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STUDIES BY ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

SEC. 153. (a) The Administrator shall conduct a study of the cumulative effect of all substances, practices, processes, and activities which may affect the stratosphere, especially ozone in the stratosphere. The study shall include an analysis of the independent effects on the stratosphere especially such ozone in the stratosphere of

(1) the release into the ambient air of halocarbons, (2) the release into the ambient air of other sources of chlorine,

(3) the uses of bromine compounds, and

(4) emissions of aircraft and aircraft propulsion systems employed by operational and experimental aircraft. The study shall also include such physical, chemical, atmospheric, biomedical, or other research and monitoring as may be necessary to ascertain (A) any direct or indirect effects upon the public health and welfare of changes in the stratosphere, especially ozone in the stratosphere, and (B) the probable causes of changes in the stratosphere, especially the ozone in the stratosphere. (b) The Administrator shall undertake research on―

(1) methods to recover and recycle substances which directly or indirectly affect the stratosphere, especially ozone in the stratosphere,

(2) methods of preventing the escape of such substances,

(3) safe substitutes for such substances, and

4) other methods to regulate substances, practices, processes, and activities which may reasonably be anticipated to affect the stratosphere, especially ozone in the stratosphere.

(c) (1) The studies and research conducted under this section may be undertaken with such cooperation and assistance from universities and private industry as may be available. Each department, agency, and instrumentality of the United States having the capability to do so is authorized and encouraged to provide assistance to the Administrator in carrying out the requirements of this section, including (notwithstanding any other provision of law) any services which such department, agency, or instrumentality may have the capability to render or obtain by contract with third parties.

(2) The Administrator shall encourage the cooperation and assistance of other nations in carrying out the studies and research under this section. The Administrator is authorized to cooperate with and support similar research efforts of other nations.

(d) (1) The Administrator shall undertake to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to study the state of knowledge and the adequacy of research efforts to

understand (A) the effects of all substances, practices, processes, and activities which may affect the stratosphere, especially ozone in the stratosphere; (B) the health and welfare effects of modifications of the stratosphere, especially ozone in the stratosphere; and (C) methods of control of such substances, practices, processes, and activities including alternatives, costs, feasibility, and timing. The Academy shall make a report of its findings by January 1, 1978.

(2) The Administrator shall make available to the Academy such information in the Administrator's possession as is needed for the purposes of the study provided for in this subsection.

(e) The Secretary of Labor shall study and transmit a report to the Administrator and the Congress not later than six months after date of enactment, with respect to the losses and gains to industry and employment which could result from the elimination of the use of halocarbons in aerosol containers and for other purposes. Such report shall include recommended means of alleviating unemployment or other undesirable economic impact, if any, resulting therefrom.

(f) (1) The Administrator shall establish and act as Chairman of a Coordinating Committee for the purpose of insuring coordination of the efforts of other Federal agencies carrying out research and studies related to or supportive of the research provided for in subsections (a) and (b) and section 154.

(2) Members of the Coordinating Committee shall include the appropriate official responsible for the relevant research efforts of each of the following agencies: (A) the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,

(B) the National Aeronautics and Space Administration,

(C) the Federal Aviation Administration,
(D) the Department of Agriculture.

(E) the National Cancer Institute,

(F) the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences,

(G) the National Science Foundation, and the appropriate officials responsible for the relevant research efforts of such other agencies carrying out related efforts as the Chairman shall designate. A representative of the Department of State shall sit on the Coordinating Committee to encourage and facilitate international coordination.

(3) The Coordinating Committee shall review and comment on plans for, and the execution and results of, pertinent research and studies. For this purpose, the agencies named in or designated under paragraph (2) of this subsection shall make appropriate and timely reports to the Coordinating Committee on plans for and the execution and results of such research and studies.

(4) The Chairman may request a report from any Federal Agency for the purpose of determining if that agency should sit on the Coordinating Committee.

(g) Not later than January 1, 1978, and biennially thereafter, the Administrator shall report to the appropriate committees of the House and the Senate, the results of the studies and research conducted under this section and the results of related research and studies conducted by other Federal agencies.

RESEARCH AND MONITORING BY OTHER AGENCIES

SEC. 154. (a) The Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shall establish a continuing program of research and monitoring of the stratosphere for the purpose of early detection of changes in the stratosphere and climatic effects of such changes. Such Administrator shall on or before January 1, 1978, and biennially thereafter, transmit such report to the Administrator and the Congress on the findings of such research and monitoring. Such report shall contain any appropriate recommendations for legislation or regulation (or both).

(b) The National Aeronautics and Space Administration shall, pursuant to its authority under title IV of the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, continue programs of research, technology, and monitoring of the stratosphere for the purpose of understanding the physics and chemistry of the stratosphere and for the early detection of potentially harmful changes in the ozone in the stratosphere. Such Administration shall transmit reports by January 1, 1978, and biennially thereafter to the Administrator and the Congress on the results of the programs authorized in this subsection, together with any appropriate recommendations for legislation or regulation (or both).

(c) The Director of the National Science Foundation shall encourage and support ongoing stratospheric research programs and continuing research programs that will increase scientific knowledge of the effects of changes in the ozone layer in the stratosphere upon living organisms and ecosystems. Such Director shall transmit reports by January 1, 1978, and biennially thereafter to the Administrator and the Congress on the results of such programs, together with any appropriate recommendations for legislation or regulation (or both).

(d) The Secretary of Agriculture shall encourage and support continuing research programs that will increase scientific knowledge of the effects of changes in the ozone in the stratosphere upon animals, crops, and other plant life. Such Secretary shall transmit reports by January 1, 1978, and biennially thereafter to the Administrator and the Congress on the results of such programs together

with any appropriate recommendations for legislation or regulation (or both).

(e) The Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall encourage and support continuing research programs that will increase scientific knowledge of the effects of changes in the ozone in the stratosphere upon human health. Such Secretary shall transmit reports by January 1, 1978, and biennially thereafter, to the Administrator and the Congress on the results of such programs, together with any appropriate recommendations for legislation or regulation (or both).

(f) In carrying out subsections (a) through (e) of this section, the agencies involved (1) shall enlist and encourage cooperation and assistance from other Federal agencies, universities, and private industry, and (2) shall solicit the views of the Administrator with regard to plans for the research involved so that any such research will, if regulatory action by the Administrator is indicated, provide the preliminary information base for such action.

PROGRESS OF REGULATION

SEC. 155. The Administrator shall provide an interim report to the Congress by January 1, 1978, shall provide a final report within two years after date of enactment, and shall provide follow-up reports anually thereafter on the actions taken by the Environmental Protection Agency and all other Federal agencies to regulate sources of halocarbon emissions, the results of such regulations in protecting the ozone layers, and the need for additiona! regulatory action, if any. The reports under this section shall also include recommendations for the control of substances, practices, processes, and activities other than those involving halocarbons, which are found to affect the ozone in the stratosphere and which may cause or contribute to harmful effects on public health or welfare.

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

SEC. 156. The President shall undertake to enter into international agreements to foster cooperative research which complements studies and research authorized by this part, and to develop standards and regulations which protect the stratosphere consistent with regulations applicable within the United States. For these purposes the President through the Secretary of State and the Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, shall negotiate multilateral treaties, conventions, resolutions, or other agreements, and formulate, present, or support proposals at the United Nations and other appropriate international forums and shall report to the Congress periodically on efforts to arrive at such agreements.

REGULATIONS

SEC. 157. (a) If at any time prior to the submission of the final report referred to in section 155 in the Administrator's judgment, any substance, practice, process, or activity may reasonably be anticipated to affect the stratosphere, especially ozone in the stratosphere, and such. effect may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare, the Administrator shall promptly promulgate regulations respecting the control of such substance, practice, process, or activity, and shall simultaneously submit notice of the promulgation of such regulation to the Congress.

(b) Upon submission of the final report referred to in section 155, and after consideration of the research and study under sections 153 and 154 and, consultation with appropriate Federal agencies and scientific entities, the Administrator shall propose regulations for the control of any substance, practice, process, or activity (or any combination thereof) which in his judgment may reasonably be anticipated to affect the stratosphere, especially ozone in the stratosphere, if such effect in the stratosphere may reasonably be anticipated to endanger public health or welfare. Such regulations shall take into account the feasibility and the costs of achieving such control. Such regulations may exempt medical use products for which the Administrator determines there is no suitable substitute. Not later than three months after proposal of such regulations the Administrator shall promulgate such regulations in final form. From time to time, and under the same procedures, the Administrator may revise any of the regulations submitted under this subsection.

OTHER PROVISIONS UNAFFECTED

SEC. 158. Nothing in this part shall be construed to alter or affect the authority of the Administrator under section 303 (relating to emergency powers), under section 231 (relating to aircraft emission standards), or under any other provision of this Act or to affect the authority of any other department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States under any other provision of law to promulgate or enforce any requirement respecting the control of any substance, practice, process, or activity for purposes of protecting the stratosphere or ozone in the stratosphere. In the case of any proposed rule respecting ozone in the stratosphere which has been published under the Toxic Substances Control Act prior to the date of enactment of this Act notwithstanding section 9(b) of such Act, nothing in this part shall be construed to prohibit or restrict the Administrator from taking any action under the Toxic Substances Control Act respecting the promulgation or enforcement of such rule.

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