Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 900 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                H. R. 900

   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 31, 2025

Mr. Soto (for himself, Mr. Bilirakis, Mr. Frost, Ms. Castor of Florida,
  and Ms. Wilson of Florida) introduced the following bill; which was
             referred to the Committee on Natural Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025''.

SEC. 2. SINKHOLE HAZARD IDENTIFICATION.

    (a) In General.--The Director of the United States Geological
Survey shall establish a program to--
            (1) study the short-term and long-term mechanisms that
        cause sinkholes, including extreme storm events, prolonged
        droughts causing shifts in water management practices, aquifer
        depletion, and other major changes in water use; and
            (2) develop maps that depict zones that are at greater risk
        of sinkhole formation.
    (b) Use of Certain Data.--In developing maps under subsection
(a)(2), the Director of the United States Geological Survey shall
utilize 3D elevation data (as that term is defined in section 2 of the
National Landslide Preparedness Act (43 U.S.C. 3101)) collected
pursuant to section 5 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 3104).
    (c) Review of Maps.--Once during each 5-year period, or more often
as the Director of the United States Geological Survey determines is
necessary, the Director shall assess the need to revise and update the
maps developed under this section.
    (d) Website.--The Director of the United States Geological Survey
shall establish and maintain a public website that displays the maps
developed under this section and other relevant information critical
for use by community planners and emergency managers.
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