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SEC. 2011. PRESERVATION OF GEOLOGICAL AND GEO-
PHYSICAL DATA.
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the
‘‘National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation
Program Act of 2005’’.
(b) PROGRAM.—The Secretary shall carry out a Na-
tional Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Pro-
gram in accordance with this section—
(1) to archive geologic, geophysical, and engi-
neering data, maps, well logs, and samples;
(2) to provide a national catalog of such archi-
val material; and
(3) to provide technical and financial assistance
related to the archival material.
(c) PLAN.—Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a plan for the implementation of the Program.
(d) DATA ARCHIVE SYSTEM.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Secretary shall es-
tablish, as a component of the Program, a data ar-
chive system to provide for the storage, preservation,
and archiving of subsurface, surface, geological, geo-
physical, and engineering data and samples. The
Secretary, in consultation with the Advisory Com-
mittee, shall develop guidelines relating to the data
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archive system, including the types of data and sam-
ples to be preserved.
(2) SYSTEM COMPONENTS.—The system shall
be comprised of State agencies that elect to be part
of the system and agencies within the Department
of the Interior that maintain geological and geo-
physical data and samples that are designated by
the Secretary in accordance with this subsection.
The Program shall provide for the storage of data
and samples through data repositories operated by
such agencies.
(3) LIMITATION
OF
DESIGNATION.—The Sec-
retary may not designate a State agency as a com-
ponent of the data archive system unless that agency
is the agency that acts as the geological survey in
the State.
(4) DATA FROM FEDERAL LAND.—The data ar-
chive system shall provide for the archiving of rel-
evant subsurface data and samples obtained from
Federal land—
(A) in the most appropriate repository des-
ignated under paragraph (2), with preference
being given to archiving data in the State in
which the data were collected; and
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(B) consistent with all applicable law and
requirements relating to confidentiality and pro-
prietary data.
(e) NATIONAL CATALOG.—
(1) IN GENERAL.—As soon as practicable after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
shall develop and maintain, as a component of the
Program, a national catalog that identifies—
(A) data and samples available in the data
archive system established under subsection (d);
(B) the repository for particular material
in the system; and
(C) the means of accessing the material.
(2) AVAILABILITY.—The Secretary shall make
the national catalog accessible to the public on the
site of the Survey on the Internet, consistent with all
applicable requirements related to confidentiality
and proprietary data.
(f) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—
(1) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Committee
shall advise the Secretary on planning and imple-
mentation of the Program.
(2) NEW
DUTIES.—In addition to its duties
under the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992
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(43 U.S.C. 31a et seq.), the Advisory Committee
shall perform the following duties:
(A) Advise the Secretary on developing
guidelines and procedures for providing assist-
ance for facilities under subsection (g)(1).
(B) Review and critique the draft imple-
mentation plan prepared by the Secretary under
subsection (c).
(C) Identify useful studies of data archived
under the Program that will advance under-
standing of the Nation’s energy and mineral re-
sources, geologic hazards, and engineering geol-
ogy.
(D) Review the progress of the Program in
archiving significant data and preventing the
loss of such data, and the scientific progress of
the studies funded under the Program.
(E) Include in the annual report to the
Secretary required under section 5(b)(3) of the
National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43
U.S.C. 31d(b)(3)) an evaluation of the progress
of the Program toward fulfilling the purposes of
the Program under subsection (b).
(g) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.—
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(1) ARCHIVE FACILITIES.—Subject to the avail-
ability of appropriations, the Secretary shall provide
financial assistance to a State agency that is des-
ignated under subsection (d)(2) for providing facili-
ties to archive energy material.
(2) STUDIES.—Subject to the availability of ap-
propriations, the Secretary shall provide financial as-
sistance to any State agency designated under sub-
section (d)(2) for studies and technical assistance
activities that enhance understanding, interpreta-
tion, and use of materials archived in the data ar-
chive system established under subsection (d).
(3) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of
the cost of an activity carried out with assistance
under this subsection shall be not more than 50 per-
cent of the total cost of the activity.
(4) PRIVATE CONTRIBUTIONS.—The Secretary
shall apply to the non-Federal share of the cost of
an activity carried out with assistance under this
subsection the value of private contributions of prop-
erty and services used for that activity.
(h) REPORT.—The Secretary shall include in each re-
port under section 8 of the National Geologic Mapping Act
of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31g)—
(1) a description of the status of the Program;
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(2) an evaluation of the progress achieved in
developing the Program during the period covered by
the report; and
(3) any recommendations for legislative or other
action the Secretary considers necessary and appro-
priate to fulfill the purposes of the Program under
subsection (b).
(i) MAINTENANCE OF STATE EFFORT.—It is the in-
tent of Congress that the States not use this section as
an opportunity to reduce State resources applied to the
activities that are the subject of the Program.
(j) DEFINITIONS.—In this section:
(1) ADVISORY COMMITTEE.—The term ‘‘Advi-
sory Committee’’ means the advisory committee es-
tablished under section 5 of the National Geologic
Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31d).
(2) PROGRAM.—The term ‘‘Program’’ means
the National Geological and Geophysical Data Pres-
ervation Program carried out under this section.
(3) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Geological Survey.
(4) SURVEY.—The term ‘‘Survey’’ means the
United States Geological Survey.