National and Community Service Act of 1990/Title VI

TITLE VI — MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Sec. 601. Amtrak Waste Disposal.

(a) AMENDMENT TO RAIL PASSENGER SERVICE ACT.—

Section 306(i) of the Rail Passenger Service Act is amended—

(1) by inserting ``and other Federal, State and local laws´´ after ``Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264)´´; and

(2) by adding at the end thereof the following new sentences: ``New intercity rail passenger cars manufactured on or after October 15, 1990, shall be built to provide for the discharge of human wastes only at servicing facilities. The Corporation shall retrofit those of its intercity rail passenger cars that were manufactured after May 1, 1971 and before October 15, 1990, with human waste disposal systems that provide for the discharge of human wastes only at servicing facilities. Subject to the appropriation of funds, (1) such retrofit program shall be completed within not later than October 15, 1996, and (2) all cars that do not provide for the discharge of human wastes only at servicing facilities shall be removed from service after such date. The United States district courts shall have original jurisdiction over any civil actions brought by the Corporation to enforce the exemption conferred hereunder and may grant equitable or declaratory relief as requested by the Corporation.´´.

(b) PLAN.—

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a plan that sets forth a schedule and projected cost for the completion of the retrofit program referred to in the amendment made by subsection (a) within the time limit set forth under such amendment.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—

The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if enacted on February 5, 1976.

(d) ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS.—

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, after appropriate notice and comment, and in consultation with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, the Surgeon General, and State and local officials, shall promulgate such regulations as may be necessary to mitigate the impact of the discharge of human waste from railroad passenger cars on areas that may be considered environmentally sensitive.

(e) AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION CONCERNING DISPOSAL OF WASTE.—

Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation shall promulgate regulations directing the National Railroad Passenger Corporation to, where appropriate, publish printed information, and make public address announcements, explaining its existing disposal technology and the retrofit and new equipment program, and encouraging passengers using existing equipment not to dispose of wastes in stations, railroad yards, or while the train is moving through environmentally sensitive areas.

Sec. 602. Exchange Program with Countries in Transition from Totalitarianism to Democracy.

(a) AUTHORIZATION OF ACTIVITIES; GRANTS OR CONTRACTS FOR EXCHANGES WITH FOREIGN COUNTRIES.—

Pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 and using the authorities contained therein, the President is authorized, when the President considers that it would strengthen international cooperative relations, to provide, by grant, contract, or otherwise, for exchanges with countries that are in transition from totalitarianism to democracy, which include, but are not limited to Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Romania—

(1) by financing studies, research, instruction, and related activities—

(A) of or for American citizens and nationals in foreign countries; and

(B) of or for citizens and nationals of foreign countries in American private businesses, trade associations, unions, chambers of commerce, and local, State, and Federal Government agencies, located in or outside the United States; and

(2) by financing visits and interchanges between the United States and countries in transition from totalitarianism to democracy.

The program under this section shall be coordinated by the United States Information Agency.

(b) TRANSFER OF FUNDS.—

The President is authorized to transfer to the appropriations account of the United States Information Agency such sums as the President shall determine to be necessary out of the travel accounts of the departments and agencies of the United States, except for the Department of State and the United States Information Agency, as the President shall designate. Such transfers shall be subject to the approval of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. In addition, the President is authorized to accept such gifts or cost-sharing arrangements as may be proffered to sustain the program under this section.