U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Supplemental Appropriations

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Supplemental Appropriations

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Updated January 9, 2023
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Supplemental Appropriations
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is a science agency in
This In Focus covers supplemental appropriations for the
the Department of the Interior (DOI) that provides
USGS that are in addition to annual appropriations. Table 1
information to describe and understand the geological
summarizes supplemental appropriations (including
processes of the Earth, to mitigate risks of natural hazards,
advance appropriations) for the USGS for FY2018-
and to support the management of water, energy, mineral,
FY2026. Supplemental appropriations in six laws over the
and ecosystem resources. Congress typically appropriates
nine-year period totaled $742.2 million. Some of the funds
funds for the agency through annual Interior, Environment,
are available until expended, while others are available for
and Related Agencies appropriations acts. For example,
specified time periods. (See Table 1.) Of the six laws, four
annual appropriations for the USGS in FY2023 totaled $1.5
provided a total of $208.0 million for USGS natural hazard
billion. For more information about annual appropriations,
response, recovery, and related projects. Two of the laws
see CRS In Focus IF12097, The U.S. Geological Survey
provided $534.2 million for mapping, energy, and minerals
(USGS): Background and FY2023 Appropriations.
activities.
Table 1. USGS Supplemental Appropriations, FY2018-FY2026
Public Law
Total
Description
P.L. 117-328
$41.0 M
 For expenses related to the consequences of wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters in and
(Div. N)
(FY2023)
prior to 2023.
P.L. 117-169
$23.5 M
 To produce, col ect, disseminate, and use 3D elevation data (to remain available through FY2031).
(Title V)
(FY2022)
P.L. 117-58
$510.7 M
 $64.0 M for each of FY2022, FY2023, FY2024, FY2025, and FY2026 (to remain available for the fiscal
(Div. J)
(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).
 $167.0 M 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).
 $8.7 M for FY2022 and $5.0 M 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).
 0.5% of these appropriations must be transferred to DOI’s Office of Inspector General for funding
oversight.
P.L. 117-43
$26.3 M
 For expenses related to the consequences of wildfires, hurricanes, and other natural disasters that
(Div. B)
(FY2022)
occurred in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
P.L. 116-20
$98.5 M
 For expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Florence and Michael, wildfires in 2018,
(Title VII)
(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
$42.2 M
 For expenses related to the consequences of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and those areas
(Div. B)
(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. In addition to amounts
shown, P.L. 117-58 appropriated funding for DOI-wide activities, which may be used to provide additional funding for the USGS. (For instance,
DOI announced $6.6 mil ion for USGS ecosystem restoration activities in 2022.)
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U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Supplemental Appropriations
Natural Hazards Funding
spending $5.8 million for post-landslide assessments and
The USGS, with support from nonfederal partners, collects
lidar studies to identify landslide hazards, which
scientific information for long-term data sets, such as
contributed to a landslide susceptibility map for PR.
streamflow and flood records, and monitors, assesses, and
conducts research on natural hazards. For FY2018 through
Mapping, Energy, and Minerals Funding
FY2023, four supplemental appropriations laws have
P.L. 117-169, commonly referred to as the Inflation
included $208.0 million for the USGS to repair, replace, or
Reduction Act (IRA), provided $23.5 million in
upgrade monitoring equipment and facilities impacted by
supplemental funding for FY2022, to remain available
recent natural disasters and to improve natural hazard
through FY2031, for USGS 3D elevation data activities.
science capabilities. The USGS has released its plans for
The USGS carries out these activities via its 3D Elevation
allocating funding provided by three of these laws. (See
Program (43 U.S.C. §3104). On December 31, 2022, the
https://www.usgs.gov/supplemental-appropriations-for-
White House released a guidebook for IRA funding that
disaster-recovery-activities.) The following sections
included information on the 3DEP funding.
highlight some of the activities supported by this funding.
However, information on expenditures under P.L. 117-328
P.L. 117-58, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
is not yet available.
(IIJA), contained $510.7 million in supplemental funding
for activities authorized in Division D of the act that aim to
Hurricanes and Floods
bolster supply chains for clean energy technologies. Of the
The USGS continues to use supplemental appropriations to
total, $320.0 million was for the USGS Earth Mapping
conduct work in the following states and territories
Resources Initiative (MRI), first funded with FY2019
impacted by hurricanes and severe storms: AR, FL, GA, HI,
annual appropriations, which aims to complete a national
LA, NC, NJ, NY, PA, PR, SC, TN, TX, and USVI. This
surface and subsurface mapping and data integration effort
work includes spending about $10 million to replace or
that prioritizes mapping (e.g., topographic, geologic,
harden (i.e., improve structures to withstand hazards)
geochemical, and geophysical mapping). The IIJA also
hundreds of streamgages and to update information on
directed Earth MRI to research mine waste as a potential
stream and river conditions post-storm. The USGS is
source for critical minerals. Another $23.7 million of the
spending $15.5 million to update lidar surveys and conduct
total was to augment existing efforts to characterize,
coastal assessments and risk forecasts in affected areas.
digitally document, and preserve physical geologic samples
Further, the agency is spending $8.1 million to upgrade the
that may relate to mineral exploration. The USGS released
Puerto Rico Seismic Network and the Puerto Rico Strong
a spend plan for its IIJA activities. (See
Motion Program, which were impacted by Hurricane Maria.
https://www.usgs.gov/media/files/usgs-bipartisan-
infrastructure-law-spend-plan.)
Volcanoes and Earthquakes
The USGS is spending $73.4 million of FY2019
The remaining $167.0 million was for a USGS Energy and
supplemental appropriations for activities related to the
Minerals Research Facility in Golden, CO, to replace an
intense eruptions at Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii in 2018,
outdated facility. In May 2022, the USGS signed a
which damaged at least 724 structures. Of the total, the
memorandum for a cooperative agreement with the
USGS is using $10.8 million for rebuilding and hardening
Colorado School of Mines for the design of the facility.
the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory monitoring network,
$3.0 million for investigations, and $59.6 million for
Issues for Congress
constructing a new facility in Hilo to replace facilities at the
As previously noted, the USGS has released details on its
summit of Kilauea Volcano that were damaged beyond
spending plans for most of its supplemental appropriations.
repair. The USGS also is spending $4.3 million of FY2019
Specific issues for Congress may include how quickly these
supplemental appropriations to harden and improve Alaska
funds are being spent, what activities have been funded, and
Volcano Observatory facilities and monitor network
how the USGS is tracking output and performance data.
infrastructure after the 2018 magnitude 7.1 earthquake that
Congress also may consider broader questions, such as how
struck north of Anchorage, AK. Upgrades to facilities and
effective the funding is in accomplishing the purposes set
network infrastructure help ensure volcano monitoring
out by Congress (e.g., reducing hazard impacts and
capabilities for research and hazard risk assessment. With
identifying mineral resources). Another question may be
FY2022 supplemental appropriations, the USGS is
whether and how to adjust USGS funding in future years.
upgrading portable seismic equipment in CA, PR, and UT.
Congress may consider how to ensure reliable, robust
Wildfires and Landslides
hazard monitoring for short-term hazardous events as well
The USGS is spending about $20 million provided in
as long-term observations, both of which contribute to
FY2018, FY2019, and FY2022 supplemental
scientific understanding, risk assessment, hazard mitigation,
appropriations to assess post-wildfire landslide hazards and
warnings, and hazard response. For example, hazardous
to conduct lidar studies in California and Washington, and
events may damage monitoring infrastructure. Congress
to assess and update models of fire behavior and their
may consider the sufficiency of appropriations to maintain,
impacts on DOI land. The USGS also is spending about $5
repair, or replace damaged infrastructure.
million to repair, replace, or harden the seismic network in
California for earthquake monitoring after parts of the
Anna E. Normand, Analyst in Natural Resources Policy
network were damaged in wildfires. In response to
Linda R. Rowan, Analyst in Natural Resources and Earth
landslides associated with Hurricane Maria, the USGS is
Sciences
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U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Supplemental Appropriations

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