[Congressional Bills 106th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 1528 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.1528

                       One Hundred Sixth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

         Begun and held at the City of Washington on Wednesday,
   the sixth day of January, one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine


                                 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''.

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).''.

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.--
                ``(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.--
            ``(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:

``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;
            ``(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 general- and 
        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.''.

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:

``SEC. 8. BIENNIAL REPORT.

    ``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:

``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
        ``(2) 2 percent shall be available for the education 
    component.''.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

                            Vice President of the United States and    
                                               President of the Senate.