    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 134, 116th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 116-323
    116th Congress

    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--

    [[Page 5076]]

    (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;

    [[Page 5077]]

    (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

    [[Page 5078]]

    (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'').

    [[Page 5079]]

    (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--

    [[Page 5080]]

    (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.

    [[Page 5081]]

    (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;

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    (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.

    [[Page 5083]]

    (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);

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    (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.

    Approved January 5, 2021.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 8810:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 166 (2020):
    Dec. 3, considered and passed House.
    Dec. 16, considered and passed Senate.