• The Geologic Division, through research on 

 geologic processes and Earth history, pro- 

 vides information that permits intelligent ad- 

 justment to the natural environment and wise 

 use of the Earth's resources. The Geologic 

 Division determines the composition and 

 structure of the rocks and materials that lie at 

 and beneath the Earth's surface, identifies 

 potential energy and mineral resources includ- 

 ing those of the OCS, and develops and dis- 

 tributes knowledge about natural processes, 

 Earth history, and natural hazards, such as 

 earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and land 

 subsidence. 



• The Water Resources Division researches 

 hydrologic processes, assesses the quantity 

 and quality of the Nation's water supply, 

 develops the knowledge necessary to predict 

 the environmental consequences of alterna- 

 tive plans for developing water resources, 

 coordinates Federal water data-acquisition 

 activities, collects and distributes information 

 about the availability of water data through 

 the national water data exchange (NAW- 

 DEX), and develops and distributes informa- 

 tion about natural hazards such as floods and 

 land subsidence. 



• The Conservation Division classifies the pub- 

 lic lands with respect to leasable minerals and 

 water power sites, and supervises exploration 

 and development authorized by the Secretary 

 of the Department of the Interior under leases 

 and permits on Federal and Indian lands. 



• The Land Information and Analysis Office 

 coordinates and administers interrelated inter- 

 disciplinary programs of both the Department 

 of the Interior and the Geological Survey with 

 the objective of interpreting and displaying 

 resource information in ways that are readily 

 accessible and understandable to a wide range 

 of potential users, particularly land-use plan- 

 ners and decisionmakers. 



These research, fact finding, and regulatory pro- 

 grams receive executive direction from the Office 

 of the Director and technical and administrative 

 support from the Administrative, Computer Cen- 

 ter, and Publications Divisions. Total funds obli- 

 gated by the Geological Survey in fiscal year 1976 

 amounted to $345 million, an increase of $15.2 mil- 

 lion over fiscal year 1975. Obligations from appro- 

 priated funds in fiscal year 1976 provided about 75 

 percent of the total funds available to the Survey. 

 The remaining 25 percent was from Federal, 

 State, and local agencies, and from miscellaneous 

 non-Federal sources. 



The allocation of funds to the Survey's five prin- 

 cipal budget activities (topographic surveys and 

 mapping, geologic and mineral resource surveys 



130 INTERIOR 



and mapping, water resources investigations, con- 

 servation of lands and minerals, and land informa- 

 tion and analysis), which had been changing dra- 

 matically in the past few years, remained relatively 

 unchanged in fiscal year 1976. 



Funds to support Survey programs come from 

 two sources: (I) an annual congressional appropri- 

 ation, and (2) reimbursements from Federal and 

 non-Federal agencies. Federal funds, under the 

 title "Surveys, Investigations, and Research," 

 support the Survey's directly appropriated pro- 

 grams under each budget activity. Other funds 

 from State and local agencies. Federal agencies, 

 permittees and licensees of the Federal Power 

 Commission, foreign countries, and international 

 organizations pay for various information products 

 and services provided by the Survey's reimbursa- 

 ble programs. 



Whereas directly appropriated programs are 

 aimed at resource investigations and research on 

 problems of nationwide concern, the reimbursable 

 programs enable the Survey to apply its earth sci- 

 ence expertise more directly to specific problems 

 of Federal, State, and local agencies. The results 

 of these investigations contribute in a very sub- 

 stantial way to the solution of urgent national re- 

 source problems and respond directly to the chang- 

 ing mutual needs of Federal, State, and local gov- 

 ernments for earth science information. 



Work done for the State, county, or municipal 

 agencies may be performed on a cost-sharing ba- 

 sis. Funding arrangements may vary according to 

 the type of investigation, and the Survey's annual 

 appropriation act stipulates that Federal funds may 

 not be used to finance more than one-half the cost 

 of any topographic mapping or water resource in- 

 vestigation carried on in cooperation with a State 

 or municipality. Within this general 50-percent lim- 

 itation, each annual appropriation act also specifies 

 the dollar amount of Federal funds that shall be 

 available for cooperative water resource investiga- 

 tions. On the other hand, appropriated funds may 

 be used to pay for more than 50 percent of the cost 

 of other Survey cooperative programs. The activi- 

 ties jointly funded by State and local reimbursable 

 program funds (State share) or direct program 

 funds (Federal share) are collectively referred to 

 as the Federal-State cooperative program. Other 

 work done by the Survey for specific Federal agen- 

 cies and non-Federal organizations is usually per- 

 formed on a fully reimbursable basis. 



Each of the five major organizational units of 

 the Geological Survey named above is responsible 

 for initiating and managing programs in its area 

 of expertise, including basic research programs. 

 Proposals for new research may be generated at 

 any level within the Agency, from field to top 

 management. All proposals are evaluated through 



