H. R. 1528

One Hundred Sixth Congress

of the

United States of America

AT THE FIRST SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,

the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine

An Act

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

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of

the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

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

Reauthorization Act of 1999’’.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Section 2(a) of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992

(43 U.S.C. 31a(a)) is amended—

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

(2) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (10);

(3) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:

‘‘(8) geologic map information is required for the sustainable

and balanced development of natural resources of all types,

including energy, minerals, land, water, and biological

resources;

‘‘(9) advances in digital technology and geographical

information system science have made geologic map databases

increasingly important as decision support tools for land and

resource management; and’’; and

(4) in paragraph (10) (as redesignated by paragraph (2)),

by inserting ‘‘of surficial and bedrock deposits’’ after ‘‘geologic

mapping’’.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

Section 3 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43

U.S.C. 31b) is amended—

(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) as

paragraphs (6), (7), (8), and (10), respectively;

(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:

‘‘(4) EDUCATION COMPONENT.—The term ‘education component’ means the education component of the geologic mapping

program described in section 6(d)(3).

‘‘(5) FEDERAL COMPONENT.—The term ‘Federal component’

means the Federal component of the geologic mapping program

described in section 6(d)(1).’’; and

(3) by inserting after paragraph (8) (as redesignated by

paragraph (1)) the following:

‘‘(9) STATE COMPONENT.—The term ‘State component’

means the State component of the geologic mapping program

described in section 6(d)(2).’’.
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SEC. 4. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM.

Section 4 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43

U.S.C. 31c) is amended—

(1) in subsection (b)(1)—

(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘priorities’’ and

inserting ‘‘national priorities and standards for’’;

(B) in subparagraph (A)—

(i) by striking ‘‘develop a geologic mapping program

implementation plan’’ and inserting ‘‘develop a 5-year

strategic plan for the geologic mapping program’’; and

(ii) by striking ‘‘within 300 days after the date

of enactment of the National Geologic Mapping

Reauthorization Act of 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘not later

than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the

National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of

1999’’;

(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘within 90 days

after the date of enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘not later

than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the National

Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999’’; and

(D) in subparagraph (C)—

(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking

‘‘within 210 days after the date of enactment of the

National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of

1997’’ and inserting ‘‘not later than 3 years after the

date of the enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999, and biennially thereafter’’;

(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘will coordinate’’ and

inserting ‘‘are coordinating’’;

(iii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘will establish’’ and

inserting ‘‘establish’’; and

(iv) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘will lead to’’ and

inserting ‘‘affect’’; and

(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:

‘‘(d) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—

‘‘(1) FEDERAL COMPONENT.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping program shall

include a Federal geologic mapping component, the objective of which shall be to determine the geologic framework

of areas determined to be vital to the economic, social,

environmental, or scientific welfare of the United States.

‘‘(B) MAPPING PRIORITIES.—For the Federal component,

mapping priorities—

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

section 6; and

‘‘(ii) shall be based on—

‘‘(I) national requirements for geologic map

information in areas of multiple-issue need or

areas of compelling single-issue need; and

‘‘(II) national requirements for geologic map

information in areas where mapping is required

to solve critical earth science problems.

‘‘(C) INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.—
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‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Federal component shall

include interdisciplinary studies that add value to geologic mapping.

‘‘(ii) REPRESENTATIVE CATEGORIES.—Interdisciplinary studies under clause (i) may include—

‘‘(I) establishment of a national geologic map

database under section 7;

‘‘(II) studies that lead to the implementation

of cost-effective digital methods for the acquisition,

compilation, analysis, cartographic production, and

dissemination of geologic map information;

‘‘(III) paleontologic, geochrono-logic, and isotopic investigations that provide information critical to understanding the age and history of geologic map units;

‘‘(IV) geophysical investigations that assist in

delineating and mapping the physical characteristics and 3-dimensional distribution of geologic

materials and geologic structures; and

‘‘(V) geochemical investigations and analytical

operations that characterize the composition of

geologic map units.

‘‘(iii) USE OF RESULTS.—The results of investigations under clause (ii) shall be contributed to national

databases.

‘‘(2) STATE COMPONENT.—

‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping program shall

include a State geologic mapping component, the objective

of which shall be to establish the geologic framework of

areas determined to be vital to the economic, social,

environmental, or scientific welfare of individual States.

‘‘(B) MAPPING PRIORITIES.—For the State component,

mapping priorities—

‘‘(i) shall be determined by State panels representing a broad range of users of geologic maps;

and

‘‘(ii) shall be based on—

‘‘(I) State requirements for geologic map

information in areas of multiple-issue need or

areas of compelling single-issue need; and

‘‘(II) State requirements for geologic map

information in areas where mapping is required

to solve critical earth science problems.

‘‘(C) INTEGRATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE PRIORITIES.— A national panel including representatives of the Survey

shall integrate the State mapping priorities under this

paragraph with the Federal mapping priorities under paragraph (1).

‘‘(D) USE OF FUNDS.—The Survey and recipients of

grants under the State component shall not use more than

15.25 percent of the Federal funds made available under

the State component for any fiscal year to pay indirect,

servicing, or program management charges.

‘‘(E) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost

of activities under the State component for any fiscal year

shall not exceed 50 percent.

‘‘(3) EDUCATION COMPONENT.—
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‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping program shall

include a geologic mapping education component for the

training of geologic mappers, the objectives of which shall

be—

‘‘(i) to provide for broad education in geologic mapping and field analysis through support of field studies;

and

‘‘(ii) to develop academic programs that teach students of earth science the fundamental principles of

geologic mapping and field analysis.

‘‘(B) INVESTIGATIONS.—The education component may

include the conduct of investigations, which—

‘‘(i) shall be integrated with the Federal component

and the State component; and

‘‘(ii) shall respond to mapping priorities identified

for the Federal component and the State component.

‘‘(C) USE OF FUNDS.—The Survey and recipients of

grants under the education component shall not use more

than 15.25 percent of the Federal funds made available

under the education component for any fiscal year to pay

indirect, servicing, or program management charges.

‘‘(D) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost

of activities under the education component for any fiscal

year shall not exceed 50 percent.’’.

SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Section 5 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43

U.S.C. 31d) is amended—

(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘90 days after the date

of enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization

Act of 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘1 year after the date of the enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act

of 1999’’; and

(2) in subsection (b)—

(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘critique the draft

implementation plan’’ and inserting ‘‘update the 5-year

plan’’; and

(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘this Act’’ and

inserting ‘‘sections 4 through 7’’.

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

The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is amended by

striking section 6 (43 U.S.C. 31e) and inserting the following:

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

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

shall, with the advice and review of the advisory committee, prepare

a 5-year plan for the geologic mapping program.

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

‘‘(1) overall priorities for the geologic mapping program;

and

‘‘(2) implementation of the overall management structure

and operation of the geologic mapping program, including—

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

management lead, including the responsibility for developing the national geologic mapping program that meets

Federal needs while fostering State needs;
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‘‘(B) the responsibilities of the State geological surveys,

with emphasis on mechanisms that incorporate the needs,

missions, capabilities, and requirements of the State

geological surveys, into the nationwide geologic mapping

program;

‘‘(C) mechanisms for identifying short- and long-term

priorities for each component of the geologic mapping program, including—

‘‘(i) for the Federal component, a priority-setting

mechanism that responds to—

‘‘(I) Federal mission requirements for geologic

map information;

‘‘(II) critical scientific problems that require

geologic maps for their resolution; and

‘‘(III) shared Federal and State needs for geologic maps, in which joint Federal-State geologic

mapping projects are in the national interest;

‘‘(ii) for the State component, a priority-setting

mechanism that responds to—

‘‘(I) specific intrastate needs for geologic map

information; and

‘‘(II) interstate needs shared by adjacent

States that have common requirements; and

‘‘(iii) for the education component, a priority-setting mechanism that responds to requirements for geologic map information that are dictated by Federal

and State mission requirements;

‘‘(D) a mechanism for adopting scientific and technical

mapping standards for preparing and publishing generaland special-purpose geologic maps to—

‘‘(i) ensure uniformity of cartographic and scientific

conventions; and

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

and quality of map products; and

‘‘(E) a mechanism for monitoring the inventory of published and current mapping investigations nationwide to

facilitate planning and information exchange and to avoid

redundancy.’’.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASE.

Section 7 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43

U.S.C. 31f ) is amended by striking the section heading and all

that follows through subsection (a) and inserting the following:

‘‘SEC. 7. NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASE.

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Survey shall establish a national

geologic map database.

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

catalog and archive, distributed through links to Federal and

State geologic map holdings, that includes—

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

and the education component;

‘‘(B) the databases developed in connection with investigations under subclauses (III), (IV), and (V) of section

4(d)(1)(C)(ii); and

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

Association consider appropriate.’’.
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SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is amended by

striking section 8 (43 U.S.C. 31g) and inserting the following:

‘‘SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

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

National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999 and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on

Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on

Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that—

‘‘(1) describes the status of the national geologic mapping

program;

‘‘(2) describes and evaluates the progress achieved during

the preceding 2 years in developing the national geologic map

database; and

‘‘(3) includes any recommendations that the Secretary may

have for legislative or other action to achieve the purposes

of sections 4 through 7.’’.

SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is amended by

striking section 9 (43 U.S.C. 31h) and inserting the following:

‘‘SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated

to carry out this Act—

‘‘(1) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;

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

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

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

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

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

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

‘‘(b) ALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of any amounts appropriated for any fiscal year in excess of the amount appropriated

for fiscal year 2000—

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

and
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‘‘(2) 2 percent shall be available for the education component.’’.

Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Vice President of the United States and

President of the Senate.