Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2021

Sinkhole Mapping Act of 2021

This bill directs the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to establish a program to map zones that are at greater risk of sinkhole formation.

Specifically, the USGS must

• study the short-term and long-term mechanisms that cause sinkholes, including extreme storm events, prolonged droughts causing shifts in water management practices, aquifer depletion, and other major changes in water use; and
• develop maps depicting the zones that are at greater risk of forming sinkholes.

The USGS must establish a public website that displays such maps and other relevant information critical for use by community planners and emergency managers.