[House Report 105-17]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                     105-17
_______________________________________________________________________


 
         NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAPPING REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 1997

                                _______
                                

 March 11, 1997.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______________________________________________________________________


  Mr. Young of Alaska, from the Committee on Resources, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                        [To accompany H.R. 709]

      [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office]

  The Committee on Resources, to whom was referred the bill 
(H.R. 709) to reauthorize and amend the National Geologic 
Mapping Act of 1992, and for other purposes, having considered 
the same, report favorably thereon with an amendment and 
recommend that the bill as amended do pass.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert in lieu 
thereof the following:

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``National Geologic Mapping 
Reauthorization Act of 1997''.

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 (7), respectively;
          (3) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following:
          ``(2) Association.--The term `Association' means the 
        Association of American State Geologists.'';
          (4) by inserting after paragraph (5) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (2) of this subsection) the following new paragraph:
          ``(6) 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 
        Virgin Islands.''; and
          (5) 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 paragraph, 
                        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 1997'';
                          (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 1997''; 
                                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 1997'';
                                  (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;
                  (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''; and
                  (D) by single-indenting the paragraph and double-
                indenting the subparagraphs;
          (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 1997, in consultation with the 
        Association, the Secretary shall appoint to the advisory 
        committee 2 representatives from the Survey (including the 
        Chief Geologist, as 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) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
          ``(2) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
          ``(3) $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 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;
                  ``(B) 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
                  ``(C) 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.''.

                          Purpose of the Bill

    The purpose of H.R. 709 is to reauthorize and amend the 
National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992, and for other purposes.

                  Background and Need for Legislation

    Detailed geologic mapping provides basic information for 
solving a broad range of societal problems. These include the 
delineation and protection of sources of safe drinking water, 
environmental system understanding, and foundations of 
ecosystems management; identification and mitigation of natural 
hazards, such as earthquake-prone areas, volcanic eruptions, 
landslides and other ground failures, and many other land-use 
planning requirements; and assessment of coal, petroleum and 
natural gas, construction materials, metals, and other natural 
resources.
    The critical areas have been identified at State level by 
State-map advisory committees. These critical areas include 
federal, State, and local priorities.
    Only about one-fifth of the Nation is mapped at a scale 
adequate to meet these needs. Reauthorization of the National 
Geologic Mapping Act (NGMA) will allow federal, State and 
academic interests to continue to address these needs 
cooperatively. Since its establishment in 1879, the United 
States Geological Survey (USGS) has been charged with 
``classification of the public lands and examination of the 
geological structure, mineral resources and products of the 
national domain.'' While generally receiving good marks for its 
geologic mapping efforts for over a century, the National 
Academy of Sciences in a 1988 report recognized that the USGS 
alone lacked the personnel to overcome this deficiency. 
Traditionally, colleges and universities as well as the various 
State geologic surveys have contributed to the mix of geologic 
maps produced, albeit not always in a coordinated manner. The 
NGMA provides a cooperative framework to attempt to meet the 
Nation's geologic map data needs efficiently.
    Funding for the program is incorporated in the budget of 
the USGS. The Committee notes that the authorization for 
appropriations to carry out the national cooperative mapping 
program under the NGMA are in reality a subset of the general 
appropriation the USGS receives annually to accomplish its 
mission. Prior to enactment of NGMA, the geologic mapping 
efforts of USGS fell within its broad authority to conduct 
earth science investigations in the national interest. Since 
enactment of the NGMA, the geologic mapping function has had a 
separate authorization as constrained by the NGMA. H.R. 709 
would continue this ceiling on appropriations for geologic 
mapping. The Committee notes that appropriations for the 
cooperative mapping program from fiscal years 1993 through 1996 
have fallen short of those authorized in the NGMA.
    State Geological Surveys and university participants 
receive funding from the program through a competitive proposal 
process that requires 50:50 matching funds from the applicant, 
insuring the value of each proposal is weighed against its cost 
in federal and State appropriated funds. Since fiscal year 
1993, approximately $7.5 million of federal appropriated funds 
have been matched by State monies in the cooperative, peer-
reviewed program for geologic map products produced by the 50 
State Geological Surveys, about 15 percent of the total federal 
appropriation over the same interval for geologic mapping 
program efforts in total.

                            Committee Action

    H.R. 709 was introduced on February 12, 1997, by 
Representative Barbara Cubin (R-WY) and is cosponsored by 
Representatives Jim Gibbons (R-NV), Don Young (R-AK) and Ken 
Calvert (R-CA). The bill was referred to the Committee on 
Resources, and within the Committee to the Subcommittee on 
Energy and Mineral Resources. On February 27, 1997, the 
Subcommittee held a legislative hearing on H.R. 709. The USGS 
Chief Geologist, Dr. P. Patrick Leahy, testified for the 
Administration in strong support of the bill, as did Dr. 
Charles Mankin, Oklahoma State Geologist, on behalf of the 
Association of American State Geologists, which collectively 
represents all 50 States and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
    Also on February 27, 1997, the Subcommittee marked up H.R. 
709. Ranking Minority Member Carlos Romero-Barcelo (D-PR) 
offered an amendment to clarify that for purposes of the NGMA 
the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico was to be considered a State. 
Representative Donna Christian-Green (D-VI) offered a second 
degree amendment to further clarify that the U.S. Virgin 
Islands, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and American Samoa were also to 
be so considered. The Christian-Green amendment was adopted by 
voice vote, and the Romero-Barcelo amendment, as amended, 
passed by voice vote. The bill, as amended, was then favorably 
reported to the Full Committee by voice vote.
    On March 5, 1997, the full Resources Committee met to 
consider H.R. 709. No further amendments were offered and the 
bill, as amended, was then ordered favorably reported to the 
House of Representatives by voice vote.

                      Section-by-Section Analysis

                         Section 1. Short Title

    This section provides the short title for the bill.

                          Section 2. Findings

    This section provides Congressional findings concerning 
geologic mapping needs of the Nation.

                Section 3. Reauthorization and Amendment

    This section reauthorizes and amends the NGMA. The federal/
State/academia cooperative elements of the original Act are 
retained with minor amendments in definitional terms. The 
membership of the advisory committee to the USGS Director on 
planning and implementation of the geologic mapping program is 
reduced to 10 persons. Finally, an authorization for funding 
the cooperative geologic mapping program of the USGS and the 
allocation of funds between the federal, State and education 
components of the program are provided for three fiscal years: 
1998, 1999 and 2000.

            Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations

    With respect to the requirements of clause 2(l)(3) of rule 
XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and clause 
2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, 
the Committee on Resources' oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the body of this report.

                  Federal Advisory Committee Statement

    The functions of the advisory committee reauthorized in 
H.R. 709 are not currently being nor could they be performed by 
one or more agencies or by enlarging the mandate of another 
existing advisory committee.

                   Constitutional Authority Statement

    Article I, section 8 and Article IV, section 3 of the 
Constitution of the United States grants Congress the authority 
to enact H.R. 709.

                        Cost of the Legislation

    Clause 7(a) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives requires an estimate and a comparison by the 
Committee of the costs which would be incurred in carrying out 
H.R. 709. However, clause 7(d) of that Rule provides that this 
requirement does not apply when the Committee has included in 
its report a timely submitted cost estimate of the bill 
prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                     Compliance With House Rule XI

    1. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(B) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, H.R. 
709 does not contain any new budget authority, credit 
authority, or an increase or decrease in revenues or tax 
expenditures. Assuming funds are appropriated under the bill, 
H.R. 709 authorizes additional discretionary spending 
authority, as described in the Congressional Budget Office 
estimate.
    2. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the 
Committee has received no report of oversight findings and 
recommendations from the Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the subject of H.R. 709.
    3. With respect to the requirement of clause 2(l)(3)(C) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives and 
section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the 
Committee has received the following cost estimate for H.R. 709 
from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office.

               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, March 10, 1997.
Hon. Don Young,
Chairman, Committee on Resources,
House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 709, National 
Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1996.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Gary Brown.
            Sincerely,
                                              James L. Blum
                                   (For June E. O'Neill, Director).
    Enclosure.

H.R. 709--National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1996

    Summary: H.R. 709 would reauthorize and amend the National 
Geologic Mapping Act of 1992, which established a cooperative 
program for geologic mapping between the United States 
Geological Survey (USGS), the state geologic surveys, and 
academia. The legislation would authorize appropriations for 
fiscal years 1998 through 2000 for the geologic mapping program 
and would change the allocation of funds among the federal, 
state, and educational components.
    Assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO 
estimates that enacting H.R. 709 would result in additional 
discretionary spending of $84 million from 1998 through 2001. 
The legislation would not affect direct spending or receipts; 
therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would not apply. The 
legislation also does not contain any intergovernmental or 
private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates 
Reform Act of 1995.
    Estimated cost to the Federal Government: The estimated 
budgetary impact of H.R. 709 is shown in the table on the 
following page. For the purposes of this estimate, CBO assumes 
that all amounts authorized in H.R. 709 would be appropriated 
by the start of each fiscal year and that outlays would follow 
the historical spending patterns for the national geologic 
mapping program.
    CBO estimates that other provisions in the legislation 
would have no significant budgetary impact. For example, H.R. 
709 would change the allocation of program funds so that 
increasing amounts are directed toward the state geologic 
surveys. Based on information from USGS, CBO estimates that 
this change would not affect the rate at which funds are spent.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                      By fiscal year, in millions of dollars    
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
                                                                   1997    1998    1999    2000    2001    2002 
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Spending Under Current Law:                                                                                     
    Budget authority \1\........................................      22       0       0       0       0       0
    Estimated outlays...........................................      22       1       0       0       0       0
Proposed Changes:                                                                                               
    Authorization level.........................................       0      26      28      30       0       0
    Estimated outlays...........................................       0      25      28      30       1       0
Spending Under H.R. 709:                                                                                        
    Authorization level \1\.....................................      22      26      28      30       0       0
    Estimated outlays...........................................      22      26      28      30       1       0
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ The 1997 level is the amount appropriated for that year.                                                    

    The costs of this legislation fall within budget function 
300 (natural resources).
    Pay-as-you-go considerations: None.
    Estimated impact on State, local, and tribal governments: 
H.R. 709 contains no intergovernmental mandates as defined in 
the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995 (Public Law 104-4) and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. 
This legislation would authorize appropriations for the 
national cooperative geologic mapping program, including about 
$18 million over the 1998-2000 period for grants to states and 
close to $2 million over that period for an education 
component, consisting of grants to colleges and universities. 
The state grant component would increase slightly over this 
period as a proportion of the total program. H.R. 709 also 
would codify the existing one-to-one matching requirement for 
the education component.
    Estimated impact on the private sector: This bill would 
impose no new private-sector mandates as defined in Public Law 
104-4.
    Estimate prepared by: Federal Cost Estimate: Gary Brown. 
Impact on State, Local, and Tribal Governments: Marjorie 
Miller. Impact on the Private Sector: Lesley Frymier.
    Estimate approved by: Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant 
Director for Budget Analysis.

                    Compliance With Public Law 104-4

    H.R. 709 contains no unfunded mandates.

         Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported

    In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman):

                 NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAPPING ACT OF 1992

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

  This Act may be cited as the ``National Geologic Mapping Act 
of 1992''.
          * * * * * * *

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

  [As used in this Act:] In this Act:
          (1) Advisory committee.--The term ``advisory 
        committee'' means the advisory committee established 
        under section 5.
          (2) Association.--The term ``Association'' means the 
        Association of American State Geologists.
          [(2)] (3) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the 
        Director of the United States Geological Survey.
          [(3)] (4) Geologic mapping program.--The term 
        ``geologic mapping program'' means the National 
        Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program established by 
        section 4(a).
          [(4)] (5) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means 
        the Secretary of the Interior.
          (6) 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 Virgin Islands.
          [(5)] (7) Survey.--The term ``Survey'' means the 
        United States Geological Survey.

SEC. 4. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM.

  [(a) Establishment.--There is established in the United 
States Geological Survey a National Cooperative Geologic 
Mapping Program. The geologic mapping program shall be 
developed in consultation with the advisory committee and shall 
be designed and administered to achieve the objectives set 
forth in subsection (c).]
  (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.
  (b) Responsibilities of [USGS] the Survey.--
          (1) Lead agency.--The Survey shall be the lead 
        Federal agency responsible for planning, developing 
        priorities, coordinating, and managing the geologic 
        mapping program. In carrying out this paragraph, the 
        Secretary, acting through the Director, shall--
                  (A) develop a geologic mapping program 
                implementation plan in accordance with section 
                6, which plan shall be submitted to the 
                Committee on [Natural] Resources of the House 
                of Representatives and the Committee on Energy 
                and Natural Resources of the Senate within 300 
                days after the [date of enactment of this Act] 
                date of enactment of the National Geologic 
                Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997;
                  (B) appoint, with the advice and consultation 
                of the [State geological surveys] Association, 
                the advisory committee within 90 days after the 
                [date of enactment of this Act] date of 
                enactment of the National Geologic Mapping 
                Reauthorization Act of 1997 in accordance with 
                section 5; and
                  (C) within 210 days after the [date of 
                enactment of this Act] date of enactment of the 
                National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act 
                of 1997, submit a report to the Committee on 
                Energy and Natural Resources of the United 
                States Senate and to the Committee on [Natural] 
                Resources of the House of Representatives 
                identifying--
                          (i) how the Survey and the 
                        Association will coordinate the 
                        development and implementation of the 
                        geologic mapping program;
                          (ii) how the Survey and the 
                        Association will 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 mapping program will lead to 
                        successful implementation of the 
                        geologic mapping program[; and
                          [(iv) the degree to which geologic 
                        mapping activities traditionally funded 
                        by the Survey, including the use of 
                        commercially available aerial 
                        photography, geodesy, professional land 
                        surveying, photogrammetric mapping, 
                        cartography, photographic processing, 
                        and related services, can be contracted 
                        to professional private mapping firms].
          (2) Responsibilities of the secretary.--In addition 
        to paragraph (1), the Secretary, acting through the 
        Director, shall be responsible for developing, as soon 
        as practicable--
                  (A) in cooperation with the [State geological 
                surveys] 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 subsection (c).
  (c) Program Objectives.--The objectives of the geologic 
mapping program shall include--
          (1) * * *
          (2) development of a complementary national 
        geophysical-map data base, geochemical-map data base, 
        and a geochronologic and paleontologic data base that 
        provide value-added descriptive and [interpretive] 
        interpretative information to the geologic-map data 
        base;
          * * * * * * *
          (4) development of public awareness [for] of the role 
        and application of geologic-map information to the 
        resolution of national issues of land use management.
  (d) Program Components.--The geologic mapping program shall 
include the following components:
          (1) Federal component.--A Federal geologic mapping 
        component, whose objective shall be determining the 
        geologic framework of areas determined to be vital to 
        the economic, social, or scientific welfare of the 
        Nation. Mapping priorities shall be based on--
                  (A) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (2) Support component.--A geologic mapping support 
        component, whose objective shall be providing 
        interdisciplinary support for the Federal Geologic 
        Mapping Component. Representative categories of 
        interdisciplinary support shall include--
                  (A) * * *
          * * * * * * *
                  [(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;]
                  (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;
          * * * * * * *
          (3) State component.--A State geologic mapping 
        component, whose objective shall be determining the 
        geologic framework of areas that the State geological 
        surveys determine to be vital to the economic, social, 
        or scientific welfare of individual States. Mapping 
        priorities shall be determined by multirepresentational 
        State panels and shall be integrated with national 
        priorities. Federal funding for the State component 
        shall be matched on a one-to-one basis with non-Federal 
        funds.
          [(4) A geologic mapping education component, whose 
        objective shall be--
                  [(A) to develop the academic programs that 
                teach earth-science students the fundamental 
                principles of geologic mapping and field 
                analysis; and
                  [(B) to provide for broad education in 
                geologic mapping and field analysis through 
                support of field teaching institutes.
        Investigations conducted under the geologic mapping 
        education component shall be integrated with the other 
        mapping components of the geologic mapping program, and 
        shall respond to priorities identified for those 
        components.]
          (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.

SEC. 5. ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

  [(a) Establishment.--There shall be established a sixteen 
member geologic mapping advisory committee to advise the 
Director on planning and implementation of the geologic mapping 
program. The President shall appoint one representative each 
from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of 
Energy, the Department of Agriculture, and the Office of 
Science and Technology Policy. Within 90 days and with the 
advice and consultation of the State Geological Surveys, the 
Secretary shall appoint to the advisory committee 2 
representatives from the Survey (including the Chief Geologist, 
as Chairman), 4 representatives from the State geological 
surveys, 3 representatives from academia, and 3 representatives 
from the private sector.]
  (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 1997, in consultation with the 
        Association, the Secretary shall appoint to the 
        advisory committee 2 representatives from the Survey 
        (including the Chief Geologist, as Chairman), 2 
        representatives from the State geological surveys, 1 
        representative from academia, and 1 representative from 
        the private sector.
  (b) Duties.--The advisory committee shall--
          (1) * * *
          * * * * * * *
          (3) submit an annual report to the Secretary that 
        evaluates the progress of the Federal [and State], 
        State, and university mapping activities and evaluates 
        the progress made toward fulfilling the purposes of 
        this Act.

SEC. 6. GEOLOGIC MAPPING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION PLAN.

  The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall, with the 
advice and review of the advisory committee, prepare an 
implementation plan for the geologic mapping program. The plan 
shall identify the overall management structure and operation 
of the geologic mapping program and shall provide for--
          (1) the role of the Survey in its capacity as overall 
        management lead, including the responsibility for 
        developing the national cooperative geologic mapping 
        program that meets Federal needs while simultaneously 
        fostering State needs;
          * * * * * * *
          (3) mechanisms for identifying short- and long-term 
        priorities for each component of the geologic mapping 
        program, including--
                  (A) * * *
          * * * * * * *
                  [(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]
                  (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
          * * * * * * *
          [(4) a description of the degree to which the Survey 
        can acquire, archive, and use Side-Looking Airborne 
        Radar (SLAR) or Interferometric Synthetic Aperture 
        Radar (IFSAR) data in a manner that is technically 
        appropriate for geologic or related mapping studies;
          [(5) a mechanism for adopting scientific and 
        technical map standards for preparing and publishing 
        general-purpose and special-purpose geologic maps to 
        (A) assure uniformity of cartographic and scientific 
        conventions, and (B) provide a basis for judgment as to 
        the comparability and quality of map products; and]
          (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
          [(6)] (5) a mechanism for monitoring the inventory of 
        published and current mapping investigations nationwide 
        in order to facilitate planning and information 
        exchange and to avoid redundancy.

SEC. 7. NATIONAL GEOLOGIC-MAP DATA BASE.

  (a) * * *
  [(b) Standardization.--Geologic maps contributed to the 
national archives should have standardized format, symbols, and 
technical attributes so that archival information can be 
assimilated, manipulated, accessed, exchanged, and compared 
efficiently and accurately.]
  (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.

SEC. 8. ANNUAL REPORT.

  The Secretary shall, within 90 days after the end of each 
fiscal year, submit an annual report to the Committee on 
[Natural] Resources of the House of Representatives and the 
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the Senate 
describing the status of the nationwide geologic mapping 
[program, and describing and evaluating progress] program and 
describing and evaluating the progress achieved during the 
preceding fiscal year in developing the national geologic-map 
data base. Each report shall include any recommendations for 
legislative or other action as the Secretary deems necessary 
and appropriate to fulfill the purposes of this Act.

[SEC. 9. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

  [There is authorized to be appropriated to carry out this Act 
the following:
          [(1) For Federal mapping activities under this Act, 
        $12,500,000 for fiscal year 1993, $14,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 1994, $16,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and 
        $18,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.
          [(2) For Federal support activities under this Act, 
        $9,500,000 for fiscal year 1993, $10,000,000 for fiscal 
        year 1994, $10,500,000 for fiscal year 1995, and 
        $11,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.
          [(3) For State mapping activities under this Act, 
        $15,000,000 for fiscal year 1993, $18,000,000 for 
        fiscal year 1994, $21,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and 
        $25,000,000 for fiscal year 1996.
          [(4) For educational support activities under this 
        Act, $500,000 for fiscal year 1993, $750,000 for fiscal 
        year 1994, $1,000,000 for fiscal year 1995, and 
        $1,500,000 for fiscal year 1996.]

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) $26,000,000 for fiscal year 1998;
          (2) $28,000,000 for fiscal year 1999; and
          (3) $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 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;
                  (B) 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
                  (C) 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.
          * * * * * * *

                                
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