---
kind: "section"
citation: "43 U.S.C. § 31e"
title: "43"
title_heading: "Public Lands"
number: "31e"
heading: "Geologic mapping program 5-year plan"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/43/31e"
units:
  - "Chapter 2 — United States Geological Survey"
---

# §31e. Geologic mapping program 5-year plan

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/43/31b.md?p=7), acting through the [Director](/usc/43/31b.md?p=3), shall, with the advice and review of the [advisory committee](/usc/43/31b.md?p=1), prepare a 5-year plan for the [geologic mapping program](/usc/43/31b.md?p=6).
- (b) **Requirements—** The 5-year plan shall identify—
  - (1) overall priorities for the [geologic mapping program](/usc/43/31b.md?p=6); and
  - (2) implementation of the overall management structure and operation of the [geologic mapping program](/usc/43/31b.md?p=6), including—
    - (A) the role of the [Survey](/usc/43/31b.md?p=10) in the capacity of overall management lead, including the responsibility for developing the national [geologic mapping program](/usc/43/31b.md?p=6) that meets Federal needs while fostering [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) needs;
    - (B) the responsibilities of the [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) geological [surveys](/usc/43/31b.md?p=10), with emphasis on mechanisms that incorporate the needs, missions, capabilities, and requirements of the [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) geological [surveys](/usc/43/31b.md?p=10), into the nationwide [geologic mapping program](/usc/43/31b.md?p=6);
    - (C) mechanisms for identifying short- and long-term priorities for each component of the [geologic mapping program](/usc/43/31b.md?p=6), including—
      - (i) for the [Federal component](/usc/43/31b.md?p=5), 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](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) needs for geologic maps, in which joint Federal-[State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) geologic mapping projects are in the national interest;
      - (ii) for the [State component](/usc/43/31b.md?p=9), a priority-setting mechanism that responds to—
        - (I) specific intrastate needs for geologic map information; and
        - (II) interstate needs shared by adjacent [States](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) that have common requirements; and
      - (iii) for the [education component](/usc/43/31b.md?p=4), a priority-setting mechanism that responds to requirements for geologic map information that are dictated by Federal and [State](/usc/43/31b.md?p=8) 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.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 102–285, § 6, as added Pub. L. 106–148, § 6, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1722.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 31e, Pub. L. 102–285, § 6, May 18, 1992, 106 Stat. 170; Pub. L. 105–36, § 3(d), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 1110, provided for the preparation of a geologic mapping program implementation plan, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 106–148, § 6, Dec. 9, 1999, 113 Stat. 1722.