Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 111 Part 2.djvu/27

 PUBLIC LAW 105-36—AUG. 5, 1997 111 STAT. 1107 Public Law 105-36 105th Congress An Act To reauthorize and amend the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992, and for Aug. 5, 1997 other purposes. [H.R. 709] Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. National Geologic Mapping SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. Reauthorization Act of 1997 This Act may be cited as the "National Geologic Mapping 43 USC 3la note. Reauthorization Act of 1997". SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 43 USC 31a note. 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 proiects 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 Uie 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:";

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