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Updated August 30, 2022
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Supplemental Appropriations
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is a science agency in
Table 1 summarizes supplemental appropriations for the
the Department of the Interior (DOI) that aims to provide
USGS for FY2018-FY2026. Supplemental appropriations
scientific information about the geological processes of the
over the nine-year period total $701.2 million. The
Earth; to minimize loss of life and property from natural
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58)
hazards; and to support the management of water,
provided $510.7 million over the FY2022-FY2026 period
biological, energy, and mineral resources. Congress
for activities related to USGS’s energy, mineral, and
typically appropriates funds for the agency through annual
mapping activities. In addition, the Inflation Reduction Act
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations
of 2022 (IRA; P.L. 117-169) provided $23.5 million for
acts. For example, annual appropriations for the USGS in
FY2022 for USGS three-dimensional (3D) elevation data
FY2022 totaled $1.4 billion (see CRS In Focus IF11850,
activities. Three other laws provided a total of $167.0
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): FY2022
million for USGS natural hazard response, recovery, and
Appropriations and Background). This In Focus covers
related projects. Congress may consider how effectively the
supplemental appropriations for the USGS that are in
agency uses these funds, among other issues, as discussed
addition to annual appropriations.
below.
Table 1. Enacted USGS Supplemental Appropriations, FY2018-FY2026
Public Law
Total
Description
$23.5M
To produce, col ect, disseminate, and use 3D elevation data (to remain available through FY2031).
P.L. 117-169 (FY2022)
P.L. 117-58
$510.7M
$64.0M for each of FY2022, FY2023, FY2024, FY2025, and FY2026 (to remain available for the fiscal
(FY2022-
year in which appropriated and two subsequent fiscal years) for the USGS Earth Mapping Resources
FY2026)
Initiative (§40201 of Division D of P.L. 117-58).
$167.0M for FY2022 for the design, construction, and build-out of an energy and minerals research
facility through a cooperative agreement with an academic partner (§40204 of Division D of P.L. 117-
58).
$8.7M for FY2022 and $5.0M for each of FY2023-FY2025 (to remain available for the fiscal year in
which appropriated and two subsequent fiscal years) for the National Geological and Geophysical
Data Preservation Program (§41003(a) of Division D of P.L. 117-58. See also 42 U.S.C. §15908).
Transfer of 0.5% of these appropriations to DOI’s Office of Inspector General for funding oversight.
P.L. 117-43
$26.3M
For expenses related to the consequences of wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters in 2019,
(FY2022)
2020, and 2021.
P.L. 116-20
$98.5M
For expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Florence and Michael and wildfires in 2018,
(FY2019)
earthquake damage associated with emergency declaration EM–3410, and those areas impacted by a
major disaster declared pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§5121 et seq. for 2018 wildfires or volcanic eruptions.
$72.3M of the total is designated for repair and replacement of equipment and facilities damaged by
disasters in 2018.
P.L. 115-123 $42.2M
For expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and those areas
(FY2018)
impacted by a major disaster declared (pursuant to 42 U.S.C. §§5121 et seq.) for 2017 wildfires.
Source: CRS, using referenced laws.
Notes: M = mil ion. Nominal dol ars. Appropriations are to remain available until expended unless otherwise stated. P.L. 117-58 also
appropriated funding for DOI-wide activities, which also may provide funding for the USGS (e.g., $6.6 mil ion to USGS for ecosystem
restoration activities).
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U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Supplemental Appropriations
Natural Hazards Funding
studies to identify landslide hazards, which contributed to a
The USGS, with support from nonfederal partners, collects
landslide susceptibility map for Puerto Rico.
scientific information for long-term data sets, such as
streamflow and flood records, and monitors, assesses, and
Mapping, Energy, and Minerals Funding
conducts research on natural hazards. To date, supplemental
The IRA, a budget reconciliation measure pursuant to the
appropriations laws have included $167.0 million for
FY2022 budget resolution (S.Con.Res. 14), provided
FY2018 through FY2022 for the USGS to repair, replace,
$23.5 million for FY2022 to remain available through
or upgrade monitoring equipment and facilities impacted by
FY2031 for USGS 3D elevation data activities. The USGS
recent natural disasters and to improve natural hazard
carries out many of these activities through its 3D Elevation
science capabilities. The USGS has released plans to
Program (3DEP; 43 U.S.C. §3104). As of August 2022, the
allocate this funding (see https://www.usgs.gov/
USGS has not released plans for its IRA funding.
supplemental-appropriations-for-disaster-recovery-
activities). The following sections highlight some of the
The IIJA funded $510.7 million for activities authorized in
funding and activities.
Division D of the act that aim to bolster supply chains for
clean energy technologies. For example, the IIJA provided
Hurricanes and Floods
$320.0 million for the USGS Earth Mapping Resources
The USGS continues to use supplemental appropriations to
Initiative, which aims to complete a national surface and
conduct work in states and territories impacted by
subsurface mapping and data integration effort that
hurricanes and severe storms: AR, FL, GA, HI, LA, NC,
prioritizes mapping (e.g., topographic, geologic,
NJ, NY, PA, PR, SC, TN, TX, and USVI. This includes
geochemical, and geophysical mapping). This initiative was
spending of around $10 million to replace or harden (i.e.,
first funded in FY2019 and received $10.6 million in
improve structures to withstand hazards) hundreds of
FY2022 annual appropriations. The IIJA also included
streamgages and to update post-storm conditions in streams
$23.7 million to augment existing efforts to characterize,
and rivers. The USGS is spending $15.5 million to update
digitally document, and preserve physical geologic samples
lidar surveys and conduct coastal assessments and risk
that may relate to mineral exploration. The USGS released
forecasts in affected areas. Further, the agency is spending
a spend plan for its IIJA activities on February 16, 2022
$8.1 million to upgrade the Puerto Rico Seismic Network
(see https://www.usgs.gov/media/files/usgs-bipartisan-
and the Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program, which were
infrastructure-law-spend-plan).
impacted by Hurricane Maria.
The IIJA also provided $167.0 million for a USGS Energy
Volcanoes and Earthquakes
and Minerals Research Facility in Golden, CO, to replace
The USGS is spending $73.4 million of FY2019
an outdated facility. In May 2022, the USGS signed a
supplemental appropriations for activities related to the
memorandum for a cooperative agreement with the
intense eruptions at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii in 2018,
Colorado School of Mines for the design of the facility.
which damaged at least 724 structures. Of the total, $10.8
million is for rebuilding and hardening the Hawaiian
Issues for Congress
Volcano Observatory monitoring network, $3.0 million is
As previously noted, the USGS released details on its
for investigations, and $59.6 million is for construction of a
spending plans for most of its supplemental appropriations.
new facility in Hilo to replace facilities at the summit of
Specific issues for Congress may include how quickly these
Kilauea Volcano that were damaged beyond repair in 2018.
funds are being spent, what activities have been funded, and
The USGS also is spending $4.3 million in FY2019
what sorts of output and/or performance measures are being
supplemental appropriations to harden and improve Alaska
tracked by the USGS and other observers. Congress also
Volcano Observatory facilities and monitor network
may wish to consider broader questions, such as how
infrastructure after the 2018 magnitude 7.1 earthquake that
effective the funding is in accomplishing specific purposes
struck north of Anchorage. Upgrades to facilities and
set out by Congress; such purposes include reducing hazard
network infrastructure are to ensure volcano monitoring
impacts and identifying mineral resources to improve
capabilities and hazard communications in emergencies.
supply chains. Another question may be if and how
With FY2022 supplemental appropriations, the USGS is
Congress wishes to adjust funding in future years.
upgrading portable seismic equipment in California, Puerto
Rico, and Utah.
Congress may consider how to ensure reliable, robust
hazard monitoring for short-term hazardous events as well
Wildfires and Landslides
as long-term observations, both of which contribute to
The USGS is spending about $20 million provided in
scientific understanding, risk assessment, hazard mitigation,
FY2018, FY2019, and FY2022 supplemental
warnings, and hazard response. Monitoring infrastructure
appropriations to assess post-wildfire landslide hazards and
may be damaged in a hazardous event. Funding for
to conduct lidar studies in California and Washington, and
maintaining, repairing, and replacing monitoring
for assessment and updates to models of fire behavior and
infrastructure to allow for continuous monitoring could be a
their impacts on DOI land. The USGS also is spending
congressional issue.
about $5 million to repair, replace, or harden the seismic
network in California for earthquake monitoring after parts
Anna E. Normand, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
of the network were damaged in wildfires. In response to
Linda R. Rowan, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
landslides associated with Hurricane Maria, the USGS
IF12152
spent $5.8 million for post-landslide assessments and lidar
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U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Supplemental Appropriations
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