
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: 42USC7704a]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                CHAPTER 86--EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION
 
Sec. 7704a. Report on seismic safety property standards


(a) Authority

    The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (in this section 
referred to as the ``Secretary'') shall assess the risk of earthquake-
related damage to properties assisted under programs administered by the 
Secretary and shall develop seismic safety standards for such 
properties. This section may not be construed to prohibit the Secretary 
from deferring to local building codes that meet the requirements of the 
seismic safety standards developed under this section.

(b) Standards

    The standards shall be designed to reduce the risk of loss of life 
to building occupants to the maximum extent feasible and to reduce the 
risk of shake-related property damage to the maximum extent practicable.

(c) Consultation

    In carrying out this section, the Secretary shall consult with the 
Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and may utilize the 
resources under the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program 
(established under the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 [42 
U.S.C. 7701 et seq.]) and any other resources as may be required to 
carry out the activities under this section.

(d) Reports

                     (1) Submission and contents

        The Secretary shall submit a report to the Congress, not less 
    than biennially, containing a statement of the findings of the risk 
    assessment study conducted under this section, including risk 
    assessment of properties located in seismic risk zones and a 
    compilation of the standards developed pursuant to this section. The 
    report shall also include a statement of the activities undertaken 
    by the Secretary to carry out this section and the amount and 
    sources of any funds expended by the Secretary for such purposes. 
    The report shall also include a statement of the activities 
    undertaken by the Secretary to carry out the requirements of 
    Executive Order No. 12699 (January 5, 1990) and the amount and 
    sources of any funds expended by the Secretary for such purposes.

                       (2) Initial submission

        The first report required under this subsection shall be 
    submitted not later than the expiration of the 18-month period 
    beginning on November 28, 1990.

(Pub. L. 101-625, title IX, Sec. 947, Nov. 28, 1990, 104 Stat. 4416.)

                       References in Text

    The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, referred to in subsec. 
(c), is Pub. L. 95-124, Oct. 7, 1977, 91 Stat. 1098, as amended, which 
is classified generally to this chapter (Sec. 7701 et seq.). For 
complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note 
set out under section 7701 of this title and Tables.
    Executive Order No. 12699, referred to in subsec. (d)(1), is set out 
as a note under section 7704 of this title.

                          Codification

    Section was enacted as part of the Cranston-Gonzalez National 
Affordable Housing Act, and not as part of the Earthquake Hazards 
Reduction Act of 1977 which comprises this chapter.
