§31l Earth Mapping Resources Initiative

Summary

Creates the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative inside the U.S. Geological Survey to speed up national mapping and understanding of land and mineral resources. The Initiative must produce integrated topographic, geologic, geochemical, and geophysical maps, bring together geospatial and resource data, and interpret both surface and underground mineral data. The USGS Director may work with State geologic surveys and use normal contracting tools. Within 10 years after November 15, 2021, the Initiative must finish a first national surface and subsurface mapping and data integration effort that uses a whole-ore-body approach (not one mineral at a time), gives priority to mapping critical minerals, studies mine-waste areas for above-ground mineral resources, and analyzes samples (including those in the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program) for critical minerals. The Initiative must make its geospatial data and metadata available online on an ongoing basis and must combine information from existing programs and databases, including national geologic mapping, data preservation, the USMIN mineral deposit database, the 3D Elevation Program, and other relevant sources like geothermal data. Congress authorized $320,000,000 to carry out the Initiative for fiscal years 2022 through 2026, to remain available until spent. The term critical mineral is defined in 30 U.S.C. 1606(a).