Union Calendar No. 226

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1528

[Report No. 106–389]

A BILL

To reauthorize and amend the National Geologic

Mapping Act of 1992.

OCTOBER 18, 1999

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the

State of the Union and ordered to be printed
IB

Union Calendar No. 226

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1528

[Report No. 106–389]

To reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

APRIL 22, 1999

Mrs. CUBIN (for herself, Mr. YOUNG of Alaska, Mr. RAHALL, Mr. GIBBONS,

Mr. TANCREDO, and Mr. UDALL of Colorado) introduced the following

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Resources

OCTOBER 18, 1999

Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union

and ordered to be printed

A BILL

To reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping

Act of 1992.

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Geologic

5 Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999’’.
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1 SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

2 Section 2(a) of the National Geologic Mapping Act

3 of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31a(a)) is amended—

4 (1) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the

5 end;

6 (2) by redesignating paragraph (8) as para7 graph (10);

8 (3) by inserting after paragraph (7) the fol9 lowing:

10 ‘‘(8) geologic map information is required for

11 the sustainable and balanced development of natural

12 resources of all types, including energy, minerals,

13 land, water, and biological resources;

14 ‘‘(9) advances in digital technology and geo15 graphical information system science have made geo16 logic map databases increasingly important as deci17 sion support tools for land and resource manage18 ment; and’’; and

19 (4) in paragraph (10) (as redesignated by para20 graph (2)), by inserting ‘‘of surficial and bedrock de21 posits’’ after ‘‘geologic mapping’’.

22 SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

23 Section 3 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of

24 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31b) is amended—
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1 (1) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6),

2 and (7) as paragraphs (6), (7), (8), and (10), re3 spectively;

4 (2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the fol5 lowing:

6 ‘‘(4) EDUCATION COMPONENT.—The term ‘edu7 cation component’ means the education component

8 of the geologic mapping program described in sec9 tion 6(d)(3).

10 ‘‘(5) FEDERAL COMPONENT.—The term ‘Fed11 eral component’ means the Federal component of

12 the geologic mapping program described in section

13 6(d)(1).’’; and

14 (3) by inserting after paragraph (8) (as redesig15 nated by paragraph (1)) the following:

16 ‘‘(9) STATE COMPONENT.—The term ‘State

17 component’ means the State component of the geo18 logic mapping program described in section

19 6(d)(2).’’.

20 SEC. 4. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM.

21 Section 4 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of

22 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31c) is amended—

23 (1) in subsection (b)(1)—
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1 (A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘pri2 orities’’ and inserting ‘‘national priorities and

3 standards for’’;

4 (B) in subparagraph (A)—

5 (i) by striking ‘‘develop a geologic

6 mapping program implementation plan’’

7 and inserting ‘‘develop a 5-year strategic

8 plan for the geologic mapping program’’;

9 and

10 (ii) by striking ‘‘within 300 days after

11 the date of enactment of the National Geo12 logic Mapping Reauthorization Act of

13 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘not later than 1 year

14 after the date of enactment of the National

15 Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of

16 1999’’;

17 (C) in subparagraph (B), by striking

18 ‘‘within 90 days after the date of enactment of

19 the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization

20 Act of 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘not later than 1

21 year after the date of enactment of the Na22 tional Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of

23 1999’’; and

24 (D) in subparagraph (C)—
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1 (i) in the matter preceding clause (i),

2 by striking ‘‘within 210 days after the date

3 of enactment of the National Geologic

4 Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997’’

5 and inserting ‘‘not later than 3 years after

6 the date of enactment of the National Geo7 logic Mapping Reauthorization Act of

8 1999, and biennially thereafter’’;

9 (ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘will co10 ordinate’’ and inserting ‘‘are coordi11 nating’’;

12 (iii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘will es13 tablish’’ and inserting ‘‘establish’’; and

14 (iv) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘will

15 lead to’’ and inserting ‘‘affect’’; and

16 (2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the

17 following:

18 ‘‘(d) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—

19 ‘‘(1) FEDERAL COMPONENT.—

20 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping

21 program shall include a Federal geologic map22 ping component, the objective of which shall be

23 to determine the geologic framework of areas

24 determined to be vital to the economic, social,
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1 environmental, or scientific welfare of the

2 United States.

3 ‘‘(B) MAPPING PRIORITIES.—For the Fed4 eral component, mapping priorities—

5 ‘‘(i) shall be described in the 5-year

6 plan under section 6; and

7 ‘‘(ii) shall be based on—

8 ‘‘(I) national requirements for

9 geologic map information in areas of

10 multiple-issue need or areas of com11 pelling single-issue need; and

12 ‘‘(II) national requirements for

13 geologic map information in areas

14 where mapping is required to solve

15 critical earth science problems.

16 ‘‘(C) INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.—

17 ‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Federal com18 ponent shall include interdisciplinary stud19 ies that add value to geologic mapping.

20 ‘‘(ii) REPRESENTATIVE CAT21 EGORIES.—Interdisciplinary studies under

22 clause (i) may include—

23 ‘‘(I) establishment of a national

24 geologic map database under section

25 7;
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1 ‘‘(II) studies that lead to the im2 plementation of cost-effective digital

3 methods for the acquisition, compila4 tion, analysis, cartographic produc5 tion, and dissemination of geologic

6 map information;

7 ‘‘(III) paleontologic, geochrono8 logic, and isotopic investigations that

9 provide information critical to under10 standing the age and history of geo11 logic map units;

12 ‘‘(IV) geophysical investigations

13 that assist in delineating and mapping

14 the physical characteristics and 3-di15 mensional distribution of geologic ma16 terials and geologic structures; and

17 ‘‘(V) geochemical investigations

18 and analytical operations that charac19 terize the composition of geologic map

20 units.

21 ‘‘(iii) USE OF RESULTS.—The results

22 of investigations under clause (ii) shall be

23 contributed to national databases.

24 ‘‘(2) STATE COMPONENT.—
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1 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping

2 program shall include a State geologic mapping

3 component, the objective of which shall be to es4 tablish the geologic framework of areas deter5 mined to be vital to the economic, social, envi6 ronmental, or scientific welfare of individual

7 States.

8 ‘‘(B) MAPPING PRIORITIES.—For the State

9 component, mapping priorities—

10 ‘‘(i) shall be determined by State pan11 els representing a broad range of users of

12 geologic maps; and

13 ‘‘(ii) shall be based on—

14 ‘‘(I) State requirements for geo15 logic map information in areas of mul16 tiple-issue need or areas of compelling

17 single-issue need; and

18 ‘‘(II) State requirements for geo19 logic map information in areas where

20 mapping is required to solve critical

21 earth science problems.

22 ‘‘(C) INTEGRATION OF FEDERAL AND

23 STATE PRIORITIES.—A national panel including

24 representatives of the Survey shall integrate the

25 State mapping priorities under this paragraph
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1 with the Federal mapping priorities under para2 graph (1).

3 ‘‘(D) USE OF FUNDS.—The Survey and re4 cipients of grants under the State component

5 shall not use more than 15.25 percent of the

6 Federal funds made available under the State

7 component for any fiscal year to pay indirect,

8 servicing, or program management charges.

9 ‘‘(E) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal

10 share of the cost of activities under the State

11 component for any fiscal year shall not exceed

12 50 percent.

13 ‘‘(3) EDUCATION COMPONENT.—

14 ‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping

15 program shall include a geologic mapping edu16 cation component for the training of geologic

17 mappers, the objectives of which shall be—

18 ‘‘(i) to provide for broad education in

19 geologic mapping and field analysis

20 through support of field studies; and

21 ‘‘(ii) to develop academic programs

22 that teach students of earth science the

23 fundamental principles of geologic mapping

24 and field analysis.
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1 ‘‘(B) INVESTIGATIONS.—The education

2 component may include the conduct of inves3 tigations, which—

4 ‘‘(i) shall be integrated with the Fed5 eral component and the State component;

6 and

7 ‘‘(ii) shall respond to mapping prior8 ities identified for the Federal component

9 and the State component.

10 ‘‘(C) USE OF FUNDS.—The Survey and re11 cipients of grants under the education compo12 nent shall not use more than 15.25 percent of

13 the Federal funds made available under the

14 education component for any fiscal year to pay

15 indirect, servicing, or program management

16 charges.

17 ‘‘(D) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal

18 share of the cost of activities under the edu19 cation component for any fiscal year shall not

20 exceed 50 percent.’’.

21 SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

22 Section 5 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of

23 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31d) is amended—

24 (1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘90 days

25 after the date of enactment of the National Geologic
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1 Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997’’ and insert2 ing ‘‘1 year after the date of enactment of the Na3 tional Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of

4 1999’’; and

5 (2) in subsection (b)—

6 (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘critique

7 the draft implementation plan’’ and inserting

8 ‘‘update the 5-year plan’’; and

9 (B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘this

10 Act’’ and inserting ‘‘sections 4 through 7’’.

11 SEC. 6. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM 5-YEAR PLAN.

12 The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is

13 amended by striking section 6 (43 U.S.C. 31e) and insert14 ing the following:

15 ‘‘SEC. 6. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM 5-YEAR PLAN.

16 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through

17 the Director, shall, with the advice and review of the advi18 sory committee, prepare a 5-year plan for the geologic

19 mapping program.

20 ‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The 5-year plan shall

21 identify—

22 ‘‘(1) overall priorities for the geologic mapping

23 program; and
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1 ‘‘(2) implementation of the overall management

2 structure and operation of the geologic mapping pro3 gram, including—

4 ‘‘(A) the role of the Survey in the capacity

5 of overall management lead, including the re6 sponsibility for developing the national geologic

7 mapping program that meets Federal needs

8 while fostering State needs;

9 ‘‘(B) the responsibilities of the State geo10 logical surveys, with emphasis on mechanisms

11 that incorporate the needs, missions, capabili12 ties, and requirements of the State geological

13 surveys, into the nationwide geologic mapping

14 program;

15 ‘‘(C) mechanisms for identifying short- and

16 long-term priorities for each component of the

17 geologic mapping program, including—

18 ‘‘(i) for the Federal component, a pri19 ority-setting mechanism that responds to—

20 ‘‘(I) Federal mission require21 ments for geologic map information;

22 ‘‘(II) critical scientific problems

23 that require geologic maps for their

24 resolution; and
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1 ‘‘(III) shared Federal and State

2 needs for geologic maps, in which

3 joint Federal-State geologic mapping

4 projects are in the national interest;

5 ‘‘(ii) for the State component, a pri6 ority-setting mechanism that responds to—

7 ‘‘(I) specific intrastate needs for

8 geologic map information; and

9 ‘‘(II) interstate needs shared by

10 adjacent States that have common re11 quirements; and

12 ‘‘(iii) for the education component, a

13 priority-setting mechanism that responds

14 to requirements for geologic map informa15 tion that are dictated by Federal and State

16 mission requirements;

17 ‘‘(D) a mechanism for adopting scientific

18 and technical mapping standards for preparing

19 and publishing general- and special-purpose

20 geologic maps to—

21 ‘‘(i) ensure uniformity of cartographic

22 and scientific conventions; and

23 ‘‘(ii) provide a basis for assessing the

24 comparability and quality of map products;

25 and
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1 ‘‘(E) a mechanism for monitoring the in2 ventory of published and current mapping in3 vestigations nationwide to facilitate planning

4 and information exchange and to avoid redun5 dancy.’’.

6 SEC. 7. NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASE.

7 Section 7 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of

8 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31f) is amended by striking the section

9 heading and all that follows through subsection (a) and

10 inserting the following:

11 ‘‘SEC. 7. NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASE.

12 ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—

13 ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Survey shall establish

14 a national geologic map database.

15 ‘‘(2) FUNCTION.—The database shall serve as a

16 national catalog and archive, distributed through

17 links to Federal and State geologic map holdings,

18 that includes—

19 ‘‘(A) all maps developed under the Federal

20 component and the education component;

21 ‘‘(B) the databases developed in connection

22 with investigations under subclauses (III), (IV),

23 and (V) of section 4(d)(1)(C)(ii); and

24 ‘‘(C) other maps and data that the Survey

25 and the Association consider appropriate.’’.
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1 SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

2 The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is

3 amended by striking section 8 (43 U.S.C. 31g) and insert4 ing the following:

5 ‘‘SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

6 ‘‘Not later 3 years after the date of enactment of the

7 National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999

8 and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the

9 Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives

10 and the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of

11 the Senate a report that—

12 ‘‘(1) describes the status of the national geo13 logic mapping program;

14 ‘‘(2) describes and evaluates the progress

15 achieved during the preceding 2 years in developing

16 the national geologic map database; and

17 ‘‘(3) includes any recommendations that the

18 Secretary may have for legislative or other action to

19 achieve the purposes of sections 4 through 7.’’.

20 SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

21 The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is

22 amended by striking section 9 (43 U.S.C. 31h) and insert23 ing the following:

24 ‘‘SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

25 ‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be ap26 propriated to carry out this Act—
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1 ‘‘(1) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;

2 ‘‘(2) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;

3 ‘‘(3) $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;

4 ‘‘(4) $43,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;

5 ‘‘(5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;

6 ‘‘(6) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and

7 ‘‘(7) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.

8 ‘‘(b) ALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of any

9 amounts appropriated for any fiscal year in excess of the

10 amount appropriated for fiscal year 2000—

11 ‘‘(1) 48 percent shall be available for the State

12 component; and

13 ‘‘(2) 2 percent shall be available for the edu14 cation component.’’.