Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2019

IB Union Calendar No. 341 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 496 [Report No. 116–427] To direct the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a program to map zones that are at greater risk of sinkhole formation, and for other purposes. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 11, 2019 Mr. SOTO (for himself, Mr. CRIST, and Mrs. MURPHY of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources JUNE 4, 2020 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources; committed to the Com- mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:48 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\H496.RH H496 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 496 RH A BILL To direct the Director of the United States Geological Survey to establish a program to map zones that are at greater risk of sinkhole formation, and for other purposes. VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:48 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\H496.RH H496 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 496 RH Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sinkhole Mapping Act 4 of 2019’’. 5 SEC. 2. SINKHOLE HAZARD IDENTIFICATION. 6 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Director of the United States 7 Geological Survey shall establish a program to— 8 (1) study the short-term and long-term mecha- 9 nisms that cause sinkholes, including extreme storm 10 events, prolonged droughts causing shifts in water 11 management practices, aquifer depletion, and other 12 major changes in water use; and 13 (2) develop maps that depict zones that are at 14 greater risk of sinkhole formation. 15 (b) REVIEW OF MAPS.—Once during each 5-year pe- 16 riod, or more often as the Director of the United States 17 Geological Survey determines is necessary, the Director 18 shall assess the need to revise and update the maps devel- 19 oped under this section. 20 (c) WEBSITE.—The Director of the United States 21 Geological Survey shall establish and maintain a public 22 website that displays the maps developed under this sec- 23 tion and other relevant information critical for use by com- 24 munity planners and emergency managers. 25 VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:48 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H496.RH H496 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS Union Calendar No. 341 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 496 [Report No. 116–427] A BILL To direct the Director of the United States Geologi- cal Survey to establish a program to map zones that are at greater risk of sinkhole formation, and for other purposes. JUNE 4, 2020 Reported from the Committee on Natural Resources; committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed VerDate Sep 11 2014 21:48 Jun 04, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H496.RH H496 khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with BILLS