United States Geological Survey. The Organic Act of March 3, 1879, as amended, and supplemental legislation (43 USC 31-50d) directs or authorizes the USGS to classify the public lands and examine the geological structure, mineral resources, and products within and outside the national domain; gage streams and underground water resources; conduct topographical surveys; establish a national geologic database; and conduct other functions. Under this authority, the USGS carries out research to assist Federal land management agencies in the discharge of their administrative responsibilities. In addition, the FCRPA provides the USGS with the authority to cooperate with other governmental authorities for scientific, educational, and recreational purposes. USDA-Forest Service - Organic Administration Act of June 4, 1897 (16 USC 471), The Multiple Use-Sustained Yield Act of 1960 (16 USC 1600 & 528-531), the National Forest Management Act of 1976 (16 USC & 1600-1614) and the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 (16 USC & 2101-2114) direct the FS to protect and manage natural resources on National Forest System Lands by providing for multiple uses of these natural resources, including cave and karst resources. In addition, the FCRPA provides the FS with the authority to secure, protect, and preserve significant caves on Federal lands and cooperate with other governmental authorities for scientific, educational, and recreational purposes.
United States Geological Survey. Conduct scientific research on cave and karst resources. For example, USGS will aid in the evaluation of paleontologic, biologic, and speleologic resources and provide geologic and hydrologic frameworks for evaluating karst hazards and resources through USGS scientists’ expertise in a wide variety of technical disciplines, including water-tracer tests, water quality, numeric (computer) modeling, geochemistry, aquatic biology, habitat evaluation and restoration, population ecology, remote sensing, mineralogy, geologic mapping, and applications of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology. Facilitate information transfer on cave and karst resources through published reports, maps, electronic databases, professional conferences or workshops, and by individual training.
United States Geological Survey. The EARIP retained the United States Geological Survey (“USGS”) to participate in the Hardy study process to ensure that the results will serve both the needs of the EARIP in preparing its program document and the FWS in reviewing it. Xxxx Xxxxxxxx of the USGS has worked with the Hardy team to assist in identifying impacts and developing influence diagrams of those impacts on listed species using Structured Decision-Making (SDM). See xxxx://xxx.xxx.xxx/science/doc/structured_decision_making_factsheet.pdf (describing the Structured Decision-Making process); xxxx://xxxxx.xxxx.xxx/Science/SciCommDocs.cfm (influence diagrams). We anticipate that Xxxx Xxxxxxxx will continue to be available to assist the EARIP and facilitator(s) with scientific issues, including the targeted application of the SDM process. The selected facilitator(s) is encouraged to draw upon Xx. Xxxxxxxx’x work with Xx. Xxxxx’x team and her SDM expertise in the facilitation of scientific issues.
United States Geological Survey. The U.S. Geological Survey is responsible for providing reliable information and technology to describe and understand the Nation’s earth and biological resources and to minimize the impacts of natural hazards. Functions of USGS include: sponsoring and conducting research in geology, hydrology, biology, cartography, and related sciences; coordinating Federal activities in the establishment and maintenance of geologic, hydrologic, biologic and cartographic databases; developing and applying technology for evaluating natural hazards associated with flooding, drought, earth movements, and the behavior of toxic materials in the environment; developing information and technologies to support the management of the Nation’s water, biological, energy and mineral resources and to enhance our quality of life; and developing technology for, and producing geographic, cartographic and remotely sensed information in graphic and digital forms. In the Lake Champlain basin, the USGS has Water Science Center offices in Vermont and New York that focus on hydrologic and water-quality data collection and analyses, and geospatial liaison positions for Vermont and New York that address the development of digital spatial data. Also, the USGS has the Vermont Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit of the USGS Cooperative Research Units program, which conducts ecologically-based research addressing aquatic and terrestrial components of the basin.
