Federal Advisory Committee on Geologic Mapping

Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA)

FACA (Public Law 92-463, 5 U.S.C., App. 2) was enacted by Congress in 1972. Its purpose is to ensure that advice rendered to the executive branch by the various advisory committees, task forces, boards, and commissions formed by Congress and the President, be both objective and accessible to the public. The Act formalizes a process for establishing, operating, overseeing, and terminating these advisory bodies.

The NCGMP and FACA

The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 and its reauthorizations in 1997 and 1999 (and anticipated in 2006) mandate that the NCGMP establish a geologic mapping advisory committee to advise the Director of the USGS on planning and implementation of the geologic mapping program. In 1996, the NCGMP Federal Advisory Committee was established. The committee meets annually to (1) review and update the Program's five-year strategic plan, (2) review the scientific progress of the Program, and (3) submit an annual report that evaluates the progress of the FEDMAP, STATEMAP, and EDMAP activities and progress towards full implementation of the National Geologic Mapping Act.

FACA Representation

The NCGMP Federal Advisory Committee currently consists of 10 representatives who serve 3-year terms. Ex officio representatives are from the Office of Science and Technology Policy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Departments of Agriculture and Energy. In addition, there are two representatives from State Geological Surveys, one from academia, and one from the private sector. The Associate Director for Geology of the USGS serves as Chair, and the Program Coordinator for the NCGMP is Vice Chair and Executive Secretary. Representatives are chosen according to standard procedures for Federal Advisory Committees.

FACA Charter

The NCGMP Federal Advisory Committee must have an official charter that explains the official designation, authority, function, membership, ethic responsibility, official to whom the committee reports, duties of the committee, committee support, number and frequency of meetings, travel expenses for representatives, estimated annual operating expenses, and rules for continuation and termination of the committee. This charter must be renewed every two years.

FACA Reports

The NCGMP Federal Advisory Committee must submit an annual report to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior that evaluates the progress of the Federal, State, and university mapping activities and the progress toward fulfilling the purposes of the NCGMP, the Federal Advisory Committee, the NCGMP five-year plan, and the National Geologic Map Database.

The Secretary of the Interior, in turn, submits a biannual report to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources of the U.S. Senate and to the Committee on Resources of the House of Representatives that identifies how the USGS and the AASG are coordinating the development and implementation of the NCGMP, how goals and priorities are set for the Program, and how long-term staffing plans affect Program success.

NCGMP Federal Advisory Committee Charters, Representatives, Meetings, and Reports

NCGMP FACA documents may be accessed via the Annual NCGMP FACA Charters, Representatives, Meetings, and Reports page.