Teacher:In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Teacher: Now, understand the problem? Solve this instance: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Geologic Research Enhancement 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 ''Federal 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, Oklahoma, 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 Characterization, 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 characterization, 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 configuration 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withdrawn and recharged, the net rate of decrease or increase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 Aquifer storage, the factors controlling the
rate of horizontal 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 Aquifer;
(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 Federal component shall
include interdisciplinary studies that add value to
hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, modeling, and
monitoring for the High Plains Aquifer.
(d) State Program Component.--
(1) Priorities.--The program shall include a State
component which shall have as its priorities hydrogeologic
characterization, mapping, modeling, and monitoring activities
in areas of the High Plains Aquifer that will assist in
addressing issues relating to groundwater depletion and
resource assessment of the Aquifer. Priorities under the State
component shall be based upon the recommendations of State
panels representing a broad range of users of hydrogeologic
data and information, which shall be appointed by the Governor
of the State or the Governor's designee.
(2) Awards.--Twenty percent of the Federal funds available
under the State component shall be equally divided among the
State geological surveys of the High Plains Aquifer States to
carry out the purposes of the program provided under this Act.
The remaining funds under the State component shall be
competitively awarded to State or local agencies or entities in
the High Plains Aquifer States, including State geological
surveys, State water management agencies, institutions of
higher 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 recommendation by the Federal Review Panel established
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 established a Federal
Review Panel to evaluate the proposals submitted for funding
under the State component under subsection (d)(2) and to
recommend approvals and levels of funding. The Federal Review
Panel shall review and coordinate the Federal component
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 Review 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 nominees provided by the
Association and the Western States Water Council, so
that there is representation 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 Survey 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,
Modeling, 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
component.

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 Committee 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 rat
Student:
Geologic Research Enhancement Act - Directs the Secretary of the Interior, working through the United States Geological Survey, to establish and carry out the High Plains Aquifer Comprehensive Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, Modeling and Monitoring Program.Requires the Program to: (1) undertake mapping of the hydrogeological configuration of the Aquifer; (2) perform analyses of the current and past rates at which groundwater is being withdrawn and recharged, the net rate of decrease or increase in Aquifer storage, the factors controlling the rate of migration of water, and the current and past rate of loss of saturated thickness within the Aquifer; and (3) develop necessary regional databases and groundwater flow models.Requires the Program to include a Federal component and a State component and lists priorities of each, including (respectively): (1) coordinating Federal, State, and local data, maps and models into an integrated physical characterization of the Aquifer; and (2) hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, modeling, and monitoring activities in areas of the Aquifer that will assist in addressing issues relating to groundwater depletion and resource assessment of the Aquifer.Provides for the establishment of a Federal Review Panel to evaluate the funding proposals submitted by entities of the High Plains Aquifer States.Directs the Secretary, acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, to prepare a plan for the Program to address overall priorities for the Program and a management structure and Program operations.