Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area History Timeline

Timeline of legislation related to the Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area. 

The Organic Act of 1879: The USGS is established and directed to classify public lands, and examine the geological structure, mineral resources and products within and outside the national domain. 

Mining and Minerals Policy Act of 1970: Gives the Department of the Interior responsibility for assessing the mineral resources of the Nation.

Geothermal Energy Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 1974: The USGS begins to inventory all forms of geothermal energy on federal lands.

Strategic and Critical Minerals Stock Piling Act of 1946 Amended: The Act requires the USGS to provide scientific, technologic, and economic investigations related to the development of mineral resources.

Energy Policy Act of 2005: The USGS is instructed to develop standardized methods to assess geologic energy resources, including oil, gas and renewable resources.

Energy Act of 2020: The USGS is directed to publish the list of critical minerals and update it no less than every three years. The USGS is also directed to conduct national assessments of critical mineral resources, and update assessments of geothermal resources.

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is codified to accelerate mapping efforts at the USGS and better understand domestic mineral resources.