Landslides: Federal Role in Research, Assessment, and Response (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Revised Oct. 25, 2024 |
| Report Number |
R47588 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Linda R. Rowan |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
| Older Revisions |
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Summary:
Landslide hazards may occur across the United States and its territories, and landslide
risks may be increasing. A landslide is a movement of a mass of rock, debris, or soil
down a slope. Mountainous, hilly, or cliff terrains (e.g., vertical shorelines, roadcuts,
surface mining walls) are most susceptible to landslides. Landslides are most often
triggered by rainfall, particularly rainfall on burned, steeply sloped terrain (e.g., a postwildfire debris flow). Earthquakes or volcanic activity that cause ground motion also can
trigger a landslide. Landslides may harm people and damage property; in addition, they may block roads,
waterways, and water drainage systems, leading to further damage and economic losses. Landslide risks may
increase in the near future due to increased development in hazardous regions and the potential for more frequent
weather-related hazards (e.g., intense rainstorms, hurricanes, wildfires) that may trigger landslides.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS’s) Landslide Hazards Program (LHP) is the only federal program dedicated
to landslide hazard science and applications. Other federal agencies involved in landslide science and applications
as components of larger programs include the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), federal land management agencies, U.S. Department of Transportation,
and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The National Landslide Preparedness Act (NLPA, P.L. 116-323, 43 U.S.C. §§3101 et seq.) directed the Secretary
of the Interior, acting through the Director of the USGS, to establish a National Landslide Hazards Reduction
Program (NLHRP). NLHRP activities include identifying, mapping, assessing, and researching landslide hazards;
responding to landslide events; and coordinating with state, local, territorial, and tribal entities to reduce landslide
risks. In particular, the act required development of a national strategy for landslide risk reduction that includes
goals and priorities for the NLHRP and an interagency plan that details programs, projects, and budgets to
implement the national strategy.
The USGS completed the National Strategy for Landslide Loss Reduction, and submitted the national strategy to
Congress in January 2022. As of June 2023, much of the national strategy has not been implemented, and the
USGS has not completed the interagency plan detailing projects and budgets. Congress may consider whether to
engage in oversight of the national strategy and the implementation of NLHRP activities, goals, and priorities. In
FY2021-FY2024, Congress appropriated less than the amounts authorized for the USGS, NSF, and NOAA to
implement the NLHRP; appropriations were authorized through FY2024 and expired on September 30, 2024.
Congress may consider whether appropriations levels have been sufficient for the agencies to coordinate and
implement the NLHRP. Additionally, Congress may consider whether to reauthorize appropriations for the
NLHRP beyond FY2024.
