An Act to provide for Federal railroad safety, hazardous materials control and for other purposes
PL 91-458 (S.1933), enacted 10/16/1970

84 STAT.] 
PUBLIC L
A
W 91-458-OCT. 16, 1970 
971 
Public Law 91-458 
AN ACT 
To provide for Federal railroad safety, hazardous materials control and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
TITLE I—PURPOSE 
SEC. 101. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE. 
The Congress declares that the purpose of this Act is to promote 
safety in all areas of railroad operations and to reduce railroad-related 
accidents, and to reduce deaths and injuries to persons and to reduce 
damage to property caused by accidents involving any carrier of haz-
ardous materials. 
TITLE II—RAILROAD SAFETY 
SEC. 201. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "Federal Railroad Safety Act of 1970". 
SEC. 202. RAIL SAFETY REGULATIONS. 
(a) The Secretary of Transportation (hereafter in this title referred 
to as the "Secretary") shall (1) prescribe, as necessary, appropriate 
rules, regulations, orders, and standards for all areas of railroad safety 
supplementing provisions of law and regulations in effect on the date 
of enactment of this title, and (2) conduct, as necessary, research, 
development, testing, evaluation, and training for all areas of railroad 
safety. However, nothing in this title shall prohibit the bargaining 
representatives of common carriers and their employees from entering 
into collective bargaining agreements under the Railway Labor Act, 
including agreements relating to qualifications of employees, which are 
not inconsistent with rules, regulations, orders^ or standards prescribed 
by the Secretary under this title. Nothing in this title shall be construed 
to give the Secretary authority to issue rules, regulations, orders, and 
standards relating to qualifications of employees, except such qualifica-
tions as are specifically related to safety. 
(b) Hearings shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of 
section 553 of title 5 of the United States Code for all rules, regulations, 
orders, or standards issued by the Secretary including those establish-
ing, amending, revoking, or waiving compliance with a railroad 
safety rule, regulation, order, or standard under this title, and an 
opportunity shall be provided tor oral presentations. 
(c) The Secretary may, after hearing in accordance with subsection 
(b) of this section, waive in whole or in part compliance with any rule, 
regulation, order, or standard established under this title, if he deter-
mines that such waiver of compliance is in the public interest and is 
consistent with railroad safety. The Secretary shall make public his 
reasons for granting any such waiver. 
(d) In prescribing rules, regulations, orders, and standards under 
this section the Secretary shall consider relevant existing safety data 
and standards. 
(e) The Secretary shall issue initial railroad safety rules, regula-
tions, orders, and standards under this title based upon existing safety 
data and standards, not later than one year after the date of enact-
ment of this title. The Secretary shall review and, after hearing in 
accordance with subsection (b) of this section, revise such rules, reg-
ulations, orders, and standards as necessary. 
October 16, 1970 
[S.1933] 
Federal railroad 
safety and 
hazardous ma-
terials control. 
Citation of 
title. 
44 Stat. 577; 
48 Stat. 1185; 
49 Stat. 1189. 
45 use 
188. 
Hearing 
80 Stat. 
151-
s. 
383 
Waiver. 
Safety rules and 
regulations, 
issuance and 
972 
PUBLIC LAW 91-458-OCT. 16, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
Judicial 
80 Stat. 392. 
80 Stat. 384. 
Study. 
Railroad safety 
laws, regulations, 
etc., uniformity. 
Investigative 
and surveillance 
activities. 
Annual cer-
tification. 
(f) Any final agency action taken under this section is subject to 
judicial review as provided in chapter 7 of title 5 of the United States 
Code. 
SEC. 203. EMERGENCY POWERS. 
If through testing, inspection, investigation, or research carried out 
pursuant to this title, the Secretary determines that any facility or 
piece of equipment is in unsafe condition and thereby creates an emer-
gency situation involving a hazard of death or injury to persons 
affected by it, the Secretary may immediately issue an order, without 
regard to the provisions of section 202(b) of this title, prohibiting the 
further use of such facility or equipment until the unsafe condition 
is corrected. Subsequent to the issuance of such order, opportunity for 
review shall be provided in accordance with section 554 of title 5 of 
the United States Code. 
SEC. 204. GRADE CROSSINGS AND RAILROAD RIGHTS-OF-WAY. 
(a) The Secretary shall submit to the President for transmittal to 
the Congress, within one year after the date of enactment of this title, 
a comprehensive study of the problem of eliminating and protect-
ing railroad grade crossings, including a study of measures to pro-
tect pedestrians in densely populated areas along railroad rights-of-
way, together with his recommendations for appropriate action in-
cluding, if relevant, a recommendation for equitable allocation of 
the economic costs of any program proposed as a result of such study. 
(b) In addition the Secretary shall, insofar as practicable, under 
the authority provided by this title and pursuant to his authority over 
highway, traffic, and motor vehicle safety, and highway construction, 
undertake a coordinated effort toward the objective of developing 
and implementing solutions to the grade crossing problem, as well 
as measures to protect pedestrians in densely populated areas along 
railroad rights-of-way. 
SEC. 205. STATE REGULATION. 
The Congress declares that laws, rules, regulations, orders, and 
standards relating to railroad safety shall be nationally uniform to 
the extent practicable. A State may adopt or continue in force any 
law, rule, regulation, order, or standard relating to railroad safety 
until such time as the Secretary has adopted a rule, regulation, order, 
or standard covering the subject matter of such State requirement. A 
State may adopt or continue in force an additional or more stringent 
law, rule, regulation, order, or standard relating to railroad safety 
when necessary to eliminate or reduce an essentially local safety 
hazard, and when not incompatible with any Federal law, rule, regu-
lation, order, or standard, and when not creating an undue burden 
on interstate commerce. 
SEC. 206, STATE PARTICIPATION. 
(a) A State may participate in carrying out investigative and sur-
veillance activities in connection with any rule, regulation, order, or 
standard prescribed by the Secretary under this title if the safety prac-
tices applicable to railroad facilities, equipment, rolling stock, and 
operations within such State are regulated by a State agency and such 
State agency submits to the Secretary an annual certification that such 
State agency— 
(1) has regulatory jurisdiction over the safety practices appli-
cable to railroad facilities, equipment, rolling stock, and opera-
tions within the State concerned; 
(2) has been furnished a copy of each Federal safety rule, regu-
lation, order, and standard, applicable to any such railroad 
84 STAT.] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-458-OCT. 16, 1970 
973 
Penalties; 
injunctive relief. 
Report, 
contents. 
facility, equipment, rolling stock, or operation, established under 
this title as of the date of the certification; 
(3) is conducting the investigative and surveillance activities 
E
rescribed by the Secretary as necessary for the enforcement by 
im of each rule, regulation, order, and standard referred to in 
paragraph (2) of this subsection, as interpreted by the Secretary. 
The Secretary shall retain the exclusive authority to assess and com-
promise penalties and (except as otherwise provided by section 207 of 
this title) to request injunctive relief for the violation of rules, regula-
tions, orders, and standards prescribed by the Secretary under section 
202(a) of this title and to recommend appropriate action as provided 
by sections 209 and 210 of this title. 
(b) Each annual certification shall include a report, in such form 
as the Secretary may by regulation provide, showing— 
(1) the name and address of each railroad subject to the safety 
jurisdiction of the State agency; 
(2) all axicidents or incidents reported during the preceding 
twelve months by each such railroad involving personal injury re-
quiring hospitalization, fatality, or property damage exceeding 
$750 or such other higher amount as the Secretary may prescribe, 
together with a summary of the State agency's investigation as to 
the cause and circumstances surrounding each such accident or 
incident; 
(3) the record maintenance, reporting, and inspection practices 
conducted by the State agency to aid the Secretary in his enforce-
ment of rules, regulations, orders, and standards prescribed by 
him under section 202(a) of this title, including a detail of the 
number of inspections made of rail facilities, equipment, rolling 
stock, and operations by the State agency during the preceding 
twelve months; and 
(4) such other information as the Secretary may require. 
The report included with the first annual certification need not show 
information unavailable at that time. If after receipt of annual certifi-
cation the Secretary determines that the State agency is not satisfac-
torily complying with the investigative and surveillance activities 
prescribed by him with respect to such safety rules, regulations, orders, 
and standards, he may, on reasonable notice and after opportunity 
Hearing. 
for hearing, reject the certification, in whole or in part, or take such 
other action as he deems appropriate to achieve adequate enforcement. 
When such notice is given by the Secretary, the burden of proof shall 
be upon the State agency to show that it is satisfactorily complying 
with the investigative and surveillance activities prescribed by the 
Secretary with respect to such safety rules, regulations, orders, and 
standards. 
(c) With respect to any railroad facility, equipment, rolling stock, 
or operation for which the Secretary does not receive an annual certi-
fication under subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary may enter 
into an agreement with a State agency to authorize such agency to 
provide all or any part of the investigative and surveillance activities 
prescribed by the Secretary as necessary to obtain compliance with any 
Federal safety rule, regulation, order, or standard applicable to any 
such railroad facility, equipment, rolling stock, or operation. An agree-
ment entered into under this subsection, or any provision thereof, may 
be terminated by the Secretary if, after notice and opportunity for 
a hearing, he finds that the State agency has failed to provide all or 
any part of the investigative and surveillance activities to which the 
agreement relates. Such finding and termination shall be published in 
N one otnplianc e, 
notice to State 
agency. 
Agreements 
with noncertifying 
States. 
Termination 
provision. 
Publication in 
Federal Register. 
974 
PUBLIC LAW 91-458-OCT. 16, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
state programs, 
Federal-State 
expenditures. 
State investi-
gative prac-
tices, monitoring. 
the Federal Eegister, and shall become effective no sooner than fifteen 
days after the date of publication. 
(d) Upon application by any State agency which has submitted a 
certification under subsection (a) of this section, or entered into an 
agreement under subsection (c) or this section, the Secretary shall pay, 
out of funds appropriated pursuant to this title or otherwise made 
available, up to 50 per centum of the cost of the personnel, equipment, 
and activities of such State agency reasonably required, during the 
ensuing fiscal year, to carry out a safety program under such certifica-
tion or agreement. No such payment may be made unless the State 
agency making application under this subsection gives assurances 
satisfactory to the Secretary that the State agency will provide the 
remaining cost of such a safety program and that the aggregate 
expenditures of funds of the State, exclusive of Federal grants, for 
the safety program will be maintained at a level which does not fall 
below the average level of such expenditures for the last two fiscal 
years preceding the date of enactment of this title. 
(e) The Secretary is authorized to conduct such monitoring of State 
investigative and surveillance practices and such other inspection and 
investigation as may be necessary to aid in the enforcement of the 
provisions of this title. 
(f) The certification which is in effect under subsection (a) of this 
section shall not apply with respect to any new or amended Federal 
safety rule, regulation, order, or standard for railroads established 
under this title after the date of such certification until the State 
agency has submitted an appropriate certification in accordance with 
the provisions of subsection (a) of this section to provide the necessary 
inspection and surveillance activities in accordance with the provisions 
of such subsection. 
SEC. 207. ENFORCING COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL RAILROAD SAFETY 
RULES, REGULATIONS, ORDERS, AND STANDARDS. 
In any case in which the Secretary has failed to assess the civil 
penalty applicable under section 209 of this title, or no civil action has 
been commenced to obtain injunctive relief under section 210 of this 
title, with respect to a violation of any railroad safety rule, regulation, 
order, or standard issued under this title, within 90 days after the date 
on which such violation occurred, a State agency participating in 
investigative and surveillance activities under the provisions of section 
206 of this title within the State where the violation occurred, may 
apply to the district court of the United States within the jurisdiction 
of which the violation occurred for the enforcement of such rule, regu-
lation, order, or standard. The court shall have jurisdiction to enforce 
compliance with such rule, regulation, order, or standard by injunction 
or other proper process to restrain further violation thereof, or to 
enjoin compliance therewith, or to assess and collect the civil penalty 
included in or made applicable to such rule, regulation, order, or stand-
ard. The provisions of this section shall not apply in any case in which 
the Secretary has affirmatively determined, in writing, that no viola-
tion has occurred. 
SEC. 208. GENERAL POWERS. 
(a) In carrying out his functions under this title, the Secretary is 
authorized to perform such acts including, but not limited to, conduct-
ing investigations, making reports^ issuing subpenas, requiring produc-
tion of documents, taking depositions, prescribing recordkeeping and 
reporting requirements, carrying out and contracting for research, 
development, testing, evaluation, and training (particularly with 
respect to those aspects of railroad safety which he finds to be m need 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC L
A
W 91-458-OCT. 16, 1970 
975 
National Trans-
portation Safety 
Board, investiga-
tive authority. 
Rail equipment, 
etc., inspection. 
35 Stat. 66; 
53 Stat. 1404. 
of prompt attention), and delegating to any public bodies or qualified 
persons, functions respecting examination, inspecting, and testing of 
railroad facilities, equipment, rolling stock, operations, or persons, as 
he deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. 
(b) The National Transportation Safety Board shall have the au-
thority to deterraine the cause or probable cause and report the facts, 
conditions and circumstances relating to accidents investigated under 
subsection (a) of this section, but may delegate such authority to any 
oifice or oflGlcial of the Board or to any office or official of the Depart-
ment of Transportation with the approval of the Secretary, as it may 
determine appropriate. 
(c) To carry out the Secretary's and the Board's responsibilities 
under this title, officers, employees, or agents of the Secretary or the 
Beard, as the case may be, are authorized to enter upon, inspect, and 
examine rail facilities, equipment, rolling stock, operations, and per-
tinent records at reasonable times and in a reasonable manner. Such 
officers, employees, or agents shall display proper credentials when 
requested. 
(d) All orders, rules, regulations, standards, and requirements in 
force, or prescribed or issued by the Secretary under this title, or by 
any State agency which is participating in investigative and surveil-
lance activities pursuant to section 206 of this title, shall have the 
same force and effect as a statute for purposes of the application of 
sections 3 and 4 of the Act of April 22, 1908 (45 U.S.C. 53 and 54), 
relating to the liability of common carriers by railroad for injuries 
to their employees. 
SEC. 209. PENALTIES. 
(a) It shall be unlawful for any railroad to disobey, disregard, or 
fail to adhere to any rule, regulation, order, or standard prescribed 
by the Secretary under this title. 
(b) The Secretary shall include in, or make applicable to, any rail-
road safety rule, regulation, order, or standard issued under this title 
a civil penalty for violation thereof in such amount, not less than 
$250 nor more than $2,500, as he deems reasonable. 
(c) Any railroad violating any rule, reflation, order, or standard 
referred to in subsection (b) of this section shall be assessed by the 
Secretary the civil penalty applicable to the standard violated. Each 
day of such violation shall constitute a separate offense. Such civil 
penalty is to be recovered in a suit or syits to be brought by the Attor-
ney General on behalf of the United States in the district court of 
the United States having -jurisdiction in the locality where such viola-
tion occurred. Civil penalties may, however, be compromised by the 
Secretary for any amount, but in no event for an amount less than 
the minimum provided in subsection (b) of this section, prior to 
referral to the Attorney General. The amount of any such penalty, 
when finally determined, or the amount agreed upon in compromise, 
may be deducted from any sums owing by the United States to the 
person charged. All penalties collected under this title, including 
penalties collected pursuant to section 207 of this title, shall be cov-
ered into the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts. 
(d) In any action brought under this title, subpenas for witnesses 
who are required to attend a United States district court may run 
into any other district. 
SEC. 210. INJUNCTIVE RELIEF. 
(a) The United States district court shall, at the request of the Secre-
tary and upon petition by the Attorney General on behalf of ^^o dic'tfo'n^'"^^' 
United States, or upon application by a State agency pursuant to sec-
U.S. district 
976 
PUBLIC LAW 91-458-OCT. 16, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
28 use app. 
Criminal 
contempt pro-
ceedings. 
18 u s e app. 
Report to 
President for 
transmittal to 
eongress. 
eontents. 
tion 207 of this title, have jurisdiction, subject to the provisions of rules 
65 (a) and (b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, to restrain 
violations of this title or to enforce rules, regulations, orders, or 
standards established under this title. 
(b) In any proceeding for criminal contempt for violation of an 
injunction or restraining order issued under this section or under sec-
tion 207 of this title, which violation also constitutes a violation of this 
title, trial shall be by the court, or, upon demand of the accused, by 
a jury, conducted in accordance with the provisions of rule 42(b) of 
the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. 
SEC. 211. ANNUAL REPORT. 
• 
(a) The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the President for 
transmittal to Congress on or before May 1 of each year a compre-
hensive report on the administration of this title for the preceding 
calendar year. Such report shall include, but not be restricted to— 
(1) a thorough statistical compilation of the accidents and 
casualties by cause occurring in such year; 
(2) a list of Federal railroad safety rules, regulations, orders, 
^' 
and standards issued under this title in effect or established in 
such year; 
~ 
(S) a, summary of the reasons for each waiver granted under 
s 
section 202(c) of this title during such year; 
. . . 
(4) an evaluation of the degree of observance of applicable rail-
\--i~i i .,' , 
road safety rules, regulations, orders, and standards issued under 
this title; 
(5) a summary of outstanding problems confronting 
the 
administration of Federal railroad safety rules, regulations, 
1 
orders, and standards issued under this title in order of priority; 
>' 
(6) an analysis and evaluation of research and related activi-
ties completed (including the policy implications thereof) and 
technological progress achieved during such year; 
(7) a list, with a brief statement of the issues, of completed or 
"' 
pending judicial actions for the enforcement of any Federal rail-
road safety rule, regulation, order, or standard issued under this 
title; 
(8) the extent to which technical information was disseminated 
to the scientific community and consumer-oriented information 
was made available to the public; 
(9) a compilation of— 
* 
(A) certifications filed by State agencies under section 
"^' 
206(a) of this title which were in effect during the preceding 
''^ 
calendar year, and 
'' 
(B) certifications filed under section 206(a) of this title 
which were rejected, in whole or in part, by the Secretary 
^ 
during the preceding calendar year, together with a summary 
f 
of the reasons for each such rejection; and 
* 
(10) a compilation of— 
• 
(A) agreements entered into with State agencies under 
section 206(c) of this title which were in effect during the 
preceding calendar year, and 
\^l^ '[' 
(B) agreements entered into under section 206(c) of this 
'''' • 
title which were terminated by the Secretary, in whole or in 
part, during the preceding calendar year, together with a 
summary of the reasons for each such termination. 
ti(fn^s'^f™™d'^^' 
(^) '^^^ report required by subsection (a) of this section shall 
ditionai legisia- 
coutaiu such recommeudatious for additional legislation as the Secre-
*^°"- 
tary deems necessary to strengthen the national railroad safety 
program. 
84 STAT. ] 
PUBLIC LAW 91-458-OCT. 16. 1970 
977 
SEC. 212. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions 
of this title not to exceed $21,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending 
June 30,1971, June 30,1972, and June 30,1973. 
TITLE 
III—HAZARDOUS 
MATERIALS 
CONTROL 
SEC. 301. SHORT TITLE. 
This title may be cited as the "Hazardous Materials Transportation 
Control Act of 1970". 
SEC. 302. GENERAL AUTHORITY. 
(a) The Secretary of Transportation (hereafter in this title referred 
to as the "Secretary") shall, within six months after the date of enact-
ment of this title— 
(1) establish facilities and technical staff to maintain within the 
Federal Government the capability to evaluate the hazards con-
nected with and surrounding the various hazardous majterials 
being shipped; 
(2) establish a central reporting system for hazardous materials 
accidents to provide techmcal and other information and advice 
to the law-enforcement and firefightin^ personnel of communities 
and to carriers and shippers for meeting emergencies connected 
with the transportation of hazardous materials; and 
(3) conduct a review of all aspects of hazardous materials trans-
portation to determine and recommend appropriate steps which 
can be taken immediately to provide greater control over the safe 
movement of such materials. 
(b) The authority granted the Secretary by this title shall be in 
addition to the authority granted by sections 831 to 835, inclusive, of 
title 18 of the United States Code. 
(c) The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the President for 
transmittal to the Congress on or before May 1 of each year a com-
prehensive report on the transportation of hazardous materials during 
the preceding calendar year. Such report shall include, but not be 
restricted to— 
(1) a thoroug;h statistical compilation of the accidents and 
casualties occurring in such year which involved the transporta-
tion of hazardous materials; 
(2) a list of relevant Federal standards in effect or established 
in such year; 
(3) a summary of the reason for each waiver or exemption 
granted pursuant to sections 831 to 835, inclusive, of title 18 of the 
United States Code; 
(4) an evaluation of the degree of observance of safety stand-
ards for the transportation of hazardous materials; and 
(5) a summary of outstanding problems created by the trans-
portation of hazardous materials. 
/ {d) The report required by subsection (c) of this section shall con-
tain such recommendations for additional legislation as the Secretary 
deems necessary. 
SEC. 303. AUTHORIZATION FOR APPROPRIATIONS. 
There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out the provisions of 
this title not to exceed $1,000,000 for each of the fiscal years ending 
June 30,1971, June 30,1972, and June 30,1973. 
Citation of 
title. 
Facilities and 
staff. 
Central report-
ing system. 
Review and 
recommendaticms. 
74 Stat. 808. 
Report to 
President for 
transmittal to 
Congress. 
Contents. 
Recommenda-
tions for ad-
ditional legisla-
tion. 
978 
PUBLIC LAW 91-459-OCT. 16, 1970 
[84 STAT. 
TITLE IV—MISCELLANEOUS 
SEC. 401. SEPARABILITY. 
If any provision of this Act or the application thereof to any person 
or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this Act, and the 
application of such provision to other persons or circumstances shall 
not be affected thereby. 
Approved October 16, 1970. 
October 16, 1970 
[H.R. 10837] 
Public Law 91-459 
AN ACT 
To provide for the conveyance to Pima and Maricopa Counties, Arizona, and to 
the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, of certain lands for recreational purposes 
under the provisions of the Recreation and Public Purposes Act of 1926. 
Pima and 
Maricopa Counties, 
Ariz., and 
Albuquerque, 
N. Mex. 
Land convey-
ance. 
73 Stat, 571; 
74 Stat. 899. 
Lake Carl 
Pleasant Regional 
Park. 
68 Stat. 174; 
80 Stat. 210. 
43 u s e 869-1. 
Be it enacted hy the SeTiate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembledy That, notwithstand-
ing the acreage limitation in section 1(b) of the Act of June 14, 1926 
(44 Stat. 741), as amended (43 U.S.C. 869(b)), the Secretary of the 
Interior may convey to Pima County or Maricopa County, Arizona, 
or to the city of Albuquerque, New Mexico, for recreational purposes 
in accordance with the other provisions of that Act, all or any part 
of the lands that were under lease to such county or city on January 1, 
1969. 
SEC. 2. Notwithstanding the limitation in section 2 of the said Act 
of June 14, 1926, as amended (43 U.S.C. 689-1), with respect to the 
location of the land, the Secretary of the Interior may convey to Mari-
copa County for the purpose of establishing and maintaining the 
Lake Carl Pleasant Eegional Park, in accordance with the other pro-
visions of that Act, the following described lands in Yavapai County: 
Township 7 north, range 1 west, section 25, southeast quarter, 
160 acres. 
Township 6 north, range 1 east, section 5, north half southwest 
quarter, southeast quarter southwest quarter, and southwest quar-
ter southeast quarter; 160 acres; section 8, those portions of the 
east half northwest quarter and the west half northeast quarter 
which lie in Yavapai County, about 24.60 acres. 
Approved October 16, 1970. 
October 16, 1970 
Public Law 91-460 
AN ACT 
[s.2314] 
To amend section 4 of the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands relating to 
voting age. 
Virgin Islands, 
voting age. 
48 u s e 1542. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Representatives 
of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled/ThBt 
section 4 of the 
Kevised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (68 Stat. 497) is amended 
(1) by inserting " (a)" immediately after "SEC. 4."; and (2) by adding 
at the end thereof the following new subsection: 
"(b) The legislature shall have authority to enact legislation estab-
lishing the voting age for residents of the Virgin Islands at an age not 
lower than eighteen years of age, if a majority of the qualified voters 
in the Virgin Islands approve in a referendum election held for that 
purpose." 
Approved October 16, 1970.