
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC7702]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                CHAPTER 86--EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION
 
Sec. 7702. Congressional statement of purpose

    It is the purpose of the Congress in this chapter to reduce the 
risks of life and property from future earthquakes in the United States 
through the establishment and maintenance of an effective earthquake 
hazards reduction program. The objectives of such program shall 
include--
        (1) the education of the public, including State and local 
    officials, as to earthquake phenomena, the identification of 
    locations and structures which are especially susceptible to 
    earthquake damage, ways to reduce the adverse consequences of an 
    earthquake, and related matters;
        (2) the development of technologically and economically feasible 
    design and construction methods and procedures to make new and 
    existing structures, in areas of seismic risk, earthquake resistant, 
    giving priority to the development of such methods and procedures 
    for power generating plants, dams, hospitals, schools, public 
    utilities and other lifelines, public safety structures, high 
    occupancy buildings, and other structures which are especially 
    needed in time of disaster;
        (3) the implementation to the greatest extent practicable, in 
    all areas of high or moderate seismic risk, of a system (including 
    personnel, technology, and procedures) for predicting damaging 
    earthquakes and for identifying, evaluating, and accurately 
    characterizing seismic hazards;
        (4) the development, publication, and promotion, in conjunction 
    with State and local officials and professional organizations, of 
    model building codes and other means to encourage consideration of 
    information about seismic risk in making decisions about land-use 
    policy and construction activity;
        (5) the development, in areas of seismic risk, of improved 
    understanding of, and capability with respect to, earthquake-related 
    issues, including methods of mitigating the risks from earthquakes, 
    planning to prevent such risks, disseminating warnings of 
    earthquakes, organization emergency services, and planning for 
    reconstruction and redevelopment after an earthquake;
        (6) the development of ways to increase the use of existing 
    scientific and engineering knowledge to mitigate earthquake hazards; 
    and
        (7) the development of ways to assure the availability of 
    affordable earthquake insurance.

(Pub. L. 95-124, Sec. 3, Oct. 7, 1977, 91 Stat. 1099; Pub. L. 101-614, 
Sec. 3, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3231.)


                               Amendments

    1990--Pub. L. 101-614 inserted sentence at end, listing objectives 
of program.
