United States Geological Survey

United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Seal of the United States Geological Survey
Official identifier of the U.S. Geological Survey
Flag of the United States Geological Survey
Agency overview
Formed	March 3, 1879; 145 years ago (1879-03-03) (as Geological Survey)
Jurisdiction	United States
Headquarters	John W. Powell National Center Reston, Virginia, U.S. 38°56′49″N 77°22′03″W / 38.9470°N 77.3675°W / 38.9470; -77.3675
Employees	8,670 (2009)
Annual budget	$1.16 billion (FY2019) [1]
Agency executive	Dave Applegate[2], Acting Director
Parent agency	United States Department of the Interior
Website	USGS.gov

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. The agency is a part of the United States Department of the Interior.

The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines: biology, geography, geology, and hydrology. The USGS is a fact-finding research organization. It has no power to regulate.

The USGS science focus is on seven "Mission Areas", (1) Climate and land use change, (2) Core science systems, (3) Ecosystems, (4) Energy and minerals, (5) Environmental health, (6) Natural hazards, and (7) Water.^[3][4]

Administratively, it is divided into a Headquarters unit and six Regional Units.^[5] Other specific programs include:

1. ↑ H.J.Res. 31
2. ↑ "Dave Applegate, Ph.D." U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
3. ↑ "Start with science". United States Geological Survey. Retrieved October 3, 2012.
4. ↑ Energy and Minerals Archived 2019-04-01 at the Wayback Machine and Environmental Health Archived 2018-02-18 at the Wayback Machine
5. ↑ "Map of geographic areas". Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.