Monday, October 16, 2017

Bipartisan Congressional support for Geologic Mapping



Land use managers increasingly rely on geologic mapping that returns benefits, including lives saved, resources discovered, costs avoided, increased efficiency, and fundamental understanding.

The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 therefore mandated the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, which allows partners to work together in building the National Geologic Map Database. The NGMA is, however, due for its fourth reauthorization.

In September, Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska cosponsored, with Senator King of Maine, Senate Bill S-1787, whose role is to reauthorize the Act

This month, Colorado Representative Doug Lamborn and Maryland Representative Anthony Brown co-sponsored a corresponding bill, HR-4033.

In a statement, Senator Murkowski stated "We don't have a detailed geologic map for even one-third of the United States, yet it lays the foundation for minimizing risks from natural hazards and is the linchpin to reducing our nation's dependence on foreign minerals".

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