I 
107TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5486
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with the High Plains 
Aquifer States in conducting a hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, 
modeling and monitoring program for the High Plains Aquifer, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SEPTEMBER 26, 2002
Mr. MORAN of Kansas (for himself, Mr. RYUN of Kansas, Mr. TIAHRT, and 
Mr. MOORE) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Com-
mittee on Resources 
A BILL 
To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to cooperate with 
the High Plains Aquifer States in conducting a 
hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, modeling and 
monitoring program for the High Plains Aquifer, 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 ‘‘Geologic Research En-
hancement Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 
For the purposes of this Act:
(1) ASSOCIATION.—The term ‘‘Association’’ 
means the Association of American State Geologists. 
(2) DIRECTOR.—The term ‘‘Director’’ means 
the Director of the United States Geological Survey. 
(3) FEDERAL COMPONENT.—The term ‘‘Fed-
eral component’’ means the Federal component of 
the 
High 
Plains 
Aquifer 
Comprehensive 
Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, Modeling, 
and Monitoring Program described in section 3(c). 
(4) HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER.—The term ‘‘High 
Plains Aquifer’’ is the groundwater reserve depicted 
as Figure 1 in the United States Geological Survey 
Professional Paper 1400–B, entitled ‘‘Geohydrology 
of the High Plains Aquifer in Parts of Colorado, 
Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South 
Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming.’’. 
(5) HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER STATES.—The term 
‘‘High Plains Aquifer States’’ means the States of 
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, New Mexico, Okla-
homa, South Dakota, Texas, and Wyoming. 
(6) SECRETARY.—The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means 
the Secretary of the Interior. 
(7) STATE
COMPONENT.—The term ‘‘State 
component’’ means the State component of the High 
Plains Aquifer Comprehensive Hydrogeologic Char-
acterization, Mapping, Modeling, and Monitoring 
Program described in section 3(d). 
SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT. 
(a) PROGRAM.—The Secretary, working through the 
United States Geological Survey, and in cooperation with 
the State geological surveys and the water management 
agencies of the High Plains Aquifer States, shall establish 
and carry out the High Plains Aquifer Comprehensive 
Hydrogeolgoic Characterization, Mapping, Modeling, and 
Monitoring Program, for the purposes of the characteriza-
tion, mapping, modeling, and monitoring of the High 
Plains Aquifer. The program shall undertake, on a county-
by-county level or at the largest scales and most detailed 
levels determined to be appropriate on a State-by-State 
and regional basis, the following: 
(1) mapping of the hydrogeological configura-
tion of the High Plains Aquifer; and 
(2) with respect to the High Plains Aquifer, 
analyses of the current and past rates at which 
groundwater is being withdrawn and recharged, the 
net rate of decrease or increase in High Plains Aqui-
fer storage, the factors controlling the rate of hori-
zontal and vertical migration of water within the 
High Plains Aquifer, and the current and past rate
of loss of saturated thickness within the High Plains 
Aquifer. 
The program shall also develop, as needed, regional data 
bases and groundwater flow models. 
(b) FUNDING.—The Secretary shall make available 
50 percent of the funds available pursuant to this Act for 
use in carrying out the State component of the program, 
as provided under subsection (d). 
(c) FEDERAL PROGRAM COMPONENT.—
(1) PRIORITIES.—The program shall include a 
Federal component, developed in consultation with 
the Federal Review Panel provided under subsection 
(e), which shall have as its priorities—
(A) coordinating Federal, State, and local, 
data, maps, and models into an integrated 
physical characterization of the High Plains Aq-
uifer; 
(B) supporting State and local activities 
with scientific and technical specialists; and 
(C) undertaking activities and providing 
technical capabilities not available at the State 
and local levels. 
(2) INTERDISCIPLINARY
STUDIES.—The Fed-
eral component shall include interdisciplinary studies 
that add value to hydrogeologic characterization,
education, or consortia of such agencies or entities. 
Such funds shall be awarded by the Director only 
for proposals that have been recommended by the 
State panels referred to in paragraph (1), subject to 
independent peer review, and given final rec-
ommendation by the Federal Review Panel estab-
lished under subsection (e). Proposals for multi-
State activities must be recommended by the State 
panel of at least one of the affected States. 
(e) FEDERAL REVIEW PANEL.—
(1) ESTABLISHMENT.—There shall be estab-
lished a Federal Review Panel to evaluate the pro-
posals submitted for funding under the State compo-
nent under subsection (d)(2) and to recommend ap-
provals and levels of funding. The Federal Review 
Panel shall review and coordinate the Federal com-
ponent priorities under subsection (c)(1), Federal 
interdisciplinary studies under subsection (c)(2), and 
the State component priorities under subsection 
(d)(1). 
(2) COMPOSITION
AND
SUPPORT.—Not later 
than 3 months after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall appoint to the Federal Re-
view Panel the following:
(A) Two representatives of the United 
States Geological Survey, at least one of which 
shall be a hydrologist or hydrogeologist. 
(B) Three representatives of the geological 
surveys and water management agencies of the 
High Plains Aquifer States from lists of nomi-
nees provided by the Association and the West-
ern States Water Council, so that there is rep-
resentation of both the State geological surveys 
and the State water management agencies. 
Appointment to the Panel shall be for a term of 3 years. 
The Director shall provide technical and administrative 
support to the Federal Review Panel. Expenses for the 
Federal Review Panel shall be paid from funds available 
under the Federal component of the program. 
(f) LIMITATION.—The United States Geological Sur-
vey shall not use any of the Federal funds to be made 
available under the State component for any fiscal year 
to pay indirect, servicing, or program management 
charges. Recipients of awards granted under subsection 
(d)(2) shall not use more than 18 percent of the Federal 
award amount for any fiscal year for indirect, servicing, 
or program management charges.
SEC. 4. PLAN. 
The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall, 
with the participation and review of the Association, the 
Western States Water Council, the Federal Review Panel, 
and the State panels, prepare a plan for the High Plains 
Aquifer Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, Mod-
eling, and Monitoring Program. The plan shall address 
overall priorities for the program and a management 
structure and program operations, including the role and 
responsibilities of the United States Geological Survey and 
the States in the program, and mechanisms for identifying 
priorities for the Federal component and the State compo-
nent. 
SEC. 5. REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. 
(a) REPORT ON PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION.—One 
year after the date of enactment of this Act, and every 
2 years thereafter through fiscal year 2011, the Secretary 
shall submit a report on the status of implementation of 
the program established by this Act to the Committee on 
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate, the Com-
mittee on Resources of the House of Representatives, and 
the Governors of the High Plains Aquifer States. 
(b) REPORT ON HIGH PLAINS AQUIFER.—One year 
after the date of enactment of this Act and every year 
thereafter through fiscal year 2011, the Secretary shall 
submit a report to the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate, the Committee on Resources of 
the House of Representatives, and the Governors of the 
High Plains Aquifer States on the status of the High 
Plains Aquifer, including aquifer recharge rates, extrac-
tion rates, saturated thickness, and water table levels. 
(c) ROLE OF FEDERAL REVIEW PANEL.—The Fed-
eral Review Panel shall be given an opportunity to review 
and comment on the reports required by this section. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2003 
through 2011 to carry out this Act.
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