I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION 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
JANUARY31, 2025
Mr. S
OTO(for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. FROST, Ms. CASTORof Florida,
and Ms. W
ILSONof Florida) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred 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 Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Sinkhole Mapping Act 4
of 2025’’. 5
SEC. 2. SINKHOLE HAZARD IDENTIFICATION. 6
(a) I
NGENERAL.—The Director of the United States 7
Geological Survey shall establish a program to— 8
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•HR 900 IH
(1) study the short-term and long-term mecha-1
nisms that cause sinkholes, including extreme storm 2
events, prolonged droughts causing shifts in water 3
management practices, aquifer depletion, and other 4
major changes in water use; and 5
(2) develop maps that depict zones that are at 6
greater risk of sinkhole formation. 7
(b) U
SE OFCERTAINDATA.—In developing maps 8
under subsection (a)(2), the Director of the United States 9
Geological Survey shall utilize 3D elevation data (as that 10
term is defined in section 2 of the National Landslide Pre-11
paredness Act (43 U.S.C. 3101)) collected pursuant to 12
section 5 of that Act (43 U.S.C. 3104). 13
(c) R
EVIEW OFMAPS.—Once during each 5-year pe-14
riod, or more often as the Director of the United States 15
Geological Survey determines is necessary, the Director 16
shall assess the need to revise and update the maps devel-17
oped under this section. 18
(d) W
EBSITE.—The Director of the United States 19
Geological Survey shall establish and maintain a public 20
website that displays the maps developed under this sec-21
tion and other relevant information critical for use by com-22
munity planners and emergency managers. 23
Æ
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