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Photo of white aragonite Photo of a pallid bat Photo of a lava tube (cave) entrance Photo of a shaft of light at the entrance of Carlsbad Cavern Photo of stalactites and soda straw speleothems Photo of someone looking toward the entrance of a cave Photo of stalagmites and aragonite speleothems
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The collapse of the ceiling of a subterranean chamber formed this impressive "sinkhole" entrance.
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The National Cave and Karst Research Act of 1998 Page
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The National Cave and Karst Research Act of 1998
  Index
Section 1. Short Title
Section 2. Purposes
Section 3. Establishment of the Institute
Section 4. Administration of the Institute
Section 5. Funding
Section 1. Short Title 

 This Act may be cited as the ‘National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998’.

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Section 2. Purposes

The purposes of this Act are-
  1. to further the science of speleology;
  2. to centralize and standardize speleological information;
  3. to foster interdisciplinary cooperation in cave and karst research programs;
  4. to promote public education;
  5. to promote national and international cooperation in protecting the environment for the benefit of cave and karst landforms; and
  6. to promote and develop environmentally sound and sustainable resource management practices.

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Section 3. Establishment of the Institute
  • MANAGEMENT- The Institute shall be jointly administered by the National Park Service and a public or private agency, organization, or institution, as determined by the Secretary.
  • GUIDELINES- The Institute shall be operated and managed in accordance with the study prepared by the National Park Service pursuant to section 203 of the Act entitled ‘An Act to conduct certain studies in the State of New Mexico’, approved November 15, 1990 (Public Law 101-578; 16 U.S.C. 4310 note).
  • CONTRACTS AND COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS- The Secretary may enter into a contract or cooperative agreement with a public or private agency, organization, or institution to carry out this Act.

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Section 4. Administration of the Institute
  • FACILITY-
    1. LEASING OR ACQUIRING A FACILITY- The Secretary may lease or acquire a facility for the Institute.
    2. CONSTRUCTION OF A FACILITY- If the Secretary determines that a suitable facility is not available for a lease or acquisition under paragraph (1), the Secretary may construct a facility for the Institute.
  • ACCEPTANCE OF GRANTS AND TRANSFERS- To carry out this Act, the Secretary may accept-
    1. a grant or donation from a private person; or
    2. a transfer of funds from another Federal agency.

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Section 5. Funding
  • MATCHING FUNDS- The Secretary may spend only such amount of Federal funds to carry out this Act as is matched by an equal amount of funds from non-Federal sources.
  • AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS- There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be necessary to carry out this Act.

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Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Vice President of the United States, and
President of the Senate.
 
Return to the Federal Acts and Regulations Index Page Return to the Federal Acts and Regulations Index Page
Go to the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 Page Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988
Go to the Department of the Interior Cave Management Regulations Page Department of the Interior Cave Management Regulations
 
 
Cave and Karst Program
Geologic Resources Division
National Park Service
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Last Updated: November 25, 2002
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