Continental Scientific Drilling and Exploration Act
PL 100-441 (S.52), enacted 09/22/1988

102 STAT. 1760 
PUBLIC LAW 100-441—SEPT. 22, 1988 
Public Law 100-441 
100th Congress 
An Act 
Sept. 22, 1988 
To direct the cooperation of certain Federal entities in the implementation of the 
[S. 52] 
Continental Scientific Drilling Program. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
Continental 
United States of America in Congress assembled, That this Act may 
Scientific 
bg cited as the "Continental Scientific Drilling and Exploration 
Dnlhng and 
Ar«f" 
Exploration Act. 
"-^^ • 
S l S s a n d 
SEC. 2. PURPOSES. 
mmmg. 
The purpose of this Act is to— 
devlfopme^nt 
^^^ implement section 323 of the joint resolution entitled 
Hazardous 
"Joint Resolution making continuing appropriations for the 
materials. 
fiscal year 1985, and for other purposes", approved October 12, 
43 use 31 note. 
1984 (Public Law 98-473; 98 Stat. 1875) which supports and 
43 use 31 note. 
encourages the development of a national Continental Scientific 
Drilling Program; 
(2) enhance fundamental understanding of the composition, 
structure, dynamics, and evolution of the continental crust, and 
how such processes affect natural phenomena such as earth-
quakes, volcanic eruptions, transfer of geothermal energy, dis-
tribution of mineral deposits, the occurrence of fossil fuels, and 
the nature and extent of aquifers; 
(3) advance basic earth sciences research and technological 
development; 
(4) obtain critical data regarding the earth's crust relating to 
isolation of hazardous wastes; and 
(5) develop a long-range plan for implementation of the Con-
tinental Scientific Drilling Program. 
43 u s e 31 note. 
SEC. 3. FINDINGS. 
Congress finds that— 
(1) because the earth provides energy, minerals, and water, 
and is used as a storage medium for municipal, chemical, and 
nuclear waste, an understanding of the processes and structures 
in the earth's crust is essential to the well being of the United 
States; 
(2) there is a need for developing long-range plans for a 
United States Continental Scientific Drilling Program; and 
(3) the Continental 
Scientific Drilling Program 
would 
enhance— 
(A) understanding of the crustal evolution of the earth 
and the mountain building processes; 
(B) understanding of the mechanisms of earthquakes and 
volcanic eruptions and the development of improved tech-
niques for prediction; 
(C) understanding of the development and utilization of 
geothermal and other energy sources and the formation of 
and occurrence of mineral deposits; 
PUBLIC LAW 100-441—SEPT. 22, 1988 
102 STAT. 1761 
(D) understanding of the migration of fluids in the earth's 
crust for evaluation of waste contamination and the devel-
opment of more effective techniques for the safe subsurface 
disposal of hazardous wastes; 
(E) understanding and definition of the size, source, and 
more effective use of aquifers and other water resources; 
and 
(F) evaluation and verification of surface geophysical 
techniques needed for exploring and monitoring the earth's 
crust. 
SEC. 4. IMPLEMENTATION 
OF 
CONTINENTAL 
SCIENTIFIC 
DRILLING 
43 USC 31 note. 
PROGRAM. 
The Secretary of the Department of Energy, the Secretary of the 
Department of the Interior through the United States Geological 
Survey, and the Director of the National Science Foundation shall 
implement the policies of section 323 of the joint resolution entitled 
"Joint Resolution making continuing appropriations for the fiscal 
year 1985, and for other purposes", approved October 12, 1984 
(Public Law 98-473; 98 Stat. 1875) b y -
C
D taking such action as necessary to assure an effective, 
cooperative effort in furtherance of the Continental Scientific 
Drilling Program of the United States; 
(2) taking all reasonable administrative and financial meas-
ures to assure that the Interagency Accord on Continental 
Scientific Drilling continues to function effectively in support of 
such program; 
(3) assuring the continuing effective operation of the Inter-
agency Coordinating Group to further the objectives of such 
program; 
(4) taking such action to assure that the Interagency Coordi-
nating Group receives appropriate cooperation from any Fed-
eral agency that can contribute to the objectives of such 
program, without adversely affecting any program or activity of 
such agency; 
(5) acting through the Interagency Coordinating Group, Reports, 
preparing and submitting to the Congress, within one hun-
dred and eighty days after the enactment of this Act a report 
describing— 
(A) long and short-term policy objectives and goals of the 
United States Continental Scientific Drilling Program; 
(B) projected 
schedules of desirable scientific 
and 
engineering events that would advance United States objec-
tives in the Continental Scientific Drilling Program; 
(C) the levels of resources and funding for fiscal year 1989 
that would be required by each participating Federal 
agency to carry out events pursuant to subparagraphs (A) 
and (B); 
(D) the scientific, economic, technological, and social 
benefits expected to be realized through the implementa-
tion of such program at each level described in subpara-
graph (C); 
(E) a recommended course for interaction with the 
international community in a cooperative effort to achieve 
the goals and purposes of this Act; 
(F) the extent of participation or interest shown to date in 
the Continental Scientific Drilling Program by— 
102 STAT. 1762 
PUBLIC LAW 100-441—SEPT. 22, 1988 
(i) any other governmental agency; 
(ii) any academic institution; 
(iii) any organization in the private sector; and 
(iv) any governmental or other entity in the inter-
national community; 
(G) a plan to develop beneficial cooperative relationships 
among the entities mentioned in subparagraph (F), to the 
extent that the Interagency Coordinating Group deems 
practicable; and 
(H) any other information or recommendations that the 
Interagency Coordinating Group deems appropriate; and 
Reports. 
(6) submitting to the Congress annually, beginning one year 
after the submission of a report under paragraph (5), a report 
describing the levels of resources and funding that would be 
required by each participating Federal agency for the next 
fiscal year to carry out events pursuant to paragraph (5) (A) and 
(B). 
Approved September 22, 1988. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—S. 52 (H.R. 2737): 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 100-580, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Interior and Insular Affairs) and 
Pt. 2 (Comm. on Science, Space, and Technology), accompanying 
H.R. 2737. 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 100-67 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD: 
Vol. 133 (1987): June 17, considered and passed Senate. 
Vol. 134 (1988): May 23, H.R. 2737 considered and passed House; proceedings 
vacated and S. 52, amended, passed in lieu. 
June 10, Senate concurred in House amendment with an 
amendment. 
Sept. 9, House concurred in Senate amendment. 
o