U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Monday, March 14
Dept. of Interior
USGS Attendees: John Brock, Bill Werkheiser, David Applegate, Bill Leith, Larry Meinert, Virginia Burkett, Greg Snyder, Mike Tischler, Darcy McPhee, Paul Young, Don Kline
AASG Attendees: All
Introductions were made. A welcome from John Brock (Suzette Kimball is in Europe, meeting with agencies and organizations there). Joe Gillman made comments on behalf of AASG. Ann Barrett, USGS budget director, discussed the President’s recommendations for increases in the USGS budget, including in LANDSAT, water, climate , change, hazards, mapping, and minerals. $118.4 million for core science systems. LiDAR, Alaska mapping, Arctic research, and earthquake monitoring all saw recommended increases in the President’s budget.
Dave Applegate reported on the geologic hazards program. Saw a $500,000 increase in recommended funding for landslide issues. Bill Leith discussed earthquakes and geomagnetism, and the White House’ earthquake resilience meeting. The USGS has requested funding for an earthquake early warning network and is trying to make temporary stations in the eastern U.S. permanent. Will be releasing an earthquake forecast for the central U.S., including induced seismicity. Will do a conference call with affected states prior to release.
Kevin Gallagher noted that AASG needed to appoint a FACA for NCGMP and the data preservation program. He provided an update on the 3DEP long-range funding. Data preservation was authorized at $5 million in the Senate energy bill. There was discussion of an effort to increase that authorization.
Bill Werkheiser, Deputy Director, sat in for Suzette Kimball. Discussed international cooperation, fall liaison, and planning for the presidential transition. Mike Tischler described national geospatial data coordination and the strategic planning process for that. John Brock discussed planning for NCGMP. Will convene a workshop in Ft. Collins this summer. Would like AASG involvement.
Darcy McPhee, new acting associate program for geologic mapping program, was introduced and spoke. Paul Young from the Energy and Minerals program discussed uranium issues in the Grand Canyon area. Larry Meinert, of the minerals program, discussed the increase in funding for the critical issues program.
Virginia Burkett, from the climate and land use mission area, spoke. Greg Snyder discussed Landsat and related data products, especially LiDAR. Don Kline, head of the water mission area, started eight weeks ago. Previously at NOAA.
ACTION ITEMS:
1) Appoint AASG FACA representative to NCGMP and DGGDPP.
2) Maintain involvement with NCGMP long-range planning process.
DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR, WATER AND SCIENCE
DOI Attendees:, Jennifer Gimbel, Camille Touton, Bill Lukas, Kevin Gallagher, Dave Applegate, Don Cline, Bill Werkheiser
AASG Attendees: Gillman, Spears, Masterman
AASG is supporting the DelBene landslide bill to be introduced in the House on Thursday.
We have met the new NCGMP staff and are pleased. USGS would like to rethink how the program is represented in DC. AASG has noted that many USGS programs have received budget increases but not NCGMP; we advocate strongly for the USGS budget and are disappointed. Our message is getting through on water and hazards but not on mapping. Perhaps we should use the messaging approach that was used with 3DEP. STATEMAP is a great way to leverage federal dollars and is highly productive in terms of number of maps produced. Geologic mapping is the foundational layer for all other geoscience studies such as water, hazards, and economic minerals. We must tout the benefits. AASG put enormous effort into launching the program. We now need a new effort to increase the funding. We will need to build relationships with the new people in DC after the transition of administrations.
Sec. Jewell is a huge fan of USGS, especially Landsat. In planning for transition of administrations, Interior is emphasizing partnerships. Jennifer Gimbel is pleased that Anne Castle will be honored with the AASG Pick and Gavel Award this year.
The 2016 AASG Annual Meeting in Alaska will feature a wide range of technical sessions and field trips. The 2017 meeting will be in Missouri and will be focused on water issues.
ACTION ITEMS: None.
GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA
GSA Attendees: Kasey White, Elizabeth Goldbaum
AASG Attendees: Tew, Arthur, Buchanan, Price, Ratchford
The next GeoCVD and USGS Coalition is scheduled for September 13-–14, 2016.
The GSA "Natural Hazards Town Hall Meetings" or "Response Conferences" are likely not to be a continuing GSA effort, but GSA will be glad to support State state Geological geological Surveys surveys that would like help from GSA-member experts, if they could be useful in explaining hazards to the public.
AASG may want to schedule Liaison liaison visits with the Senate and House authorizing and appropriation committees with that have oversight of NSF & NASA (Commerce, Justice & Science).
GSA would welcome support for geoscience funding at NSF.
ACTION ITEMS:
1) State surveys can ask GSA for support for town hall meetings, as desired.
IRIS (INCORPORATED RESEARCH INSTITUTIONS FOR SEISMOLOGY)
IRIS Attendees: Pearle Dorr, Danielle Sumy, John Taber, Andy Frassetto
AASG Attendees: White, Andrews, Thorleifson, Gale, Wunsch
Andy Frassetto provided an update on the USArray Transportable Array (TA) and the Central and Eastern U.S. Network (CEUSN). CEUSN is supportive of continuing operations of an increased density of seismic stations, particularly useful for measuring induced seismicity. Some of the TA stations which that were deployed have been adopted by states. 158 stations have funding for operations through 2017, after which time the USGS is requesting $800K/year to continue operations of stations no longer funded through NSF.
Discussion also centered around on magneto-tellurics and the application of this technology to planning/modeling hazards and infrastructure impacts due to space weather and solar storms. The layperson explanation is that highly resistant crust is less likely to conduct electric current into the crust and it is therefore more likely that digital and electronic infrastructure will be compromised. The Space Weather Initiative is currently unfunded. If AASG is interested, the organization could advocate to Senator Markey’s office.
AASG members let IRIS know about a GSA Critical Issues paper on induced seismicity which that is about to be released. Also, Delaware is receiving very positive feedback about an earthquake kiosk which that shows data and images. Kentucky is collecting baseline seismic monitoring data and water- quality data in advance of permitting injection wells associated with shale gas development.
ACTION ITEMS:
1) IRIS requested that AASG write a letter to appropriations in support of continued operations of the stations and appropriations of $800K/year to USGS. This item was also discussed in the meeting with USGS. The request was forwarded to AASG leadership.
2) IRIS requested that they be on the agenda at the AASG Annual Meeting in June.
3) Iris IRIS is interested in fairly large (100-–200 people) venues for the 2016 distinguished lectures program featuring a lecture on induced seismicity by Dr. Justin Rubenstein, USGS Menlo Park. IRIS also invited us to the 2016 IRIS Workshop in Vancouver, WA, on June 8-–10.
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS, SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES, MAJORITY AND MINORITY STAFF
Staff Attendees: Nona McCoy, Ryan Hunt
AASG Attendees: Ortt, Prewett, Bradbury, Faulds
Requested continued support for NGGDPP and language in S2012, and explained our desire to see this funding level increase to the level of appropriation, with the understanding that Senate Appropriations has no control over specific USGS budget allocations. We explained the efficiency of having state surveys conduct geologic mapping as compared to using federal employees. We also requested support for landslide language that was moving through the House. Nona McCoy mentioned she will would look at the USGS justification for funding each program. She mentioned these justifications are available to anyone. Nona She and Ryan Hunt mentioned that member letters are due Friday, March 18, which is coming too soontoo late for AASG purposes. Nona mentioned that the surveys need to line up senate constituents in the future for support.
ACTION ITEMS: None.
DEPT. OF ENERGY GEOTHERMAL TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE
DOE Attendees: Susan Hamm, Arlene F. Anderson, Laura Garcher, Shawn Force, Zac Frown, Tim Reinhart , Lauran Boyd
AASG Atteendees: Faulds, Prewitt, Bradbury, Ortt
Faulds opened the discussion highlighting the collaboration between the State state Geological geological Surveys surveys and DOE in their many programs. AASG thanked DOE for their support.
A balance between conventional resources and Enhanced Geothermal Stimulation (EGS) was discussed especially with enhanced technologies in 3D modeling, increased knowledge of stratigraphy, and geological analysis.
Tim Reinhart talked about participating in data repositories and increasing the robustness of the database. Additional studies are looking at geothermal fluids from a mineral extraction perspective, both at cataloging of the elemental make-up as well as the extraction process while maintaining thermal efficiency of the fluid. Co-produced byproducts from geothermal as well as conventional oil and gas are being analyzed for greater efficiencies (thermal production from methane flaring).
A discussion regarding defining what is geothermal occurred. Do we include standard residential geothermal heat pump as geothermal?
FORGE is the (Enhanced Geothermal Stimulation) EGS newest EGS program. The focus is to develop a reproducible strategy for EGS and the economics of them. These are potential field laboratories for geothermal technologies, involving partnerships between academia, state surveys, government labs, and industry. Most of these projects in the past have been broad brushed, but now the projects are looking at refining techniques of imaging the subsurface. The second phase of this initiative is obtaining more site characterization with stratigraphy, induced seismicity, simulations, geothermal reservoirs, sensors, etc. FORGE is focused on addressing the problems that may develop in commercialization of geothermal in hot dry rocks.
Hydrothermal (existing thermal resources) has finished a phase 1 for 11 projects creating a desktop analysis of hydrothermal potential. Phase II will start soon with the documentation of site characterization, including field workfieldwork for discovering new geothermal systems.
SUBTER is still continuing. An announcement is out for actual construction of the SUBTER project. This program is focused on four pillars of knowledge including: well bore construction, stress state and induced seismicity, permeability manipulation, and subsurface signals.
ACTION ITEMS: None.
HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS, INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES, MAJORITY STAFF
Staff Attendees: Jackie Kilroy
AASG Attendees: Spears, Arthur, Gillman, Parrish, Masterman
Jackie Kilroy was interested to hear about specific examples of NCGMP and NGGDPP successes, or applied uses. That, along with general discussion of the programs and their value to the states and nation, consumed the time.
ACTION ITEMS:
1) Send Jackie AASG write-ups of success stories for the programs, along with AASG position papers on the two programs.
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
BLM Attendees: Mitch Leverette, Division Chief, Solid Minerals; Alfred Elser, Deputy Division Chief, Solid Minerals
AASG Attendees: Ratchford , Buchanan, Price, Tew
Discussion of the withdrawal of lands from mineral development, sage grouse ruling, and SFAs (sage grouse focal areas). Mainly Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada. Discussion of EIS process, lawsuits that have been filed to stop the process. Questions about the inclusion of oil and gas production in the evaluation process. There is a coal pause, or three- year moratorium on the evaluation of BLM land for coal. Price arrish asked about renewables. BLM still moving forward on solar and wind, but in an office separate from solid minerals.
ACTION ITEMS: None. action items.
OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY (OSTP)
OSTP Attendees: Tamara Dickinson, Rich Pouyat, Kelly Kryc, Jacqueline Meszeros, Laura Petes
AASG Attendees: Wunsch, Andrews, Gale, Thorleifson, White
Tamara Dickinson said key relevant issues OSTP is dealing with are implementation of the recent climate agreement in Paris, the President’s Climate Action Plan, Earthquake Early Warning System and disaster resilience, the White House Water Summit, and issues of earth observation.
Kelly Kryc discussed the Water Summit, to be held March 22, World Water Day. Six roundtables to be held for input on water issues, drought symposium, water innovation symposium, agenda will include water basin scale solutions, holistic focus on sustainability (finance, infrastructure, agriculture, resilience, policy), morning program will be followed by afternoon demonstrations. Wunsch inquired about AASG getting a seat at event because of state surveys’ key role in water. Was declined by Dickinson citing limited space.
March 23 will be a half- day roundtable on soil moisture, monitoring, possibility of a national network, public-private partnerships, citizen -– science input similar to National Weather Service. Citizen -– science efforts are a priority for the administration.
Jacqueline Meszeros sought input on disaster issues, and AASG attendees (Wunsch, Thorleifson, White, Andrews, Gale) each provided a perspective from their states. Earthquake Early Warning System Summit has been a significant effort.
Laura Petes’ main focus has been climate resilience. State and tribal cooperative efforts, climate action champions, resilience America focused on vulnerable populations, climate data initiative coordination Federal data, and a climate resilience toolkit.
Issues they anticipate for the future: climate resilience,energy innovation, regional ocean plans, water issues/drought, and the Arctic.
AASG inquired about improving funding for STATEMAP;, OSTP suggested a broader community conversation on geologic mapping, perhaps through National Academy, and suggested considering a broader approach than narrow mission of producing 2d static maps.
ACTION ITEM:
1) Meszeros wants to make contact with Alaska (Masterman) regarding Earthquake Early Warning System. (DONE)
REP. SUSAN DELBENE, D-WA
Staff Attendee: Ben Barasky.
AASG Attendees: Gillman, Arthur, Berry, Spears
Discussion focused on the National Landslide Hazards Reduction Program bill, which the Congresswoman would planned to introduce into the House on March 17. Mr.Ben Barasky solicited assistance from AASG in obtaining additional sponsors and supporters of the Bill bill—– both Congressional, if possible, and organizationally. AASG committed to supporting the Bill bill and would agreed to work to gather additional sponsors.
ACTION ITEMS: None.
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES, MAJORITY STAFF
Staff Attendees: Chris Kearney
AASG Attendees: Thorleifson, Andrews, Parrish, Wunsch, and Faulds
We had a good open discussion with Mr.Chris Kearney, who was clearly interested in major agenda items for AASG. Main topics of conversation included NGGDPP. Based on past funding levels, Kearney thought that the $5M level of authorization for NGGDPP was much more realistic and would be viewed favorably by Congress. If actual funding should approach $5M in the next 10 years, he thought it would be easy to revise the $5M limit, which would not require full congressional approval. Kearney suggested that we think about educating Congress about NGGDPP in the future.