Public Works and Economic Development Act Amendments

Public Works and Economic Development Act Amendments - Authorizes appropriations for grants for public works and development facilities through fiscal year 1974 under the Public Works and Economic Development Act. (Amends 42 U.S.C. 3135)

States the finding of Congress, under such Act, that substantial outmigration from rural to urban areas is aggravating the economic and social conditions of areas of outmigration as well as central cities. States that national economy policy should anticipate and take into account the dislocation of jobs due to technological change, shifting trade patterns, environmental adjustments, and the continuing need to make geographical adaptation to economic problems. (Amends 42 U.S.C. 3121)

Authorizes the Secretary of Commerce to designate as a public works impact area those communities or neighborhoods which he determines have one of the following conditions: (1) a large concentration of low-income persons; (2) rural areas having substantial outmigration; substantial unemployment; and (4) an actual or threatened abrupt rise of unemployment due to the closing or curtailment of a major source of employment. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants, in accordance with the provisions of title I of the Act, to areas so designated.

Authorizes to be appropriated for such grants not to exceed $250,000,000 per fiscal year for the fiscal years ending June 30, 1973 and June 30, 1974. Provides that, in the case of a vocational training facility constructed with a direct grant under title I of the Act, the Secretary is authorized to make grants of up to 75 percent of the operating costs of such facilities. Extends through fiscal year 1974 the authorization of appropriations under title I of the Act. (Amends 42 U.S.C. 3152)

Provides that the Secretary shall designate as redevelopment areas, under the Act, those urban and rural communities or neighborhoods which he determines have one of the following conditions: (1) a large concentration of low-income persons; (2) substantial unemployment; or (3) an actual or threatened abrupt rise of unemployment due to the closing or curtailment of a major source of employment. Authorizes the Secretary to designate as an economic development district under the Act a district which has an overall economic development program which: (1) includes adequate land use and transportation planning; (2) contains a specific program for district cooperation, self-help, and public investment; (3) is approved by each affected State as consistent with the goals and objectives of each applicable State plan and any overall State economic development program; and (4) is approved by the Secretary.

Provides that no area designated as an economic development center under the Act shall have such designation terminated or modified due to an increase in population. Authorizes the Secretary to provide, in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Act, financial assistance to those parts of an economic development district which are not within a redevelopment area when such assistance will be of substantial direct benefit to a redevelopment area within such district. Authorizes the Secretary to make grants to an economic development district to pay not to exceed 75 percent of the administrative expenses, and not to exceed 100 percent of the planning expenses, of such district.

Extends the authorization of appropriations through fiscal year 1974 for title IV (Area and District Eligibility) of the Act. (Amends 42 U.S.C. 3171)

Authorizes to be appropriated to carry out title V of the Act (Regional Action Planning Commissions) $500,000,000 per fiscal year for fiscal years 1973 and 1974, to be allocated among the Costal Plains Regional Commission, the Four Corners Regional Commission, the New England Regional Commission, the Ozarks Regional Commission, and the Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission. Authorizes appropriations of not to exceed $20,000,000 per year for fiscal years 1973 and 1974, for each regional commission which does not have an approved long-range economic plan. (Amends 42 U.S.C. 3188a)

Provides that the Appalachian Regional Hospitals, Incorporated, is hereby relieved of all liability for repayment to the United States of the sum of $3,607,590, together with all interest accrued thereon, representing the amount owed by the corporation to the United States under the terms of a loan made to the corporation by the Area Redevelopment Administration on June 26, 1964.

Directs the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to initiate an investigation of any employment loss which results or may result from the issuance of a standard or order under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Clean Air Act, or any other Federal law having of its primary purpose the improvement of environmental quality. Provides that, whenever feasible, such investigation shall commence six months in advance of any anticipated employment loss, or at the earliest possible time.

Provides that the owner or operator of any commercial or industrial facility seeking assistance under this title or alleging that an employment loss at any facility under his control will result from the enforcement of an order or standard for the protection of environmental quality shall submit to the Administrator within thirty days a report disclosing: (1) the nature of the enforcement action; (2) his plans to comply; (3) the extent of potential employment loss; (4) alternatives to the potential employment loss; (5) his plans to alleviate the effect of the potential employment loss on the individuals and communities involved; (6) the economic circumstances of the affected facility; and (7) the economic circumstances of his total enterprises.

Authorizes the Secretary of Labor to provide to persons he certifies as unemployed as a result of circumstances arising from the above information: (1) unemployment compensation; (2) temporary mortgage or rental payments; (3) reemployment assistance services; and (4) reasonable moving expenses. Authorizes to be apprpriated $100,000,000 to provide such services.

Authorizes the Secretary to make loans to aid in financing any project in the United States for the acquisition, construction, or alteration of pollution control facilities for industrial or commercial usage. Sets forth restrictions and limitations on such assistance.

Authorizes to be appropriated not to exceed $100,000,000 per fiscal year for the fiscal years 1973, and 1974 for the purpose of providing financial assistance for the acquisition, construction, or alteration of pollution control facilities.