fication of standards of performance for environmental
technologies to clarify quality, performance, and substitut-
ability for conventional products.
(b) EXISTING PROGRAMS.—In developing the pro-
gram established in subsection (a), the Secretary of Com-
merce shall, to the maximum extent practicable, coordi-
nate efforts under such program with existing non-Federal
standards activities that affect environmental tech-
nologies.
(c) NON-FEDERAL PROGRAM CERTIFICATION.—The
Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the Adminis-
trator and the Secretary of Energy, shall establish a mech-
anism for recognizing non-Federal organizations engaged
in environmental standards setting and associated product
performance verification activities for the purpose of en-
suring quality and enhancing consumer confidence and
international recognition.
(d) INTERNATIONAL
HARMONIZATION.—The Sec-
retary of Commerce shall work with domestic and inter-
national standards organizations to insure harmonization
of domestic standards with international standards.
SEC. 
402. 
VERIFICATION 
OF 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
TECH-
NOLOGIES.
(a) ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY VERIFICATION
CENTERS.—The Administrator may enter into joint agree-
ments with State and local governments and private sector
representatives to support Environmental Technology Ver-
ification Centers (in this section referred to as ‘‘Verifica-
tion Centers’’) that verify, evaluate, and disseminate infor-
mation on the performance and cost of environmental
technologies.
(b) FUNCTIONS.—Verification Centers may, under
subsection (a)—
(1) evaluate cost and performance data for en-
vironmental technologies;
(2) provide information that describes whether
the environmental technology evaluated and veri-
fied—
(A) meets the performance criteria of ap-
plicable law (including regulations issued by the
Administrator) under tested conditions;
(B) meets the performance criteria of ap-
plicable law (including regulations issued by the
Administrator) at comparable or lower costs;
and
(C) constitutes a significant advance with
broad applicability.
(c) ADMINISTRATION.—The Administrator shall—
(1) establish procedures for soliciting applica-
tions for and selecting, pursuant to criteria referred
to in subsection (d), Verification Centers to perform
functions under this section;
(2) establish criteria for eligibility to act as a
Verification Center;
(3) certify appropriate protocols developed by
Verification Centers to verify the quality and credi-
bility of cost and performance data submitted by
Verification Centers;
(4) ensure that information regarding environ-
mental technologies verified and evaluated under this
program is disseminated through the networks re-
ferred to in section 214;
(5) ensure that fees charged by Verification
Centers are reasonable and include—
(A) lower fees for small businesses, non-
profit organizations, and institutions of higher
education; and
(B) lower fees for verifying environmental
technologies that provide source reduction; and
(6) consult with other Federal agencies to make
available the sources and expertise of Federal lab-
oratories through cooperative agreements with the
Verification Centers.
(d) SELECTION CRITERIA.—The Administrator, in
consultation with other Federal agencies, State and local
governments, and private sector organizations, shall select
Verification Centers based on the following criteria:
(1) The capabilities of the applicant to provide
a thorough and credible technical and financial eval-
uation of environmental technologies.
(2) The clarity and efficiency of the proposed
procedures for the receipt and review of applications
for technology verification.
(3) The likelihood of the continued viability of
the Verification Center.
(4) The existence of a plan for disseminating
nonproprietary information regarding technologies
verified by the Verification Center.
(5) Other criteria that the Administrator con-
siders appropriate.
(e) MERIT-BASED SELECTION PROCESS.—Verifica-
tion Centers supported under this section shall be selected
only through a merit-based selection process, established
by the Administrator, pursuant to the criteria described
in subsection (d).
(f) FINANCIAL
ASSISTANCE.—The Administrator
may provide financial assistance to a Verification Center
under this section. Such financial assistance shall—
(1) be for not more than 5 years; and
(2) provide not more than 30 percent of the
cost of operating the Verification Center.
(g) DIRECT PARTNERSHIPS.—If the Administrator
determines that Verification Centers cannot adequately
verify the performance of environmental technologies be-
cause of scale or complexity, the Administrator may en-
gage directly with private sector organizations through di-
rect verification partnerships to verify the performance of
such technologies. The Administrator may engage in a
direct verification partnership under this subsection only
if—
(1) the Administrator documents that the ver-
ification cannot be conducted at a Verification Cen-
ter, or comparable commercial service, established
under this section for reasonable cost;
(2) the Federal Government provides not more
than 30 percent of the cost-share of the project; and
(3) the Administrator determines that the ver-
ification will make a significant contribution to sus-
tainable economic development.
(h) JUDICIAL REVIEW.—
(1) DECISION TO LIST OR NOT LIST.—The ver-
ification or evaluation of a technology under this sec-
tion shall not—
(A) constitute a final action by the Admin-
istrator; and
(B) be subject to judicial review.
(2) FAILURE TO COMPLY.—If a technology veri-
fied, evaluated and listed pursuant to this section
fails to comply with any applicable law (including
regulations issued by the Administrator), the ver-
ification, evaluation, or listing shall not constitute a
defense in an enforcement action or suit and shall
not create a cause of action against the Environ-
mental Protection Agency.
SEC. 403. CONSUMER CLAIMS ON ENVIRONMENTAL TECH-
NOLOGIES.
The Federal Trade Commission shall—
(1) conduct a study of scientific and techno-
logical information needed for the fair evaluation of
commercial performance claims regarding environ-
mental technologies; and
(2) develop a plan for close collaboration with
Federal agencies, including the Environmental Pro-
tection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the
Department of Commerce, that have expertise in en-
vironmental technologies to ensure the use of the
best available scientific and technological informa-
tion by the Federal Trade Commission in evaluating
such claims.
TITLE V—INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAMS
SEC. 501. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) The global market for environmental tech-
nologies, 
goods, 
and 
services 
is 
currently
$270,000,000,000 and is estimated to grow to
$500,000,000,000 by the year 2000.
(2) Such market represents a major oppor-
tunity to increase high-quality jobs in the United
States and to assist nations in implementing sus-
tainable economic development programs.
(3) Although the United States has historically
been an international leader in the development of
environmental technologies, United States companies
have not gained a corresponding share of the inter-
national market, in part because other nations have
more extensive programs to assist in promoting the
export of environmental technologies.
SEC. 502. INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
DEMONSTRATION.
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator, in cooperation
with the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy,
and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies and
utilizing, to the maximum extent practicable, existing Fed-
eral programs, is encouraged to support programs in other
nations for the purpose of enhancing United States ex-
ports of environmental technologies and promoting the
contribution of United States environmental technologies
to international sustainable economic development.
(b) ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES.—Activities and serv-
ices under subsection (a) shall include—
(1) providing scientific and technical data and
other information to the host government or organi-
zations designated by the host government that
would illustrate the value of United States environ-
mental technologies in achieving environment policy
goals of that nation;
(2) identifying United States sources of exper-
tise or technology that could assist the host nation
in achieving its environmental goals;
(3) providing assistance in conducting scientific
and technological environmental policy assessments
conducted by the host government to illustrate the
benefits of different options and the contributions to
be made through science and technology; and
(4) providing other services authorized by the
Administrator that would carry out this section.
(c) COOPERATIVE
ASSESSMENTS.—The Adminis-
trator may enter into cooperative agreements with the host
government or organizations designated by the host gov-
ernment to carry out the activities and services described
in subsection (b).
(d) USER FEES.—The Administrator may impose
fees to defray the costs of activities and services under
this section.
(e) GRANT RECEIPT.—To carry out this section, the
Administrator may receive unconditional grants of finan-
cial support from the host government or nonprofit philan-
thropic Foundations. Such grants may be accepted only
if they are unconditional and in no way influence the direc-
tion of activities and services under this section.
(f) EVALUATION AND REPORT.—Within 2 years after
the establishment of the program under this section, and
annually thereafter, the Administrator shall submit to the
Congress a report that contains an evaluation of the pro-
gram and the effectiveness of the activities and services
carried out under the program with respect to each host
nation. The evaluation shall provide recommendations for
continuation, improvement, or termination of such activi-
ties and services.
SEC. 503. PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
EXPORTS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary of Commerce,
in consultation with the Administrator and the heads of
other appropriate agencies and utilizing, to the maximum
extent practicable, existing programs of the Federal and
State governments, shall support activities to promote the
export of United States environmental technologies.
(b) SERVICES.—Services and activities under this
section may include the provision of—
(1) information on international market oppor-
tunities, including trade fairs, international environ-
mental regulations, and applicable technical and fi-
nancial assistance programs;
(2) education and training that will assist in
adapting and developing environmental technologies
and services with substantial potential for export to
major international markets; and
(3) training, in cooperation with the Adminis-
trator of the Agency for International Development,
to individuals from nations other than the United
States concerning the operation, maintenance, and
full value of United States environmental tech-
nologies and services.
(c) OTHER ASSISTANCE AUTHORIZED.—The Sec-
retary of Commerce may provide technical and other as-
sistance to carry out this section. Such assistance may in-
clude equipment and facilities of Federal laboratories (in-
cluding the scientists and engineers at those laboratories).
The Secretary shall coordinate with the heads of other
Federal agencies to make the capabilities of the Federal
laboratories available under this section.
(d) COORDINATION WITH OTHER PROGRAMS.—The
Secretary of Commerce shall coordinate the activities and
services under this section with other programs of the
Federal Government, including programs carried out by
the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of
Energy, the Agency for International Development, and
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, to avoid re-
dundancy and ensure maximum use of the Federal
investment.
(e) ANNUAL REVIEW.—The Secretary of Commerce
shall annually submit to the Congress a report containing
a review of activities and services carried out under this
section.
SEC. 504. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR TECHNOLOGY ADAP-
TATION TO PROMOTE EXPORTS.
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a revolv-
ing fund to be known as the Environmental Technology
Export Revolving Fund for the purpose of providing finan-
cial assistance for the adaptation and demonstration of
United States environmental technologies to enhance ex-
ports to major international markets.
(b) FORMS OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—To carry
out this section, the Secretary of Commerce may, to the
extent provided in appropriations Acts, use the Fund for
the purpose of making loans, loan guarantees, or other
forms of financial assistance to United States companies,
independent research centers, institutions of higher edu-
cation, and other organizations the Secretary considers
appropriate.
(c) PRIORITIES.—In providing financial assistance
under this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall give
priority to environmental technologies—
(1) that require modifications through further
research and development to enable commercializa-
tion in international markets;
(2) that have substantial potential for use in ex-
port markets; and
(3) for which substantial manufacture will re-
main in the United States.
(d) OPERATING PLAN.—Not later than January 1,
1995, the Secretary of Commerce shall submit to the Con-
gress an operating plan to carry out this section. The plan
shall contain a description of coordination efforts with
other sources of export finance assistance, including the
Agency for International Development and the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation, and an evaluation of al-
ternative approaches to carrying out this section (includ-
ing priorities referred to in subsection (c)). The Secretary
shall develop recommendations, as appropriate, to carry
out this section in the most effective and efficient manner
achievable. The recommendations shall include a descrip-
tion of the system of evaluation used under this sub-
section.
(e) TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSIST-
ANCE.—
(1) LIMITATION ON PROJECT AMOUNT.—Loans,
loan guarantees, and other forms of financial assist-
ance made under this section shall be in such form
and under such terms and conditions as the Sec-
retary of Commerce may prescribe by regulation.
The amount of assistance provided under this sec-
tion for a project may not exceed 50 percent of the
total eligible project costs. The term ‘‘total eligible
project costs’’ shall be defined by the Secretary of
Commerce by regulation.
(2) LIMITATION
ON
TOTAL
COST.—Financial
assistance under this section shall be made under
such terms and conditions as are necessary to en-
sure that the cost of carrying out this section shall