fee along its borders with Canada and Mexico. Title II: United Nations - Chapter 1: Funding; Budgetary and Management Reform - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1999 for the Department of State to carry out its foreign affairs responsibilities with respect to: (1) the United Nations, its affiliated agencies, and other international organizations; and (2) international peacekeeping activities. (Sec. 203) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the U.N. General Assembly should reformulate U.N. contributions by member nations to reflect each nation's share of the total world gross national product. (Sec. 204) Authorizes the President to withhold 20 percent of the funds appropriated for the U.S. assessed contribution to the United Nations if the United Nations has failed to implement consensus-based decisionmaking procedures on budgetary matters which assure that sufficient attention is paid to the views of the United States and other member states who are major financial contributors. (Sec. 205) Amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to require specified percentages of funds made available for a fiscal year for U.S. assessed contributions for the U.N. budget and U.N. peacekeeping activities to be withheld from obligation unless the President certifies to the Congress that the United Nations has an independent office of Inspector General to conduct audits of U.N. programs, with an Inspector General duly appointed. Prohibits the United States from paying any voluntary contribution to the United Nations for international peacekeeping activities unless such certification has been made. (Sec. 206) Directs the President to withhold ten percent of the funds made available for U.S. assessed contributions for the U.N. budget until the Secretary of State certifies to the Congress that the United Nations has implemented certain whistleblower protection policies with respect to the reporting of fraud and mismanagement. Chapter 2: United Nations Peacekeeping - Amends the United Nations Participation Act of 1945 to require the President to notify designated congressional committees of any proposed U.N. peacekeeping activity or any other action under the Charter of the United Nations that would involve the use of U.S. Armed Forces or the expenditure of U.S. funds. (Sec. 214) Urges the U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations to make every effort to: (1) ensure that the United Nations completes a review and reassessment of each nation's assessed contributions for U.N. peacekeeping operations; and (2) advance, as part of the review, the concept that host governments in the region where such operations are carried out should bear a greater burden of its financial cost. Limits the U.S. assessed contribution for U.N. peacekeeping operations. (Sec. 215) Prohibits the obligation of funds to pay U.S. assessed or voluntary contributions for U.N. peacekeeping activities unless the Secretary of State certifies to designated congressional committees that U.S. manufacturers are being given opportunities to provide equipment and services equal to those given to foreign manufacturers. (Sec. 216) Prohibits the sharing of U.S. intelligence information with the United Nations unless the President certifies to appropriate congressional committees that certain requirements to protect such information have been implemented by the United Nations. (Sec. 217) Excludes from actions the United States may take to enforce U.N. sanctions against a foreign country any measure to prohibit assistance that promotes: (1) respect for human rights; (2) the exchange of certain informational materials; or (3) the development of democratic institutions. (Sec. 218) Prohibits funds for contributions to the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) unless the President certifies to the Congress that: (1) the Government of Bosnia and Herzegovina supports the continued presence of UNPROFOR within its territory; and (2) certain other conditions are met with respect to UNPROFOR. (Sec. 219) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Executive Branch should cease obligating the United States to pay for international peacekeeping operations in excess of funds specifically appropriated for such purpose. Title III: Other International Organizations - Chapter 1: Authorization of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1999 for the Department of State to carry out its foreign affairs responsibilities with respect to: (1) international conferences and contingencies; and (2) specified international commissions. Authorizes additional appropriations for FY 1996, conditioned on certain U.S. Government actions promoting attendance at the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, by accredited nongovernmental organizations. (Sec. 304) Declares the sense of the Congress that the Secretary of State, in allocating the level of resources for international organizations, should pay particular attention to funding levels of the inter-American organizations. Chapter 2: General Provisions - Sets forth circumstances under which the United States may participate in an international criminal court. (Sec. 312) Prohibits the use of funds: (1) to pay the U.S. contribution to any international organization which engages in the direct or indirect promotion of the doctrine of one world government or one world citizenship; or (2) for the direct or indirect promotion of such doctrine. (Sec. 313) Prohibits the use of funds to pay U.S. membership in the International Labor Organization (ILO), the U.N. Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Inter-American Indian Institute, the Pan American Railway Congress Association, or the Interparliamentary Union. (Sec. 314) Prohibits, until the President makes a certain certification to the Congress, the obligation of funds for: (1) reporting to the Human Rights Committee in accordance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights; or (2) responding to any Committee's effort to use such Covenant to resolve claims by other Covenant parties that the United States is not fulfilling its obligations under it. States that such certification is that the Human Rights Committee has: (1) revoked its General Comment No. 24 adopted on November 2, 1994; and (2) expressly recognized the validity as a matter of international law of the reservations, understandings, and declarations contained in the U.S. instrument of ratification of the International Covenant. (Sec. 315) Requires the Secretary of State to report to specified congressional committees on U.S. participation in single-commodity international organizations. (Sec. 316) Prohibits the use of funds for any U.S. contribution to the International Natural Rubber Organization or the International Tropical Timber Organization. (Sec. 318) Directs the Comptroller General to study and report to the Congress on the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the 51 organizations to which the United States makes contributions through the Department of State. (Sec. 319) Declares the sense of the Congress that the U.N. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, should promote a representative American perspective on issues of equality, peace, and development, and in the event the United States sends a delegation to it, such delegation should use the voice and vote of the United States: (1) to ensure that the biological and social activity of motherhood is recognized as a valuable and worthwhile endeavor that should in no way be demeaned by society or by the state; (2) to ensure that the traditional family is upheld as the fundamental unit of society upon which healthy cultures are built and, therefore, receives esteem and protection by society and the state; and (3) to define or agree with any definitions that define gender as the biological classification of male and female, which are the two sexes of the human being. Title IV: United States Informational, Educational, and Cultural Programs - Chapter 1: Authorizations of Appropriations - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1999 to carry out specified international information activities and educational and cultural exchange programs. (Sec. 402) Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 through 1999 for the National Endowment for Democracy. Chapter 2: USIA and Related Agencies Authorities and Activities - Prohibits the use of funds by any Federal agency to participate in an international fair, pavilion, or other major exhibit at any international exposition or world's fair in excess of authorized amounts. (Sec. 412) Authorizes the Director of the United States Information Agency (USIA) to continue to administer an au pair program on a world-wide basis through FY 1999. (Sec. 413) Directs the Director of USIA to carry out a pilot program to determine the feasibility and advisability of permitting advertisements on USIA television and radio broadcasts. (Sec. 414) Authorizes the Director of USIA to make computer readable multilingual text and recorded speech in various languages available to the Linguistic Data Consortium of the University of Pennsylvania. (Sec. 415) Requires the Director of USIA to submit to the Congress a plan for the establishment and operation of Radio Free Asia. (Sec. 416) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1992 and 1993 to expand the Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship Program (graduate law and business training program) to bring to the United States for study students from Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Adds to the selection criteria academic and leadership potential in the fields of journalism, library and information science, and public policy. (Sec. 417) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1990 and 1991 to authorize the Director of USIA to enter into a contract for the construction of the Voice of America Tinian. Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 to extend through March 1, 1997, the authority permitting the second fiscal year of a two-year authorization for any account of the USIA to be appropriated to any other USIA account. (Sec. 418) Directs the Comptroller General to conduct a study on: (1) the purposes and activities of the North-South Center, East-West Center, Asia Foundation, and the National Endowment for Democracy, and on the extent to which such organizations' activities duplicate activities conducted elsewhere in the U.S. Government; and (2) the activities of the North-South Center located in Miami, Florida, that had the effect of encouraging the Congress to approve implementing legislation for the NAFTA. (Sec. 420) Amends the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 1994 and 1995 to revise requirements for the Mansfield Fellowship Program to subject allowances and benefits to criteria established by the Mansfield Center for Pacific Affairs. (Sec. 421) Authorizes the Director of the U.S. Information Agency to make available for distribution within the United States the documentary "The Fragile Ring of Life," a film about coral reefs around the world. Title V: United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency and the Agency for International Development - Authorizes appropriations for FY 1996 to carry out the Arms Control and Disarmament Act. (Sec. 502) Amends the Arms Control and Disarmament Act to declare that nothing in such Act shall be construed to authorize any Government action which would interfere with, restrict, or prohibit the acquisition, possession, or use of firearms by an individual for the lawful purpose of personal defense, sport, recreation, education, or training. (Sec. 503) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations for FY 1996 and 1997 for operating expenses of: (1) the agency primarily responsible for administering development assistance under such Act; and (2) the office of the inspector general of such agency. Title VI: Foreign Policy - Repeals specified laws relating to certain interparliamentary groups. (Sec. 602) Amends Federal law to eliminate the three executive branch members of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (thus leaving Commission membership congressional only). (Sec. 603) Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to revise the definition of "refugee" to provide that a person who has been forced to have an abortion or undergo involuntary sterilization, or who has been persecuted for refusing to do so, or for other resistance to a coercive population control program, shall be deemed to have been persecuted on account of political opinion. States that anyone with a well-founded fear that he or she will be forced to undergo such a procedure, or be subjected to persecution for such failure, refusal, or resistance, shall be deemed to have a well-founded fear of persecution on account of political opinion. (Sec. 604) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to approve all applications for licenses under specified regulations to permit payments with respect to goods or services exported before a certain date, directly or indirectly to Iraq or Kuwait, or for the benefit of the Government of Iraq, notwithstanding the failure of such applications to satisfy the requirement that a letter of credit be issued or confirmed by a U.S. bank, or that the letter of credit reimbursement be confirmed by a U.S. bank. Requires issuance of such licenses within 30 days after enactment of this Act. (Sec. 605) Amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to extend from March 31, 1995, to March 31, 1996, the deadline for a required Secretary of State report to the Congress on conditions in Hong Kong of interest to the United States. Sets forth additional requirements with respect to such report. (Sec. 606) Amends the Taiwan Relations Act to supercede the Joint Communique of the United States and China of August 17, 1982, with respect to the Act's provision that the United States will make defense articles and defense services available to Taiwan in quantities necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self- defense capability. (Sec. 607) Renames the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office the Taipei Representative Office. (Sec. 608) Requires the Secretary of State to report annually to the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Speaker of the House on conditions in Tibet and on the state of relations between the United States and those recognized by Congress as the true representatives of the Tibetan people, the Dalai Lama, his representatives, and the Tibetan Government in exile. States the sense of the Congress that whenever an executive branch report is transmitted to the Congress on a country-by-country basis, such report should include, where applicable, a separate report on Tibet listed alphabetically with its own state heading. (Sec. 609) Special Envoy for Tibet Act of 1995 - Establishes within the Department of State a U.S. Special Envoy for Tibet, appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Sets forth the duties of such Envoy, including: (1) to promote negotiations between the Dalai Lama and senior members of the Government of China; (2) coordinate U.S. Government policies, programs, and projects concerning Tibet; and (3) consult with the Congress on policies relevant to Tibet and the future and welfare of all Tibetan people. (Sec. 610) Prohibits the use of funds for resettlement in the United States, or to provide education, medical examinations, training, screening, or otherwise facilitate the admission into the United States of Iraqi nationals seeking refugee status who are in Saudi Arabia or Turkey as of enactment of this Act. (Sec. 611) Expresses the sense of the Congress that the President should appoint a special envoy to: (1) offer assistance in facilitating a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Nagorno- Karabakh; and (2) press for the development of an oil pipeline through Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Turkey. (Sec. 612) Directs the President to report to the appropriate congressional committees on Cuba's methods for enforcing the U.S.-Cuba agreement of September 1994 to restrict Cuban emigration to the United States, and the treatment by the Cuban Government of persons who have been returned to Cuba pursuant to the U.S.-Cuba agreement of May 1995. (Sec. 613) Directs the President to outline to the Congress a U.S. plan to identify and respond to the threat of emerging infectious diseases to the health of the U.S. people. (Sec. 614) Requires the Under Secretary of State for International Security to report to the Congress on: (1) firms engaged in the export of dual-use items; and (2) measures to be taken to strengthen U.S. export-control mechanisms with respect to such items. (Sec. 615) Prohibits the United States from transferring certain arms to Indonesia until the Secretary of State reports to specified congressional committees that significant progress has been made on human rights in East Timor and elsewhere in Indonesia. (Sec. 616) Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1995 - Declares the sense of the Congress specifying additional steps the PLO must take to demonstrate an irrevocable denunciation of terrorism and ensure a peaceful settlement of the Middle East dispute. Authorizes the President to suspend specified provisions of law which prohibit foreign and U.N. assistance to the PLO, the receipt or expenditure of PLO funds, and PLO membership in the International Monetary Fund, upon certification to specified congressional committees that: (1) such waiver is in the national interest; (2) the PLO continues to comply with all commitments made in letters to Israel and the Foreign Minister of Norway and under the Declaration of Principles signed in September 1993; and (3) specified funds provided under this Act and other Acts have been used for the purposes for which they were intended. Makes such suspensions effective for up to six months. Specifies additional certifications necessary before U.S. assistance may be provided. Directs the President to ensure continuous monitoring of PLO performance, and to inform the appropriate congressional committees if such performance is not complying with the requirements of this Act. Division B: Consolidation and Reinvention of Foreign Affairs Agencies - Foreign Affairs Reinvention Act of 1995 - Specifies the purposes of this division to include to: (1) consolidate and reinvent U.S. foreign affairs agencies within the Department of State; and (2) assist congressional efforts to balance the Federal budget by 2002. Title XI (sic): Organization of the Department of State and Foreign Service - Amends the State Department Basic Authorities of 1956 to make the Secretary of State: (1) the principle foreign policy adviser to the President; (2) responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and supervision of U.S. foreign relations and for the interdepartmental activities of the U.S. Government abroad. Revises the organization of the Department of State, eliminating and creating specified official positions. (Sec. 1108) Limits the number of Department of State employees for FY 1996 through 1998. (Sec. 1109) Directs the Secretary of State to develop a worldwide plan for the consolidation of U.S. missions and consular posts abroad. (Sec. 1110) Amends the Foreign Service Act of 1980 to require the head of each department, agency, or entity in the executive branch to ensure, in coordination with the Secretary of State, that the approval of the chief of mission to a foreign country is sought on any proposed change in the size, composition, or mandate of employees performing duties in that country (excluding those under the command of a U.S. area military commander). Authorizes the Secretary of State, in his or her sole discretion, to accord diplomatic titles, privileges, and immunities to such employees. Directs the President to report to specified congressional committees on the procedures contained in National Security Decision Directive Number 38, as in effect on June 2, 1982, and the practices in their implementation, to determine their effectiveness in significantly enhancing the coordination among the several departments, agencies, and entities of the executive branch represented in foreign countries. (Sec. 1111) Directs the President to report to the Congress on the advisability and desirability of integrating the U.S. and Foreign Commercial Service and the Foreign Agricultural Service into the Foreign Service. Title XII: United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency - Amends the Arms Control and Disarmament Act to abolish the U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. (Sec. 1203) Makes conforming amendments with respect to the transfer of specified authorities to the Department of State and the Secretary of State, respectively. Title XIII: United States Information Agency - Abolishes the U.S. Information Agency (USIA). (Sec. 1304) Amends the United States Information and Educational Exchange Act of 1948 and other specified Federal law to make conforming amendments with respect to the transfer of specified authorities to the Department of State and the Secretary of State, respectively. Title XIV: Agency for International Development and the International Development Cooperation Agency - Abolishes the Agency for International Development and the International Development Cooperation Agency (except components expressly established by statute or reorganization plan). (Sec. 1402) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and other specified Federal law to make conforming amendments with respect to the transfer of such agencies' functions to the Department of State and the Secretary of State, respectively. Title XV: Proposed Reorganization of the United Nations - Declares the sense of the Congress that the United States lead a comprehensive review of the United Nations to identify reforms to the U.N. system that will produce a smaller, more focused, more efficient United Nations with clearly defined missions are in the interest of the United States and of the United Nations. (Sec. 1502) Directs the President to submit to the Congress a plan recommending a strategic reorganization of the United Nations, including consolidation, abolition, or restructuring of its programs, funds, and organizations, including among other components: (1) consolidation of U.N. technical cooperation activities between U.N. Headquarters and the U.N. office in Geneva, Switzerland, to create a unified agency for technical cooperation for sustainable development with a microenterprise lending capacity merging the functions of specified current U.N. programs and funds; and (2) the consolidation of the U.N. emergency response mechanism by merging other specified functions. Title XVI: Plan for Reorganization of United States Export Promotion and Trade Activities - Directs the President to report to specified congressional committees on what steps are being taken to improve access, coordination, and efficiency among trade promotion organizations and U.S. agencies. Title XVII: Transition Provisions - Sets forth transition administrative provisions regarding: (1) the Secretary of State's reorganization authorities; (2) the transfer of personnel; (3) the submission of reorganization plans for the abolished agencies; (4) congressional consideration of such plans; (5) the establishment of, and authorization of appropriations for, the Foreign Affairs Reorganization Transition Fund; (6) voluntary separation incentives; (7) rights of employees of abolished agencies; (8) transfer and allocation of appropriations and personnel; and (9) a report to the Congress detailing a final accounting of the finances and operations of the abolished agencies.

Commission Regulation (EC) No 2772/95 of 30 November 1995 replacing the values in ecus in Council Regulation (EEC) No 2078/92 on agricultural production methods compatible with the requirements of the protection of the environment and the maintenance of the countryside

European Union · EUR-Lex · 30 November 1995

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility Private Investment Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 29 November 1995

Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facility Private Investment Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to include in the regulation of wastewater treatment works (WTWs) under such Act WTWs which are: (1) constructed and owned by a State or municipality; (2) constructed and owned by a State or municipality where ownership has been transferred to a private regulated utility or an entity under contract with the State or municipality to receive municipal wastewater; or (3) owned or operated by a private regulated utility or an entity under contract with the State or municipality to receive municipal wastewater.

To amend the Clean Air Act to provide for additional reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen in regions contributing to acid deposition in the Adirondacks.

United States · United States Congress · 28 November 1995

Amends the Clean Air Act to require the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to promulgate regulations requiring reductions in sulfur dioxide emissions from utility units located in subregions contributing to acid deposition in the Adirondacks necessary to limit, by the year 2000, acid deposition rates to a target level at which the acid neutralizing capacity level of surface waters exceeds the level found in a 1984 survey and the maintenance load of sulfur per hectare does not exceed a specified quantity. Requires the Administrator to also promulgate regulations necessary to require utility units in subregions that are major contributors to Adirondack acid deposition to employ, no later than January 1, 2000, reasonably available technology to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions. Describes means allowed for compliance with these regulations. Disallows treatment of emission reductions achieved by compliance with this Act as emission reductions for any other Clean Air Act purposes or as authorizing excess sulfur dioxide emissions under Clean Air Act utility unit allowances.

Revised Statutes 2477 Rights-of-Way Settlement Act

United States · United States Congress · 27 November 1995

Revised Statutes 2477 Rights-of-Way Settlement Act - Authorizes any State, political subdivision, or other holder of a right-of-way across public lands that was granted under section 2477 of the Revised Statutes (RS 2477) before October 31, 1976, or any person who uses or could use the right-of-way for passage across public lands, to file with the head of the agency or department managing such public lands (Secretary) a notice of the right-of-way. Requires such notice to: (1) be filed not later than five years after this Act's enactment; (2) identify the State and political subdivision through which the right-of-way passes; and (3) contain a map and a general description of the route, termini, and width of the right-of-way. Directs the Secretary: (1) within two years of the date on which notice is filed, to inform the person who filed the notice, the State, and the political subdivision through which the right-of-way passes of any objection to the right-of-way; and (2) to recognize any right-of-way that was accepted or established in accordance with State law or by an affirmative act of a State or political subdivision indicating acceptance of the grant of the right-of-way. Authorizes the Secretary, not later than two years after first notifying a holder or person who filed such a notice of any objection to a right-of-way, to bring an action based on the objection in the U.S. district court to challenge its validity. Directs the Secretary to record any valid right-of-way in the appropriate land records and on maps of the Secretary and to manage the land subject of the right-of-way in a manner that does not interfere with the use of the right-of-way. Prohibits the Secretary or any public land management official from promulgating any regulations relating to RS 2477 rights-of-way that are not essential to carry out the Act. Sets forth provisions regarding: (1) actions to quiet title; (2) the application of State law; and (3) applicability of the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE COMMISSION TO THE COUNCIL, THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS - COHESION POLICY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

European Union · European Commission · 22 November 1995

Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996

United States · United States Congress · 18 November 1995

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Export and Investment Assistance Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance Title III: Military Assistance Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance Title V: General Provisions Title VI: Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1995 Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 1996 - Title I: Export and Investment Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) direct loans, loan guarantees, tied-aid grants, insurance, and administrative expenses under Export-Import Bank programs; (2) Overseas Private Investment Corporation direct and guaranteed loans and administrative expenses; and (3) the Trade and Development Agency. Title II: Bilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the U.S. contribution to: (1) the Agency for International Development (AID) for child survival and disease programs, specified development assistance (including for the Inter-American Foundation and development assistance for Sub-Saharan Africa), specified projects aimed at reunification of Cyprus, democracy and humanitarian activities in Burma, private and voluntary cooperative development organizations obtaining less than 20 percent of their funding for international activities from sources other than the U.S. Government, international disaster relief, emergency humanitarian assistance to the former Yugoslavia, debt restructuring, direct loans and loan guarantees for micro and small enterprise development programs, administrative expenses of the worldwide housing guarantees program, the Foreign Service Retirement and Disability Fund, operating expenses of AID and the AID Office of Inspector General, economic support fund (ESF) assistance, the International Fund for Ireland, economic assistance for Eastern Europe and the Baltic States, and assistance for the independent states of the former Soviet Union (including the establishment of a Trans-Caucasus Enterprise fund); (2) the Peace Corps (but with a prohibition on the use of such funds for abortions); (3) international narcotics control; (4) migration and refugee assistance, including refugee resettlement assistance; (5) the Emergency Refugee and Migration Assistance Fund; (6) antiterrorism assistance; and (7) the Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund. Bars the use of development assistance funds for: (1) abortions or involuntary sterilizations; and (2) U.S. private and voluntary organizations, except those which obtain less than 20 percent of annual funding for international activities from sources other than the U.S. Government. Permits humanitarian assistance to the Government of Azerbaijan, if the President determines that nongovernmental assistance is not adequate to address the suffering of refugees and internally displaced persons. Title III: Military Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for: (1) international military education and training, but bars such assistance to Zaire and Guatemala and allows funding to Indonesia only for expanded military education and training; (2) foreign military financing and direct loans; and (3) international peacekeeping operations. Prohibits foreign military financing for: (1) any non-NATO country participating in the Partnership for Peace Program except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations; and (2) Zaire, Sudan, Peru, Liberia, and Guatemala. Prohibits such assistance to Colombia or Bolivia until the Secretary of State certifies that such funds will be used primarily for counternarcotics activities there. Title IV: Multilateral Economic Assistance - Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for the U.S. contribution to the: (1) International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank); (2) International Development Association; (3) International Financial Corporation; (4)Inter-American Development Bank; (5) Enterprise for the Americas Multilateral Investment Fund; (6) Asian Development Bank; (7) Asian Development Fund; (8) European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; and (8) North American Development Bank. Makes appropriations for FY 1996 for international programs and organizations. Limits certain callable subscriptions. Sets certain restrictions on international organization funding, including prohibiting the use of funds made available to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for activities in China. Prohibits foreign assistance funds to the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization (KEDO) unless the President makes a certain certification to the Committees on Appropriations. Title V: General Provisions - Sets forth limits on the use of appropriations, including no more than: (1) 15 percent of such appropriations shall be obligated during the last month of availability; (2) $126,500 for official residence expenses of AID; (3) $5,000 for entertainment expenses of AID; (4) $95,000 for representation allowances for AID; (5) $2,000 for entertainment and representation allowances for the Inter-American Foundation; or (6) $4,000 for entertainment expenses for the Peace Corps. (Sec. 502) Prohibits the use of funds for: (1) bilateral funding of international financial institutions; (2) the export of nuclear equipment, fuel, or technology; (3) direct assistance or reparations to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Iran, Serbia, Sudan, or Syria; (4) assistance to any country whose elected head of government is deposed by military coup; (5) certain transfers between appropriations accounts without consultation with Congress; (6) assistance to any country in default in excess of a year on payments on a U.S. loan (except for Nicaragua and narcotics-related assistance for Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru); and (7) assistance for certain commodities which are in surplus on world markets and could injure U.S. producers of a similar commodity, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 514) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Directors of specified international financial institutions to oppose any assistance for the production or extraction of any commodity or mineral for export if it is in surplus on world markets and such assistance will cause substantial injury to U.S. producers of a similar commodity. (Sec. 516) Prohibits the use of international organization funds for the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Libya, Iran, or certain Communist countries. (Sec. 517) Declares it is U.S. policy that funds allocated to Israel from the ESF shall not be less than the annual debt repayment from Israel to the United States. (Sec. 518) Prohibits the use of development assistance funds for abortions or involuntary sterilizations. (Sec. 518A) Bars the use of funds for population assistance activities for any foreign private, nongovernmental, or multilateral organization until such organization certifies that it will not perform abortions in any foreign country, except where the mother's life would be endangered if the fetus were carried to term or in cases of forcible rape or incest. Bars the use of funds for the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) unless the President certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that: (1) the UNFPA will terminate all family planning activities in China no later than March 1996; or (2) during the twelve months preceding such certification, there have been no abortions as a result of coercion associated with the family planning policies of the national government or other governmental entities within China. (Sec. 519) Requires the President to report to the Committees on Appropriations on annual arms sales proposals covering major weapons under the Arms Export Control Act. (Sec. 520) Prohibits the use of funds for Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Haiti, Indonesia, Liberia, Nicaragua, Peru, Russia, Sudan, or Zaire, except through the regular notification procedures of the Committees on Appropriations. (Sec. 522) Makes funds available to AID for family planning, health, child survival, and AIDS research and control in developing countries. (Sec. 523) Bars funding for indirect assistance to Cuba, Iraq, Libya, Iran, Syria, North Korea, or China unless the President certifies that the withholding of such funds is contrary to the national interest. (Sec. 524) Amends the Arms Export Control Act to extend the President's waiver authority with respect to reciprocal leasing through FY 1996. (Sec. 525) Requires the Department of Defense (DOD) to notify the Committees on Appropriations before providing excess DOD articles to certain NATO and major non-NATO countries. (Sec. 527) Directs the Secretary of the Treasury to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of each international financial institution, and the Administrator of the Agency for International Development to instruct the U.S. Executive Director of the International Fund for Agriculture Development, to oppose any bilateral assistance to any country that supports terrorism. (Sec. 528) Authorizes the commercial leasing of defense articles to Israel, Egypt, NATO, and major non-NATO allies if the President determines that there are compelling foreign policy or national security reasons. (Sec. 529) Prohibits the sale of Stinger missiles to any country bordering the Persian Gulf. (Sec. 530) Authorizes nongovernmental organizations which are grantees or contractors of AID to place funds made available to them under this Act in interest bearing accounts in order to enhance their participation in economic activities under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, including endowments and debt-for-development and debt-for- nature exchanges. (Sec. 531B) Amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to make funds available for FY 1996 and FY 1997 for defense article stockpiles in the Republic of Korea and Thailand. (Sec. 532) Directs the Administrator of the AID to require foreign countries that receive foreign assistance which results in the generation of local currencies to deposit such currencies in a separate account to be used to finance foreign assistance activities. (Sec. 533) Prohibits payments to any international financial institution while the U.S. Executive Director to the institution is compensated at a rate in excess of that for a specified position under the Executive Schedule. (Sec. 534) Bars assistance to any country that is not in compliance with the United Nations sanctions against Iraq, Serbia, or Montenegro unless the President certifies to the Congress that such assistance: (1) is in the national interest; (2) will directly benefit the needy people in that country; or (3) will be humanitarian assistance for foreign nationals who have fled Iraq and Kuwait. Authorizes the President to prohibit the importation into the United States of any product of a foreign country that has not prohibited the importation of Iraq's, Serbia's, or Montenegro's products into its customs territory and the export of its products to such countries. (Sec. 535) Authorizes the drawdown of defense articles, services, and training to Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to assist in efforts to locate members of the armed forces and U.S. civilians who remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam War. (Sec. 537) Requires the Committees on Appropriations to be notified of each country that has been approved for cash flow financing for the procurement of defense articles in excess of $100 million. (Sec. 538) Declares that provisions under this or any other Act authorizing appropriations for foreign operations or export financing shall not be construed to prohibit activities authorized by the Peace Corps Act, the Inter-American Foundation Act, or the African Development Foundation Act. Directs an agency to report to the Committees on Appropriations whenever it is conducting or proposing activities in a country for which such assistance is prohibited. (Sec. 539) Prohibits the use of funds to provide: (1) any financial incentive to a business for purposes of inducing it to relocate outside the United States if it will reduce the number of employees in the United States; (2) assistance for developing in a foreign country an export processing zone or other designated area in which a country's tax, tariff, labor, environment, and safety laws do not apply to activities in the area, unless the President certifies that such assistance is not likely to cause a loss of U.S. jobs; or (3) assistance for any project that contributes to the violation of internationally recognized workers rights in such country. (Sec. 540) Authorizes the President, pursuant to a lifting of the United Nations arms embargo against Bosnia-Herzegovina, to transfer defense articles to such country's government without reimbursement if he certifies to the Congress that the transfer of such articles would assist that nation in self-defense and promote the security and stability of the region. (Sec. 541) Declares that funds appropriated under this Act for Haiti, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Cambodia, and for victims of war, displaced children, displaced Burmese, humanitarian assistance for Romania, and humanitarian assistance for the peoples of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, and Kosova, may be made available notwithstanding any other provision of law. Directs the President to terminate assistance to any country that the President determines is cooperating with the military activities of the Khmer Rouge. Authorizes the use of foreign assistance funds to support: (1) tropical forestry and energy programs aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases; and (2) biodiversity conservation activities. Authorizes AID to employ personal services contractors to administer programs for the West Bank and Gaza. (Sec. 542) Expresses the sense of the Congress with respect to steps the President should take to encourage renunciation of the Arab boycott of Israel. (Sec. 543) Authorizes the use of ESF funds to strengthen the administration of justice in countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. (Sec. 544) Declares that restrictions on assistance to foreign countries contained in this Act or any other Act shall not be construed to restrict assistance in support of programs of nongovernmental organizations as long as it is in the national interest of the United States. (Sec. 546) Authorizes for FY 1996 the provision of nonlethal excess defense articles, without regard to certain restrictions, to countries for which U.S. foreign assistance has been requested and for which receipt of such articles was separately justified for the fiscal year. (Sec. 547) Prohibits the use of funds for publicity or propaganda purposes within the United States that were not authorized before the enactment of this Act. (Sec. 548) Sets forth Buy American requirements. (Sec. 549) Prohibits the use of funds to pay any assessments, arrearages, or dues of any U.N. member. (Sec. 551) Prohibits the provision of funds to a private voluntary organization that fails to provide any document, file, or record necessary to the auditing requirements of AID. (Sec. 552) Prohibits the provision of funds to any foreign government that provides lethal military equipment to a country that the Secretary of State has determined has a terrorist government, unless the President determines that the furnishing of such assistance is in the national interest. (Sec. 553) Withholds assistance to a foreign country in an amount equal to 110 percent of the total unpaid parking fines and penalties owed by the country to the District of Columbia. (Sec. 554) Prohibits the obligation of any appropriations for the PLO for the West Bank and Gaza unless the President has exercised certain authorities to suspend prohibitions on assistance to the PLO. (Sec. 556) Permits the President to provide a specified amount of commodities and services to the U.N. War Crimes Tribunal if doing so will contribute to a resolution of charges regarding genocide or other violations of international law in the former Yugoslavia. (Sec. 557) Authorizes the use of funds made available to DOD for crating, packing, handling, and transportation of nonlethal excess defense articles transferred to countries eligible to participate in the Partnership for Peace and to receive assistance under the Program of Support for East European Democracy (SEED). (Sec. 558) Authorizes demining equipment used in support of the clearing of landmines for humanitarian purposes to be disposed of on a grant basis in foreign countries. (Sec. 559) Amends provisions of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, with respect to nuclear non-proliferation conditions on assistance to Pakistan, to prohibit military assistance equipment or technology to be furnished to Pakistan unless there is certification that Pakistan does not possess a nuclear explosive device, except for any assistance or transfer provided for: (1) international narcotics control; (2) facilitating military-to-military contact, humanitarian, and civic projects; (3) peacekeeping and other multilateral operations, except for lethal military equipment provided on a lease or loan basis only; and (4) antiterrorism assistance or any provision of law available for antiterrorism assistance. Maintains restrictions on contracts for the delivery of F-16 aircraft to Pakistan. Allows military equipment, technology, and defense services, except for F-16 aircraft, to be transferred to Pakistan with respect to contracts entered into before October 1, 1990. (Sec. 560) Prohibits the obligation of appropriations to create in Jerusalem a new U.S. agency office for the purpose of conducting U.S. business with the Palestinian Authority over Gaza and Jericho (or any successor Palestinian governing entity) provided for in the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles. (Sec. 561) Prohibits certain funds appropriated for Informational Program activities from being obligated to pay for: (1) alcoholic beverages; (2) food (other than food provided at a military installation) not provided in conjunction with Program trips where students do not stay at a military installation; or (3) entertainment expenses. (Sec. 562) Prohibits the use of funds for assistance in support of any country that restricts transport or delivery of U.S. humanitarian assistance, except in the national security interest of the United States. (Sec. 563) Directs the President to withhold funds made available under this Act equal to the sum of assistance and credits, if any, provided by a foreign, country, or any entity in that country, in support of the completion of the Cuban nuclear facility at Juragua, near Cienfuegos, Cuba, with specified exceptions. (Sec. 564) Bars funding to Haiti if the Government of Haiti is controlled by a regime holding power through means other than the democratic elections to be held in 1995. (Sec. 566) Limits ESF assistance to Turkey. (Sec. 566A) Limits the use of funds for the North American Development Bank only for purposes set out in the binational agreement establishing the bank. (Sec. 567) Bars the use of funds for International Narcotics Control or Crop Substitution in Burma. (Sec. 568) Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to subscribe to an increase in the authorized capital stock of the Asian Development Bank (the fourth general capital increase). Authorizes appropriations. (Sec. 569) Authorizes appropriations for the International Development Association (the tenth replenishment). (Sec. 570) Authorizes the President to reduce amounts owed to the United States by eligible countries as a result of: (1) housing guarantees made pursuant to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961; or (2) credits extended or guarantees issued under the Arms Export Control Act. Permits such authority only: (1) to implement multilateral official debt relief and referendum agreements known as the Paris Club Agreed Minutes; and (2) with respect to countries with heavy debt burdens that are eligible to borrow from the International Development Association, but not from the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IDA-only countries). Prescribes additional conditions for the exercise of such authority. (Sec. 572) Authorizes the President to direct the drawdown for Jordan of defense articles and services from DOD, and military education and training up to a specified dollar amount provided certain conditions are met. (Sec. 576) Amends the United States-Hong Kong Policy Act of 1992 to require that an additional report be made in 1996 respecting conditions in Hong Kong of interest to the United States and directs that such report include detailed information on the status of, and other developments affecting, implementation of the Sino-British Joint Declaration on the Question of Hong Kong, including the: (1) Basic Law and its consistency with the Joint Declaration; (2) openness and fairness of elections to the legislature; (3) openness and fairness of election of the chief executive and the executive's accountability to the legislature; (4) treatment of political parties; (5) independence of the judiciary and its ability to exercise the power of final judgement over Hong Kong; (6) Bill of Rights. (Sec. 579) Amends the Import-Export Bank Act of 1945 to extend funding for the Tied-Aid Credit Program through FY 1997. Authorizes appropriations to the Tied-Aid Credit Fund for FY 1996 and 1997. (Sec. 581) Amends the Eisenhower Exchange Fellowship Act of 1990 to extend the Au Pair Program. (Sec. 583) Bars assistance to Haiti until the President reports to the Congress that: (1) the Haitian Government is conducting thorough investigations of extrajudicial and political killings; and (2) the Government is cooperating with the United States authorities in the investigations of such killings. Excludes from the limitation provision of humanitarian or electoral assistance. Permits the President to waive the requirements of the limitation if he determines and certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the waiver is: (1) in the national interest; or (2) necessary to assure the safe and timely withdrawal of American forces from Haiti. (Sec. 584) Prescribes that funding for activities in the internationally-recognized borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina, other than refugee and disaster assistance and assistance for the restoration of infrastructure, including power grids, water supplies and natural gas, be limited only to activities in the territory of the Bosniac-Croat Federation. (Sec. 585) Amends the NATO Participation Act of 1994 to authorize the President to: (1) evaluate the degree to which any country emerging from communist domination which has expressed interest in joining NATO meets the specified criteria; and (2) to designate one or more of these countries as eligible to receive assistance under the program to facilitate an eligible country's transition to NATO membership. Permits the President at any time to designate other such European countries for assistance under the program and, at the time of designation, to determine and report to the House Committees on International Relations and Appropriations and the Senate Committees on Foreign Relations and Appropriations that each country so designated meets the criteria. Title VI: Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1995 - Middle East Peace Facilitation Act of 1995 - Declares the sense of the Congress specifying additional steps the PLO must take to demonstrate an irrevocable denunciation of terrorism and ensure a peaceful settlement of the Middle East dispute. (Sec. 604) Authorizes the President to suspend specified provisions of law which prohibit the U.S. share of foreign and United Nations assistance to the PLO, the receipt or expenditure of PLO funds, and PLO membership in the International Monetary Fund, upon certification to specified congressional committees that: (1) such waiver is in the national interest; (2) the PLO continues to abide by commitments made in letters to Israel and the Foreign Minister of Norway and under the Declaration of Principles signed in September 1993; and (3) specified funds provided under this Act and other Acts have been used for the purposes for which they were intended. Makes such suspensions effective for up to six months.

NAFTA Accountability Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1995

NAFTA Accountability Act - Requires assessment of the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), further negotiation of certain NAFTA provisions, and withdrawal from NAFTA unless specified conditions are met and certified to. Sets forth conditions for continuing U.S. participation in NAFTA, which must be met before the end of 1996. Requires the President to renegotiate the terms of NAFTA to correct trade deficits, currency distortions, and agricultural provisions in specified ways. Requires certifications by certain U.S. officials with respect to NAFTA, relating to: (1) gains in U.S. jobs and living standards (by the Secretary of Labor); (2) increased U.S. domestic manufacturing (by the Secretary of Commerce); (3) health and environmental standards, with respect to food imports and to U.S.-Mexico border areas (by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the Food and Drug Administration, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency); (4) flow of illegal drugs from Mexico and Canada (by the Attorney General); and (5) Mexican democracy and human freedoms (by the President). Directs the President to consult regularly with the Congress regarding such negotiations. Directs the U.S. Trade Representative to consult with appropriate congressional committees in developing technical and conforming amendments that may be required to carry out this Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that until the conditions set by this Act are met: (1) the President should not engage in negotiations to expand NAFTA to include other countries; and (2) fast-track authority should not be renewed with respect to the approval of any such NAFTA expansion.

Lake Gaston Protection Act of 1995

United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1995

Lake Gaston Protection Act of 1995 - Amends the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to prohibit the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission from granting a license, license amendment, or permit (license) for an activity that will result directly or indirectly in the withdrawal by a State or political subdivision of water from a lake, reservoir, or similar body of water (lake) that is situated in two States unless the Governor of the State in which more than half of the lake is situated certifies that the withdrawal will not adversely affect the environment in, or the economy of, that State. Makes an exception regarding an application for a license for an activity that will occur or affect waters located within a river basin that is subject to an interstate compact, a decree of the Supreme Court, or an Act of Congress that specifically allocates the rights to use such water. Specifies that this Act shall apply to any application made on or after January 1, 1991, unless the application has been granted and is no longer subject to judicial review.

NAFTA Accountability Act

United States · United States Congress · 16 November 1995

NAFTA Accountability Act - Requires assessment of the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), further negotiation of certain NAFTA provisions, and withdrawal from NAFTA unless specified conditions are met and certified to. Sets forth conditions for continuing U.S. participation in NAFTA, which must be met before the end of 1996. Requires the President to renegotiate the terms of NAFTA to correct trade deficits, currency distortions, and agricultural provisions in specified ways. Requires certifications by certain U.S. officials with respect to NAFTA, relating to: (1) gains in U.S. jobs and living standards (by the Secretary of Labor); (2) increased U.S. domestic manufacturing (by the Secretary of Commerce); (3) health and environmental standards, with respect to food imports and to U.S.-Mexico border areas (by the Secretary of Agriculture, the Administrator of the Food and Drug Administration, and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency); (4) flow of illegal drugs from Mexico and Canada (by the Attorney General); and (5) Mexican democracy and human freedoms (by the President). Directs the President to consult regularly with the Congress regarding such negotiations. Directs the U.S. Trade Representative to consult with appropriate congressional committees in developing technical and conforming amendments that may be required to carry out this Act. Expresses the sense of the Congress that until the conditions set by this Act are met: (1) the President should not engage in negotiations to expand NAFTA to include other countries; and (2) fast-track authority should not be renewed with respect to the approval of any such NAFTA expansion.

96 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the discussions, if any, his Department has had with the Department of the Environment regarding infrastructural problems in some of the pilot resort areas; the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17030/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 15 November 1995

96 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the discussions, if any, his Department has had with the Department of the Environment regarding infrastructural problems in some of the pilot resort areas; the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17030/95]

96 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the discussions, if any, his Department has had with the Department of the Environment regarding infrastructural problems in some of the pilot resort areas; the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17030/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 15 November 1995

96 Mr. Andrews asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the discussions, if any, his Department has had with the Department of the Environment regarding infrastructural problems in some of the pilot resort areas; the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17030/95]

17 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the discussions, if any, his Department has had with the Department of the Environment regarding infrastructural problems in some of the pilot resort areas; if so, the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17034/95]

Ireland · Dáil Éireann · 15 November 1995

17 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Tourism and Trade the discussions, if any, his Department has had with the Department of the Environment regarding infrastructural problems in some of the pilot resort areas; if so, the outcome of these discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17034/95]