Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 91.djvu/1510

 91 STAT. 1476

PUBLIC LAW 95-208—DEC. 13, 1977 SEC. 3. DUTIES OF AN OWNER.

Containers, approval and examination.

46 USC 1502.

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(a) Beginning on the date the instrument of ratification is deposited by the United States in accordance with the provisions of article VII of the Convention, for new containers, and beginning on September 6, 1982, for existing containers, the owner of each such container— (1) who is domiciled and has his principal office in the United ':. States, shall have each such container initially approved in accordance with the procedure established by the Secretary or by the administration of another contracting party to the Convention; and shall, thereafter, have each such container periodically examined, as provided in the Convention, in accordance with the procedure established by the Secretary; and (2) who is either domiciled or has his principal office in the United States, shall have each such container initially approved in accordance with the procedure established by the Secretary or by the administration of another contracting party to the Convention; and shall, thereafter, have each such container peri' odically examined, as provided in the Convention, in accordance with the procedure established by the administration of either the country where he is domiciled or has his principal office (so long as such country is a party to the Convention). Any owner of either a new or existing container who is neither domiciled nor maintains a principal office in the United States, or in any other country which is a party to the Convention, may submit their containers for approval and periodic examination according to the procedure established by the Secretary. ^^ (b) During the period beginning on the date the instrument of ratification is deposited by the United States in accordance with the provisions of article VII of the Convention, and before September 6, 1982, an owner of an existing container may have such container approved according to the procedure established by the Secretary, and have a safety approval plate affixed to it, if such container is found to meet the standards of the Convention. SEC. 4. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY.

Enforcement. 46 USC 1503.

Regulations.

Containers, testing and approval procedures. Periodic examination. Data, collection and dissemination.

(a) On and after the date the instrument of ratification is deposited by the United States in accordance with the provisions of article VII of the Convention, the Secretary shall enforce and carry out the provisions of the Convention, and, unless an earlier date is specifically provided, the provisions of this Act, in the United States. (b) The Secretary shall, as soon as practicable after the date of enactment of this Act, promulgate, and from time to time, amend, those regulations he deems necessary for such enforcement. Such regulations, among other things, shall— (1) establish procedures for the testing, inspection, and initial . approval of existing and new containers and of designs for new containers, including procedures relating to the affixing, invali, dating, and removal of safety approval plates for containers; (2) establish procedures to be followed by owners of containers relating to the periodic examination of containers, as provided in the Convention; and (3) provide a method for developing, collecting, and disseminating data concerning container safety and the international transport of containers.

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