Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977

Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 is a statute formulating a national policy to diminish the perils of earthquakes in the United States. The Act of Congress is a declaration for an earthquake prediction system, national earthquake hazards reduction program, and seismological research studies. The United States public law authorizes States assistance through the provisions of the Disaster Relief Act of 1974.

Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleAn Act to reduce the hazards of earthquakes, and for other purposes.
Acronyms (colloquial)EHRA
Enacted bythe 95th United States Congress
EffectiveOctober 7, 1977
Citations
Public lawP.L. 95-124
Statutes at Large91 Stat. 1098
Codification
Titles amended42 U.S.C.: Public Health and Social Welfare
U.S.C. sections created42 U.S.C. ch. 86 § 7701 et seq.
Legislative history

The Senate legislation was passed by the 95th U.S. Congressional session and enacted into law by the President Jimmy Carter on October 7, 1977.

Sections of the Act

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The Act was drafted as six sections defining the codified law within Title 42 Public Health and Social Welfare.

42 U.S.C. § 7701 ~ Short Title
42 U.S.C. § 7701 ~ Findings
Vulnerability of earthquake hazards to U.S. states
Development and implementation of earthquake hazards reduction measures
  • Improvement in structural construction and design methods or practices
  • Redevelopment of land use controls
  • Prediction techniques and early warning systems
  • Coordinated earthquake preparedness plans
  • Public education and involvement programs

Coordinated program by Federal, State, local, and private entities
Seismological research program
Earthquake prediction system
Earthquake control and seismological research findings
Benefit of earthquake hazards reduction program
Reduction of destruction, disruption, and loss based on individuals and organizations
Severe earthquakes worldwide problem
Review of Federal earthquake hazards reduction program by external sources

42 U.S.C. § 7702 ~ Purpose
42 U.S.C. § 7703 ~ Definitions
42 U.S.C. § 7704 ~ National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
Establishment of program
Duties of Federal agency, department, or entity
Objectives of program
Participation by Federal agency, department, or entity

Research elements
Implementation plan
State assistance
Participation by local governments and State governments

42 U.S.C. § 7705 ~ Annual Report
42 U.S.C. § 7706 ~ Authorization of Appropriations
General
Geological Survey
National Science Foundation

Amendments to 1977 Act

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U.S. Congressional amendments to the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act.

Date of Enactment Public Law Number U.S. Statute Citation U.S. Legislative Bill U.S. Presidential Administration
October 19, 1980 P.L. 96-472 94 Stat. 2257 S. 1393 Jimmy E. Carter
November 20, 1981 P.L. 97-80 95 Stat. 1081 S. 999 Ronald W. Reagan
January 12, 1983 P.L. 97-464 96 Stat. 2533 S. 2273 Ronald W. Reagan
March 22, 1984 P.L. 98-241 98 Stat. 95 S. 820 Ronald W. Reagan
September 30, 1985 P.L. 99-105 99 Stat. 475 S. 817 Ronald W. Reagan
February 29, 1988 P.L. 100-252 102 Stat. 18 S. 1612 Ronald W. Reagan
November 16, 1990 P.L. 101-614 104 Stat. 3231 S. 2789 George H.W. Bush
October 19, 1994 P.L. 103-374 108 Stat. 3492 H.R. 3485 William J. Clinton
October 1, 1997 P.L. 105-47 111 Stat. 1159 S. 910 William J. Clinton
November 13, 2000 P.L. 106-503 114 Stat. 2298 H.R. 1550 William J. Clinton
October 25, 2004 P.L. 108-360 118 Stat. 1668 H.R. 2608 George W. Bush

See also

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  • "Need for a National Earthquake Research Program" (PDF). U.S. GAO ~ B-176621. U.S. Government Accountability Office. September 11, 1972.
  • "FEMA's Implementation of the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977, as Amended" (PDF). U.S. GAO ~ 120702. U.S. Government Accountability Office. March 3, 1983.
  • "Stronger Direction Needed for the National Earthquake Program" (PDF). U.S. GAO ~ RCED-83-103. U.S. Government Accountability Office. July 26, 1983.
  • Carter, Jimmy E. (June 22, 1978). "National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program: Message to the Congress Transmitting a Report - June 22, 1978". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1150–1151.
  • Bush, George H.W. (November 16, 1990). "Statement on Signing the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program Reauthorization Act - November 16, 1990". Internet Archive. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Service. pp. 1614–1615.
  • "Appendix A: The National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program" (PDF). U.S. Congressional Office of Technology Assessment. Princeton University. 1995.
  • "National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program". National Institute of Standards and Technology. United States Department of Commerce.
  • "USGS Earthquake Hazards Program". United States Geological Survey. United States Department of the Interior.