§ 31e. Geologic mapping program 5-year plan

• (a) The Secretary, acting through the Director, shall, with the advice and review of the advisory committee, prepare a 5-year plan for the geologic mapping program.
• (b) The 5-year plan shall identify—
  • (1) overall priorities for the geologic mapping program; and
  • (2) implementation of the overall management structure and operation of the geologic mapping program, including—
    • (A) the role of the Survey in the capacity of overall management lead, including the responsibility for developing the national geologic mapping program that meets Federal needs while fostering State needs;
    • (B) the responsibilities of the State geological surveys, with emphasis on mechanisms that incorporate the needs, missions, capabilities, and requirements of the State geological surveys, into the nationwide geologic mapping program;
    • (C) mechanisms for identifying short- and long-term priorities for each component of the geologic mapping program, including—
      • (i) for the Federal component, a priority-setting mechanism that responds to—
        • (I) Federal mission requirements for geologic map information;
        • (II) critical scientific problems that require geologic maps for their resolution; and
        • (III) shared Federal and State needs for geologic maps, in which joint Federal-State geologic mapping projects are in the national interest;
      • (ii) for the State component, a priority-setting mechanism that responds to—
        • (I) specific intrastate needs for geologic map information; and
        • (II) interstate needs shared by adjacent States that have common requirements; and
      • (iii) for the education component, a priority-setting mechanism that responds to requirements for geologic map information that are dictated by Federal and State mission requirements;
    • (D) a mechanism for adopting scientific and technical mapping standards for preparing and publishing general- and special-purpose geologic maps to—
      • (i) ensure uniformity of cartographic and scientific conventions; and
      • (ii) provide a basis for assessing the comparability and quality of map products; and
    • (E) a mechanism for monitoring the inventory of published and current mapping investigations nationwide to facilitate planning and information exchange and to avoid redundancy.