The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program was created by the National Geologic Mapping Act (NGMA) of 1992. (PL 102-285).

The original goal of the Program was to produce surficial and bedrock geologic map coverage for the entire United States. These maps were to be produced in a reasonable time frame and at a scale that would meet national and regional needs for (1) resource development, (2) environmental protection, and (3) identification and mitigation of natural hazards. After passage of the NGMA of 1992, Congress reauthorized the Act in 1997 and 1999 (Public Laws 105-36 and 106-148). The latest reauthorization (PL 111-11) in 2009 authorizes the program for 10 years.

In response to the Act, the following events have occurred:

• The matching-funds program component with State geological surveys (STATEMAP) was fully implemented in FY 1996, although a limited amount of funding was distributed earlier;
• The EDMAP matching-funds cooperative with universities was implemented in FY 1996;
• The NCGMP Federal Advisory Committee first met in 1996;
• The National Geologic Map Database was implemented as a digital database in 1996;
• The Digital Geologic Mapping Committee, which represents all of the State geological surveys and works with the NCGMP to establish digital geologic map standards for the National Geologic Map Database, had its first annual Digital Mapping Techniques workshop in 1997; and
• The first NCGMP five-year strategic plan was released in 2000, and the second five-year plan was released in 2007.