43 U.S.C. § 31b — Definitions

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; Page 10 TITLE 43—PUBLIC LANDS § 31c Pub. L. 106–148, § 3, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1719; Pub. L. 116–9, title V, § 5002(c), Mar. 12, 2019, 133 Stat. 768.) Editorial Notes REFERENCES IN TEXT Sections 31a to 31h of this title, referred to in text, 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 set out under section 31a of this title and Tables. AMENDMENTS 2019—Par. (4). Pub. L. 116–9, § 5002(c)(1), substituted ‘‘section 31c(d)(3)’’ for ‘‘section 31e(d)(3)’’. Par. (5). Pub. L. 116–9, § 5002(c)(2), substituted ‘‘section 31c(d)(1)’’ for ‘‘section 31e(d)(1)’’. Par. (9). Pub. L. 116–9, § 5002(c)(3), substituted ‘‘section 31c(d)(2)’’ for ‘‘section 31e(d)(2)’’. 1999—Pars. (4) to (10). Pub. L. 106–148 added pars. (4), (5), and (9) and redesignated former pars. (4), (5), (6), and (7) as (6), (7), (8), and (10), respectively. 1997—Pub. L. 105–36, § 3(a)(1), substituted ‘‘In sections 31a to 31h of this title:’’ for ‘‘As used in sections 31a to 31h of this title:’’ in introductory provisions. Par. (1). Pub. L. 105–36, § 3(a)(5), inserted heading. Par. (2). Pub. L. 105–36, § 3(a)(2), (3), added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3). Pars. (3) to (5). Pub. L. 105–36, § 3(a)(2), (5), redesig- nated pars. (2) to (4) as (3) to (5), respectively, and in- serted headings. Par. (5) redesignated (7). Par. (6). Pub. L. 105–36, § 3(a)(4), added par. (6). Par. (7). Pub. L. 105–36, § 3(a)(2), (5), redesignated par. (5) as (7) and inserted heading. § 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 geo- logical surveys, acting through the Associa- tion. (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); (B) developed in consultation with the ad- visory 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 Re- sources of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Energy and Natural Re- sources of the Senate not later than 1 year after March 12, 2019; (B) appoint, with the advice and consulta- tion of the Association, the advisory com- mittee not later than 1 year after March 12, 2019, in accordance with section 31d of this title; and (C) submit biennially a report to the Com- mittee on Energy and Natural Resources of the United States Senate and to the Com- mittee on Resources of the House of Rep- resentatives identifying— (i) how the Survey and the Association are coordinating the development and im- plementation of the geologic mapping pro- gram; (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 map- ping program affect successful implemen- tation of the geologic mapping program. (2) Responsibilities of the Secretary In addition to paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the Director, shall be respon- sible 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 sub- section (c). (c) Program objectives The objectives of the geologic mapping pro- gram shall include— (1) determining the Nation’s geologic frame- work through systematic development of geo- logic maps at scales appropriate to the geo- logic setting and the perceived applications, such maps to be contributed to the national geologic map data base; (2) development of a complementary na- tional geochronologic and paleontologic data base that provides 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 appli- cation and benefit to the public; and (4) development of public awareness of the role and application of geologic-map informa- tion to the resolution of national issues of land use management. (d) Program components (1) Federal component (A) In general The geologic mapping program shall in- clude a Federal geologic mapping compo- nent, the objective of which shall be to de- termine the geologic framework of areas de- termined to be vital to the economic, social, environmental, or scientific welfare of the United States. (B) Mapping priorities For the Federal component, mapping pri- orities— (i) shall be described in the 5-year plan under section 31e of this title; and