§4310. Establishment of Cave Research Program
(a) Establishment
In order to provide for needed research relating to cave resources on certain lands in the United States, the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the National Park Service shall establish and administer a Cave Research Program (hereinafter in this section referred to as the "Program"). The Program shall include the orderly and scholarly collection, analysis, and dissemination of research material related to caves in lands managed by the National Park Service including, but not limited to, Carlsbad Caverns National Park and the Capitan Reef area.
(b) Functions
The Program shall produce educational and interpretive information and materials vital to public understanding of cave geology, assist students and researchers, and provide for a comprehensive evaluation of cave resources and measures needed for their protection.
(c) Emphasis
The program 1 shall be directed primarily toward lands managed by the National Park Service, but the Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with other agencies or entities as may be appropriate to carry out the purposes of this section.
(
Editorial Notes
References in Text
This section, referred to in subsecs. (a) and (c), was in the original "this title" meaning title II of
Codification
Section was not enacted as part of the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988 which comprises this chapter.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
National Cave and Karst Research Institute
"SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
"This Act may be cited as the 'National Cave and Karst Research Institute Act of 1998'.
"SEC. 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.
"SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INSTITUTE.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"SEC. 4. ADMINISTRATION OF THE INSTITUTE.
"(a)
"(b)
"(c)
"(d)
"(1)
"(2)
"(e)
"(1) a grant or donation from a private person; or
"(2) a transfer of funds from another Federal agency.
"SEC. 5. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.
"There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this Act."
Congressional Findings
"(1) The World's most exposed fossil reef, Capitan Reef, in southern New Mexico that includes Carlsbad Caverns, contains over 300 caves, including 75 identified caves in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and 22 caves in Guadalupe Mountains National Park.
"(2) Recent explorations of Lechuguilla Cave at Carlsbad Caverns National Park have provided much new information about the wonders of this cave including the fact that it is the second deepest cave in the United States and contains outstanding world-class cave features such as gypsum crystal chandeliers and gypsum flowers.
"(3) The Lechuguilla Cave has been described by cave researchers as possibly the finest cave in America.
"(4) The interest and excitement of cave researchers throughout the world have been focused on Carlsbad Caverns National Park.
"(5) Cave researchers could use this research institute as an operational base for study of caves in other regions and as a focal point for storage of data on cave geology and speleology.
"(6) The Congress, with the passage of
Cave Research Institute Study
Authorization of Appropriations