Reauthorization of the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 was introduced this week by Congressmen Jim Costa (D-CA) and Nick Rahall (D-WV) of the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee as H.R.5171. Arizona has received $2.634 million, the 4th largest amount of any state, since the program began.The bill is similar to one approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year. Both bills extend the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) and retain the three components of NCGMP: FedMap, StateMap, and EDMap.
[right: geologic quadrangle maps in Arizona - 1:24,000 scale - produced under the STATEMAP component of the National Cooperative Geologic Program]
Rep. Costa stated "Geologic maps help us build highways, safeguard drinking water, prepare for disasters, protect wildlife, discover precious minerals, locate fuels that power our society and much more."
According to AGI, the House and Senate bills would increase the percentage of funds allocated to the state and education components, from 48 to 50 percent and from 2 to 4 percent respectively. The legislation would authorize the allocation of $64 million annually for ten years, although this doesn't guarantee that Congress would actually appropriate that amount. They have never come close to funding the full authorization level.
Letters about the program are being sought by the Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee and should be sent to:
Steve Feldgus, Ph.D., Legislative Staff
Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee
House Committee on Natural Resources
http://resourcescommittee.house.gov
1626 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515