43 U.S.C. § 3102 National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program

• Library: United States Statutes
• Edition: 2023 Edition
• Currency: Current through P.L. 118-19 (published on www.congress.gov on 10/06/2023)

(a) Establishment

The Secretary shall establish a program, to be known as the "National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program" (referred to in this section as the "program")-

(1) to identify and understand landslide hazards and risks;

(2) to reduce losses from landslides;

(3) to protect communities at risk of landslide hazards; and

(4) to help improve communication and emergency preparedness, including by coordinating with communities and entities responsible for infrastructure that are at risk of landslide hazards.

(b) Description of program

(1) Program activities

The Secretary, in coordination with the Interagency Coordinating Committee on Landslide Hazards established by subsection (c)(1) (referred to in this section as the "Committee") and in coordination with existing activities of the United States Geological Survey and other Federal agencies, shall-

(A) identify, map, assess, and research landslide hazards;

(B) respond to landslide events; and

(C) in coordination with State offices, units of local government, territories, and Indian tribes-

(i) establish working groups with State offices, units of local government, territories, and Indian tribes to identify regional and local priorities for researching, identifying, mapping, and assessing landslide hazards; and

(ii) develop and implement landslide hazard guidelines for-

(I) geologists;

(II) geological and geotechnical engineers;

(III) emergency management personnel; and

(IV) land use and other decisionmakers.

(2) National strategy

Not later than 1 year after January 5, 2021, and every 5 years thereafter, the Secretary, in coordination with the Committee, shall develop and publish a national strategy for landslide hazards, risk reduction, and response in the United States (including territories), which shall include-

(A) goals and priorities for the program;

(B) priorities for data acquisition, research, communications, and risk management on landslides and landslide hazards across relevant Federal agencies; and

(C) a detailed interagency plan, which shall take into consideration national disaster preparedness, response, and recovery frameworks, to carry out the national strategy, including details about the programs, projects, and budgets that will be used to implement the national strategy.

(3) National landslide hazards database

In carrying out the program, the Secretary, in coordination with State offices, units of local government, territories, and Indian tribes, shall develop and maintain a publicly accessible national landslide hazard and risk inventory database to compile, maintain, standardize, and evaluate data regarding-