A bill to authorize appropriations for certain insular areas of the United States, and for other purposes.
PL 96-597 (H.R.8444), enacted 12/24/1980

PUBLIC LAW 96-597—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3477 
Public Law 96-597 
96th Congress 
An Act 
United States 
insular areas. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
48 u s e 1662 
note. 
To authorize appropriations for certain insular areas of the United States, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I—AMERICAN SAMOA 
SEC. 101. Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to 
valid existing rights, all right, title, and interest of the Government of 
the United States in personal property situated in American Samoa 
shall be transferred, without reimbursement, to the American Samoa 
government on October 1,1981, unless the agency of the Government 
of the United States having administrative responsibility for the 
property advises the Secretary of the Interior in writing before the 
date of transfer that it has a continuing requirement for such 
property. 
TITLE II—GUAM 
SEC. 201. (a) Section 3 and section 5 of the Act entitled "An Act to Repeal 
provide for the rehabilitation of Guam, and for other purposes" 
(Public Law 88-170; 77 Stat. 302) are hereby repealed. 
Ot)) The Act entitled "An Act to provide for the rehabilitation of 
Guam, and for other purposes" is amended by adding at the end 
thereof the following new section: 
"SEC. 7. The government of Guam shall not be liable to the United 
States on and after the effective date of this section for repayment of 
any amount appropriated under this Act which was not repaid to the 
United States before such date.". 
(c) This section shall take effect October 1,1981. 
Dec. 24, 1980 
[H.R. 8444] 
Effective date. 
TITLE III—NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS 
Report to 
congressional 
committees. 
SEC. 301. Within six months from the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of the Interior is directed to submit to the Committee 
on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate and the Committee 
on Interior and Insular Affairs of the House of Representatives a 
report on the existing dock and harbor facilities in the Northern 
Mariana Islands; the need, if any, for repair, improvement, or 
replacement of such facilities; the cost of such rehabilitation; and the 
amount of Federal assistance which would be necessary to achieve 
such rehabilitation. 
SEC. 302. (a) Section 12 of the Act of August 9,1950 (64 Stat. 434), as 16 use 777k. 
amended, is further amended by deleting "Governor of American 
Samoa," and inserting in lieu thereof "Governor of American Samoa, 
the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands,"; by deleting "to apportion to Puerto Rico, Guam, American 
Samoa," and inserting in lieu thereof "to apportion to Puerto Rico, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mari-
79-194 
O—81—pt. 3 
53 : QL3 
94 STAT. 3478 
PUBLIC LAW 96-597—DEC. 24, 1980 
16 use 669g-l. 
48 use 1681 
note. 
Suspension and 
effective date. 
48 u s e 1681 
note. 
Property 
transfer. 
48 use 1681 
note. 
ana Islands,"; by deleting "Samoa one-third of 1 per centum," and 
inserting in lieu thereof "Samoa one-third of 1 per centum, for the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands one-third of 1 per 
centum,"; and by deleting "expenditure in Puerto Rico, Guam," and 
inserting in lieu thereof "expenditure in Puerto Rico, Guam, the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,". 
(b) Section 8(a) of the Act of September 2,1937 as added August 18, 
1941 (55 Stat. 632), as amended, is further amended by deleting 
"Governor of Guam," and inserting in lieu thereof "Governor of 
Guam, the Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands,"; by deleting "apportion to Puerto Rico, Guam," and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "apportion to Puerto Rico, Guam, the Common-
wealth of the Northern Mariana Islands,"; by deleting "Guam one-
sixth of 1 per centum," and inserting in lieu thereof "Guam one-sixth 
of 1 per centum, for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands one-sixth of 1 per centum,"; and by deleting "expenditure in 
Puerto Rico, Guam," and inserting in lieu thereof "expenditure in 
Puerto Rico, Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 
Islands,". 
SEC. 303. (a) The Act of March 12,1980 (Public Law 96-205; 94 Stat. 
87) is hereby amended as follows: In section 205(a) change "and before 
January 1,1981." to "until, but not after, January 1,1983.". 
(b) The provisions of section 205(c) shall be suspended and shall be 
of no force or effect until January 1,1983. 
TITLE IV—TRUST TERRITORY OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS 
SEC. 401. Section 101 of the Act of March 12, 1980 (94 Stat. 84), is 
amended by changing the commas after "program" and "svstem" to 
semicolons; by deleting the word "and' after "system'; and by 
inserting after "Ponape;" the following: "for expenditure by grant or 
contract for the installation, operation, and maintenance of com-
munications systems which will provide internal and external 
communications;". 
SEC. 402. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, subject to 
valid existing rights, and subject to subsection (b) of this section, all 
right, title, and interest of the Government of the United States in 
personal property situated in the Trust Territory of the Pacific 
Islands and of the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific 
Islands in personal property wherever located shall be transferred, 
without reimbursement, by October 1,1982, to the government of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, the Marshall Islands, or the 
Federated States of Micronesia according to a list of distribution 
established by the High Commissioner of the Trust Territory of the 
Pacific Islands in consultation with the recipient government. 
(b) Personal property referred to in subsection (a) of this section 
shall be transferred upon declaration by the High Commissioner of 
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands that such property is 
surplus to the needs of the government of the Trust Territory of the 
Pacific Islands, which declaration shall be approved, if applicable, by 
the head of the agency of the Government of the United States having 
administrative responsibility for the property. 
(c) If no government exists in Palau at the time of enactment of this 
section that is capable of receiving title to such property in its own 
name, the government of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands 
shall hold such property in trust for the prospective government of 
Palau until such government is established. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-597—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3479 
Release of parcel 
obligation. 
SEC. 403. Section 104 of the Act of March 12, 1980 is amended as 48 use 1695. 
follows: 
(a) strike "nor shall participation" and insert "and shall 
continue to be available to the extent said territory or its 
successor or successors are eligible to participate in such pro-
grams. Participation"; 
(b) change "governments be denied" to "governments shall not 
be denied'; and 
(c) strike the period and insert "and shall continue at such 
levels as the Congress may provide in appropriation Acts.". 
TITLE V—VIRGIN ISLANDS AND GUAM 
SEC. 501. Section 5 of the Act of October 21, 1976 (Public Law 48 use note 
94-584; 90 Stat 2899) is amended by changing "sixty days after its P""^- i^^^-
submission" to "sixty legislative days (not interrupted by an adjourn-
ment sine die of the Congress) after its submission'. 
SEC. 502. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, with regard 
to parcels 2 and 22 (Estate Upper Bethlehem, Saint Croix, United 
States Virgin Islands) and parcels 2A and 23 (Fredensborg and Upper 
Bethlehem, Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands) and parcel 24 
(Estate Body Slob and Upper Bethlehem, Saint Croix, United States 
Virgin Islands), the government of the Virgin Islands is hereby 
released from all obligation under the mortgage and note given by 
the government of the Virgin Islands when such parcels were 
conveyed to the government of the Virgin Islands by the Government 
of the United States. 
TITLE VI—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 601. GENERAL TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—(a) The Secretary of 48 use I469d. 
the Interior is authorized to extend to the governments of American 
Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Virgin Islands, and 
the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and their agencies and 
instrumentalities, with or without reimbursement, technical assist-
ance on subjects within the responsibility of the respective territorial 
governments. Such assistance may be provided by the Secretary of 
the Interior through members of his staff, reimbursements to other 
departments or agencies of the Federal Government under the 
Economy Act (31 U.S.C. 686), grants to or cooperative agreements 
with such governments, agreements with Federal agencies or agen-
cies of State or local governments, or the employment of private 
individuals, partnerships, or corporations. Technical assistance may 
include research, planning assistance, studies, and demonstration 
projects. 
(b) The Secretary of the Interior is further authorized to provide 
technical assistance to, and maintenance of agricultural plantings 
and physical facilities for, the peoples from Enewetak Atoll and 
Bikini Atoll, as well as for the purchase of food and equipment and for 
the transportation of such food, equipment and persons as he deems 
necessary and appropriate until such areas produce sufficient food to 
fully sustain the residents after resettlement. This provision shall not 
cease to be applicable either before or after the termination of the 
trusteeship without the express approval of the United States 
Congress. 
(c) The Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to extend, in his 
discretion, programs administered by the Department of Agriculture 
to Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the 
94 STAT. 3480 
PUBLIC LAW 96-597—DEC. 24, 1980 
Waiver. 
Congressional 
notification. 
Effective date. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
Politicial 
unification of 
insular areas. 
48 u s e 1681 
note. 
20 u s e 3191. 
20 u s e 3222. 
Energy 
resources. 
48 u s e 1492. 
Pacific Islands, the Virgin Islands, and American Samoa (hereinafter 
called the territories). Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the Secretary of Agriculture is authorized to waive or modify any 
statutory requirements relating to the provision of assistance under 
such programs when he deems it necessary in order to adapt the 
programs to the needs of the respective territory: Provided, That not 
less than sixty days prior to extending any program pursuant to this 
section or waiving or modifying any statutory requirement pursuant 
to this section, the Secretary of Agriculture shall notify the Commit-
tee on Agriculture and the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs 
of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and 
Natural Resources and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and 
Forestry of the Senate of his proposed action together with an 
explanation of why his action is necessary and the anticipated 
benefits to each territory affected. Such programs shall be carried out 
in cooperation with the respective governments of the territories and 
shall be covered by a memorandum of understanding between the 
respective territorial government and the Department of Agricul-
ture. Any sums appropriated pursuant to this paragraph shall be 
allocated to the agencies of the Department of Agriculture concerned 
with the administration of programs in the territories. 
(d) Effective October 1, 1981, there are authorized to be appropri-
ated such sums as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this 
section. 
SEC. 602. In the event that a political union is effected at a future 
time between the Territory of Guam and the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, the Federal Government and each of its 
agencies is authorized and directed to assure that— 
(i) there will be no diminution of any rights or entitlements 
otherwise eligible to said territory and Commonwealth in effect 
on the effective date of such union, 
(ii) there will be no adverse effect on any funds which have 
been or may hereafter be authorized or appropriated for said 
territory or Commonwealth, as of the effective date of such 
union, or 
(iii) no action is taken that would in any manner discourage 
such unification. 
Whenever any discrepancy exists or arises between the benefits 
available for either said territory or Commonwealth under any 
policies or programs authorized by law (including, but not limited to, 
any formulas for matching grants-in-aid or comparable programs or 
benefits), the most favorable terms available to either said territory 
or Commonwealth shall be deemed applicable to said unified area 
after the effective date of unification. 
SEC. 603. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the 
contrary, funds appropriated under the Emergency School Aid Act 
for fiscal year 1980 which are available for use in American Samoa, 
Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, the Trust Terri-
tory of the Pacific Islands, and the Virgin Islands shall be available in 
such areas for the purposes set forth in section 702 of the Emergency 
School Aid Act as such section was in effect immediately before 
September 30,1979. 
SEC. 604. (a) The Congress finds that— 
(1) the Caribbean and Pacific insular areas of Puerto Rico, the 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall 
Islands, and Palau are virtually completely dependent on 
imported sources of energy; 
PUBLIC LAW 96-597—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3481 
(2) the dependence of such areas on imported sources of energy 
coupled with the increasing cost and the uncertain availability 
and supply of such sources of energy will continue to frustrate 
the political, social, and economic development of such areas by 
placing increasingly severe fiscal burdens on the local govern-
ments of these areas; 
(3) these insular areas are endowed with a variety of renewable 
sources of energy which, if developed, would alleviate their 
dependence on imported sources of energy, relieve the fiscal 
burden on local governments imposed by the costs of imported 
fuel, and strengthen the base for political, social, and economic 
development; 
(4) appropriate technologies are presently available to develop 
the renewable energy resources of these insular areas but that 
comprehensive energy plans have not been adequately developed 
to meet the energy demands of these areas from renewable 
energy resources. 
(b) The Congress declares that it is the policy of the Federal 
Government to— 
(1) develop the renewable energy resources of the Caribbean 
and Pacific insular areas of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, 
Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the 
Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau; 
and 
(2) to assist other insular areas in the Caribbean and Pacific 
Basin in the development of their renewable energy resources. 
(c) The Secretary of Energy or any administrative official who may 
succeed him shall prepare a comprehensive energy plan with empha-
sis on indigenous renewable sources of energy for Puerto Rico, the 
Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana 
Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands and 
Palau. The plan shall be prepared with the approval of the Secretary 
of the Interior and in cooperation with the chief executive officer of 
each insular area by— 
(1) surveying existing sources and uses of energy; 
(2) estimating future energy needs to the year 2020, giving due 
consideration to a range of economic development possibilities; 
(3) assessing, in depth, the availability and potential for devel-
opment of indigenous energy sources, including solar, wind, 
hydropower, ocean current and tidal, biogas, biofuel, geothermal 
and ocean thermal energy conversion; 
(4) assessing the mix of energy sources (including fossil fuels) 
and identifying those technologies that are needed to meet the 
projected demands for energy; and 
(5) drafting long-term energy plans for such insular areas with 
the objective of minimizing their reliance on energy imports and 
making maximum use of their indigenous energy resources. 
(d) The Secretary of Energy or any administrative official who may 
succeed him, with the approval of the Secretary of the Interior, as 
part of the comprehensive energy planning may demonstrate those 
indigenous renewable energy technologies which are determined to 
be most cost effective through the use of existing programs. 
(e) Within two years from the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Energy or any administrative official who may succeed 
him shall submit the comprehensive energy plan for each insular 
area to the Congress. 
(f) There are hereby authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. 
Energy 
resources, 
development. 
Comprehensive 
energy plan. 
Plan submittal 
to Congress. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
94 STAT. 3482 
PUBLIC LAW 96-597—DEC. 24, 1980 
Effective date. 
42 use 
1962d-16. 
"State." 
Transportation. 
Report to 
Congress. 
SEC. 605. Effective October 1, 1981, section 22 of the Water 
Resources Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-251) is 
amended by adding at the end thereof the following: 
"(c) For the purposes of this section, the term 'State' means the 
several States of the United States, the Commonwealth of Puerto 
Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, the Common-
wealth of the Northern Marianas, and the Trust Territory of the 
Pacific Islands.". 
SEC. 606. (a) The Congress finds that— 
(1) the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands is composed over 
two thousand islands scattered over three million square miles of 
the North Pacific Ocean with a total land area of only seven 
hundred square miles supporting approximately one hundred 
thousand persons; 
(2) the health, safety, welfare, as well as the political, social, 
and economic development of the peoples of the Trust Territory 
of the Pacific Islands are totally dependent on the adequacy and 
regularity of inter-island transportation; 
(3) the principal form of inter-island transportation, espe-
cially for the outer islands is and will continue to be surface 
transportation; 
(4) at present inter-island surface transportation is completely 
dependent on uncertain supplies of increasingly expensive 
imported fuel; 
(5) recent developments in sail-assisted technology offer the 
potential for alleviating the dependence of the peoples of the 
Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands on imported fuel for surface 
transportation, thereby improving the capability for regular 
supply schedules to the various islands, relieving the fiscal 
burden on local governments caused by the costs of imported 
fuel, and strengthening the bsise for political, social, and 
economic development of the peoples of the Trust Territory of the 
Pacific Islands. 
(b) In order to ascertain the potential for sail-assisted technology 
for inter-island transportation in the Trust Territory of the Pacific 
Islands, the Secretary of the Interior is directed to review the 
transportation needs of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and 
submit a report to the Congress by October 1, 1981, on his findings 
and recommendations. 
(c) In preparing his report, the Secretary of the Interior shall 
consider, but is not limited to, frequency of services, present and 
alternative routes, cargo delivery, operating costs, port and docking 
availability and adequacy, and the impact on energy costs of the use 
of a second generation of inter-island field trip vessels using sail-
assisted technology. The report shall set forth a scientific analysis of 
the potential applications of sail-assisted technology as a means of 
reducing energy costs for inter-island transportation including, but 
not limited to, statistics on windspeed, direction, wave heights and 
currents; possible design configurations and specifications for sail-
assisted vessels; cost estimates for construction, financing, and oper-
ation; and such other information as he deems appropriate to 
determine the feasibility of sail-assisted technology for inter-island 
transportation. 
(d) The Secretary is directed to consult with appropriate repre-
sentatives of the various local government units in the Trust Terri-
tory of the Pacific Islands as well as the Secretary of Transportation, 
the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of Defense in prepar-
ing the report. 
PUBLIC LAW 96-597—DEC. 24, 1980 
94 STAT. 3483 
SEC. 607. (a) In order to assist the governments of Guam and the 
Virgin Islands in eliminating general fund deficits, there is author-
ized to be appropriated to the Secretary of the Interior for payment to 
Guam not to exceed $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, and $11,000,000 
for fiscal year 1983, $7,500,000 for fiscal year 1984, and $4,000,000 for 
fiscal year 1985; and for payment to the Virgin Islands not to exceed 
$12,000,000 for fiscal year 1982, $9,000,000 for fiscal year 1983, 
$6,000,000 for fiscal year 1984, and $3,000,000 for fiscal year 1985. 
(b) The Governors of Guam and the Virgin Islands shall each 
submit a plan for approval to the Secretary of the Interior in 
consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury which is designed to 
eliminate the respective territory's general fund deficits by the 
beginning of fiscal year 1986. Such plan shall provide for— 
(1) implementation of an effective budgeting and accounting 
system; 
(2) realistic revenue and expenditure projections which will 
progressively reduce current year general fund deficits and 
result in a balanced general fund budget no later than the 
beginning of fiscal year 1986; 
(3) financing of accumulated general fund deficits; 
(4) quarterly goals and timetables for implementing the plan. 
The plan shall also indicate that the Governor has the necessary 
authority to implement the plan. 
(c) Not more than thirty days after the close of each quarter which 
occurs after the plan required under subsection (a) of this section has 
been approved by the Secretary of the Interior in consultation with 
the Secretary of the Treasury and through the close of fiscal year 
1985, the respective Governor shall submit a report to the Secretary 
of the Interior and the Secretary of the Treasury, certified by the 
respective government comptroller, describing in detail the success 
or failure of such territory in meeting the goals and timetables 
described in such plan. 
(d) No payment shall be made under this title until the plan 
required under this section has been approved by the Secretary of the 
Interior in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury. Before 
making any payment under this title after such plan has been 
approved, the Secretary shall determine whether the respective 
territory is meeting the goals and timetables prescribed in such plan. 
If the Secretary determines that such territory is not meeting such 
goals or timetables, he shall withhold payments otherwise due such 
territory until he determines that such goals and timetables are 
being met. 
Appropriation 
authorization. 
48 u s e 1641 
note. 
Plan submittal 
to Secretary of 
Interior. 
Report submittal 
to Secretaries of 
Interior and 
Treasury. 
Payments. 
94 STAT. 3484 
PUBLIC LAW 96-597—DEC. 24, 1980 
SEC. 608. Authority to enter into contracts, to incur obligations, or 
to make payments under this Act shall be effective only to the extent 
or in such amounts as are provided in advance in appropriations Acts. 
Approved December 24, 1980. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 126 (1980): 
Dec. 9, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 12, considered and passed Senate.