106 STAT. 3142 PUBLIC LAW 102-490—OCT. 24, 1992 Public Law 102-490 102d Congress An Act Oct. 24, 1992 To authorize a research program through the National Science Foundation on [H.R. 3673] the treatment of contaminated water through membrane processes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of Membrane the United States of America in Congress assembled. Processes Research Act of SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. lo T^TGr- in^/n This Act may be cited as the "Membrane Processes Research note. Act of 1992". 42 USC 10341. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds that— (1) there is an increasing threat of impairment to the quantity and quality of the Nation's water resources due to, among other things, growing national needs, recurring drought in the Western States, point and nonpoint source pollution, and saltwater intrusion into existing groundwater supplies; (2) many communities in the United States have water supplies containing high salinity levels or contaminants which pose health risks; (3) the Nation needs to develop economical processes to treat existing water supplies that are contaminated; (4) it is necessary to provide for research into new techniques to reclaim waste water and to convert saline and other contaminated waters to a quality suitable for municipal, industrial, agricultural, recreational, and other beneficial uses; (5) there is very little Federal funding being applied to basic research in the field of treatment of contaminated water through membrane processes; and (6) the treatment of contaminated water through membrane processes will solve a wide variety of water treatment problems, including compliance with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act. 42 USC 10342. SEC. 3. RESEARCH PROGRAM. The Director of the National Science Foundation shall establish a basic research program on membranes and membrane processes. Such program may be carried out through awarding grants, entering into contracts or cooperative agreements, or direct research. 42 USC 10343. SEC. 4. GOALS OF RESEARCH PROGRAM. The goals of the research program established under section 3 shall be— (1) the development of membranes resistant to degradation, bacterial or otherwise, thereby extending the life of such membranes; (2) the development of membranes useful for the efficient and cost effective treatment of contaminated water; and (3) the development of innovative technologies for membrane processes.
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