Loading (50 kb)...'

National
United States
33 USC CHAPTER 56--NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM

From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC2901]


TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE

CHAPTER 56--NATIONAL CLIMATE PROGRAM

Sec. 2901. Findings

The Congress finds and declares the following:
(1) Weather and climate change affect food production, energy
use, land use, water resources and other factors vital to national
security and human welfare.
(2) An ability to anticipate natural and man-induced changes in
climate would contribute to the soundness of policy decisions in the
public and private sectors.
(3) Significant improvements in the ability to forecast climate
on an intermediate and long-term basis are possible.
(4) Information regarding climate is not being fully
disseminated or used, and Federal efforts have given insufficient
attention to assessing and applying this information.
(5) Climate fluctuation and change occur on a global basis, and
deficiencies exist in the system for monitoring global climate
changes. International cooperation for the purpose of sharing the
benefits and costs of a global effort to understand climate is
essential.
(6) The United States lacks a well-defined and coordinated
program in climate-related research, monitoring, assessment of
effects, and information utilization.

(Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 2, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 601.)


Short Title

Section 1 of Pub. L. 95-367 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this
chapter, amending section 25 of former Title 31, Money and Finance, and
enacting provisions set out as a note under section 25 of former Title
31] may be cited as the `National Climate Program Act'.''


Global Climate Protection

Pub. L. 100-204, title XI, Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1407, as amended
by Pub. L. 103-199, title VI, Sec. 603(1), Dec. 17, 1993, 107 Stat.
2327, provided that:
``SEC. 1101. SHORT TITLE.
``This title [this note] may be cited as the `Global Climate
Protection Act of 1987'.
``SEC. 1102. FINDINGS.
``The Congress finds as follows:
``(1) There exists evidence that manmade pollution--the release
of carbon dioxide, chlorofluorocarbons, methane, and other trace
gases into the atmosphere--may be producing a long-term and
substantial increase in the average temperature on Earth, a
phenomenon known as global warming through the greenhouse effect.
``(2) By early in the next century, an increase in Earth
temperature could--
``(A) so alter global weather patterns as to have an effect
on existing agricultural production and on the habitability of
large portions of the Earth; and
``(B) cause thermal expansion of the oceans and partial
melting of the polar ice caps and glaciers, resulting in rising
sea levels.
``(3) Important research into the problem of climate change is
now being conducted by various United States Government and
international agencies, and the continuation and intensification of
those efforts will be crucial to the development of an effective
United States response.
``(4) While the consequences of the greenhouse effect may not be
fully manifest until the next century, ongoing pollution and
deforestation may be contributing now to an irreversible process.
Necessary actions must be identified and implemented in time to
protect the climate.
``(5) The global nature of this problem will require vigorous
efforts to achieve international cooperation aimed at minimizing and
responding to adverse climate change; such international cooperation
will be greatly enhanced by United States leadership. A key step in
international cooperation will be the meeting of the Governing
Council of the United Nations Environment Program, scheduled for
June 1989, which will seek to determine a direction for worldwide
efforts to control global climate change.
``(6) Effective United States leadership in the international
arena will depend upon a coordinated national policy.
``SEC. 1103. MANDATE FOR ACTION ON THE GLOBAL CLIMATE.
``(a) Goals of United States Policy.--United States policy should
seek to--
``(1) increase worldwide understanding of the greenhouse effect
and its environmental and health consequences;
``(2) foster cooperation among nations to develop more extensive
and coordinated scientific research efforts with respect to the
greenhouse effect;
``(3) identify technologies and activities to limit mankind's
adverse effect on the global climate by--
``(A) slowing the rate of increase of concentrations of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere in the near term; and
``(B) stabilizing or reducing atmospheric concentrations of
greenhouse gases over the long term; and
``(4) work toward multilateral agreements.
``(b) Formulation of United States Policy.--The President, through
the Environmental Protection Agency, shall be responsible for developing
and proposing to Congress a coordinated national policy on global
climate change. Such policy formulation shall consider research findings
of the Committee on Earth Sciences of the Federal Coordinating Council
on Science and Engineering Technology, the National Academy of Sciences,
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National
Science Foundation, the National Aeronautic and Space Administration,
the Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and other
organizations engaged in the conduct of scientific research.
``(c) Coordination of United States Policy in the International
Arena.--The Secretary of State shall be responsible to coordinate those
aspects of United States policy requiring action through the channels of
multilateral diplomacy, including the United Nations Environment Program
and other international organizations. In the formulation of these
elements of United States policy, the Secretary of State shall, under
the direction of the President, work jointly with the Administrator of
the Environmental Protection Agency and other United States agencies
concerned with environmental protection, consistent with applicable
Federal law.
``SEC. 1104. REPORT TO CONGRESS.
``Not later than 24 months after the date of enactment of this Act
[Dec. 22, 1987], the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the
Environmental Protection Agency shall jointly submit to all committees
of jurisdiction in the Congress a report which shall include--
``(1) a summary analysis of current international scientific
understanding of the greenhouse effect, including its environmental
and health consequences;
``(2) an assessment of United States efforts to gain
international cooperation in limiting global climate change; and
``(3) a description of the strategy by which the United States
intends to seek further international cooperation to limit global
climate change.
``SEC. 1105. INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF GLOBAL CLIMATE PROTECTION.
``In order to focus international attention and concern on the
problem of global warming, and to foster further work on multilateral
treaties aimed at protecting the global climate, the Secretary of State
shall undertake all necessary steps to promote, within the United
Nations system, the early designation of an International Year of Global
Climate Protection.
``SEC. 1106. CLIMATE PROTECTION AND UNITED STATES RELATIONS WITH THE
INDEPENDENT STATES OF THE FORMER SOVIET UNION.
``In recognition of the respective leadership roles of the United
States and the independent states of the former Soviet Union in the
international arena, and of the extent to which they are producers of
atmospheric pollutants, the Congress urges that the President accord the
problem of climate protection a high priority on the agenda of United
States relations with the independent states.''


Sec. 2902. Purpose

It is the purpose of the Congress in this chapter to establish a
national climate program that will assist the Nation and the world to
understand and respond to natural and man-induced climate processes and
their implications.

(Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 3, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 601.)

Sec. 2903. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) The term ``Board'' means the Climate Program Policy Board.
(2) The term ``Office'' means the National Climate Program
Office.
(3) The term ``Program'' means the National Climate Program.
(4) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.

(Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 4, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 601; Pub. L. 99-272,
title VI, Sec. 6084(a), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 136.)


Amendments

1986--Pub. L. 99-272 added par. (1) and redesignated former pars.
(1) to (3) as (2) to (4), respectively.

Sec. 2903. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) The term ``Board'' means the Climate Program Policy Board.
(2) The term ``Office'' means the National Climate Program
Office.
(3) The term ``Program'' means the National Climate Program.
(4) The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of Commerce.

(Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 4, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 601; Pub. L. 99-272,
title VI, Sec. 6084(a), Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 136.)


Amendments

1986--Pub. L. 99-272 added par. (1) and redesignated former pars.
(1) to (3) as (2) to (4), respectively.


Sec. 2905. Repealed. Pub. L. 99-272, title VI, Sec. 6084(g),
Apr. 7, 1986, 100 Stat. 137

Section, Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 6, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 603,
related to establishment and requirements of intergovernmental climate
programs.

Sec. 2906. Annual report

The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the President and the
authorizing committees of the Congress, not later than March 31 of each
year, a report on the activities conducted pursuant to this chapter
during the preceding fiscal year, including--
(a) a summary of the achievements of the Program during the
previous fiscal year;
(b) an analysis of the progress made toward achieving the goals
and objectives of the Program;
(c) a copy of the 5-year plan and any changes made in such plan;
(d) a summary of the multiagency budget request for the Program
of section 2904(g) of this title; and
(e) any recommendations for additional legislation which may be
required to assist in achieving the purposes of this chapter.

(Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 7, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 604; Pub. L. 97-375,
title II, Sec. 202(b), Dec. 21, 1982, 96 Stat. 1822.)


Amendments

1982--Pub. L. 97-375 substituted ``March 31'' for ``January 30''.


Sec. 2907. Contract and grant authority; records and audits

(a) Functions vested in any Federal officer or agency by this
chapter or under the Program may be exercised through the facilities and
personnel of the agency involved or, to the extent provided or approved
in advance in appropriation Acts, by other persons or entities under
contracts or grant arrangements entered into by such officer or agency.
(b)(1) Each person or entity to which Federal funds are made
available under a contract or grant arrangement as authorized by this
chapter shall keep such records as the Director of the Office shall
prescribe, including records which fully disclose the amount and
disposition by such person or entity of such funds, the total cost of
the activities for which such funds were so made available, the amount
of that portion of such cost supplied from other sources, and such other
records as will facilitate an effective audit.
(2) The Director of the Office and the Comptroller General of the
United States, or any of their duly authorized representatives, shall,
until the expiration of 3 years after the completion of the activities
(referred to in paragraph (1)) of any person or entity pursuant to any
contract or grant arrangement referred to in subsection (a) of this
section, have access for the purpose of audit and examination to any
books, documents, papers, and records of such person or entity which, in
the judgment of the Director or the Comptroller General, may be related
or pertinent to such contract or grant arrangement.

(Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 8, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 604.)


Sec. 2908. Authorization of appropriations

In addition to any other funds otherwise authorized to be
appropriated for the purpose of conducting climate-related programs,
there are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary, for the
purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter, not to exceed
$50,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1979, not to exceed
$65,000,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1980, and not to
exceed $25,500,000 for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1981, of
which amount not less than $2,653,000 shall be made directly available
to the National Climate Program Office in the form of a budget item
separate from the activities of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration.

(Pub. L. 95-367, Sec. 9, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 605; Pub. L. 96-547,
Sec. 1, Dec. 18, 1980, 94 Stat. 3217.)


Amendments

1980--Pub. L. 96-547 revised former subsec. (a) into entire section
with additional provisions relating to fiscal year ending Sept. 30,
1981, and struck out subsec. (b) setting forth authorization of
appropriations for grants.