Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 116 Part 2.djvu/689

 PUBLIC LAW 107-231—OCT. 1, 2002 116 STAT. 1471 Public Law 107-231 107th Congress An Act To provide for the establishment of investigative teams to assess building performance and emergency response and evacuation procedures in the wake of any building failure that has resulted in substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential of substantial loss of life. 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 "National Construction Safety Team Act". SEC. 2. NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION SAFETY TEAMS. Oct. 1, 2002 [H.R. 4687] National Construction Safety Team Act. 15 USC 7301 note. 15 USC 7301. Federal Register, publication. (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (in this Act referred to as the "Director") is authorized to establish National Construction Safety Teams (in this Act referred to as a "Team") for deployment after events causing the failure of a building or buildings that has resulted in substantial loss of life or that posed significant potential for substantial loss of life. To the maximum extent practicable, the Director shall establish and deploy a Team within 48 hours after such an event. The Director shall promptly publish in the Federal Register notice of the establishment of each Team. (b) PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION; DUTIES. — (1) PURPOSE. —The purpose of investigations by Teams is to improve the safety and structural integrity of buildings in the United States. (2) DUTIES. —A Team shall— (A) establish the likely technical cause or causes of the building failure; (B) evaluate the technical aspects of evacuation and emergency response procedures; (C) recommend, as necessary, specific improvements to building standards, codes, and practices based on the findings made pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B); and (D) recommend any research and other appropriate actions needed to improve the structural safety of buildings, and improve evacuation and emergency response procedures, based on the findings of the investigation. (c) PROCEDURES. — (1) DEVELOPMENT. —Not later than 3 months after the date Deadline. of the enactment of this Act, the Director, in consultation with the United States Fire Administration and other appropriate Federal agencies, shall develop procedures for the establishment and deployment of Teams. The Director shall

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