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              Congressional
           *   Research Service






Landslide Hazards Legislation in the

116th Congress



Updated March 12, 2019


Authorizing a Landslide Hazards Program

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that landslides kill an average of 25-50 people each year in
the United States and account for $1-$2 billion annually in damages. Two nearly identical bills, S. 529
and H.R. 1261, titled the National Landslide Preparedness Act, would authorize a national landslide
hazards reduction program within USGS. USGS currently operates, under its Organic Act of 1879 and
other authorities, such as the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-288), a Landslide Hazards Program
(funding level of $3.5 million in FY2018) within its Natural Hazards Program. Both bills would broaden
USGS's  current activities and require coordination with other federal agencies.
The legislation would direct the Secretary of the Interior (Secretary), acting through the Director of
USGS,  to establish a program to identify risks and hazards from landslides, reduce losses, protect
communities at risk, and improve communication and emergency preparedness. The bills would require
the program to map and assess landslide hazards; respond to landslide events; coordinate with states,
Indian tribes, local governments, and territories to identify regional and local priorities; and develop and
implement landslide hazard guidelines for geologists, engineers, emergency managers, and land-use
decisionmakers.

Managing the Program

Section 3 of S. 529 and H.R. 1261 would structure the program with elements roughly parallel to the
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP; P.L. 115-307). Similar to NEHRP, an
interagency committee chaired by the Department of the Interior (DOI) would oversee and coordinate the
landslide program and support the development and execution of a national strategy for landslide hazards
and risk reduction. The national strategy would include an interagency plan for carrying out the national
strategy.




                                                               Congressional Research Service
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