CHAPTER 8. WATER AND GEOLOGICAL RESOURCES RESEARCH
IC 14-25-8
Chapter 8. Water and Geological Resources Research
IC 14-25-8-1
Legislative findings; research powers
Sec. 1. (a) The continuing growth of the population and economy
impose ever increasing demands upon the essentially fixed water
resources of Indiana. It is necessary that the development, use, and
management of these resources be based upon a sound and thorough
knowledge and understanding of the location, extent, capabilities,
limitations, and characteristics of the basic water resources of
Indiana. The need for additional knowledge is urgent in areas such
as the following:
(1) Mapping of the location and availability of ground water.
(2) The time of travel of water from point to point on the major
streams.
(3) The Indiana climatic factors affecting evaporation losses
from impoundments.
(4) The meandering characteristics of alluvial streams.
(5) The drainage areas of streams at selected points.
(b) To accomplish the objectives described in subsection (a), the
department of environmental management and the department may
conduct applied research in their respective areas of jurisdiction for
the purpose of securing the scientific and technical data and
information necessary for the solution of problems involving the
wise beneficial development, use, and management of the water
resources of Indiana. The research shall be accomplished through the
use of the money that is made available for these purposes.
(c) The department of environmental management and the
department may conduct research under this section:
(1) independently; or
(2) in cooperation with agencies of the state or of the United
States.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-8-2
Duties of department
Sec. 2. (a) The department shall do the following:
(1) Continue the geological, scientific, and topographical survey
of Indiana and the work of discovering, developing, and
preserving Indiana's natural resources.
(2) Collect and disseminate information concerning the
agricultural, mining, and manufacturing advantages of Indiana
and give special attention to the following:
(A) The discovery of minerals, stone, clay, or other natural
substances useful in agriculture, road making, manufacture,
or the mechanical arts.
(B) The prevention of waste of minerals and mineral
products and coal.
(b) The commission:
(1) has charge of; and
(2) shall, as practicable, periodically add specimens to;
the state geological cabinet, museums, apparatus, and library.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.
IC 14-25-8-3
Topographical survey map
Sec. 3. (a) The department may contract and cooperate with the
United States Geological Survey or any other appropriate federal
agency in the preparation and completion of a topographical survey
map of Indiana. For the purpose of making the survey provided in
this section:
(1) the department may use any means available to complete the
work, including base control and aerial photography; and
(2) the persons employed in making the survey may enter upon
any property within Indiana if the entry does not unreasonably
interfere with private rights.
(b) There is appropriated out of any money in the state general
fund not otherwise appropriated fifty thousand dollars ($50,000)
annually to be expended in carrying on the work provided for in this
section. However, the department may not expend more annually for
the work than the United States government expends in carrying on
the cooperative project with regard to Indiana. The money
appropriated is available to reimburse the United States Geological
Survey for Indiana's share of the costs of the topographic mapping,
upon the presentation of certified bills for the expenses that are
initially incurred by the United States Geological Survey or other
cooperative agency.
(c) Money accruing to the use of the department under this section
constitutes a revolving fund for the sole use of topographic mapping
of Indiana. Money in the fund does not revert to the state general
fund at the close of a state fiscal year until:
(1) the topographic mapping of Indiana has been completed;
and
(2) obsolete or inadequate maps have been revised or remapped.
At the conclusion of the work the unexpended money in the fund
reverts to the state general fund.
As added by P.L.1-1995, SEC.18.