PUBLIC LAW 105-277—OCT. 21, 1998 112 STAT. 2681-242 encourage employees receiving workers' compensation benefits pursuant to chapter 81 of title 5, United States Code, to return to appropriate positions for which they are medically able. UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SURVEYS, INVESTIGATIONS, AND RESEARCH For expenses necessary for the United States Geological Survey to perform surveys, investigations, and research covering topography, geology, hydrology, and the mineral and water resources of the United States, its territories and possessions, and other areas as authorized by 43 U.S.C. 31, 1332, and 1340; classify lands as to their mineral and water resources; give engineering supervision to power permittees and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission licensees; administer the minerals exploration program (30 U.S.C. 641); and publish and disseminate data relative to the foregoing activities; and to conduct inquiries into the economic conditions affecting mining and materials processing industries (30 U.S.C. 3, 21a, and 1603; 50 U.S.C. 98g(l)) and related purposes as authorized by law and to publish and disseminate data; $797,896,000, of which $69,596,000 shall be available only for cooperation with States or municipalities for water resources inves- • tigations; and of which $16,400,000 shall remain available until expended for conducting inquiries into the economic conditions affecting mining and materials processing industries; and of which $2,000,000 shall remain available until expended for ongoing development of a mineral and geologic data base; and of which $161,221,000 shall be available until September 30, 2000 for the biological research activity and the operation of the Cooperative Research Units: Provided, That of the funds available for the biological research activity, $6,600,000 shall be made available by grant to the University of Alaska for conduct of, directly or through subgrants, basic marine research activities in the North Pacific Ocean pursuant to a plan approved by the Department of Commerce, the Department of the Interior, and the State of Alaska: Provided further, That none of these funds provided for the biological research activity shall be used to conduct new surveys on private property, unless specifically authorized in writing by the property owner: Provided further, That no part of this appropria- 43 USC 50. tion shall be used to pay more than one-half the cost of topographic mapping or water resources data collection and investigations carried on in cooperation with States and municipalities. ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS The amount appropriated for the United States Geological Survey shall be available for the purchase of not to exceed 53 passenger motor vehicles, of which 48 are for replacement only; reimbursement to the General Services Administration for security guard services; contracting for the furnishing of topographic maps and for the making of geophysical or other specialized surveys when it is administratively determined that such procedures are in the public interest; construction and maintenance of necessary buildings and appurtenant facilities; acquisition of lands for gauging stations and observation wells; expenses of the United States National Committee on Geology; and payment of compensation and expenses of persons on the rolls of the Survey duly appointed to represent
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