II 
116TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H.R. 8810 
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
DECEMBER 7, 2020 
Received 
AN ACT 
To establish a national program to identify and reduce losses 
from landslide hazards, to establish a national 3D Ele-
vation Program, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Landslide 
Preparedness Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) 3D.—The term ‘‘3D’’ means 3-dimensional. 
(2) 3D ELEVATION DATA.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The term ‘‘3D ele-
vation data’’ means 3D, high-resolution data 
obtained using LiDAR, IfSAR, or other meth-
ods over the United States (including terri-
tories). 
(B) INCLUSIONS.—The term ‘‘3D elevation 
data’’ includes terrestrial and bathymetric ele-
vation data. 
(3) 3D ELEVATION PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘3D 
Elevation Program’’ means the 3D Elevation Pro-
gram established under section 5(a). 
(4) 
IFSAR.—The 
term 
‘‘IfSAR’’ 
means 
interferometric synthetic aperture radar. 
(5) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘‘Indian tribe’’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
(6) LAHAR.—The term ‘‘lahar’’ means a large 
debris flow of mostly volcanic material that is— 
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(A) often fast-moving; and 
(B) a hazard in watersheds downstream of 
volcanic peaks. 
(7) LIDAR.—The term ‘‘LiDAR’’ means light 
detection and ranging. 
(8) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Geological Survey. 
(9) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means— 
(A) a State; and 
(B) the District of Columbia. 
(10) STATE OFFICE.—The term ‘‘State office’’ 
means any unit of State government that handles 
the identification, mapping, assessment, and re-
search of landslide hazards or responding to land-
slide events, including— 
(A) a State geological survey office; 
(B) a State department of emergency re-
sponse; and 
(C) a State department of transportation. 
(11) 
TERRITORY.—The 
term 
‘‘territory’’ 
means— 
(A) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico; 
(B) Guam; 
(C) American Samoa; 
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(D) the Commonwealth of the Northern 
Mariana Islands; 
(E) the Federated States of Micronesia; 
(F) the Republic of the Marshall Islands; 
(G) the Republic of Palau; and 
(H) the United States Virgin Islands. 
SEC. 3. NATIONAL LANDSLIDE HAZARDS REDUCTION PRO-
GRAM. 
(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall establish 
a program, to be known as the ‘‘National Landslide Haz-
ards Reduction Program’’ (referred to in this section as 
the ‘‘program’’)— 
(1) to identify and understand landslide haz-
ards and risks; 
(2) to reduce losses from landslides; 
(3) to protect communities at risk of landslide 
hazards; and 
(4) to help improve communication and emer-
gency preparedness, including by coordinating with 
communities and entities responsible for infrastruc-
ture that are at risk of landslide hazards. 
(b) DESCRIPTION OF PROGRAM.— 
(1) PROGRAM ACTIVITIES.—The Secretary, in 
coordination with the Interagency Coordinating 
Committee on Landslide Hazards established by 
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subsection (c)(1) (referred to in this section as the 
‘‘Committee’’) and in coordination with existing ac-
tivities of the United States Geological Survey and 
other Federal agencies, shall— 
(A) identify, map, assess, and research 
landslide hazards; 
(B) respond to landslide events; and 
(C) in coordination with State offices, 
units of local government, territories, and In-
dian tribes— 
(i) establish working groups with 
State offices, units of local government, 
territories, and Indian tribes to identify re-
gional and local priorities for researching, 
identifying, mapping, and assessing land-
slide hazards; and 
(ii) develop and implement landslide 
hazard guidelines for— 
(I) geologists; 
(II) geological and geotechnical 
engineers; 
(III) 
emergency 
management 
personnel; and 
(IV) land use and other decision-
makers. 
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(2) NATIONAL
STRATEGY.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, and 
every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordina-
tion with the Committee, shall develop and publish 
a national strategy for landslide hazards, risk reduc-
tion, and response in the United States (including 
territories), which shall include— 
(A) goals and priorities for the program; 
(B) priorities for data acquisition, re-
search, communications, and risk management 
on landslides and landslide hazards across rel-
evant Federal agencies; and 
(C) a detailed interagency plan, which shall 
take into consideration national disaster pre-
paredness, response, and recovery frameworks, 
to carry out the national strategy, including de-
tails about the programs, projects, and budgets 
that will be used to implement the national 
strategy. 
(3) NATIONAL
LANDSLIDE
HAZARDS
DATA-
BASE.—In carrying out the program, the Secretary, 
in coordination with State offices, units of local gov-
ernment, territories, and Indian tribes, shall develop 
and maintain a publicly accessible national landslide 
hazard and risk inventory database to compile, 
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maintain, standardize, and evaluate data regard-
ing— 
(A) landslide hazards and risks; 
(B) the impact of landslides on— 
(i) health and safety; 
(ii) the economy and infrastructure; 
and 
(iii) the environment; 
(C) landslide hazard stabilization; and 
(D) reduction of losses from landslides. 
(4) LANDSLIDE HAZARD AND RISK PREPARED-
NESS FOR COMMUNITIES.—In carrying out the pro-
gram, the Secretary, in coordination with the Sec-
retary of the Army, the Secretary of Commerce, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, the Secretary of 
Transportation, and the heads of other relevant Fed-
eral agencies, and in consultation with State offices, 
units of local government, territories, and Indian 
tribes, shall develop and disseminate— 
(A) landslide planning and risk reduction 
guidance, guidelines, maps, tools, and training 
materials to help inform State, territorial, local, 
and Tribal governments and decisionmakers 
with respect to— 
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(i) the use and implementation of 
landslide hazard assessments; 
(ii) the applied use of the database 
developed under paragraph (3); 
(iii) reducing losses from landslides; 
and 
(iv) resources available for commu-
nities working to improve landslide hazard 
preparedness; and 
(B) landslide preparedness curricula and 
training modules for— 
(i) State, territorial, local, and Tribal 
officials; 
(ii) Federal, State, territorial, local, 
and Tribal emergency managers; and 
(iii) the National Guard. 
(5) DEBRIS FLOW EARLY WARNING SYSTEM.— 
In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in co-
ordination with the Secretary of Commerce and the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, shall expand the 
early warning system for debris flow by— 
(A) expanding the early warning system 
for post-wildfire debris flow to include recently 
burned areas across the western United States; 
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(B) developing procedures with State, ter-
ritorial, local, and Tribal governments to mon-
itor stormwater drainage in areas with high de-
bris flow risk; and 
(C) identifying high-risk debris flow areas, 
such as recently burned land and potential 
lahar hazard areas. 
(6) EMERGENCY
RESPONSE
ACTIVITIES.—In 
carrying out the program, the Secretary, in coordi-
nation with the Secretary of Commerce, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, the heads of other rel-
evant Federal agencies, States offices, units of local 
government, territories, and Indian tribes, shall es-
tablish and support emergency response procedures 
for the rapid deployment of Federal scientists, 
equipment, and services to areas impacted by a sig-
nificant landslide event— 
(A) to support emergency response efforts 
and improve the safety of emergency respond-
ers; 
(B) to improve data collection; and 
(C) to conduct research to advance the un-
derstanding of the causes, impacts, and reduc-
tion of landslide hazards and risks. 
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(c) INTERAGENCY COORDINATING COMMITTEE
ON 
LANDSLIDE HAZARDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—There is established a com-
mittee, to be known as the ‘‘Interagency Coordi-
nating Committee on Landslide Hazards’’. 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Committee shall be 
composed of the following members (or their des-
ignees): 
(A) The Secretary, who shall serve as 
Chairperson of the Committee. 
(B) The Secretary of Agriculture. 
(C) The Secretary of the Army. 
(D) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(E) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 
(F) The Secretary of Transportation. 
(G) The Director of the National Science 
Foundation. 
(H) The Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy. 
(I) The Director of the Office of Manage-
ment and Budget. 
(3) MEETINGS.—The Committee shall meet at 
the call of the Chairperson. 
(4) PURPOSE
AND
DUTIES.—The Committee 
shall— 
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(A) advise and oversee the program; 
(B) facilitate communication and coordina-
tion across Federal agencies in the planning, 
management, budgeting, and execution of land-
slide activities; and 
(C) support the development and execution 
of the national strategy under subsection (b)(2), 
including by— 
(i) supporting the development of na-
tional goals and priorities for the national 
strategy; 
(ii) articulating Federal agency roles, 
responsibilities, and resources for carrying 
out the national strategy; and 
(iii) overseeing the implementation of 
the national strategy. 
(d) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall establish 
an advisory committee, to be known as the ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee on Landslides’’ (referred to in this 
subsection as the ‘‘Advisory Committee’’). 
(2) MEMBERSHIP.—The Advisory Committee 
shall be composed of not fewer than 11 members— 
(A) of whom none may be an individual de-
scribed in any of subparagraphs (A) through 
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ommendations for the implementation of the 
program, including recommendations regard-
ing— 
(i) landslide hazard and risk reduction 
and planning; 
(ii) tools for communities; 
(iii) research; and 
(iv) such other topics as the Advisory 
Committee determines appropriate. 
(B) CONSIDERATION.—The Secretary and 
the agency heads described in subparagraphs 
(B) through (I) of subsection (c)(2) shall take 
into consideration any recommendation of the 
Advisory Committee submitted under subpara-
graph (A). 
(e) GRANT PROGRAMS.— 
(1) COOPERATIVE
LANDSLIDE
HAZARD
MAP-
PING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to appropria-
tions, the Secretary may— 
(i) provide grants, on a competitive 
basis, to State, territorial, local, and Tribal 
governments to research, map, assess, and 
collect data on landslide hazards within the 
jurisdictions of those governments; and 
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(ii) accept and use funds received 
from other Federal and non-Federal part-
ners to advance the purposes of the pro-
gram. 
(B) PRIORITY.— 
(i) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall 
consult annually with the Committee, 
States, units of local government, terri-
tories, and Indian tribes to establish prior-
ities for the grant program under this 
paragraph. 
(ii) FUNDING
PRIORITIZATION.—In 
providing grants under this paragraph, the 
Secretary shall give priority to projects— 
(I) that will achieve the greatest 
landslide hazard and risk reduction; 
(II) that reflect the goals and 
priorities of the national strategy es-
tablished under subsection (b)(2)(A); 
(III) not less than 50 percent of 
the total cost of which is matched by 
non-Federal sources; and 
(IV) that include acquisition of 
enhanced elevation data consistent 
with the 3D Elevation Program. 
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(C) 
REQUIREMENT.—If 
the 
Secretary 
elects to provide grants under subparagraph 
(A)(i), the Secretary shall publish on a publicly 
available website a description of— 
(i) the grants; and 
(ii) the findings made from those 
grants. 
(2) 
NATIONAL
LANDSLIDE
RESEARCH 
GRANTS.— 
(A) IN GENERAL.—To advance the goals 
and priorities of the national strategy estab-
lished under subsection (b)(2)(A), subject to ap-
propriations, the Director of the National 
Science Foundation (referred to in this para-
graph as the ‘‘Director’’) may provide grants to 
eligible entities for landslide research, including 
research on— 
(i) the causes, mechanisms, triggers, 
hydrology, and geology of landslides; 
(ii) ways to reduce landslide hazards 
and risks to minimize loss of life and prop-
erty, including landslide hazard and risk 
communication, 
perception, 
decision-
making, tools, and technologies; and 
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(iii) other goals and priorities of the 
national strategy established under sub-
section (b)(2)(A). 
(B) ELIGIBLE
ENTITIES.—The Director 
shall determine whether an entity is eligible to 
receive a grant under this paragraph. 
(C) REQUIREMENTS.—In providing grants 
under this paragraph, the Director shall— 
(i) ensure that the grants are pro-
vided on a competitive basis; 
(ii) consider grant applications sub-
mitted by eligible entities that have devel-
oped the application in partnership with 1 
or more State geological surveys; and 
(iii) publish on a publicly available 
website a description of— 
(I) the grants; and 
(II) the findings made from those 
grants. 
(f) BIENNIAL
REPORT.—Through calendar year 
2030, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a biennial 
report, including a description of, with respect to the 2- 
calendar-year period preceding the date of the report— 
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(1) the goals and accomplishments of the Com-
mittee in carrying out the national strategy devel-
oped under subsection (b)(2); 
(2) the results of the activities of the Com-
mittee under this section; and 
(3) the extent to which any recommendations of 
the Advisory Committee under subsection (d)(3)(A) 
have been implemented. 
(g) SIGNIFICANT EVENTS.—Not later than 1 year 
after a significant landslide event in the United States (in-
cluding territories) occurs, the Secretary shall publish on 
a publicly available website— 
(1) a description of the landslide event and the 
implications of the event on communities, including 
life and property; 
(2) recommendations on how the identification 
of the landslide risk could have been improved prior 
to the event; 
(3) a description of the effectiveness of any 
warning and risk communication, including the dis-
semination of warnings by State, territorial, local, 
and Tribal partners in the affected area; 
(4) recommendations to improve risk identifica-
tion, reduction, and communication to landowners 
and units of local government; 
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(5) recommendations to improve landslide haz-
ard preparedness and emergency response activities 
under this section; and 
(6) such other findings as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate. 
(h) FUNDING.—For each of fiscal years 2021 
through 2024— 
(1) there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
United States Geological Survey, $25,000,000 to 
carry out this section; 
(2) there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Science Foundation, $11,000,000 to carry 
out this section; and 
(3) there is authorized to be appropriated to the 
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 
$1,000,000 to carry out this section. 
(i) DERIVATION OF FUNDS.—Funds to carry out the 
activities under this section shall be derived from amounts 
authorized to be appropriated that are enacted after the 
date of the enactment of this section. 
SEC. 4. GROUND SUBSIDENCE. 
As the Secretary determines to be appropriate and 
subject to appropriations, the Secretary, through existing 
programs, shall advance the identification, mapping, re-
search, and monitoring of subsidence and groundwater re-
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