President Obama renominated Dr. Suzette Kimball as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on February 26, following the lapse of her nomination at the beginning of the 114th Congress in January.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) released a report on February 17 that examines trends in the spatial distribution, treatment fluids, additives, proppants, and water volumes for nearly 1 million hydraulically fractured wells and 1.8 million fracturing treatments during the period 1947 through 2010.

On January 12, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) named Dr. Steve Hickman as the new director of the Earthquake Science Center.

On December 16, NASA and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists released separate studies reporting significant declines in groundwater in the Western U.S.

The Senate Committee on Appropriations released a committee report to accompany their Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations bill on August 1. Committee reports allow legislators to make their views on funding levels public at a time when the Senate appropriations process has come to a halt, and it is unclear whether specific appropriations bills will be voted on in committee and on the Senate floor.

A subcommittee of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee met on July 29 to review the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP). Committee members and witnesses agreed that reauthorization for NEHRP, which expired in 2009, is critical.

President Obama announced the launch of the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) on July 16. The 3D Elevation Program, a partnership program led by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), aims to map the lower 48 states, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories with a laser technology called lidar (light detection and ranging) in an eight-year period.

The House Appropriations Committee passed the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year (FY) 2015 on July 15. The $30.2 billion bill would fund the Department of the Interior and appropriates $1.035 billion for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies held a markup on July 9 on the fiscal year (FY) 2015 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill.