A bill to provide for participation of the United States in the International Energy Exposition to be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1982, and for other purposes.
PL 96-169 (H.R.5079), enacted 12/29/1979

PUBLIC LAW 96-169—DEC. 29, 1979 
93 STAT. 1281 
Public Law 96-169 
96th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for participation of the United States in the International Energy 
Exposition to be held in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1982, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled. That, in accordance 
with the Act entitled "An Act to provide for Federal Government 
recognition of and participation in international expositions proposed 
to be held in the United States, and for other purposes", approved 
May 27, 1970 (Public Law 91-269; 22 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.), the 
President is authorized to provide for United States participation in 
an international exposition to be known as Energy-Expo 82 (herein-
after in this Act referred to as the "exposition"), to be held in 
Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1982. The purposes of the exposition are— 
(1) to offer the citizens of the world a greater understanding of 
the effective uses of energy and energy resources, of the necessity 
to conserve existing energy resources, and of the need for 
creativity in the development of new and alternative energy 
sources; and 
(2) to encourage tourist travel in and to the United States, 
stimulate foreign trade, and promote cultural exchanges. 
SEC. 2. (a) The President, through the Secretary of Commerce 
(hereinafter in this Act referred to as the "Secretary ') and the other 
officials designated in this Act, is authorized to carry out in the most 
effective manner the proposal for United States participation in the 
exposition, transmitted by the President to the Congress pursuant to 
section 3 of Public Law 91-269 (22 U.S.C. 2803), and to carry out the 
responsibilities of the Federal Government for the organization, 
development, and administration of the exposition as required by the 
Convention Relating to International Expositions, done at Paris on 
November 22, 1928 (hereinafter in this Act referred to as the 
"Convention"), and the General Rules for Energy-Expo 82, as ap-
proved by the Bureau of International Expositions. 
(b) The President is authorized to appoint, by and with the advice 
and consent of the Senate, a Commissioner General of the United 
States Government for Energy-Expo 82, who shall be the senior Federal 
official for the exposition and who shall have such duties and exercise 
such responsibilities for the organization, development, and adminis-
tration of the exposition as may be necessary and appropriate to 
fulfill the requirements of the Convention and the General Rules for 
Energy-Expo 82. The Commissioner General shall be in the Depart-
ment of Commerce and shall be compensated at the rate of basic pay 
which is equal to the rate payable for level IV of the Executive 
Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code. 
(c) The Secretary shall designate a Commissioner General of 
Section for United States participation in the exposition (as provided 
for in the proposal referred to in subsection (a)), who shall be in the 
Department of Commerce and who shall perform such duties in the 
execution of this Act as may be delegated or assigned by the 
Secretary, including serving as director of the United States pavilion. 
Dec. 29, 1979 
[H.R. 5079] 
International 
Energy 
Exposition, 
Knoxville, Tenn. 
U.S. 
participation. 
Presidential 
appointment. 
59-194 0 - 8 1 
83 : QL3 
93 STAT. 1282 
PUBLIC LAW 96-169—DEC. 29, 1979 
Consultants and 
experts. 
5 u s e 5332 note. 
Contracts. 
Buildings and 
other structures, 
erection. 
Report to 
Congress. 
SEC. 3. (a) The Secretary is authorized to obtain the services of 
consultants and experts as authorized by section 3109 of title 5, 
United States Code, at rates not to exceed the daily rate in effect for 
grade GS-18 under the General Schedule, to the extent the Secretary 
deems it necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act. Subject to 
the availability of appropriations, persons so appointed shall be 
reimbursed for travel and other necessary expenses incurred, includ-
ing a per diem allowance, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, 
United States Code, for persons in the Government service employed 
intermittently. 
(b) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary is 
authorized to enter into such contracts as may be necessary to 
provide for United States participation in the exposition. 
(c) The Secretary is authorized to erect such buildings and other 
structures as may be appropriate for United States participation in 
the exposition on land (approximately 4.6 acres, including land 
necessary for ingress and egress) conveyed to the United States in 
consideration of participation by the United States in the exposition 
and without other consideration. The Secretary is authorized to 
accept title in fee simple to such land and any interest therein if the 
Secretary determines that it is free of liens, or of any other encum-
brances, restrictions, or conditions that would interfere with the use 
of the property by the United States for purposes of this Act or would 
prevent the disposal of the property as provided in section 6. In the 
acceptance of such property, and in the design and construction of 
buildings and other structures and facilities on such property, the 
Secretary shall consult with the Administrator of General Services 
and the heads of other interested agencies to assure that such 
activities will be undertaken in a manner that (1) minimizes to the 
greatest extent practicable any adverse effects on the recreational 
and other environmental values of the area, and (2) preserves and 
enhances to the greatest extent practicable the utility of the property 
for public purposes, needs, or other benefits following the close of the 
exposition. 
(d) Subject to the availability of appropriations, the Secretary is 
authorized to incur such other expenses as may be necessary to carry 
out the purposes of this Act, including but not limited to (1) expendi-
tures involved in the selection, purchase, rental, construction, and 
other acquisition, and in the disposition, of exhibits and of materials 
and equipment for exhibits and in the actual display of exhibits, and 
(2) related expenditures for transportation, insurance, installation, 
safekeeping, printing, maintenance and operation, rental of space, 
representing and dismantling, and the purchase of reference books, 
newspapers, and periodicals. 
SEC. 4. The head of each department, agency, or instrumentality of 
the Federal Government is authorized— 
(1) to cooperate with the Secretary with respect to carrying out 
any of the provisions of this Act; and 
(2) to make available to the Secretary from time to time, on a 
reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, such personnel as may 
be necessary to assist the Secretary in carrying out any of the 
provisions of this Act. 
SEC. 5. Within one year after the date of the official close of the 
exposition, the Secretary shall transmit to the Congress a report on 
the activities of the Federal Government pursuant to this Act, 
including a detailed statement of expenditures. Upon transmission of 
such report to the Congress, all appointments made under this Act 
shall terminate, except those which may be extended by the Presi-
PUBLIC LAW 96-169—DEC. 29, 1979 
93 STAT. 1283 
dent for such additional period of 
time as he deems necessary to carry 
out the purposes of 
this Act. 
SEC. 6. After the close of the exposition, all Federal property shall 
be disposed of in accordance with provisions of the Federal Property 
and Administrative Services Act of 1949 and other applicable Federal 40 use 47i note. 
laws relating to the disposition of excess and surplus property. 
SEC. 7. The functions authorized by this Act may be performed 
without regard to the prohibitions and limitations of the following 
laws: 
(1) That part of section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, 
which reads "(not in excess of 
one year)". 
(2) Section 16(a) of the Administrative Expenses Act of 1946 (31 
U.S.C. 638a) to the extent that it pertains to hiring automobiles. 
(3) Section 201 of the Federal Property and Administrative 
Services Act of 1949 (40 U.S.C. 481) (procurement). 
(4) Section 305(c) of the Federal Property and Administrative 
Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 255(c)) (security for advance 
payments), and section 3648 of the Revised Statutes of the United 
States (31 U.S.C. 529) (advance of public moneys), if the Secretary 
determines that it is impracticable to obtain adequate security 
and that there is a compelling need to make an advance 
payment. 
(5) Section 322 of 
the Act of 
June 20,1932 (40 U.S.C. 278a) Cease 
of buildings to the Federal Government), if the Secretary deter-
mines that waiver of 
that section would be in the best interests of 
the Federal Government. 
(6) Section 2 of the Act of March 3,1933 (41 U.S.C. 10a) (Buy 
American Act). 
(7) Section 501 of title 44, United States Code (printing by the 
Government Printing Office). 
(8) Section 3702 of title 44, United States Code (advertisements 
without authority). 
(9) Section 3703 of title 44, United States Code (rates of 
pajnnent for advertisements). 
SEC. 8. To carry out United States participation in the exposition. Appropriation 
there are authorized to be appropriated $20,800,000 to remain availa- authorization. 
ble until expended. 
Approved December 29, 1979. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 96-714 (Comm. of Conference). 
SENATE REPORT No. 96-369 accompanying S. 1012 (Comm. on Foreign Relations). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 125 (1979): 
Oct. 9 , considered and passed House. 
Nov. 14, S. 1012 considered in Senate; H.R. 5079 considered and passed Senate, 
amended, in lieu of S. 1012. 
Dec. 20, Senate and House agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTIAL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 15, No. 52: 
Dec. 31, Presidential statement.