The Congress recognizes the severe pollution problems affecting Poland and Hungary and the serious health problems which ensue from such pollution. The Congress therefore directs that a high priority be given in the implementation of assistance to Poland and Hungary to the control of pollution and the restoration of the natural resource base on which a sustainable, healthy economy depends.

In addition to specific authorities contained in any of the environmental statutes administered by the Environmental Protection Agency, the Administrator of that Agency (hereinafter in this section referred to as the “Administrator”) is authorized to undertake such educational, policy training, research, and technical and financial assistance, monitoring, coordinating, and other activities as the Administrator may deem appropriate, either alone or in cooperation with other United States or foreign agencies, governments, or public or private institutions, in protecting the environment in Poland and Hungary.

The Administrator shall cooperate with Polish officials and experts to—

(1) establish an air quality monitoring network in the Krakow metropolitan area as a part of Poland’s national air monitoring network; and

(2) improve both water quality and the availability of drinking water in the Krakow metropolitan area.

The Administrator shall work with other United States and Hungarian officials and private parties to establish and support a regional center in Budapest for facilitating cooperative environmental activities between governmental experts and public and private organizations from the United States and Eastern and Western Europe.

To enable the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out subsections (b), (c), and (d), there are authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for the 3-year period beginning October 1, 1989, to carry out chapter 1 of part I of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2151 and following; relating to development assistance) or chapter 4 of Part [1] II of that Act (22 U.S.C. 2346 and following; relating to the economic support fund). These funds may be used to carry out those subsections notwithstanding any provision of law relating to the use of foreign assistance funds.

The Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with Polish officials and experts to retrofit a coal-fired commercial powerplant in the Krakow, Poland, region with advanced clean coal technology that has been successfully demonstrated at a comparably scaled powerplant in the United States. Such retrofit shall be carried out by one or more United States companies using United States technology and equipment manufactured in the United States. The Secretary may vest title in any property acquired under this paragraph in an entity other than the United States.

(1) Clean coal The Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with Polish officials and experts to retrofit a coal-fired commercial powerplant in the Krakow, Poland, region with advanced clean coal technology that has been successfully demonstrated at a comparably scaled powerplant in the United States. Such retrofit shall be carried out by one or more United States companies using United States technology and equipment manufactured in the United States. The Secretary may vest title in any property acquired under this paragraph in an entity other than the United States.

(2) Equipment assessment The Secretary of Energy shall cooperate with Polish officials and experts and companies within the United States to assess and develop the capability within Poland to manufacture or modify boilers, furnaces, smelters, or other equipment that will enable industrial facilities within Poland to use fossil fuels cleanly. The Secretary may vest title in any property acquired under this paragraph in an entity other than the United States.

(3) Authorization of appropriations To carry out paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, there are authorized to be appropriated $30,000,000 for the 3-year period beginning October 1, 1989. Not more than $10,000,000 of the funds appropriated under this paragraph may be used to carry out the requirements of paragraph (1).

In view of the high energy usage per unit of output in Hungary and Poland, the Secretary of Energy shall give high priority to assisting officials of Poland and Hungary in improving the efficiency of their energy use, through emphasis on such measures as efficient motors, lights, gears, and appliances and improvements in building insulation and design.

It is the sense of the Congress that the Executive branch should work with the Government of Hungary to achieve environmentally safe alternative investments in energy efficiency, particularly with regard to projects along the Danube River.

(Pub. L. 101–179, title V, § 502, Nov. 28, 1989, 103 Stat. 1317.)