Natl Geologic Mapping Act

PUBLIC LAW 106–148—DEC. 9, 1999

113 STAT. 1719

Public Law 106–148
106th Congress
An Act
To reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ‘‘National Geologic Mapping
Reauthorization Act of 1999’’.

Dec. 9, 1999
[H.R. 1528]
National Geologic
Mapping
Reauthorization
Act of 1999.
43 USC 31a note.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

Section 2(a) of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992
(43 U.S.C. 31a(a)) is amended—
(1) in paragraph (7), by striking ‘‘and’’ at the end;
(2) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (10);
(3) by inserting after paragraph (7) the following:
‘‘(8) geologic map information is required for the sustainable
and balanced development of natural resources of all types,
including energy, minerals, land, water, and biological
resources;
‘‘(9) advances in digital technology and geographical
information system science have made geologic map databases
increasingly important as decision support tools for land and
resource management; and’’; and
(4) in paragraph (10) (as redesignated by paragraph (2)),
by inserting ‘‘of surficial and bedrock deposits’’ after ‘‘geologic
mapping’’.
SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

Section 3 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43
U.S.C. 31b) is amended—
(1) by redesignating paragraphs (4), (5), (6), and (7) as
paragraphs (6), (7), (8), and (10), respectively;
(2) by inserting after paragraph (3) the following:
‘‘(4) EDUCATION COMPONENT.—The term ‘education component’ means the education component of the geologic mapping
program described in section 6(d)(3).
‘‘(5) FEDERAL COMPONENT.—The term ‘Federal component’
means the Federal component of the geologic mapping program
described in section 6(d)(1).’’; and
(3) by inserting after paragraph (8) (as redesignated by
paragraph (1)) the following:
‘‘(9) STATE COMPONENT.—The term ‘State component’
means the State component of the geologic mapping program
described in section 6(d)(2).’’.

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113 STAT. 1720

PUBLIC LAW 106–148—DEC. 9, 1999

SEC. 4. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM.

Section 4 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43
U.S.C. 31c) is amended—
(1) in subsection (b)(1)—
(A) in the first sentence, by striking ‘‘priorities’’ and
inserting ‘‘national priorities and standards for’’;
(B) in subparagraph (A)—
(i) by striking ‘‘develop a geologic mapping program
implementation plan’’ and inserting ‘‘develop a 5-year
strategic plan for the geologic mapping program’’; and
(ii) by striking ‘‘within 300 days after the date
of enactment of the National Geologic Mapping
Reauthorization Act of 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of
1999’’;
(C) in subparagraph (B), by striking ‘‘within 90 days
after the date of enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘not later
than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the National
Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999’’; and
(D) in subparagraph (C)—
(i) in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking
‘‘within 210 days after the date of enactment of the
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of
1997’’ and inserting ‘‘not later than 3 years after the
date of the enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999, and biennially thereafter’’;
(ii) in clause (i), by striking ‘‘will coordinate’’ and
inserting ‘‘are coordinating’’;
(iii) in clause (ii), by striking ‘‘will establish’’ and
inserting ‘‘establish’’; and
(iv) in clause (iii), by striking ‘‘will lead to’’ and
inserting ‘‘affect’’; and
(2) by striking subsection (d) and inserting the following:
‘‘(d) PROGRAM COMPONENTS.—
‘‘(1) FEDERAL COMPONENT.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping program shall
include a Federal geologic mapping component, the objective of which shall be to determine the geologic framework
of areas determined to be vital to the economic, social,
environmental, or scientific welfare of the United States.
‘‘(B) MAPPING PRIORITIES.—For the Federal component,
mapping priorities—
‘‘(i) shall be described in the 5-year plan under
section 6; and
‘‘(ii) shall be based on—
‘‘(I) national requirements for geologic map
information in areas of multiple-issue need or
areas of compelling single-issue need; and
‘‘(II) national requirements for geologic map
information in areas where mapping is required
to solve critical earth science problems.
‘‘(C) INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES.—

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PUBLIC LAW 106–148—DEC. 9, 1999

113 STAT. 1721

‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—The Federal component shall
include interdisciplinary studies that add value to geologic mapping.
‘‘(ii) REPRESENTATIVE CATEGORIES.—Interdisciplinary studies under clause (i) may include—
‘‘(I) establishment of a national geologic map
database under section 7;
‘‘(II) studies that lead to the implementation
of cost-effective digital methods for the acquisition,
compilation, analysis, cartographic production, and
dissemination of geologic map information;
‘‘(III) paleontologic, geochrono-logic, and isotopic investigations that provide information critical to understanding the age and history of geologic map units;
‘‘(IV) geophysical investigations that assist in
delineating and mapping the physical characteristics and 3-dimensional distribution of geologic
materials and geologic structures; and
‘‘(V) geochemical investigations and analytical
operations that characterize the composition of
geologic map units.
‘‘(iii) USE OF RESULTS.—The results of investigations under clause (ii) shall be contributed to national
databases.
‘‘(2) STATE COMPONENT.—
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping program shall
include a State geologic mapping component, the objective
of which shall be to establish the geologic framework of
areas determined to be vital to the economic, social,
environmental, or scientific welfare of individual States.
‘‘(B) MAPPING PRIORITIES.—For the State component,
mapping priorities—
‘‘(i) shall be determined by State panels representing a broad range of users of geologic maps;
and
‘‘(ii) shall be based on—
‘‘(I) State requirements for geologic map
information in areas of multiple-issue need or
areas of compelling single-issue need; and
‘‘(II) State requirements for geologic map
information in areas where mapping is required
to solve critical earth science problems.
‘‘(C) INTEGRATION OF FEDERAL AND STATE PRIORITIES.—
A national panel including representatives of the Survey
shall integrate the State mapping priorities under this
paragraph with the Federal mapping priorities under paragraph (1).
‘‘(D) USE OF FUNDS.—The Survey and recipients of
grants under the State component shall not use more than
15.25 percent of the Federal funds made available under
the State component for any fiscal year to pay indirect,
servicing, or program management charges.
‘‘(E) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost
of activities under the State component for any fiscal year
shall not exceed 50 percent.
‘‘(3) EDUCATION COMPONENT.—

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113 STAT. 1722

PUBLIC LAW 106–148—DEC. 9, 1999
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—The geologic mapping program shall
include a geologic mapping education component for the
training of geologic mappers, the objectives of which shall
be—
‘‘(i) to provide for broad education in geologic mapping and field analysis through support of field studies;
and
‘‘(ii) to develop academic programs that teach students of earth science the fundamental principles of
geologic mapping and field analysis.
‘‘(B) INVESTIGATIONS.—The education component may
include the conduct of investigations, which—
‘‘(i) shall be integrated with the Federal component
and the State component; and
‘‘(ii) shall respond to mapping priorities identified
for the Federal component and the State component.
‘‘(C) USE OF FUNDS.—The Survey and recipients of
grants under the education component shall not use more
than 15.25 percent of the Federal funds made available
under the education component for any fiscal year to pay
indirect, servicing, or program management charges.
‘‘(D) FEDERAL SHARE.—The Federal share of the cost
of activities under the education component for any fiscal
year shall not exceed 50 percent.’’.

SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

Section 5 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43
U.S.C. 31d) is amended—
(1) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘90 days after the date
of enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization
Act of 1997’’ and inserting ‘‘1 year after the date of the enactment of the National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act
of 1999’’; and
(2) in subsection (b)—
(A) in paragraph (1), by striking ‘‘critique the draft
implementation plan’’ and inserting ‘‘update the 5-year
plan’’; and
(B) in paragraph (3), by striking ‘‘this Act’’ and
inserting ‘‘sections 4 through 7’’.
SEC. 6. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM 5-YEAR PLAN.

The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is amended by
striking section 6 (43 U.S.C. 31e) and inserting the following:
43 USC 31e.

‘‘SEC. 6. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM 5-YEAR PLAN.

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Director,
shall, with the advice and review of the advisory committee, prepare
a 5-year plan for the geologic mapping program.
‘‘(b) REQUIREMENTS.—The 5-year plan shall identify—
‘‘(1) overall priorities for the geologic mapping program;
and
‘‘(2) implementation of the overall management structure
and operation of the geologic mapping program, including—
‘‘(A) the role of the Survey in the capacity of overall
management lead, including the responsibility for developing the national geologic mapping program that meets
Federal needs while fostering State needs;

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PUBLIC LAW 106–148—DEC. 9, 1999

113 STAT. 1723

‘‘(B) the responsibilities of the State geological surveys,
with emphasis on mechanisms that incorporate the needs,
missions, capabilities, and requirements of the State
geological surveys, into the nationwide geologic mapping
program;
‘‘(C) mechanisms for identifying short- and long-term
priorities for each component of the geologic mapping program, including—
‘‘(i) for the Federal component, a priority-setting
mechanism that responds to—
‘‘(I) Federal mission requirements for geologic
map information;
‘‘(II) critical scientific problems that require
geologic maps for their resolution; and
‘‘(III) shared Federal and State needs for geologic maps, in which joint Federal-State geologic
mapping projects are in the national interest;
‘‘(ii) for the State component, a priority-setting
mechanism that responds to—
‘‘(I) specific intrastate needs for geologic map
information; and
‘‘(II) interstate needs shared by adjacent
States that have common requirements; and
‘‘(iii) for the education component, a priority-setting mechanism that responds to requirements for geologic map information that are dictated by Federal
and State mission requirements;
‘‘(D) a mechanism for adopting scientific and technical
mapping standards for preparing and publishing generaland special-purpose geologic maps to—
‘‘(i) ensure uniformity of cartographic and scientific
conventions; and
‘‘(ii) provide a basis for assessing the comparability
and quality of map products; and
‘‘(E) a mechanism for monitoring the inventory of published and current mapping investigations nationwide to
facilitate planning and information exchange and to avoid
redundancy.’’.
SEC. 7. NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASE.

Section 7 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43
U.S.C. 31f ) is amended by striking the section heading and all
that follows through subsection (a) and inserting the following:
‘‘SEC. 7. NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASE.

‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Survey shall establish a national
geologic map database.
‘‘(2) FUNCTION.—The database shall serve as a national
catalog and archive, distributed through links to Federal and
State geologic map holdings, that includes—
‘‘(A) all maps developed under the Federal component
and the education component;
‘‘(B) the databases developed in connection with investigations under subclauses (III), (IV), and (V) of section
4(d)(1)(C)(ii); and
‘‘(C) other maps and data that the Survey and the
Association consider appropriate.’’.

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113 STAT. 1724

PUBLIC LAW 106–148—DEC. 9, 1999

SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is amended by
striking section 8 (43 U.S.C. 31g) and inserting the following:
43 USC 31g.

‘‘SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

Deadline.

‘‘Not later 3 years after the date of the enactment of the
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999 and biennially thereafter, the Secretary shall submit to the Committee on
Resources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate a report that—
‘‘(1) describes the status of the national geologic mapping
program;
‘‘(2) describes and evaluates the progress achieved during
the preceding 2 years in developing the national geologic map
database; and
‘‘(3) includes any recommendations that the Secretary may
have for legislative or other action to achieve the purposes
of sections 4 through 7.’’.
SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 is amended by
striking section 9 (43 U.S.C. 31h) and inserting the following:
43 USC 31h.

‘‘SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—There are authorized to be appropriated
to carry out this Act—
‘‘(1) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 1999;
‘‘(2) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2000;
‘‘(3) $37,000,000 for fiscal year 2001;
‘‘(4) $43,000,000 for fiscal year 2002;
‘‘(5) $50,000,000 for fiscal year 2003;
‘‘(6) $57,000,000 for fiscal year 2004; and
‘‘(7) $64,000,000 for fiscal year 2005.
‘‘(b) ALLOCATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Of any amounts appropriated for any fiscal year in excess of the amount appropriated
for fiscal year 2000—
‘‘(1) 48 percent shall be available for the State component;
and

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PUBLIC LAW 106–148—DEC. 9, 1999

113 STAT. 1725

‘‘(2) 2 percent shall be available for the education component.’’.
Approved December 9, 1999.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1528 (S. 607):
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106–389 (Comm. on Resources).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 106–78 accompanying S. 607 (Comm. on Energy and Natural Resources).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 145 (1999):
Oct. 26, considered and passed House.
Nov. 19, considered and passed Senate.

Æ

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