Overview
Title
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.
ELI5 AI
H.R. 900 wants to help keep people safe from sinkholes by making special maps that show where sinkholes might happen, using cool 3D technology. These maps would let everyone know about these places, but how this plan will get money and who will help make the maps isn't very clear yet.
Summary AI
H.R. 900 proposes the establishment of a program by the Director of the United States Geological Survey to identify areas at higher risk for sinkhole formation. This involves studying the causes of sinkholes, such as extreme weather and water management changes, and creating detailed maps using 3D elevation data. These maps, which will be periodically updated, will be available to the public on a website, providing valuable information for community planners and emergency managers. The bill is introduced by Representative Soto and others and is referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
Published
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AnalysisAI
Summary of the Bill
The proposed legislation, titled the "Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025," aims to establish a program within the United States Geological Survey (USGS) focused on mapping areas at higher risk of sinkhole formation. This program will study both short-term and long-term causes of sinkholes, such as extreme weather events, droughts, aquifer depletion, and significant changes in water use. By utilizing 3D elevation data, the program seeks to create and update maps every five years, or more frequently if necessary. To ensure the information is accessible, these maps will be displayed on a public website for use by community planners and emergency managers.
Summary of Significant Issues
The bill, while endeavoring to tackle the issue of sinkhole hazards, lacks specificity in several critical areas that could affect its efficacy and execution:
Budgetary Concerns: The bill does not specify a budget or identify a funding source for establishing and maintaining the sinkhole mapping program. This omission could lead to potential overspending or inefficient use of resources, which is a notable concern regarding fiscal responsibility.
Collaboration and Coordination: There is no mention of input from other federal, state, or local agencies, raising the risk of overlapping efforts and lacking coordination. Collaboration is crucial for comprehensive hazard assessment and mitigation.
Accountability: The language in the bill does not specify who is responsible for reassessing and updating the maps every five years. This lack of clarity could lead to accountability gaps and undermine the program's reliability.
Data Clarification: The bill mandates the use of 3D elevation data but doesn't clarify whether this data alone is sufficient or if other datasets are necessary. Inadequate data sources may result in inaccurate risk assessments.
Technical Complexity: The use of technical terms like "aquifer depletion" and "3D elevation data" may be difficult for non-experts, such as community planners and emergency managers, to comprehend, potentially limiting the practical application of the maps.
Public Impact
The proposed legislation could broadly impact public safety by aiming to provide critical information on sinkhole risks. Accurate and accessible maps could aid in planning and emergency preparedness, potentially saving lives and minimizing property damage. However, the absence of financial clarity and a detailed plan for coordination and data use could impede these benefits, leading to a delay in program implementation or less effective outcome than intended.
Impact on Specific Stakeholders
Emergency Managers and Community Planners: These stakeholders stand to benefit significantly from the maps, as they can utilize them to develop appropriate risk mitigation and response strategies. Yet, the technical language and lack of ongoing support may limit their ability to leverage this tool effectively.
Federal, State, and Local Agencies: The lack of specified coordination might result in redundant efforts and wasted resources. A more collaborative approach could strengthen overall hazard management efforts.
Taxpayers: Taxpayers will likely be interested in seeing an efficient and effective use of their money. The bill's failure to outline a clear budget or funding strategy could raise concerns about fiscal accountability and resource allocation.
In essence, while the "Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025" aims to address a significant geological risk, its effectiveness could be enhanced through clearer guidelines on funding, cooperation, data usage, and technical accessibility. Addressing these areas could lead to more reliable outcomes and a stronger contribution to public safety efforts.
Issues
The Sinkhole hazard identification section (Sec. 2) does not specify a budget or funding source for the establishment and maintenance of the program. This lack of financial clarity could lead to potential overspending or inefficiencies in the allocation of resources, which is a significant concern for public accountability and fiscal responsibility.
There is no mention in Section 2 of collaboration or input from other relevant federal, state, or local agencies, which may create a risk of overlapping efforts or lack of coordination in addressing sinkhole hazards. This could undermine the effectiveness of the mapping program.
The language in Section 2 does not specify who will be responsible for evaluating the 'need to revise and update the maps' every 5 years. This ambiguity in accountability and responsibility could lead to lapses in map accuracy and effectiveness, impacting emergency planning and response.
The bill mandates the use of '3D elevation data as defined in section 2 of the National Landslide Preparedness Act', but Section 2 does not clarify if this data is comprehensive or if other datasets need to be used. This could create a lack of clarity on data sources, potentially affecting the accuracy of risk maps.
The technical terms used in Section 2, such as 'aquifer depletion' and '3D elevation data', might be difficult for general audiences, including community planners and emergency managers, to fully understand. This complexity could hinder the effective use of the maps and resources by those responsible for disaster preparedness and response.
Sections
Sections are presented as they are annotated in the original legislative text. Any missing headers, numbers, or non-consecutive order is due to the original text.
1. Short title Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The first section of the bill provides the short title, stating that the Act can be referred to as the "Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2025."
2. Sinkhole hazard identification Read Opens in new tab
Summary AI
The Director of the United States Geological Survey is tasked with creating a program to study the causes of sinkholes and produce maps showing areas at higher risk. These maps will use specific elevation data, be reviewed every five years for updates, and be made available on a public website for planners and emergency managers.