Laws: Cases and Codes : U.S. Code : Title 20 : Section 3602


   
U.S. Code as of: 01/19/04
Section 3602. Asbestos Hazards School Safety Task Force

    (a) Establishment; composition; membership; chairman; appointment;
      vacancies
      (1) There is established a task force to be known as the Asbestos
    Hazards School Safety Task Force (hereinafter in this chapter
    referred to as "Task Force"). The Task Force shall be composed of
    ten members, who shall be appointed by the Secretary within 30 days
    after June 14, 1980, as follows:
        (A) One representative of the Department of Education,
      recommended by the Secretary of Education.
        (B) One representative of the Department of Health and Human
      Services.
        (C) One representative of the National Cancer Institute.
        (D) One representative of the Environmental Protection Agency,
      recommended by the Administrator of such agency.
        (E) One representative of the National Institute of
      Environmental Health Sciences.
        (F) One representative of the Occupational Safety and Health
      Administration, recommended by the Secretary of Labor.
        (G) Four representatives from among organizations concerned
      with education and health.

    Members of the Task Force shall be individuals who have knowledge
    of the medical problems associated with exposure to asbestos, or
    individuals who are familiar with procedures for the following
    activities: the containment or removal of asbestos from buildings;
    the replacement of asbestos materials removed from school buildings
    with other appropriate building materials; and the restoration of
    such buildings to conditions comparable to those existing before
    such containment or removal was carried out.
      (2) The Secretary shall designate a chairman of the Task Force
    from among its members.
      (3) Members shall be appointed for the life of the Task Force.
    Any vacancy in the Task Force shall be filled in the same manner in
    which the original appointment was made.
    (b) Meetings; quorum; hearings
      (1) The Task Force shall meet, no later than 30 days after the
    appointment of its members, at the call of the chairman of the Task
    Force.
      (2) Five members of the Task Force shall constitute a quorum for
    purposes of conducting the business of the Task Force, but a lesser
    number may hold hearings.
    (c) Compensation; travel expenses
      (1) Members of the Task Force who are not full-time officers or
    employees of the Federal Government shall receive compensation at a
    rate determined by the Secretary, but not to exceed the daily
    equivalent of the maximum annual rate of pay in effect for grade
    GS-16 of the General Schedule, for each day (including traveltime)
    during which they are engaged in the performance of the duties of
    the Task Force.
      (2) While away from their homes or regular places of business in
    the performance of the duties of the Task Force, all members of the
    Task Force shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in
    lieu of subsistence, in the same manner as persons employed
    intermittently in the Government service are allowed expenses under
    section 5703 of title 5.
    (d) Availability of Department of Education personnel; use of mails
      (1) Upon request of the Task Force, the Secretary shall make
    available to the Task Force personnel of the Department of
    Education to assist the Task Force in carrying out its duties.
      (2) The Task Force may use the United States mails in the same
    manner and upon the same conditions as other departments and
    agencies of the United States.
    (e) Duties
      The duties of the Task Force shall include - 
        (1) the compilation of medical, scientific, and technical
      information explaining - 
          (A) the health and safety hazards associated with asbestos
        materials; and
          (B) the means of identifying, sampling, and testing materials
        suspected of emitting asbestos fibers;

        (2) the distribution of the information described in paragraph
      (1) (in any appropriate form such as pamphlets, reports, or
      instructions) to State educational agencies and to local
      educational agencies for the purpose of assisting such agencies
      in carrying out activities described in this chapter;
        (3) the review of applications for grants and loans under
      sections 3604 and 3605 of this title, and the submission to the
      Secretary of recommendations respecting the approval or
      disapproval of such applications;
        (4) the review of any guidelines established by the
      Environmental Protection Agency for identifying those schools in
      which exposure to asbestos fibers constitutes a health problem
      and for taking appropriate corrective actions at such schools, in
      order to determine whether any modifications of such guidelines
      should be recommended to the Secretary under paragraph (5); and
        (5) providing the Secretary with assistance in formulating
      standards and procedures under section 3606 of this title by - 
          (A) submitting to the Secretary relevant information
        concerning the results of the review made under paragraph (4)
        of this subsection; and
          (B) recommending such modifications to the guidelines
        referred to in such paragraph as the Task Force considers
        appropriate.

    In carrying out its duties under this subsection, the Task Force
    shall avoid, to the maximum extent practicable, duplicating similar
    activities undertaken by the Environmental Protection Agency.
    (f) Termination
      The Task Force shall cease to exist at the end of the 180-day
    period beginning on the date that the authority of the Secretary to
    make loans under section 3605 of this title has expired.



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