Scientific Innovation 

Scientific research is vital to the nation’s understanding of its energy and critical mineral resources, training and retaining the next generation of natural resource scientists and preserving the nation’s irreplaceable geologic knowledge. President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $510.7 million to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to support integrated mapping and interpretation of mineral resources data, the preservation of data from geochemical samples from the Earth Mapping Resource Initiative (Earth MRI), and a replacement facility for the USGS energy and minerals research center in Golden, Colorado. Direct funding is also available for Department of the Interior bureaus and federal agencies to provide USGS science to support additional infrastructure projects.  

The USGS plays an essential role in providing a broad range of scientific knowledge to other federal, state and local government agencies, Tribal communities and the public. The USGS plans to make historic investments in scientific research through the following funding opportunities:  

• $167 million for USGS Energy and Minerals Research Facility to support the design, construction and tenant build out of a state-of-the-art USGS-owned facility to for energy and minerals research through a cooperative agreement with an academic partner.  
• $23.7 million for National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation, which will support State Geological Surveys through the matched grants program to preserve and make digitally accessible geological and geophysical data and assets, including support of the Earth MRI critical minerals priorities.  
• $320 million to advance the mapping mission by the USGS to provide integrated topographic, geologic, geochemical and geophysical mapping; accelerate the integration and consolidation of geospatial and resource data; and support the interpretation of subsurface and above ground mineral resources data.  

Collectively, these investments will deliver science information and data essential to the design, development and management of the nation’s infrastructure.   

Resources

• USGS Announces Spend Plan for Investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law 
• Secretary Haaland Announces Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Funding to Build New USGS Research Building