Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 108 Part 4.djvu/78

 108 STAT. 2712 PUBLIC LAW 103-337—OCT. 5, 1994 SEC. 326. ASSISTANCE FOR PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN DEFENSE ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION ACTIVITIES. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF RESTORATION ADVISORY BOARDS.— Section 2705 of title 10, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: "(d) RESTORATION ADVISORY BOARD. —(1) In lieu of establishing a technical review committee under subsection (c), the Secretary may permit the establishment of a restoration advisory board in connection with any installation (or group of nearby installations) where the Secretary is planning or implementing environmental restoration activities. Regulations. "(2) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations regarding the characteristics, composition, funding, and establishment of restoration advisory boards pursuant to this subsection. However, the issuance of regulations shall not be a precondition to the establishment of a restoration advisory board or affect the existence or operation of a restoration advisory board established before the date of the enactment of this section. "(3) The Secretary may provide for the payment of routine administrative expenses of a restoration advisory board from funds available for the operation and maintenance of the installation (or installations) for which the board is established or from the funds available under subsection (e)(3).". (b) ASSISTANCE FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION ON TECHNICAL REVIEW BOARDS AND RESTORATION ADVISORY BOARDS. — Such section is further amended by adding after subsection (d), as added by subsection (a), the following new subsection: "(e) ASSISTANCE FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION. — (1) Using funds made available under paragraph (3), the Secretary may make technical assistance grants under section 117(e) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (42 U.S.C. 9617(e)) in connection with installations containing facilities listed on the National Priorities List. "(2)(A) Subject to subparagraph (B), the Secretary shall make available under paragraph (3) funds to facilitate the participation of individuals from the private sector on technical review committees and restoration advisory boards at installations not covered by paragraph (1) for the purpose of ensuring public input into the planning and implementation of environmental restoration activities at the installations for which such committees and boards are in operation. "(B) The private individuals who are members of a committee or advisory board are eligible for funding assistance under this paragraph only if they reside in the vicinity of the installation (or installations) for which the committee or advisory board is established and are not potentially responsible parties with respect to environmental hazards at any installation. Funds shall be paid to, and administered by, the committee or advisory board on which the private individuals are members for accounting and financial management purposes, subject to subparagraph (C). "(C) Individuals who are local community members of a technical review committee or restoration advisory board may use funds made available under this paragraph only— "(i) to obtain technical assistance in interpreting scientific and engineering issues with regard to the nature of environmental hazards at an installation and the restoration activities proposed for or conducted at the installation; and

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