43 U.S.C. § 31e

Current through P.L. 118-106 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/04/2024)

Section 31e - Geologic mapping program 5-year plan

(a) In general

The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall, with the advice and review of the advisory committee, prepare a 5-year plan for the geologic mapping program.

(b) Requirements

The 5-year plan shall identify-

(1) overall priorities for the geologic mapping program; and

(2) implementation of the overall management structure and operation of the geologic mapping program, including-

(A) the role of the Survey in the capacity of overall management lead, including the responsibility for developing the national geologic mapping program that meets Federal needs while fostering State needs;

(B) the responsibilities of the State geological surveys, with emphasis on mechanisms that incorporate the needs, missions, capabilities, and requirements of the State geological surveys, into the nationwide geologic mapping program;

(C) mechanisms for identifying short- and long-term priorities for each component of the geologic mapping program, including-

(i) for the Federal component, a priority-setting mechanism that responds to-

(I) Federal mission requirements for geologic map information;

(II) critical scientific problems that require geologic maps for their resolution; and

(III) shared Federal and State needs for geologic maps, in which joint Federal-State geologic mapping projects are in the national interest;

(ii) for the State component, a priority-setting mechanism that responds to-

(I) specific intrastate needs for geologic map information; and

(II) interstate needs shared by adjacent States that have common requirements; and

(iii) for the education component, a priority-setting mechanism that responds to requirements for geologic map information that are dictated by Federal and State mission requirements;

(D) a mechanism for adopting scientific and technical mapping standards for preparing and publishing general- and special-purpose geologic maps to-

(i) ensure uniformity of cartographic and scientific conventions; and

(ii) provide a basis for assessing the comparability and quality of map products; and

(E) a mechanism for monitoring the inventory of published and current mapping investigations nationwide to facilitate planning and information exchange and to avoid redundancy.

43 U.S.C. § 31e

Pub. L. 102-285, §6, as added Pub. L. 106-148, §6, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1722.

EDITORIAL NOTES

PRIOR PROVISIONSA prior section 31e, Pub. L. 102-285, §6, May 18, 1992, 106 Stat. 170; Pub. L. 105-36, §3(d), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1110, provided for the preparation of a geologic mapping program implementation plan, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106-148, §6, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1722.