[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H8680-H8682]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAPPING REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1996

  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3198) to reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping 
Act of 1992, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3198

       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 1996''.

     SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

       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 investigations;
       (C) Federal agencies, State and local governments, private 
     industry, and the general public depend 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 resources; and
       (F) a comprehensive nationwide program of geologic mapping 
     is required in order to systematically 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.

     SEC. 3. REAUTHORIZATION AND AMENDMENT.

       (a) Definitions.--Section 3 of the National Geologic 
     Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31b) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``As used in this Act:'' and inserting ``In 
     this Act:'';
       (2) by redesignating paragraphs (2), (3), (4), and (5) as 
     paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6), respectively;
       (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
       ``(2) Association.--The term `Association' means the 
     Association of American State Geologists.''; and
       (4) in each paragraph that does not have a heading, by 
     inserting a heading, in the same style as the heading in 
     paragraph (2), as added by paragraph (3), the text of which 
     is comprised of the term defined in the paragraph.
       (b) Geologic Mapping Program.--Section 4 of the National 
     Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31c) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
       ``(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);
       ``(B) developed in consultation with the advisory 
     committee; and
       ``(C) administered through the Survey.'';
       (2) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in the subsection heading by striking ``USGS'' and 
     inserting ``the Survey'';
       (B) in paragraph (1)--
       (i) by single-indenting the paragraphs, double-indenting 
     the subparagraphs, and triple indenting the clauses;
       (ii) by inserting ``Lead agency.--'' before ``The Survey'';
       (iii) in subparagraph (A)--

       (I) by striking ``Committee on Natural Resources'' and 
     inserting ``Committee on Resources''; and
       (II) by striking ``date of enactment of this Act'' and 
     inserting ``date of enactment of the National Geologic 
     Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1996'';

       (iv) in subparagraph (B)--

       (I) by striking ``State geological surveys'' and inserting 
     ``Association''; and
       (II) by striking ``date of enactment of this Act'' and 
     inserting ``date of enactment of the National Geologic 
     Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1996''; and

       (v) in subparagraph (C)--

       (I) by striking ``date of enactment of this Act'' and 
     inserting ``date of enactment of the National Geologic 
     Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1996'';
       (II) by striking ``Committee on Natural Resources'' and 
     inserting ``Committee on Resources'';
       (III) in clauses (i) and (ii) by inserting ``and the 
     Association'' after ``the Survey'';
       (IV) by adding ``and'' at the end of clause (ii); and
       (V) by striking ``; and'' at the end of clause (iii) and 
     all that follows through the end of the subparagraph and 
     inserting a period; and

       (C) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by inserting ``Responsibilities of the secretary.--'' 
     before ``In addition to''; and
       (ii) in subparagraph (A) by striking ``State geological 
     surveys'' and inserting ``Association'';
       (3) in subsection (c)--
       (A) in paragraph (2) by striking ``interpretive'' and 
     inserting ``interpretative''; and
       (B) in paragraph (4) by striking ``awareness for'' and 
     inserting ``awareness of''; and
       (4) in subsection (d)--
       (A) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``Federal component.--'' 
     before ``A Federal'';
       (B) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by inserting ``Support component.--'' before ``A 
     geologic''; and
       (ii) by striking subparagraph (D) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(D) 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;'';
       (C) in paragraph (3) by inserting ``State component.--'' 
     before ``A State''; and
       (D) by striking paragraph (4) and inserting the following:
       ``(4) Education component.--A geologic mapping education 
     component--
       ``(A) the objectives of which shall be--
       ``(i) to develop the academic programs that teach earth-
     science students the fundamental principles of geologic 
     mapping and field analysis; and
       ``(ii) to provide for broad education in geologic mapping 
     and field analysis through support of field studies;
       ``(B) investigations under which shall be integrated with 
     the other mapping components of the geologic mapping program 
     and shall respond to priorities identified for those 
     components; and
       ``(C) Federal funding for which shall be matched by non-
     Federal sources on a 1-to-1 basis.''.
       (c) Advisory Committee.--Section 5 of the National Geologic 
     Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31d) is amended--
       (1) by striking subsection (a) and inserting the following:
       ``(a) Establishment.--
       ``(1) In general.--There shall be established a 10-member 
     geologic mapping advisory committee to advise the Director on 
     planning and implementation of the geologic mapping program.
       ``(2) Members ex officio.--Federal agency members shall 
     include the Administrator of the Environmental Protection 
     Agency or a designee, the Secretary of Energy or a designee, 
     the Secretary of Agriculture or a designee, and the Assistant 
     to the President for Science and Technology or a designee.
       ``(3) Appointed members.--Not later than 90 days after the 
     date of enactment of the National Geologic Mapping 
     Reauthorization Act of 1996, in consultation with the 
     Association, the Secretary shall appoint to the advisory 
     committee 2 representatives from the Survey (including the 
     Chief Geologist, as

[[Page H8681]]

     Chairman), 2 representatives from the State geological 
     surveys, 1 representative from academia, and 1 representative 
     from the private sector.''; and
       (2) in subsection (b)(3) by striking ``and State'' and 
     inserting ``, State, and university''.
       (d) Geologic Mapping Program Implementation Plan.--Section 
     6 of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 
     31e) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (1) by inserting ``cooperative'' after 
     ``national'';
       (2) by striking paragraph (3)(C) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(C) for the State geologic mapping component, a priority-
     setting mechanism that responds to--
       ``(i) specific intrastate needs for geologic-map 
     information; and
       ``(ii) interstate needs shared by adjacent entities that 
     have common requirements; and'';
       (3) by striking paragraphs (4) and (5) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(4) a mechanism for adopting scientific and technical 
     mapping standards for preparing and publishing general-
     purpose and special-purpose geologic maps to--
       ``(A) ensure uniformity of cartographic and scientific 
     conventions; and
       ``(B) provide a basis for judgment as to the comparability 
     and quality of map products; and''; and
       (4) by redesignating paragraph (6) as paragraph (5).
       (e) National Geologic-Map Data Base.--Section 7 of the 
     National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31f) is 
     amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting the 
     following:
       ``(b) Standardization.--
       ``(1) In general.--Geologic maps contributed to the 
     national archives shall have format, symbols, and technical 
     attributes that adhere to standards so that archival 
     information can be accessed, exchanged, and compared 
     efficiently and accurately, as required by Executive Order 
     12906 (59 Fed. Reg. 17,671 (1994)), which established the 
     National Spatial Data Infrastructure.
       ``(2) Development of standards.--Entities that contribute 
     geologic maps to the national archives shall develop the 
     standards described in paragraph (1) in cooperation with the 
     Federal Geographic Data Committee, which is charged with 
     standards development and other data coordination activities 
     as described in Office of Management and Budget revised 
     Circular A-16.''.
       (f) Annual Report.--Section 8 of the National Geologic 
     Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31g) is amended in the first 
     sentence--
       (1) by striking ``Committee on Natural Resources'' and 
     inserting ``Committee on Resources''; and
       (2) by striking ``program, and describing and evaluating 
     progress'' and inserting ``program and describing and 
     evaluating the progress''.
       (g) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 9 of the 
     National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (43 U.S.C. 31h) is 
     amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``(a) In General.--There are authorized to be appropriated 
     to carry out the national cooperative geologic mapping 
     program under this Act--
       ``(1) $24,000,000 for fiscal year 1997;
       ``(2) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
       ``(3) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
       ``(4) $30,000,000 for fiscal year 2000.
       ``(b) Allocation of Appropriated Funds.--
       ``(1) In general.--Of the amount of funds that are 
     appropriated under subsection (a) for any fiscal year up to 
     the amount that is equal to the amount appropriated to carry 
     out the national cooperative geologic mapping program for 
     fiscal year 1996--
       ``(A) not less than 20 percent shall be allocated to State 
     mapping activities; and
       ``(B) not less than 2 percent shall be allocated to 
     educational mapping activities.
       ``(2) Increased appropriations.--Of the amount of funds 
     that are appropriated under subsection (a) for any fiscal 
     year up to the amount that exceeds the amount appropriated to 
     carry out the national cooperative geologic mapping program 
     for fiscal year 1996--
       ``(A) for fiscal year 1997--
       ``(i) 76 percent shall be allocated for Federal mapping and 
     support mapping activities;
       ``(ii) 22 percent shall be allocated for State mapping 
     activities; and
       ``(iii) 2 percent shall be allocated for educational 
     mapping activities;
       ``(B) for fiscal year 1998--
       ``(i) 75 percent shall be allocated for Federal mapping and 
     support mapping activities;
       ``(ii) 23 percent shall be allocated for State mapping 
     activities; and
       ``(iii) 2 percent shall be allocated for educational 
     mapping activities;
       ``(C) for fiscal year 1999--
       ``(i) 74 percent shall be allocated for Federal mapping and 
     support mapping activities;
       ``(ii) 24 percent shall be allocated for State mapping 
     activities; and
       ``(iii) 2 percent shall be allocated for educational 
     mapping activities; and
       ``(D) for fiscal year 2000--
       ``(i) 73 percent shall be allocated for Federal mapping and 
     support mapping activities;
       ``(ii) 25 percent shall be allocated for State mapping 
     activities; and
       ``(iii) 2 percent shall be allocated for educational 
     mapping activities.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California [Mr. Calvert] and the gentleman from South Dakota [Mr. 
Johnson] each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California [Mr. Calvert].
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. CALVERT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 3198, a 
bill to reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 
which established a cooperative program between the U.S. Geological 
Survey, the various State geological surveys, and academia. After 4 
years, it is time to reauthorize this program for another 4 years and 
to modify its terms slightly based upon the experience the cooperators 
have gained.
  First, let me say that our colleague from West Virginia, Nick Rahall, 
joined by a large bipartisan group of Members, was the lead sponsor of 
the bill which became law in 1992 first authorizing the cooperative 
geologic mapping program. That action was taken, Mr. Speaker, in the 
wake of a study by the National Academy of Sciences which expressed 
alarm at the decline of detailed geologic mapping efforts nationwide 
over the last decade.
  The National Geologic Mapping Act then, as now, was a codification of 
``cooperative federalism'' in that it expressly authorized the practice 
of the USGS using a small but significant portion of its geologic 
mapping budget to fund mapping projects of priority to the State 
geologic surveys on a 50/50 matching share basis. Furthermore, a 
component of the program was designed to set aside a smaller portion of 
the budget for universities to compete for funds to support student 
training in geologic mapping skills and field studies.
  Mr. Speaker, the basic scientific endeavor of mapping the bedrock 
geology and surficial deposits of this country is the foundation upon 
which society's needs for identification and abatement of geologic 
hazards such as seismic zones, volcanic activity, and landslides. Such 
mapping is also key to delineation and protection of sources of safe 
drinking water, sound land-use planning, and initial mineral resources 
assessments as well.
  Since its passage of the 1992 Act, staffing at the USGS, particularly 
for this type of work, has declined dramatically. A significant 
reduction-in-force in the Geologic Division begun by the fiscal year 
1995 budget and continued last year has made it all the more necessary 
to full involve the State surveys in the priorization of national 
geologic mapping needs and cooperative use of their staffs to get the 
job done.
  H.R. 3198 reauthorizes this cooperative program for 4 more years and 
establishes thresholds for the sharing of funds between the Federal, 
State, and academic components. In general, the administration has 
agreed to dedicate not less than 20 percent of the budget line for 
geologic mapping to the cooperative State map component, and not less 
than 2 percent to the educational component.
  Mr. Speaker, by way of reference, the fiscal year 1996 appropriation 
for this subactivity of the USGS was approximately $22 million, meaning 
that $4 million is in the grant pool for matching with State moneys on 
geologic mapping projects upon approval by a peer review panel. The 
administration's fiscal year 1997 budget requested level funding for 
this program and the full House voted in agreement earlier this month 
on H.R. 3662, the Interior and Related Agencies appropriations bill.
  H.R. 3198 will reauthorize this valuable program for 4 more years and 
ratify some very minor changes negotiated between the three participant 
groups--Feds, States, and academia. Specifically, these are 
definitional name changes, a slight modification of the congressional 
findings, and a paring down of the size of the Advisory Committee to 
the USGS Director. The current act has an unwieldly 16 member board. 
This reauthorization calls for downsized 10-member advisory

[[Page H8682]]

board, made up of Federal representatives as well as State geologists 
and university members.
  Mr. Speaker, let me finish by thanking the ranking member of the 
Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee, Mr. Abercrombie of Hawaii, 
for his cooperation on this reauthorization. H.R. 3198 has the full 
support of the administration and I urge its passage.

                              {time}  1045

  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as 
I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the gentleman from Hawaii [Mr. Abercrombie], the ranking 
member of the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources of the 
Committee on Resources has been detained; however, I am advised that he 
is in full support of this legislation. The minority is in support of 
the legislation. The Clinton administration has expressed its support, 
and so we have no objection to this legislation. We support its 
passage.
  Mr. Speaker, I will submit a statement from the gentleman from Hawaii 
[Mr. Abercrombie] for the Record.
  Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 
3198, a bill that would reauthorize the 1992 Geologic Mapping Act 
through fiscal year 2000, and amend the act to designate that 20 
percent of the total amount appropriated be allocated to the State 
component of the program. I would note that both the Clinton 
administration and the State Geologists support this bill.
  Congress enacted the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992--Public 
Law 102-285 and 43 U.S.C. sections 31a-h--in order to expedite the 
production of a geologic map data base for the Nation, which can be 
applied to land-use management, assessment, and utilization, 
conservation of natural resources, groundwater management, and 
environmental protection. The act designated the U.S. Geological Survey 
as the Federal agency responsible for planning, coordinating, and 
managing the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. This 
program is carried out by a consortium of geologic mapping partners 
including State geological Surveys, universities, other Federal 
agencies, and the USGS.
  Geologic maps are the primary data base for nearly all applied and 
basic earth science investigations. Federal agencies, State and local 
governments, private industry, and the general public depend on the 
information provided by geologic maps. The current geologic map data 
base is inadequate to meet these needs and development of a 
comprehensive nationwide program of geologic mapping is required at a 
pace that responds to increasing demand for mapping in high-priority 
areas. The States and the USGS each conduct a yearly, needs-based 
survey to determine program priorities.
  Improved geologic map information has been shown, using benefit-cost 
analyses, to be of significant value in many decisionmaking processes, 
including:
  Exploring for and developing mineral, energy, and water resources;
  Screening and characterizing sites for toxic and nuclear waste 
disposal;
  Land use evaluation and planning for environmental protection;
  Earthquake hazards reduction;
  Predicting volcanic hazards;
  Designing and constructing infrastructure requirements such as 
utility lifelines, transportation corridors, and surface-water 
impoundments;
  Reducing losses from landslides and other ground failures;
  Mitigating effects of coastal and stream erosion; and
  Siting of critical facilities.
  I urge my colleagues to support enactment of this bill.
  Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Ewing). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from California [Mr. Calvert] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3198.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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