Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 106 Part 1.djvu/198

 106 STAT. 166 PUBLIC LAW 102-285—MAY 18, 1992 Public Law 102-285 102d Congress An Act —r -j p L,co^— '^° enhance geologic mapping of the United States, and for other purposes. [H.R. 2763] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of National the United States of America in Congress assembled, Geologic ^PPJSno SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Act of 1992. Conservation. This Act may be cited as the "National Geologic Mapping Act Environmental gf 1992" protection. 43 USC 31a SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE. note. 43 USC 31a. (a) FINDINGS. —The Congress finds and declares that— (1) during the past 2 decades, the production of geologic maps has been drastically curtailed; (2) geologic maps are the primary data base for virtually all applied and basic earth-science investigations, including— (A) exploration for and development of mineral, energy, and water resources; (B) screening and characterizing sites for toxic and nuclear waste disposal; (C) land use evaluation and planning for environmental protection; (D) earthquake hazards reduction; (E) predicting volcanic hazards; (F) design and construction of infirastructure requirements such as utility lifelines, transportation corridors, and surface-water impoundments; (G) reducing losses from landslides and other ground failures; (H) mitigating effects of coastal and stream erosion; (I) siting of critical facilities; and (J) basic earth-science research; (3) Federal agencies. State and local governments, private industry, and the general public depend on the information V. 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 htigation; (4) the combined capabilities of State, Federal, and academic groups to provide geologic mapping are not sufficient to meet the present and future needs of the United States for national security, environmental protection, and energy self-sufficiency of the Nation; (5) States are wilUng to contribute 50 percent of the funding necessary to complete the mapping of the geology within the State; (6) the lack of proper geologic maps has led to the poor design of such structures as dams and waste-disposal facilities; (7) geologic maps have proven indispensable in the search for needed rossil-fuel and mineral resources; and

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