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The Global Change Research Act is incorporated in the United States Code, Title 15, Chapter 56A - Global Change Research
Note: Section 2937 of the current law omits Section 107 of the original act. It is omitted pursuant to the Federal Reports Elimination and Sunset Act of 1995, Public Law No. 104-66, § 3003 (1995). |
An Act To require the establishment of a United States Global Change
Research Program aimed at understanding and responding to global change,
including the cumulative effects of human activities and natural processes
on the environment, to promote discussions toward international protocols
in global change research, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the "Global Change Research Act of 1990".
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this Act, the term--
- "Committee" means the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences
established under section 102;
- "Council" means the Federal Coordinating Council on Science, Engineering,
and Technology;
- "Global change" means changes in the global environment (including
alterations in climate, land productivity, oceans or other water resources,
atmospheric chemistry, and ecological systems) that may alter the capacity
of the Earth to sustain life;
- "Global change research" means study, monitoring, assessment, prediction,
and information management activities to describe and understand--
- A. the interactive physical, chemical, and biological processes
that regulate the total Earth system;
- B. the unique environment that the Earth provides for life;
- C. changes that are occurring in the Earth system; and
- D. the manner in which such system, environment, and changes are
influenced by human actions;
- "Plan" means the National Global Change Research Plan developed under
section 104, or any revision thereof; and
- "Program" means the United States Global Change Research Program established
under section 103.
TITLE I--UNITED STATES GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM
SEC. 101. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.
(a) FINDINGS.--The Congress makes the following findings:
- Industrial, agricultural, and other human activities, coupled with
an expanding world population, are contributing to processes of global
change that may significantly alter the Earth habitat within a few human
generations.
- Such human-induced changes, in conjunction with natural fluctuations,
may lead to significant global warming and thus alter world climate
patterns and increase global sea levels. Over the next century, these
consequences could adversely affect world agricultural and marine production,
coastal habitability, biological diversity, human health, and global
economic and social well-being.
- The release of chlorofluorocarbons and other stratospheric ozone-depleting
substances is rapidly reducing the ability of the atmosphere to screen
out harmful ultraviolet radiation, which could adversely affect human
health and ecological systems.
- Development of effective policies to abate, mitigate, and cope with
global change will rely on greatly improved scientific understanding
of global environmental processes and on our ability to distinguish
human-induced from natural global change.
- New developments in interdisciplinary Earth sciences, global observing
systems, and computing technology make possible significant advances
in the scientific understanding and prediction of these global changes
and their effects.
- Although significant Federal global change research efforts are underway,
an effective Federal research program will require efficient interagency
coordination, and coordination with the research activities of State,
private, and international entities.
(b) PURPOSE.--The purpose of this title is to provide for development and
coordination of a comprehensive and integrated United States research program
which will assist the Nation and the world to understand, assess, predict,
and respond to human-induced and natural processes of global change.
SEC. 102. COMMITTEE ON EARTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES.
- (a) ESTABLISHMENT.--The President, through the Council, shall establish
a Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences. The Committee shall
carry out Council functions under section 401 of the National Science
and Technology Policy, Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42
U.S.C. 6651) relating to global change research, for the purpose of
increasing the overall effectiveness and productivity of Federal global
change research efforts.
- (b) MEMBERSHIP.--The Committee shall consist of at least one representative
from--
- the National Science Foundation;
- the National Aeronautics and Space Administration;
- the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the Department
of Commerce;
- the Environmental Protection Agency;
- the Department of Energy;
- the Department of State;
- the Department of Defense;
- the Department of the Interior;
- the Department of Agriculture;
- the Department of Transportation;
- the Office of Management and Budget;
- the Office of Science and Technology Policy;
- the Council on Environmental Quality;
- the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the
National Institutes of Health; and
- such other agencies and departments of the United States as the
President or the Chairman of the Council considers appropriate.
Such representatives shall be high ranking officials of their agency
or department, wherever possible the head of the portion of that agency
or department that is most relevant to the purpose of the title described
in section 101(b).
- (c) CHAIRPERSON.--The Chairman of the Council, in consultation with
the Committee, biennially shall select one of the Committee members
to serve as Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be knowledgeable and
experienced with regard to the administration of scientific research
programs, and shall be a representative of an agency that contributes
substantially, in terms of scientific research capability and budget,
to the Program.
- (d) SUPPORT PERSONNEL.--An Executive Secretary shall be appointed
by the Chairperson of the Committee, with the approval of the Committee.
The Executive Secretary shall be a permanent employee of one of the
agencies or departments represented on the Committee, and shall remain
in the employ of such agency or department. The Chairman of the Council
shall have the authority to make personnel decisions regarding any employees
detailed to the Council for purposes of working on business of the Committee
pursuant to section 401 of the National Science and Technology Policy,
Organization, and Priorities Act of 1976 (42 U.S.C. 6651).
- (e) FUNCTIONS RELATIVE TO GLOBAL CHANGE.--The Council, through the
Committee, shall be responsible for planning and coordinating the Program.
In carrying out this responsibility, the Committee shall--
- serve as the forum for developing the Plan and for overseeing
its implementation;
- improve cooperation among Federal agencies and departments with
respect to global change research activities;
- provide budgetary advice as specified in section 105;
- work with academic, State, industry, and other groups conducting
global change research, to provide for periodic public and peer
review of the Program;
- cooperate with the Secretary of State in--
- (A) providing representation at international meetings and
conferences on global change research in which the United States
participates; and
- (B) coordinating the Federal activities of the United States
with programs of other nations and with international global
change research activities such as the International Geosphere-Biosphere
Program;
- consult with actual and potential users of the results of the
Program to ensure that such results are useful in developing national
and international policy responses to global change; and
- report at least annually to the President and the Congress, through
the Chairman of the Council, on Federal global change research priorities,
policies, and programs.
SEC. 103. UNITED STATES GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM.
The President shall establish an interagency United States Global Change
Research Program to improve understanding of global change. The Program
shall be implemented by the Plan developed under section 104.
SEC. 104. NATIONAL GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PLAN.
- (a) IN GENERAL.--The Chairman of the Council, through the Committee,
shall develop a National Global Change Research Plan for implementation
of the Program. The Plan shall contain recommendations for national
global change research. The Chairman of the Council shall submit the
Plan to the Congress within one year after the date of enactment of
this title, and a revised Plan shall be submitted at least once every
three years thereafter.
- (b) CONTENTS OF THE PLAN.--The Plan shall--
- establish, for the 10-year period beginning in the year the Plan
is submitted, the goals and priorities for Federal global change
research which most effectively advance scientific understanding
of global change and provide usable information on which to base
policy decisions relating to global change;
- describe specific activities, including research activities, data
collection and data analysis requirements, predictive modeling,
participation in international research efforts, and information
management, required to achieve such goals and priorities;
- identify and address, as appropriate, relevant programs and activities
of the Federal agencies and departments represented on the Committee
that contribute to the Program;
- set forth the role of each Federal agency and department in implementing
the Plan;
- consider and utilize, as appropriate, reports and studies conducted
by Federal agencies and departments, the National Research Council,
or other entities;
- make recommendations for the coordination of the global change
research activities of the United States with such activities of
other nations and international organizations, including--
- (A) a description of the extent and nature of necessary international
cooperation;
- (B) the development by the Committee, in consultation when
appropriate with the National Space Council, of proposals for
cooperation on major capital projects;
- (C) bilateral and multilateral proposals for improving worldwide
access to scientific data and information; and
- (D) methods for improving participation in international global
change research by developing nations; and
- estimate, to the extent practicable, Federal funding for global
change research activities to be conducted under the Plan.
- (c) RESEARCH ELEMENTS.--The Plan shall provide for, but not be limited
to, the following research elements:
- Global measurements, establishing worldwide observations necessary
to understand the physical, chemical, and biological processes responsible
for changes in the Earth system on all relevant spatial and time
scales.
- Documentation of global change, including the development of mechanisms
for recording changes that will actually occur in the Earth system
over the coming decades.
- Studies of earlier changes in the Earth system, using evidence
from the geological and fossil record.
- Predictions, using quantitative models of the Earth system to
identify and simulate global environmental processes and trends,
and the regional implications of such processes and trends.
- Focused research initiatives to understand the nature of and interaction
among physical, chemical, biological, and social processes related
to global change.
- (d) INFORMATION MANAGEMENT.--The Plan shall provide recommendations
for collaboration within the Federal Government and among nations to--
- establish, develop, and maintain information bases, including
necessary management systems which will promote consistent, efficient,
and compatible transfer and use of data;
- create globally accessible formats for data collected by various
international sources; and
- combine and interpret data from various sources to produce information
readily usable by policymakers attempting to formulate effective
strategies for preventing, mitigating, and adapting to the effects
of global change.
- (e) NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL EVALUATION.--The Chairman of the Council
shall enter into an agreement with the National Research Council under
which the National Research Council shall--
- evaluate the scientific content of the Plan; and
- provide information and advice obtained from United States and
international sources, and recommended priorities for future global
change research.
- (f) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.--In developing the Plan, the Committee shall
consult with academic, State, industry, and environmental groups and
representatives. Not later than 90 days before the Chairman of the Council
submits the Plan, or any revision thereof, to the Congress, a summary
of the proposed Plan shall be published in the Federal Register for
a public comment period of not less than 60 days.
SEC. 105. BUDGET COORDINATION.
- (a) COMMITTEE GUIDANCE.--The Committee shall each year provide general
guidance to each Federal agency or department participating in the Program
with respect to the preparation of requests for appropriations for activities
related to the Program.
- (b) SUBMISSION OF REPORTS WITH AGENCY APPROPRIATIONS REQUESTS.--
- Working in conjunction with the Committee, each Federal agency
or department involved in global change research shall include with
its annual request for appropriations submitted to the President
under section 1108 of title 31, United States Code, a report which--
- (A) identifies each element of the proposed global change
research activities of the agency or department;
- (B) specifies whether each element (i) contributes directly
to the Program or (ii) contributes indirectly but in important
ways to the Program; and
- (C) states the portion of its request for appropriations allocated
to each element of the Program.
- Each agency or department that submits a report under paragraph
(1) shall submit such report simultaneously to the Committee.
- (c) CONSIDERATION IN PRESIDENT'S BUDGET.--
- The President shall, in a timely fashion, provide the Committee
with an opportunity to review and comment on the budget estimate
of each agency and department involved in global change research
in the context of the Plan.
- The President shall identify in each annual budget submitted to
the Congress under section 1105 of title 31, United States Code,
those items in each agency's or department's annual budget which
are elements of the Program.
SEC. 106. SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENT.
On a periodic basis (not less frequently than every 4 years), the Council,
through the Committee, shall prepare and submit to the President and the
Congress an assessment which--
- integrates, evaluates, and interprets the findings of the Program
and discusses the scientific uncertainties associated with such findings;
- analyzes the effects of global change on the natural environment,
agriculture, energy production and use, land and water resources, transportation,
human health and welfare, human social systems, and biological diversity;
and
- analyzes current trends in global change, both human- induced and
natural, and projects major trends for the subsequent 25 to 100 years.
SEC. 107. ANNUAL REPORT
[see note]
- (a) GENERAL.--Each year at the time of submission to the Congress
of the President's budget, the Chairman of the Council shall submit
to the Congress a report on the activities conducted by the Committee
pursuant to this title, including--
- a summary of the achievements of the Program during the period
covered by the report and of priorities for future global change
research;
- an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals of
the Plan;
- expenditures required by each agency or department for carrying
out its portion of the Program, including--
- (A) the amounts spent during the fiscal year most recently
ended;
- (B) the amounts expected to be spent during the current fiscal
year; and
- (C) the amounts requested for the fiscal year for which the
budget is being submitted.
- (b) RECOMMENDATIONS.--The report required by subsection (b)[sic] shall
include recommendations by the President concerning--
- changes in agency or department roles needed to improve implementation
of the Plan; and
- additional legislation which may be required to achieve the purposes
of this title.
SEC. 108. RELATION TO OTHER AUTHORITIES.
- (a) NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.-- The President,
the Chairman of the Council, and the Secretary of Commerce shall ensure
that relevant research activities of the National Climate Program, established
by the National Climate Program Act (15 U.S.C. 2901 et seq.), are considered
in developing national global change research efforts.
- (b) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH FINDINGS.--The President, the Chairman
of the Council, and the heads of the agencies and departments represented
on the Committee, shall ensure that the research findings of the Committee,
and of Federal agencies and departments, are available to--
- the Environmental Protection Agency for use in the formulation
of a coordinated national policy on global climate change pursuant
to section 1103 of the Global Climate Protection Act of 1987 (15
U.S.C. 2901 note); and
- all Federal agencies and departments for use in the formulation
of coordinated national policies for responding to human-induced
and natural processes of global change pursuant to other statutory
responsibilities and obligations.
- (c) EFFECT ON FEDERAL RESPONSE ACTIONS.--Nothing in this title shall
be construed, interpreted, or applied to preclude or delay the planning
or implementation of any Federal action designed, in whole or in part,
to address the threats of stratospheric ozone depletion or global climate
change.
TITLE II--INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION IN GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE.
This title may be cited as the "International Cooperation in Global Change
Research Act of 1990".
SEC. 202. FINDINGS AND PURPOSES.
- (a) FINDINGS.--The Congress makes the following findings:
- Pooling of international resources and scientific capabilities
will be essential to a successful international global change program.
- While international scientific planning is already underway, there
is currently no comprehensive intergovernmental mechanism for planning,
coordinating, or implementing research to understand global change
and to mitigate possible adverse effects.
- An international global change research program will be important
in building future consensus on methods for reducing global environmental
degradation.
- The United States, as a world leader in environmental and Earth
sciences, should help provide leadership in developing and implementing
an international global change research program.
- (b) PURPOSES.--The purposes of this title are to--
- promote international, intergovernmental cooperation on global
change research;
- involve scientists and policymakers from developing nations in
such cooperative global change research programs; and
- promote international efforts to provide technical and other assistance
to developing nations which will facilitate improvements in their
domestic standard of living while minimizing damage to the global
or regional environment.
SEC. 203. INTERNATIONAL DISCUSSIONS.
- (a) GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH.--The President should direct the Secretary
of State, in cooperation with the Committee, to initiate discussions
with other nations leading toward international protocols and other
agreements to coordinate global change research activities. Such discussions
should include the following issues:
- Allocation of costs in global change research programs, especially
with respect to major capital projects.
- Coordination of global change research plans with those developed
by international organizations such as the International Council
on Scientific Unions, the World Meteorological Organization, and
the United Nations Environment Program.
- Establishment of global change research centers and training programs
for scientists, especially those from developing nations.
- Development of innovative methods for management of international
global change research, including--
- (A) use of new or existing intergovernmental organizations
for the coordination or funding of global change research; and
- (B) creation of a limited foundation for global change research.
- The prompt establishment of international projects to--
- (A) create globally accessible formats for data collected
by various international sources; and
- (B) combine and interpret data from various sources to produce
information readily usable by policymakers attempting to formulate
effective strategies for preventing, mitigating, and adapting
to possible adverse effects of global change.
- Establishment of international offices to disseminate information
useful in identifying, preventing, mitigating, or adapting to the
possible effects of global change.
- (b) ENERGY RESEARCH.--The President should direct the Secretary of
State (in cooperation with the Secretary of Energy, the Secretary of
Commerce, the United States Trade Representative, and other appropriate
members of the Committee) to initiate discussions with other nations
leading toward an international research protocol for cooperation on
the development of energy technologies which have minimally adverse
effects on the environment. Such discussions should include, but not
be limited to, the following issues:
- Creation of an international cooperative program to fund research
related to energy efficiency, solar and other renewable energy sources,
and passively safe and diversion-resistant nuclear reactors.
- Creation of an international cooperative program to develop low
cost energy technologies which are appropriate to the environmental,
economic, and social needs of developing nations.
- Exchange of information concerning environmentally safe energy
technologies and practices, including those described in paragraphs
(1) and (2).
SEC. 204. GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH INFORMATION OFFICE.
Not more than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the President
shall, in consultation with the Committee and all relevant Federal agencies,
establish an Office of Global Change Research Information. The purpose of
the Office shall be to disseminate to foreign governments, businesses, and
institutions, as well as the citizens of foreign countries, scientific research
information available in the United States which would be useful in preventing,
mitigating, or adapting to the effects of global change.
Such information shall include, but need not be limited to, results
of scientific research and development on technologies useful for--
- reducing energy consumption through conservation and energy efficiency;
- promoting the use of solar and renewable energy sources which reduce
the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere;
- developing replacements for chlorofluorocarbons, halons, and other
ozone-depleting substances which exhibit a significantly reduced potential
for depleting stratospheric ozone;
- promoting the conservation of forest resources which help reduce the
amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere;
- assisting developing countries in ecological pest management practices
and in the proper use of agricultural, and industrial chemicals; and
- promoting recycling and source reduction of pollutants in order to
reduce the volume of waste which must be disposed of, thus decreasing
energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
TITLE III--GROWTH DECISION AID
SEC. 301. STUDY AND DECISION AID.
- (a) The Secretary of Commerce shall conduct a study of the implications
and potential consequences of growth and development on urban, suburban,
and rural communities. Based upon the findings of the study, the Secretary
shall produce a decision aid to assist State and local authorities in
planning and managing urban, suburban, and rural growth and development
while preserving community character.
- (b) The Secretary of Commerce shall consult with other appropriate
Federal departments and agencies as necessary in carrying out this section.
- (c) The Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Congress a report
containing the decision aid produced under subsection (a) no later than
January 30, 1992. The Secretary shall notify appropriate State and local
authorities that such decision aid is available on request.
Approved November 16, 1990.
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