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AWG E-MAIL NEWS 2005-19
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CONTENTS
1) AGI GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS MONTHLY REVIEW - AUGUST 2005
2) EARTH SCIENCE WEEK 2005: FREE KIT, NEW RESOURCES, EMERGING TRENDS
3) POSITION OPENINGS
2005-057 James Madison University - Applied, Shallow Earth, Geophysics
2005-080 San Diego State University - Stratigraphy/Sedimentology and
Low-
Temperature Geochemistry
2005-083 Iowa State University - Surface Hydrology
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 - AUGUST 2005
* Hurricane Katrina and Initial Government Response
* AGI’s Government Affairs Response to Katrina
* Congressional Hazards Caucus Coalition to Hold Earthquake Briefing
* September is National Preparedness Month
* President Bush Signs FY 2006 Interior and Environment Budget into Law
* EPA Issues New Radiation Protection Standard for Yucca Mountain
* Facing Rising Gas Prices, Bush Proposes Higher CAFE Standards
* Eastern States Team Up to Reduce Power Plant CO2
* NAFTA Panel Rejects Claim Against California’s MTBE Ban
* International Agency Rules Against Iran’s Uranium Processing
* Scientists Respond to Bush’s Statement on Intelligent Design
* Kansas Board of Education Approves Revised Science Standards
* House Committee Amends Higher Education Act
* ExxonMobil and Golf Pro Sponsor Math and Science Teachers Academy
* Business Groups Call for National Innovation Plan
* Google Print Stalls over Copyright Concerns
* Library Sues Justice Department
* NSF May Lease Russian Icebreaker
* Forest Service Scales Back Recreation
* Senate Confirms New NIST Director
* New NASA Science Director
* AGI and AGU Release Geoscience Employment Survey
* Apply now for AGI’s Spring Public Policy Internship
* Key Federal Register Notices
*** Hurricane Katrina and Initial Government Response ***
Below is a brief and non-comprehensive timeline of the path of
Hurricane Katrina, the state and local response, and the federal government
response. Estimates of the amount of damage are given, but could change
as more is learned in the aftermath of this disaster. No estimates of
the loss of life or injuries are provided because of the larger
uncertainties in these numbers.
-- Path of Hurricane Katrina --
On August 23, 2005, Katrina became the 11th named tropical storm of the
Atlantic season when it was located about 175 miles southeast of Nassau
in the Bahamas.
On August 25, Katrina struck the Florida coast near Hallandale as a
category 1 hurricane with 80 mph winds. Heavy rains caused extensive
flooding and power was out for over one million Floridians.
From August 26 to August 28, the hurricane grew from a category 2 (100
mph winds) to a category 5 (with maximum winds of 175 mph) as it moved
west-northwest at about 7 miles per hour through the nearly 90°F waters
of the Gulf of Mexico.
On Monday, August 29, Katrina made landfall at 6:10 am (local time)
near Buras, LA (about 63 miles southeast of New Orleans) as a category 4
hurricane with 145 mph winds. The storm made its second landfall at
10:00 am (local time) near the Louisiana-Mississippi border as a category
3 hurricane with 125 mph winds. Winds damaged a 125-mile stretch of
coastline from Alabama to Louisiana with an estimated storm surge of 20
to 25 feet in parts of Mississippi and Louisiana causing utter
devastation near the coast. That same day, at least 2 levees broke in New
Orleans.
From August 29 to early August 30, tornadoes spawned from the outer
bands of Hurricane Katrina in Georgia, damaging tens of buildings and
poultry houses and caused electricity outages for thousands.
By August 30, 80% of New Orleans was under water with the floods
reaching as high as 20 feet in some areas.
Damaging winds and a massive storm surge destroyed thousands of houses
and an unknown number of buildings, roads, bridges, boats and vehicles
along the coast. Subsequent flooding damaged hundreds of thousands of
houses and more buildings, roads, boats and vehicles. Electricity and
communications (telephone land lines and mobile phones) for over a
million people and an unknown number of businesses and government facilities
were knocked out by wind and water throughout the Gulf Coast. Over a
million people were displaced and the city of New Orleans was completely
shut down. Oil production, oil refineries and oil distribution by
pipeline or other means throughout the stricken Gulf Coast region have been
limited or completely shut down.
The system of ports of South Louisiana near Fort Fourchon and Pilottown
and the New Orleans port were damaged, hundreds of barges were lost or
damaged and navigational waterways from the ports to the Mississippi
River have been blocked with debris. The port system of South Louisiana
is the largest U.S. port with 198.8 million tons in trade in 2003.
About 59% of U.S. grain exports go out through Gulf Coast ports while 90%
of corn exports and 60% of soybean exports go out through the New
Orleans port. Farmers in the Midwest are concerned about the economic
impact of lower grain prices and higher transportation costs if the Gulf
Coast ports cannot handle barges of agricultural products coming down the
river after the upcoming harvest in a few weeks.
-- State and Local Government Response –
On August 27, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin declared a state of emergency
and asked residents to evacuate low-lying areas of the city.
Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour also declared a state of emergency and
ordered a mandatory evacuation of Hancock County.
On August 28, New Orleans mayor ordered a mandatory evacuation of the
city, less than 24 hours before the hurricane’s estimated landfall.
Alabama Governor Bob Riley declared a state of emergency.
On August 30, Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco asked that the
estimated 100,000 people still left in the city (including about 10,000 at the
Superdome and hundreds more at local hospitals) evacuate New Orleans
immediately.
-- Federal Government Response --
On August 26, the military deployed 10,000 National Guard troops along
the Gulf Coast.
On August 27, President Bush declared a state of emergency in
Louisiana.
On August 29, President Bush declared emergency disasters in Louisiana
and Mississippi after Hurricane Katrina made landfall.
On August 30, according to the Washington Post, the Department of
Homeland Security declared Katrina an “incident of national significance”
which should trigger the highest level of federal response, but the
decision was not publicly announced until the next day. The Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) allowed higher-polluting gasoline to be sold in
Alabama, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to ease gas shortages.
On August 31, Health and Human Services declared a federal health
emergency throughout the Gulf Coast and began to send medical supplies.
President Bush authorized the release of as much as 30 million barrels of
oil from the 700 million barrel Federal Petroleum Reserve. EPA eased
restrictions on the types and blends of gasoline that can be sold in
different states.
On September 1, the military deployed an additional 20,000 National
Guard troops to the Gulf Coast.
On September 2, Congress approved a $10.5 billion spending package to
cover the immediate costs of the disaster. The Minerals Management
Service estimated that about 88% (1.3 million barrels per day) of Gulf
Coast oil production and 72% of natural gas production have been shut down
by Katrina.
On September 3, President Bush ordered 7,200 active duty forces to the
Gulf Coast, although by law the troops cannot engage in domestic law
enforcement and will not be under the command of state officials. The
military deployed an additional 10,000 National Guard troops, who will be
under the command of state officials and can engage in domestic law
enforcement.
*** AGI’s Response to Hurricane Katrina ***
AGI put out a media advisory on September 1, 2005 providing additional
information and educational tools on hurricanes. The media advisory is
available at http://www.agiweb.org/outreach/index.html
AGI’s Government Affairs Program (GAP) put out an action alert on
September 2, 2005 asking for geoscientists and geotechnical engineers with
expertise in hurricane hazard mitigation and assessing the effect of
Hurricane Katrina on Gulf Coast energy supplies and distribution to
contact us. GAP is collecting a list of experts who can inform Congress
about these issues in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and its devastating
effects on the Gulf Coast. GAP has received many responses from petroleum
geologists to coastal erosion specialists and we greatly appreciate the
response from our diverse and valuable Member Societies. For more
details and to volunteer, please see our action alert at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/katrina_alert.html
GAP will be working to inform Congress of the geologic expertise
available to help develop sound policy for disaster assessment, hazards
mitigation and rebuilding hurricane-prone regions while the catastrophic
effects of Hurricane Katrina are the focus of national attention.
Congress will hold many hearings in the coming weeks and months about
Hurricane Katrina. Their first priority will be relief and support for the
over one million people affected by the disaster and at least two more
emergency supplemental aid packages are expected to be signed into law in
the coming weeks. Additional hearings and possible legislation will
focus on lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina and how to rebuild
devastated areas. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 contains legislation
authorizing as much as $1 billion for coastal restoration in the Gulf Coast.
Congress is likely to increase spending for restoration to protect
coastal communities from future hurricanes. Plans for rebuilding New O
rleans and other coastal communities are uncertain at this time,
however, sound scientific and engineering practices should be considered.
This past June, the Senate Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and
Prediction held a hearing on severe storm preparedness, including testimony
addressing the vulnerability of New Orleans. An archived web cast of
this hearing is available at
http://commerce.senate.gov/hearings/witnesslist.cfm?id=1564
GAP tracks hazards legislation and a list of hearings/legislation
related to natural hazards is available at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/issues/index.html#hazards. A summary of the
severe storm hearing that specifically talked about New Orleans is
available at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/wind_hearings.html
*** Congressional Hazards Caucus Coalition to Hold Earthquake Briefing
***
The Congressional Hazards Caucus Coalition will hold an earthquake
briefing on September 20, 2005 in the Rayburn House Office building. Our
speakers will be David Wald, a seismologist from the U.S. Geological
Survey, Stuart Nishenko, a seismologist from Pacific Gas and Electric,
Clifford J. Roblee, a geotechnical engineer and Executive Director for the
Network for Earthquake Engineering Simulation Consortium, Inc. and Russ
Paulsen, an emergency responder with earthquake expertise from the
American Red Cross. The Coalition consists of many diverse organizations
whose members include scientists, engineers, emergency responders and
insurers. AGI and several of AGI’s Member Societies, including the
American Association of State Geologists, the American Geophysical Union, the
Geological Society of America and the Seismological Society of America,
are part of the coalition. Other Member Societies are encouraged to
join the coalition and help the Caucus inform Congress about natu
ral disasters. More information about the Coalition and the Caucus is
available at www.hazardscaucus.org
*** September is National Preparedness Month ***
September is National Preparedness Month and it is sponsored jointly by
the American Red Cross and the Department of Homeland Security. They
plan to hold events around the country to help make the public more
aware about the critical need to prepare for disasters. To learn more
about how you and your family can prepare for emergencies or get involved
visit: www.ready.gov or www.redcross.org or www.citizencorps.gov. More
information about National Preparedness Month is available at
http://www.ready.gov/npm/
*** President Bush Signs FY 2006 Interior and Environment Budget into
Law ***
President Bush signed the fiscal year 2006 Interior, Environment, and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act (PL 109-54) on August 23, 2005. The
legislation included $1.5 billion in funding to meet shortfalls for
fiscal year 2005 Department of Veterans Affairs funding. It was partly
due to the urgency in making up this shortfall that the bill was approved
by Congress and signed by the President ahead of most of the other
appropriations bills. Besides Veterans Affairs, the bill makes
appropriations for the Department of the Interior (except the Bureau of
Reclamation), the Forest Service, the Indian Health Service, the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), Smithsonian Institution and related agencies.
Because of the reorganization of the appropriations committees, this is
the first time that Interior, EPA and the Forest Service have been
considered in the same bill. Among the geoscience-related agencies, the
USGS ($976 million), the Forest Service ($4,265 million), the Burea
u of Land Management ($1,788 million) and Smithsonian ($624 million)
all received increases in total funding compared to fiscal year 2005
levels.
For the full breakdown of budget appropriations by department, visit
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/appropsfy2006.html
*** EPA Issues New Radiation Protection Standard for Yucca Mountain ***
On August 9, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its
new public safety standards for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste
repository, overcoming what has been a significant obstacle to starting the
licensing process for the site. The new two-tiered standard sets the
acceptable level of radiation exposure for an individual living near the
site to 15 millirem per year (roughly equivalent to three chest X-rays,
according to EPA) for the first 10,000 years and then increases the
radiation exposure limit to 350 millirem above background per year for up
to 1 million years. These standards are designed to address all
potential sources of exposure, including air, groundwater and soil.
According to an EPA press release, the new standards also require that
the repository “withstand the effects of earthquakes, volcanoes and
significantly increased rainfall while safely containing the waste during
the 1 million-year period.”
Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and Attorney General Brian Sandoval quickly
condemned the new standards as overly lax, calling the ruling “a snub
to the scientific community.” According to Greenwire, the Department of
Energy did not release an expected target date for filing their license
application, but the agency will likely file the application by early
next year.
Read a full summary at http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis109/yucca.html.
EPA documents and information can be found at
http://www.epa.gov/radiation/yucca, and the Nevada Governor’s response
at http://gov.state.nv.us/pr/2005/PR_2005-08-09YUCCA.htm.
*** Facing Rising Gas Prices, Bush Proposes Higher CAFE Standards ***
In an attempt to provide some long-term relief from rising gas prices,
the Department of Transportation announced a new policy on August 23,
2005 to raise the corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards for
light trucks between 2008 and 2011. The proposal diverges significantly
from the administration’s previously rigid opposition to raising fuel
efficiency standards for pick-up trucks, sport utility vehicles (SUVs)
and minivans; however, environmentalists maintain that the new
regulations will not dramatically change gasoline consumption.
Under the new rules, light trucks, which currently adhere to a 21 mpg
standard (22.2 mpg by 2007), would be divided into six compliance
categories by size. Efficiency targets by 2011 would range from 28.4 mpg in
the smallest class to 21.4 mpg in the largest class. Vehicles over
8500 pounds, such as the Hummer, would be exempt from these standards.
According to administration estimates, the rule would result in a 15.9%
improvement in light truck fuel economy from 2004 and 2011, and it would
save 10 billion gallons of gasoline over the lifetimes of vehicles
built between 2008 and 2011. To place this savings in perspective, the
U.S. currently consumes 140 billion gallons of gas each year according to
the Department of Energy.
Environmentalists cited in recent press reports say that the true
impact of the rules will depend heavily on a variety of factors, because
automakers will have several opportunities to use the six-tiered system to
dodge significant efficiency changes. Furthermore, the impact of the
new standards might be eclipsed by the effect skyrocketing gas prices
may have on consumer choices in the near future.
After a three-month public comment period, the administration will
issue a final rule by April, 2006. Read the full proposal at:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/portal/site/nhtsa/menuitem.43ac99aefa80569eea57529cdba046a0/
*** Eastern States Team Up to Reduce Power Plant CO2 ***
After two years of collaboration, nine northeastern states have agreed
to reduce power plant emissions in the region to 10% of current levels
by 2020. On August 24, 2005 the New York Times obtained and reported
on a confidential draft proposal for the regional initiative, which is,
according to the Times, the first such cooperative regulatory action in
the history of the United States. Although the proposal is not
finalized, the Times interviewed one state official who said, “We have very
high hopes of getting a resolution through to all the states by the end
of September.”
Environmentalists who were interviewed in the article said that the
proposal would achieve roughly the same emission reductions as those
instituted under the Kyoto Protocol. A regional cap-and-trade program would
freeze emissions at current levels starting in 2009, and further
reductions would be enforced after 2015. However, because such a multi-state
regulatory agreement is unprecedented, the new plan may have a greater
impact on national environmental policy than on the environment itself.
California, Washington and Oregon are already exploring a similar
regional agreement that, together with the northeastern states’ agreement,
may exert considerable pressure on the federal government to change
their position on greenhouse gas control.
*** NAFTA Panel Rejects Claim Against California’s MTBE Ban ***
On August 9, 2005, a North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) panel
dismissed a Canadian company’s claim against California’s ban on the
gasoline additive MTBE. Methanex, the world’s leader in methanol
production (a key component of MTBE), said that California’s ban hampered
foreign investments and demanded compensation for revenue losses. The case
was the most high-profile example of a foreign company exercising its
right under NAFTA to challenge regulations that it claims unfairly
restricts its international business. Greenwire quoted California Attorney
General Bill Lockyer as saying that the panel’s rejection of the case
"sends a message to all foreign investors who would challenge the
environmental and labor laws that are the fabric of our democracy.”
MTBE is a chemical blended with gasoline to lower toxic emissions that
became widely used in the U.S. after an oxygenate requirement was
imposed nationwide under the 1990 Clean Air Act. California Governor Gray
Davis ordered a ban on the chemical after studies suggested the chemical
caused cancer and other neurological and skin conditions, and may pose
a threat to groundwater supply.
For more information, read reports from the Canadian company
http://www.methanex.com/newsroom/mtbe.html and CalTrade
http://www.caltradereport.com/eWebPages/page-two-1124341198.html
*** International Agency Rules Against Iran’s Uranium Processing ***
On August 11, 2005, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA)
Board of Governors unanimously approved a resolution demanding that Iran
halt nuclear processing activities by September 3, 2005. After nuclear
non-proliferation negotiations deteriorated between Iran, the United
States, the European Union, and the United Nations, Iran resumed
activities at its Uranium Conversion Facility in Esfahan.
In the resolution, the IAEA “expresses serious concern” over these
developments, stating that “the Agency is not yet in a position to conclude
that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran.”
Iranian officials attacked the resolution as unacceptable because it
illegally removes their right to conduct nuclear activities that are
allowed under the Iran Nonproliferation Treaty. Regardless of
international concerns, Iran expects to become a nuclear fuel producer and supplier
within the next decade.
The full text of the resolution is available at
http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Documents/Board/2005/gov2005-64.pdf
*** Scientists Respond to Bush’s Statement on Intelligent Design ***
Several scientific societies responded immediately to President Bush’s
statement to the press that intelligent design should be taught along
with evolution in public schools. Below is a non-comprehensive list of
responses from some organizations:
Media advisory from the American Geophysical Union
http://www.agu.org/sci_soc/prrl/prrl0528.html
Media advisory from the National Science Teachers Association
http://www.nsta.org/pressroom&news_story_ID=50794
Letter to President Bush from the American Astronomical Society
http://www.aas.org/education/pressreleases/maran_PR.pdf
Media advisory and position statement from the American Society of
Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America and the Soil Science Society
of America http://www.asa-cssa-sssa.org/pdf/intdesign_050815.pdf
Media advisory from the American Physical Society
http://www.aps.org/media/pressreleases/080405.cfm
*** Kansas Board of Education Approves Revised Science Standards ***
The full, 10-member Kansas State Board of Education voted on July 9,
2005 to accept a draft of revised science standards requiring students
"to learn about the best evidence for modern evolutionary theory, but
also to learn about areas where scientists are raising scientific
criticisms of the theory." The Board voted 6-4 in favor of the draft despite
written arguments from the science standards writing committee, who had
originally excluded similar language.
Although the revised standards do not specifically advocate for the
teaching of intelligent design, the new language could bring such
discussions into classrooms. Changes that were made on June 9th make reference
to testimony offered during three days of hearings last May, and state
that "evolution is accepted by many scientists but questioned by some"
and that "all scientific theories should be approached with an open
mind, studied carefully, and critically considered."
The revised science standards have been sent to an external review
board based in Denver, Colorado. The review, at a cost of more than
$20,000, is intended to provide final legitimacy to the science standards.
The review will be completed by October or November.
For more coverage read AGI’s Kansas update at
http://www.agiweb.org/gap/legis108/evolution.html
Documents related to the science standards controversy, including the
original and revised standards as well as written testimony from the May
hearings are available on the Kansas State Department of Education
website: http://www.ksde.org/.
*** House Committee Amends Higher Education Bill ***
The House Education and Workforce Committee approved a major bill last
month that includes provisions encouraging students to pursue degrees
in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). During a committee
mark-up of the College Access and Opportunity Act (H.R. 609),
Representatives Howard McKeon (R-CA) and Vernon Ehlers (R-MI) successfully
offered an amendment that would authorize over $41 million over the next
five years for student loan relief, math and science scholarships, and
state assistance grants aimed at strengthening STEM education. The
proposal, which would offer up to $5,000 to forgive student loan interest for
science and math majors, includes ideas from a bill proposed earlier
this year by Science Appropriations Committee Chairman Frank Wolf (R-VA).
Wolf’s bill had offered up to $10,000 in loan interest relief, but
lacked funds for scholarships and state-local partnerships.
“It is simply unacceptable that America’s high school students are
struggling to keep up with their industrialized-world peers in the fields
of math and science,” said Representative McKeon. “This is a serious
crisis that we cannot wait to address.”
The main purpose of the College Access & Opportunity Act is to
reauthorize and reform the Higher Education Act, which is the nation’s primary
legislation governing student financial assistance and other programs
that enable low and middle-income students to pursue a college
education. Other provisions in the bill, which reform the Pell Grant system and
other programs, received mixed reviews on Capitol Hill and throughout
the education community. The committee approved the bill along strict
party lines on July 22, 2005, with House Democrats calling the bill the
“largest cut in federal student financial aid in the 40-year history of
the aid programs.” The full House is expected to take up the bill in
the fall, after which it will be passed on to the Senate.
For more information, visit the Education and Workforce website, at
http://edworkforce.house.gov/issues/109th/education/hea/hea.htm
The minority party has posted alternative views at
http://edworkforce.house.gov/democrats/hr609markup.html
*** ExxonMobil and Golf Pro Sponsor Math and Science Teachers Academy
***
In late July, two hundred teachers participated in a five-day training
seminar intended to enhance science and math instruction in third
through fifth-grade classrooms. The Teachers Academy was sponsored by
pro-golfer Phil Mickelson and his wife Amy, in partnership with ExxonMobil.
The National Science Teachers Association and Math Solutions
Professional Development provided curricula for the program and experienced
educators demonstrated various tools designed to increase student interest
and achievement in scientific disciplines.
When the Mickelsons partnered with ExxonMobil a year ago, Phil
explained, "It’s hard to imagine what modern life would be like without energy,
and there would be very little usable energy without science and
technology. Amy and I are eager to work with ExxonMobil to support education
programs that will open up the world of science and math to young
people. It's our hope that these young people will become the scientists
and engineers of tomorrow."
Read more about the program at:
http://www.exxonmobil.com/corporate/Sponsorships/sponsor_academy.asp
*** Business Groups Call for National Innovation Plan ***
In late July, fifteen business groups representing every sector of the
economy released a bold education plan to double the number of college
graduates in science, technology, engineering and math by 2015.
Entitled "Tapping America’s Potential: The Education for Innovation
Initiative,"
the 20-page report focuses on five critical areas in need of
improvement, including public support, K-12 education reform, visa and
immigration policies, educational incentives, and basic research funding.
“We need to build a strong focus on math and science today so that we
continue to encourage leaders in these fields tomorrow,” said U.S.
Chamber of Commerce CEO Donohue in a July 27th press release. “It is no
secret that in this country we are on the verge of losing a future
generation of highly skilled technical individuals, and we cannot let that
happen.”
“The good news is that a strong consensus has emerged on what needs to
be done to bolster American innovation and maintain our scientific and
technological leadership,” said John J. Castellani, President of
Business Roundtable, which organized the effort. Now we must mobilize
Americans to adopt and carry out some straightforward solutions that will
make a significant difference for our students and our economy.”
For more information visit http://www.businessroundtable.org/ or
http://www.uschamber.com/. Or download a copy of the report at
http://www.businessroundtable.org/pdf/20050727002TAPStatement.pdf
*** Google Print Stalls over Copyright Concerns ***
On August 11, 2005, Google announced that it will stop scanning
copyrighted materials for its Google Print Library Project until November,
giving copyright holders a chance to opt out of the program. Google
Print, which was launched in October, 2004 has so far partnered with five
major libraries with the ambitious mission of making the full text of all
books searchable online. The new rules will affect scanning at
Stanford University, Harvard University and the University of Michigan.
In response to concerns that the program could lead to unlawful use of
copyrighted text and compromise the business of publishers, Google’s
new policy allows copyright holders to submit a list of books they don’t
want Google to scan. The policy places the burden of copyright
protection on the publishers, causing concerned groups to continue to question
its lawfulness, according to the Washington Post. Google maintains
that, “the new approach would best balance the rights and needs of users
and publishers.”
View Google’s announcement at:
http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2005/08/making-books-easier-to-find.html
*** Library Sues the Justice Department ***
Court documents released to the public on August 25, 2005 indicate that
a library has sued the Justice Department over an FBI demand for
records. The FBI can use a document called the national security letter
(NSL) to demand records from a company or institution without the approval
of a judge. The law further stipulates that the company or institution
may not disclose the request to the public. The restrictions on using
NSLs were loosened under the U.S. Patriot Act. The use of NSLs is
distinct from the “library provision” of the Patriot Act, which the Justice
Department said has never been used. According to the Washington Post,
the Justice Department has declined to state how many NSLs have been
served.
The suit was filed in Connecticut and the unknown plaintiff is
described as a member of the American Library Association in court documents.
In September 2004 a judge in New York ruled that the federal statute
governing the use of NSLs was unconstitutional, however, the Justice
Department is appealing that decision. Stay tuned for more or less
information about NSLs.
*** NSF May Lease Russian Icebreaker ***
A National Science Foundation plan to hire a Russian icebreaking vessel
to carry out supply missions to Antarctic research stations has
received a chilly reception from the Senate. As of fiscal year (FY) 2006, the
NSF is supposed to take over responsibility for the operation and
upkeep of two U.S. icebreaking vessels from the Coast Guard. In light of
the considerable financial burden of maintaining and modernizing the
30-year-old vessels, language in the House science appropriations bill
encouraged the NSF to “immediately begin a concurrent pursuit of
alternative, more economical, icebreaking solutions.” However, the Senate
version specifies that NSF “shall procure polar icebreaking services from the
Coast Guard,” and must work with the White House to ensure that the
U.S. fleet is “capable of meeting NSF’s future ice breaking needs.” The
two vessels are currently docked in Washington State for repair and a
news report in Science Magazine suggests that Senator Patty Murray
(D-WA) requested the language in the Senate bill.
NSF’s decision to use the Russian vessel could save up to $5 million in
fuel and other operating costs that could go towards conducting major
repairs on the U.S. icebreakers. The decision is also in line with an
NSF advisory panel report, which provides other innovative solutions to
ensure that icebreaking costs do not jeopardize other NSF programs.
The Senate and the House will have to reconcile their differences when
the appropriations bills are considered in a conference committee.
The Science news story (subscription required) is available at:
www.sciencemag.org
*** Forest Service Scales Back Recreation ***
Forest Service officials reduced their estimates of how much revenue
can be expected from recreational activities on National Park land. In
2002, Bush Administration officials found that recreation accounted for
$11 billion of the agency’s total revenue, roughly one tenth of the
$111 billion projected under the Clinton Administration. As a result, the
Forest Service has adjusted its estimates of the economic contribution
of recreation activities from 85% of the park system’s total
contribution to 56%. Critics of the administration are concerned that these
adjustments will allow the government to justify collecting more revenue
from logging and mining on public land. Forest Service officials
maintain, on the other hand, that the agency has not diminished the
recreational value of National Forest land, but is simply relying on better
statistics. The study was done for the Forest Service by the nonprofit,
Natural Resources News Service.
More information about the final results and how the results were
obtained are available at http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/nvum/
*** Senate Confirms New NIST Director ***
On July 22, 2005, the Senate confirmed William Alan Jeffrey as the 13th
director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
Formerly the senior director for homeland and national security and
assistant director for space and aeronautics at the White House Office of
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), Jeffrey boasts an extensive
professional record in national security concerns, from computer security
and communications to larger technological investments and space
operations.
Jeffrey’s 17 years of experience in federal science and technology
policy includes a PhD in Astronomy from Harvard University, a B.Sc. in
Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a distinguished
career at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).
NIST is now the lead agency for the National Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Program (NEHRP). The agency was authorized to receive abut $3
million to coordinate NEHRP, but they have not been appropriated any funds,
leaving NEHRP without any coordinated leadership.
The NIST press release is available at
http://www.nist.gov/public_affairs/releases/jeffrey_confirm.htm
*** NASA Appoints New Science Director ***
In mid-August, NASA’s Chief Administrator Michael Griffin tapped Mary
Cleave to lead the agencies’ Science Directorate. Cleave is an engineer
and former astronaut who has been a project manager at NASA since 2000
and chief of Earth science programs since 2004. In the coming months
and years, Cleave will face the challenge of protecting NASA’s science
budget while controlling price overruns related to the James Webb
Telescope and overseeing the fate of the Hubble Telescope. Although Cleave
does not have extensive experience working with the scientific
community, NASA chief scientist James Garvin is confident that her experience
with human space flight makes her a strong advocate for scientific
research, according to Science Magazine.
*** AGI and AGU Release Geoscience Employment Survey ***
On August 24, 2005, the American Geological Institute (AGI) and the
American Geophysical Union (AGU) released an analysis of 2003 PhD
recipients in Earth, atmospheric, ocean and space sciences. The results show
that, despite an economic downturn in recent years, employment
opportunities and starting salaries for geoscientists have remained stable or
increased slightly over 2001 and 2002. Of those surveyed, 87% found work
directly related to their field, and women earned a slightly higher
percentage of PhDs compared to 2002.
The survey is based on data compiled from 1996 to 2003 and takes a
comprehensive look at the nature of doctoral degrees conferred in the
geosciences, general perceptions of the job market, and the distribution of
employment opportunities across industry, government, academia and the
non-profit sector. The report also looks at several factors
controlling employment opportunities within academia, such as the quality of
career development resources and networking support at Universities.
To download a copy of the full report, go to
http://www.agiweb.org/career/phdreport03.pdf.
*** Apply Now for AGI Public Policy Internship ***
The application deadline for the AGI Geoscience and Public Policy
Internship is fast approaching, on October 15, 2005. Each fall and spring
semester, AGI and the American Association of Petroleum Geologists
(AAPG) sponsor one outstanding geoscience student who has a strong interest
in public policy to work as an intern in AGI’s Government Affairs
Program. The intern will gain a first-hand understanding of the legislative
process and the operation of executive branch agencies as he or she
helps monitor and analyze geoscience-related legislation in Congress,
attend congressional hearings and respond to information requests from
AGI’s member societies. For details about the internship and how to apply,
visit http://www.agiweb.org/gap/interns.
*** Key Federal Register Notices ***
Below is a summary of Federal Register announcements regarding federal
regulations, agency meetings, and other notices of interest to the
geosciences 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 and the U.S. Forest Service have
extended the public comment period for the proposed rule published in the
Federal Register on July 27, 2005. The proposed rule would revise
requirements necessary for the approval of all proposed oil and gas
exploratory, development, or service wells on all Federal and Indian (except
Osage Tribe) onshore oil and gas leases. It also covers approvals
necessary for subsequent well operations, including abandonment. Because
the recently enacted Energy Policy Act of 2005 impacts certain provisions
of the proposed rule, the BLM and the FS are extending the comment
period to October 25, 2005, to give the public additional time to comment.
For more information, go to http://www.regulations.gov. [Federal
Register: August 26, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 165)]
BLM: The Bureau of Land Management posted a request for public
nominations for five members of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Advisory Committee (GSENM-MAC). The GSENM-MAC provides advice and
recommendations to GSENM on science issues and the achievement of Grand
Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan objectives.
GSENM will receive public nominations until September 26, 2005.
[Federal Register: August 22, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 161)]
DOT: The Department of Transportation has released for public comment
the Bush Administration’s new Light Truck Average Fuel Economy Standards
for model years 2008-2011 (See Related Story). The agency is seeking
information that will help it assess the effect of the proposed
standards on fuel economy, manufacturers, consumers, the economy, and motor
vehicle safety. Comments must be received on or before November 22, 2005
and submitted to the DOT. Instructions are available at:
http://dms.dot.gov. [Federal Register: August 30, 2005 (Volume 70,
Number 167)]
EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency announced a final rule
extending the deferred effective date for the 8-hour Ozone National Ambient
Air Quality Standards until December 31, 2005. The rule applies to 14
areas of the country that have entered into Early Action Compacts, in
which they have agreed to reduce ground-level ozone pollution earlier than
the Clean Air Act (CAA) requires. [Federal Register: August 29, 2005
(Volume 70, Number 166)]
EPA: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed their revised
public health and safety standards for radioactive material stored or
disposed of in the potential repository at Yucca Mountain, Nevada. The
notice opens a public comment period effective until October 21, 2005.
For the full notice, [Federal Register: August 22, 2005 (Volume 70,
Number 161)]
MMS: The Minerals Management Service within the Department of the
Interior posted a solicitation for comments from interested and affected
parties on the preparation of a New 5-Year (2007-2012) Outer Continental
Shelf (OCS) Oil and Gas Leasing Program. MMS will begin to prepare
environmental impact statements for the program and will consider comments
received in response to this notice in developing the draft proposed
program and in determining the scope of the impact assessment. The MMS
must receive all comments and information by October 11, 2005. The
commenting system can be accessed at
http://www.mms.gov/5-year/2007-2012main.htm. [Federal Register: August
24, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 163)]
*** New Updates to Website ***
Action Alert: Expertise Needed on Hurricane Katrina and its Effects on
Oil Supplies (9-2-05) Political Challenges to the Teaching of Evolution
(8-15-05)
FY2006 Department of Interior Appropriations (8-15-05)
FY2006 Environmental Protection Agency Appropriations (8-15-05)
Hearings on Energy Policy (8-4-05) Hearings on Mining Policy (8-4-05) NASA
Programs (7-27-05) Energy Policy Overview (8-3-05) Action Alert: More
Congressional Visits Days in September (8-3-05)
Monthly Review prepared by Linda Rowan, Director of Government Affairs,
Katie Ackerly, Government Affairs Staff and Anne Smart, 2005 AGI/AIPG
Summer Intern.
Sources: Washington Post, New York Times, Greenwire, Google Blog,
Environmental Protection Agency, Senate Appropriations Committee, American
Institute of Physics, Triangle Coalition for Science and Technology
Education, Kansas State Department of Education, Inter Press Service News
Agency, The CalTrade Report and Science Magazine.
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2) EARTH SCIENCE WEEK 2005: FREE KIT, NEW RESOURCES, EMERGING TRENDS
ALEXANDRIA, VA -- To celebrate Earth Science Week 2005 (October 9-15),
the American Geological Institute (AGI) is providing dozens of free,
new educational resources to boost awareness about the geosciences and
the many exciting career opportunities in the field.
Educators, parents, and interested citizens are invited to order a free
*Earth Science Week Kit* (plus $4.95 shipping and handling), which
includes posters, DVDs, CD-ROMs, maps, fliers, contest details, fun
learning activities linked to the National Science Education Standards,
information tailored for Spanish-speaking audiences, and much more. Order
online at www.earthsciweek.org.
Also part of the kit is the Earth Science Week 2005-06 School-Year
Calendar. This new resource features full-color photos, detailed learning
activities, science event listings, famous dates in earth science
history, and information on earth science careers. The calendar is just one
of the many print and electronic resources offered by AGI.
During Earth Science Week, your community can explore how the Earth's
systems interact with your local natural and human environment. Such
activities include sampling groundwater, monitoring the weather, visiting
science centers, and conducting experiments in classrooms. The ability
to make scientifically-informed decisions is vital to a healthy and
productive environment and economy. Earth Science Week participation
helps build science knowledge and skills at home, school, and the office.
The theme of Earth Science Week 2005 – "Geoscientists Explore the
Earth" – focuses on career opportunities in the geosciences. The trend
toward increasing demand for earth science professionals in the next decade
is led by the Baby Boomers' escalating retirements and new
opportunities in energy and mineral resources and environmental stewardship.
AGI established Earth Science Week in 1998 to promote public awareness
of the earth sciences and stewardship of the Earth. Last year, the
Earth Science Week celebration included more than 1.7 million people
worldwide – and this year's event promises to reach even more. Resources
and events are sponsored by the U.S. Geological Survey, the American
Association of Petroleum Geologists Foundation, and the National Park
Service, with additional support from NASA, NOAA, and many more
organizations. To learn more, visit www.earthsciweek.org.
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3) POSITION OPENINGS
2005-057
James Madison University
Applied, Shallow Earth, Geophysics
The Department of Geology & Environmental Science at James Madison
University seeks applications for a tenure track position at the assistant
professor level, beginning Fall 2006. A Ph.D. at the time of
appointment is required. Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate courses
in applied geophysics and other courses in the geosciences for both
majors and non-majors. High quality research involving undergraduates is
expected.
Applicants should submit: 1) a cover letter, including the names and
contacts of three references, 2) a curriculum vitae, and 3) a statement
of teaching philosophy and research interests to:
geophysics@csm.jmu.edu
Additional supporting materials should be mailed to: Dr. Lance E.
Kearns, c/o Geophysics Search Committee, Dept. of Geology & Environmental
Science, MSC 7703, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA 22807.
Review of completed applications will begin after October 14, 2005.
Please visit our website at http://www.jmu.edu/geology for additional
information and an expanded description of this position.
James Madison University is an equal opportunity/Affirmative
Action/equal access employer and especially encourages applications from women,
minorities and persons with disabilities.
* * * * * * * * * *
2005-080
San Diego State University
Stratigraphy/Sedimentology and Low-Temperature Geochemistry
The Department of Geological Sciences at San Diego State University
invites applications for two tenure-track Assistant Professor positions,
one in stratigraphy/sedimentology and one in low temperature
geochemistry, beginning Fall 2006. A Ph.D. is required at time of appointment and
post-doctoral experience is preferred. We seek motivated
teacher-scholars who will establish vigorous, externally funded and nationally
recognized research programs involving both graduate and undergraduate
students. Research specialty within the two positions is open but will
preferably complement and build on existing strengths in the department
which has extensive analytical and computational facilities. See
http://www.geology.sdsu.edu/. The successful candidates will have
teaching responsibility at both the undergraduate and graduate level.
Applicants should submit a cover letter, statement of research and teaching
interests, curriculum vitae, and names and contact information of three
re
ferences to: Faculty Search Committee, Department of Geological
Sciences, San Diego State University, San Diego CA 92182-1020. Deadline Nov
1, 2005.
SDSU is a Title IX, equal opportunity employer and does not
discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, religion, national origin,
sexual orientation, gender, marital status, age, disability or veteran
status, including veterans of the Vietnam era.
* * * * * * * * * *
2005-083
Iowa State University
Surface Hydrology
The Department of Geological and Atmospheric Sciences at Iowa State
University invites applications for a full-time, tenure-track position at
the level of Assistant Professor in surface hydrology beginning August
16, 2006. We seek candidates with strength in process-based studies
and/or modeling of surface hydrology or land surface-atmosphere
interactions at the watershed, regional, or continental scale. The successful
candidate will be encouraged to pursue activities that complement
existing areas of water-cycle research in geology, hydrology, and meteorology
within the department and that are consistent with the department’s
role as a major contributor to the interdepartmental graduate and
undergraduate programs in Environmental Science and the University’s membership
in CUAHSI. We also encourage interactions with researchers and faculty
in other units on campus, such as Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering; Agronomy; Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering;
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology; Natural Resources Ecology and
Management; the Iowa State Water Resources Research Institute; the Leopold
Center for Sustainable Agriculture; and the National Soil Tilth
Laboratory.
The successful candidate will be expected to develop a vigorous
research program, supervise graduate students, attract external funding, and
participate actively in our graduate (M.S. and Ph.D.) and undergraduate
teaching programs.
All applications must be submitted electronically at
www.iastatejobs.com (search vacancy ID# 050637). Please be prepared to enter or attach a
letter of application, statement of research and teaching interests,
curriculum vitae, and the names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and phone
and fax numbers of at least three references. Any additional
application materials may be mailed to: Carl Jacobson, Chair, Department of
Geological and Atmospheric Sciences, 253 Science I, Iowa State University,
Ames, IA 50011-3212.
The Department will begin reviewing applications on November 18, 2005
and will continue the search until the positions are filled.
Information about the Department appears at: http://www.ge-at.iastate.edu/. Iowa
State University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer.
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4) CONTACT INFORMATION
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