About the Program

Section 351 of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-58, Sec. 351) directs the Secretary of the Interior, through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), “to carry out a National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program” which comprises “State agencies that elect to be part of the system and agencies within the Department of the Interior that maintain geological and geophysical data and samples.”

The Vision

The Program will create a national cooperative network of geoscience materials and data repositories operated independently and guided by common standards, procedures, and protocols. Holdings of these repositories will be accessible through an Internet-based National Digital Catalog. The aggregate of these repository holdings will be an extensive source of geoscience data and materials serving national needs.