^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2002-20 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ CONTENTS 1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM ACTION ALERT: 7-19-02 2) AGI AWARDS 23 MINORITY GEOSCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS 3) FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING 4) FOR MOMS AND KIDS, IT’S DORM SWEET DORM 5) POSITION OPENINGS American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Hydrogeologist, Tetra Tech EM Inc. 6) CONTACT INFORMATION ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ 1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM ACTION ALERT: 7-19-02 *** House and Senate Appropriators Restore Cuts to USGS, DOE *** IN A NUTSHELL: The House has passed and the Senate is considering appropriations legislation that restores funding for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and Department of Energy's fossil energy research program, both the subject of significant cuts in the president's request for fiscal year (FY) 2003. Funding for the USGS would total $928 million in the House version (up 6.6% over the president's $867 million request and 1.6% over FY 2002's $914 million allocation) and $927 million in the Senate version (up 6.8% over request, 1.4% over FY 2002). Water and geologic programs that were proposed for large reductions, elimination, or transfer in the president's request were completely restored in both bills. Both House and Senate bills are accompanied by strong language chastising the administration for failing to adequately support the important work of the USGS. In the Department of Energy, funding for natural gas exploration and production was nearly doubled from the budget request -- the Senate providing $23.5 million (up 14% from last year) and the House with $22.2 million (up 8% from last year). Petroleum research, which was threatened with a 50% cut, is still down but not as much. The House recommendation totaled $30.4 million (down 6% from last year), and the Senate recommended $27.4 million (down 15% from last year). Please write to members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, especially if you are a constituent of a member on the Interior subcommittee, to thank them for making a strong investment in the geosciences. For more information on geoscience appropriations, including other geoscience-related programs in the Interior bill, see http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis107/appropsfy2003.html. . ********************** Most years, the Interior and Related Agencies appropriations bill is one of the last of the annual spending measures to make it through Congress. Legislative provisions regarding environmental and resource issues generate filibuster threats, inadequate funding for national parks, and controversies surrounding the National Endowment for the Arts can generally be counted on to slow things down. But not this year. Only the military construction bill has progressed farther. The Senate Appropriations Committee acted first, passing their version of the fiscal year (FY) 2003 bill, S. 2708, on June 27th. The House counterpart, H.R. 5093, passed through committee on July 9th. After two days of debate, the full House passed it on July 17th in a 377-46 vote. Several amendments were added to the bill during House floor consideration, including one by Rep. Lois Capps (D-CA) that would prohibit funds from the bill to be used for drilling permit activities in the southern California Outer Continental Shelf -- the state is currently in litigation with the federal government to setup a lease-by-back program similar to the one announced for Florida. ** U.S. Geological Survey ** Overall funding for the USGS would total $928 million in the House version and $927 million in the Senate version -- both well over the requested $867 million and last year's $914 million total. In the House bill, geologic programs would total $235 million, an increase of 4.5% over the budget request and a slight increase over last year's allocation. The Senate proposal would provide $239 million, an increase of 6.2% above the request and 2.5% more than last year. The Senate report specifically states that the committee does not support the administration's proposed reduction for the National Cooperative Geological Mapping program, which it funded at last year's levels (as did the House). The Senate also provided $500,000 for the Central Great Lakes Geological Mapping program. The House report includes language regarding funds for the Survey to implement the National Academy of Science's recommendation for a comprehensive coastal program. Water programs would receive a total of $210 million in both bills (up 17.9% from request and up 1.8% from last year). Both bills not only restore the funding for the National Water Quality Assessment Program but also provide an increase of nearly 11% above last year's allocation. Funding for the National Streamflow Information Program would be restored, under both proposals, to last year's funding level of $14.3 million. Also receiving a slight increase from last years funding would be the Water Resources Research Institutes that faced elimination in the budget request. Appropriators did not approve the president's request to cut the Toxic Substances Hydrology program by $4 million and transfer the remaining $10 million to the National Science Foundation. Instead, it left the program at FY 2002 funding levels. In response, the White House Office of Management and Budget released a Statement of Administration Policy on H.R. 5093 asserting: "The Administration is also disappointed that the [Appropriations] Committee ignored the proposed transfer of $10 million for toxic hydrology research funding from the U.S. Geological Survey to the National Science Foundation." In other USGS numbers, the Senate would provide $131 million for mapping activities (up 1.4% from request and down 1.7% from last year) and $172 million for biological research activities (up 7.3% from request and up 3.5% from last year). House numbers for mapping activities would be $135 million (up 4.5% from request and up 1.4% from last year) and $170 million for biological research activities (up 6.2% from request and up 2.4% from last year). The House report accompanying the bill (H. Rept. 107-564) contains extensive language on USGS mapping programs, particularly regarding development of the National Map, emphasizing the "benefits of updated digital geographic data for use in geographic information systems" and encouraging the Department of the Interior to give higher priority to such efforts. ** Report Language on USGS Budget Trends ** The reports accompanying both bills had more than a few choice words for the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) about its repeated attempts to cut USGS programs. The House Report (H. Rept. 107-564) states: "For the third year in a row the Committee has restored a number of high-priority research programs that were proposed for reduction or elimination by the Office of Management and Budget during the budget process. Officials at the Office of Management and Budget seemingly believe that the Department of the Interior no longer needs science on which to base natural resource policy decisions. This is not the position of the Congress as articulated in previous Interior bills, nor is it the position of the National Academy of Sciences which has provided recommendations on a program by program basis detailing the need to expand not eliminate the very programs that the Office of Management and Budget has targeted as unnecessary. The Committee strongly urges the Department and OMB to continue to fund these critical science programs in the base budget in future years." In a similar tone, the Senate Report (S. Rept.107-201) contains the following paragraph in the USGS section: "The Committee is dismayed that the budget estimate for the USGS once again recommends large reductions to valuable ongoing programs. . . . The Committee does not agree to the termination or weakening of programs for which there is strong support from a board constituency and a demonstrated value through the significant amount of non-Federal funds that are leveraged through most USGS programs. In the Committee's view, it will remain difficult to find the resources to support new directions for the Survey as long as the annual need to restore large amounts to base programs continues. As budget planning gets underway for fiscal year 2004, the Committee urges those involved in the process to bear in mind the expressed public support across the United States for the Survey's programs." The full House report is available at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/R?cp107:FLD010:@1(hr564) and the Senate report at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/R?cp107:FLD010:@1(sr201). ** DOE Office of Fossil Energy ** Funding for the Department of Energy's Office of Fossil Energy (FE) also received good news in the House and Senate reports, or at least compared to the budget request. The Senate report noted: "More than [$93 million] in programmatic increases above the budget request were necessitated by the Department's proposed early termination of valuable research projects, many of which, in the opinion of the Committee, are central to our Nation's energy security." The House proposal would provide a total of $664 million, an increase of 36% above the budget request and 14% above last year's funding and the Senate version would provide $641 million, an increase of 10% over last year. Neither the House nor the Senate provided the requested more-than-doubled funding of $54 million for carbon sequestration activates. Instead the two chambers provided increases of close to 30% above last year's allocation. Funding for natural gas exploration and production was nearly doubled from the budget request -- the Senate providing $23.5 million (up 14% from last year) and the House provided $22.2 million (up 8% from last year). The reports noted the inclusion of funds to continue the National Laboratory/industry partnership program. Also under the natural gas program is research on gas hydrates. Both chambers would more than double the funding for these activities, with the Senate providing $10.5 million and the House providing $10.8 million. Funding for petroleum exploration and production was hard hit in the budget request, with a request of less than half of the FY 2002 allocation. Both chambers were able to restore a majority of the cuts but still came in below last year's allocation. The House recommendation totaled $30.4 million (down 6% from last year), and the Senate recommended $27.4 million (down 15% from last year). ** Please Thank the Appropriations Committee Members ** Please take a moment and write a note to your representative to thank them for their strong support for federal geoscience programs (for a list of the roll call vote on the bill, see http://clerkweb.house.gov/cgi-bin/vote.exe?year=2002&rollnumber=318). We particularly need constituent letters to members on the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. A list of committee members can be found at http://appropriations.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov/appropriations. Below is the contact information for members of the House and Senate Interior Appropriations subcommittees. The Interior Appropriations Subcommittee chairmen are Rep. Joe Skeen (R-NM) and Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV); ranking members are Rep. Norm Dicks (D-WA) and Sen. Conrad Burns (R-MT). Letters should be addressed to: The Honorable ___________ U.S. Senate Washington, DC 20510 -- or -- The Honorable ___________ U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515 Please send us a copy of anything you write: AGI Government Affairs Program, 4220 King Street, Alexandria VA 22302-1502; fax 703 379 7563; e-mail govt@agiweb.org. ** House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee ** Norman Dicks (D-WA, 6th) 202/226-1176 Maurice Hinchey (D-NY, 26th) 202/226-0774 mhinchey@mail.house.gov Jack Kingston (R-GA, 1st) 202/226-2269 jack.kingston@mail.house.gov Jim Kolbe (R-AZ, 5th) 202/225-0378 jim.kolbe@mail.house.gov James Moran (D-VA, 8th) 202/225-0017 John Murtha (D-PA, 12th) 202/225-5709 murtha@mail.house.gov George Nethercutt, Jr. (R-WA, 5th) 202/225-3392 george.nethercutt@mail.house.gov John Peterson (R-PA, 5th) 202/225-5796 Ralph Regula (R-OH, 16th) 202/225-3059 Martin Olav Sabo (D-MN, 5th) 202/225-4886 martin.sabo@mail.house.gov Joe Skeen (R-NM, 2nd) 202/225-9599 joe.skeen@mail.house.gov Charles Taylor (R-NC, 11th) repcharles.taylor@mail.house.gov Zach Wamp (R-TN, 3rd) 202/225-3494 ** Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee ** Robert F. Bennett (R-UT) 202/228-1168 senator@bennett.senate.gov Conrad Burns (R-MT) 202/224-8594 conrad_burns@burns.senate.gov Robert C. Byrd (D-WV) 202/228-4467 senator_byrd@byrd.senate.gov Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-CO) 202/224-1933 hotissues@campbell.senate.gov Thad Cochran (R-MS) 202/224-9450 senator@cochran.senate.gov Pete V. Domenici (R-NM) 202/228-0900 senator_domenici@domenici.senate.gov Byron L. Dorgan (D-ND) 202/224-1193 senator@dorgan.senate.gov Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) 202/228-3954 senator@feinstein.senate.gov Judd Gregg (R-NH) 202/224-4952 mailbox@gregg.senate.gov Ernest F. Hollings (D-SC) 202/224-4293 Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI) 202/224-6747 senator@inouye.senate.gov Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) 202/224-3479 senator_leahy@leahy.senate.gov Patty Murray (D-WA) 202/224-0238 senator_murray@murray.senate.gov Harry Reid (D-NV) 202/224-7327 senator_reid@reid.senate.gov Ted Stevens (R-AK) 202/224-2354 senator_stevens@stevens.senate.gov ____________ Alert prepared by Margaret A. Baker and David Applegate, AGI Government Affairs Program Sources: House Appropriations Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, Library of Congress, and E&E News. 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 1111 2) AGI AWARDS 23 MINORITY GEOSCIENCE SCHOLARSHIPS ALEXANDRIA,VA - For the 31st consecutive year, the American Geological Institute (AGI) has awarded academic scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students in support of their pursuit of geoscience degrees. In the 2002-2003 academic year, 23 students will receive scholarships granted through AGI's Minority Participation Program (MPP). The AGI MPP is made possible through the generous financial support of the USX Foundation, ExxonMobil Corporation, ChevronTexaco Corporation, and the Seismological Society of America. This year's undergraduate awardees are Wesley Acosta (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Robert Monnar (University of Nevada, Reno), John Ricardo (Guilford College), Mariela Salas (University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez), Celina Suarez (Trinity University), Marina Suarez (Trinity University), Scott Williams (North Carolina State University), and Christy Wilmore (Texas A&M University). Graduate student awardees are Anthony Arguez (Florida State University), Omayra Bermudez-Lugo (University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez), Daniel Cordalis (University of Colorado), Vionette DeChoudens-Sanchez (University of Iowa), Jason Holloman (Louisiana State University), Dawn James (California State University, Northridge), Lorna-Jaramillo Nieves (University of Colorado, Boulder), Keena Kareem (Louisiana State University), Alberto Lopez-Venegas (Northwestern University), Audeliz Matias (Northwestern University), Dominike Merle (Northwestern University), Amanda Mosola (Rice University), Sergio Restrepo (University of Florida), Lizzette Rodriguez (Michigan Technological University), and Annette Veilleux (University of Texas at El Paso). Since its inception in 1971, the AGI Minority Participation Program has provided financial assistance and mentoring to qualified members of underrepresented groups. The purpose of the mentoring program is to increase the success rate of scholars in undergraduate and graduate programs at accredited colleges and universities. In addition, mentors guide and introduce scholars to opportunities in the geosciences through internships and participation in symposia and professional society meetings. These efforts help the students find employment in the geosciences by affording them competitive job opportunities in various job markets. The success of the AGI Minority Participation Program is amply demonstrated by the hundreds of previous scholars who are employed in the geoscience community, contribute to the enhancement of their discipline, and serve as models for current and future scholars. For more information about MPP, contact Caitlin Callahan, MPP Coordinator at AGI, or visit the scholarship web site, http://www.agiweb.org/education/mpp/. The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 40 scientific and professional associations that represent more than 120,000 geologists, geophysicists, and other earth scientists. Founded in 1948, AGI provides information services to geoscientists, serves as a voice of shared interests in our profession, plays a major role in strengthening geoscience education, and strives to increase public awareness of the vital role the geosciences play in mankind's use of resources and interaction with the environment. More information about AGI can be found at http://www.agiweb.org. The Institute also provides a public-outreach web site, http://www.earthscienceworld.org. 2222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222222 2222 3) FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR APPLICATION DEADLINE APPROACHING Put your professional experience to good use--join the ranks of Fulbright Scholars and share your knowledge with the global community. Every year the Fulbright Scholar Program sends over 800 faculty and professionals abroad. Awards range from two months to an academic year. The deadline for submission is quickly approaching; all applications must be in our office by August 1 for the 2003-04 competition. Next year's competition opens March 1. For information, visit our Web site at www.cies.org. Or contact: The Council for International Exchange of Scholars 3007 Tilden Street, N.W. - Suite 5L Washington, D.C. 20008 Phone: 202-686-7877 E-mail: apprequest@cies.iie. 3333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 3333 4) FOR MOMS AND KIDS, IT’S DORM SWEET DORM BY MICHAEL O'CONNOR OMAHA WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER At age 17, and two months before her senior year of high school, Dena Jacobsen became a mom. She knew her plans for attending college had just become more complicated. But she found a way to manage it through a College of St. Mary program that provides on-campus dorm rooms for single mothers and their children. The program, one of only a half dozen in the country, has drawn interest from other colleges looking for ways to better serve single moms. St. Mary, a Catholic college in Omaha, faced concerns on campus and off when it announced the program two years ago. Some students at the school for women asked whether it was right for a Catholic college to offer a program that would serve young women who had children outside of marriage. Callers to local radio talk shows raised the same issue. Tara Knudson Carl, St. Mary vice president, said helping unwed mothers is in keeping with the teachings of the Catholic Church and with the mission of the college. "It is so difficult for single women to become economically independent without a college degree," she said. "We are helping them achieve a college degree so they can provide a better life for their children." The college says acceptance of the program has grown and there are plans to expand it. Nine mothers enrolled in 2000 when the program started and the count is now at 19, with 24 children. The college is planning for 30 moms in the fall. Nicole Gilmore, a junior from Columbus, Neb., who is not in the program, said students wondered what it would be like having moms and children living on campus. Gilmore, who sometimes baby-sits for the mothers, said that the program fits in on campus and that students support the program's goals. "It definitely gives those girls a chance they may not have had," she said. Mothers in the program range in age from 18 to 37, with most younger than 25. There are divorced mothers and women like Jacobsen who never married. Jacobsen, of Elk Horn, Iowa, said she knew that attending college with her daughter, Maliya, wouldn't be easy, but she never gave up the goal of a college degree. Living on campus, she is close to her classes, professors and library, a convenience she wouldn't have with an off- campus apartment. Her 21-month-old daughter attends a day-care center on campus. As part of the program, Jacobsen and the other moms eat with their children in the college's cafeteria. Mothers in the program pay the same room and board as other students: $2,488 a semester. Jacobsen said the program helps, but it doesn't erase all the difficulties of being a single mother. Her room, while larger than a typical dorm room, sometimes gets cramped with all the books, toys and baby clothes. It also can be tough to study with crying children in the dorm. And when Jacobsen's daughter is sick, she has to miss class or find a baby sitter. Support from the other moms is one of the best benefits, said 30-year-old Marilyn Gray, a student in the program who has sons ages 5 and 6. "There's always going to be someone there for you," she said. The St. Mary program has attracted interest from other schools, including Nebraska Methodist College in Omaha. Nebraska Methodist, a private health-career college with about 450 students, might consider creating a similar program in the future, said Kristine Stenberg, dean of students. Nearly 70 percent of Nebraska Methodist's students are women, she said, and many could benefit from on-campus housing. "We are always interested in how we can better meet students' needs," she said. Knudson Carl said St. Mary is considering providing more space for its program. The program is now housed in converted space on the third and fourth floors of the school's administration building. The college is considering constructing a separate building with suites for the moms and kids if demand for the program continues to grow. Gray, who wants to become a teacher, said there's a simple reason women are drawn to the program. "You are able to focus on two important things," she said, "going to school and raising your kids." Published Tuesday, March 19,2002 in the Omaha World Herald 4444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444444 4444 5) POSITION OPENINGS American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Geoscientists Wanted for AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Programs, 2003:04 The American Association for the Advancement of Science invites scientists and engineers to apply for one-year science and technology policy fellowships in Washington, DC, beginning September 2003. Fellows serve in the Congress, the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Department of State, the Department of Defense, the Agency for International Development, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Department of Justice, the Department of Energy and other federal offices. These programs are designed to provide each Fellow with a unique public policy learning experience and to bring technical backgrounds and external perspectives to decision-making in the U.S. government. Applicants must be U.S. citizens and must have a PhD or an equivalent doctoral degree by the application deadline (January 10, 2003) from any physical, biological or social science, any field of engineering or any relevant interdisciplinary field. Individuals with a master's degree in engineering and at least three years of post-degree professional experience may also apply. Federal employees are ineligible. Stipends begin at $56,000. For application instructions and further information about the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship Programs, contact: 1200 New York Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20005. Phone: 202/326-6700. E-mail: science_policy@aaas.org. Web: www.fellowships.aaas.org. ****************************** Hydrogeologist, Tetra Tech EM Inc The Freedom to Grow: It is ours at Tetra Tech EM Inc. (EMI), a leading environmental and management consulting firm. As an organization of entrepreneurs, creative thinkers, and problem solvers, each of us is expected to contribute to the growth of the business. We drive growth and profitability through the efforts of each and every one of our talented Team Members. And we seek like-minded individuals who find empowerment by putting their individual minds and talents toward the betterment of the whole. After all, there's freedom in doing so - freedom to envision, to innovate, to create better lives for our customers, our families, our communities, and ourselves. While that's serious work, our methods are open, collaborative, caring, and fun. In all that we do (AND WE DO A LOT!), we take ownership - working together to help our clients improve their environment and their organizations. In short, to do something - and then do more. Tetra Tech currently has the follow job opening: HYDROGEOLOGIST Responsibilities: Conduct groundwater sampling & report writing in support of multiple-site Groundwater monitoring programs at former Navy base. Qualifications: * BS in Hydrogeology, Geology or related field * Must have 2 years work experience and be able to generate contaminant plume figures and Groundwater elevation maps. * Must be capable of completing low-flow Groundwater sampling, well installation and abandonment, & oversight of subcontractors. Our work is serious. Our methods are open, collaborative, caring-and fun. Opportunity is ours-as people, as a company, and as a world. If you are tired of your current position & the lack of potential to advance your career, this opportunity is the one you must pursue. Send resume & cover letter to: Tetra Tech EMI HR 135 Main St. #1800 San Francisco, CA 94105 Fax: 415-543-5480 E-mail: resumes.sf@ttemi.com www.tetratech.com No calls or agencies EOE/AA 5555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555555 555 6) CONTACT INFORMATION To submit an item to E-MAIL NEWS contact: editor@awg.org To submit advertising contact: ads@awg.org To change your address or be removed from the list contact: office@awg.org