[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8810 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]

        H.R.8810

                     One Hundred Sixteenth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE SECOND SESSION

           Begun and held at the City of Washington on Friday,
            the third day of January, two thousand and twenty


                                 An Act


 
   To establish a national program to identify and reduce losses from 
landslide hazards, to establish a national 3D Elevation Program, and for 
                             other purposes.

    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 Landslide Preparedness 
Act''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
    In this Act:
        (1) 3D.--The term ``3D'' means 3-dimensional.
        (2) 3D elevation data.--
            (A) In general.--The term ``3D elevation data'' means 3D, 
        high-resolution data obtained using LiDAR, IfSAR, or other 
        methods over the United States (including territories).
            (B) Inclusions.--The term ``3D elevation data'' includes 
        terrestrial and bathymetric elevation data.
        (3) 3D elevation program.--The term ``3D Elevation Program'' 
    means the 3D Elevation Program established under section 5(a).
        (4) IfSAR.--The term ``IfSAR'' means interferometric synthetic 
    aperture radar.
        (5) Indian tribe.--The term ``Indian tribe'' has the meaning 
    given the term in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and 
    Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5304).
        (6) Lahar.--The term ``lahar'' means a large debris flow of 
    mostly volcanic material that is--
            (A) often fast-moving; and
            (B) a hazard in watersheds downstream of volcanic peaks.
        (7) LiDAR.--The term ``LiDAR'' means light detection and 
    ranging.
        (8) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary of 
    the Interior, acting through the Director of the United States 
    Geological Survey.
        (9) State.--The term ``State'' means--
            (A) a State; and
            (B) the District of Columbia.
        (10) State office.--The term ``State office'' means any unit of 
    State government that handles the identification, mapping, 
    assessment, and research of landslide hazards or responding to 
    landslide events, including--
            (A) a State geological survey office;
            (B) a State department of emergency response; and
            (C) a State department of transportation.
        (11) Territory.--The term ``territory'' means--
            (A) the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;
            (B) Guam;
            (C) American Samoa;
            (D) the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands;
            (E) the Federated States of Micronesia;
            (F) the Republic of the Marshall Islands;
            (G) the Republic of Palau; and
            (H) the United States Virgin Islands.
SEC. 3. NATIONAL LANDSLIDE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM.
    (a) Establishment.--The Secretary shall establish a program, to be 
known as the ``National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program'' (referred 
to in this section as the ``program'')--
        (1) to identify and understand landslide hazards and risks;
        (2) to reduce losses from landslides;
        (3) to protect communities at risk of landslide hazards; and
        (4) to help improve communication and emergency preparedness, 
    including by coordinating with communities and entities responsible 
    for infrastructure that are at risk of landslide hazards.
    (b) Description of Program.--
        (1) Program activities.--The Secretary, in coordination with 
    the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards 
    established by subsection (c)(1) (referred to in this section as 
    the ``Committee'') and in coordination with existing activities of 
    the United States Geological Survey and other Federal agencies, 
    shall--
            (A) identify, map, assess, and research landslide hazards;
            (B) respond to landslide events; and
            (C) in coordination with State offices, units of local 
        government, territories, and Indian tribes--
                (i) establish working groups with State offices, units 
            of local government, territories, and Indian tribes to 
            identify regional and local priorities for researching, 
            identifying, mapping, and assessing landslide hazards; and
                (ii) develop and implement landslide hazard guidelines 
            for--

                    (I) geologists;
                    (II) geological and geotechnical engineers;
                    (III) emergency management personnel; and
                    (IV) land use and other decisionmakers.

        (2) National strategy.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
    enactment of this Act, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, 
    in coordination with the Committee, shall develop and publish a 
    national strategy for landslide hazards, risk reduction, and 
    response in the United States (including territories), which shall 
    include--
            (A) goals and priorities for the program;
            (B) priorities for data acquisition, research, 
        communications, and risk management on landslides and landslide 
        hazards across relevant Federal agencies; and
            (C) a detailed interagency plan, which shall take into 
        consideration national disaster preparedness, response, and 
        recovery frameworks, to carry out the national strategy, 
        including details about the programs, projects, and budgets 
        that will be used to implement the national strategy.
        (3) National landslide hazards database.--In carrying out the 
    program, the Secretary, in coordination with State offices, units 
    of local government, territories, and Indian tribes, shall develop 
    and maintain a publicly accessible national landslide hazard and 
    risk inventory database to compile, maintain, standardize, and 
    evaluate data regarding--
            (A) landslide hazards and risks;
            (B) the impact of landslides on--
                (i) health and safety;
                (ii) the economy and infrastructure; and
                (iii) the environment;
            (C) landslide hazard stabilization; and
            (D) reduction of losses from landslides.
        (4) Landslide hazard and risk preparedness for communities.--In 
    carrying out the program, the Secretary, in coordination with the 
    Secretary of the Army, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, the Secretary of Transportation, and the heads 
    of other relevant Federal agencies, and in consultation with State 
    offices, units of local government, territories, and Indian tribes, 
    shall develop and disseminate--
            (A) landslide planning and risk reduction guidance, 
        guidelines, maps, tools, and training materials to help inform 
        State, territorial, local, and Tribal governments and 
        decisionmakers with respect to--
                (i) the use and implementation of landslide hazard 
            assessments;
                (ii) the applied use of the database developed under 
            paragraph (3);
                (iii) reducing losses from landslides; and
                (iv) resources available for communities working to 
            improve landslide hazard preparedness; and
            (B) landslide preparedness curricula and training modules 
        for--
                (i) State, territorial, local, and Tribal officials;
                (ii) Federal, State, territorial, local, and Tribal 
            emergency managers; and
                (iii) the National Guard.
        (5) Debris flow early warning system.--In carrying out the 
    program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of 
    Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall expand the 
    early warning system for debris flow by--
            (A) expanding the early warning system for post-wildfire 
        debris flow to include recently burned areas across the western 
        United States;
            (B) developing procedures with State, territorial, local, 
        and Tribal governments to monitor stormwater drainage in areas 
        with high debris flow risk; and
            (C) identifying high-risk debris flow areas, such as 
        recently burned land and potential lahar hazard areas.
        (6) Emergency response activities.--In carrying out the 
    program, the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of 
    Commerce, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the heads of other 
    relevant Federal agencies, States offices, units of local 
    government, territories, and Indian tribes, shall establish and 
    support emergency response procedures for the rapid deployment of 
    Federal scientists, equipment, and services to areas impacted by a 
    significant landslide event--
            (A) to support emergency response efforts and improve the 
        safety of emergency responders;
            (B) to improve data collection; and
            (C) to conduct research to advance the understanding of the 
        causes, impacts, and reduction of landslide hazards and risks.
    (c) Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards.--
        (1) In general.--There is established a committee, to be known 
    as the ``Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards''.
        (2) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed of the 
    following members (or their designees):
            (A) The Secretary, who shall serve as Chairperson of the 
        Committee.
            (B) The Secretary of Agriculture.
            (C) The Secretary of the Army.
            (D) The Secretary of Commerce.
            (E) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
            (F) The Secretary of Transportation.
            (G) The Director of the National Science Foundation.
            (H) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
        Policy.
            (I) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
        (3) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at the call of the 
    Chairperson.
        (4) Purpose and duties.--The Committee shall--
            (A) advise and oversee the program;
            (B) facilitate communication and coordination across 
        Federal agencies in the planning, management, budgeting, and 
        execution of landslide activities; and
            (C) support the development and execution of the national 
        strategy under subsection (b)(2), including by--
                (i) supporting the development of national goals and 
            priorities for the national strategy;
                (ii) articulating Federal agency roles, 
            responsibilities, and resources for carrying out the 
            national strategy; and
                (iii) overseeing the implementation of the national 
            strategy.
    (d) Advisory Committee.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory 
    committee, to be known as the ``Advisory Committee on Landslides'' 
    (referred to in this subsection as the ``Advisory Committee'').
        (2) Membership.--The Advisory Committee shall be composed of 
    not fewer than 11 members--
            (A) of whom none may be an individual described in any of 
        subparagraphs (A) through (F) of section 7342(a)(1) of title 5, 
        United States Code; and
            (B) who shall be representatives of--
                (i) States, including State geological organizations;
                (ii) territories, including territorial geological 
            organizations;
                (iii) Indian tribes, including Tribal geological 
            organizations;
                (iv) research institutions and institutions of higher 
            education that are qualified--

                    (I) to provide advice regarding landslide hazard 
                and risk reduction; and
                    (II) to represent related scientific, 
                architectural, engineering, and planning disciplines;

                (v) industry standards development organizations; and
                (vi) State, territorial, local, and Tribal emergency 
            management agencies.
        (3) Recommendations.--
            (A) In general.--The Advisory Committee shall submit to the 
        Committee recommendations for the implementation of the 
        program, including recommendations regarding--
                (i) landslide hazard and risk reduction and planning;
                (ii) tools for communities;
                (iii) research; and
                (iv) such other topics as the Advisory Committee 
            determines appropriate.
            (B) Consideration.--The Secretary and the agency heads 
        described in subparagraphs (B) through (I) of subsection (c)(2) 
        shall take into consideration any recommendation of the 
        Advisory Committee submitted under subparagraph (A).
    (e) Grant Programs.--
        (1) Cooperative landslide hazard mapping and assessment 
    program.--
            (A) In general.--Subject to appropriations, the Secretary 
        may--
                (i) provide grants, on a competitive basis, to State, 
            territorial, local, and Tribal governments to research, 
            map, assess, and collect data on landslide hazards within 
            the jurisdictions of those governments; and
                (ii) accept and use funds received from other Federal 
            and non-Federal partners to advance the purposes of the 
            program.
            (B) Priority.--
                (i) In general.--The Secretary shall consult annually 
            with the Committee, States, units of local government, 
            territories, and Indian tribes to establish priorities for 
            the grant program under this paragraph.
                (ii) Funding prioritization.--In providing grants under 
            this paragraph, the Secretary shall give priority to 
            projects--

                    (I) that will achieve the greatest landslide hazard 
                and risk reduction;
                    (II) that reflect the goals and priorities of the 
                national strategy established under subsection 
                (b)(2)(A);
                    (III) not less than 50 percent of the total cost of 
                which is matched by non-Federal sources; and
                    (IV) that include acquisition of enhanced elevation 
                data consistent with the 3D Elevation Program.

            (C) Requirement.--If the Secretary elects to provide grants 
        under subparagraph (A)(i), the Secretary shall publish on a 
        publicly available website a description of--
                (i) the grants; and
                (ii) the findings made from those grants.
        (2) National landslide research grants.--
            (A) In general.--To advance the goals and priorities of the 
        national strategy established under subsection (b)(2)(A), 
        subject to appropriations, the Director of the National Science 
        Foundation (referred to in this paragraph as the ``Director'') 
        may provide grants to eligible entities for landslide research, 
        including research on--
                (i) the causes, mechanisms, triggers, hydrology, and 
            geology of landslides;
                (ii) ways to reduce landslide hazards and risks to 
            minimize loss of life and property, including landslide 
            hazard and risk communication, perception, decisionmaking, 
            tools, and technologies; and
                (iii) other goals and priorities of the national 
            strategy established under subsection (b)(2)(A).
            (B) Eligible entities.--The Director shall determine 
        whether an entity is eligible to receive a grant under this 
        paragraph.
            (C) Requirements.--In providing grants under this 
        paragraph, the Director shall--
                (i) ensure that the grants are provided on a 
            competitive basis;
                (ii) consider grant applications submitted by eligible 
            entities that have developed the application in partnership 
            with 1 or more State geological surveys; and
                (iii) publish on a publicly available website a 
            description of--

                    (I) the grants; and
                    (II) the findings made from those grants.

    (f) Biennial Report.--Through calendar year 2030, the Secretary 
shall submit to Congress a biennial report, including a description of, 
with respect to the 2-calendar-year period preceding the date of the 
report--
        (1) the goals and accomplishments of the Committee in carrying 
    out the national strategy developed under subsection (b)(2);
        (2) the results of the activities of the Committee under this 
    section; and
        (3) the extent to which any recommendations of the Advisory 
    Committee under subsection (d)(3)(A) have been implemented.
    (g) Significant Events.--Not later than 1 year after a significant 
landslide event in the United States (including territories) occurs, 
the Secretary shall publish on a publicly available website--
        (1) a description of the landslide event and the implications 
    of the event on communities, including life and property;
        (2) recommendations on how the identification of the landslide 
    risk could have been improved prior to the event;
        (3) a description of the effectiveness of any warning and risk 
    communication, including the dissemination of warnings by State, 
    territorial, local, and Tribal partners in the affected area;
        (4) recommendations to improve risk identification, reduction, 
    and communication to landowners and units of local government;
        (5) recommendations to improve landslide hazard preparedness 
    and emergency response activities under this section; and
        (6) such other findings as the Secretary determines 
    appropriate.
    (h) Funding.--For each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024--
        (1) there is authorized to be appropriated to the United States 
    Geological Survey, $25,000,000 to carry out this section;
        (2) there is authorized to be appropriated to the National 
    Science Foundation, $11,000,000 to carry out this section; and
        (3) there is authorized to be appropriated to the National 
    Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, $1,000,000 to carry out 
    this section.
    (i) Derivation of Funds.--Funds to carry out the activities under 
this section shall be derived from amounts authorized to be 
appropriated that are enacted after the date of the enactment of this 
section.
SEC. 4. GROUND SUBSIDENCE.
    As the Secretary determines to be appropriate and subject to 
appropriations, the Secretary, through existing programs, shall advance 
the identification, mapping, research, and monitoring of subsidence and 
groundwater resource accounting, particularly in areas affected by 
drought.
SEC. 5. 3D ELEVATION PROGRAM.
    (a) Establishment of 3D Elevation Program.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish a program, to be 
    known as the ``3D Elevation Program''--
            (A) to provide 3D elevation data coverage for the United 
        States;
            (B) to coordinate and facilitate the collection, 
        dissemination, and use of 3D elevation data among Federal 
        departments and agencies and non-Federal entities;
            (C) to produce standard, publicly accessible 3D elevation 
        data products for the United States; and
            (D) to promote the collection, dissemination, and use of 3D 
        elevation data among Federal, State, local, and Tribal 
        governments, communities, institutions of higher education, and 
        the private sector through--
                (i) cooperative agreements;
                (ii) the development and maintenance of spatial data 
            infrastructure to provide quality control and deliver to 
            the public 3D elevation data products;
                (iii) in coordination with the 3D Elevation Federal 
            Interagency Coordinating Committee established under 
            subsection (b), States, and industry and standards bodies, 
            the development of standards and guidelines for 3D 
            elevation data acquisition to increase accessibility to 3D 
            elevation data in a standard, easy-to-use format; and
                (iv) the identification, assessment, and adoption of 
            emerging technologies to improve the accuracy and 
            efficiency of the 3D Elevation Program.
        (2) Management.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary shall manage the 3D 
        Elevation Program--
                (i) to ensure efficiency with respect to related 
            activities of the Department of the Interior and other 
            participating Federal departments and agencies; and
                (ii) to meet the needs of Department of the Interior 
            programs, stakeholders, and the public.
            (B) Other federal departments and agencies.--The head of 
        each Federal department and agency involved in the acquisition, 
        production, distribution, or application of 3D elevation data 
        shall--
                (i) coordinate with the 3D Elevation Federal 
            Interagency Coordinating Committee established under 
            subsection (b) to acquire additional, enhanced 3D elevation 
            data;
                (ii) submit to the Secretary a description of priority 
            areas of interest for 3D elevation data collection for use 
            in providing grants and cooperative agreements under 
            subsection (d);
                (iii) implement policies and procedures for data 
            acquisition and sharing that are consistent with standards 
            and guidelines developed under the 3D Elevation Program;
                (iv) participate in, and share the results and benefits 
            of, the 3D Elevation Program, in accordance with standards 
            and guidelines developed under the 3D Elevation Program; 
            and
                (v) ensure that any 3D elevation data acquired with 
            Federal grant funding--

                    (I) meets 3D Elevation Program standards; and
                    (II) is included in the national holdings of those 
                data.

    (b) 3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee.--
        (1) Establishment.--The Secretary, in coordination with the 
    Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall 
    establish an interagency coordinating committee, to be known as the 
    ``3D Elevation Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee'' 
    (referred to in this subsection as the ``Committee''), to better 
    coordinate 3D elevation data management across the Federal 
    Government.
        (2) Membership.--The Committee shall be composed of the 
    following members (or their designees):
            (A) The Secretary, who shall serve as Chairperson of the 
        Committee.
            (B) The Secretary of Agriculture.
            (C) The Secretary of Commerce.
            (D) The Secretary of Homeland Security.
            (E) The Director of the National Science Foundation.
            (F) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology 
        Policy.
            (G) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget.
            (H) The head of any other Federal department or agency, at 
        the request of the Secretary.
        (3) Coordination.--The Committee shall coordinate, as 
    appropriate, with the existing activities of--
            (A) the 3D Elevation Program Executive Forum;
            (B) the Alaska Mapping Executive Committee;
            (C) the 3D Elevation Working Group;
            (D) the 3D National Elevation Subcommittee; and
            (E) State offices.
        (4) Meetings.--The Committee shall meet at the call of the 
    Chairperson.
        (5) Duties.--The Committee shall--
            (A) oversee the planning, management, and coordination of 
        the 3D Elevation Program; and
            (B) develop, by not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and update periodically thereafter--
                (i) a strategic plan that establishes goals and 
            priorities for activities carried out under the 3D 
            Elevation Program; and
                (ii) a detailed management plan to implement the 
            strategic plan.
    (c) Subcommittee of National Geospatial Advisory Committee.--
        (1) Establishment.--
            (A) In general.--The Secretary shall establish, within the 
        National Geospatial Advisory Committee, a subcommittee 
        (referred to in this subsection as the ``Subcommittee'').
            (B) Membership.--The Subcommittee shall--
                (i) consist of not fewer than 11 members, of whom none 
            may be a Federal officer or employee; and
                (ii) include representatives of--

                    (I) research and academic institutions;
                    (II) industry standards development organizations;
                    (III) units of State and local government; and
                    (IV) the private sector.

        (2) Duties.--
            (A) Assessment.--The Subcommittee shall conduct an 
        assessment of--
                (i) trends and developments in--

                    (I) the collection, dissemination, and use of 3D 
                elevation data; and
                    (II) science and technology relating to 3D 
                elevation data;

                (ii) the effectiveness of the 3D Elevation Program in 
            carrying out the activities described in subsection (a)(1);
                (iii) the need to revise or reorganize the 3D Elevation 
            Program; and
                (iv) the management, coordination, implementation, and 
            activities of the 3D Elevation Program.
            (B) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the 
        Subcommittee shall submit to the Secretary and the 3D Elevation 
        Federal Interagency Coordinating Committee established under 
        subsection (b) a report that includes--
                (i) the findings of the assessment under subparagraph 
            (A); and
                (ii) recommendations of the Subcommittee based on those 
            findings, if any.
    (d) Grants and Cooperative Agreements.--
        (1) In general.--The Secretary may make grants and enter into 
    cooperative agreements with other Federal departments and agencies, 
    units of State, local, or Tribal government, institutions of higher 
    education, nonprofit research institutions, or other organizations 
    to facilitate the improvement of nationwide coverage of 3D 
    elevation data.
        (2) Applications.--To be eligible to receive a grant or enter 
    into a cooperative agreement under this subsection, an entity 
    described in paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary an 
    application at such time, in such manner, and containing such 
    information as the Secretary may require.
        (3) Terms and conditions.--A grant or cooperative agreement 
    under this subsection shall be subject to such terms and conditions 
    as the Secretary determines to be appropriate, including making 
    data publically available and interoperable with other Federal 
    datasets.
    (e) Funding.--For each of fiscal years 2021 through 2024, there is 
authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary $40,000,000 to carry out 
this section.
    (f) Derivation of Funds.--Funds to carry out the activities under 
this section shall be derived from amounts authorized to be 
appropriated to the Secretary that are enacted after the date of the 
enactment of this section.

                               Speaker of the House of Representatives.

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