§ 31c. — Geologic mapping program.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 43USC31c]
TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 2--UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Sec. 31c. Geologic mapping program
(a) Establishment
(1) In general
There is established a national cooperative geologic mapping
program between the United States Geological Survey and the State
geological surveys, acting through the Association.
(2) Design, development, and administration
The cooperative geologic mapping program shall be--
(A) designed and administered to achieve the objectives set
forth in subsection (c) of this section;
(B) developed in consultation with the advisory committee;
and
(C) administered through the Survey.
(b) Responsibilities of the Survey
(1) Lead agency
The Survey shall be the lead Federal agency responsible for
planning, developing national priorities and standards for,
coordinating, and managing the geologic mapping program. In carrying
out this paragraph, the Secretary, acting through the Director,
shall--
(A) develop a 5-year strategic plan for the geologic mapping
program in accordance with section 31e of this title, which plan
shall be submitted to the Committee on Resources of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources of the Senate not later than 1 year after December 9,
1999;
(B) appoint, with the advice and consultation of the
Association, the advisory committee not later than 1 year after
December 9, 1999, in accordance with section 31d of this title;
and
(C) not later than 3 years after December 9, 1999, and
biennially thereafter, submit a report to the Committee on
Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and to
the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives
identifying--
(i) how the Survey and the Association are coordinating
the development and implementation of the geologic mapping
program;
(ii) how the Survey and the Association establish goals,
mapping priorities, and target dates for implementation of
the geologic mapping program; and
(iii) how long-term staffing plans for the various
components of the geologic mapping program affect successful
implementation of the geologic mapping program.
(2) Responsibilities of the Secretary
In addition to paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the
Director, shall be responsible for developing, as soon as
practicable--
(A) in cooperation with the Association, other Federal and
State agencies, public and private sector organizations and
academia, the geologic-map data base; and
(B) maps and mapping techniques which achieve the objectives
specified in subsection (c) of this section.
(c) Program objectives
The objectives of the geologic mapping program shall include--
(1) determining the Nation's geologic framework through
systematic development of geologic maps at scales appropriate to the
geologic setting and the perceived applications, such maps to be
contributed to the national geologic map data base;
(2) development of a complementary national geophysical-map data
base, geochemical-map data base, and a geochronologic and
paleontologic data base that provide value-added descriptive and
interpretative information to the geologic-map data base;
(3) application of cost-effective mapping techniques that
assemble, produce, translate and disseminate geologic-map
information and that render such information of greater application
and benefit to the public; and
(4) development of public awareness of the role and application
of geologic-map information to the resolution of national issues of
land use management.
(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
31e of this title; 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
(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 31f of this title;
(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
(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.
(Pub. L. 102-285, Sec. 4, May 18, 1992, 106 Stat. 167; Pub. L. 103-437,
Sec. 16(a)(1), Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat. 4594; Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b),
Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1108; Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4, Dec. 9, 1999, 113
Stat. 1720.)
Amendments
1999--Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4(1)(A), substituted
``national priorities and standards for'' for ``priorities'' in first
sentence.
Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4(1)(B), substituted
``develop a 5-year strategic plan for the geologic mapping program'' for
``develop a geologic mapping program implementation plan'' and ``not
later than 1 year after December 9, 1999'' for ``within 300 days after
August 5, 1997''.
Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4(1)(C), substituted ``not
later than 1 year after December 9, 1999,'' for ``within 90 days after
August 5, 1997,''.
Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4(1)(D)(i), substituted
``not later than 3 years after December 9, 1999, and biennially
thereafter'' for ``within 210 days after August 5, 1997'' in
introductory provisions.
Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(i). Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4(1)(D)(ii), substituted
``are coordinating'' for ``will coordinate''.
Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4(1)(D)(iii),
substituted ``establish'' for ``will establish''.
Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(iii). Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4(1)(D)(iv),
substituted ``affect'' for ``will lead to''.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 106-148, Sec. 4(2), added subsec. (d) and
struck out former subsec. (d) which set out the Federal, support, State,
and education components of the geological mapping program.
1997--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(1), added subsec. (a)
and struck out heading and text of former subsec. (a). Text read as
follows: ``There is established in the United States Geological Survey a
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. The geologic mapping
program shall be developed in consultation with the advisory committee
and shall be designed and administered to achieve the objectives set
forth in subsection (c) of this section.''
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(A), (D), substituted ``the
Survey'' for ``USGS'' in heading and realigned text margins.
Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(B)(i), (ii), inserted
heading and realigned margins.
Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(B)(iii), substituted
``Committee on Resources'' for ``Committee on Natural Resources'' and
``August 5, 1997'' for ``May 18, 1992''.
Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(B)(iv), substituted
``Association'' for ``State geological surveys'' and ``August 5, 1997''
for ``May 18, 1992''.
Subsec. (b)(1)(C). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(B)(v)(I), (II), in
introductory provisions, substituted ``August 5, 1997'' for ``May 18,
1992'' and ``Committee on Resources'' for ``Committee on Natural
Resources''.
Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(i). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(B)(v)(III),
inserted ``and the Association'' after ``the Survey''.
Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(B)(v)(III),
(IV), inserted ``and the Association'' after ``the Survey'' and ``and''
after semicolon at end.
Subsec. (b)(1)(C)(iii), (iv). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(B)(v)(V),
substituted period for ``; and'' at end of cl. (iii) and struck out cl.
(iv) which read as follows: ``the degree to which geologic mapping
activities traditionally funded by the Survey, including the use of
commercially available aerial photography, geodesy, professional land
surveying, photogrammetric mapping, cartography, photographic
processing, and related services, can be contracted to professional
private mapping firms.''
Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(C)(i), inserted
heading.
Subsec. (b)(2)(A). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(2)(C)(ii), substituted
``Association'' for ``State geological surveys''.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(3)(A), substituted
``interpretative information'' for ``interpretive information''.
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(3)(B), substituted
``public awareness of'' for ``public awareness for''.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(4)(A), inserted heading.
Subsec. (d)(2). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(4)(B)(i), inserted
heading.
Subsec. (d)(2)(D). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(4)(B)(ii), added
subpar. (D) and struck out former subpar. (D) which read as follows:
``geochronologic and isotopic investigations that (i) provide
radiometric age dates for geologic-map units and (ii) fingerprint the
geothermometry, geobarometry, and alteration history of geologic-map
units, which investigations shall be contributed to a national
geochronologic data base;''.
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(4)(C), inserted heading.
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 105-36, Sec. 3(b)(4)(D), added par. (4) and
struck out former par. (4) which read as follows: ``A geologic mapping
education component, whose objective shall be--
``(A) to develop the academic programs that teach earth-science
students the fundamental principles of geologic mapping and field
analysis; and
``(B) to provide for broad education in geologic mapping and
field analysis through support of field teaching institutes.
Investigations conducted under the geologic mapping education component
shall be integrated with the other mapping components of the geologic
mapping program, and shall respond to priorities identified for those
components.''
1994--Subsec. (b)(1)(A), (C). Pub. L. 103-437 substituted ``Natural
Resources'' for ``Interior and Insular Affairs'' before ``of the
House''.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 31b, 31d, 31f, 31g, 31h of
this title.
