Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 98 Part 2.djvu/665

 PUBLIC LAW 98-466—OCT. 11, 1984

STAT. 1825

Public Law 98-466 98th Congress An Act To direct the Secretary of the Department of Transportation to conduct an independent study to determine the adequacy of certain industry practices and Federal Aviation Administration rules and regulations, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. (a) The Secretary of Transportation shall, in the interest of health and safety, and in the interest of promoting and maintaining a superior United States aviation industry, commission an independent study by the National Academy of Sciences. The study shall determine whether civil commercial aviation industry practices and standards and Federal Aviation Administration rules, regulations, and minimum standards are nondiscriminatory and at least in conformance and parity with nonaviation standards, practices, and regulations for the appropriate maintenance of public and occupational health and safety (including de facto circumstances) in relation to airline cabin air quality for all passengers and crew aboard civil commercial aircraft. (b) In conducting the study, special and objective considerations shall be given to the uniqueness of the environment onboard civil commercial aircraft. The study shall focus on all health and safety aspects of airline cabin air quality, including but not limited to— (1) the quantity of fresh air per occupant and overall quality of air onboard; (2) the quantity and quality of humidification; (3) onboard environmental conditions and contamination limits, including exposure to radiation; (4) emergency breathing equipment, including toxic fumeprotective breathing equipment; (5) measures, procedures, and capabilities for detecting and extinguishing fires and the removal of smoke and toxic fumes within safe pressurization limits; (6) safe pressurization of the aircraft, considering the broad range of cardiopulmonary health of the traveling public, and dissemination of information to the medical profession and the general public of current pressurization limits and practices to assure valid medical advice concerning the health effects of air travel; (7) the feasibility of collection and dissemination by the aviation industry, the Federal Aviation Administration, or any other private or governmental organization of a data base of medical statistics and environmental factors relating to air travel, including but not limited to, maintenance and operation records and procedures of aircraft, in an effort to assess the adequacy of aircraft systems, design, regulations, standards and practices relating to airline cabin air quality from the standpoint of health and safety, and for the purpose of issuing Federal Aviation Administration administrative advisory circu-

Oct. 11, 1984 [S. 197]

Aircraft and air carriers. Health. Safety. 49 USC app. 1303 note.

Public information.

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