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AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2005-14
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CONTENTS
1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW JUNE 2005
2) AGI BECOMES FOUNDING PARTNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANET
EARTH
3) 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 - JUNE 2005
* Senate Passes Energy Bill with Climate Change Language
* House Completes All Spending Bills, Senate Makes Progress
* Societies, Congress Endorse a National Commission on Science
Education
* AGU Questions Space Exploration Vision
* The NASA Reauthorization Act Makes Its Way through Congress
* USGS Director Departs, Acting Director Steps In
* President’s Fish Food for Thought
* Teaching Teachers about Groundwater
* Freedom to Read
* Scientific Misconduct
* Canada Funds More Mapping
* New Evolution Website: Q&A on Intelligent Design
* Academies Joint Climate Change Statement
* Participate in Climate Change Workshop
* NIST World Trade Towers Report
* Disaster Reduction Report
* Earth System Processes 2: Conference in Alberta
* One More Summer Intern Joins AGI
* Federal Register
*** Senate Passes Energy Bill with Climate Change Language ***
After an exhausting two-week mark-up, the full Senate overwhelmingly
passed bipartisan energy legislation by a vote of 85-12 on June 28, 2005.
The final legislation included several new attempts to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and foreign oil dependency that were not passed in the
House energy bill. However, according to coverage in the media, White
House and Senate officials have acknowledged that the legislation will
not bring consumers any short-term relief from high gas prices.
Compared to the House energy bill passed in April, the Senate bill
includes a higher, 8 billion gallon mandate on annual ethanol production; a
first-ever national renewable portfolio standard (RPS) that would
mandate 10% renewable energy production by 2020, and an inventory of
offshore continental shelf (OCS) energy resources. The $10.65 billion tax
package attached to the Senate bill also provides greater incentives for
efficient and renewable energy technologies than its counterpart in the
House.
Climate change dominated the debate for much of the mark-up's second
week. Although two amendments to establish mandatory caps on greenhouse
gas emissions failed to attract the necessary support, the Senate
adopted an amendment offered by Chuck Hagel (R-NE) to provide financial
incentives for the development of new emission-reducing technology. Also
approved was a “sense of the Senate” resolution, which will put on the
congressional record for the first time that the Senate acknowledges
greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to global warming. Earlier this
year, the House voted down a similar “sense of Congress” resolution
regarding climate change.
After Congress returns from 4th of July recess, the two houses will
have their work cut out for them as they convene a conference committee to
begin the process of reconciling the two bills. President Bush has said
he wants an energy bill on his desk by August.
For more about the Senate climate debates, visit AGI’s Climate Change
Policy site: http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/climate.html.
For a full AGI summary of the energy bill, visit:
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/energy.html
*** House Completes All Spending Bills, Senate Makes Progress ***
The House has completed and passed all 10 of its appropriations bills
as of June 28, 2005, coming in just in time to meet the July 4th
deadline set by Appropriations Committee Chairman Jerry Lewis (R-CA).
Although the Senate Appropriations Committee completed and passed all 12 of
its appropriations bills as of June 30th, the full Senate has only passed
the Interior and Environment and the Energy and Water Appropriations
bills. Of the bills relevant to the AGI community, the full Senate must
still consider and pass funding for the Department of Commerce (NOAA
and NIST), NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Department of
Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of Education.
So far, the House and Senate have each added several major changes to
the President’s federal science budget, although many of these changes
are different between the two houses. On June 30th, the Senate passed a
spending bill for the Department of Energy and the Army Corps of
Engineers that exceeded the President’s request and the House recommendation
by $1.5 billion. Within the Department of Energy (DOE), the Senate gave
substantial increases, over current funding levels to DOE’s Office of
Science, Environmental Management Program, and Nuclear Non-Proliferation
programs.
For the Department of the Interior and the EPA, the House and Senate
recommended the same overall budget total, but the Senate restored
funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund and the Land and Water
Conservation Fund. The House and Senate restored funding for the USGS
Mineral Resources Program and Water Research Institutes. Overall, the
Senate bill funds the USGS at $963 million, $10 million below the House
recommendation and $29 million over the President’s budget request.
During the House mark-up of the Science, State, Justice and Commerce
spending bill, NOAA suffered a severe $546 million (8.5%) cut from fiscal
year 2005 funding levels, $202 million below the President’s request.
This cut includes a 40% reduction in funding for the National Ocean
Service. The House Appropriations Committee left little explanation for
the deep cuts in its report. However, some amendments to shift funds
away from NOAA were the result of funding priorities in the departments of
Justice and State. NASA and the NSF both received small increases over
the President’s request.
The Senate Appropriations Committee recommended a budget for NOAA that
is $1 billion greater than that proposed by the House. Accompanying
this increase, the Senate committee expressed strong criticism of the
Administration’s and the House’s science priorities in the bill report,
which states: "The Committee fails to understand why science dedicated to
understanding this planet and its oceans and atmosphere is less
important than science dedicated to the understanding of other planets."
Indeed, the committee also denied some of the Administration’s proposed
increases for NASA’s exploration program, recommending a $160 cut to
Exploration Capabilities, with $100 million of those funds transferred to
Science and Aeronautics programs. As for the NSF, the Senate committee
recommended $112 million less than the House bill overall.
These and other discrepancies between the House and Senate bills will
likely complicate a reconciliation process that has already been made
difficult by the presence of the State Department budget in the House
version of the Science appropriations bill. Thus it could be an
unpredictable July for appropriations followed by a heated September, when
meeting the deadline for completing the budget process could be delayed or
overshadowed by President Bush’s first Supreme Court judicial nomination
(Some political analysts have suggested that a nomination for a
replacement for retiring Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor may not be
announced until September).
Full summaries of appropriations for each agency can be accessed from
AGI’s Government Affairs website: http://www.agiweb.org/gap
*** Societies, Congress Endorse a National Commission on Science
Education ***
The Coalition for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
(STEM) Education has been hard at work in recent months gathering
increased support for the National Science Foundation (NSF), which the Bush
Administration proposed to fund below fiscal year 2004 levels for the
second year in a row. On May 24, 2005, the coalition sent a letter to
National Science Board (NSB) Chairman Warren Washington, urging the Board
“to use its considerable influence and prestige by writing a letter to
Congress and the President in support of the NSF Education and Human
Resources Directorate,” which received some of the deepest cuts in the
President’s budget proposal. The letter suggests that the Board establish
“a blue-ribbon panel of business, research and STEM education experts”
to inform members of Congress and other government officials about the
nation’s needs and priorities regarding science education. The
coalition further advocates that funding for NSF education programs shoul
d be restored without jeopardizing any of the other NSF research
programs. As a member of the STEM Education Coalition, the American
Geological Institute signed the coalition’s letter, a copy of which was also
sent to NSF Director Arden Bement.
The coalition’s letter helped add momentum to NSB’s plans to request
additional support for science education in the fiscal year 2006
appropriations now moving through Congress. The coalition’s and NSB’s efforts
paid off in June, when Senate appropriators attached instructions to
form a commission along with their budget recommendations for NSF. The
budget included slight increases for science and engineering education
(relative to both the President’s request and the House bill, but still
below FY2004 levels). In the report that accompanies the spending bill
for Science, State, Justice and Commerce, the Senate committee
instructs the NSF “to provide an interim report by September 30, 2005, on the
establishment of the commission, and to report the commission's findings
and recommendations to the Committee at the conclusion of the
commission's work.”
More information about funding for research and education at NSF is
available from the Government Affairs Program NSF appropriations summary
at:
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/appropsfy2006_nsf.html
*** AGU Questions Space Exploration Vision ***
The American Geophysical Union issued a position statement entitled
“"NASA: Earth and Space Sciences at Risk." on June 7, 2005. The statement
raises concerns about funding for Earth science missions when NASA is
beginning to focus on human exploration to the Moon and Mars based on
President Bush’s “Vision for Space Exploration”. The statement cautions
that Earth and space science may be declining in priority at NASA and
are being "threatened by new financial demands placed on NASA by the
return to human space flight using the space shuttle, finishing the space
station, and launching the Moon-Mars initiatives." AGU calls for "the
U.S. Administration, Congress, and NASA to continue their commitment to
innovative Earth and space science programs."
In a press conference at AGU Headquarters, the chairman of the
statement panel, Eric Barron, a researcher at Pennsylvania State University,
indicated that fiscal year 2006 budget documents show that NASA proposes
to spend slightly more than $30 billion over fiscal years 2006 to 2010
for the Science Missions directorate, a reduction of more than $1
billion compared to previous projections for the same time period. The full
position statement is available at:
http://www.agu.org/sci_pol/policy/positions/earthspace_risk.shtml
*** NASA Reauthorization Act Makes Its Way through Congress***
In recent weeks, the House and the Senate have begun work on a
reauthorization act for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA). Passed by the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee
on June 23, 2005, the NASA Reauthorization Act of 2005 establishes a
congressional mandate for NASA to carry out the President's Vision for
Space Exploration while maintaining an appropriate and sustainable
balance of funding for human space flight, aeronautics, and science programs
for fiscal years 2006 through 2010. One major priority of both bills
is to close the expected four-year gap in human space flight capability
after the space shuttle is retired in 2010. The Senate version also
requires that the U.S. maintain its leadership in the completion and
servicing of the International Space Station (ISS), and designates the U.S.
segment of the ISS a national laboratory.
In order to maintain healthy earth science and aeronautics programs,
both bills also encourage cooperation with entrepreneurs and other
agencies as they direct NASA to develop a national aeronautics policy as well
as a plan for earth science mission priorities. The latter would be
based on the findings of the interim report on Earth Observations and
Applications from Space by the National Academy of Sciences' National
Research Council, which concluded that federal earth science programs may
be threatened by recent changes in executive policy and federal budget
support, particularly at NASA.
Read more about the NASA Reauthorization Act at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/nasa.html
*** USGS Director Departs, Acting Director Steps In ***
Charles “Chip” Groat resigned as director of the U.S. Geological
Survey, effective as of June 17, 2005. Secretary of the Interior, Gale
Norton, wrote in a press release, “I cannot overstate your positive impact
on the USGS and its contributions to science excellence and leadership
under your stewardship,” she said. “You have worked successfully to
ensure that the USGS’s scientific capabilities are effectively applied to
supporting important decisions regarding resource and environmental
management and policy. You have substantially increased the USGS’s
interactions with organizations that use science in decision making, and
especially those within the Department of the Interior, to ensure the
relevance of the USGS’s work to their needs.”
Chip Groat was the 13th Director of the USGS and started his 7 year
tenure in 1998. Before his appointment as USGS Director, Dr. Groat served
(1998-95) as Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored
Projects at the University of Texas at El Paso, Director of the Center for
Environmental Resource management, Director of the Environmental Science
and Engineering Ph.D. Program and a Professor of Geological Sciences.
He served as Executive Director (1992-95) at the Center for Coastal,
Energy, and Environmental Resources at Louisiana State University and
Executive Director (1990-92) for the American Geological Institute. He
served (1983-88) as Assistant to the Secretary of the Louisiana
Department of Natural Resources, where he administered the Coastal Zone
Management Program and the Coastal Protection Program. He held positions
(1978-90) at Louisiana State University and the Louisiana Department of
Natural Resources, which included serving as professor for the Departme
nt of Geology and Geophysics, and as Director and State Geologist for
the Louisiana Geological Survey. Before that he served as Associate
Director and Acting Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the
University of Texas at Austin and he started his career as an associate
professor of geology at the university. Chip will return to the
University of Texas at Austin to become the first director of their new Energy
and Environmental Policy Institute.
Dr. P. Patrick Leahy was named the acting director of the USGS on June
13, 2005. Leahy has spent his entire professional career at the USGS
and was the associate director for Geology, responsible for federal
earth-science programs, including worldwide earthquake hazards monitoring
and research, geologic mapping of land and seafloor resources, volcano
and landslide hazards, and assessments of energy and mineral resources.
He was also responsible for all USGS international activities.
A recipient of the USGS Meritorious Service Award, Leahy has served in
various technical and managerial positions, including chief of the
National Water-Quality Assessment Program. He has authored or co-authored
more than 50 publications. Born in Troy, N.Y., in 1947, Leahy holds
undergraduate and graduate degrees in geology (1968) and geophysics
(1970) from Boston College. He received his doctorate in geology (1979)
from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he specialized in regional
ground-water studies and hydraulics.
*** Presidential Fish Food for Thought ***
On June 7, 2005, the Bush administration in coordination with the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced the
proposed National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2005. The proposed bill would
grant the Secretary of Commerce new authority to issue permits for
offshore aquaculture in federal ocean waters while providing environmental
and other safeguards to protect wild stocks, marine ecosystems, and
other users. The Act, which does not supersede existing authorities,
specifically provides for coordination and consultation with other federal
agencies, Fishery Management Councils, and coastal states. The proposed
bill is based on the September 2004 final report of the U.S. Commission
on Ocean Policy, “An Ocean Blueprint for the 21st Century.”
Commercial aquaculture is currently limited to near-shore waters and
permitted by coastal states. There are 3 experimental aquaculture
facilities in deeper offshore waters near New Hampshire, Maine and Hawaii.
The proposed act would allow areas in the United States Exclusive
Economic Zone, which extends up to 200 miles offshore, to be leased for 10
year periods. The plan is to increase domestic fish farms five-fold by
2025 and decrease the nation’s dependence on fish imports (currently
about 70% of the seafood supply is imported and 40% of that is from fish
farms).
The chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Ted Stevens
(R-AK), is expected to introduce the aquaculture legislation as a courtesy
to the administration. He told Energy and Environment Daily (E&E
Daily) that he may include options for states to opt out of the program. E&E
Daily also noted some opposition to the proposed bill from
Representatives Sam Farr (D-CA) and Lois Capps (D-CA), who believe that NOAA needs
to conduct more research and an environmental impact study before it
pushes development of aquaculture any further. "As the U.S. Ocean
Commission pointed out last year, there is great potential for ocean
aquaculture, but there are countless questions that need to be answered before
we should allow the industry to expand in earnest," Farr said in a
statement. "Water pollution, possible introduction of invasive species and
spread of disease, are all factors that need to be considered."
Outside experts were cautious in their responses to Marion Burros, a
New York Times reporter in a June 6 news story: "Fisheries are a
collapsing industry, and even though aquaculture comes with a lot of baggage,
it is absolutely the future of seafood production," said Daniel Benetti,
chairman of marine affairs and policy at the University of Miami. "I
believe aquaculture is incredibly important," said Jane Lubchenco, an
Oregon State zoology professor. "Now is the time to make sure it grows
in a way that is good for human health and the environment. I would
like to see the right kinds of checks and balances before we launch into
this massive offshore experiment and it is too late."
*** Teaching Teachers about Groundwater ***
The American Ground Water Trust’s program “Ground Water Institute for
Teachers™”, educates teachers about groundwater and hydrology in 2-day
training sessions. For the past 5 years the program has taught 790
teachers at 31 ground water Institutes in 17 states. Now the American
Ground Water Trust is teaming up with the U.S. Geological Survey to develop
consistent teaching tools and to set up an Institute in every state.
All Institute participants will receive a package of USGS educational
materials and publications that highlight the latest science and
research technologies used to address water-resource issues and management
practices. Local USGS scientists will participate in each program by
leading field trips, presenting their research, assisting in planning, and
providing materials.
The first of the 2005 Institutes was held on June 9-10 at the USGS
Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC) in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Additional Institutes will be scheduled in: Miami and Gainesville, Florida;
Fresno, CA; Branchville, NJ; Denver, CO; Lowell, MA; Allentown, PA; San
Antonio, TX; and Claremont, CA. For more information about this
partnership and the Ground Water Institutes for Teachers see:
http://water.usgs.gov/partnerships.html or
http://www.agwt.org/teachers/institutehome.html
*** Freedom to Read ***
A Freedom to Read Amendment to the Commerce, Justice, State (CJS)
Appropriations Bill in the U.S. House of Representatives was approved on
June 15, 2005 by a vote of 238-187. The amendment cuts Justice Department
funds for bookstore and library searches allowed under Section 215 of
the USA Patriot Act. The amendment would prohibit officers from using
federal money to gain access to library circulation records, library
patron lists, book-sales records, or book-customer lists. The amendment
has broad support from librarians and booksellers, including the
American Library Association and American Booksellers Association. The
amendment was sponsored by Rep. Bernard Sanders (I-VT), who previously tried
to pass a bill with very similar language, H.R. 1157, in 2003. The
House appropriations bill must be reconciled with the Senate
appropriations bill, which does not contain the same amendment, during conference
committee meetings. President Bush has vowed to veto any bill, incl
uding an appropriations bill that weakens the USA Patriot Act. The USA
Patriot Act also has several amendments and components that must be
re-authorized by the end of this year.
*** Scientific Misconduct Study ***
A study published in Nature on June 8, 2005, presents a survey of more
than 3,000 scientists that reveals a significant number of scientists
are behaving in ways that could compromise the integrity of research.
According to the article, about a third of participants in the survey
admitted that they had taken part in actions such as ignoring others' use
of incorrect data, omitting presentations of data contradicting one's
own work, and actively working around minor requirements of
human-subject research. The data suggests that many scientists perceive inequities
in science in terms of obtaining grants, publishing papers, and earning
promotions, and the researchers found a correlation between scientists
who perceived injustice in the system and those who admitted to
misbehaving.
*** Canada Funds More Mapping ***
Canada has renewed its commitment to providing access to high-quality
maps, satellite images and related data and technologies. The
Government has allocated funding of CA$60 million in fiscal year 2005 for a
second, five-year phase of GeoConnections, a national partnership
initiative led by the Natural Resources of Canada (NRCan) to make Canada's
geospatial databases, applications and services readily accessible on-line.
GeoConnections has developed the policies, standards, technologies and
partnerships needed to build the Canadian Geospatial Data
Infrastructure (CGDI). CGDI is a national database of aerial photos, satellite
images, and maps intended for political and economic decision-making. Now
that the CGDI is developed the program will focus on public health,
public safety, environment and sustainable development and Aboriginal
issues.
More information about the program and the data is available at:
http://www.geoconnections.org/CGDI.cfm
According to a GeoConnections press release, the Bush administration
has identified a need for accurate joint geospatial data to address
concerns of border security and terrorism. The U.S. Geological Survey’s
(USGS) Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is currently working with
the GeoConnections Framework Data Node to build “separate, but
compatible” National Spatial Data Infrastructures (SDI) that contribute to the
Global Spatial Data Infrastructure (GSDI). This program is funded at
about $4 million annually. In the United States, two other
federally-led programs, Geospatial One-Stop and the USGS National Map, share the
common goal of building the NSDI.
More information is available on the Federal Geographic Data Committee
website: www.fgdc.gov
*** New Evolution Website: Q&A on Intelligent Design ***
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) unveiled
a new website, http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/evolution, regarding
the teaching of evolution in science classrooms. The site provides
materials, tools and links to help the website visitor understand the
issues and respond to questions and concerns about the subject of
evolution. AAAS has also developed a question and answer (Q&A) brief about
“Evolution and Intelligent Design”
http://www.aaas.org/news/press_room/evolution/qanda.shtml
*** Academies Joint Climate Change Statement ***
On June 7, 2005 academies of science from leading nations issued a
first-ever joint statement urging their countries’ leaders to take prompt
action and commit to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Issued
by the science academies of Britain, France, Russia, Germany, United
States, Japan, Italy, and Canada, the statement was released ahead of the
G8 summit in Gleneagles, Scotland, at which climate change will be a
major agenda item because the current G8 President, British Prime
Minister Tony Blair believes the issue is very important and should be on
their agenda.
Also signing onto the statement were the academies of Brazil, China,
and India, which are not members of the G8. "It is clear that world
leaders, including the G8, can no longer use uncertainty about aspects of
climate change as an excuse for not taking urgent action to cut
greenhouse gas emissions," said Robert May, president of the Royal Society.
"The scientific evidence forcefully points to a need for a truly
international effort. Make no mistake, we have to act now. And the longer we
procrastinate, the more difficult the task of tackling climate change
becomes."
May said that the current U.S. policy on climate change was misguided.
"The Bush administration has consistently refused to accept the advice
of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences… Getting the U.S. onboard is
critical because of the sheer amount of greenhouse gas emissions they
are responsible for." In the joint statement, the academies urge the G8
nations to find cost-effective steps that can be taken immediately
toward substantial and long-term reductions in global greenhouse gas
emissions. The academies also urge the G8 nations to find cost-effective
steps that can be taken immediately toward substantial and long-term
reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions.
The statement called on G8 leaders and others to: (1) Acknowledge that
the threat of climate change is clear and increasing. (2) Launch an
international study to help set emission targets to avoid unacceptable
impacts. (3) Identify cost-effective steps that can be taken now to
contribute to substantial and long-term reduction in net global greenhouse
gas emissions. (4) Work with developing nations to build their
scientific and technological capacity. (5) Take a lead in developing and
deploying clean energy technologies. (6) Mobilize the science and
technology community to enhance research and development.
*** Participate in Climate Change Workshop ***
The U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) will hold a workshop on
Climate Science in Support of Decision making on November 14-16, 2005,
at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, Virginia. The
workshop will explore uses of observations, modeling, studies of climate
and related environmental processes, and derived tools to inform decision
making.
The CCSP invites presentations by users of climate science as well as
members of the research community on topics related to the following
major themes of the workshop, water, ecosystems, coastal issues and
energy. Current information about the workshop is available at
www.climatescience.gov/workshop2005/default.htm
Those interested in giving a presentation should submit an abstract
using the web-based submission process. The deadline for submitting
abstracts is July 30, 2005.
*** NIST World Trade Center Report ***
On June 23, 2005, the National Institute of Standards and Technology
(NIST) announced the results of an investigation into the collapse of New
York City’s World Trade Center (WTC) towers on September 11, 2001.
NIST released 30 recommendations for public comment, contained in 43 draft
reports that call for changes to building and fire safety codes,
standards and practices. The investigation was conducted through the Federal
Emergency Management Agency with funding appropriated by Congress in
2002.
At a press conference in New York City, NIST Acting Director Dr. Hratch
Semerjian remarked, “We expect that the focus on what the nation needs
to do to improve safety for buildings, occupants and first responders
will grow sharper as a result of the work we have done. NIST will not
be satisfied until then, and until improvements are made.” WTC Lead
Investigator Shyam Sunder asked local and state agencies to adopt the
recommendations. “The recommendations also should lead to safer and more
effective building evacuations and emergency responses. However,
improvements will only be realized if they are acted upon by the appropriate
organizations,” said Sunder.
USGS scientists conducted a separate study in 2002 using spectroscopic
analysis of the fires, soot and dust generated by the collapse of the
towers to determine the amount of asbestos in the environment.
NIST will hold a conference on September 13–15, 2005, at its
headquarters in Gaithersburg, Maryland to discuss the recommendations from the
report. Details on this conference and registration information are
available at http://wtc.nist.gov/.
The full report is available online at http://wtc.nist.gov/.
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/wtc_briefing_june2305.htm
*** Disaster Reduction Report ***
The Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction of the President’s National
Science and Technology Council has released their report “Grand Challenges
for Disaster Reduction”. The report provides a 10 year plan to reduce
the damage from disasters through science and technology. Their 6
challenges are: (1) Provide hazard and disaster information where and when
it is needed. (2) Understand the natural processes that produce
hazards. (3) Develop hazard mitigation strategies and technologies. (4)
Recognize and reduce vulnerability of interdependent critical
infrastructure. (5) Assess disaster resilience using standard methods and (6)
Promote risk-wise behavior.
The full report is available at: http://sdr.gov/
*** Earth System Processes 2: Conference in Alberta ***
The Geological Society of America (GSA) and the Geological Association
of Canada (GAC) will co-host a meeting titled “Earth System Processes
2” on August 8-11 at the Westin Hotel in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
“ESP2” will be a sequel to the Earth System Processes meeting held in
Edinburgh, Scotland in 2001.
NASA’s Astrobiology Institute and the Canadian Institute for Advanced
Research, the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, and the European
Geosciences Union will support plenary sessions, field trips, and
special events. Sessions will focus on dynamic Earth systems and human
influences on the oceans, atmosphere, biota, and geology over time.
For more information, please go to:
http://www.geosociety.org/meetings/esp2/
*** One More Summer Intern Joins AGI ***
John Vermylen arrived at AGI one month ago, on June 6th. He is the
third and final AGI/AIPG Intern, and promises to make important
contributions to the Government Affairs Program this summer. In May, John earned
his Bachelor’s in geology from Princeton University, and this coming
fall, he will head right back to school to pursue a PhD in Geophysics
from Stanford University. John has a strong interest in carbon
sequestration research, and he will continue to follow developments in national
energy policy as well as natural hazards and mining legislation for the
Government Affairs Program through August.
*** Key Federal Register Notices ***
Below 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
http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/frcont05.html. Information on
submitting comments and reading announcements are also available online
at http://www.regulation.gov.
BLM: The Bureau of Land Management has started to solicit nominations
to lease land for the demonstration of oil shale recovery technologies
in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. The announcement initiates the agency’s
Oil Shale Research, Development and Demonstration (R, D & D) Program,
which intends to encourage private sector development of Green River
Formation oil shales. Nominations for leases can be made June 9, 2005
through September 7, 2005, and sent to the appropriate BLM state director.
[Federal Register: June 9, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 110)]
EPA: In 2007, a new testing program will be initiated for engine
manufacturers. The program requires exhaust emissions to be measured from
diesel engines using a portable emissions measurement system. For the
first time, the Environmental Protection Agency will be receiving
emissions data acquired from regularly used engines. Also, the EPA will be
able to evaluate the data and ensure that the emissions comply with
requirements. The ruling is a result of an agreement between the EPA and
the Engine Manufacturers Association to improve air quality by ensuring
that more stringent emission can be realized under current driving
conditions. This rule will become effective on August 15. [Federal
Register: June 14, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 113)]
FERC: The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission decided to amend current
regulations to require public utility companies to add large wind
generation operations to interconnection procedures. The wind operations
will be subject to technical requirements as well as open access
transmission tariffs (OATTs) standard procedures. The final rule will become
effective on August 15. [Federal Register: June 16, 2005 (Volume 70,
Number 115)]
*** New Updates to Website ***
FY2006 Department of Energy Appropriations (7-1-05)
FY2006 NASA Appropriations (7-1-05)
FY2006 National Science Foundation Appropriations (7-1-05)
FY2006 Department of Commerce Appropriations (7-1-05)
FY2006 Department of Agriculture Appropriations (7-1-05)
FY2006 Department of Interior Appropriations (7-1-05) Hearings on
NASA's Space Program (7-1-05) Energy Policy Overview (6-28-05) National
Cooperative Geologic Mapping Act (6-28-05) Climate Change Policy Overview
(6-28-05) NASA Space and Science Policy (6-28-05)
FY2006 National Science Foundation Appropriations (6-27-05) Energy
Policy Hearings (6-27-05)
FY2006 Department of Energy Appropriations (6-23-05)
FY2006 Department of Education Appropriations (6-23-05)
FY2006 NASA Appropriations (6-22-05)
Water Resources (6-21-05)
Hearings on High-Level Nuclear Waste Management (6-21-05) Mining Policy
(6-13-05) Political Challenges to the Teaching of Evolution (6-13-05)
FY2006 Department of Interior Appropriations (6-13-05)
FY2006 Department of Agriculture Appropriations (6-13-05) Federal
Science Education Policy Overview (6-10-05)
FY2006 Environmental Protection Agency Appropriations (6-10-05) Oceans
Policy Hearings (6-10-05) Hearings on Clean Air Issues (6-10-05)
Hearings on Science Education and U.S. Competitiveness (6-3-05)
Monthly Review prepared by Linda Rowan, Director of Government Affairs,
Katie Ackerly, Government Affairs Staff, Anne Smart, 2005 AGI/AIPG
Summer Intern, and Amanda Schneck, 2005 AGI/AIPG Summer Intern.
Sources: The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times,
Nature, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American
Groundwater Trust, National Institute for Standards and Technology, Federal
Geographic Data Committee website, American Institute of Physics,
American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, U.S. Geological
Survey, Congressional Quarterly, Environment and Energy Daily, Greenwire,
Subcommittee on Disaster Reduction, Hearing Testimony, House
Appropriations Committee, Senate Appropriations Committee, The Federal Register.
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2) AGI BECOMES FOUNDING PARTNER OF THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF PLANET
EARTH
ALEXANDRIA, VA - As the first U.S. organization to become a founding
partner of the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) initiative, the
American Geological Institute (AGI) is looking forward to enhancing the
breadth of participation and perspective to the development of this
important effort to enhance the global standing of the geosciences.
AGI's Executive Committee voted on June 19 to become a founding partner
of IYPE. This involvement with IYPE will significantly benefit the
U.S. geoscience community, giving U.S. geoscientists access to the
conceptual and operational aspects of IYPE, while demonstrating AGI's
preparedness to invest in international geoscience operations and activities.
"AGI's active involvement would guarantee a truly global balance in the
science and outreach programs of IYPE," says Stephen Testa, president
of AGI.
IYPE was initiated by the International Union of Geological Sciences
(IUGS), and working through UNESCO will put forward a formal proposal at
the next General Assembly of the United Nations in New York to
designate 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth. This endeavor brings
together numerous geoscience organizations and individuals from around
the world in an effort to increase public awareness of earth sciences
in society, and to coordinate key research efforts to address society's
pressing issues, such as sustainable development and responsible
stewardship of the planet.
Joining the other founding partners including AGI member society, the
Geological Society of London, and 18 associate partners, AGI will be
involved in supporting the activities needed to make IYPE possible
financially and strategically.
* * * * * * * * * *
The American Geological Institute is a nonprofit federation of 43
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 society's use of resources and
interaction with the environment.
More information about AGI can be found at http://www.agiweb.org.
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3) CONTACT INFORMATION
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