43 U.S.C. § 31a — Findings and purpose

Page 8 TITLE 43—PUBLIC LANDS § 31a ‘‘(G) a plan to develop beneficial cooperative rela- tionships among the entities mentioned in subpara- graph (F), to the extent that the Interagency Co- ordinating Group deems practicable; and ‘‘(H) any other information or recommendations that the Interagency Coordinating Group deems ap- propriate; and ‘‘(6) submitting to the Congress annually, beginning one year after the submission of a report under para- graph (5), a report describing the levels of resources and funding that would be required by each partici- pating Federal agency for the next fiscal year to carry out events pursuant to paragraph (5)(A) and (B).’’ [For termination, effective May 15, 2000, of provisions of law requiring submittal to Congress of any annual, semiannual, or other regular periodic report listed in House Document No. 103–7 (in which a report required under section 4(6) of Pub. L. 100–441, set out above, is listed as the 10th item on page 149), see section 3003 of Pub. L. 104–66, as amended, and section 1(a)(4) [div. A, § 1402(1)] of Pub. L. 106–554, set out as notes under sec- tion 1113 of Title 31, Money and Finance.] Pub. L. 98–473, title I, § 101(c) [title III, § 323], Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1837, 1875, provided that: ‘‘It is the sense of the Congress that the Continental Scientific Drilling Program is an important national scientific endeavor, benefiting the commerce of the Nation, which should be vigorously pursued by Government and the private sector. The Continental Scientific Drilling Program is an important national scientific endeavor that is vital to the understanding of the geologic evolution of the Earth and the economic value of its resources; the most effective and efficient means of realizing the fullest po- tential in the Continental Scientific Drilling Program is through a cooperative effort by the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Geological Survey; many important commercial and scientific advances may result from the Continental Scientific Drilling Program; and many foreign nations are engaged in a comparable deep drill- ing program, and cooperation and coordination would be beneficial to United States efforts. It is the sense of the Congress that— ‘‘(1) the Continental Scientific Drilling Program is an important national scientific endeavor by the United States which should be enthusiastically im- plemented through a joint cooperative effort among the United States Department of Energy, the Na- tional Science Foundation, and the United States Ge- ological Survey; ‘‘(2) the private sector should be encouraged to sup- port the Continental Scientific Drilling Program and the participating agencies should solicit appropriate private sector participation in such program; and ‘‘(3) the United States Government should cooper- ate to the extent practicable with the international community in developing this important scientific and technical activity.’’ Executive Documents TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS For transfer of functions of other officers, employees, and agencies of Department of the Interior, with cer- tain exceptions, to Secretary of the Interior, with power to delegate, see Reorg. Plan No. 3 of 1950, §§ 1, 2, eff. May 24, 1950, 15 F.R. 3174, 64 Stat. 1262, set out under section 1451 of this title. § 31a. Findings and purpose (a) Findings The Congress finds and declares that— (1) although significant progress has been made in the production of geologic maps since the establishment of the national cooperative geologic mapping program in 1992, no modern, digital, geologic map exists for approximately 75 percent of the United States; (2) geologic maps are the primary data base for virtually all applied and basic earth- science investigations, including— (A) exploration for and development of mineral, energy, and water resources; (B) screening and characterizing sites for toxic and nuclear waste disposal; (C) land use evaluation and planning for homeland and environmental protection; (D) earthquake hazards reduction; (E) identifying volcanic hazards; (F) design and construction of infrastruc- ture requirements such as utility lifelines, transportation corridors, and surface-water impoundments; (G) reducing losses from landslides and other ground failures; (H) mitigating effects of coastal and stream erosion; (I) siting of critical facilities; (J) recreation and public awareness; and (K) basic earth-science research; (3) Federal agencies, State and local govern- ments, private industry, and the general pub- lic depend on the information provided by geo- logic maps to determine the extent of poten- tial environmental damage before embarking on projects that could lead to preventable, costly environmental problems or litigation; (4) the combined capabilities of State, Fed- eral, and academic groups to provide geologic mapping are not sufficient to meet the present and future needs of the United States for na- tional security, environmental protection, and energy self-sufficiency of the Nation; (5) States are willing to contribute 50 per- cent of the funding necessary to complete the mapping of the geology within the State; (6) the lack of proper geologic maps has led to the poor design of such structures as dams and waste-disposal facilities; (7) geologic maps have proven indispensable in the search for needed fossil-fuel and mineral resources; (8) geologic map information is required for the sustainable and balanced development of natural resources of all types, including en- ergy, minerals, land, water, and biological re- sources; (9) advances in digital technology and geo- graphical information system science have made geologic map databases increasingly available as decision support tools for land and resource management; and (10) a comprehensive nationwide program of geologic mapping of surficial and bedrock de- posits is required in order to systematically build the Nation’s geologic-map data base at a pace that responds to increasing demand. (b) Purpose The purpose of sections 31a to 31h of this title is to expedite the production of a geologic-map data base for the Nation, to be located within the United States Geological Survey, which can be applied to land-use management, assessment, and utilization, conservation of natural re- sources, groundwater management, and environ- mental protection and management. (Pub. L. 102–285, § 2, May 18, 1992, 106 Stat. 166; Pub. L. 106–148, § 2, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1719; Page 9 TITLE 43—PUBLIC LANDS § 31b Pub. L. 111–11, title XI, § 11001(a), (b), Mar. 30, 2009, 123 Stat. 1414.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Sections 31a to 31h of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was in the original ‘‘this Act’’, meaning Pub. L. 102–285, known as the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992, which is classified principally to sections 31a to 31h of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note below and Tables. AMENDMENTS 2009—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 111–11, § 11001(a)(1), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as fol- lows: ‘‘during the past 2 decades, the production of geo- logic maps has been drastically curtailed;’’. Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 111–11, § 11001(a)(2)(A), in- serted ‘‘homeland and’’ after ‘‘planning for’’. Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 111–11, § 11001(a)(2)(B), sub- stituted ‘‘identifying’’ for ‘‘predicting’’. Subsec. (a)(2)(J), (K). Pub. L. 111–11, § 11001(a)(2)(C)–(E), added subpar. (J) and redesignated former subpar. (J) as (K). Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 111–11, § 11001(a)(3), substituted ‘‘available’’ for ‘‘important’’. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 111–11, § 11001(b), inserted ‘‘and management’’ before period at end. 1999—Subsec. (a)(8) to (10). Pub. L. 106–148 added pars. (8) and (9) and redesignated former par. (8) as (10) and inserted ‘‘of surficial and bedrock deposits’’ after ‘‘geo- logic mapping’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries SHORT TITLE OF 1999 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 106–148, § 1, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1719, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting sections 31e, 31g and 31h of this title, amending sections 31a to 31d and 31f of this title, and repealing former sections 31e, 31g, and 31h of this title] may be cited as the ‘National Geologic Map- ping Reauthorization Act of 1999’.’’ SHORT TITLE OF 1997 AMENDMENT Pub. L. 105–36, § 1, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1107, provided that: ‘‘This Act [amending sections 31b to 31h of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997’.’’ SHORT TITLE Pub. L. 102–285, § 1, May 18, 1992, 106 Stat. 166, provided that: ‘‘This Act [enacting this section and sections 31b to 31h of this title, amending sections 1457, 1457a, and 1782 of this title, sections 450ii–3, 665, 1133, and 3151 of Title 16, Conservation, section 262k of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, section 1677 of Title 25, Indi- ans, sections 1, 1a, 2, 3, 4, 4c, 4d, 5, 6, 7, 8, 411, 412, 804, 812, 871, 878, 1224, 1229, 1232, 1311, 1315, and 1604 of Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining, and sections 5814 and 6505 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, enact- ing provisions set out as notes under section 31 of this title and section 1 of Title 30, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 1231 of Title 30] may be cited as the ‘National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992’.’’ FINDINGS Pub. L. 105–36, § 2, Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1107, provided that: ‘‘Congress finds that— ‘‘(1) in enacting the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31a et seq.), Congress found, among other things, that— ‘‘(A) during the 2 decades preceding enactment of that Act, the production of geologic maps had been drastically curtailed; ‘‘(B) geologic maps are the primary data base for virtually all applied and basic earth-science inves- tigations; ‘‘(C) Federal agencies, State and local govern- ments, private industry, and the general public de- pend on the information provided by geologic maps to determine the extent of potential environmental damage before embarking on projects that could lead to preventable, costly environmental problems or litigation; ‘‘(D) the lack of proper geologic maps has led to the poor design of such structures as dams and waste-disposal facilities; ‘‘(E) geologic maps have proven indispensable in the search for needed fossil fuel and mineral re- sources; and ‘‘(F) a comprehensive nationwide program of geo- logic mapping is required in order to systemati- cally build the Nation’s geologic-map data base at a pace that responds to increasing demand; ‘‘(2) the geologic mapping program called for by that Act has not been fully implemented; and ‘‘(3) it is time for this important program to be fully implemented.’’ § 31b. Definitions In sections 31a to 31h of this title: (1) Advisory committee The term ‘‘advisory committee’’ means the advisory committee established under section 31d of this title. (2) Association The term ‘‘Association’’ means the Associa- tion of American State Geologists. (3) Director The term ‘‘Director’’ means the Director of the United States Geological Survey. (4) Education component The term ‘‘education component’’ means the education component of the geologic mapping program described in section 31c(d)(3) of this title. (5) Federal component The term ‘‘Federal component’’ means the Federal component of the geologic mapping program described in section 31c(d)(1) of this title. (6) Geologic mapping program The term ‘‘geologic mapping program’’ means the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program established by section 31c(a) of this title. (7) Secretary The term ‘‘Secretary’’ means the Secretary of the Interior. (8) State The term ‘‘State’’ includes the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Vir- gin Islands. (9) State component The term ‘‘State component’’ means the State component of the geologic mapping pro- gram described in section 31c(d)(2) of this title. (10) Survey The term ‘‘Survey’’ means the United States Geological Survey. (Pub. L. 102–285, § 3, May 18, 1992, 106 Stat. 167; Pub. L. 105–36, § 3(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1107;