42 U.S.C. § 13237 — Certification of training programs

Page 8533 TITLE 42—THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE § 13238 1 See References in Text note below. ports to Congress, see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, set out as a note under section 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance, and the 8th item on page 86 of House Document No. 103–7. § 13236. Alternative fuel bus program (a) Cooperative agreements and joint ventures (1) The Secretary of Transportation, in con- sultation with the Secretary, may enter into co- operative agreements and joint ventures pro- posed by any municipal, county, or regional transit authority in an urban area with a popu- lation over 100,000 (according to latest available census information) to demonstrate the feasi- bility of commercial application, including safe- ty of specific vehicle design, of using alternative fuels for urban buses and other motor vehicles used for mass transit. (2) The cooperative agreements and joint ven- tures under paragraph (1) may include inter- ested or affected private firms willing to provide assistance in cash, or in kind, for any such dem- onstration. (3) Federal assistance provided under coopera- tive agreements and joint ventures entered into under paragraph (1) to demonstrate the feasi- bility of commercial application of using alter- native fuels for urban buses shall be in addition to Federal assistance provided under any other law for such purpose. (b) Limitations (1) The Secretary of Transportation may not enter into cooperative agreement or joint ven- ture under subsection (a) with any municipal, county, or regional transit authority, unless such government body agrees to provide 20 per- cent of the costs of such demonstration. (2) The Secretary of Transportation may grant such priority under this section to any entity that demonstrates that the use of alternative fuels for transportation would have a significant beneficial effect on the environment. (c) School buses The Secretary of Transportation may also pro- vide, in accordance with such rules as he may prescribe, financial assistance to any agency, municipality, or political subdivision in an urban area referred to in subsection (a), of any State or the District of Columbia for the pur- pose of meeting the incremental costs of school buses that are dedicated vehicles and used regu- larly for such transportation during the school term. Such costs may include the purchase and installation of alternative fuel refueling facili- ties to be used for school bus refueling, and the conversion of school buses to dedicated vehicles. The Secretary of Transportation may provide such assistance directly to a person who is a contractor of such agency, municipality, or po- litical subdivision, upon the request of the agen- cy, municipality, or political subdivision, and who, under such contract, provides for such transportation. Any conversion under this sub- section shall comply with the warranty and safety requirements for alternative fuel conver- sions contained in section 7587 1 of this title. (d) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated not more than $30,000,000 for each of the fiscal years 1993, 1994, and 1995 for purposes of this section. (Pub. L. 102–486, title IV, § 410, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2884.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Section 7587 of this title, referred to in subsec. (c), was in the original ‘‘section 247 of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990’’, Pub. L. 101–549, and was trans- lated as reading ‘‘section 247 of the Clean Air Act’’, meaning section 247 of act July 14, 1955, ch. 360, title II, as added Nov. 15, 1990, Pub. L. 101–549, title II, § 229(a), 104 Stat. 2523, to reflect the probable intent of Con- gress, because the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 does not contain a section 247, and section 247 of the Clean Air Act relates to alternate fuel conversions for vehicles. § 13237. Certification of training programs The Secretary shall ensure that the Federal Government establishes and carries out a pro- gram for the certification of training programs for technicians who are responsible for motor vehicle installation of equipment that converts gasoline or diesel-fueled motor vehicles into dedicated vehicles or dual fueled vehicles, and for the maintenance of such converted motor ve- hicles. A training program shall not be certified under the program established under this sec- tion unless it provides technicians with instruc- tion on the proper and safe installation proce- dures and techniques, adherence to specifica- tions (including original equipment manufac- turer specifications), motor vehicle operating procedures, emissions testing, and other appro- priate mechanical concerns applicable to these motor vehicle conversions. The Secretary shall ensure that, in the development of the program required under this section, original equipment manufacturers, fuel suppliers, companies that convert conventional vehicles to use alternative fuels, and other affected persons are consulted. (Pub. L. 102–486, title IV, § 411, Oct. 24, 1992, 106 Stat. 2885.) § 13238. Alternative fuel use in nonroad vehicles and engines (a) Nonroad vehicles and engines (1) The Secretary shall conduct a study to de- termine whether the use of alternative fuels in nonroad vehicles and engines would contribute substantially to reduced reliance on imported energy sources. Such study shall be completed, and the results thereof reported to Congress, within 2 years after October 24, 1992. (2) The study shall assess the potential of nonroad vehicles and engines to run on alter- native fuels. Taking into account the nonroad vehicles and engines for which running on alter- native fuels is feasible, the study shall assess the potential reduction in reliance on foreign energy sources that could be achieved if such ve- hicles were to run on alternative fuels. (3) The report required under paragraph (1) may include the Secretary’s recommendations for encouraging or requiring nonroad vehicles