article: 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 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.''. Passed the House of Representatives July 30, 1996. Attest: ROBIN H. CARLE, Clerk.
summary: National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1996 - Amends the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 to establish a national cooperative geologic mapping program between the U.S. Geological Survey and State geological surveys. Establishes a geologic mapping advisory committee to advise the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey on planning and implementation of the geological mapping program. Authorizes appropriations.