^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2002-21
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CONTENTS
1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW: JULY 2002
2) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS PROGRAM ACTION ALERT: 7-19-02
3) TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH SERVER
4) LETTER TO THE EDITOR: WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SURVEY
5) POSITION OPENINGS
Geoscientists Wanted for AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship 
Programs
San Francisco State University: Tenure Track Position in Engineering 
Geology or Surfical 
Processes
University of Washington, Tacoma: Assistant Professor in Environmental 
Geoscience 
6) CONTACT INFORMATION

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW: JULY 2002

* Senate Appropriators Fund EarthScope, Put NSF on Doubling Path
* Congress Boosts USGS and DOE Fossil Energy Funding
* Other Appropriations Bills: Senate Committee Action Complete
* FCC Announces Waiver for Users of Ground Penetrating Radar
* Yucca Mountain Receives Senate Approval, Faces Budget Cut
* Homeland Security Legislation Includes Science Provisions
* OCS Energy Production is Subject of House Hearings
* House and Senate Hold Climate Change Hearings
* Senate Hearing Focuses on High Plains Aquifer Bill
* Federal Register Roundup
* New Material on Web Site

*** Senate Appropriators Fund EarthScope, Put NSF on Doubling Path ***

The Senate Appropriations Committee provided good news for the earth 
science
community when it passed S. 2792, which funds the National Science
Foundation (NSF), NASA, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) among
other independent agencies, on July 25th. The Senate bill would provide NSF
with an 11% increase from last year's allocation to total $5.3 billion. The
committee rejected the administration's proposal to transfer programs to 
NSF
from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), EPA, and
the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). In the report accompanying the bill (S.
Rpt. 107-222), the committee stated: "In lieu of the transfer, the 
Committee
is directing that the funds provided be used to augment high priority
research activities in the earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences." Funding
for the Geoscience Directorate would total $684.5 million, an increase of
12.3% above last year's allocation. Of that increase, $15 million is
directed toward initiation of the next-generation integrated ocean drilling
program.

Despite a massive cut of 43% from the requested $126 million for the Major
Research Equipment and Facilities Construction (MREFC; formerly just MRE)
account, the Senate bill provides $20 million for the EarthScope project.
Although considerably less than the president's $35 million request, the
amount is still significant given that EarthScope is the only new start
receiving any funds. The MREFC funding is contingent on NSF hiring a
permanent Deputy Director for Large Facility Projects, a post that has only
been filled on an acting basis. The question now is how the NSF will fare 
in
the House version, which is not expected until well after Congress returns
from the August recess. Indeed, rumor has it that the House might not act
until a post-election session in November, when additional funding could be
found for the bill. More at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis107/approps_vahud2003.html.

*** Congress Boosts USGS and DOE Fossil Energy Funding ***

As reported in a July 19th AGI alert, the House has passed and the Senate 
is
poised to pass 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 FY 2003
request. USGS funding would total $928 million in the House version (up 
6.6%
over the president's request and 1.6% over FY 2002) and $927 million in the
Senate version (up 6.8% and 1.4% respectively). 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 $22.2 million
(up 8% from last year). Petroleum research, which was threatened with a 50%
cut in the request, is still down but not as much. The House recommendation
totals $30.4 million (down 6% from last year), and the Senate totals $27.4
million (down 15% from last year).

Correction: The July 19th alert incorrectly stated that the USGS National
Water Quality Assessment program received an increase of 11% over FY 2002
levels. That percentage increase was relative to the president's request. A
corrected version of the alert can be found at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis107/interior_alert0702.html.

*** Other Appropriations Bills: Senate Committee Action Complete ***

Moving ahead of its House counterpart, the Senate Appropriations Committee
has completed its consideration of all thirteen of the annual spending
bills. The full Senate, however, has only passed two of the bills while the
House has passed five. None have made it through a final House-Senate
conference. Some highlights follow. For more on appropriations, please 
visit
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis107/appropsfy2003.html.

Commerce/Justice/State (S. 2778) -- The Senate bill would provide a total 
of
$3.35 billion to NOAA. Funding for the National Sea Grant College program,
which was marked for transfer to the NSF in the budget request, would
receive $63.4 million. Report language called the proposed transfer an
"ill-conceived notion." Within NOAA, the National Ocean Service would
receive $506 million, Oceanic and Atmospheric Research programs would
receive $413 million, the National Weather Service would receive $749
million, and the Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service would
receive $742 million.

Labor/HHS (S. 2766) -- The Department of Education section in S. 2766
provides mixed news for science education. The Math and Science
Partnerships program, which were funded last year at $12.5 million, would
receive double that amount (the president requested flat funding). While an
improvement, the higher level still represents only slightly more than 5% 
of
the authorized $450 million for these partnerships.

Energy & Water (S. 2794) -- Overall discretionary funding for the 
Department
of Energy would total $20.7 billion, an increase of $147 million above the
budget request. The Office of Science would receive $3.27 billion, 
including
the requested $1 billion for the Basic Energy Science program. In other
Energy and Water appropriations news, the Department of the Interior's
Bureau of Reclamation would receive $944.5 million but would not include
funds for the CALFED Bay-Delta project.

VA/HUD (S. 2797) -- NASA would be provided with a grand total of $15.2
billion, an increase of slightly more than one percent above the budget
request. Funding for the Science, Aeronautics and Technology account would
total $9 billion, a 12% increase from last year's level -- the Earth 
Science
Enterprise (ESE) would be provided with an increase of about $50 million
more than the requested $1.6 billion. EPA would be provided with an 
increase
of nearly 9% above the request to total $8.3 billion. In the Science and
Technology account, the committee recommends a 4.5% increase above the
budget request to total $710 million. The Senate bill includes $9.75 
million
for the STAR Fellowship Program, which was slated for elimination in the
request. Brownfields activities would receive a total of $200 million in
funding. The committee would provide the requested $1.27 billion for
Superfund activities. FEMA would receive a grand total of $4.4 billion,
which would include $1.8 billion for disaster relief, $25 million for
pre-disaster mitigation grants ($300 million was requested), and $300
million for the flood map modernization project, equal to the president's
request.

*** FCC Announces Waiver for Users of Ground Penetrating Radar ***

On July 12th, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced a new
policy that will ease restrictions on the use of Ground Penetrating Radar
(GPR). According to an FCC press release: "Under the new procedure,
eligible users may operate under a blanket waiver to Part 15 regulations
provided that they register their devices with the Commission." The new
procedure would also expand the definition of who may qualify as eligible
operators -- the FCC originally restricted GPR use to "law enforcement, 
fire
and rescue organizations, to scientific research institutions, to 
commercial
mining companies, and to construction companies." Under the clarified
procedure, GPR may be used for one of the previously listed uses but "need
not be operated directly by one of the described parties," opening the door
for private contractors. The impact of FCC rules on GPR has been of great
concern to the environmental geophysics community. For Geotimes coverage of
congressional attention to this topic, visit
http://www.agiweb.org/geotimes/july02/NN_gpr.html. The FCC press release is
available at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-224279A1.pdf, and the
full announcement is available at
http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-02-1658A1.pdf.

*** Yucca Mountain Receives Senate Approval, Faces Budget Cut ***

On July 9th, the Senate passed Senate Joint Resolution 34 approving Yucca
Mountain as the nation's repository for high-level nuclear waste. After a
60-39 vote to proceed with the measure, the chamber passed the resolution 
by
voice vote. The Senate vote, along with the House's passage of H.J. Res. 87
in May, overrides the formal objection to the site by Nevada Governor Kenny
Guinn (R). DOE must now submit a license application to the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission. Signaling his continued opposition to the project,
Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) used his chairmanship of the appropriations
subcommittee overseeing DOE to slash the repository project's budget for FY
2003 by 36% below the president's requested $525 million. The
committee-approved bill (S. 2794, discussed above) provides $336 million,
down 10% from the current year's level.

*** OCS Energy Production is Subject of House Hearings ***

The House Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held
several hearings in July related to energy production on the Outer
Continental Shelf (OCS). An overarching theme of the hearings was the
future of domestic energy supply from both traditional fossil fuels and
alternative energy sources -- topics that are currently being addressed in
the ongoing House-Senate energy bill conference. Participants in a July
16th hearing discussed the US's growing natural gas supply and demand
imbalance caused by high demand and lagging supply. Bush Administration
officials, following plans in the National Energy Policy and the House
energy bill (H.R. 4) that boost traditional domestic fuels like natural 
gas,
called for the opening of gas-rich federal and OCS lands to exploration and
production. Also considered, in a hearing on July 25th, was a bill (H.R.
5156) that would amend the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act to provide an
enhanced administrative framework for the management of energy related
activities on the OCS. The administration-supported legislation aids
existing oil and gas operations and encourages alternative energy projects
such as wind, wave, and solar power. A third hearing, on July 23rd,
examined the impacts of the current lack of surety bonds on mining, oil, 
and
gas industries that operate on federal lands, including the OCS. Financial
arrangements like surety bonds guarantee post-production site reclamation
and are required for operational permits on federal lands. The Department
of the Interior has established a Bonding Task Force to address the 
problem.
More information on the OCS can be found at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis107/ocs.html

*** Homeland Security Legislation Includes Science Provisions ***

July was a busy month for homeland security legislation. While the Senate
and the House have moved at very different paces, both chambers have taken
considerable action on the president's Department of Homeland Security 
(DHS)
proposal. The final House bill (H.R. 5005) was passed on July 26th by a
295-132 vote. The Senate bill (S. 2452) was passed out of the Governmental
Affairs Committee and is now awaiting floor action after the August recess.
House Science Committee Chairman Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) has led efforts 
to
see that science and technology play as key a role in the new department as
they do in the nation's security. To guarantee that role, members of the
House Science Committee offered two key amendments to H.R. 5005, both
adopted as part of the final bill. An amendment offered by Boehlert and
Science Committee Ranking Democrat Ralph Hall (TX) called for the
appointment of a DHS Undersecretary for Science and Technology responsible
for the coordination and organization of all research and development
pertaining to homeland security. An amendment offered by Rep. Lynn Woolsey
(D-CA) would establish a Homeland Security Institute in response to a
recently released National Academy of Sciences report calling for a body to
provide independent technical and policy analysis to the DHS. Another
successful amendment, introduced by Rep. Don Young (R-AK) would ensure that
FEMA, which is slated to become part of DHS, continues to carry out all of
its responsibilities -- including natural disaster relief -- in addition to
its focus on homeland security issues.

The administration's request for a broad Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
exemption for DHS has produced a strong partisan response in both the House
and Senate with Republicans supporting the president and Democrats
expressing concern that the exemption would create an even larger loophole
allowing non-sensitive information to be kept quiet under the disclosure
law. Of particular concern was the potential for industries to be able to
withhold information on their risk management plans, part of the Clean Air
Act. H.R. 5005 has maintained the original exemption but an amendment to
increase the freedom of the DHS to make additional exemptions failed. S.
2452 also includes a provision requiring the DHS to comply with all
environmental, safety, and health regulations. This provision is not
present in the House version.

*** House and Senate Hold Climate Change Hearings ***

In several hearings this month, House and Senate committees called 
President
Bush's advisors in to defend the administration's climate change policies.
In general, the administration witnesses -- including the president's
science advisor, John Marburger --pointed to scientific uncertainty in
climate models as a key reason not to undertake economically risky policies
at the present time. At a House Science Committee hearing held on July
10th, White House officials announced that the administration may need up 
to
five years to develop a climate change strategy and also announced plans to
release a ten-year strategic plan in March 2003. More at
http://www.house.gov/science/hearings/full02/index.htm. At a similar
hearing by the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee the
next day, the testimony of the president's advisors reflected their support
for the EPA Climate Action Report 2002 released this May
(http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/hearings0202.htm). Although the report
acknowledged a human influence on global warming, the testimony focused on
its lack of suggestions for new policy to reverse trends, stating instead
the need for the US to adapt, to continue studying the issue, and to
encourage voluntary greenhouse gas reductions by industries.

On July 25th, the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on the viability of climate
models. There was some division over the accuracy of models, but most of
the witnesses agreed that uncertainty should not hinder sensible policy
decisions, as climate change is apparent in the imminent future. More
information at
http://energycommerce.house.gov/107/hearings/07252002Hearings676/hearing.ht
m
. On July 26th, House Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee Chairman Joe
Barton (R-TX) introduced H.R. 5266, a legislative version of President 
Bush'
s Clear Skies Initiative for reducing power plant emissions. At least one
hearing is expected on this bill later this year.

*** Senate Hearing Focuses on High Plains Aquifer Bill ***

The Senate Water and Power Subcommittee held a July 31st hearing to receive
testimony on several bills, including S. 2773, which authorizes the
Department of the Interior "to cooperate with the High Plains Aquifer 
States
in conducting a hydrogeologic characterization, mapping, modeling, and
monitoring program for the High Plains Aquifer." New Mexico State Geologist
Peter Scholle testified in support of the bill, which would establish a
joint program between the USGS and eight state geological surveys to map 
and
monitor the aquifer that underlies 174,000 square miles. Groundwater
withdrawals greatly exceed recharge across the aquifer, and in some places,
the aquifer's thickness has decreased by over 100 feet. Scholle was
accompanied by Kansas State Geologist Lee Allison, who organized the
coalition that sparked this legislation.

Also testifying at the hearing was USGS Director Charles "Chip" Groat, who
expressed conceptual support for the bill while outlining administration
concerns over certain specific provisions. Groat noted that the High Plains
aquifer represents a critical resource challenge that raises questions of
long-term sustainability. The bill was introduced on July 23rd by Senate
Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) joined
by Senators Sam Brownback (R-KS) and Pete Domenici (R-NM). At the hearing,
Bingaman characterized the proposed research effort as a "race against 
time"
given the aquifer depletion and emphasized the urgent need for research in
support of policy making. Scholle noted that the legislation would help
ensure that the relevant science is available as quickly as possible.

*** List of Key Federal Register Notices ***

A recently added feature of the AGI Monthly Reviews is a summary of Federal
Register announcements regarding federal regulations and notices of 
interest
to the earth science community. Entries are listed in chronological order
and show the federal agency involved, the title, and the citation. The
Federal Register is available online at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont02.html.

Minerals Management Service (MMS). Final rule on oil and gas and sulphur
operations on the Outer Continental Shelf -- Suspension of operations for
exploration under salt sheets. Vol. 67, No. 127 (2 July 2002): p.
44357-44360.

NOAA. Advanced notice of proposed rulemaking regarding whether changes are
needed in existing federal regulations to improve efficiencies in the
Federal consistency procedures and Secretarial appeals process, 
particularly
for energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf. Vol. 67, No. 127 (2
July 200): p. 44407-44410.

White House Council on Environmental Quality. Seeks public comments on the
establishment of a National Environmental Policy Act task force, composed 
of
representatives from a variety of federal agencies, to improve coordination
among all levels of the government and the public. Vol. 67, No. 131 (9 July
2002): p. 45510-45512.

MMS. Notice of proposed rule making to modify the start date for the 50-
year
proprietary term for geophysical data. Vol. 67, No. 137 (17 July 2002): p.
46942-46945.

MMS. Final rule on how to conduct geological and geophysical prospecting 
and
research for minerals other than oil, gas, and sulphur on the Outer
Continental Shelf. Vol. 67, No. 137 (17 July 2002): p.46855-46865.

MMS. Final notice of Lease Sale 184, to be held on August 21, 2002, in New
Orleans, Louisiana. Vol. 67, No. 138 (18 July 2002): p. 47394-47396.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). FEMA seeks technical 
information
and comments on the proposed Base (1% annual-chance) Flood Elevations 
(BFEs)
and proposed BFE modifications for several communities. Vol. 67, No. 141 
(23
July 2002): p. 48110-48117.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Announcement of the renewal of the BLM
Science Advisory Board. Vol. 67, No. 141 (23 July 2002): p. 48207.

USGS. Notice of an August 26, 20002, meeting of the Scientific Earthquake
Studies Advisory Committee to review a draft of the 5-year plan of the
USGS's National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program. Vo. 67, No. 146 (30
July 2002): p. 49369.

*** New Material on Web Site ***

The following updates and reports were added to the Government Affairs
portion of AGI's web site http://www.agiweb.org/gap since the last monthly
update:

Museums, Fossils and Public Lands (7-30-02)
Science at the Environmental Protection Agency (7-30-02)
Most Recent Energy Hearing Summaries (7-30-02)
Climate Change Policy Overview (7-30-02)
Summary of Hearings on Climate Change (7-30-02)
Clean Air Act (7-30-02)
Summary of Hearings on Clean Air Act (7-30-02)
Geotimes Web Extra: Senate Boosts Geoscience Funding (7-26-02)
Science Education Policy (7-26-02)
Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Bill (7-25-02)
National Science Foundation Authorization (7-25-02)
Oceans Legislation (7-24-02)
House and Senate Appropriators Restore Cuts to USGS, DOE (7-19-02)
Overview of Fiscal Year 2003 Geoscience Appropriations (7-19-02)
Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill (7-19-02)
Energy & Water Appropriations Bill (7-12-02)
High-Level Nuclear Waste Disposal (7-10-02)
_____________
Monthly review prepared by Margaret A. Baker, and AGI/AIPG Summer Interns
David Viator, Sarah Riggen, and Evelyn Kim; and David Applegate.

Sources: E&E News, Federal Register, Federal Communications Commission,
Hearing testimony, House and Senate Committees, Library of Congress,
National Council for Science and the Environment, and White House.

111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
1

2) 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.

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22

3) TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES WITH SERVER 

We have been having technical difficulties with our server. The problems 
are affecting the 
e-mail aliases, for the most part - particularly with members changing 
their addresses. To fix
the problem, we are going to be switching our server to a more permanent 
location. During 
the switch, there may be abnormalities on the website and with the e-mail 
aliases. The inconvenience shouldn't last 
more than a week, or so, but we would like the membership to 
know and to apologize, in advance.

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33

4) LETTER TO THE EDITOR: WOMEN IN SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING SURVEY

We are writing to ask for your assistance in Echo's Women
in Science and Engineering project at George Mason University.

Our project documents the career experiences of women
scientists and engineers in recent memory. We have developed
an online survey, allowing women to tell about their careers in
their own words.

The ascent of women in science and engineering has been
dramatic during the past decades. Even though more women than
ever earn degrees and pursue careers in science and
engineering, women's career experiences are still distinct,
characterized by obstacles and subtle and not so subtle ways of
discrimination.

We are hoping to create a rich public database, serving as an
educational tool for scientists, scholars and historians, revealing
the experiences which women have shared across a wide range
of fields.

The URL for our survey of women's careers in
science and engineering is:
(http://echo.gmu.edu/wise/survey/index.php).

Previous entries may be browsed at:
http://echo.gmu.edu/surveys/contributions.php?survey=wscience

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or
suggestions.

Thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Katharina Hering, Jim Sparrow

Echo: Exploring and Collecting History Online
(http://echo.gmu.edu)
George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
703-993- 45 85
Khering@gmu.edu, jsparrow@gmu.edu

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5) POSITION OPENINGS

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.

******************************
San Francisco State University
Tenure Track Position in Engineering Geology or Surfical Processes

The Department of Geosciences at SFSU invites applications for a
tenure-track faculty position at the assistant professor level in
Engineering Geology or Surficial Processes, beginning January or August
2003. The position requires a Ph.D in geology, strong quantitative and
field skills, and a commitment to excellence in teaching at graduate (MS)
and undergraduate levels. We seek someone to teach advanced-level
engineering geology and/or surficial processes courses, and general
education courses in natural hazards or earth systems. Excellence in
research that involves both graduate and undergraduate students is also
required. Preference will be given to applicants who have applied
experience with a geotechnical or environmental firm and experience in
teaching and in applying GIS technologies.

The Department of Geosciences includes geology, meteorology, and
oceanography and consists of 13 faculty members from these fields. The
department offers BS and BA degrees in Geology, a BS degree in Atmospheric
and Oceanic Sciences, and a MS degree in Applied Geosciences.

San Francisco State University, a member of the California State
University system, serves a multi-cultural, ethnically diverse student body
of 27,000 students, offering bachelor's degrees in 117 academic areas and
master's degrees in 95 fields of study. Excellence in teaching and
research are central to the University's mission and SFSU faculty are
expected to demonstrate high levels of professional achievement and growth
through research, publications, and community involvement.

To apply, send a curriculum vitae, a statement of teaching and
research interests, and names and addresses of three references to: Lisa
White, Dept. of Geosciences, San Francisco State University, San Francisco,
CA 94132. Applications should be received before September 30, 2002. San
Francisco State University is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action
employer.

******************************
University of Washington, Tacoma 
Assistant Professor in Environmental Geoscience 

Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington, Tacoma 
(UWT) seeks a geologist to teach upper-division undergraduate courses to 
majors and non-majors within an interdisciplinary framework. The successful 
candidate will contribute to the development of the new and expanding 
environmental science/studies curriculum and will have ample opportunities 
to 
create innovative interdisciplinary courses, including field courses. 
Applicants should consider teaching, institution building, and research 
high 
priorities. This tenure track faculty position begins 16 September 2003, 
and 
requires a PhD by the time of appointment.
The successful candidate will enhance the present environmental science 
curriculum by teaching and performing research in riverine, estuarine, 
marine 
or watershed geologic systems/processes and teaching specific courses in 
environmental geology, sedimentology, geomorphology, and Pacific Northwest 
field geology, as well as electives in such areas as biogeochemistry, 
hydrogeology, soil science, paleontology, geophysics or other specialties. 
GIS experience is a plus. Facilities for teaching and research at UWT 
include a new science building, proximity to the Water Resources Division 
of 
USGS, access to several University of Washington vessels and field 
facilities, and potential collaborations at the University of Washington 
Seattle campus, 35 miles to the north.
One of three University of Washington campuses, UWT offers upper-division 
and 
graduate education to students of a wide variety of ages and backgrounds in 
the South Puget Sound region. Founded in 1990, the non-residential campus 
is 
located in new facilities in downtown Tacoma and is growing steadily. For a 
more complete description of this position and UWT visit our website at: 
http://www.tacoma.washington.edu/ias. 
Screening of applications will begin 1 October 2002 and will continue until 
the position is filled. Send a letter describing your interests in and 
qualifications for this position, including a description of your teaching 
philosophy and research interests, a curriculum vitae, three letters of 
reference, syllabi or a description of courses you would like to teach in 
our 
program and evidence of teaching effectiveness to:
University of Washington, Tacoma
Finance and Administration
Geology Position
1900 Commerce St., Box 358431 
Tacoma, WA 98402-3100
Electronic application materials may be sent to: janrutle@u.washington.edu
Specific inquiries may be directed by email to Dr. Cheryl Greengrove at 
cgreen@u.washington.edu
The University of Washington does not discriminate on the basis of race, 
color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, 
marital status, disability or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam Era 
veteran. The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative 
action employer.

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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