ONLY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN STATE GEOLOGISTS

Transcription

1 CCOO NNFFI II DDEE NNTTI II AALL ONLY FOR MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN STATE GEOLOGISTS AASG Fall 2000 Liaison Committee Report Meetings on September 2000 Report updated 6 November, 2000 Table of Contents Highlights... 2 Agencies and Organizations Visited: American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO)...10 American Geological Institute (AGI)...11 American Geophysical Union (AGU)...11 Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)...12 Bureau of Land Management (BLM)...13 Department of Energy (DOE) - Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management...14 Department of Energy (DOE) - Office of Fossil Energy...14 Department of Energy (DOE) - Geothermal Program Office...15 Department of Interior (DOI) - Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management...16 Department of Interior (DOI) - Assistant Secretary, Policy, Management and Budget...16 Environmental Council of the States (ECOS)...17 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Office of Research and Development (ORD)...18 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Office of Water...20 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)...20 Congressional Science Fellows and Former Fellows...21 Former Congressional Fellow David Hunter, Office of Senator Susan Collins (Maine)...24 GSA Science and Policy Representative in D.C...24 House of Representatives Committee Staff...25 Appropriations Committee - Interior Appropriations Subcommittee - Majority Staff...25 Appropriations Committee - Interior Appropriations Subcommittee - Minority Staff...25 Resources Committee - Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources - Majority Staff...26 House Committee on Resources Minority Staff...27 Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS)...27 Minerals Management Service (MMS)...28 National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)...29 National Association of State Universities and Land Grant Colleges (NASULGC)...31 National Governors' Association (NGA)...32 National Mining Association (NMA)...33 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)...35 National Research Council (NRC)...36 National Science Foundation (NSF)...37 National Stone Association (NSA)...38 Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)...39 Office of Management and Budget (OMB)...40 Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP)...41 Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM)...42 Senate Committee Staff...43 Appropriations Committee - Interior Appropriations Subcommittee - Majority Staff...43 Forests & Public Land Management Subcommittee Majority...43 Energy and Natural Resources Committee - Minority Staff...44 U.S. Forest Service...46 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) - General Session...47 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) BreakOut Session A Groundwater & Mapping...49 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) BreakOut Session B Energy Discussion...51 Contact information for groups with whom we have met recently but did not see in September

2 Please note: This report is being sent electronically to all AASG members to the address listed on the internal AASG website maintained by the Kansas Geological Survey. A paper copy will be sent to you upon request to Vicki Cowart by telephone ( ) or (vicki.cowart@state.co.us). Updates and corrections should also be sent to Vicki. Please keep this report confidential within the membership of AASG. Thank you. Highlights The week got off to a great start when Marcus Milling (AGI), in a spur of the moment bout of extreme generosity, hosted the bar for dinner on Sunday evening. Be sure to thank Marcus when you see him for the wine at dinner or buy him a drink! Our luck continued as we made the rounds of agencies and congressional offices. At the beginning of the week we heard that the highly regarded STATEMAP program, part of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping (NCGM) Program, wrapped up in something called CFIP (Community/Federal Information Partnership), and buried in something called Land s Legacy, was in a budget battle to the death with something called CARA (Conservation and Reinvestment Act). Many of us spent the week diligently trying to untangle the alphabet soup to determine who supported which and what would happen if CARA prevailed. Throughout the notes you will read different verses of the CARA vs. Land s Legacy saga. The fight between those two major programs was carried on at a level far above the decimal dust funding levels of the NCGMP (and our heads) and the battle raged on after the AASG troops left town. But as you know by now, our efforts were fruitful and the budget results were very good for NCGMP. Besides the $1 million increase in the regular USGS budget line item of NCGMP (known as Title I), another $5 million was directed to NCGMP through something called Title VIII (Land Conservation, Preservation & Infrastructure.) This additional $5 million is a one-time appropriation that can be spent any time within the next 6 years. The total increase to the NCGMP for the current FFY01 is $6.457 and 48% of that is earmarked for an increase in the STATEMAP grants pool. In the coming months, our efforts will turn to convincing Congress of the wisdom of this new increased investment in STATEMAP and ensuring that the increase is not a one-time only event. The AASG Executive Committee is proposing a communication campaign to Congress that will include a letter from AASG along with a Fact Sheet for each state. Each member of Congress will receive the message emphasizing the value and success of the program in their own state and thanking them for past support. AASG will prepare a colorful Fact Sheet for each state, which will include a map that shows where STATEMAP has operated. The cover letter will be from AASG President Jon Price. The USGS has agreed to fund the production of the Fact Sheets. Each State Geologist will be encouraged to participate as little or as much as they want to, including sending their own letter. All members of AASG will receive copies of the fact sheet, including a digital copy, for their own use and distribution. We hope that states will actively participate in this campaign to help grow the STATEMAP program to its authorization levels. Note: Emery Cleaves gets the award for best listening and Joel Kaplan gets the award for best forecasting. Emery recalled that Kaplan observed the House included some items the Senate did not in the bill, and visa versa, and the compromise might be to accept each other s in other words - additions! This is indeed what happened as the $500k from the House was added to the same $500k from the Senate and NCGMP got a new $1 million in the Title I of the bill. 2

3 3 AASG Fall 2000 Liaison report - CONFIDENTIAL On that celebratory note, here are the rest of the highlights of our three days and 42 meetings, including some late-breaking budget news from the waning days of this 106 th congressional session: AASG MOUs signed, started and discussed: OSM: A signing ceremony for the AASG-OSM MOU was held. Jim Cobb (KY) did most of the work on this one. NASA: The AASG-NASA MOU had not yet passed through internal review at NASA, but a committee to consider it was formed; the review process should begin about October 1. NASA has identified four people as the probable working group to work with AASG to determine the specifics of various data and service exchanges between State surveys and NASA. Likely NASA reps: Herold Long (JLP), Tim Gubbels, and 2 others as yet unnamed. Milt Wilts (AK) is the AASG point person. USGS: The MOU is wending its way through DOI and should be ready for signing in Reno at the Midyear meeting. AASG President Jon Price (NV) has taken the lead on this effort. We discussed an MOU with BLM and examples of collaboration on public education and site interpretations. Reasons for an MOU include the desire to meet regularly and to exchange information. NRCS is very interested in pursuing MOU with AASG. Mark Kuzila (NB) has agreed to serve as AASG point person. FFY002 At the time of our visit, no one in DC had begun the 2002 budget in earnest, since the new President will transmit the FFY02 Budget in February. The current budgeteers in the departments will put together new FY2002 budgets based on issues raised in campaign rhetoric of winning candidate. DOI s Lamb suggested getting programs of concern mentioned by candidates. DOI talked about developing a current services estimate with no new initiatives until new administration is in place. USGS being encouraged to think big for FY 2002, because it has not faired well in the past. Changes in OMB We heard concerns from several quarters about changes observed in an increased role of OMB in department budgets and more active involvement of interest groups with OMB. (Our experience of increasing contact with OMB is evidently not unique.) House Appropriations Committee - Interior Appropriations Subcommittee - Minority Staffer Stephens said he disliked the trend of OMB micromanaging small budgetary items. New topics and opportunities: Fire money and geology: A $1.6 billion fire bill for the USFS & BLM was imminent during our meetings. It includes fire rehabilitation funding that includes erosion issues/landslides/debris flows. Program is for 5 years, focused mainly in west and southwest and will be administered by the regions. Some of those dollars will also go to NPS, etc. Both agencies and the USGS showed interest in the need for geology and geologic maps in the fire discussion related to evaluating burned areas where landslides or erosion might be a problem. The Congressional Hazard s Caucus is up and running. There will be a white paper developed about what their function is. Information is available on the web at: or Applegate (AGI) and Folger (AGU) help coordinate this effort. AGU has started an newsletter to bring climate change science to congressional staffers who need an objective and succinct review of peer-reviewed science. This is a collaborative effort of several organizations. Global Client Change is current topic. AGU will send the e-newsletter to AASG members.

4 4 AASG Fall 2000 Liaison report - CONFIDENTIAL Brief overview of agency topics (see primary reports for details): AASHTO would like to receive copies of state survey newsletters and suggest also sending to your state s DOT if you don t send one already. AASG might provide an article about the geologic mapping program for distribution to the AASHTO membership in the committee newsletters. Tom Berg cited good experience in Ohio, where the ODOT has supported geologic mapping. The article could cite such examples of successful collaborations. DOE s Yucca Mountain plans call for site approval by 2001, construction authorization by 2005, and waste emplacement by Geologic studies are ongoing for fractures, groundwater, etc. Site suitability report is due to Director next year, then possibly a recommendation to the President. New DOE Motto: Geothermal energy heat and power for 21 st century. These guys are going to Geopower the West. Drill for hot rock if there s no hot rock, then erect MW windmills that have individual airfoils as long as a football field. Gonna get those costs down! Going overseas to lean how it s done and bring the technology back. ECOS has a new contract lobbyist whose goal is to ensure that States and Feds jointly make environmental policy and responsibilities are divided according to who can do it best. (If he s successful at achieving such a noble goal, we should hire him.) The EPA-Water representatives characterized their relationship with USGS as good on source water protection and groundwater flow programs. EPA has an Interagency Personnel Agreement (IPA) for a USGS staff member that acts as liaison and works in EPA s office. Despite "good interaction on groundwater", neither EPA-Water rep recognized Bill Alley's name. EPA sees growing interest in recharge and reuse issues, but they seemed to have little awareness whatsoever of the role of the geological framework in terms of source water protection, recharge, or how groundwater assessment fits in with watershed analysis. FEMA provided an overview of HAZUS and made available a preprint posted on their website and e-distributed to AASG members the week after our meeting. They released the earthquake loss estimation in conjunction with WSSPC earthquake conference the week after Liaison in Seattle. NASA told us that FFY99 was good year for Earth Sciences at NASA due to: Landsat 7 is now operating, priced very low and is actively distributed by EROS data center. There are about 50 different earth-science products, including land, ocean, and atmosphere that can be ordered over web from EROS data center. Updates 4 times/year. There is no copyright on Landsat 7 so groups can pool these data and can trade with other folks. ASTER: High resolution stereoscopic and raster Terra satellite that produces 30 m DEM (among other things); processing can provide 15 m. (30m resolution in short wave and 60m in thermal.) This was designed from the start to do geology rare among satellites. State can request ASTER data sets from NASA web site. If request is approved, the data is free to the Sates. MODIS provides lower resolution topographic data (250m and 500m bands). It covers every point on Earth every 48 hours. Data are free on web. See the full notes for a discussion of future earth-science missions at various levels of planning. NGA stated that geologists are needed to understand water and aquifers. They indicated their need for input especially on upcoming oil and gas issues. At NMA, Jack Girard recently joined as the new President. General Lawson will be at NMA until mid- December, at which time he will retire. Girard is from the DC lobbying firm McClure, Girard & Neuenschwander. The NOAA representatives had many requests and suggestions for AASG. We should proceed carefully to work through our collective AASG priorities. They did follow up with names and contact information, shown in the main section of NOAA notes. Specifically, AASG was encouraged to get their message about stream gauging directly and personally to the Secretary of Commerce.

5 NRC is reorganizing and Bob Hamilton gave the overview of the changes to be effective January 1, They are described in the report NRC in the 21 st Century. Basically, the boards will be grouped into 6 Division, down from 11 Commissions. Division D will include chemical, earth and life sciences and contain about 14 Boards, including BESR. Boards won t change dramatically. Division Chairs (D will be Peter Ravern MO Botanical Garden and chair of the committee that helped Babbitt establish the Biological Survey) will have new, increased approval limits, delegation of authority. Hamilton stated that they expect funding increases for both program and staff development. NSF budget results contained bad news and good news. NSF's budget will rise by $529 million, or 13.6% compared to last year, an amount NSF Director Rita Colwell said, "represents the largest dollar increase the Foundation has ever received, in real or constant dollars." However, Congress failed to fund EarthScope (US Array and the San Andreas Fault Observatory). During our visit we heard good descriptions of the three phases of EarthScope (see the NSF and NASA reports) and heard optimism about its chances. But we were told at our OMB meeting that EarthScope was not in House bill, and that it probably wouldn t receive funding in the Senate mark-up because another group (National Center for Atmospheric Research) had hired a lobbyist to push for another program for the Major Research Equipment (MRE). In the end, NCAR got $12.5 million for the High-Performance Instrumental Airborne Platform for Environmental Research (HIAPER), a high-altitude aircraft, and EarthScope got passed over. (Several groups OMB, AGU expressed strong concern over this new way of directly lobbying Congress for NSF-MRE money.) EarthScope is anticipated to reappear in next year's budget request, and Congress made it clear that the lack of funding "does not reflect on the quality of the research proposed to be developed. National Stone Association has just merged with the National Aggregates Association. They have not yet come up with a new name for the organization, but may use rock in new name. When asked if they felt a need for a national assessment of aggregate; they replied, yes. When asked if they felt satisfied with USGS efforts to estimate resources, they said It s the only game in town. Will they help promote such at USGS? NSA officials did not see it as their job to pursue this issue with USGS, and suggested that it is our job. AASG members pressed the point that NSA should support and pursue AASG efforts to have USGS look into aggregate assessments and other applied studies. NRCS talked more about rehabilitation of older dams: Of some 78,000 dams in US, 28,000 are small, NCRS-sponsored dams which have been turned over to the local corporations. Most are nearing end of their 50-year life design and are a safety concern. Many have filled with sediment as they were designated to do. Many are now in urban areas and are a safety concern. OMB Examiners told us that AASG is using the right approach in promoting NCGMP. They now have a Landslide Initiative report from the USGS to mark up. OMB asked if it should be in the STATEMAP program and were told no. They also spoke of NASA s Earth Science program as being without much vision and floundering, which leaves it vulnerable to domination by earmarks. At OSM and at the meeting with Secretary Baca, which Kathy Karpan (former OSM Director) attended, we heard much about the OSM-USGS research relationship. The OSM research budget was confiscated by Bruce Babbitt and sent to USGS with the biological group. That was about $2 M and USGS was supposed to conduct research on behalf of OSM as requested by OSM. Apparently USGS forgot the rules because OSM cannot get anything out of USGS and is not clever enough to force them to do anything. There was also a brief discussion on geologic maps and OSM indicated use for these maps for water-quality monitoring work, characterizing aquifers and understanding the relationship between ground water and surface water. 5

6 Our USGS session was different this year as we had a combined general session, with Chip giving the USGS overview and Paul Beauchemin sharing his budget insights. We also heard from Elliott Spiker about the national landslide mitigation strategy. Then we broke into two sessions on Groundwater & Mapping and Energy. FY2001 Appropriation Process (reported by Paul Beauchemin) At the time of the meeting, only two Appropriation bills passed and signed by President and six bills had passed by both House and Senate. Since then, although Congress has announced they will return for a lame duck session after the election, the DOI bill did pass both chambers and was signed by President Clinton in very early October. Interior Budget Bill: President s Bill House Senate Final DOI $16.3 billion USGS $895.4 million $884.7 million Paul shared his view of the FY2002 Budget process, which as a transition-year, will be tricky. A probable scenario would be the enacted 2001 budget plus an inflator. However DOI has authorized USGS to prepare "back pocket" budget initiatives for the new administration to use if it wants to. The USGS will prepare initiatives for most of the items listed below. These will include increases for NCGMP, stream gauges, seismic monitoring, DOI "structured science", and improved information systems. Funding to support the establishment of a science center in Alaska will also be sought. Officially it will be the same as FY Inflation. Regarding initiatives for 2002, Paul jokingly said that they were trying to predict what either Gore or Bush will want and have a package ready. This package will include: Mapping, of various types, including geologic mapping ANSS - expand to include all basic stuff Information - Build long-term databases including biology and traditional databases of stream gauging & earthquakes, Coastal initiative; marine sanctuaries Water supply major rivers - Missouri system Groundwater DOI science - support other DOI agencies Gateway to the Earth GIS, easy to access and find - Information Management, both Internal and External Great Basin Initiative Energy & Minerals (both hip pocket) Elliott Spiker s landslide report mandated by Congress was finished while we were in DC, given to OMB and delivered to Congress on September 15. A budget of $20 M will be proposed for implementation steps in 2002, and it includes: State Co-op Mapping/Assessment Program ($8 million); Co-op program w/ federal land management; and National Grants Program ($2 million in grants to States, Territories, Universities). It will be broad, including not just landslides, but also karst and earth failure or Ground Failure of all types Bill Alley and John Pallister discussed a groundwater initiative as described in the document "Groundwater Resources at Risk - Assuring a Sustainable Future". This "multi-divisional" initiative seeks to address groundwater issues that impact nearly half of the US population that relies on groundwater. The initiative seeks new funds for the NCGMP and for groundwater programs. USGS was warned to not earmark or wall off any STATEMAP funds. The general impression of participants in the USGS sessions was that the detailed information from Chip and Paul were helpful, the Breakout Session on the Groundwater & Mapping Initiative was useful, but the Energy Session was disappointing and not very fruitful. 6

7 Geologists in DC At least three geoscience groups support Congressional Science Fellows each year: AGU, AGI and GSA. Several of these individuals have stayed and now have permanent staff jobs in Washington, D.C. which means that the geosciences are starting to have a small but important long-term presence on Congressional staffs. We met several of these folks, either informally or in their offices. Dave Verardo was GSA Congressional Science Fellow in He is nearing the end of a consulting job with GSA to provide a GSA presence in Washington and assist the GSA Congressional Fellow. He represents GSA at meetings (USGS, NRC, etc.) and was hired on a limited basis by GSA to spread the word on what a geologist does and to glean what he can in terms of information for GSA. His advice to us was AASG should give each new Congressional Fellow a dozen copies of the AASG Fact Book to provide useful contacts. Predictions and Advice from Congressional staff: Michael Stephens (House) predicted a very chaotic time after elections, especially if one house switches majority or if there is a close split in either House or Senate. He predicted lots of jockeying, special elections, party switching, etc. His suggested AASG continue to meet with OMB to obtain DOI support for USGS items in the President s Budget. He also indicated that he would like to meet with AASG at another time to discuss programs, for a relaxed visit after budget is over and before next budget starts. (We are setting up lunch with him while AASG members of NCGMP Peer Review panel are in town.) Stephens also told us about a likely survivor in the DOI budget office, regardless of the election outcome. John Trezise, Budget Director at DOI now reporting to Bob Lamb, is the long-time DOI Budget Director that Stephens works with on budget. Evidently Trezise has been in DOI through several administrations. Bill Condit (House) suggested that for any input AASG might want to have on new federal appointments, we should deal with transition teams after November 7 th Ginny James (Senate) confirmed that at least the $0.5 million NCGMP new money was secure. The NCGMP, she felt, was best supported directly through support for USGS rather than stumping for CFIP or CARA package labels. However, she provided background on CARA vs. Lands Legacy discussion. She advised AASG to link closely with USGS programs and emphasize what will get done now. Mike Menge (Senate) predicted that Next congress will be the energy congress and Murkowski wants to forge ahead with energy policy. This led to a very exciting conversation about a possible energy initiative from AASG. AASG emphasized the need for energy research (including mapping) to support independent producers who are increasingly responsible for a larger percentage of the oil and gas production in US. Group discussed strategies for AASG proposal for budgeted support for energy activities. Peter Scholle agreed to take up the effort. Bob Simon (Senate) agreed that AASG proposal for support for energy activities might be a good idea. Groups we didn t see: The only agencies that we routinely visit but missed in September were National Park Service (Lindsay McClelland) and the Army Corps of Engineers (Mike Klosterman). Both of these individuals were out if DC all week at meetings of their own. Finally, the contender for the best new jargon term heard during these visits was: Geoinformatics This is a huge new program being developed at NSF to curate the whole spectrum of geological information from geophysics (including EarthScope data) to paleontology. We learned of a workshop held in Houston in late September to plan this program. It was intended to include only academia and NSF and be implemented by same. State geological surveys were not invited. 7

8 However, our colleagues from Texas and Kansas went anyhow, so AASG s interests were well represented. 8

9 Participation: The success Liaison Committee meetings are made possible by the commitment and participation of many AASG members. The following 24 individuals represented 21 states during the Fall 2000 AASG Liaison meeting: MEMBERS OF THE AASG LIAISON COMMITTEE: President Jon Price, NV; President-Elect Vicki Cowart, CO; Vice President Emery Cleaves, MD; Secretary Lee Allison, KS; Treasurer John Steinmetz, IN; Past-President Jamie Robertson, WI; Honorary Member Rep. Don Haney, KY (retired); Ed Deal, MT; OTHER AASG MEMBERS: Earl Bennett, ID; Bob Jordan, DE; Charlie Mankin, OK; Jim Cobb, KY; AASG Associates: Donald McKay, IL Tom Berg, OH; Bob Marvinney, ME; Don Oltz, AL; Peter Scholle, NM; Bill Shilts, IL; Dave Southwick, MN; Scott Tinker, TX; Milt Wiltse, AK Don Hoskins, PA; Larry Woodfork, WV; David Wunsch, NH John May, WV Future Liaison Committee meetings: All AASG members are invited and encouraged to attend the Liaison Committee Meetings. The dates of the next three meetings are shown here along with the name of the Liaison Committee Chair. If you are not on the Liaison Committee, but are interested in attending one of the meetings, please contact the chair. Liaison Committee Date Chair Spring 2001 March 18-21, Cowart Fall 2001 September 16 19, 2001 Emery Cleaves Spring 2002 March 17 20, 2002 Emery Cleaves Respectfully Submitted by Vicki Cowart, Chair of the AASG Liaison Committee, November 3,

10 American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 249 (Hall of States), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) AASG: Bob Marvinney, Don Oltz, Tom Berg, Don McKay Met: Jim McDonnell (202) Associate Program Director for Engineering Debbie Buchacz (202) Assistant Program Director, Policy and Planning Didn t see this time: John Horsley, Executive Director (202) jhorsley@aashto.org Marvinney explained AASG and state surveys; gave summary of NCGMP; commented on utility and value of basic geologic mapping for DOTs. McDonnell gave some reflections on how much he thought the DOTs interacted with the state surveys and emphasized need for geology in GIS formats. He gave a general briefing on AASHTO and passed out a booklet explaining the organization. The association represents the state DOTs to foster development of all transportation modes air, highways, public transportation, rail, and water. McDonnell gave a summary of AASHTO s long involvement in setting national standards for materials and testing. A major task of AASHTO is the establishment and maintenance of standards for construction. The committees, subcommittees, and members do this work. The association coordinates, facilitates, and publishes the standards. AASHTO has various committees and subcommittees that have regular meetings all over the country. These meetings would be good opportunities for AASG presentations and setting up the AASG booth. AASHTO has regional meetings with trade fairs and exhibits. AASG might consider booths at those events. Buchacz commented on the GIS for Transportation (GIST) Committee that sponsors an annual meeting of the same name with the Federal Highway Administration. Much digital geological data should be and is used by the state DOTs so this might be a good opportunity for AASG to tell its story. This meeting is held in different states each year. In response to questions by Berg, (1) AASHTO has not yet become involved with land-use issues, zoning, and exclusion of new quarries for aggregate and (2) AASHTO sees highwayconstruction and pavement warranties as a hot topic. AASHTO is aware of CUSEC and had recently participated in a CUSEC meeting in KY. Budgets T21 Budget for 01 and 02 provides more money than ever before. Can t spend it fast enough. State DOTs have more money now than they ever have had. A typical state survey mapping budget might be referred to as decimal dust in DOT circles. Follow-up and Action Items: AASG should look into participation in AASHTO s annual meeting. The next one will be in Indianapolis in December and will attract about 1500 people. State survey newsletters should go to AASHTO (and certainly your state s DOT if you don t send one already). Buchacz requested that state geologists put her on their mailing lists for survey newsletters. AASG might provide an article about the geologic mapping program for distribution to the AASG membership in the committee newsletters. Tom Berg cited good experience in Ohio, where the 10

11 ODOT has supported geologic mapping. The article could cite such examples of successful collaborations. AASHTO agreed to communicate with AASG on bills that may be of mutual interest. American Geological Institute (AGI) 4220 King Street, Alexandria, VA Phone: (703) Fax: (703) AASG: All Liaison attendees invited Met: David Applegate (703) X228 Government Affairs Director and Editor, Geotimes Marcus Milling, Executive Director (703) X202 John Dragonetti, Senior Advisor (703) X244 Milling discussed the AGI Middle School and High School Earth Science education program and requested a broad written AASG endorsement statement supporting the program. Marcus, in a spur of the moment bout of extreme generosity, hosted the bar for dinner Budgets Applegate discussed current political scene and emphasized that this was a good time to put in final words of support for programs during appropriations hearings and House-Senate conference sessions. He pointed out that there is not much point in lobbying for future programs at the moment since so much can and will change with the elections. Follow-up and Action Items: Thank Marcus when you see him for the wine at dinner. American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2000 Florida Avenue, NW, Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) AASG: Vicki Cowart, Scott Tinker, Jamie Robertson, Don Oltz Met: Harry Leifert, Public Information Manager (202) hleifert@agu.org Peter F. Folger, Public Affairs Manager (202) pfolger@agu.org John Dickey, Director, Education & Research (202) jdickey@agu.org Fred Spilhaus, Executive Director (202) fspilhaus@agu.org AGU is vigorously pursuing electronic publishing, has seen a drop of 5-8% in subscription and growth of 14% in annual meeting. Potential Cooperation or new topics Education: Insert earth science examples in chemistry/physics/social science texts. Congressional Hazard s Caucus is up and running. Working on a white paper on what their function is. Information is available on the web at: or 11

12 AGU is setting up a system to deal with behavior in science and venturing into Ethics in Science. Focus is on conflicts on Boards, bringing expertise to courts and broad range of topics. Some work being done with AAAS. AGU has started an newsletter to bring climate change science to congressional staffers who need an objective and succinct review of peer-reviewed science. This is a collaborative effort of several organizations. Global Client Change is current topic. AGU is interested in sharing information with AASG members. Budgets VA-HUD bill may be the one to break the cap. Kay Mark is the VA-HUD Committee clerk. EarthScope: taken out of House bill (w/o prejudice). An earmark for a specific large equipment costs item (NCAR airplane) took a lot of money. AGU has observed an increased role of OMB in department budgets and more active involvement of interest groups with OMB. AGU has no official connection with IRIS. Follow-up and Action Items Provide AASG addresses to Pete Folger so he can distribute the newsletter to AASG. Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) 1849 C Street, NW, Room 4513 (Main Interior Building), MS-4542-MIB, Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) AASG: Peter Scholle, Scott Tinker, Ed Deal Met: Terrance (Terry) Virden Director, (202) TerryVirden@bia.gov Office of Trust Responsibilities Horace Pipe (202) Geologist (? New to DC office, from Ft. Peck Reservation, U of Montana Graduate) Most work is done in regional offices. Initiatives all have to come through the individual Tribes in any case and BIA plays a very passive role in encouraging such connections. Resource Assessment Office is now in Denver but moving to D.C. Mineral assessment has a fund of $1.2 million/yr. and includes energy and minerals. Projects funded last year to individual tribes were for: Oil and Gas All minerals: Uranium, Cu, and gypsum Aggregate, SS, gravel Opportunities for GIS collaboration would be through Geographic Data Service Center in Denver. Budgets BIA had $8 million for water quality/water resources studies. Most work is done in regional offices Data must remain proprietary in case of water rights, so BIA has moved away from USGS Engineering firms are acting as cartel and charging whatever they want Tribes might also be nervous working with states because of perceived conflict of interest Follow-up and Action Items: Terry requested 200 copies of AASG pamphlets to send to all resource tribes. AASG group suggests we visit BIA only once a year or less, especially since we had a fairly similar reception the last time around. 12

13 Bureau of Land Management (BLM) 1849 C Street, Room 5627 (Main Interior Building), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) (Also see Department of Interior (DOI) - Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management) AASG: Ed Deal, Milt Wiltse, Jon Price Met: Mike Schwartz (202) Michael_Schwartz@blm.gov Fax: (202) Group Manager, Regulatory Affairs Tony Ferguson, Deputy Manager, Solids (202) Tony_Ferguson@blm.gov Didn t see this time: Carson (Pete) Culp (202) Pete_Culp@IOS.DOI.GOV Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty & Resource Protection BLM is engaged in an analysis of which federal land is available for gas exploration and production. This includes compiling which lands are specifically closed to gas exploration and production as well as those that are under de facto closure. This is being done in the Green River, San Juan, and Piceance Basins (related to roadless areas studies). BLM manages gas leases on Forest Service lands, if the Forest Service agrees to lease those lands. The Powder River Basin (Coal Bed Methane) EIS is in progress. The Tongue River EIS in Montana will be expanded. expand EA done by Miles City office joint EIS for CBM - money for NEPA 3809 Not much new on revision to the Mining Law. The EIS is essentially done. Now the questions are: when will administration and legislation sides decide to release and what will they do? Rider - moved from Ag bill to Interior - will require rewrite of regulatory tests if passed Technical agreement pretty good between Feds and State but political agreement breaks down Bulk sampling - notice level or plan of operations? What constitutes bulk sampling? 10,000 tons/mo. is lots of rock Geologic maps and fires - Fire money is coming - states will spend the dollars. BLM showed some interest in the need for geologic mapping in burned areas where landslides or erosion might be a problem. Discussed MOU with BLM and examples of collaboration on public education, site interpretations gave examples of other agencies: OSM (signed) USGS (sign in Nov) NASA - soon meet regularly; exchange information requested that this be passed to Pete Culp US ARRAY - Jon explained the coming impact of EarthScope seismic project. NSF will need permits to set out geophone arrays. BLM had not heard of it. Budgets $19 m request for maintenance on existing lands. Follow-up and Action Items: Jon asked for any white paper they might have regarding BLM management needs. AASG supports BLM planning process and requested a briefing paper on BLM planning needs re resource assessments or other issues where AASG could help. (e.g., cumulative impact analysis, regional impact assessments, coalbed methane, etc.) Further discussion needed on MOU 13

14 Department of Energy (DOE) - Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 5A-104 (Forrestal Building), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) AASG: Jon Price, Bob Marvinney, Milt Wiltse, Ed Deal, Scott Tinker Met: Ivan Itkin (202) IAN.ITKIN@rw.doe.gov Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management Russ Dyer (702) russel_dyer@ymp.gov Project Manager Yucca Mountain Site Sandra Waisley (202) Sandra.Waisley@rw.doe.gov Yucca Mountain was main topic of discussion. Ivan handed out color presentation. Nuclear is 20% of current energy in US. Demand for electricity is increasing in US and also in 3 rd world countries. Eventually nuclear power will become a necessity, but no estimates on when. Nuclear is still cheap many plants can extend their operational lives with almost no capital costs. There are 77 sites in 34 states where high-level radioactive material is either generated or stored. There is a general consensus that geological disposal is necessary. Yucca Mountain has been selected for focused study (no apparent alternatives). Yucca is in Nye County, NV, far from population, has a deep water table, and 1 MY stability. Plans call for site approval by 2001, construction authorization by 2005, and waste emplacement by Geologic studies are ongoing for fractures, groundwater, etc. Site suitability report to Director next year, then possibly a recommendation to the President. Trying to build a flexible system that future generations could reclaim, seal, maintain, etc. Air ventilation should keep site < 80 o C. Max temp allowable is 350 o C to keep container cladding intact. 40,000 metric tons of waste exist today. If all active facilities get 50-year life extensions, will result in 130,000 metric tons. Yucca has been approved to hold 70,000 metric tons, but could hold much more. Waste will be transported in 20-yr containers, and disposed in 10,000-year containers. There will be a GSA field trip to the site this fall. Budgets Yucca Mountain 2001 requested budget is $450 million. Total project budget is $45-50 billion for a 100-year cycle. Follow-up and Action Items: Continue to monitor. It will be interesting to see if a change in administration has any effect on this process. Some decisions seem likely this year. Department of Energy (DOE) - Office of Fossil Energy 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 4G-084 (Forrestal Building), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) AASG: Ed Deal, Scott Tinker, Milt Wiltse, Charlie Mankin Met: Emil Pena (202) Fax (202) Deputy Assistant Secretary for Natural Gas & Petroleum Technology 14

15 Guido DeHoratis, Jr. (202) Assoc. Deputy Assistant Secretary for National Gas and Petroleum Edith Allison, Program Manager (202) Don Juckett, Import and Export Office (202) Bob Gee is gone. Bob Krypowitzc is acting Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy. Discussion centered on short and long term solutions to oil & gas demand/needs in US. DOE- Fossil seems to be relatively without a big plan on this front, but seems to be open to our collaboration and ideas. Discussed use of Strategic Petroleum Reserve for price buffering, which at the time of the visit, had not yet been announced. Charlie Mankin suggested that we should use all the oil in SPR so we stop thinking it is worthwhile as a reserve; it is only an illusion of a safety net. Scott asked if DOE will hang in if prices should $20-$25 range, or will they say problem is solved and leave operators hanging out. No clear response on this insightful question was given maybe because, as Milt points out these guys were all in a twit because they had to go up to the Hill the next day and say something plausible about an Alaska gas line. AASG proposed funding play-based geologic and geophysical studies and atlases to help the small producers explore for oil, an NCGMP-analog for subsurface studies that would support exploration Department of Energy (DOE) - Geothermal Program Office 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Room 5H072 (Forrestal Building), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) AASG: Ed Deal, Milt Wiltse, Charlie Mankin Met: Peter Goldman (202) Peter.Goldman@hq.doe.gov Director, Office of Geothermal & Wind (background is Wind) Motto: Geothermal energy heat and power for 21 st century. This guy is going to Geopower the West. Drill until he gets hot rock if there s no hot rock, then he is going to erect 1 MW windmills that have individual airfoils as long as a football field. Gonna get those costs down! Going overseas to learn how it s done and bring the technology back. Geothermal for direct heat - heat pump is proven technology yet no attention there Geopowering the West Double # of states with electrical generation by 2005 (from 4 to 8) increase home heating and provide 10% of electricity needed in western US by 2020 (20,000 MW) Wind 4-6/kw (all costs) with tax breaks can bid < 3 cents/kw. (Goldman s background is wind, and he really thinks it is the future. Says wind turbines rated at 1 MW are practical now.) EGS Enhanced geothermal system - 5 Projects at a few MW each exploration and definition projects - 9 projects to have conceptual design for EGS technology. Total of 21 projects at a cost of $44 million for next 5 years. Verification projects are being sought on the soundest of scientific basis; i.e., what states have senior senators on the appropriation committee. This leads to the following distribution of projects: NM 6; NV 6; UT 6; CA 6; ID 0; AK How many do you want? Goldman Will put out an RFP if we give him a general area for proposals that looks worthwhile, but they will not accept individual proposals without an RFP 15

16 Former DOE program to inventory geothermal by State? Where did it stop? What did it tell? Need surface geochem to do reservoir temps. Milt pointed out that we need holes to evaluate, not another inventory of hot springs Budgets New Money - $23 M last year = bottom of funding but $27-28 M this year and add $ in future Department of Interior (DOI) - Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management 1849 C Street, NW, Room 6613 (Main Interior Building), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) (Also see BLM & OSM) AASG: Tom Berg, Earl Bennett, Don Haney, Don Oltz, Jim Cobb, Don McKay Met: Sylvia Baca, Assistant Secretary (202) Sylvia_Baca@IOS.DOI.GOV Larry Maloney (202) Larry.Maloney@mms.gov Kathy Karpan, former OSM Director Kathy.Karpan@mms.gov Discussed OSM-USGS Relationship on Research. The OSM research budget was confiscated by Bruce Babbitt and sent to USGS with the biological group. That was about $2 M and USGS was supposed to conduct research on behalf of OSM as requested by OSM. OSM needs help in AML, mine drainage, ground water, etc. Karpan agrees that this research is needed and there s a need to raise the priority within USGS or get money appropriated each year for each project. Apparently USGS forgot the rules because OSM cannot get anything out of USGS and is not clever enough to force them to do anything. Apparently OSM research requests get a very low priority which results in no research for OSM. Baca agreed to bring it up to the Secretary but was vague about how receptive he will be. Bureaus such as the BLM & Forest Service can make requests of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program. USGS needs to take initiative to sell it. Baca agreed to take this idea forward. Budgets Agency budgets are fairing pretty well. Have outlined items they need for negotiation process: 1) BLM funding for land use planning strategy ($30 million) and new monument designations 2) OSM AML needs - pushing for increased appropriation. DOI has asked to release AML funds (which accumulate from coal severance tax) on behalf of OSM. To date there has been no action. 3) MMS additional money for royalty management CARA Appropriation subcommittee chairs are opposed to this bill. Follow-up and Action Items: Keep checking on NCGMA possible cooperation Department of Interior (DOI) - Assistant Secretary, Policy, Management and Budget 1849 C Street, NW, Room 5123 (Main Interior Building), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202)

17 AASG: Jon Price, Jamie Robertson, John Steinmetz, Vicki Cowart, Milt Wiltse, Emery Cleaves Met: Robert Lamb, Deputy Assistant Secretary (202) Fax: (202) Bill Gordon, Office of Budget (202) This was a very cordial and relaxed meeting. Discussed DOI s interaction with and influence over Congress (lots of interaction, little influence.) Secretary of Interior Babbitt will visit committee chairs this week. Have not begun 2002 budget in earnest. Since new President will transmit FY02 Budget in February, they are developing a current services estimate with no new initiatives until new administration is in place. Discussed Real Time Hazards information system funding - network is not faring well. Seismic networks, stream gauges, landslide initiative were all mentioned. Lamb supports elevating the importance of these. Hazards should be important to either administration. U.S. spending increasingly more each year for fires, earthquakes, storms, and landslides. USGS and some other agencies: Need to be thinking big because they have been chronically underfunded. No one knows how many will survive in Gore administration if he wins. Certainly he will select his cabinet. Lamb will interact with transition team. USGS being encouraged to think big for FY 2002, because it has not faired well in the past. Administration will put together new FY 2002 budgets based on issues raised in campaign rhetoric of winning candidate. Lamb suggested getting programs of concern mentioned by candidates. Budgets House did not fund uncontrollable costs and program, specifically stream gauges lost as a result. Senate did fund fixed costs in its version. Land s Legacy Program (which includes NCGMP within CFIP) is in competition with CARA (which includes the State Planning Grants). Administration supports both CARA and Lands Legacy. Both are pro-environment. White House is rock solid confident it will get something in the next 3 weeks, i.e., Congress will adopt one or the other. The major question is between annual appropriation and entitlement. Appropriators favorably look upon some elements of CFIP (like NCGMP). On the DOI Appropriations Bill, tendency seems to be splitting the difference between the House and Senate versions. Follow-up and Action Items: AASG told Bob Lamb that we give high marks to Chip Groat. Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) 444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 445 (Hall of States), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) AASG: Ed Deal, Lee Allison, Don Oltz, Bill Shilts Met: Robert Robbie Roberts, Executive Director (202) rroberts@sso.org Steve Brown, Deputy Director for Research (202) sbrown@sso.org 17

18 ECOS tries to get across what states do in environmental issues 70% of issues are handled by the states. 80% is state money; states do majority of environmental inspections. 95% of Quality of Environment information comes from states. Trying to generate more dollars for state environmental research. ECOS has a new contract lobbyist. Goal - States and Feds should jointly make environmental policy and responsibilities be divided according to who can do it best: Feds - research State - inspect and enforce Environmental Justice - Title 6 guidance - Civil Rights act - manage environmental problems in a way that they do not widely impact minority communities. Applies to almost any decision made by Department of Environment. Problem - how do you apply it? Being translated to disability and civil rights issues; ECOS is ill-prepared, as are states, on this topic. Why are state vs. fed enforcement numbers never the same? Congress appropriated funds for ECOS to compile statistics on differences in enforcement statistics between the states and the Feds. ECOS will do study to understand differences between EPA and state environmental statistics. Wastewater - Environmental Research Organization of the States (ERIS) is the 501 (c) 3 research arm of ECOS. They got a grant from Congress through EPA to study on-site wastewater systems. There are concerns about the effectiveness of wastewater systems including septic tanks. Outflow from wastewater systems all goes into a single drainage despite the input often coming from a variety of drainages. Looking at whether or not there is a gap between state and local rules for dealing with onsite wastewater (septic tanks, etc.). TMDL s - 40,000 expected In order to meet EPA s unrealistic TMDL goals, they will have to approve one standard a day for the next 20 years. Discussed USGS Groundwater Initiative. Follow-up and Action Items: ECOS previously passed a resolution in support of NCGMP. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) - Office of Research and Development Mailing Address: 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, MC 8101R, Washington, DC Location: 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, (Ronald Reagan Building), Washington, DC Phone: (202) Fax: (202) AASG: Emery Cleaves, Bill Shilts, Dave Southwick, John Steinmetz, Tom Berg Met: Henry Longest (202) longest.henry@epa.gov Deputy Assistant Administrator for Management Christopher Zarba (202) zarba.christopher@epa.gov Chief of Staff, Office of R&D Longest used to work out of EPA Region V. Now oversees $100 million in peer-reviewed research grants. There is a mix of internal (EPA) research and external research (mostly to universities). R & D s biggest budget items: Particulate matter (PM) - about $70 million. Drinking water - about $50 million. 18