Environmental Research Geographic Location Information Act
PL 101-617 (S.3069), enacted 11/16/1990

PUBLIC LAW 101-617—NOV. 16, 1990 
104 STAT. 3287 
Public Law 101-617 
101st Congress 
An Act 
To provide a method of locating private and Government research on environmental 
issues by geographic location. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the "Environmental Research Geo-
graphic Location Information Act". 
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 
The Congress finds that— 
(1) at present, there is no reliable method of locating private 
or Government research on environmentsil issues by geographic 
location; and 
(2) a means of identifying environmental research conducted 
at specific geographic locations is needed for purposes such as 
detecting trends in environmental quality, assisting the public 
in learning about the quality and issues of their local environ-
ment, and providing a data base for identifjdng areas of critical 
environmental concern. 
SEC. 3. PURPOSE. 
The purpose of this Act is to develop a data base of environmental 
research articles indexed by geographic location. 
SEC. 
4
. 
ENVIRONMENTAL 
PROTECTION 
AGENCY. 
(a) RESEARCH JOURNALS.—Within 6 months following the date of 
the enactment of this Act, and from time to time thereafter, the 
Environmental Protection Agency shall identify not less than 35 
important environmental research journals, conference proceedings 
or other reference sources in which scientific research or engineer-
ing studies related to air, water, or soil quality or pollution or other 
environmental issues are routinely published. In carrjdng out the 
requirements of this subsection, at least 50 journals or proceedings 
shall be reviewed. 
0)) INDEX.—(1) Within 12 months following the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Environmental 
Protection Agency shall review the journals and other materials 
identified in subsection (a) and compile, maintain and publish an 
index of the articles contained therein during the preceding cal-
endar year by geographic location. A copy of such index shall be 
made available to the Service for distribution to the public, and a 
copy shall be submitted to the Congress not less than 30 days prior 
to the date on which it is made available to the Service. 
(2) Beginning 12 months after the date of the enactment of this 
Act, the Agency shall identify not less than 20 materials identified 
in subsection (a) which were published during the time period from 
1970 to the year preceding enactment, and shall compile and publish 
Nov. 16, 1990 
[S. 3069] 
Environmental 
Research 
Geographic 
Location 
Information 
Act. 
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note. 
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104 STAT. 3288 
PUBLIC LAW 101-617—NOV. 16, 1990 
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a series of indices of articles contained therein by geographic loca-
tion. The time frame which each index contains should not exceed 5 
years. 
(c) PURCHASE OF INFORMATION.—The Environmental Protection 
Agency is authorized to enter into contracts or other arrangements 
for the acquisition of data and other information necessary for 
purposes of this Act. 
(d) REVISING LIST.—The Environmental Protection Agency shall 
review the list of references developed under this section at least 
biennially and shall revise the list of sources as appropriate. 
(e) SPECIFIC LOCATION OF RESEARCH PROJECTS.—Unless exempted 
by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, all 
reports resulting from research projects sponsored by the Environ-
mental Protection Agency and initiated after the expiration of the 
36-month period following the date of enactment of this Act shall 
indicate the specific location to which the research pertains. 
SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be 
necessary to carry out this Act. 
SEC. 6. EXPIRATION OF ACT. 
This Act shall expire 10 years after the date of its enactment. 
Approved November 16, 1990. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 3069: 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 101-541 (Comm. on Environment and Public Works). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 136 (1990): 
Oct. 26, considered and passed Senate. 
Oct. 27, considered and passed House. 
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