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AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2003-9
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CONTENTS
1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW: APRIL 2003
2) WASHINGTON WIRE - APRIL 15, 2003
3) POSITION OPENINGS
· U.S. Geological Survey: Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards
· Wright State University (2 positions)
· USDA Agricultural Research Service: Agricultural Nitrogen Management Specialist
4) CONTACT INFORMATION
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Thanks to everyone who contributed to this issue of E-mail News
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1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW: APRIL 2003
*Energy Bill Passes Full House, Senate Committee
*Budget Resolution Sets Stage for Appropriations
*BLM Announces Plans to Expedite Leasing
*Courts Puts New Limits on Mining Reports to TRI
*National Water Commission Legislation
*Natural Gas Supply: Report and Workshop
*Clear Skies Act Gets Its Hearing
*Evolution under Fire in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee
*Visits Day, AIPG Fly-In Bring Earth Scientists to Washington
*Science Voices Being Heard on Capitol Hill
*Geotimes Policy Issue Features Science at State Surveys
*Deadline for Fall Internship Applications Extended to May 15
*List of Key Federal Register Notices
*New Material on Web Site
*** Energy Bill Passes Full House, Senate Committee ***
Comprehensive energy legislation passed the House by a 247-175 vote on April 11th. The final bill, H.R. 6, is a combination of four separate bills that passed through the House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Resources and Science Committees a week earlier. H.R. 6 contains provisions on drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), electricity restructuring, oil and natural gas royalty relief, and research and development for President Bush's Hydrogen Initiative, FreedomCar program, energy efficiency, clean-coal technology, and nuclear programs. The legislation also calls for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science to receive a funding increase of 52% over the next four years.
On April 30th, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairman Pete Domenici (R-NM) finally achieved passage of his draft energy bill. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) joined all of the committee's Republicans in a 13-10 vote that cleared the way for consideration by the full Senate.
Although major changes occurred in the electricity deregulation portion of the bill, the most controversial issues were omitted from consideration in order to move the legislation out of committee. The omitted issues -- including ANWR, reformulated gasoline reform, and climate change -- are likely to reappear on the Senate floor. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) attempted to address the climate change issue during the committee mark-up by introducing an amendment on carbon sequestration, but withdrew it on the urging of Domenici. According to E&EDaily, Wyden criticized the committee for "ducking" climate change in favor of quick committee passage and vowed to re-propose the amendment on the Senate floor. Like its House counterpart, the Senate bill calls for a substantial increase in funding for DOE's Office of Science, up to $5.4 billion in FY 2008 from the current $3.3 billion. The bill would also authorize significant changes in the organizational management of DOE's science programs.
For additional commentary on the current congressional efforts to pass energy legislation, please see the Political Scene column in the May 2003 issue of Geotimes at http://www.geotimes.org/may03/scene.html.
*** Budget Resolution Sets Stage for Appropriations ***
As reported in last month's review, Congress has been working on developing a budget resolution that will serve as a financial plan, which it agrees to follow both in the appropriations process and in legislation affecting entitlement programs, taxes and other matters affecting revenue. On April 11th, both chambers came to agreement on a $2.2 trillion budget resolution. The resolution breaks down this amount into general, cross-cutting budget functions that include both mandatory and discretionary spending. These broad function accounts are the basis of the so-called 302 allocations that each of the 13 appropriations subcommittees receive as a cap to their spending. All told, the subcommittees will have $784.4 billion in discretionary funds to spend.
Function 250, the general science and space account that includes the majority of the funding for NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and science at the Department of Energy, is set at $23.9 billion -- a level that would accommodate (but does not mean that it will) a $324 million increase for NSF and a $100 million increase for energy science above the presidentially requested levels. Energy supply research is funded through Function 270 that received $2.6 billion in the agreement. The majority of activities at the Department of the Interior are funded through Function 300 (Natural Resources and Environment) that received $29.3 billion in discretionary spending. It will now be up to the House and Senate appropriations subcommittees to decide exactly how much each of the federal programs will receive of the discretionary funds. More at http://budget.senate.gov and at http://www.house.gov/budget.
*** BLM Announces Plans to Expedite Leasing ***
In response to the administration's National Energy Policy report that was released in May 2001, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has announced changes to the process of approving oil and natural gas drilling permits. BLM Director Kathleen Clarke noted in an agency press release: "These innovative strategies will update the permit application process while ensuring protection of cultural and other resources on public lands." The new procedure would allow the agency to process multiple permits with similar characteristics simultaneously.A key change would allow BLM to prepare Geographic Area National Environmental Policy Act analysis of an entire production field instead of individual assessments for each drilling permit application. The intent of this change, according to BLM, is to evaluate cumulative effects of oil and gas development on the environment and to minimize the need for additional site-specific assessments. Additional information on the new permitting process is available at http://www.blm.gov/nhp/news/releases/pages/2003/pr030414_ogpermits.htm.
In related news, the BLM Anchorage office has announced a proposal to revise the land-use plan for the northeast section of the National Petroleum Reserve Alaska (NPRA), arguing that a 1998 land-use plan is too prescriptive and does not allow much management flexibility.BLM hopes to move towards a performance-based plan that it believes can accomplish the same goals as the existing plan. Public meetings and opportunities for public comment will be announced later in the year. More on NPRA at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis107/npra.html.
*** Courts Puts New Limits on Mining Reports to TRI ***
An April 2nd decision by the U.S. District Court in Washington DC limits what hard rock mines must report to the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Toxics Release Inventory (TRI). At the core of this decision was the question of "whether existing toxic metal compounds that change in chemical compositions during [ore extraction] process are 'manufactured' under" the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) of 1968. The court found that mining waste rock, including naturally occurring toxic metals, do not fall under the EPA's definitions for "manufactured" and "processing" and therefore cannot be included in EPCRA reporting to TRI. For the EPA to change to regulations to include hard rock mining waste rock, the agency would have to go through a new rule-making process that would allow for public comments.This court case is a continuation of the issue of including hard rock mining as one of the industries that must submit annual TRI reports. A 1997 regulation change added mining and other industries to the list of sectors subject to TRI reporting.The next year, the National Mining Association filed suit against the EPA over the revised regulations.More on the TRI at http://www.epa.gpv/tri/.
*** National Water Commission Legislation ***
Efforts are underway again to establish a national water commission to study and develop a comprehensive water strategy.On April 1st, the House Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on a bill (H.R. 135) to establish the Twenty-First Century Water Commission.A similar bill was offered last Congress but did not gain strong support because of a range of issues.This new bill is more focused with several provisions added in response to earlier opposition. The commission would be scaled back from 17 members to 7 members, and language outlining the commission's charge was clarified.Testimony from all the witnesses and comments from the representatives were overwhelmingly favorable. Bill sponsor Rep. John Linder (R-GA) emphasized that H.R. 135 is not a federal take-over of water policy, but rather a means to help coordinate efforts. Ranking Member Grace Napolitano (D-CA) called the legislation "long overdue," and Chairman Ken Calvert (R-CA) agreed, commenting that the bill recognizes fresh water is not just an issue in the west. Dr. Peter Gleick, Director of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security, recommended the water commission remain broad, both in its objectives and its composition. He said the water commission should include representatives from all interested disciplines and emphasized the need to focus on water management issues, such as conservation, instead of only water supply. In related news, the Senate passed S. 212, a bill to monitor, map, and model the High Plains Aquifer, on April 7th. The bill will next be considered by the House Committee on Resources.
More on water issues at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/water_hearings.html and http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/highplainsaquifer.html
*** Natural Gas Supply: Report and Workshop ***
On April 16th, the Potential Gas Committee, which consists of volunteer experts from the natural gas industry, government agencies, and academic institutions, released its biannual report estimating long-term natural gas supply. The report estimated 958 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of
natural gas and 169 TCF of coalbed natural gas above the proven reserves.This estimate joins a January 2003 joint study by the Department of the Interior and Department of Energy on the availability and accessibility of oil and natural gas supply on federal lands. Later in the month, a National Research Council workshop also examined natural gas supply estimates. Speakers touched on a lack of funding for developing new technologies and a decreasing number of students pursuing science as the major hindrances to the natural gas industry.The workshop speakers -- representing industry, research scientists, and governmental agencies -- focused on the role of natural gas within the overall energy picture, narrowing estimates of natural gas reserves and resources, and exploring the import potential of natural gas. For more on the workshop, see a Geotimes Web Extra at http://www.geotimes.org/apr03/WebExtra042903b.html.
*** Clear Skies Act Gets Its Hearing ***
The Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety held its first hearing on the Clear Skies Act (S. 485) on April 8th. Witnesses from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), industry, labor, and environmental organizations agreed on the need to amend the Clean Air Act but did not agree on how best to proceed. Senators Craig Thomas (R-WY) and John Cornyn (R-TX) voiced concern over how provisions to regulate mercury emissions would affect coal power plants. EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman commented that the administration does not believe the first phase of the Clear Skies Act will require large investments from power plants, and that they anticipate the act will lead to a 10% increase in bituminous coal use. Although CO2 regulations are not included in S. 485, there was discussion as to whether CO2, a greenhouse gas, should be included in a bill that would amend the Clean Air Act. Senators James Jeffords (I-VT), co-sponsor of the competing S. 366 that includes strict CO2 regulations, and Tom Carper (R-DE), co-sponsor of a middle-of-the-road bill (S. 843) that also includes CO2 regulations, questioned the panel heavily.Full committee chairman James Inhofe (R-OK), a co-sponsor of the Clear Skies Act, commented that CO2 should not be regulated under the Clean Air Act because it is not a pollutant; Whitman concurred. More on clean air legislation at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/cleanair.html.
*** Evolution Under Fire in Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee ***
Proponents of the teaching of evolution in the nation's public schools faced a number of brushfires this month. In Oklahoma, an amendment was added to the House version of Senate Bill 346, the Oklahoma Educator Protection Act, which would require a disclaimer in all public school science textbooks mentioning evolution. Similar efforts to force such a disclaimer as a stand-alone bill had failed. Earlier in the month, Louisiana State Rep. Ben Nevers (D) introduced House Concurrent Resolution 50, encouraging local school districts to reject textbooks that present evolution as fact. The language in the resolution downgrades evolution from a well-supported scientific theory to one of questionable status.If passed, it would make it easier for school districts to reject textbooks that present evolution accurately and could open the door for the teaching of creationism.The resolution will be considered by the House Education Committee.On April 5th, the board of education in Blount County, Tennessee, rejected the adoption of three biology textbooks because they discuss evolution without mention of creationism. The rejected biology books were previously approved by the state and chosen by biology teachers. It is expected that high school science teachers in Blount County will be asked to develop a new curriculum that includes creationism taught in conjunction with evolution, which will subsequently spur approval of the textbooks. For more on these developments and other evolution/creation brushfires, see http://www.ncseweb.org.
*** Visits Day, AIPG Fly-In Bring Earth Scientists to Washington ***
On April 2-3, earth scientists participated in the eighth annual Science-Engineering-Technology Congressional Visits Day.This event drew more than 200 scientists and engineers to visit their members of Congress as constituents. The visits were preceded by a day of briefings by White House and congressional staff and a Capitol Hill reception at which Reps. James Walsh (R-NY) and Alan Mollohan (D-WV) received the George E. Brown Jr. Science-Engineering-Technology Leadership Award. AGI teamed with the American Geophysical Union (AGU) to hold a pre-briefing for earth science participants from AGU, the Geological Society of America, American Meteorological Society and American Society for Limnology and Oceanography. Taking place at AGU's headquarters, the briefing featured presentations from current congressional fellows and representatives from DOE, NOAA, NSF and USGS. For more on CVD, see http://www.agiweb.org/cvd.
At the end of April, the American Institute of Professional Geologists brought its leadership and several state geologists to Washington for the annual Fly-In. Over the course of three days, the participants met with more than 30 federal agencies and congressional committees as well as their own members of Congress to discuss issues important to the geoscience profession.
*** Science Voices Being Heard on Capitol Hill ***
Late spring marks the quiet before the storm of activity in drafting legislation for the 13 annual appropriations bills. The budget release is ancient history and the last of the congressional hearings on the request have been held. During this pause is when many groups and members of Congress build up their campaigns to influence what the draft bills will look like later in the year. AGI started the month by submitting testimony in support of geoscience programs at the Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF), U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and several other agencies. The testimony is available at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/gapac/testimony.html.
Another way of making one's voice heard in Washington is to join it to a great many others. For example, AGI joined 64 other organizations in urging members of Congress to support the Department of Education's Math and Science Partnership (MSP) program.The statement requested that Congress provide this program with $200 million to ensure that MSP remains a competitive state-based program. Also making rounds on Capitol Hill is a "Dear Colleague" letter -- a way for members of Congress to show their shared support on an issue - on NSF. Sponsored by Reps. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI), Nick Smith (R-MI), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Ralph Hall (D-TX), and Rush Holt (D-NJ), the letter calls for $6.39 billion in fiscal year 2004, a figure that would put the foundation on a five-year doubling track. The letter and a list of current signers are available at, http://www.cnsfweb.org/Ehlers-dearcolleague-apr03.html.
*** Geotimes Policy Issue Features Science at State Surveys ***
The April 2003 issue of Geotimes is the magazine's eighth annual special geoscience and public policy issue. Guest edited by Wisconsin State Geologist Jamie Robertson, the issue focuses on how scientific work done by state geological surveys is being applied to policymaking at the state and local level. The cover story describes the efforts of the Utah Geological Survey to better understand the state's earthquake risks. Two other features deal with water issues in Wisconsin and Nebraska. The fourth feature describes a field camp for policymakers organized by the New Mexico survey. Texas State Geologist Scott Tinker provides a Comment on the declining funding for the Department of Energy's oil and natural gas research programs. These articles can be found on the web at http://www.geotimes.org/apr03/.
*** Deadline for Fall Internship Applications Extended to May 15 ***
AGI is seeking outstanding geoscience students with a strong interest in federal science policy for a fourteen-week geoscience and public policy internship in fall 2003. Interns will gain a first-hand understanding of the legislative process and the operation of executive branch agencies. They will also hone both their writing and Web publishing skills. Stipends for the semester internships are funded by a generous contribution from the American Association of Petroleum Geologists.
Applications must be postmarked by May 15, 2003. For more information, please visit http://www.agiweb.org/gap/interns/internse.html
*** List of Key Federal Register Notices ***
A recent feature of the AGI Monthly Review is a summary of Federal Register announcements regarding federal regulations, agency meetings, and other notices of interest to the geoscience 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 Information on submitting comments and reading announcements are also available online at http://www.regulation.gov.
National Science Foundation (NSF). Meeting announcement of the Geosciences Advisory Committee in Arlington, VA, from April 30 - May 1, 2003. Vol. 68, No. 71 (14 April 2003): p. 17968-17969.
Army Corps of Engineers. Announcement of final rule to streamline certain procedures concerning Corps authority addressing disaster preparedness, response, and recovery activities. Vol. 68, No. 76 (21 April 2003): p. 19357-19371.
Every month, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) releases final rule on Modified Base (1-percent annual-chance) Flood Elevations for several communities that are used to calculate flood insurance premium rates related to the National Flood Insurance Program.This month, these announcements were made in Vol. 68, No. 82 (29 April 2003): p. 22616-22623.
*** 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:
Clean Air Issues: Clear Skies Initiative/Multi-pollutant Legislation (4-14-03)
Everglades Policy (4-11-03)
Wetlands Policy (4-11-03)
Energy Policy Overview (4-11-03)
Fiscal Year 2004 Appropriations Hearings (4-11-03)
Summary of Hearings on Clean Air Issues (4-10-03)
High Plains Aquifer Legislation (4-9-03)
High-level Nuclear Waste Legislation (4-4-03)
Geotimes Political Scene: Geosciences Again Look to Congress to Restore
Cuts (w/ Margaret Baker; 4/03)
Monthly review prepared by Margaret A. Baker, AGI/AAPG Geoscience Policy Intern Charna Meth and David Applegate.
Sources: Bureau of Land Management, coalition statements, court documents, E & E Daily, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Register, Greenwire, hearing testimony, National Center for Science Education, Potential Gas Committee, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S.
Senate.
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2) WASHINGTON WIRE - APRIL 15, 2003
The latest edition of the Washington Wire has been posted at http://www.awis.org/wire.html.
Education/Workplace
* Childcare Improvement Toolkit
Healthcare
* Broadcast on SARS available online
Government
* Name That Senator
* Abortion Ban Passes Senate
Funding/Fellowships
* NIH/NIST Postdoctoral Fellowships
Announcements
* National Food Policy Conference
* FASEB Celebrates DNA Anniversary
* Innovations in Medical Innovation
Positions found in this newsletter do not necessarily reflect their sponsor's views.
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3) POSITON OPENINGS
U.S. Geological Survey
Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards
Reston, Virginia
Senior Level (SL) Position
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is seeking candidates for the full-time position of Senior Science Advisor for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards. This is a career civil service position with a salary range beginning at $131,342 per annum.
As the Federal Government's foremost natural science organization, the USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize the loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. The mission is accomplished through data collection, research, comprehensive studies and information services in the broad disciplines of hydrology, geology, biology, geography, and cartography.
The successful applicant will serve primarily as the Bureau Program Coordinator for the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and facilitates collaboration in all geologic hazards program development across the Bureau, including coordination for implementation, reporting, and leveraging of both funding and expertise. The incumbent also serves as the Program Coordinator for the Geomagnetism Program and the Global Seismographic Network.
The vacancy announcement that describes specific application requirements can be found at www.usajobs.opm.gov. All applications must be received in the office no later than 06/30/03 and should reference announcement number SL-03-01.
U.S. Geological Survey
Human Resources Office
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
MS601, Room 1A315
Reston, Virginia 20192
For more information, contact Cindy Lonergan at clonergan@usgs.gov or (703) 648-7472.
The U.S. Geological Survey is an Equal Opportunity Employer
U.S. Citizenship is required.
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Wright State University (2 positions)
Ph.D. Assistantships
The new Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Program at Wright State University has assistantships available to qualified applicants who are accepted into the program. The assistantships are for a minimum of $17,000 with tuition and fee waivers and are awarded for two years. Year one is a research assistantship and year two is a teaching assistantship. Research assistantships are then provided by the student's major professor for the remainder of their degree study period. The program provides a strong interdisciplinary focus both in the course work and dissertation research, with a focus on contaminant fate and effects in three areas of faculty expertise: environmental toxicology and chemistry, environmental stressors, and environmental geophysics and hydrogeology. There are over two dozen ES program faculty from the departments of Biology, Chemistry, Geology and Physics. For more information on the curriculum, faculty research areas and application materials see http://www.wright.edu/academics/ieq.
Ph.D Fellowship
The Yellow Springs Instruments Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Fellowship
Wright State University is pleased to announce a new YSI Environmental Sciences Ph.D. Fellowship. The Research Fellowship is for $25,000 with tuition and fee waivers. This prestigious award will be given to a qualified applicant accepted into the new Environmental Sciences Ph.D. program at WSU. Students may apply with either a B.S. or M.S. degree from a relevant major (e.g., biology, chemistry, geology, physics, toxicology, environmental health sciences). The program provides a strong interdisciplinary focus both in the course work and dissertation research, with a focus on contaminant fate and effects in three areas of faculty expertise: environmental toxicology and chemistry, environmental stressors, and environmental geophysics and hydrogeology. Review of applications for the 2003-2004 Academic Year will begin in June, 2003, and continue until the position is filled. For more information on the curriculum, faculty research areas and application materials see http://www.wright.edu/academics/ieq.
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USDA Agricultural Research Service
www.ars.usda.gov
Agricultural Nitrogen Management Specialist
(Research Soil Scientist, GS-12/13/14)
Salary Range of $56,463 to $103,150
The Pasture Systems and Watershed Management Research Unit, University Park, Pennsylvania, is seeking a permanent full-time scientist to: (1) evaluate physical, chemical, and biological processes controlling transformations and movement in soil of nitrogen applied as fertilizers and manures; (2) define and quantify chemical and hydrologic processes controlling nitrogen loss from fields and landscapes in either water or gaseous phases; (3) apply this information to develop a better understanding of land management impacts on nitrogen cycling in soil-plant-animal systems and environmental fate; (4) develop environmental risk indicators of potential nitrogen loss that identify the critical sources and areas of nitrogen loss and enable effective targeting of remedial strategies to reduce watershed nitrogen export, and assist producers and farm advisors with the transfer and adoption of improved nitrogen-management practices; (5) place this work into the larger context of national research issues such as integrated nutrient management, compatible agronomic and environmental sustainability, and nitrogen fluxes where animal manures are dominant sources of watershed nitrogen export; and (6) publish and present findings of research.
For details and application directions, see www.afm.ars.usda.gov/jobs/announcement- number.htm. To have a printed copy mailed, call 814 863-0948 (Andrew Sharpley) or 814 863-0923 (Ray Bryant). U.S. citizenship is required. Announcement closes Monday, June 30, 2003. USDA/ARS is an equal opportunity employer and provider. Education requirements include degree in soil science or a closely related discipline that demonstrates specialized experience in the management of nitrogen in agricultural systems. Benefits package is available for qualifying positions.
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4) CONTACT INFORMATION
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