43 U.S.C. § 31: Director of United States Geological Survey

The Director of the United States Geological Survey, which office is established, under the Interior Department, shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. This officer shall have the direction of the United States Geological Survey, and the classification of the public lands and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain. The Director and members of the United States Geological Survey shall have no personal or private interests in the lands or mineral wealth of the region under survey, and shall execute no surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations. The authority of the Secretary of the Interior, exercised through the United States Geological Survey of the Department of the Interior, to examine the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain, is expanded to authorize such examinations outside the national domain where determined by the Secretary to be in the national interest. implement section 323 of the joint resolution entitled ‘Joint Resolution making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 1985, and for other purposes’, approved October 12, 1984 ( Public Law 98–473 ; 98 Stat. 1875 ) [set out below] which supports and encourages the development of a national Continental Scientific Drilling Program; enhance fundamental understanding of the composition, structure, dynamics, and evolution of the continental crust, and how such processes affect natural phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, transfer of geothermal energy, distribution of mineral deposits, the occurrence of fossil fuels, and the nature and extent of aquifers; advance basic earth sciences research and technological development; obtain critical data regarding the earth’s crust relating to isolation of hazardous wastes; and develop a long-range plan for implementation of the Continental Scientific Drilling Program. because the earth provides energy, minerals, and water, and is used as a storage medium for municipal, chemical, and nuclear waste, an understanding of the processes and structures in the earth’s crust is essential to the well being of the United States; there is a need for developing long-range plans for a United States Continental Scientific Drilling Program; and understanding of the crustal evolution of the earth and the mountain building processes; understanding of the mechanisms of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions and the development of improved techniques for prediction; understanding of the development and utilization of geothermal and other energy sources and the formation of and occurrence of mineral deposits; understanding of the migration of fluids in the earth’s crust for evaluation of waste contamination and the development of more effective techniques for the safe subsurface disposal of hazardous wastes; understanding and definition of the size, source, and more effective use of aquifers and other water resources; and evaluation and verification of surface geophysical techniques needed for exploring and monitoring the earth’s crust. taking such action as necessary to assure an effective, cooperative effort in furtherance of the Continental Scientific Drilling Program of the United States; taking all reasonable administrative and financial measures to assure that the Interagency Accord on Continental Scientific Drilling continues to function effectively in support of such program; assuring the continuing effective operation of the Interagency Coordinating Group to further the objectives of such program; taking such action to assure that the Interagency Coordinating Group receives appropriate cooperation from any Federal agency that can contribute to the objectives of such program, without adversely affecting any program or activity of such agency; long and short-term policy objectives and goals of the United States Continental Scientific Drilling Program; projected schedules of desirable scientific and engineering events that would advance United States objectives in the Continental Scientific Drilling Program; the levels of resources and funding for fiscal year 1989 that would be required by each participating Federal agency to carry out events pursuant to subparagraphs (A) and (B); the scientific, economic, technological, and social benefits expected to be realized through the implementation of such program at each level described in subparagraph (C); a recommended course for interaction with the international community in a cooperative effort to achieve the goals and purposes of this Act; any other governmental agency; any academic institution; any organization in the private sector; and any governmental or other entity in the international community; a plan to develop beneficial cooperative relationships among the entities mentioned in subparagraph (F), to the extent that the Interagency Coordinating Group deems practicable; and any other information or recommendations that the Interagency Coordinating Group deems appropriate; and submitting to the Congress annually, beginning one year after the submission of a report under paragraph (5), a report describing the levels of resources and funding that would be required by each participating Federal agency for the next fiscal year to carry out events pursuant to paragraph (5)(A) and (B).” the Continental Scientific Drilling Program is an important national scientific endeavor by the United States which should be enthusiastically implemented through a joint cooperative effort among the United States Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the United States Geological Survey; the private sector should be encouraged to support the Continental Scientific Drilling Program and the participating agencies should solicit appropriate private sector participation in such program; and the United States Government should cooperate to the extent practicable with the international community in developing this important scientific and technical activity.”