Geologic Resources Management

Authorities

The legal mandates applicable to all NPS resources, including geologic resources, are discussed in the Introduction of this section, in specific sections dedicated to particular geologic resources (e.g., caves) elsewhere in this Reference Manual, and in Appendix A. Appendix A contains brief discussions of specific statutes pertinent to geologic resources management such as the Mining in the Parks Act of 1976, the National Cave and Karst Research Institute of 1998, etc. Along with language in specific statutes dedicated to some aspect of geologic resources management, language pertinent to geologic resources management also occurs in more general statutes, such as the Wilderness Act of 1969 and the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998. For example, the Wilderness Act includes geologic features of scientific, educational, scenic, or historical value as one of the possible defining attributes of a wilderness area (see 16 U.S.C.§1131). Likewise, §207 of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act draws attention to geologic resources by mentioning both minerals and paleontological objects. This section of the Act gives park managers authority to withhold information concerning the nature and specific location of a National Park System resource that is endangered, threatened, rare, or commercially valuable from release under the Freedom of Information Act. This protection may include mineral or paleontological objects or other geologic resources.

Authorities, including NPS Management Policies, that specifically apply to cave and karst systems, soil resources, paleontological resources, disturbed land restoration, and marine and lake shorelines are discussed in those sections of this Reference Manual. Authorities, including NPS Management Policies, applicable to geohazards and to geothermal systems are discussed in the appropriate subsections below.