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.
NCGMP FACA Documents
NCGMP FACA documents may be accessed via the Current NCGMP FACA Charters, Representatives, Meetings, and Reports page or the archive.
The NCGMP and FACA
The National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 and its reauthorizations in 1997, 1999, and 2009 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 review the scientific progress of the Program and 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. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 added the National Geologic and Geophysical Data Preservation Program (NGGDPP) to the NCGMP Federal Advisory Committee.
FACA Representation
The NCGMP and NGGDPP Federal Advisory Committee currently consists of 11 representatives who serve 5-year terms. Ex officio representatives are from the the Environmental Protection Agency and the Departments of Agriculture, Energy, and Interior. In addition, there are two representatives from State Geological Surveys, one from academia, and two from the private sector. 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 and NGGDPP Federal Advisory Committee must have an official charter that explains the official designation, authority, scope and objectives, 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 2 years.
FACA Reports
The NCGMP and NGGDPP 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 biennial 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.
Related Content
Below are links to descriptions of the National Geologic Mapping Act (NGMA), it's reauthorizations, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
John Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 2009
NOTE: This file contains the 2009 Reauthorization of the National Geologic Mapping Act, as codified in Chapter 43, Sections 31a-h of the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code may be found in public libraries. Because the Code does not contain the Public Law number and preamble to the Act, that information is given below, followed by the Code.
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999
NOTE: This file contains the 1999 Reauthorization of the National Geologic Mapping Act, as codified in Chapter 43, Sections 31a-h of the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code may be found in public libraries. Because the Code does not contain the Public Law number and preamble to the Act, that information is given below, followed by the Code.
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997
This file contains the 1997 Reauthorization of the National Geologic Mapping Act, as codified in Chapter 43, Sections 31a-h of the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code may be found in public libraries. Because the Code does not contain the Public Law number and preamble to the Act, that information is given below, followed by the Code.
National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992
The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program was created by the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 as codified in Chapter 43, Sections 31a-h of the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code may be found in public libraries. Because the Code does not contain the Public Law number and preamble to the Act, that information is given below, followed by the text of the Code.
Related Content
Below are links to descriptions of the National Geologic Mapping Act (NGMA), it's reauthorizations, and the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).
John Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 2009
NOTE: This file contains the 2009 Reauthorization of the National Geologic Mapping Act, as codified in Chapter 43, Sections 31a-h of the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code may be found in public libraries. Because the Code does not contain the Public Law number and preamble to the Act, that information is given below, followed by the Code.
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1999
NOTE: This file contains the 1999 Reauthorization of the National Geologic Mapping Act, as codified in Chapter 43, Sections 31a-h of the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code may be found in public libraries. Because the Code does not contain the Public Law number and preamble to the Act, that information is given below, followed by the Code.
National Geologic Mapping Reauthorization Act of 1997
This file contains the 1997 Reauthorization of the National Geologic Mapping Act, as codified in Chapter 43, Sections 31a-h of the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code may be found in public libraries. Because the Code does not contain the Public Law number and preamble to the Act, that information is given below, followed by the Code.
National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992
The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program was created by the National Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 as codified in Chapter 43, Sections 31a-h of the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code may be found in public libraries. Because the Code does not contain the Public Law number and preamble to the Act, that information is given below, followed by the text of the Code.