I 
115TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 1675 
To establish a national program to identify and reduce losses from landslide 
hazards, to establish a national 3D Elevation Program, and for other 
purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 22, 2017 
Ms. DELBENE (for herself, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Ms. LEE, Ms. 
NORTON, Mr. SMITH of Washington, Mr. KILMER, Mr. HECK, and Mr. 
GRIJALVA) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on 
Science, Space, and Technology, for a period to be subsequently deter-
mined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions 
as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 
A BILL 
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, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Landslide 
Preparedness Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
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(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 methods 
over the United States (including territories). 
(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) LIDAR.—The term ‘‘lidar’’ means light de-
tection and ranging. 
(7) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Di-
rector of the United States Geological Survey. 
(8) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ means any unit 
of State government handling the identification, 
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mapping, assessment, and research of landslide haz-
ards or responding to landslide events, including— 
(A) a State geological survey office; 
(B) a State department of emergency re-
sponse; and 
(C) a State department of transportation. 
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 States and Indian 
tribes— 
(i) establish working groups with 
States 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; and 
(III) land use and other decision-
makers. 
(2) NATIONAL STRATEGY.—Not later than 180 
days 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 
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a national strategy for landslide hazards and risk re-
duction in the United States, 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 to carry 
out the national strategy, including details 
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 States and Indian tribes, shall 
develop and maintain a publicly accessible national 
landslide hazard and risk inventory database to com-
pile, maintain, standardize, and evaluate data re-
garding— 
(A) landslide hazards and risks nationwide; 
(B) the nationwide impact of landslides 
on— 
(i) health and safety; 
(ii) the economy and infrastructure; 
and 
(iii) the environment; 
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(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 States and 
Indian tribes, shall develop and disseminate— 
(A) landslide planning and risk reduction 
guidance, guidelines, maps, tools, and training 
materials to help inform State, local, and tribal 
governments and decisionmakers with respect 
to— 
(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 
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(B) landslide preparedness curricula and 
training modules for— 
(i) State, local, and tribal officials; 
(ii) Federal, State, local, and tribal 
emergency managers; and 
(iii) the National Guard. 
(5) FLASH FLOOD AND DEBRIS FLOW EARLY 
WARNING SYSTEM.—In carrying out the program, 
the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of 
Commerce, shall expand the early warning system 
for flash floods and debris flow by— 
(A) expanding the early warning system 
for post-wildfire debris flow to include recently 
burned areas across the western United States; 
(B) developing procedures with State, 
local, and tribal governments to monitor 
stormwater drainage in areas with high flash 
flood and debris 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-
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evant Federal agencies, States, and Indian tribes, 
shall establish emergency response procedures for 
the rapid deployment of Federal scientists, equip-
ment, and services to areas impacted by a significant 
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. 
(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 the Army. 
(C) The Secretary of Commerce. 
(D) The Secretary of Homeland Security. 
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(E) The Secretary of Transportation. 
(F) The Director of the National Science 
Foundation. 
(G) The Director of the Office of Science 
and Technology Policy. 
(H) 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— 
(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 
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(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 
(F) of section 7342(a)(1) of title 5, United 
States Code; and 
(B) who shall be representatives of— 
(i) States, including State geological 
organizations; 
(ii) Indian tribes, including tribal geo-
logical organizations; 
(iii) research institutions and institu-
tions of higher education that are quali-
fied— 
(I) to provide advice regarding 
landslide hazard and risk reduction; 
and 
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(II) to represent related sci-
entific, architectural, engineering, and 
planning disciplines; 
(iv) industry standards development 
organizations; and 
(v) State, local, and tribal emergency 
management agencies. 
(3) RECOMMENDATIONS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—The Advisory Com-
mittee shall submit to the Committee rec-
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 
(A) through (H) of subsection (c)(2) shall take 
into consideration any recommendation of the 
Advisory Committee submitted under subpara-
graph (A). 
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(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, local, and tribal govern-
ments to research, map, assess, and collect 
data on landslide hazards within the juris-
dictions of those governments; and 
(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, 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 
that— 
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