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“National Landslide Preparedness Act” Signed Into Law
January 13, 2021 By GISuser
Legislation to establish a National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to better identify and understand landslide risks, protect communities, save lives and property, and improve emergency preparedness became law Tuesday when the President of the United States signed H.R. 8810, the National Landslide Preparedness Act.
Included in the new law is an authorization that codifies the USGS 3D Elevation Program (3DEP), to update and coordinate the collection of elevation data across the country using enhanced, high-resolution surveys, primarily through the collection of LiDAR. Enhanced elevation data helps communities plan for and respond to natural hazards and provides critical data to inform decision-making for public safety, national security, infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, and natural resource management. Also included is an authorization for a USGS program to collect national subsidence or land level change phenomena.