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National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program

 The National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) was created in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to promote the preservation, archiving, and availability of geologic, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, well logs, and samples for research. 

Authorization and Purpose

The Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58, Sec. 351) established the National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and outlined the following goals:

  • archive geological, geophysical, and engineering data, maps, well logs, and samples;
  • provide a national catalog of archived materials;
  • provide technical and financial assistance to State geological surveys and relevant Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus related to the archival material

The NGGDPP was reauthorized in Section 7002 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (Public Law 116-260).

Participants and Partners

NGGDPP provides assistance for data preservation and related activities to State Geological Surveys and agencies within the DOI. The Program welcomes opportunities for partnerships with industry, academia and NGOs to advance the preservation of geological materials.

The Program is strengthened through partnerships with other USGS Programs and initiatives. The NGGDPP partners with the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) to preserve and make available geoscience assets related to critical minerals. The NGGDPP also partners with the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) to preserve and update geologic maps to the Geologic Map Schema (GeMS) and preserve subsurface data and resources supporting the US GeoFramework Initiative.

Management of Scientific Collections

The USGS National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program works to preserve and expose the Nation’s geoscience collections (samples, logs, maps, data) to promote their discovery and use for research and resource assessment. NGGDPP’s vision is a world where all public domain physical samples and geological resources are readily discoverable, accessible and re-usable.​ The NGGDDP supports the USGS Scientific Working Collections Policy and Federal Guidance and Resources for collections management through training, data management, and tool development.