STUDY OF DISASTER DECLARATION PROCESS.

SEC. 111. STUDY OF DISASTER DECLARATION PROCESS. (a) Findings.—The Congress finds and declares that— (1) the explosion at the Pacific Engineering and Production Company in Henderson, Nevada, on May 4, 1988, resulted in the deaths of two people, more than 350 injuries, and damages to more than 3,000 buildings; 102 STAT. 4711 (2) the Governor of Nevada on May 9, 1988, requested the President to declare a major disaster for Nevada as a result of the catastrophic accident that occurred on May 4; (3) the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s recommendations in response to the Governor’s disaster declaration request were delivered to the White House on May 12; (4) the Governor of Nevada was not kept informed of the status of the State’s request for Federal disaster assistance and information concerning the Governor’s request was selectively disseminated; and (5) the untimely and selective release of information concerning the disaster had a negative impact on the victims of the Henderson explosion, and the citizens of Nevada as a whole. (b) Study and Report.—The Comptroller General of the United States shall— (1) conduct a study of the process by which disaster declarations are made; and (2) not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, transmit a report to the Congress describing the findings of the study along with recommendations on ways to improve and ensure the non-political functioning of the process for declaring disasters.