
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: 42USC8903]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
     CHAPTER 97--ACID PRECIPITATION PROGRAM AND CARBON DIOXIDE STUDY
 
                    SUBCHAPTER I--ACID PRECIPITATION
 
Sec. 8903. Comprehensive research plan


(a) Preparation by Task Force for ten-year program; purposes

    The Task Force shall prepare a comprehensive research plan for the 
ten-year program (hereafter in this subchapter referred to as the 
``comprehensive plan''), setting forth a coordinated program (1) to 
identify the causes and effects of acid precipitation and (2) to 
identify actions to limit or ameliorate the harmful effects of acid 
precipitation.

(b) Scope

    The comprehensive plan shall include programs for--
        (1) identifying the sources of atmospheric emissions 
    contributing to acid precipitation;
        (2) establishing and operating a nationwide long-term monitoring 
    network to detect and measure levels of acid precipitation;
        (3) research in atmospheric physics and chemistry to facilitate 
    understanding of the processes by which atmospheric emissions are 
    transformed into acid precipitation;
        (4) development and application of atmospheric transport models 
    to enable prediction of long-range transport of substances causing 
    acid precipitation;
        (5) defining geographic areas of impact through deposition 
    monitoring, identification of sensitive areas, and identification of 
    areas at risk;
        (6) broadening of impact data bases through collection of 
    existing data on water and soil chemistry and through temporal trend 
    analysis;
        (7) development of dose-response functions with respect to 
    soils, soil organisms, aquatic and amphibious organisms, crop 
    plants, and forest plants;
        (8) establishing and carrying out system studies with respect to 
    plant physiology, aquatic ecosystems, soil chemistry systems, soil 
    microbial systems, and forest ecosystems;
        (9) economic assessments of (A) the environmental impacts caused 
    by acid precipitation on crops, forests, fisheries, and recreational 
    and aesthetic resources and structures, and (B) alternative 
    technologies to remedy or otherwise ameliorate the harmful effects 
    which may result from acid precipitation;
        (10) documenting all current Federal activities related to 
    research on acid precipitation and ensuring that such activities are 
    coordinated in ways that prevent needless duplication and waste of 
    financial and technical resources;
        (11) effecting cooperation in acid precipitation research and 
    development programs, ongoing and planned, with the affected and 
    contributing States and with other sovereign nations having a 
    commonality of interest;
        (12) subject to subsection (f)(1) of this section, management by 
    the Task Force of financial resources committed to Federal acid 
    precipitation research and development;
        (13) subject to subsection (f)(2) of this section, management of 
    the technical aspects of Federal acid precipitation research and 
    development programs, including but not limited to (A) the planning 
    and management of research and development programs and projects, 
    (B) the selection of contractors and grantees to carry out such 
    programs and projects, and (C) the establishment of peer review 
    procedures to assure the quality of research and development 
    programs and their products; and
        (14) analyzing the information available regarding acid 
    precipitation in order to formulate and present periodic 
    recommendations to the Congress and the appropriate agencies about 
    actions to be taken by these bodies to alleviate acid precipitation 
    and its effects.

(c) Procedures applicable

    The comprehensive plan--
        (1) shall be submitted in draft form to the Congress, and for 
    public review, within six months after June 30, 1980;
        (2) shall be available for public comment for a period of sixty 
    days after its submission in draft form under paragraph (1);
        (3) shall be submitted in final form, incorporating such needed 
    revisions as arise from comments received during the review period, 
    to the President and the Congress within forty-five days after the 
    close of the period allowed for comments on the draft comprehensive 
    plan under paragraph (2); and
        (4) shall constitute the basis on which requests for 
    authorizations and appropriations are to be made for the nine fiscal 
    years following the fiscal year in which the comprehensive plan is 
    submitted in final form under paragraph (3).

(d) Convening of Task Force

    The Task Force shall convene as necessary, but no less than twice 
during each fiscal year of the ten-year period covered by the 
comprehensive plan.

(e) Submission of annual report to President and Congress by Task Force

    The Task Force shall submit to the President and the Congress by 
January 15 of each year an annual report which shall detail the progress 
of the research program under this subchapter and which shall contain 
such recommendations as are developed under subsection (b)(14) of this 
section.

(f) Applicability of other statutory provisions to Task Force or plan

    (1) Subsection (b)(12) of this section shall not be construed as 
modifying, or as authorizing the Task Force or the comprehensive plan to 
modify, any provision of an appropriation Act (or any other provision of 
law relating to the use of appropriated funds) which specifies (A) the 
department or agency to which funds are appropriated, or (B) the 
obligations of such department or agency with respect to the use of such 
funds.
    (2) Subsection (b)(13) of this section shall not be construed as 
modifying, or as authorizing the Task Force or the comprehensive plan to 
modify, any provision of law (relating to or involving a department or 
agency) which specifies (A) procurement practices for the selection, 
award, or management of contracts or grants by such department or 
agency, or (B) program activities, limitations, obligations, or 
responsibilities of such department or agency.

(Pub. L. 96-294, title VII, Sec. 704, June 30, 1980, 94 Stat. 771.)

                  Section Referred to in Other Sections

    This section is referred to in sections 8902, 8904, 8905 of this 
title.
