Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/1134

 91 STAT. 1100

PUBLIC LAW 95-124^0CT. 7, 1977 J SI'

Earthquake resistant construction.

Earthquake prediction.

Model codes.

Earthquakerelated issues, understanding.

Research.

(3) by rule, within 300 days after such date of enactment— (A) designate the Federal department, agency, or interagency group which shall have primary responsibility for the development and implementation of the earthquake hazards reduction program; (B) assign and specify the role and responsibility of each appropriate Federal department, agency, and entity with respect to each object and element of the program; (C) establish goals, priorities, and target dates for imple^ ' ^ mentation of the program; (D) provide a method for cooperation and coordination with, and assistance (to the extent of available resources) to, interested governmental entities in all States, particularly those containing areas of high or moderate seismic risk; and ' (E) provide for qualified staffing for the program and its components, (c) OBJECTIV'ES.—The objectives of the earthquake hazards reduction program shall include— (1) the development of technologically and economically feasible design and construction methods and procedures to make new and existing structures, in areas of seismic risk, earthquake resistant, giving priority to the development of such methods and procedures for nuclear power generating plants, dams, hospitals, schools, public utilities, public safety structures, high occupancy buildings, and other structures which are especially needed in time of disaster; (2) the implementation in all areas of high or moderate seismic risk, of a system (including personnel, technology, and procedures) for predicting damaging earthquakes and for identifying, evaluating, and accurately characterizing seismic hazards; (3) the development, publication, and promotion, in conjunction with State and local officials and professional organizations, of model codes and other means to coordinate information about seismic risk with land-use policy decisions and building activity; (4) the development, in areas of seismic risk, of improved understanding of, and capability with respect to, earthquakerelated issues, including methods of controlling the risks from earthquakes, planning to prevent such risks, disseminating warnings of earthquakes, organizing emergency services, and planning for reconstruction and redevelopment after an earthquake; (5) the education of the public, including State and local officials, as to earthquake phenomena, the identification of locations and structures which are especially susceptible to earthquake damage, ways to reduce the adverse consequences of an earthquake, and related matters; (6) the development of research on— (A) ways to increase the use of existing scientific and engineering knowledge to mitigate earthquake hazards; I * ' (B) the social, economic, legal, and political consequences of earthquake prediction; and (C) ways to assure the availability of earthquake insurance or some functional substitute; and (7) the development of basic and applied research leading to a better understanding of the control or alteration of seismic phenomena.

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