[Senate Hearing 109-721]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 109-721
PEARCE, CORRELL AND MYERS NOMINATIONS
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON
ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
TO
CONSIDER THE NOMINATIONS OF DRUE PEARCE TO BE FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR
ALASKA NATURAL GAS TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS; JOHN RAY CORRELL TO BE
DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT,
AND MARK D. MYERS TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
__________
JULY 20, 2006
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
______
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COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico, Chairman
LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii
LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee BYRON L. DORGAN, North Dakota
LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska RON WYDEN, Oregon
RICHARD M. BURR, North Carolina, TIM JOHNSON, South Dakota
MEL MARTINEZ, Florida MARY L. LANDRIEU, Louisiana
JAMES M. TALENT, Missouri DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California
CONRAD BURNS, Montana MARIA CANTWELL, Washington
GEORGE ALLEN, Virginia KEN SALAZAR, Colorado
GORDON SMITH, Oregon ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey
JIM BUNNING, Kentucky
Bruce M. Evans, Staff Director
Judith K. Pensabene, Chief Counsel
Bob Simon, Democratic Staff Director
Sam Fowler, Democratic Chief Counsel
C O N T E N T S
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STATEMENTS
Page
Allen, Hon. George, U.S. Senator from Virginia................... 7
Bunning, Hon. Jim, U.S. Senator from Kentucky.................... 19
Correll, John Ray, Nominee to be Director of the Office of
Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Department of the
Interior....................................................... 11
Domenici, Hon. Pete V., U.S. Senator from New Mexico............. 1
Lugar, Hon. Richard G., U.S. Senator from Indiana................ 8
Murkowski, Hon. Lisa, U.S. Senator from Alaska................... 5
Myers, Mark D., Nominee to be Director of the U.S. Geological
Survey, Department of the Interior............................. 15
Pearce, Drue, Nominee to be Federal Coordinator for Alaska
Natural Gas Transportation..................................... 10
Stevens, Hon. Ted, U.S. Senator from Alaska...................... 1
APPENDIXES
Appendix I
Responses to additional questions................................ 31
Appendix II
Additional material submitted for the record..................... 41
PEARCE, CORRELL AND MYERS NOMINATIONS
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THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2006
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:10 a.m., in
room SD-366, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. Pete V.
Domenici, chairman, presiding.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. PETE V. DOMENICI,
U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW MEXICO
The Chairman. The hearing will please come to order.
Welcome, Senator Stevens. Welcome, everyone. Please sit down.
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources will come to
order.
Nominating hearings today are for Drue Pearce to be Federal
coordinator for Alaska natural gas transportation projects;
John R. Correll to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement in the Department of the Interior;
and Mark Myers to be the director of the U.S. Geological
Survey, Department of the Interior.
The committee will come to order. We are here this morning
to consider the nominations that I have just mentioned.
Before we begin, I understand that our colleague Senator
Stevens from Alaska--oh, I should have said ``colleagues,''
because, Senator Murkowski, you might like to also be called a
colleague--would like to speak in behalf of the nominees.
Senator Stevens will lead off.
We welcome you, Mr. Chairman. Would you please begin, and
then we will follow with Senator Murkowski. And if Senator
Allen were to arrive, he would follow. If not, the two Senators
I mentioned will be the Senators that will speak. The senior
Senator from Alaska.
STATEMENT OF HON. TED STEVENS, U.S. SENATOR
FROM ALASKA
Senator Stevens. With your permission, I'll introduce both
Drue Pearce and Mark Myers and go to my other committee. Is
that agreeable?
The Chairman. Sounds fair. And that would make it
accommodating to you, and that's fine with us.
Senator Stevens. And I ask that my statements appear in the
record in full.
The Chairman. That will be done.
[The prepared statements of Senator Stevens follow:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Ted Stevens, U.S. Senator From Alaska
ON NOMINEE DRUE PEARCE
It is a great pleasure to appear before this Committee and
introduce Drue Pearce, the President's nominee to become the Federal
Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects.
Drue and I have worked closely on issues important to Alaska since
she filed for the Alaska State House in 1983. She was elected to the
House in 1984 and to the State senate in 1988. During her 17 years in
the State Legislature, she achieved several historic milestones. Drue
became the first woman to serve two terms as Senate President--and she
was only the second person, man or woman, in Alaska's history to have
that honor. Drue was the first Senate President ever to adjourn a
legislative session before the constitutional deadline. And she has the
enviable record of having never been defeated in an election.
Even more impressive than her historic achievements is Drue's
proven record of leadership. As Senate President, Drue became known for
her ability to set goals and achieve them. She kept things moving on
schedule and was able to bring people together to achieve consensus.
When President Bush was elected, I encouraged him to bring Drue to
Washington, DC. I believed her knowledge of our state, our
opportunities, and our people would be a tremendous asset for this
administration. In 2001, Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton
appointed Drue to the position of Senior Advisor to the Secretary for
Alaska Affairs. In this capacity, Drue has exceeded even my
expectations.
I believe Drue will approach her role as Federal Coordinator with
the commitment and dedication that have become the hallmarks of her
career public service. Her considerable experience in state and federal
government make her the ideal candidate for this position.
Alaskans--and all Americans--need Drue involved in the Natural Gas
Pipeline project. Moving this project forward will require the
coordination of federal, state, local, and private entities. The stakes
involved in this project are high--the timely completion of this
project is essential if we are to keep pace with the growing demand for
natural gas. Coordination of this project is a daunting task, and I
trust Drue Pearce to get the job done. It is my hope the Committee--and
the full Senate--will move quickly to approve her nomination.
ON NOMINEE MARK D. MYERS
I am extremely pleased President Bush has chosen to nominate Mark
Myers to be Director of the U.S. Geological Survey. It is an honor to
introduce him to the Committee today.
Mark is a respected member of our state's natural resource
community. From 1990 through 1998, he worked as a petroleum geologist
for the Alaska Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and
Gas. He became the Director of the Division in 2001. In 2005, Mark was
also named Alaska State Geologist and Director of the State Division of
Geological and Geophysical Surveys. Through his work in these
positions, he has cultivated a reputation for being able to build
consensus. Over the course of his 22 year career in Alaska, Mark has
earned the respect of scientists, engineers, elected officials, and
others.
I have personally benefited from Mark's knowledge about gas
hydrates. It is estimated that the permafrost beneath our state holds
590 trillion cubic feet of these hydrates. Another 32,000 trillion
cubic feet lie offshore. These hydrates lie below permafrost and deep
waters. When they are released, they can generate up to 180 times their
volume in free gas. With the increasing demand for natural gas, these
hydrates will be a valuable resource if we can figure out how to bring
them to market.
Mark has worked with those in the Alaska State Legislature on this
issue. He has also advised our state's congressional delegation and our
colleagues in Washington. In fact, he testified before this very
Committee in 2005. I think those on the Committee will agree that
Mark's counsel is well-balanced and indispensable.
Mark's experience, extensive knowledge, and commitment to public
service make him an excellent candidate for this position. I thank you
for the opportunity to introduce him this morning, and I look forward
to working with him upon his confirmation by the Senate.
Senator Stevens. Let me introduce, first, Drue Pearce's
family. Her husband, Mike Williams, is here. Her daughter, Tate
Hanna Pearce-Williams, and her father, Phil Pearce, and her
stepmother, Carol Pearce.
The Chairman. Would they please stand? We thank you very
much for coming. That means an awful lot to them, and we're
glad that you do it in their behalf. Please sit down.
Senator Stevens. Let me tell you, Mr. Chairman, it's a
pleasure to be here with Drue Pearce. She's the President's
nominee for the Federal coordinator of the Alaska natural gas
transportation projects.
Now, Drue and I have worked closely together for many
years. She was first elected to the State House of Alaska, the
House of Representatives of Alaska, in 1864, and the State
senate----
[Laughter.]
Senator Stevens. Pardon me, 1984.
[Laughter.]
Senator Stevens. Wow, you've been around for a long time,
right? I'm reading too many things too fast. In 1984.
She was elected to the State senate in 1988 and she has
served 17 years in the State senate--really, the State
legislature, in total. And she was the first woman to serve two
terms as the president of the Alaska State senate. And she's
only the second person in the history of Alaska to have had
that honor, man or woman.
Drue was really very impressive in her State legislature
record. She became known for her ability to set goals and to
achieve them. And when President Bush was elected, I urged him
to bring Drue to Washington, DC. I believed her knowledge of
our State and opportunities to our people would be--she would
be a tremendous asset for the administration.
In 2001, the Secretary of the Interior, Gale Norton,
appointed Drue to a position of senior advisor to the Secretary
of the Interior for Alaska affairs and, in that capacity, Drue
exceeded our expectations.
I believe she will approach this role of Federal
coordinator with a commitment and dedication that really
reflects her total career. And I'm sure this committee knows
that Alaskans and all Americans need this project. We're very
pleased that she's willing to take on this task. The stakes
involved in this project are very high. Timely completion of
this project is essential to the country and to our State.
So, I urge that you would favorably approve Drue Pearce's
nomination as soon as possible.
If I may, then, Mr. Chairman, I would turn to the
nomination of Mark Myers as director of the U.S. Geological
Survey.
Mark's wife, Alice, is here, and their children, Justin and
Nathan, are here. His parents, Ray and Ardell, are here. This
is a rather extended family. So, thank you very much, Mark, for
bringing them.
The Chairman. Would they please stand? We welcome you very
much and thank you for coming, all of you.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Very good.
Now, Senator, you can proceed.
Senator Stevens. I'll be constrained, Mr. President.
Mark is a very respected member of the resource community
of Alaska. He worked as a petroleum geologist for the
Department of Natural Resources Division of Oil and Gas. He
became the director of that division in 2001. In 2005, he was
named Alaska's State geologist and director of the State
Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. He's developed
a reputation for gathering consensus for his positions. And
over the course of his 22 years in Alaska, he has earned the
respect of scientists, engineers, elected officials, and
others.
I personally have worked with Mark, and I know the
committee is very interested in one of the main subjects that
he has been working on, and that's gas hydrates.
Beneath the permafrost of our north country, we believe,
are 590 trillion cubic feet of frozen gas. Another 32,000
trillion cubic feet of frozen gas is offshore. These are below
the permafrost, and, as far as offshore, below deep waters.
When they're released, if they can be commercialized, they will
generate up to 180 times their volume in free gas. With the
increasing demand for natural gas, these hydrates, I think, are
one of the most valuable resources the United States has--an
enormous, enormous quantity of gas in a frozen state.
Mark has worked with the State legislature on this issue.
He's advised us on this issue. He's testified before Congress,
perhaps even before your committee, on this issue. I'll tell
you, this is one of the true challenges for science in this
country. I've been trying to get more and more companies and
the Federal Government to commit money to the research to
determine how to commercialize--really, how to unfreeze those
gas hydrates. And, as they unfreeze, as I say, they expand 180
times in their volume. This is probably--unquestionably, this
is why I think he's an excellent candidate for this job,
because he knows this issue well. And I look forward to working
with him, and I'm sure this committee will look forward to
working with him in terms of pursuing, to the maximum extent
possible, the science involved in commercializing gas hydrates.
I thank you very much for your courtesy. If you have any
questions for me, I'll be glad to answer them, other than to
explain why I went back to my childhood of 1684.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. We won't inquire as to your true age.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. We'll let everybody remain in a state of flux
on that. For now, we're wondering if you had anything further
to say.
Senator Stevens. Well, I have this to say. I told a crowd,
last night, that I never thought I'd be older than a President
of the United States and his father and every member that's
retiring from Congress this year.
The Chairman. That's you.
Senator Stevens. Thank you very much.
The Chairman. Thank you, Senator.
Now we're going to ask the junior Senator to please speak
in behalf of the witnesses, and then we'll move right to the
witnesses.
STATEMENT OF HON. LISA MURKOWSKI, U.S. SENATOR
FROM ALASKA
Senator Murkowski. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I think it's fair to say that this is a proud day for us,
as Alaskans. It's not often that we have before us two nominees
from the great State.
I've told this committee before--and I certainly made the
comments when Governor Kempthorne was here for his confirmation
as Secretary of the Interior--I remarked that in Alaska we
refer to the Department of the Interior as our landlord. I know
my colleagues around the table have heard me point to the No. 1
statistics so many times--we're No. 1 among the States in areas
designated as wilderness, No. 1 in national park acreage, No. 1
in national wildlife acreage. We are so much at the core of
what the Department of the Interior does, certainly as we look
to our energy storehouse, with oil, natural gas, strategic
minerals, our coal reserves. We have just barely touched the
surface of what Alaska has to offer and our relationship with
the Department is inextricably intertwined there.
In spite of the Interior Department's truly vast interests
in Alaska, none of the heads of its bureaus or offices are from
the State of Alaska. We have been, I believe, blessed for the
past 5 years in having Drue Pearce serve as the senior Alaskan
in the Interior Department.
Drue, I believe that you have performed magnificently in
your role as the senior advisor to the Secretary of the
Interior for Alaskan affairs. I'm delighted. I'm thrilled for
you that you have this challenge and this opportunity in front
of you with the nomination that the President has made.
I'm equally proud that the President has nominated another
exceptional Alaskan, Mark Myers, to the post of the director of
the U.S. Geological Survey.
I like to brag on my State, and I like to brag on the
people from my State, and it's very easy to do that with the
two individuals that we have today.
I also want to recognize and thank the families, the very
extended families that we have here today supporting these two
very qualified individuals. The sacrifices that you make and
have made over the years in public service is felt by your
families. I know that there have been some transitional aspects
as you left your home State, or are planning on leaving Alaska
to come and relocate here in Washington, DC. We greatly
appreciate what you are doing, on behalf of our country, and
the efforts that you are making.
I want to start just by giving a little bit of background
as to Mark Myers. You know, when you look at his
qualifications, his resume, everything says this is a man who
has dedicated his life, his entire career in the earth-science
field. He has professional certifications from the American
Institute of Professional Geologists, the American Association
of Petroleum Geologists, past president of the Alaska
Geological Society, numerous publications in geology. I notice,
Mark, in your opening comments, you went back to the University
of Alaska at Fairbanks specializing--to get a Ph.D. in geology,
but specializing in clastic sedimentology. I have no idea what
it is, but I was so impressed, because it sounds like a lot of
rocks.
[Laughter.]
Senator Murkowski. And we want you to know and understand
about all of the rocks.
Mr. Chairman, I won't go through the bachelor's degrees and
all of the professional accolades that Mr. Myers has
accumulated over the years, other than to point out that his
work in the earth science field has spanned some 28 years, 12
of which have been devoted to public service. I also want to
recognize your time in the Air Force Reserve.
Dr. Myers has served for 8 years as a petroleum geologist
for the State of Alaska, 2 years as the director of the State's
Division of Oil and Gas, heading both the Division of Oil and
Gas and our State's geological surveys. He's truly earned the
respect of his colleagues in the State. When I worked with Dr.
Myers when I was in the State legislature, I think it's fair to
say that there was no partisan aspect of what you did. You
presented the science, people respected you for that, and I
know that you will continue to do that in your new position
here.
I noted that there was a letter from some of our Democratic
colleagues in the Alaska State House of Representatives
speaking on your behalf, and I would like to have that included
as part of the record for Dr. Myers.
[The information previously referred to follows:]
Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, AK, June 14, 2006.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
To Whom It Concerns: As Democratic leaders in the Alaska State
House of Representatives, we are writing to encourage you to confirm
Mr. Mark Myers' nomination as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey.
As legislators, we worked closely with Mr. Myers during his tenure as
Director of the Division of Oil and Gas with the State of Alaska. Even
in trying times, Mr. Myers always maintained a high degree of
professionalism marked by extensive knowledge, experience in his field,
and a very high degree of personal integrity.
Mr. Myers simultaneously served as the Director of two divisions
within the Alaska State Department of Natural Resources--the Division
of Oil and Gas and the Division of Geological Surveys. This dual
appointment was an unprecedented honor and attests to his abilities and
skills as a geologist and leader.
Perhaps Mr. Myers' most impressive attribute is his ability to base
his decisions on the merits of an issue and not let the pressures of
politics affect those decisions. He is a man with strong moral fiber
and conviction.
We highly recommend Mr. Myers for the position of Director of the
U.S. Geological Survey. We believe he will serve his country with the
same professional integrity that he showed in serving our state. Please
feel free to contact us for further information.
Sincerely,
Ethan Berkowitz,
Democratic Leader,
Beth Kerttula,
Democratic Finance Committee
Member.
Senator Murkowski. But as we look at the qualifications,
and as I've said to you numerous times, I can't think of a more
qualified individual to head our USGS. I'm delighted and proud
that you have agreed to step forward in response to the
President's nomination.
And now, Mr. Chairman, just very briefly, as to my friend,
Drue Pearce. And whereas I--where Drue and I don't go back to
1864----
[Laughter.]
Senator Murkowski [continuing]. We do go back quite a ways.
I think it was one of my very first jobs, when I was still--
well, I was in between years in college. I think I was on that
5- or 6-year college program, and I took some time off to work
in a bank, and Drue was my direct supervisor. That was a long
time ago. We've both moved a little bit away from being--we
weren't bank tellers, but we were pretty low--I was pretty low
on that totem pole, and I appreciated the good advice and
guidance of my supervisor there.
But I think it's fair to say that we're pleased, from
Alaska's perspective, to have this confirmation hearing for
this specific position, for the director of the Office of
Pipeline coordinator. It represents a couple of things. First
of all, to have an exceptional Alaskan to be before us is
something, again, we're very proud of, but it's also a tangible
sign that progress is being made on our Alaska natural gas
project. Already this summer, we've had a memorandum of
understanding amongst 15 Federal agencies, where we're working
toward getting to where we need to get with this very massive
project, and with today's appointment--confirmation of the
Federal coordinator to start coordinating all the permitting,
the regulatory process that's going to be needed to get this
project off the ground, it's very important.
Drue's credentials are equally stellar. She holds a
master's degree in public administration from Harvard, and a
degree in business from the University of Virginia. Senator
Stevens mentioned her years in the legislature. She also, when
she was in the legislature, served as chairman of the National
Energy Council. This was a legislative organization for ten
energy-producing States, and she led delegations to Bolivia, to
Mexico, talking about the oil development. So, she has very
strong credentials and background in the area.
When we look to this massive project that we are working
toward on Alaska's North Slope, a project the likes of which
this Nation, this country, this world has not seen, a $20- to
$25-billion project, we need to have somebody with the
experience, the knowledge, the institutional memory, the
governmental expertise who can oversee this massive project. I
can't think of anyone better than Drue Pearce to lead us
forward with this, and I'm delighted that she, too, has
accepted the President's nomination.
I look forward to a swift confirmation for both of these
fine individuals.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you very much.
[The prepared statements of Senators Allen and Lugar
follow:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. George Allen, U.S. Senator From Virginia
It is my pleasure to introduce John Correll as the President's
nominee for Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement. John brings more than 30 years of mining experience to
this post, as well as significant senior leadership and management
experience. John moved to Virginia four years ago with his wife Nancy
to take the position of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Operations for
the Mine Safety and Health Administration in the Department of Labor.
During John's tenure, MSHA highlighted education, training and
compliance assistance to make sure that operators understood and were
complying with our laws, rules and regulations. John also oversaw
MSHA's strategic alliance program, in which the agency formed
meaningful and productive relationships with key stakeholders and
mining industry groups to further common goals and objectives of
improving mineworker safety and mining operations. John's experience in
bringing all of these concepts to fruition will help him bring similar
successes to the Office of Surface Mining.
As a mine safety and health professional, John's credentials and
accomplishments are impressive. In his over twenty years in the private
mining industry John held numerous positions and developed a reputation
for integrity, professionalism and dedication to mine safety and
health.
The President's nomination of John Correll to head the Office of
Surface Mining--and John's acceptance of that challenge--represents a
logical progression of his drive to serve his country and the mining
community. We should be grateful that professionals like John, with the
highest values of experience, expertise and personal conviction are
willing to step up and accept these crucial positions in government to
provide expert leadership in fulfilling and enforcing our laws and
developing improvement initiatives.
John's distinguished record in mining, loss prevention and senior
leadership makes him an excellent nominee for this position. I urge my
colleagues to favorably consider Mr. Correll's nomination and quickly
report it back to the Senate with our full support.
______
Prepared Statement of Richard G. Lugar, U.S. Senator From Indiana
ON THE NOMINATION OF JOHN RAY CORRELL TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE OFFICE OF
SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT
I am pleased to have an opportunity to introduce John Ray Correll
to the members of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.
John Correll has worked for the federal government in the mining
field for a number of years. In addition, John gained extensive
experience working in the private sector for several coal companies.
After receiving his Bachelors degree from Indiana State University,
John joined the Peabody Coal Company. John continued to build on his
experience by taking a position with AMAX Coal Industries. From 1991-
2002, John served as the Director of Safety and Workers' Compensation
for Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. In 2002, John was appointed to serve as the
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Operations at the Mine Safety and Health
Administration for the U.S. Department of Labor.
John is joined by his wife, Nancy. They have two sons Jason and
Terry, daughter-in-law, Tina, and two grandchildren, Alex and Max.
Mr. Chairman, I thank you for this opportunity to introduce John
Ray Correll to the Committee.
The Chairman. Anything further by any Senator?
[No response.]
The Chairman. Then we're going to proceed.
I hope we can move as quickly to get you confirmed. Thanks
to your relatives who came here to show their support. You
don't know how much support it is for them. You probably do,
but you don't know what it means to us to see such great
support come, probably from distances, for them. I, personally,
consider that a very positive sign, as chairman, as I consider
confirming these particular people for their jobs.
The rules of the committee, applied to all nominees,
require that they be sworn in, in connection with their
testimony. So, would you please rise and raise your right
hands?
And do you solemnly swear the testimony you are about to
give to the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
shall be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?
Ms. Pearce. I do.
Mr. Correll. I do.
Mr. Myers. I do.
The Chairman. Please be seated.
Before you begin your statements, I will ask each of you
three questions. They are addressed to each nominee before this
committee. This is no different than all the others.
First, will you be available to appear before this
committee and other congressional committees to represent
departmental positions and respond to issues of concern to the
Congress?
Drue Pearce?
Ms. Pearce. I will.
The Chairman. John?
Mr. Correll. I will.
The Chairman. Mark?
Mr. Myers. I will.
The Chairman. Are you aware of any personal holdings,
investments, or interests that could constitute a conflict of
interest, or the appearance of such a conflict, should you be
confirmed and assume the office to which you have been
nominated by the President?
First, start on this side. You, ma'am.
Ms. Pearce. My investments, personal holdings, and other
interests have been reviewed both by myself and the appropriate
ethics counselors within the Federal Government. I have taken
appropriate action to avoid any conflicts of interest. There
are no conflicts of interest, or appearances thereof, to my
knowledge.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Are you involved with, or do you have, any assets held in
blind trust? Same nominee.
Ms. Pearce. No, sir.
The Chairman. We'll proceed back to you, John. Are you
aware of any personal holdings, investments, or interests that
could constitute a conflict, or create the appearance of such a
conflict, should you be confirmed and assume the office to
which you have been nominated by the President?
Mr. Correll. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
My investments, personal holdings, and other interests have
been reviewed both by myself and the appropriate ethics
counselors within the Federal Government. I have taken
appropriate action to avoid any conflicts of interest. There
are no conflicts of interest, or appearances thereof, to my
knowledge.
The Chairman. Are you involved with, or do you have, any
assets held in blind trust?
Mr. Correll. No, sir.
The Chairman. Mark Myers. Are you aware of any personal
holdings or investments or interests that could constitute
conflict, or create any appearance of such conflict, should you
be confirmed and assume the office to which you have been
nominated by the President of the United States?
Mr. Myers. My investments, personal holdings, and other
interests have been reviewed both by myself and the appropriate
ethics counselors within the Federal Government. I have taken
appropriate action to avoid any conflicts of interest. There
are no conflicts of interest, or appearances thereof, to my
knowledge.
The Chairman. Are you involved with any, or do you hold
any, assets in blind trust?
Mr. Myers. No, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Now, each of you--starting with you, Drue
Pearce, and moving this way, each of you may now make a brief
statement. I encourage you to summarize your statement that you
have presented for filing for the record so that we'll have
plenty of time for questions. Starting with Ms. Pearce, will
you begin with--followed by Mr. Correll, and then by Dr. Myers.
Nominee statements. Please proceed.
TESTIMONY OF DRUE PEARCE, NOMINEE TO BE FEDERAL COORDINATOR FOR
ALASKA NATURAL GAS TRANSPORTATION PROJECTS
Ms. Pearce. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Senator Bingaman, and
members of the committee, I am honored to appear before you
today as the President's nominee to serve as the first Federal
coordinator for Alaska natural gas transportation projects. I
am humbled to have been selected by President Bush to establish
a new Federal office, and promise that, if confirmed by the
Senate, I will uphold the trust placed in me with honesty,
integrity, and hard work.
Senator Bunning. Mr. Chairman?
Would you please bring your mike to--we're having--I'm
having trouble hearing.
Ms. Pearce. OK. Is that better, sir?
The Chairman. Thank you very much, Senator. We'll do that.
Ms. Pearce. I was first elected to the Alaska State
legislature in 1984. As you all know, public service is a
family endeavor. I would not be able to serve my State and this
great country if I didn't have the heartfelt and steadfast
support of my family. I am grateful that my husband, Michael,
and our daughter, Tate Hanna, are here with me today. They
allowed me to uproot them from our home in Alaska 5 years ago
and are a source of daily inspiration.
My family homesteaded in what was then the Indiana
territory in 1808. I represent the sixth generation of Hannas
raised on that same 1500-acre farm in what is now southern
Illinois. My father still lives on the farm. He raises
standard-bred horses.
My passion for public service is rooted in the history of
my family. My personal hero, my father, was awarded a Navy
Cross for his heroism at Shuri Castle on Okinawa. A first
lieutenant with the 1st Marines, he was only 22. He left active
duty and came home to the farm to begin a new career of elected
public service at the local level. I am proud to be his
daughter.
Retired Marine Colonel Phil Pearce and his wife, Carol,
traveled to DC to be with me today. I've learned from this man
that I have a responsibility to give back to my community and
to my country. He taught me to get things done.
After I finished university and worked for a few years, I,
too, sought greater adventures. But I took a slightly different
and colder path, heading to Alaska in 1977. I lived in
Fairbanks, went north of the Arctic Circle to Kotzebue, and
eventually made Anchorage my home.
I had the extraordinary privilege of representing west
Anchorage in the State House and the State senate for 17 years.
I resigned my senate seat and came to DC to work on President
Bush's team in 2001, and I do currently serve as the Secretary
of the Interior's senior advisor for Alaska affairs. I oversee
offices in DC and in Alaska.
The National Energy Plan called for the Federal Government
to expedite the construction of a pipeline to deliver natural
gas to the lower 48 States. Congress recognized the importance
of Alaskan natural gas resources by enacting the Alaskan
Natural Gas Pipeline Act in 2004. The objective of the act is
to facilitate the timely development of an Alaska pipeline. A
key provision of the act creates the Office of the Federal
Coordinator. If confirmed, I will be responsible for
coordinating the expeditious actions of all Federal agencies
with respect to licensing and construction of the pipeline.
The value of the vast resources that the U.S. Geological
Survey estimates are onshore in the National Petroleum Reserve-
Alaska and offshore in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas can only
be maximized if a natural-gas pipeline is built. Those
resources belong to all Americans, not just Alaskans. It's
important to note that this project will have far greater
impacts than the initial 35-trillion-cubic-feet pipeline. It
will allow an estimated 200 trillion cubic feet of technically-
recoverable, undiscovered gas to come to U.S. markets for
generations to come.
During my 22 years of public service, I have learned how to
make positive impacts in both the legislative and the executive
arenas. It is an honor to sit before you today as President
Bush's nominee to be the Federal coordinator. If confirmed, I
pledge that I will carry out my coordination responsibilities
with dedication and integrity to expeditiously bring Alaska gas
to the lower 48.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, for
your consideration of the President's nomination. I ask for
your consent, and I would be pleased to answer any questions.
Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you very much. We'll have some
questions of you shortly.
Mr. Correll.
TESTIMONY OF JOHN RAY CORRELL, NOMINEE TO BE DIRECTOR, OFFICE
OF SURFACE MINING RECLAMATION AND ENFORCEMENT, DEPARTMENT OF
THE INTERIOR
Mr. Correll. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Distinguished members of the committee, it's a great honor
for me to be invited here today to testify before you. I'm very
grateful for the confidence and trust placed in me by President
Bush by nominating me as the director of the Office of Surface
Mining Enforcement and Reclamation. I also thank Secretary
Kempthorne for his support. And, if confirmed, I look forward
to his leadership and guidance.
Coal has played a pivotal role in the history of our great
Nation, and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.
Clean coal technology is an essential part of the Energy Policy
Act of 2005, as envisioned by this committee, as well as the
administration's Advanced Energy Initiative. It's also urgently
and desperately needed to meet the energy requirements for the
future.
I am humbled and enthusiastic at the prospect of leading a
regulatory agency whose mission includes oversight for the
environmentally sound production of coal at a time in our
history when the need for energy independence has never been
more acute. I assure you that I don't underestimate the
complexity and the significance of this responsibility as I
respectfully ask for confirmation of the President's
nomination.
I'm proud that Nancy, my high-school sweetheart and wife of
37 years, is with me today. She's been my greatest source of
encouragement, my best friend, my most astute counsel for all
these years. I want to publicly acknowledge her for being my
life partner, my greatest supporter, and for giving me two
wonderful sons, Jason and Tony. They, along with my daughter-
in-law, Tina, and our grandsons, Alex and Max, could not be
here today, nor could my father and stepmother, but I do know,
and I want you to know, I have their unwavering support and
confidence, and we all await your deliberations with
anticipation and interest.
First, some personal background. I'm from Linton, a small
coal-mining town in southern Indiana, where my parents, Ray and
Maxine, owned and operated successfully a retail business for
many years. I grew up in a home and with a way of life that
taught and reinforced the values of faith, honor, patriotism,
respect, and service. It was a good life, with swimming,
fishing, hunting, and camping at our doorstep.
During my childhood, I developed a lifelong passion,
appreciation, and respect for the great outdoors and the
splendor and personal value of our wonderful natural resources.
Since the 1800's, my hometown of Linton has been the center
of coal mining in Indiana. It was during my childhood that I
first saw--saw firsthand the legacy of previous generations of
coal mining. Everywhere, we saw damage that was a century's
worth of surface and underground mining: creeks contaminated
with acid water, abandoned mining structures, unreclaimed land
with shale, slurry, coal refuse, and many open mine portals.
This was not only an environmental calamity, but it was a
public health and safety disaster poised to strike.
These memories of this devastation have stayed with me, in
my adult life. But today, that very countryside is a living
testament to the effectiveness of the Surface Mining Control
and Reclamation Act of 1977, or SMCRA. My beautiful hometown
community now carries very few scars from those early mining
years, and the current mining operations are run to keep it
that way.
Early in my career in coal mining, I worked closely with
the Office of Surface Mining, OSM, their staff and their
inspectors, to implement the then-new SMCRA at the mines, which
gave me a fundamental, as well as a practical, understanding of
OSM's mission, vision, and importance.
Although I left the coal industry sector in 1991, I have
spent more than 30 years in the mining industry, mainly in
surface mining in the Midwest, the Southwest, including tribal
lands; Appalachia; and the Upper Midwest. Throughout my mining
career, I've worked closely and collaboratively with State and
Federal agencies, mining companies, and others to ensure that
mining operations I was involved with were safe and healthy
operations that equally valued the safety and health of their
workers, as well as the conservation and protection of
resources, and the security and well-being of those impacted by
those operations.
More recently, I've been on the regulatory side of the
business equation, responsible for Federal oversight of the
mining industry to ensure compliance with Federal safety and
health rules and regulations. That valuable experience gave me
a firm understanding of the responsibilities and the duties of
a regulatory agency, and the absolute necessity for fair, firm,
and consistent enforcement of all rules and regulations.
Mr. Chairman, during my career, my philosophy on certain
aspects of mining has become resolute. Mining is crucial to
commerce and our economy, as well as our national defense. A
balance can, and must, be maintained between conservation
protection and production. Care of the environment and
efficient production of energy are not mutually exclusive
goals. I hold these values firmly as a fundamental part of my
personal philosophy. I truly believe in them, and I work
actively to carry them out.
The primary objectives of OSM seem very clear to me: to
ensure that coal mines are operated in a manner that protects
citizens and the environment during mining, to assure that the
land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and to
mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing
reclamation of abandoned mines.
Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, I pledge to
aggressively pursue these objectives and advance the remarkable
progress already achieved in abandoned mine reclamation and to
ensure strict adherence to the laws and regulations designed to
protect the public and our natural resources from active and
future mining.
I further pledge to implement and strengthen technical and
educational programs that address OSM laws and regulations, and
to encourage a cooperative and productive dialog between OSM,
the States, the tribes, the regulating communities,
stakeholders, and other agencies, as well as the public. I will
work diligently to build bipartisan support to achieve our
mutual goals. Together, we can forge a mining legacy for future
generations of Americans that contributes positive to their
quality of life.
This concludes my testimony. I thank you for your
consideration of this nomination. I look forward to hearing
your perspectives and also your views on the challenges. And
I'll be pleased to answer any questions, sir.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Correll follows:]
Prepared Statement of John Ray Correll, Nominee to be Director, Office
Of Surface Mining, Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman, Senator Bingaman, and distinguished Members of the
Committee, it is a great honor to come before you today as you consider
my experience and qualifications for confirmation as President Bush's
nominee for Director--Office of Surface Mining (OSM). I am grateful for
the confidence and trust the President has shown in me by this
nomination and for giving me the opportunity to serve. I also thank
Secretary Kempthorne for his support of this nomination, and if
confirmed, I look forward to his leadership and guidance.
Coal, an abundant and economical energy source, has played a key
role in the history of our great nation, and will continue to do so
into the foreseeable future. As you know, clean coal technology plays a
pivotal role in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 as envisioned by this
Committee, as well as the Administration's Advanced Energy Initiative.
I am humbled yet enthusiastic with the prospect of leading a regulatory
agency whose mission includes oversight for the ecological production
of coal at a time in our nation's history when the necessity for energy
independence from foreign sources has never been more widely
recognized.
We can ensure the conservation and restoration of our beautiful
country and a secure energy source by providing the necessary
leadership and strategic thinking to create and surpass new milestones
of excellence, while building on past accomplishments of OSM. I don't
underestimate the complexity and significance of these beliefs, and I
respectfully ask for your confirmation of the President's nomination.
I am proud that Nancy, my high school sweetheart and wife of 37
years, is with me today. After all these years of being at my side, she
continues to be my greatest source of encouragement, my best friend,
and most astute counsel. I want to publicly acknowledge Nancy not just
for permitting me to pursue my dreams and career ambitions but also for
being my life partner and giving me the greatest family a person could
ever have. Our sons Jason and Tony, daughter-in-law Tina and grandsons
Alex and Max couldn't be here today to share in this honor, nor could
my father and step Mother. But I can assure you that I have their
support and confidence in asking for your confirmation of my
nomination, and all are devotedly awaiting your deliberation.
By way of personal background, I grew up in Linton, a small coal-
mining town in Southern Indiana, where my parents, Ray and Maxine
Correll owned and successfully operated a retail business. Life in
Linton, then and now, basically revolved around family, church, school
and outdoor recreation. Values such as faith, honor, patriotism and
respect were taught early on and reinforced as a way of life.
Some interesting highlights of my little home town's history
include the birth place of band leader and actor Phil Harris; the home
of a 7-day Freedom Festival which includes the second largest July 4th
parade in the great state of Indiana; and the stone monument which was
originally made from coal and placed in the city park designating the
town as the official center of the U.S. population in 1930.
My home town has been at the center of coal mining in Indiana
dating back to the late 1800s. Coal mining in 1870 turned Linton into a
boomtown. Later, between 1900 and 1906, the population of Linton
swelled from 3,000 to over 12,000 with the advent of several new coal
mine openings.
Our community was surrounded by many lakes and streams, woods and
meadows. Outdoor recreation was abundantly available, with swimming,
fishing, hunting and camping at our doorstep. And my family enjoyed
these natural resources at every opportunity. Consequently, during my
childhood I developed a lifelong passion and appreciation for the great
outdoors and the splendor of our natural resources.
It was also during my childhood that I witnessed first-hand a
legacy of coal mining from previous generations. Evidence of surface
and underground coal mining conducted during the late 19th and early
20th century could be found throughout the area. Orange-colored acidic
water contaminated many creeks, rivers and lakes. Acres of shale-
covered ground, surrounded by unleveled spoil banks resulted in many
areas that could not support any kind of vegetation or plant growth.
Old abandoned coal refuse piles and coal slurry lay atop ground
that once was prime farm land or woods. Hazardous, open, unrestricted
mine portals beckoned people of all ages into old mines. And decaying,
abandoned mining facilities and structures were scattered about
inviting trespass . . . and grave danger. This coal mining legacy left
an indelible image in my memory that I have carried throughout my adult
life.
Today, my home town community serves as a testament to the
effectiveness and necessity of the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA) which bears little or no reflection of
those early mining years, with current mining addressing environmental
conservation and protection throughout the mining process.
In 1975, like several relatives before me, I began a career in
mining . . . this was two years before the implementation of SMCRA.
With the enactment of this Act came a new era in coal mining, with a
much-needed focus on the legacy of mining with equal emphasis on
regulating active mining to protect the environment and society to
eliminate what I had witnessed growing up.
My professional career now spans 30 years in the mining industry
(nearly equally divided between the coal and metal/nonmetal sectors),
with significant experience in the Midwest, Southwest (including Navajo
and Hopi Tribal lands), Appalachia and the Upper Midwest, the majority
of which involving surface mining.
During my early career in coal mining, I worked closely with the
Office of Surface Mining (OSM) inspectors and staff to implement the
newly enacted SMCRA, and I gained a fundamental understanding of OSM's
mission, vision and importance. Throughout my mining career I have
worked collaboratively and directly with state and federal agencies,
mining companies, and other stakeholders to ensure safe and healthy
mine production with equal value placed on conservation and protection
of all resources, and the safety and well-being of all people
potentially impacted.
And more recently I have been on the regulator's side of the
business equation, responsible for Federal oversight of the mining
industry to ensure compliance with Federal safety and health rules and
regulations. This experience has given me a proper understanding of the
responsibility and duty of a regulatory agency and criticality of firm,
fair and consistent enforcement of all applicable rules and
regulations.
Mr. Chairman, over the course of my career my philosophy on certain
aspects of mining has become fixed. Mining is vital to commerce and our
national economy, as well as our national defense. A balance can and
must be maintained between conservation and protection, and production.
Environmental requirements are not mutually exclusive to the efficient
production of energy. I hold these beliefs as values, meaning resolute
as opposed to priorities which often change.
I know that firm and fair enforcement, combined with the right kind
of compliance and technology assistance, as well as education and
training will result in accomplishing this balance, regardless of the
mining methods employed. And I know that partnerships and cooperative
alliances based on trust and mutual goals are needed to mobilize the
commitment we all share for compliance to the laws and regulations
administered by the OSM, and to advance mining with appropriate
protection and conservation of our natural resources.
The primary objectives of the OSM include: ensuring that coal mines
are operated in a manner that protects citizens and the environment
during mining; assuring that the land is restored to beneficial use
following mining; and mitigating the effects of past mining by
aggressively pursuing reclamation of abandoned mines.
Mr. Chairman, and members of this Committee, I pledge to
aggressively pursue these objectives and advance the remarkable
progress already achieved in abandoned mine reclamation, and ensuring
strict adherence to the laws and regulations designed to protect the
public and our natural resources from active and future mining. I
further pledge to implement and strengthen technical and educational
programs that address OSM laws and regulations and to encourage a
cooperative and productive dialogue between the OSM, the States, the
tribes, the regulated community, the stakeholders, other agencies and
the public.
Furthermore, I will work diligently to build bipartisan support to
achieve our mutual goals of producing essential energy without
sacrificing our environment, and without putting the public at risk.
Together, we can forge a mining legacy for future generations of
Americans that contributes positively to their quality of life.
Thank you for your consideration of my nomination, and also for the
opportunity to provide my views which should be a basis upon which to
measure my future performance if I am confirmed. I respectfully request
your support in this important and essential confirmation process. I
also look forward to hearing your comments and perspectives regarding
the issues and challenges facing OSM. I will be pleased to respond to
any questions you might have to the best of my ability.
The Chairman. Thank you very much, sir. Very good
statement.
Mr. Correll. Thank you.
The Chairman. Dr. Myers, you're next. Your statement will
be made a part of the record. Please summarize it, and we'll
proceed.
TESTIMONY OF MARK D. MYERS, NOMINEE TO BE DIRECTOR OF THE U.S.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Mr. Myers. Thank you. Mr. Chairman, Senator Bingaman, and
members of the committee, I am honored and humbled to appear
before you as the President's nominee for director of the U.S.
Geological Survey. I greatly appreciate the confidence placed
in me by the President and by Secretary Kempthorne. If
confirmed, I look forward to the challenge and responsibility
of managing one of the premier scientific research
organizations in the world.
I wouldn't be here except for the support my family, many
of which are present in the audience today.
I grew up in western Wisconsin on the sandstone bluffs
overlooking the Mississippi River, where I learned to love the
environment around me, especially the area's geology, natural
processes of the Mississippi River, and the area's spectacular
ecosystem. These early experiences led me--led to my career as
a geologist. I hold B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University
of Wisconsin-Madison, and a Ph.D. from the University of
Alaska-Fairbanks, with a specialization in clastic
sedimentology.
If confirmed, I will bring more than 25 years of
professional experience to the position. I have significant--
spent significant time in both the private and the public
sectors, and function well in both environments.
In the private sector, I worked as a petroleum geologist on
both exploration and development, primarily in Alaska. For the
State of Alaska, I worked as a petroleum geologist, the
director of the Division of Oil and Gas, and the State
geologist and director of the Geological and Geophysical
Surveys. Additionally, I spent 26 years in the Air Force
Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel in 2003.
As State geologist, I was responsible for general
geological mapping, geohazards, energy and mineral assessments,
research, and engineering geology. As director of Oil and Gas,
I was responsible for managing the State's largest source of
general funds: the oil and gas revenues from our State-owned
lands. The division would provide up to $2 billion a year of
direct revenue to the State. As part of that job, I was
responsible for balancing the State's need for oil and gas
production and revenue with the need for habitat and
environmental protection. In order to make sound management
decisions, it was necessary to integrate the best available
geological, geophysical engineering, economic, hydrological,
biological and geospatial data. It was critical that this data
be accurate, unbiased, and relevant. And the central part of
the process was communicating with the public through outreach
hearings and best-interest findings, similar to an
environmental impact statement document. We worked hard at
building public consensus on controversial issues, and I
believe we maintained our public credibility because we
listened and did our homework.
Under my leadership, the Alaska State Division of Oil and
Gas and the Geological Survey dramatically increased their
research capabilities and use of advanced technology; in
particular, sophisticated seismic analysis and advanced
economic modeling. I was able to integrate the superior
geophysical data base management, engineering, and economic
modeling skills within our Division of Oil and Gas with the
superior surface geological mapping and remote sensing skills
of our State Survey. This resulted in a dramatic increase in
the quality of the reports and publications of both
organizations, better public policy decisions, and a
substantial increase in public demand for the information.
As part of that process, we built integrated teams of
specialists within the divisions that significantly improved--
and significantly improved our partnership relationships with
our sister research and management organizations on the State,
local, and national levels.
I mentioned my background experience in order to illustrate
the importance I placed in the acquisition and use of high-
quality, unbiased scientific data to inform the public on
policy and resource management decisions. I believe it is
equally important that that information be effectively
communicated to the end-users, including, but not limited to,
resource and regulatory agencies on the Federal, State, and
local levels, the broader scientific community, and the general
public.
The scientific research conducted by the USGS has, and
will, become even more essential to our country and world as we
deal with our ever-increasing interaction and demands on our
natural world. The research and monitoring performed by the
USGS supports national, State, and local efforts to mitigate
risks from natural hazards, as well as management of our
Nation's water, biological, mineral, and energy resources.
Recent worldwide natural disasters and energy supply issues
clearly illustrate and highlight the need for this research. If
confirmed, I will be charged with providing executive
leadership, direction, and policy oversight to a world-class
multidisciplinary scientific organization. I look forward to
working with the talented and dedicated professionals of the
USGS at a time when focused impartial science has never been
more important. I am excited about the opportunities of working
in direct cooperation and collaboration with the scientific
community, resource managers, regulators, and educators in
order to maximize the effectiveness of the USGS.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, for
your time and consideration.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Myers follows:]
Prepared Statement of Mark D. Myers, Nominee to be Director,
U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior
Mr. Chairman, Senator Bingaman, and members of the Committee, I am
honored and humbled to appear before you as the President's nominee for
Director of the United States Geological Survey. I greatly appreciate
the confidence placed in me by the President and Secretary Kempthorne.
If confirmed, I look forward to the challenge and responsibility of
managing one of the premier scientific research organizations in the
world.
I grew up in western Wisconsin on the sandstone bluffs overlooking
the Mississippi River, where I learned to love the environment around
me, especially the area's geology, the natural processes of the
Mississippi River, and the area's spectacular ecosystem. This led me to
the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where I received my B.S. and M.S.
degrees in geology and my commission in the USAF Reserve. After
completing my M.S. degree, I went to work as a petroleum geologist for
Atlantic Richfield (ARCO), largely because they offered me the best
chance to be assigned to Alaska. After working for 20 months at ARCO in
Texas and South Louisiana, I was transferred to Alaska, which has been
my home for the last 23 years. While employed by ARCO, I had the
opportunity to work on both exploration and development projects in
some of the most remote parts of Alaska and offshore waters, as well as
participate in and lead geologic field surveys. I left the company to
complete a Ph.D. in geology at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks,
specializing in clastic sedimentology.
In 1990, I went to work as a petroleum geologist for the State of
Alaska Division of Oil and Gas, where I developed an appreciation for
working in the public sector for the people of Alaska. At the Division
of Oil and Gas, I worked on a diverse group of projects which included
geological research (some of which was performed jointly with the
USGS), management of the State's petroleum resources, industry
regulation, commercial negotiations with oil companies, and selection
of the final State land entitlement from the Federal Government.
Following eight years with the State, my desire to work with the latest
cutting edge 3-D seismic technology led me back to ARCO, where I was
fortunate to be the project geologist on several successful new oil
discoveries in Alaska. In late 2000, I was asked to return to State
employ as the Director of the Division of Oil and Gas. I served in that
position from January 2001 until I resigned in November 2005. During my
tenure with the State, I was given additional responsibilities of State
Geologist and Director of the Division of Geological and Geophysical
Surveys. I chose to take a significant reduction in salary to return to
State service, because I believed I could make a positive difference
for the people of Alaska. That same desire to make a positive
difference for the American public brings me before this committee.
During my five years of leadership, the Alaska State Division of
Oil and Gas and the Geological Survey dramatically increased its
research capabilities and use of advanced technology, including
sophisticated 3-D seismic analysis and advanced economic modeling. We
built integrated teams of specialists within the divisions and
significantly improved the partnership relationships with our sister
research and management organizations on the local, State and national
levels. As the Director of Oil and Gas, I was responsible for managing
the State's largest source of general funds, the royalty revenue from
Alaska's oil and gas leasing program and the State royalty share of oil
and gas production. The division would provide up to $2 billion/year of
direct revenue to the State.
As the Director of Oil and Gas, I was responsible for balancing the
State's need for oil and gas production and revenue with the need for
habitat and environmental protection. In order to make sound management
decisions it was essential to integrate the best available geological,
geophysical, engineering, economic, hydrological, biological and
geospatial data. It was critical that these data were accurate,
unbiased, and relevant.
Because of the State's ability to perform its own scientific
studies internally or with partners, and to fully utilize the existing
data, we were able to develop effective strategies for dealing with
issues proactively. An essential part of the process was communicating
with the public through outreach, hearings, and written Best Interest
Findings. We worked hard at building public consensus on controversial
issues, and I believe we maintained our public credibility, because we
listened and did our homework.
As State Geologist, I was responsible for other areas, including
general geological mapping, geohazards, mineral assessment and
research, and engineering geology. As the Director of both the
Geological and Geophysical Survey and the Division of Oil and Gas, I
was able to integrate the superior geophysical, database management,
engineering and economic modeling skills of the Division of Oil and Gas
with the superior surface geological mapping and remote sensing skills
of the State Survey. This resulted in a dramatic increase in the
quality of the reports and publications of both organizations, better
public policy decisions, and a substantial increase in public demand
for the information.
I mention my background and experiences in order to illustrate the
importance I place on the acquisition and use of high quality,
unbiased, scientific data to inform the public on policy and resource
management decisions. I believe that it is equally important that the
information is effectively communicated to the end users, including,
but not limited to, resource and regulatory agencies on the Federal,
State and local levels, the broader scientific community, and the
general public.
The scientific research conducted by the USGS has been and will
become even more essential to our country and the world as we deal with
our ever increasing interaction with and demands on the natural world.
The research and monitoring performed by the USGS supports national,
state and local efforts to mitigate risk from natural hazards as well
as management of our nation's water, biological, mineral and energy
resources. Recent worldwide natural disasters and energy supply issues
have highlighted the need for this research.
If confirmed, I will be charged with providing executive
leadership, direction and policy oversight to a world class
multidisciplinary, scientific organization. I look forward to working
with the talented and dedicated professionals of the USGS at a time
when the need for focused, impartial science is so important. I am
excited about the opportunities to work in direct cooperation and
collaboration with the scientific community, resource managers,
regulators, and educators in order to maximize the effectiveness of the
USGS.
Thank you Mr. Chairman and members of the committee for your time
and consideration.
The Chairman. Thank you very much.
I note, Mr. Correll, that I think you're the only one that
didn't get to introduce your wife. Is that correct? Did she get
introduced?
Mr. Correll. This is my wife with me here. Nancy.
The Chairman. Would you stand up? Thank you. Nice to see
you, ma'am. Thank you for coming.
Mr. Correll. Thank you, Senator.
The Chairman. Now we're going to start with the questions,
and we're going to go over and ask if you'd like to start,
please, Senator Bunning.
Senator Bunning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
First of all, I'd like my opening statement to go in to the
record.
The Chairman. That'll be done.
Senator Bunning. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Senator Bunning follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Jim Bunning, U.S. Senator From Kentucky
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
The Office of Surface Mining supports the states' surface mining
programs and administers the Abandoned Mine Land program. As one of the
largest historic and current coal producers, my state of Kentucky
considers the AML program very important. We have a large state-share
balance that is owed to us by the federal government. And we have
significant high priority reclamation sites that need to be addressed
immediately.
Most coal states, like Kentucky, have primacy when it comes to
surface mining, and OSM will only serve in a limited oversight role to
make sure the states are doing their job. I believe it is important
that the Director of the Office of Surface Mining realize that he will
be the C.F.O. of the AML program.
As my colleagues are aware, proposals to change the AML program
have been under consideration for the last several years. I am
concerned that the funding that is required to reclaim dangerous
abandoned coal mines has been increasingly diverted to other purposes.
No matter what legislation passes congress, I will look to the Director
of the O.S.M. to come to Congress and give honest assessments of the
program. It will be his job to ensure that the A.M.L. program is
solvent, that states receive the money owed to them, and that we have
the long-term ability to reclaim abandoned mine land.
I look forward to talking with the nominee to be Director of the
U.S. Geological Survey. I am very familiar with the U.S.G.S. and the
outstanding mapping they have done in Kentucky. I also look forward to
discussing the new position of Federal Coordinator of Alaska Natural
Gas. In these times of high energy prices, it is important that we have
a steady hand to ensure that Alaska natural gas gets into the market as
quickly as possible.
Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Senator Bunning. Mr. Correll, today we have seen the
Abandoned Mine Land Program resources stretched to its limits
because money is diverted to other areas. With this budgetary
reality, what will you be able to do to ensure that abandoned
mine lands are reclaimed? Will you come to Congress and provide
realistic comments on the AML program, if confirmed?
Mr. Correll. Thank you, Senator Bunning. I'm familiar with
AML funds, of course, and I need further study before I'd give
you any absolute answers on that. I will give you my
commitment, freely, to work with you and your staff and other
members of the committee, if confirmed, looking at the AML
fund, looking for the long-term solutions.
Senator Bunning. Are you familiar with the diversion of
funds presently from the AML fund to other entities right now?
Mr. Correll. Yes, sir, I've seen how the fund is
appropriated currently. Yes, sir.
Senator Bunning. In other words, it's being used for
healthcare benefits, it's being used for retirement benefits of
orphaned miners, and the current coal companies are being
forced to pay those benefits when the mine--in other words, in
Kentucky, if I have a coal company that operates in Kentucky,
that money is not being returned to Kentucky to reclaim the
abandoned mine land, but it's being diverted to other purposes.
I want to make sure that Kentucky gets back the money that
they've been paying to reclaim--we have an awful lot of
abandoned mines in Kentucky, and we want to make sure that they
get reclaimed. I need a commitment from you to make sure that
that is done.
Mr. Correll. Senator, again, if confirmed, I would look
forward to, and would immediately seek out, your advice and
your thoughts and concerns, as well as other members of the
committee, on the AML fund, as well as other aspects of OSM. I
can also say that it is, if confirmed as director, my mandate
and duty as the--primarily, the SMCRA, in carrying out the
mandates that Congress prescribed under SMCRA.
Senator Bunning. As you know, States like Kentucky have
primacy in surface mining issues. Primacy. In other words, they
have first control over their mines. Will you defer to the
States and ensure OSM keeps only a limited oversight role?
Mr. Correll. Senator Bunning, ``primacy,'' to me, means
primacy, and those States that have reached out for primacy and
have been--have achieved primacy would, in fact, have primacy.
OSM's role is oversight to ensure that they're doing the things
that they've said they would do and that SMCRA requires. So, I
would recognize primacy, sir, as it's intended to be, Senator.
Senator Bunning. Mr. Myers, the USGS has worked very well
in my State with mapping projects, particularly working with
our State geologists to make detailed maps available on the
Internet to the public. I understand that Kentucky is more
advanced than most States when it comes to mapping. What are
the national needs in this area?
Mr. Myers. Thank you, Senator Bunning, for that important
question.
One of the core missions of the USGS is clearly basic
geological mapping and gathering information. And I'm aware of
the high quality of the work that comes out of the Kentucky
Survey. One of the State--one of the important programs of the
USGS has been the Cooperative Mapping Program with the States.
It's a competitive program in which the State gets grants
through the USGS from the Federal Government, and I think that
program has been a big success. Furthermore, the USGS is
dedicated to a lot of traditional mapping as one of its core
missions.
Senator Bunning. How far behind are most States in the
updating of their mapping?
Mr. Myers. Senator Bunning, it runs the gauntlet.
Particularly the issue of getting maps from paper maps in to
the digital world and to a new geospatial infrastructure really
highly varies by State. And I'm not fully aware of all the
States' issues, but I certainly know that there is a wide
variety in the quality and scale of not only geological maps
themselves, but also the amount of maps that are actually done
digitally today. And, Senator, if confirmed, I'd be happy to
look more into that program.
And I will say one other thing. I consider cooperative
programs with the States essential to the well-being of the
USGS and to the State Surveys, as well, and look forward, if
confirmed, to working with the State Surveys on geological
mapping.
Senator Bunning. My time has expired, but I wanted to ask
Mrs. Pearce--but I'll wait for my second round.
The Chairman. No, you can proceed.
Senator Bunning. Can I proceed? Thank you.
With high energy prices, we can all see how important it is
to connect the vast supply of natural gas in Alaska to the rest
of our country. Will you be tasked with ensuring this
connection is made as quickly as possible? And do you foresee
any immediate hurdles to this goal?
Ms. Pearce. Senator, thank you. Thank you for that
question, Senator.
It will be my responsibility, if I am confirmed, when an
application comes to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission,
to ensure that all 14 Federal agencies that will have a role in
the permitting and the licensing and in the construction will
work together to expeditiously move forward. The hurdles at the
Federal level will be few and far between. I will make sure of
that.
Senator Bunning. What about in the great State of Alaska?
Ms. Pearce. Thank you, Senator.
At present, as you most likely know, the Governor has the
legislature called into special session, and they have before
them both a rewrite of the oil tax policies, along with a
contract under the Stranded Gas Act, with the producers that
would lead to an application coming before us. I believe that
the legislature will do the right thing.
Senator Bunning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Thank you very much, Senator.
Let me just follow up. Ma'am, there still isn't any accord
between the State and--well, between the State and the
companies, right?
Ms. Pearce. Senator, there is accord. There is a contract
agreed to between Governor Murkowski and the three producer
companies. That contract, the basic pieces of it, will be
before the legislature--if not during this special session,
then later this fall, during another special session. So, there
is accord between the producers and the Governor.
The Chairman. Well, the holdup is that the legislature
won't ratify it or--what's the holdup?
Ms. Pearce. The legislature has not yet ratified it. They
did not come to an agreement on the oil tax changes during
either the regular session or the first special session, so
they are back in Juneau. I always hazard to say what any
legislature might do, but they do appear to have critical mass
to move forward on an oil tax change, so I do believe that they
will take action.
The Chairman. You do believe that will happen?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Senator Thomas.
Senator Thomas. Thank you all for being here, and for being
willing to undertake these jobs. I know they're difficult,
certainly in the area of energy, where many of our challenges
are now. And, just for information on what you just mentioned,
this pipeline is a Federal pipeline, is that right?
Ms. Pearce. It'll be federally licensed and permitted. It
will be privately owned. This is by--depending upon the project
that comes before us, it'll be privately owned. But, when
Congress passed the Act, you provided for a loan guarantee,
sir.
Senator Thomas. Right. So, what's the State's role in
making this judgment?
Ms. Pearce. Well, the gas is on State leases.
Senator Thomas. Pardon me?
Ms. Pearce. The present gas that is known in Alaska, that
35 tcf of gas, they're on--it's on State leases, so it's State
gas. And more than--about half of the right-of-way in the State
of Alaska crosses State lands. The other half is Federal lands.
So, we will coordinate with the State.
Senator Thomas. I would imagine they're interested in
selling the gas, aren't they?
Ms. Pearce. They are interested in selling their gas, that
is true, their royalty gas.
Senator Thomas. OK. Just generally, and I appreciate what
you've said, and so on, what would you say, in just a short
statement, would be the principal challenges to the job you're
undertaking?
Ms. Pearce. Senator, if I'm confirmed, I think that the
principal challenge will be working to ensure that all the
Federal agencies that are involved in this huge project stay on
schedule in getting their permits and licenses through. We have
a deadline--18 months for an EIS. That environmental impact
statement has to also be used for the right-of-way grant and
for other permits. So, the agencies are going to have to work
closely together. It will be my responsibility, if I'm
confirmed, to mediate any skirmishes between the agencies, but
primarily to ensure that they stay on track with the schedule
in coordination with the State of Alaska.
Senator Thomas. OK. Thank you.
Dr. Myers, what--how would you, sort of, summarize your
responsibility and challenges? What do you think are the
principal challenges of the Geological Survey?
Mr. Myers. Thank you, Senator Thomas, for that question.
First of all, I have the highest respect for the agency.
The high-quality caliber of the scientific personnel is
outstanding. The Survey has a wide and diverse, broad mandate,
in terms of developing and studying science, and providing
science that's valuable. I think one of the key challenges will
be to make sure the science is focused and ready and available
where we need it, when we need it. So, that takes an
anticipation of what world issues are going to be the big
challenges for us.
I think one of the other big challenges--and I think the
Survey has done this admirably, but it will be incredibly
important--is that the science is unbiased, that it's peer
reviewed, and that it's objective, so that it comes with no
agenda other than helping to provide the framework for dealing
with the major policy issues we face in this country.
And so, it's a very large agency, again, focusing the
multidisciplinary science together to work is going to be, I
think, the largest challenge, to make sure that we're
effectively delivering the products the Nation needs, and that
we're accountable to our funding sources, to the Congress, and
to the administration, as well.
Senator Thomas. Good. Thank you. It seems like, in handling
the development of energy resources and so on, that there's a
number of agencies involved. Now, I know that you're not a
regulatory agency, I guess, especially, are you?
Mr. Myers. Senator Thomas, in particular, we're not. And
that's the way it needs to be so that the Survey can deliver
objective information that's independent of the regulatory or
commercial interests of any party----
Senator Thomas. Yes.
Dr. Myers [continuing]. So it is absolutely clean and
objective, and it can be used for policymaking. Conversely, it
can--also is available to the general public.
Senator Thomas. Right. One of the problems is, when there
are several agencies involved, you have--one agency makes its
regulations, and then the next one makes its findings, and so
on; and so, it takes a very long time to get them all done. I
hope we can have coordination among the agencies that share
some of the responsibilities.
Mr. Correll, what--I think the Senator took away my
question about the funding. The Abandoned Mine Lands Fund,
there's a fee, and it's my understanding that, at least
originally, the idea was, that fee was used to deal with
abandoned mine lands. And the fact is that not all of it does
that at all. It's going into other uses. And the States are not
getting their money that--all the money that's collected. What
do you think of that?
Mr. Correll. I see the--Senator Thomas, I see the AML as
perhaps my greatest challenge, if confirmed, with OSM bringing
some long-term solution rather than reauthorization; short-
term, building some consensus through outreach as to what the
fund is, and what it should be for, and how it should be used
and funded. Without giving any specific opinion as to how I
would do that or what it should look like when it's done, I
would simply say I will work very closely with you, the
committee, the coal-producing States, those impacted by ALM and
the funding, to achieve a long-term solution that's fair and
equitable and still allows OSM to reach the mandate that SMCRA
puts on the OSM, on the agency.
Senator Thomas. Yes. Well, we all--as we have more and more
economic energy development, why, we want to make sure we
balance it with the environment, and that was one of the
purposes of this, to go ahead and reclaim those areas. And it
seems to me that diverting the money away to other purposes is
a--moves away from the purpose of this whole proposition, and
it's become a political issue, it seems. So, welcome to the
political arena.
[Laughter.]
Senator Thomas. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. Well, I'm sorry I skipped over you a little
while ago. I apologize.
Senator Thomas. Not at all.
The Chairman. You have to--I have to be a little careful to
show no preference to the big righthander, Senator Bunning, any
longer.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Well, witnesses, it's been terrific having
you. And we could take a lot of time just talking, here, about
your jobs, because they're big jobs.
For instance, Drue Pearce, I can tell you how thrilled and
happy we were, as we proceeded with the Energy Act in August of
last year, and got it passed, and had it signed by the
President. And, in my case, it was a particular thrill, because
we hadn't had one in 15 years. And we did it bipartisan. And we
brought the President of the United States to sign it, out in
our State of New Mexico. And one of the provisions that didn't
miss our attention, albeit far, far away from New Mexico, was
the provision that said one of the these days we're going to
get a lot of natural gas from up there in Alaska. And we
weren't talking about ANWR, which we're still fussing with
trying to get something done, and hope we will, we're talking
about that giant project to bring natural gas right into the
heartland of the country, which you're the supervisor of,
henceforth, right?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. In about 2 weeks, when you get yourself sworn
in, you've got this $20-billion contract. That's what it is,
about?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Twenty-plus.
Ms. Pearce. Yes, Senator.
The Chairman. Not too many of them bigger than that, are
there?
Ms. Pearce. No, sir, it would be the largest privately
financed construction project ever in the world.
The Chairman. Yes, well, it's privately financed in the one
sense, but it's publicly enhanced----
Ms. Pearce. A loan guarantee, sir.
The Chairman [continuing]. Because we guarantee it. And
that's why you're involved. Now, we don't want to go into
detailed questions today, but I can tell you right now that, as
one who worked very hard to get that done, I am not very
thrilled with what's going on up there. And you can sit there
and tell me, with your nice placid face, that this is all going
along and the legislature is going to vote and approve things,
but things aren't going very well. There's too much--too many
disputes going on. And, for my cup of tea, or cup of coffee
here, there's an awful lot of something that smells and looks
like politics going on. I don't know whose or where, but I'm
telling you, the American people expect us to get that done. We
didn't put our guarantee--our public's guarantee on $20 billion
to have further delays.
Now, that's not any aspersion on you, ma'am, but it is
this, it is saying to you that you just took an oath a little
while ago, and you told us that you would testify before this
committee, when we ask you to, on what's going on, on any
matters over in their Department that concern us and the
business of the public. And I'm, sort of, forewarning you that
we're going to get you up here on this issue rather frequently.
Ms. Pearce. OK.
The Chairman. At least I'm reminding my staff today to,
sort of, put it on the calendar and haul you up here, nicely--
that's a bad word--ask you up here and find out what's going
on. OK?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir, Senator, I'll be happy to.
The Chairman. And you're going to be prepared to tell us,
right?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir, I'll be prepared, and I'll also
deliver your message to the legislature.
The Chairman. That'd be nice. You can deliver it to whoever
would like to hear it up there----
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman [continuing]. The Governor, whoever's in
legislature. I mean, they may not care what we think, but we
put on a pretty whopping full-court press to get that done.
That isn't an easy thing to get it done around here, right?
That's one of the big ones. We did a couple of big ones. The
pipeline, I remember----
Ms. Pearce. TAPS.
The Chairman [continuing]. Passed by one vote. You were
probably alive and kicking by then. I don't remember which age
he said you were, but you were probably----
Ms. Pearce. Fairly old.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. You were old enough to remember that?
Ms. Pearce. Oh, yes, sir.
The Chairman. Damn near didn't pass, right?
Ms. Pearce. That is correct, sir. One vote.
The Chairman. One vote.
Ms. Pearce. The Vice President had to break the tie.
The Chairman. Break the tie. And we thought that was the
neatest project. We couldn't understand why the whole world
didn't want it, right?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Well, it's the same thing with ANWR now. But
it wasn't the same thing with this one that you're supervising.
We did that smooth, easy. How many votes? Seventy-six? Eighty?
Eighty-some votes had the big old monster guarantee in it,
right? So, you understand, we had--we're out in front of you,
saying, ``Come on, America needs this stuff. We don't want to
be blackmailed anymore,'' right?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir. I understand.
The Chairman. How many years do you think it is going to
take before we get this thing?
Ms. Pearce. If the legislature acts this fall and we have a
contract, we'll begin the pre-application process in 2007. The
companies tell us that they would expect gas in a pipe in 2014,
Senator.
The Chairman. 2014.
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. My God, that's a long time, isn't it? Gee, we
might not even use gas by then. Who knows?
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. You'd really better hurry up, because we're
inventing all kind of new stuff out there, you know? With all
this high price of crude oil, we're inventing new stuff, and we
may not even need that gas. Boy, those companies better be wary
about all that money they owe, right?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir. Senator, if I'm confirmed, I would be
happy to come back before the committee and explain the
timeline.
The Chairman. Oh, you will?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. You think you know that pretty soon you can
have that ready?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. When do you think you can give us a timeline?
Ms. Pearce. As soon as I'm confirmed.
The Chairman. Oh, you can come right up here and give it to
us?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. So, you already know it?
Ms. Pearce. We have--the companies have given us a
timeline. You, Congress, laid out that the EIS cannot take more
than 18 months, so parts of the timeline were set by Congress,
and the memorandum of understanding amongst the 14 Federal
agencies has already led us to begin work looking at a
schedule, so we can share a proposed timeline.
The Chairman. You've got an office already?
Ms. Pearce. No, sir.
The Chairman. You don't?
Ms. Pearce. I do not.
The Chairman. Where are you going to headquarter?
Ms. Pearce. We don't know yet where the office will be,
because it's a new agency.
The Chairman. But you will have one?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir. If confirmed, then we'll work on
getting space.
The Chairman. Where's the money?
Ms. Pearce. The Department of Energy has the authority for
the position, at the moment, until the nominee is confirmed,
and they have money set aside in their budget for the Federal
Coordinator's Office.
The Chairman. In other words, when I paid for it in the
subcommittee, the Department of Energy, we paid for you, too?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. Well, I hope you have good people there. How
many do you expect to have working for you?
Ms. Pearce. Our core office probably won't number more than
10 at the beginning. On a long-term basis, I can only tell you
that when the pre-build happened for the lower 48 connections
to Alberta back in the 1970's, the Federal inspector at that
time had over 400 people overseeing the construction of that
2,500 miles of pipeline.
The Chairman. Well, we'll get around to asking you about
that stuff, too, before long.
Ms. Pearce. OK.
The Chairman. We'll give you a little time. Just don't get
carried away with too many workers.
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. We hope you don't need a whole army up there,
right? The companies have got to do their own work, right?
You're just inspectors, so to speak.
Ms. Pearce. That is correct.
The Chairman. They're going to build--they're going to have
their own inspectors and their own whatever there is that goes
with it, because it's their project, right?
Ms. Pearce. That is true. But all of the agencies will have
to also inspect----
The Chairman. Oh, yes.
Ms. Pearce [continuing]. During the construction, in
particular.
The Chairman. Well, the Government will have more people up
there. They'll fall over each other trying to figure out who's
got more to do, right, don't you think, Senator Bunning?
Senator Bunning. Absolutely.
The Chairman. I've got it figured out already. Both
righthanders are right on this one.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. There's a little righthander and a big
righthander.
Now, let's see, Dr. Myers, you're in charge of a great
organization, and I want to talk about two things that are on
my mind that are new and different, and that's underground
water aquifers that are not potable in their ordinary
condition, but, rather, we're looking at science to change them
from--their status into something we can drink and use. That's
salinated water, or desalinated processes. Tell me a little bit
about your role, as you see it, if any, in trying to help us
figure out how to make more water available where it isn't,
more water available for use.
Mr. Myers. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
As you know, the USGS has a sizable organization to look at
both surface water and a lot of cooperative stream-gauging
efforts, as well as underground aquifers and understanding the
lateral extent, the use, the recharge, and the environmental
impacts of the current use and potential future use. The agency
provides science to help support the policymakers on how much
water can be withdrawn from aquifers and what the future might
look like as population densities in different areas grow.
I know a tremendous amount of science is going into it.
It's a core area of research for the Survey. I am not familiar
with the actual issues of taking nonpotable water, or saline
waters, and converting them to potable, or drinking, water,
Senator. I'd be happy to look into that. I'm just not aware of
it.
But, clearly, it's a core mission of the USGS. It's a major
need of this country. We certainly have real issues with
providing sustained, high-quality drinking water and water for
irrigation. We have a lot of competing uses for our water and
good science needs to be done so that when the policymakers
make these tough decisions about allocating water or looking at
future supplies, they have the data they need to help frame the
issue. And certainly I'd be happy to--if confirmed, be happy to
work with you, Senator, on the USGS water programs.
The Chairman. Well, Dr. Myers, you're going to hear a lot
more from our office about saline water. It's not necessarily a
charge of yours, but, on the other hand, it's not necessarily
not a mission of yours, either, to help where you can with your
expertise. It's a big, growing problem to try to determine how
to best utilize salinated corridors and salinated underground
ponds, and even surface ponds, where they have no use now, but
are not too far away from a possible use. You're clearly aware
of that science as having breakthroughs all the time. And,
while we're principally using osmosis, there are other modes of
science being applied to try to find a better way--a cheaper
way, I guess I should say. That's probably a more economic way.
New Mexico is really hard-pressed in that area, and
spending a lot of resources. And I've taken it upon myself to
put a lot of money in the Department of Energy to do water
research, and will appreciate, later on, trying to work out
some cooperative things with your Department, as you assume
your leadership role and make this department even better. It's
a great department. We want you to keep it there. You know
that. Straight professionalism, right?
Mr. Myers. Yes, Senator. It'll have no value if we can't
keep it that way.
The Chairman. That's correct.
Now, my last comments are going to go to you, Mr. Correll.
I don't have to ask you questions of the types that have been
asked about the fund, but I do have to lay before you my own
observations that, based on your background, you're extremely
well qualified for this job. I think it's unfair to not let the
record reflect that there are some who object to your having
this job. And you know that. I think that we all know why. And
we're going to have to get those right out on the surface and
find out the real, real truth behind them.
Going up front, I think I could take a couple of hours here
and go through your qualifications, and it would clearly show
that--by the time I was finished, that whoever's objecting, it
couldn't be on qualifications, so it's got to be something
else. And so, we're going to be sure that that gets out where
they want to get it out, and you're going to have to answer it,
but we're going to get your confirmation moving. We're not
going to have you languish around here because certain groups
don't want you in this job based upon their membership in
certain organizations of one type or another. Do you understand
what I'm talking about?
Mr. Correll. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. If
confirmed, I will serve with honor, and I appreciate your
comments.
The Chairman. And you served--you'll have to serve for
everybody, including those groups that don't like you.
Mr. Correll. Absolutely, sir. It's a duty----
The Chairman. They have a membership prejudice, but that
doesn't mean that they aren't in the industry.
Mr. Correll. No, sir.
The Chairman. Correct?
Mr. Correll. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. They're just--we're just going to have to
make sure, up here, that that doesn't mean we leave this job
vacant. Because you're qualified. So, you know, we're going to
get on with that.
If there's nothing further from the Senator, we're going to
proceed.
Thanks to all of you who came to wish these nominees well.
It has not gone unnoted. And they will move--we will try to
move them with dispatch that you, as their relatives, would
expect us to do. Sometimes you hear about all these long
delays, and people being held up on the floor, and blue slips
that hold people forever. We're going to try to see that
doesn't happen, so your particular relative can move right
along. Including you, who get this very unsavory job, ma'am.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. And see that you get it done, okay?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. You and I are going to be--get to know each
other here in the next 18 months; you know that, right?
Ms. Pearce. I look forward to it, Senator.
The Chairman. You can tell, can't you?
Ms. Pearce. Yes, sir.
The Chairman. OK. We stand adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:20 a.m., the hearing was adjourned.]
APPENDIXES
----------
Appendix I
Responses to Additional Questions
----------
Responses of Drue Pearce to Questions From Senator Domenici
Question 1. The Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act that created the
position to which you have been nominated was enacted in the fall of
2004. Here we are, nearly two years later, and we are apparently not
much closer to getting a pipeline bill than we were when the law was
enacted.
In your opinion, what is the most significant issue holding up the
commencement of the project?
Answer. The 35 TCF of proven North Slope natural gas resources need
to be committed to a project in order for any proponent to secure
financing. The Alaska North Slope Producers--BP, ConocoPhillips, and
Exxon--control 87.5% of those known resources. The producers have said
they need four things in order to proceed with the permitting and
construction of an Alaska gas pipeline:
1) Federal enabling legislation, which Congress passed in
October, 2004;
2) Fiscal certainty from the State of Alaska;
3) Regulatory certainty in Canada; and
4) A determination that the project is commercially viable.
The Producers are proceeding sequentially in addressing these
needs.
The 460 page negotiated agreement between the Producers and
Governor Murkowski contains a number of provisions that are proving
controversial to the Legislature and to Alaskans. Among those, critics
have attacked provisions that require a complete rewrite of the State's
oil production tax and then a freeze of that rate for 30 years, provide
various subsidies to the Producers, and require the State to take its
gas in-kind rather than in-value as well as sharing the construction
risk of the project. Critics also attack what they consider to be the
lack of firm work commitments in the contract.
Question 2. Do believe it is possible at this point for the State
of Alaska to get a workable contract, one that will not hinder full
utilization of the pipeline for all of the gas resource that is
available?
Answer. Last week Governor Murkowski began to negotiate a number of
significant changes to the agreement with the Producers. He identified
provisions that need to be rewritten after an extensive public comment
period and public meetings in every major population center in Alaska.
The Producers have publicly stated it will take them at least 30
days to collectively answer the Governor. In the meantime, the
Legislature will begin further debate on the oil tax rewrite July 24.
It is possible that the Governor and Producers will negotiate changes
to the agreement that will make it acceptable to a majority of Alaskans
and to the Legislature. In addition, the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission (FERC) has issued appropriate Open Season regulations, which
will promote the full utilization of Alaska's natural gas resource.
Question 3. The Act grants you the authority to preclude federal
agencies from insisting on permitting conditions that you find would
prevent or significantly impair the expeditious construction and
operation of the pipeline.
How do you envision exercising that authority procedurally?
Answer. If confirmed, I would expect to create a process under
which the project applicant would have the right to appeal/petition the
Federal Coordinator to intercede in a discretionary permitting action
if the applicant, another agency, or another government entity,
believes the Agency was insisting on permitting conditions that ``would
prevent or significantly impair the expeditious construction and
operation of the pipeline'' as the enabling legislation dictates.
The process could then allow the Agency to respond, followed by a
limited mediation process between the Agency and appellant with the
Federal Coordinator as mediator. If agreement is not reached, the
Coordinator may then exercise his or her authority to limit the
Agency's conditions.
Question 4. Do you anticipate that there will be some type of
public process, or do you view this authority as more of an interagency
review process of which you are the final arbiter?
Answer. If confirmed, I would expect to lead a rulemaking process
that will define the procedures used by the Office of the Federal
Coordinator. The rulemaking process will include public comment
periods.
Question 5. What do you believe are the differences between this
position and the Federal Inspector of Construction position that was
created in the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act in 1964?
Answer. The separate role of the Secretary of Energy with respect
to the exercise of the functions and authorities of the Office of
Federal Inspector (OFI) under the Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Act
(ANGTA) and related legal authorities is abolished once these functions
and authority are transferred to the Federal Coordinator pursuant to
Section 106 of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act (ANGPA).
The specific functions and authority of the OFI, as prescribed in
ANGTA and related executive decisions and orders, survive after
appointment of the Federal Coordinator, and are to be exercised
thereafter by the Federal Coordinator consistent with the statutory
provisions of ANGTA and its implementing resolutions, regulations, and
orders.
If any applicant submitted a proposal under ANGTA, the Coordinator
has the authority to enforce terms and conditions upon the project
applicant consistent with that Act. Under an ANGPA application, the
Coordinator does not have that enforcement power. Under ANGTA, the
Inspector is the lead agency for all purposes whereas, under ANGPA, the
FERC is the lead agency for NEPA for the project.
Responses of Drue Pearce to Questions From Senator Bingaman
Question 1a. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission released a
report last week, which said that ``any further delays may serve to
make the Alaska gas pipeline uneconomic in comparison to LNG imports,''
and that ``Alaska is at risk of being marginalized in the search for
new natural gas supplies for U.S. consumption.''
Do you agree with FERC's assessment?
Question 1b. If confirmed, what steps will you take to advance the
project?
Answer. I agree with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's
assessment of the situation. If confirmed, I will advocate the
development of the Alaska gas transportation project; develop a
memorandum of understanding with the State of Alaska as required by the
Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act; and work with the Government of Canada
to ensure timely regulatory review and cooperation.
Question 2. What role have you played in your current job, as
Senior Advisor to the Secretary of the Interior for Alaskan Affairs, in
implementing the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act?
Answer. As Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Interior for Alaska,
my primary responsibility is to advise the Secretary of the Interior on
the status of the project and to act as his designee as a participant
in interagency discussions and in drafting the Federal Interagency
Memorandum of Understanding, which was recently signed by all
participating Departments and Agencies.
Question 3a. The Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act requires the
Secretary of the Interior to ``conduct a study of alternative
approaches to the construction and operation'' of the pipeline,
including the possibility of having a government corporation build it.
Where does that study stand?
Question 3b. When might we expect to see the report called for by
the Act?
Answer. Under the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline Act, the Department
of Energy (DOE) is responsible for producing the Alternative Means of
Construction Study. It is my understanding that DOE has begun scoping
work on the study, but a deadline for completion of the study has not
been set. As provided in the statute, this study will remain the
responsibility of the Department of Energy even after a Federal
Coordinator has been appointed.
If confirmed, I will work with DOE to assess the current status of
the report and will provide you and the Committee with an update.
______
Responses of John Ray Correll to Questions From Senator Domenici
Question 1. Mr. Correll, your entire professional career has been
in mining as you noted in your statement. Nearly all of that time has
been spent in positions both in industry and in government in the area
of mine health and safety. However, you note in your testimony that you
have worked on issues with the Office of Surface Mining and are
familiar with the Surface Mining Reclamation and Control Act.
Could you please go into a little more detail about your direct
experience in matters related to OSM?
Answer. At the time of enactment of the Surface Mining Control and
Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA), I was employed at various surface
mines in Indiana. I worked directly with Office of Surface Mining
inspectors and staff to implement the new regulations. This included
providing education and training for mine employees regarding the new
requirements, as well as accompanying and assisting OSM inspectors
while at the mine site.
Between 1980 and 1991, I provided SMCRA compliance guidance and
technical assistance to operational and professional staff at surface
mines managed by my employer.
I also provided senior leadership in coordinating several joint
projects between MSHA and OSM during my employment at MSHA. There are a
number of areas where OSM, State SMCRA regulatory authorities, and MSHA
have coordinated interests. Issues related to miners' health and safety
can and do coincide with OSM's charge to protect the public and the
environment.
While I was at MSHA, I had the opportunity to participate in
periodic technical coordination meetings that OSM and MSHA hold, and
oversaw the development of a report to Congress which detailed OSM's
and MSHA's responses to a National Academy of Science report issued in
connection with the Martin County Coal Corporation's impoundment
failure in Kentucky: MSHA and OSM have been working closely with the
States to ensure that the best science and engineering are used to
review and inspect coal mining impoundments. We have also worked to see
that these responsibilities are carried out in a manner which meets
MSHA's responsibility to protect miners and OSM's responsibility to
protect the public and the environment.
There has also been extensive coordination in mapping underground
mines. OSM and MSHA have worked together with the States to address the
need for accurate, up-to-date, and readily available underground mine
maps.
The two agencies have cosponsored, in conjunction with States and
Tribes, a number of meetings and have been holding regular meetings to
coordinate standards and approaches. The goal of these efforts has been
the transfer of information and the development of data systems to
protect miners, public health and safety, public and private
infrastructure, and the environment from risks that may be associated
with active or abandoned underground mines.
Question 2. What do you believe is the proper nexus between OSM and
other federal agencies that regulate mining, such as MSHA, where you
are currently serving?
Answer. I believe that all Federal agencies are responsible for
identifying areas of over-lap with other agencies and for coordinating
their various activities to achieve consistent regulation while
minimizing overlap. There are numerous agency activities affecting coal
mining where significant synergy exists. Such is the case with OSM and
EPA and their state partners, as well as with MSHA, the Army Corps of
Engineers, and other agencies within the Department of the Interior.
Establishing a professional relationship among the various agencies
that is built on respect and open dialogue, while retaining the main
focus on the respective missions, benefits government and the regulated
community.
Question 3. What have you experienced in your four years at MSHA
that you think will be most helpful to you at OSM?
Answer. In my years at MSHA, I have gained a real appreciation for
how the Federal government works, including the interaction among
various bureaus and Departments within the executive branch, the role
of Congress in oversight, the Federal budget process, and the
perspective of regulating agencies.
I also gained affirmation that outreach to the various stakeholders
in the form of alliances, partnerships, and technology transfer
initiatives plays a critical role in effective government.
Question 4. A large part of what you will be doing is related to
environmental issues. What career experiences have you had that you
believe qualifies you to make policy decisions regarding such issues?
Answer. My undergraduate studies resulted in a Bachelor of Science
degree in Safety and Environmental Management. My entire professional
career has been devoted to loss prevention applied to mining. This
broad discipline focuses on preservation of human and physical assets
in the work environment. Loss prevention includes safety and health, as
well as education/training, environmental, and loss control (physical
assets, etc.).
Beyond my technical expertise, I have had significant experience in
senior management and leadership roles, both in the private sector and
the Federal government. I also have worked with OSM on issues where our
two offices have coordinated activities, such as reviewing policies and
standards for impoundments.
As the Director, I would draw on my technical skills and knowledge,
and management and leadership skills to make required policy decisions,
to ensure compliance with all laws, rules, and regulations, and to
afford appropriate assistance to and oversight of States and Tribes.
Question 5. Under the Surface Mining Reclamation and Control Act,
the Authority of the States is central to the operation of the Act.
Please explain your understanding of this important principle and
the state/federal partnerships that grow out of it.
Answer. Congress recognized the unique needs and environmental
conditions of the States and encourages them to enact and administer
their own regulatory programs within Federal minimum standards. OSM's
role is to establish policy direction, give guidance and technical
assistance to the States and Tribes, conduct oversight in accordance
with SMCRA, and provide backup enforcement.
Question 6. How do you envision fostering these partnerships and
ensuring they work as intended under the Act?
Answer. If confirmed, I intend to reach out to our State and Tribal
partners in implementing the Act.
I will work diligently with States and Tribes to build upon the
Administration's emphasis on technology to achieve stable and effective
programs under the Act.
Question 7. In what ways do you think the federal government could
better assist the States in regulating mining and reclamation?
Answer. The States themselves are best able to answer this
question. The OSM has a tradition of strong partnership with the States
and Tribes. I am committed to continuing that relationship and building
upon it. If confirmed, I will work with States and Tribes to respond to
their needs and to ensure that they receive support and assistance from
the OSM.
Question 8. Reauthorization of the Abandoned Mine Lands program
continues to be an important, but thorny problem facing the Congress.
Unfortunately, the cleanup of abandoned mines has become linked with
miners' health benefits.
I'm interested to know what you see as the best approach to attempt
to solve the inequities that some States see in the program.
Answer. I believe this is a national problem that requires a
comprehensive long-term solution. The program must find a way to
balance the needs of both eastern and western states. If confirmed, I
commit to working with this Committee and other affected Members of
Congress as we try to resolve this issue.
Question 9. How do you envision working with Congress, the States,
and other parties to find an acceptable solution?
Answer. If confirmed, I would strive to serve as a facilitator
among all stakeholders, working within the Administration's principles
to achieve an appropriate, fiscally responsible, and fair long-term
resolution to the reauthorization discussion.
Responses of John Ray Correll to Questions From Senator Bingaman
Question 10. Congressman Rahall has said that you were part of the
leadership of the Mine Safety and Health Administration ``during a time
when the policy floor fell out,'' and ``during the worst rash of coal
miner fatalities in recent times.'' In addition, the United Mine
Workers has written that, under your direction, 17 proposed safety
rules were withdrawn and MSHA approved a rule on the use of belt air,
which may have contributed to the Alma mine accident earlier this year.
Please respond to these statements.
Specifically, please explain what role, if any, you played in
delaying or withdrawing each of the health and safety rules identified
in the Appendix to the Review of Federal Mine Safety and Health
Administration's Performance from 2001 prepared by the Democratic Staff
of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce earlier this
year.
Answer. I had no role in the rules referenced in the appendix with
the exception of the last rule deals with diesel particulate matter.
While I participated in that rule making, it was not finalized before I
started my detail.
According to the dates given in the report, thirteen (75%) of these
were withdrawn during the year prior to my employment with MSHA. Four
of the remaining five proposed rules wee withdrawn less than 60 days
following my hire date.
I did not engage in any discussion or participate in any decision
regarding a proposed rule on the use of belt air during my employment
with MSHA.
Question 11a. The United Mine Workers has also said that you were
linked to the award of single-source, no-bid contracts, which the
Department of Labor's Inspector General later found to have been
improper.
What involvement, if any, did you have in the procurement problems
identified by the Inspector General in his October 29, 2004 report?
Answer. The Department of Labor's Inspector General (IG) Office of
Audit conducted an audit of MSHA procurement and contracting practices
for the period June 2000 through December 2002. The objective of the
audit was to determine if allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse
received during the period from May 2002 through May 2003 involving
procurement of office furniture, travel management services, purchase
card usage, computer security, and personnel issues had merit.
My only involvement in the IG's audit resulted from the fact that
while employed in the private sector I was a member of the
International Society of Mine Safety Professionals where I was elected
to serve as an executive board member and also as the executive
director. Both were voluntary, non-paid positions with the not-for-
profit organization.
During the year prior to my employment with MSHA, a contractor
(also a member of the professional society) had received compensation
to provide training necessary to certify MSHA employees as Certified
Mine Safety Professionals. The IG audit examined the financial
arrangements for the training, as well as my position with the Society
and subsequent employment with MSHA, and concluded that there had been
no conflict of interest or wrong-doing of any sort on my part.
I was not implicated in any other aspect of the IG audit.
Question 11b. Specifically, please identify each of the incidents
listed in the table on pages 1 and 2 of the Inspector General's report
with which you were involved.
Answer. Items 2 & 3 on the table shown on page 1 are discussed
above. I was not implicated in any manner in any of the other items
listed on the two tables.
Question 12. What role did you play in the disciplinary actions
taken against an MSHA whistleblower named Jack Spadaro? Did Mr.
Spadaro's complaints about the agency's handling of the Martin County
accident investigation play any role in the personnel actions taken
against him?
Answer. In October 2003, the Department proposed the removal of Mr.
Jack Spadaro, then Superintendent of MSHA's Mine Health and Safety
Academy located in Beckley, West Virginia. Since I was a senior
official outside the chain of command and had no knowledge of Mr.
Spadaro, I was designated as the deciding official in this matter.
Based on the information before me, I sustained all five charges
against Mr. Spadaro and, with advice of Department of Labor counsel,
applied the ``Douglas Factors'' to mitigate Mr. Spadaro's termination
to a demotion. Mr. Spadaro's complaints concerning the Martin County
investigation played no role in my decision. The matter was thoroughly
investigated by the Office of Special Counsel, which made a preliminary
determination against Mr. Spadaro. Mr. Spadaro then filed a complaint
with the Merit Systems Protection Board, which also made a preliminary
finding against him. Based on widespread public reports, it is my
understanding that ultimately Mr. Spadaro withdrew his complaint and
retired pursuant to a settlement agreement.
Question 13. What is your current position within the Mine Safety
and Health Administration and why were you detailed or reassigned to
other duties?
Answer. I continue to hold the Deputy Assistant Secretary--
Operations position in the Mine Safety and Health Administration while
I remain on temporary assignment within the Department of Labor. I
became the DAS--Ops on July 22, 2002. This is a career Senior Executive
Service position.
On May 31, 2005, the Department of Labor moved me to a temporary
detail assignment within the Department's Employment Standards
Administration to assist in the implementation of the Energy Employees
Occupational Illness Compensation Program. This program had been moved
to the Department of Labor from the Department of Energy a few months
earlier. I was assigned to this job because of my extensive background
in mining and disability compensation claims management. While working
with the Director's Part E Task Force, I was responsible for developing
a number of program components including an exposure matrix for
identifying and classifying more than 4,000 uranium mines and
developing several claim management policies and procedures.
In January, 2006, I was detailed (while still holding the DAS
position at MSHA) as a Special Assistant to the Office of Assistant
Secretary for Administration and Management. Based on my project
management experience, I was assigned to provide guidance and
leadership in reviewing the Department's Safety and Health program
elements, and to further develop the President's Safety, Health and
Return-to-Employment (SHARE) initiative. I have also assisted the
Assistant Secretary by providing project management on several key
policy projects, as well as other administrative projects for the
Department, including HSPD-12 and several E-Initiatives.
______
Responses of Mark D. Myers to Questions From Senator Domenici
Question 1. Dr. Myers, your statement indicates a high degree of
familiarity and experience with USGS. Based on these experiences, what
is your vision for improving the USGS?
Answer. If confirmed, I will come to USGS believing deeply in its
mission and committed to ensuring that the agency continues to live up
to its promise of providing sound science for citizens and decision
makers. The following are the principles that I will use in striving to
maintain and improve the agency's effectiveness in fulfilling its
mission.
1. First and foremost, ensure that the high internal standards
and ethics of USGS are maintained. It is paramount that the
science is truly unbiased and accurate, that the data and
analyses are publicly available, and that publications are
subject to a rigorous peer-review process.
2. Robust planning will help the organization stay focused on
core missions and key issues of national importance where
science is needed. Good science takes time and requires both
focus and anticipation of the issues. Active workforce planning
will allow USGS to look toward the future and focus resources
on its core mission responsibilities.
3. Maximize the use of advanced technology and the best
available data. New technology (for example GIS and 3-D and 4-D
seismic) is revolutionizing the biological and earth sciences.
The USGS needs to assure it has the people, equipment and data
to apply these leveraging technologies.
4. Increase USGS's use of highly skilled multidisciplinary
teams to approach projects. One of the strengths of USGS is
that it has both world class specialization and breadth that
can be brought to bear.
5. Build on the continuing efforts for collaboration and
consultation with sister organizations, resource managers, and
regulators on the international, national, State, and local
levels.
6. Continue to improve communications internally as well as
externally.
WATER ISSUES
Question 2. Population growth, endangered species demands and
frequent drought have resulted in a paucity of water in the west. In
order to make informed decisions about this limited resource, we need
to have the best scientific information available.
In general, do you believe that we have an adequate understanding
of our water resources?
Answer. I believe that we need to do more to improve our
understanding of water resources and that much has changed over time--
demand and competition for water have increased, new sources and
technologies have been developed, and in some areas, resources have
been depleted or contaminated. Better knowledge is needed to help
Federal, State, and local governments, the private sector, and the
public plan for the future.
Question 3. What do you believe the USGS's role should be in
addressing water availability problems?
Answer. I believe that USGS has an important role to play in
addressing water availability issues. Reliable, impartial, long-term
monitoring and assessment of water resources by USGS provides the
science needed by the public and decision-makers to assess water
availability, understand drought and its impact on water supply, and
manage the use of water resources responsibly.
From my perspective, we do not have an adequate understanding of
our groundwater resources. In many instances, communities that are
completely reliant on groundwater do not have a sense of how long these
resources will last. Additionally, many western states have vast
brackish water resources contained in underground aquifers. In order to
assess the viability of using this brackish water, we need a better
understanding of these aquifers, particularly as desalination becomes
more affordable.
Question 4. If confirmed, how would you expand our knowledge of
underground water resources?
Answer. I recognize the value of USGS science as it applies to
understanding groundwater resources. If confirmed, I will ensure easy
access to existing scientific information regarding groundwater
availability in the Nation's major aquifer systems. I will also strive
to maintain and strengthen our partnerships with sister State and local
agencies involved with water research.
Question 5. What role do you believe the USGS should play in
identifying which aquifers may be suitable for desalination?
Answer. I believe USGS has an important role in providing the
unbiased science needed to help resource managers address issues
associated with desalination of brackish groundwater, including
assessments of the reservoirs and their water chemistry.
Question 6. What are the major ground water related challenges
facing the nation in the next decade and what role should the USGS play
in addressing these issues?
Answer. Sustainable development of groundwater is vital to the
economic life of communities, businesses, households, and farmers
nationwide. We must be mindful, also, that how the resource is
developed will have impacts on communities, ecosystems, and the amount
and quality of water available to future generations. The USGS should
continue to make major contributions to groundwater science and
characterization of the resource including modeling, monitoring,
assessment, and process research that helps others develop strategies
to optimize use of this valuable resource in a sustainable manner.
Aquifer re-injection and storage is a promising way to increase the
water available to the West. In many instances, aquifer storage
minimizes evaporative loss and does not have the environmental impact
associated with surface storage. Additionally, it is unclear whether
there are significant opportunities for new surface storage.
Question 7. What role do you believe the USGS should play in
investigating the feasibility of aquifer re-injection and storage?
Answer. I understand that USGS is developing and applying new
methods to assess and monitor aquifer re-injection, storage, and
recovery, as well as investigating the role of geochemistry and
microbial activity in storage and recovery. I believe USGS should
continue this role.
Question 8. In your opinion, is aquifer storage something that
should be investigated on a more widespread basis?
Answer. Yes. Aquifer recharge for storage was initially considered
in coastal and and parts of the United States, but its use is now
envisioned throughout the United States as the competition for water
increases. The USGS has provided and should continue to provide data
and other scientific analysis which will help decisionmakers and the
public understand groundwater resources.
Question 9. What do you see as main challenges for aquifer storage
and what role can USGS play in meeting these challenges?
Answer. The USGS has a solid reputation in scientific
investigations of artificial recharge and continues to develop
innovative monitoring techniques and groundwater modeling to address
the challenges of artificial recharge. Major challenges for aquifer
storage include effects on aquifer chemistry and the long-term
efficiency of injection/withdrawal cycles.
Question 10. How do you plan to identify the gauges most in need of
repair and prioritize maintenance of these facilities?
Answer. USGS streamgages across the Nation have many purposes,
including protecting lives and property during floods, designing
infrastructure, assessing and managing water resources, and measuring
interstate compact obligations. If confirmed, I would work with USGS
experts to determine and prioritize the extent of the backlog of needs
for maintenance and upgrade of these monitoring systems. I would ask
USGS to work closely with the States and other users of the information
to set priorities based on uses of the data that these systems provide.
Question 11. In an era of tight budget constraints, how can the
nation maximize its investment in surface water and ground water
monitoring to address pertinent scientific and policy questions?
Answer. I believe that partnerships (between the Federal Government
and the States, localities, Tribes and others that use surface and
groundwater data) are the answer to maximizing the Nation's investment
in surface-water and groundwater monitoring. If confirmed, I will work
with USGS to continue to explore a wide range of technologies,
institutional arrangements, and partnerships to determine if there are
more cost-effective approaches to surface-water and groundwater
monitoring than those currently being used. The USGS should also work
to develop, test, and introduce new technologies that will allow for
cost reductions.
Question 12. What do you believe is the appropriate role for the
federal government, state government and the private sector in
collecting and analyzing water monitoring data?
Answer. Because all communities and many industries rely on water,
information about water quantity and quality is valuable for many
different types of users--cities, irrigation districts, recreational,
emergency managers, Federal and State water management agencies, and
others. The provision of drinking water is a State and local function,
and this certainly creates strong incentives for the States and
sometimes private sector to play a strong role in water research and
monitoring. However, especially in areas of water scarcity, or areas
that are experiencing a drought, there are often conflicting interests
that water managers must balance in making resource allocation
decisions. Sometimes, the interests that are being balanced involve
parties from different towns or even different States or regions of the
country. Watershed and aquifer boundaries do not correspond with
political boundaries, and in this environment a neutral scientific
agency that can provide accurate data is invaluable for ensuring
informed decision making. The USGS has a long history of providing
unbiased water data that all parties accept. The USGS has played a
constructive role for all States as a major source of water information
for over 100 years, and I believe it is appropriate for it to continue
to do so in the future.
Responses of Mark D. Myers to Questions From Senator Bingaman
Question 13. The Department has historically played a principle
role in ensuring we, as a nation, understand the extent and
availability of minerals found on federal lands.
Through years of neglect and indifference we have been gutting or
dismantling the very agencies that provide this basic information about
our nation's mineral and geologic resources. This Administration has
continued this trend with the budget request we received for 2007. The
Senate has once again restored the funding for these critical programs,
but I am worried that the administration will continue down this path.
I am deeply concerned about how we address the mineral needs of the
nation. The USGS is responsible for collecting and reporting on the
mineral resources for the nation.
What do you consider to be the Department's mission in advancing
the knowledge and use of valuable mineral resources from Federal Lands?
Answer. The USGS Mineral Resources Program provides important
scientific information for objective resource assessments and unbiased
research results on mineral potential, production, and consumption on
Federal lands. Understanding and exploring the Nation's mineral
potential is an important component of the Organic Act for the USGS.
Coming from a State that has a long history in mining, I am well aware
of the importance of this data.
Question 14. Land management agencies make land use allocation
decisions every day. How would informed decisions be made if basic
mineral information is not available?
Answer. The Mineral Resources Program comprises two major
functions; first, a research and assessment function provides
information for land managers and decision makers about where mineral
commodities are known and suspected in the Earth's crust, and second, a
data collection, analysis, and dissemination function describes current
production and consumption of about 100 mineral commodities. This
information helps land management agencies make many vital decisions
about their holdings and fulfill their stewardship responsibilities.
Decision-making in certain areas would be much more difficult without a
readily available source of this information.
Question 15. Would you be prepared to assist this committee in
reviewing and prioritizing USGS programs?
Answer. I would be pleased to work with the committee on these
matters.
Question 16. The current administration has been criticized for
manipulating, suppressing, or disregarding scientific information. If
confirmed to head one of the Interior Department's premier scientific
organizations, what steps would you take to protect the integrity of
the scientific work of the Geological Survey?
Answer. I believe the integrity of the science that USGS produces
is its most important asset. If confirmed, I intend to do all I can to
continue that legacy. I have been informed that USGS recently revised
its manual to deal with Fundamental Science Practices such as peer
review, conducting data collection and research, and ensuring that
accurate information is disseminated to the public in a timely fashion.
If confirmed, I intend to carefully review the Fundamental Science
Practices and ensure that USGS's reputation for high quality unbiased
science continues.
Question 17. What steps will you take to ensure that quality
assurance problems like those that arose in the work that the USGS
performed on the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository for the
Department of Energy are never repeated?
Answer. Although I do not know all the details of the Yucca
Mountain matter, I am informed that USGS recently conducted a meeting,
``Quality Assurance and Employee Ethical Conduct Focus Days,'' for
employees working on the Yucca Mountain Project. Senior management's
substantive involvement in this meeting demonstrates the seriousness
and importance of the issues. If confirmed, I will stress that the
highest ethical standards must be maintained to ensure that all USGS
programs deliver high quality, dependable work products. Throughout my
professional career, I have had the utmost respect for the employees of
USGS, and confidence in the integrity of their work.
Question 18. What do you see as the most urgent scientific
questions facing the USGS today?
Answer. I believe that the most urgent scientific questions facing
USGS are those where the research can make a positive difference in our
human condition and interface with the natural world. Although the
importance of various areas of research may vary by State or region,
some are universal, such as energy, water, natural hazards, climate,
landscape change, biodiversity, and ecosystems. If confirmed, I look
forward to consulting with both USGS scientists and our stakeholder
groups and I will listen carefully to the answers they give in response
to questions similar to yours.
Question 19. How will you establish priorities among competing
programs and maximize the USGS's contribution to scientific
understanding?
Answer. If confirmed, I plan to listen carefully to the dedicated
employees of USGS and the agency's many partners, cooperators, and
constituencies. In today's era of tight budgets, I am sure there will
be many difficult decisions to make, but that is part of what executive
leadership is about, and I am confident that I can make those decisions
while maximizing USGS contributions to scientific understanding. I am
told that USGS has formed a Science Strategy Team that is looking at
science priorities for the next decade, and I hope that this Team will
provide valuable insights that will assist with the prioritization
process.
Appendix II
Additional Material Submitted for the Record
----------
National Safety Council,
Itasca, IL, July 18, 2006.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senators Domenici and Bingaman: It is my pleasure to write in
support of the nomination of Mr. John R. Correll for the position of
Director, Office of Surface Mining, United States Department of
Interior. The National Safety Council has had a long and rewarding
relationship with Mr. Correll, particularly in his capacity as a
leading federal official whose activities have impacted the mining
industry and thousands of men and women who work in America's mines.
Mr. Correll has been a conscientious leader making positive
contributions in workplace safety and health practices while at the
Department of Labor and the Mine Safety and Health Administration, as
well as in his extensive responsibilities in the private sector. His
experience reflects extraordinary dedication to both his employers and
assignments and an extensive knowledge of the coal mining industry, an
exceptional asset for this position.
Above all, his character, allegiance and integrity are without
question. Our organizational connections as well as personal
interactions have frequently confirmed these attributes. We are
confident that Mr. Correll will be an asset to the Department of
Interior and the nation. We look forward to his successful confirmation
by your committee and the United States Senate.
Thank you for considering my comments. Please feel free to contact
me if you have any questions or need additional information.
Sincerely,
Alan C. McMillan,
President and Chief Executive Officer.
______
United Mine Workers of America,
Fairfax, VA, July 19, 2006.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Domenici: I am writing to express my deep concern
about the pending nomination of John It. Correll for the position of
Director of the Office of Surface Mining and Reclamation (OSM).
The Committee on Energy and Natural Resources should closely
examine Mr. Correll's performance at the Mine Safety and Health
Administration (MSHA), where he served as a Deputy Assistant Secretary
of Labor. Under Mr. Correll's direction, 17 proposed regulations were
pulled from MSHA's regulatory agenda, a number of which could have
helped to prevent some of the 34 coal mine fatalities that have
occurred this year. Under his misguided leadership, MSHA approved a
regulation permitting the use of belt air to ventilate working faces of
underground mines, a move that may have contributed to the two
fatalities at the Alma # 2 mine in West Virginia earlier this year.
In addition, Mr. Correll has been linked to a contracting scandal
that occurred on his watch. The Department of Labor's Office of
Inspector General determined that MSHA violated federal procurement
procedures by wrongfully awarding single-source, no-bid contracts. Two
companies involved had alleged ties to John Correll. One of these
contracts, totaling $200,000 for educational training, had been
recorded at MSHA as just 180 small contract& In light of his record, it
is ironic that when announcing his nomination, OSM touted his
responsibility for the management of all aspects of MSHA.
The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), the largest labor union
representing coal miners in this country, has a long history of
representing the interests of not only coal miners on the job but also
the communities in which they live across the country. Just as coal
miners need an advocate for health and safety at MSHA, residents of
coal field communities deserve an advocate at OSM whose first priority
is to enforce our nation's surface mining and reclamation laws.
Mr. Correll has clearly demonstrated at MSHA that his priorities
are instead to promote the interests of the mining industry and his
friends. His nomination should be rejected by the Committee.
Sincerely yours,
Cecil E. Roberts,
International President.
______
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senators Domenici and Bingaman: This letter is too express
opposition to the nomination of John Correll. His past record as
follows shows why he would not be good for the job. We need enforcement
of the laws.
Correll was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor and responsible
for the day-to-day management of the Mine Safety& Health Administration
for five years. During his tenure the total number of federal mine
health and safety inspectors was reduced by 217. This resulted in far
fewer inspections in both coal mines and metal and non-metal mines
nationwide. MSHA has not been able to meet the mandated number of
inspections per year [4 for every underground mine and 2 for every
surface mine]. The inspection program has collapsed. The result has
been a record number of fatalities in the nation's mines during the
first six months of 2006. Correll was such an inept administrator that
he was essentially buried in the Dept. of Labor by David Dye, the
current Acting Asst. Secretary for MSHA.
Correll was instrumental in the shelving of 17 new mine health and
safety rules that had been proposed by the previous administration. One
of those rules would have improved requirements for flame resistance in
materials used in mine conveyor belts. Had the rule been in effect, the
February 2006 fire at the Aracoma Mine in Logan County, WV resulting in
two fatalities would not have occurred.
Correll supported a drastic rule change in 2004 that allowed intake
air to be brought into underground mines through conveyor belt entries.
This rule change greatly increased the probability that miners would be
trapped in by mine fires in belt entries. That is exactly what happened
at both the Sago Mine disaster and the Aracoma mine fire. The use of
belt entries for intake air previously had been forbidden by MSHA rules
since the early 1970s.
Correll was the CEO for an organization called the International
Mine Safety Professionals. One of his associates was Ben Shepherd. Ben
Shepherd got an illegal sole source contract from MSHA to conduct
training for MSHA supervisors. Shepherd charged the agency $1025/
student. He shared the profits with the International Mine Safety
Professionals. The agency issued 180 individual contracts to avoid
detection for violating federal procurement rules. The scam was
publicly exposed. The Office of Inspector General investigated and
concluded that the contracts were illegal. Correll continued as CEO for
the International Society for months after coming to work for MSHA.
This scam was also reported on ``60 Minutes'' on April 4, 2004.
Correll participated in the cover-up regarding the Martin County
Coal Slurry Spill [Massey Energy] of October 2000. This was the 300
million gallon coal slurry discharge that polluted 100 miles of streams
in Eastern Kentucky and WV. EPA called it the worst environmental
disaster in the eastern U.S. Correll was the overseer of the internal
MSHA review that should have exposed MSHA's prior knowledge of the
unsafe conditions at the coal waste impoundment. Instead, the report
left MSHA blameless and was limited in scope by Correll and his boss
Dave Lauriski. Correll also was a key player in the retaliation efforts
by MSHA against the whistle-blower who exposed the cover-up. This was
also detailed in the ``60 Minutes'' program of April 4, 2004, as well
as in the New York Times and other newspapers.
(Information provided by Jack Spadaro)
Lexington Herald-Leader editorial on Correll's nomination: Posted
on Friday, May. 19, 2006
EDITORIAL: THROW HIM BACK
Nominee bad choice to oversee strip-mining
One of the industry apologists who rolled back mine-safety
protections is President Bush's choice to head the agency that oversees
strip-mining.
Unbelievable, but true.
Thousands of Kentuckians depend on the U.S. Office of Surface
Mining to protect them from strip-mining's worst abuses, including
blasting that destroys their property, road building that sends
boulders crashing down on homes and poisonous run-off into streams and
groundwater.
Nothing in John Correll's tenure at the Mine Safety and Health
Administration, where he was one of Dave Lauriski's two top deputies,
recommends him for this appointment.
Just the opposite.
Correll is loaded with the kind of baggage that should block his
confirmation in the Senate, especially after recent mine disasters
raised serious questions about MSHA's performance.
Correll was part of the leadership team that axed safety rules that
would have beefed up mine rescue teams and required flame-resistant
conveyor belts, changes that might well have saved miners' lives in
recent months.
Bush appointees at MSHA changed the agency's focus from enforcement
to working with the industry.
They withdrew or delayed 18 mine-safety rules, including an
increase in emergency breathing devices, requiring manufacturer
expiration dates on the devices and more frequent inspectors.
The lone survivor of the Sago mine disaster, where 12 men perished,
has said that some of the trapped miners couldn't make their breathing
devices work.
But even without those life-and-death issues, Correll would be a
questionable person to head the agency that's responsible for
protecting Appalachia's water, land and private property from damage by
strip mining and mountaintop removal.
Like so many Bush appointees, he came straight from the industry he
was supposed to regulate. At MSHA, he was part of a small band of
cronies whose involvement in awarding single-source contracts drew
criticism from an inspector general.
Lauriski's successor at MSHA, David Dye, apparently banished
Correll to the bowels of the Labor Department. But that reality was not
reflected in Acting Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett's announcement of
his nomination. Her announcement implies that he's still working as
MSHA's head of operations.
Thank-you,
Teri Blanton,
Berea, KY.
______
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici and Senator Bingaman: John Correll's record
make him a bad choice to head the U.S. Office of Surface Mining,
Reclamation and Enforcement. As you know, the OSM's primary objectives
are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner
that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure
that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and to
mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing
reclamation of abandoned coal mines.
Because of his record, I believe Mr. Correll cannot fulfill these
duties. Please oppose his nomination to this post. Note that:
Mr. Correll was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor and
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Mine Safety
and Health Administration for five years. During his tenure the
total number of federal mine health and safety inspectors was
reduced by 217. This resulted in far fewer inspections in both
coal mines and metal and non-metal mines nationwide. MSHA has
not been able-to meet the mandated number of inspections per
year (4 for every underground mine and 2 for every surface
mine). The inspection program has collapsed. The result has
been a record number of fatalities in the nation's mines during
the first six months of 2006.
Mr. Correll was instrumental in the shelving of 17 new mine
health and safety rules that had been proposed by the previous
administration.
One of those rules would have improved requirements for flame
resistance in materials used in mine conveyor belts. Had the
rule been in effect, the February 2006 fire at the Aracoma Mine
in Logan County, W.Va. resulting in two fatalities would not
have occurred.
Mr. Correll supported a drastic rule change in 2004 that
allowed intake air to be brought into underground mines through
conveyor belt entries. This rule change greatly increased the
probability that miners would be trapped in by mine fires in
belt entries. That is exactly what happened at both the Sago
Mine disaster and the Aracoma mine fire. The use of belt
entries for intake air previously had been forbidden by MSHA
rules since the early 1970s.
Mr. Correll was the CEO for an organization called the
International Mine Safety Professionals. One of his associates
was Ben Shepherd. Ben Shepherd got an illegal sole source
contract from MSHA to conduct training for MSHA supervisors.
Shepherd charged the agency $1025/student. He shared the
profits with the International Mine Safety Professionals. The
agency issued 180 individual contracts to avoid detection for
violating federal procurement rules. The scam was publicly
exposed. The Office of Inspector General investigated and
concluded that the contracts were illegal. Correll continued as
CEO for the International Society for months after coming to
work for MSHA.
This scam was also reported on ``60 Minutes'' on April 4, 2004.
Mr. Correll participated in the cover-up regarding the
Massey Energy Martin County Coal sludge disaster of October
2000. 6 million gallons of coal sludge polluted 100 miles of
streams in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. EPA called it
the worst environmental disaster in the eastern U.S.
Correll was the overseer of the internal MSHA review that should
have exposed MSHA's prior knowledge of the unsafe conditions at the
coal waste impoundment. Instead, the report left MSHA blameless and was
limited in scope by Correll and his boss Dave Lauriski. Correll also
was a key player in the retaliation efforts by MSHA against the
whistle-blower who exposed the cover-up. This was also detailed in the
``60 Minutes'' program of April 4, 2004, as well as in the New York
Times and other newspapers.
Again, please oppose Mr. Correll's nomination to head OSM. Thank
you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Joellen Sbrissa, CSJ,
Chicago, IL.
______
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici and Senator Bingaman: In considering Mr.
John Correll's nomination to head the Office of Surface Mining,
Reclamation and Enforcement, I urgently and very strongly urge you to
critically and thoroughly review his record, not only his proven
disregard for mine workers' safety, but also his ties to a scam and
proven illegal practices regarding federal procurement rules when he
was the CEO of the International Mine Safety Professionals.
For years, hard-working miners' safety and the reclamation of the
environment from mining devastation have both been a sham. During this
time, many bureaucrats have been worthless. But with Mr. Correll in
charge, he would be more than an embarrassment; he would be downright
dangerous. He must be rejected, for the benefit of the coal industry as
well as for our nation.
Mr. Correll also has been irrefutably linked to brazen
environmental atrocities in the eastern coalfields. As a lackey for the
coal industry, he would be a detriment and indeed an endangerment not
only to coal miners and the environment, but to 1 million Americans in
the 18,500-mile coalfields of West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia,
Tennessee, and Pennsylvania. I could go on ad infinitum about this
man's despicable record.
The safety of our nation's coal miners already has been compromised
during the past five years, as evidenced by the increase in mining
accidents and fatalities. Some of the deceased miners' blood is on Mr.
Correll's hands, and I shudder to think how it would splatter across a
broader political swath with Mr. Correll at the helm.
Sincerely,
Bud Fultz,
Tampa, FL.
______
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici and Senator Bingaman: As a West Virginia
resident and career environmental manager I am deeply concerned about
the nomination of John Correll to head the U.S. Office of Surface
Mining, Reclamation and Enforcement. The OSM's primary objectives are
to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner that
protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure that the
land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and to mitigate
the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing reclamation of
abandoned coal mines. But Mr. Correll's record indicates that he is
poorly suited to ensure that these goals are met, and his confirmation
would seriously jeopardize the integrity of the office that he is
nominated for. I therefore ask that you oppose his nomination to this
post.
Please note that:
Mr. Correll has proved lax in his enforcement of relevant laws.
During his tenure as a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor (during
which he was responsible for the day-to-day management of the Mine
Safety and Health Administration) the total number of federal mine
health and safety inspectors was reduced by 217. This resulted in far
fewer inspections in both coal mines and metal and non-metal mines
nationwide. MSHA has not been able to meet the mandated number of
inspections per year (4 for every underground mine and 2 for every
surface mine). The inspection program has collapsed. The result has
been a record number of fatalities in the nation's mines during the
first six months of 2006.
Mr. Correll has shown little interest in improving mine safety.
He was instrumental in the shelving of 17 new mine health and
safety rules that had been proposed by the previous administration. One
of those rules would have improved requirements for flame resistance in
materials used in mine conveyor belts. Had the rule been in effect, the
February 2006 fire at the Aracoma Mine in Logan County, W.Va. resulting
in two fatalities would not have occurred. In fact, moving in the
opposite direction, he supported a drastic rule change in 2004 that
allowed intake air to be brought into underground mines through
conveyor belt entries. This rule change greatly increased the
probability that miners would be trapped in by mine fires in belt
entries. That is exactly what happened at both the Sago Mine disaster
and the Aracoma mine fire. The use of belt entries for intake air
previously had been forbidden by MSHA rules since the early 1970s.
Mr. Correll has already been associated with scandal and conflicts of
interest.
Mr. Correll was the CEO for an organization called the
International Mine Safety Professionals. One of his associates was Ben
Shepherd. Ben Shepherd got an illegal sole source contract from MSHA to
conduct training for MSHA supervisors. Shepherd charged the agency
$1025/student. He shared the profits with the International Mine Safety
Professionals. The agency issued 180 individual contracts to avoid
detection for violating federal procurement rules. The scam was
publicly exposed. The Office of Inspector General investigated and
concluded that the contracts were illegal. Correll continued as CEO for
the International Society for months after coming to work for MSHA.
This scam was also reported on ``60 Minutes'' on April 4, 2004.
Mr. Correll has also been implicated in the cover-up regarding the
Massey Energy Martin County Coal sludge disaster of October 2000, in
which six million gallons of coal sludge polluted 100 miles of streams
in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. EPA called it the worst
environmental disaster in the eastern U.S. Correll was the overseer of
the internal MSHA review that should have exposed MSHA's prior
knowledge of the unsafe conditions at the coal waste impoundment.
Instead, the report left MSHA blameless and was limited in scope by
Correll and his boss Dave Lauriski. Correll also was a key player in
the retaliation efforts by MSHA against the whistle-blower who exposed
the cover-up. This was also detailed in the ``60 Minutes'' program of
April 4, 2004, as well as in the New York Times and other newspapers.
Again, please oppose Mr. Correll's nomination to head OSM. Thank
you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Meleah Houseknecht,
Morgantown, WV.
______
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici and Senator Bingaman: John Correll's record
make him a bad choice to head the U.S. Office of Surface Mining,
Reclamation and Enforcement. As you know, the OSM's primary objectives
are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner
that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure
that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and to
mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing
reclamation of abandoned coal mines.
Because of his record, I believe Mr. Correll cannot fulfill these
duties. Please oppose his nomination to this post.
Note that:
Mr. Correll was a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor and
responsible for the day-to-day management of the Mine Safety
and Health Administration for five years. During his tenure the
total number of federal mine health and safety inspectors was
reduced by 217. This resulted in far fewer inspections in both
coal mines and metal and non-metal mines nationwide. MSHA has
not been able to meet the mandated number of inspections per
year (4 for every underground mine and 2 for every surface
mine). The inspection program has collapsed. The result has
been a record number of fatalities in the nation's mines during
the first six months of 2006.
Mr. Correll was instrumental in the shelving of 17 new mine
health and safety rules that had been proposed by the previous
administration. One of those rules would have improved
requirements for flame resistance in materials used in mine
conveyor belts. Had the rule been in effect, the February 2006
fire at the Aracoma Mine in Logan County, W.Va. resulting in
two fatalities would not have occurred.
Mr. Correll supported a drastic rule change in 2004 that
allowed intake air to be brought into underground mines through
conveyor belt entries. This rule change greatly increased the
probability that miners would be trapped in by mine fires in
belt entries. That is exactly what happened at both the Sago
Mine disaster and the Aracoma mine fire. The use of belt
entries for intake air previously had been forbidden by MSHA
rules since the early 1970s.
Mr. Correll was the CEO for an organization called the
International Mine Safety Professionals. One of his associates
was Ben Shepherd. Ben Shepherd got an illegal sole source
contract from MSHA to conduct training for MSHA supervisors.
Shepherd charged the agency $1025/student. He shared the
profits with the International Mine Safety Professionals. The
agency issued 180 individual contracts to avoid detection for
violating federal procurement rules. The scam was publicly
exposed. The Office of Inspector General investigated and
concluded that the contracts were illegal. Correll continued as
CEO for the International Society for months after coming to
work for MSHA. This scam was also reported on ``60 Minutes'' on
April 4, 2004.
Mr. Correll participated in the cover-up regarding the
Massey Energy Martin County Coal sludge disaster of October
2000. 6 million gallons of coal sludge polluted 100 miles of
streams in Eastern Kentucky and West Virginia. EPA called it
the worst environmental disaster in the eastern U.S. Correll
was the overseer of the internal MSHA review that should have
exposed MSHA's prior knowledge of the unsafe conditions at the
coal waste impoundment. Instead, the report left MSHA blameless
and was limited in scope by Correll and his boss Dave Lauriski.
Correll also was a key player in the retaliation efforts by
MSHA against the whistle-blower who exposed the cover-up. This
was also detailed in the ``60 Minutes'' program of April 4,
2004, as well as in the New York Times and other newspapers.
Again, please oppose Mr. Correll's nomination to head OSM.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Susan Wright,
Pax, WV.
______
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici and Senator Bingaman: John Correll's record
makes him a bad choice to head the U.S. Office of Surface Mining,
Reclamation and Enforcement.
Sincerely,
Daniel Wright,
Pax, WV.
______
Hoosier Environmental Council,
Indianapolis, IN.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici and Senator Bingaman: This is to urge your
committee to reject the proposed appointment of John Correll as the
director of the U.S. Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation and
Enforcement. Mr. Correll's documented dubious record demonstrates that
he cannot adequately perform the duties of the post. We need regulators
who will regulate, not work to shift the responsibility and costs of
production from industry to the backs of the public and local
communities.
Thank you for your consideration,
Clarke R. Kahlo,
Director of Regional Advancement and Education.
______
Friends of the Cheat,
Kingwood, WV.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Chairman Domenici and Senator Bingaman: John Correll's record
make him a bad choice to head the U.S. Office of Surface Mining,
Reclamation and Enforcement. As you know, the OSM's primary objectives
are to ensure that coal mining activities are conducted in a manner
that protects citizens and the environment during mining, to ensure
that the land is restored to beneficial use following mining, and to
mitigate the effects of past mining by aggressively pursuing
reclamation of abandoned coal mines.
Because of his record, I believe Mr. Correll cannot fulfill these
duties. Please oppose his nomination to this post.
Note that:
As Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor, Mr. Correll was responsible
for management of the Mine Safety and Health Administration for five
years, during which the number of federal inspectors was reduced by 217
and resulting in fewer than mandated inspections per year and a record
number of mine accident fatalities in the first six months of 2006.
Mr. Correll was instrumental in lowering safety requirements
regarding flame resistant materials and intake air routes. This was
before the Sago mine disaster and the Aracoma mine fire.
Mr. Correll was the CEO for an organization called the
International Mine Safety Professionals. One of his associates was Ben
Shepherd. Ben Shepherd got an illegal sole source contract from MSHA to
conduct training for MSHA supervisors. Shepherd charged the agency
$1025/student. He shared the profits with the International Mine Safety
Professionals. The agency issued 180 individual contracts to avoid
detection for violating federal procurement rules. The scam was
publicly exposed. The Office of Inspector General investigated and
concluded that the contracts were illegal. Correll continued as CEO for
the International Society for months after coming to work for MSHA.
This scam was also reported on ``60 Minutes'' on April 4, 2004.
Mr. Correll participated in the cover-up regarding the Massey
Energy Martin County Coal sludge disaster of October 2000. 6 million
gallons of coal sludge polluted 100 miles of streams in Eastern
Kentucky and West Virginia. EPA called it the worst environmental
disaster in the eastern U.S. Correll was the overseer of the internal
MSHA review that should have exposed MSHA's prior knowledge of the
unsafe conditions at the coal waste impoundment. Instead, the report
left MSHA blameless and was limited in scope by Correll and his boss
Dave Lauriski. Correll also was a key player in the retaliation efforts
by MSHA against the whistle-blower who exposed the cover-up. This was
also detailed in the ``60 Minutes'' program of April 4, 2004, as well
as in the New York Times and other newspapers.
With a record like this, I cannot think Mr. Correll would be a
strong advocate for reclamation funding and programs that are needed to
address water quality in hundreds of communities across Appalachian
coal country. Again, please oppose Mr. Correll's nomination to head
OSM. Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Keith Pitzer,
Executive Director
______
State of Alaska,
Office of the Governor,
Juneau, AK, July 17, 2006.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Domenici: In contemplation of your hearing on July 20,
I am writing as Governor of Alaska to express my strong support for
the' nomination of Drue Pearce to be Federal Coordinator for Alaska
Natural Gas Transportation Projects.
I have known Drue since 1977 and have worked with her closely
during her career in the public and private sectors. Drue has had a
distinguished career in public service. In particular, I commend your
attention to her long tenure in the Alaska Legislature during which she
was twice president of the State Senate and served in other responsible
capacities. During this time, she gained an in-depth knowledge of
natural resources, public lands, fiscal, and other significant issues.
In her service as Senior Advisor to the Secretary for Alaska
Affairs from June 2001 to the present, she has provided valuable advice
to the Secretary of the Interior on a broad spectrum of issues and has
served as the Policy Coordinator for the department's preparation for
an Alaska natural gas pipeline. Drue has also held positions of
leadership and trust in the private sector, as exemplified by her work
for Alaska National Bank of the North and for the Arctic Slope Regional
Corporation.
Throughout her public and private careers, Drue has demonstrated
great competence, integrity, and dedication to public service. She has
a proven track record of leadership and accomplishment. Of direct
relevance to the position of Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural
Gras.Transportation Projects, she has demonstrated an ability to work
with others and to achieve a consensus in the pursuit of common goals.
The position of Federal Coordinator will be of great importance to
my state and the nation. There is an urgent need to commercialize
Alaska North Slope natural gas by permitting and constructing the
transportation system. The benefits of this system cannot be
overestimated, as this country searches for new sources of domestically
produced oil and natural gas.
I believe that Drupe Pearce is up to the task and that her
confirmation will assist both Alaska and the federal government in our
joint efforts to build a gas pipeline from the North Slope to markets
in the lower 48 states. Accordingly, I recommend the committee's prompt
approval of her nomination.
Thank you for considering my views.
Sincerely yours,
Frank H. Murkowski,
Governor.
______
Alaska State Legislature,
Juneau, AK, July 15, 2006.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
To Whom It May Concern: We are writing in support of Ms. Drue
Pearce's nomination as Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas
Transportation Projects. We have both served with Ms. Pearce and have a
great deal of respect for and trust in her.
Ms. Pearce is a very talented and knowledgeable person. She served
as the Alaska State Senate's President for two terms and was co-chair
of the Senate Finance Committee twice. She has broad experience in oil
and its matters, having served as Chair of the Energy Council in 1993-
94 and from her work in the state legislature, particularly as a member
of the joint Special Committee on Mergers. Her work was instrumental in
protecting Alaska's rights during the proposed BP-ARCO Merger in the
late 1990s; she deserves tremendous credit for her work during that
difficult time.
We both know that Ms. Pearce would do an excellent job as the
Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects.
Drue has the ability to work in a bi-partisan manner, focusing on
issues and results--she has tremendous depth of understanding and
ability. She would be a true asset in what will be a difficult
position. Thank you very much for your consideration of a fine Alaskan.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. Representative
Berkowitz can be reached at: (907) 465-4919 and Representative Kerttula
can be reached at: (907) 209-5104 (cell) or (907) 465-4766 (work).
Sincerely,
Rep. Ethan Berkowitz,
Minority Leader,
Rep. Beth Kerttula,
Minority Finance Committee
Member.
______
Alaska Oil and gas Association,
Anchorage, AK, July 17, 2006.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Re: Nomination of Ms. Drue Pearce--Federal Coordinator for Alaska
Natural Gas Transportation Projects
Dear Senators: The Alaska Oil and Gas Association (AOGA) is a non-
profit trade association whose 17 member companies represent the
majority of oil and gas exploration, production, transportation,
refining and marketing activities in Alaska. AOGA supports the
confirmation of Ms. Drue Pearce for the new position of Federal
Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects.
Ms. Pearce has demonstrated strong, proven leadership throughout
her career. During her 17-year tenure as a state legislator, she was
known to be a knowledgeable, tough, fair lawmaker who had the ability
to reach across party lines and within her own caucus to build needed
consensus on difficult issues. Ms. Pearce held key leadership positions
while a member of the Alaska State Legislature, including serving as
Senate President twice.
In her most recent role as Senior Advisor for Alaska Affairs for
the Secretary of the Department of Interior, Ms. Pearce again
demonstrated her ability to gain support for difficult and complex
projects from a variety of competing stakeholders. She is highly
knowledgeable about Alaska and about the interrelationships between
local, state, and federal governments and the private sector.
The role of Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas
Transportation Projects is vital to the success of commercializing
Alaska's natural gas resources to meet the nation's energy needs. AOGA
endorses Ms. Drue Pearce for confirmation to this important position.
Sincerely,
Judith Brady,
Executive Director.
______
Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.,
Anchorage, AK, July 17, 2006.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Hon. Jeff Bingaman,
Ranking Member, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Re: Confirmation of Mark Myers and Drue Pearce
Dear Senators: The Resource Development Council for Alaska, Inc.,
(RDC) is writing to support the confirmation of Mark Myers to the
position of Director of the U.S. Geological Survey and Drue Pearce to
the new position of Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas
Transportation Projects.
RDC is a private, non-profit business association comprised of
individuals and companies from all Alaska resource sectors--oil and
gas, mining, timber, fishing and tourism. Our membership also includes
the state's 13 Native regional corporations, organized labor, local
communities and industry support firms. RDC's mission is to grow
Alaska's economy through the responsible development of the state's
natural resources.
Mr. Myers is well qualified to lead the U.S. Geological Survey. He
is a highly-regarded manager and petroleum geologist with 22 years of
Alaskan experience and he holds a Ph.D. in Geology. He possesses a wide
range of industry and government oil and gas experience and has strong
leadership skills with consensus building management abilities.
Approximately ten years of Mr. Myers' career was with industry when
he served as a Senior Geologist for ARCO and Phillips Petroleum. For 12
years, he worked in the State of Alaska Division of Oil and Gas as a
petroleum Geologist and more recently, Director of the Division of Oil
and Gas. As Director, he managed the Alaska's oil and gas resources,
including resource evaluation, leasing, utilization, permitting,
royalty accounting, auditing, sale of royalty oil and gas, permitting
and inspecting. He managed a professional staff of nearly 100,
including geoscientists, engineers, land managers, accountants,
commercial analysts and auditors.
In addition to Director of Oil and Gas, Mr. Myers served as State
Geologist and Director of the Division of Geological and Geophysical
Survey where he managed the state's geological and geophysical research
organization of 38 scientists and support staff. The state survey
generates, analyzes and interprets data on geologic resources and
natural conditions, as well as maps and inventories mineral and energy
resources on state land for use by government, private industry,
scientists, educators and the public.
It is also our privilege to support the confirmation of Drue Pearce
to the new position of Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas
Transportation Projects. Ms. Pearce is well known across Alaska and is
highly qualified for this position. She too is a consensus builder with
strong leadership skills and a distinguished record of public service.
Ms. Pearce was elected to the Alaska State House in 1984 and to the
State Senate in 1988. She served twice as Senate President, twice as
co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee and chaired the Senate Rules
Committee.
She also served as Chair of the Energy Council in 1993-94. The
Council is a legislative organization of ten energy producing states.
Venezuela, Alberta, Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Newfoundland are
international affiliates. While serving as the Chair and on the
Executive Committee of the Council, she led delegations to Bolivia,
Mexico, Costa Rica and Venezuela. Ms. Pearce also served as the
American Co-Chair for the U.S. West Coast-Russian Far East Business
Commission Ad Hoc Working Group.
Most recently, Ms. Pearce has been representing Alaska in the U.S.
Department of the Interior, working as Secretary Gale Norton's Senior
Advisor for Alaska Affairs. For the past five years, she has provided
counsel to the Secretary in the development of the department's
policies affecting Alaska. In this capacity, Ms. Pearce has been
designated to serve as a Federal Trustee to the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Trustee Council, appointed as a member of the Department of
Transportation's Technical Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Standards
Committee, and chosen as the Department of the Interior representative
to the Arctic Council. She is also the policy coordinator for the
department's efforts to prepare for permitting and construction of an
Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.
The Resource Development Council strongly endorses the confirmation
of Mark Myers and Drue Pearce. Both are ideally qualified and will be
major assets to the federal government in their respective positions.
Sincerely,
Carl Portman,
Deputy Director.
______
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Domenici: I am writing to you to urge your support for
two exceptional Alaskans that are being considered for positions within
the federal government. They are Mark Myers and Drue Pearce. I have had
the good fortune to cross paths with both of these people at various
times during my 33 years in Alaska.
Drue Pearce is being considered for Federal Coordinator for Alaska
Natural Gas Transportation Projects. She has an outstanding record of
public service in Alaska for many years, and some experience in
Washington DC as well. My experience working with Ms. Pearce goes back
to her days in the Alaska State Senate. There she worked tirelessly to
make things better for Alaska and Alaskans. She took a no nonsense
approach to doing the people's work and at the end of the day she was
able to accomplish a lot. Later she worked as Senior Advisor for Alaska
Affairs under Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton. In my opinion she
did a great job there and once again made a big difference for Alaskans
in particular and Americans in general,
Mark Myers is up for the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey. He
has also done a lot of good for Alaska in the various roles he filled
during his career here. He worked in the private sector on the north
slope of Alaska where he was an important member of the teams who
developed many of the projects that have been delivering energy
resources to the lower 48. Most recently, he worked as Director of the
Division of Oil and Gas in the State of Alaska Department of Natural
Resources. There he was able to add a lot of value to Alaska. For
example he played a key role in managing the generation of much of the
State's revenue (just short of 2 billion dollars in FY 2005) coming in
from the oil industry. I have seen Mr. Myers in action and I have
really been Impressed by his convictions and ethics.
As someone who hires a lot of people in the private sector my
experience is that you do not come across people of high quality such
as Ms. Pearce or Mr. Myers very often. The U.S. Government would be
fortunate Indeed to have such great people filling these important
positions. Please seriously consider placing them in the positions they
have applied for.
Sincerely,
Carl Portman,
Anchorage, AK.
______
State of Alaska,
Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission,
Anchorage, AK, June 26, 2006.
Hon. Pete V. Domenici,
Chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
Re: Appointment of Director of U. S. Geological Survey
Dear Senator Domenici: We are writing in support of the appointment
of Dr. Mark D. Myers to be the new Director of the U. S. Geological
Survey. The undersigned Commissioners administer the State regulatory
agency charged with overseeing all oil and gas operations within the
State of Alaska. In our capacity as regulators, we have had extensive
direct professional contacts with Dr. Myers and have found him to be an
outstanding professional in all respects. He is an exceptionally
talented geoscientist, a professional of impeccable character, and a
superior manager of people and resources.
We believe the nation will be well served by the appointment of Dr.
Myers as Director of the U. S. Geological Survey. He has a reputation
for being forthright in his dealings with all persons and in our
opinion he will make an outstanding Director of the U.S. Geological
Survey.
We urge the Senate to confirm his appointment promptly so the
Nation can immediately begin to benefit from having such a capable and
experienced professional at the helm of this important agency.
If any additional information is desired we would welcome the
opportunity to elaborate on Dr. Myers' many fine qualities and his
reputation and years of experience as a geologist and administrator in
Alaska.
John K. Norman,
Chairman,
Daniel T. Seamount, Jr.,
Commissioner,
Cathy P. Foerster,
Commissioner.
______
Press Release from the Department of the Interior
ACTING SECRETARY SCARLETT PRAISES PRESIDENT'S INTENTION TO NOMINATE
MARK MYERS AS USGS DIRECTOR
WASHINGTON--Acting Interior Secretary Lynn Scarlett today praised
President Bush's intention to nominate Mark D. Myers as director of the
U.S. Geological Survey. The announcement is subject to confirmation by
the U.S. Senate, once the official nomination is made by the President.
Current acting director Dr. P. Patrick Leahy will continue to serve in
the acting capacity until Senate confirmation.
Myers is an internationally recognized geologist and former State
Geologist and head of Alaska's Geological Survey.
``Mark is known not only for his accomplishments as a geologist and
state survey manager but also for the consensus building approach he
has emphasized throughout his career,'' Acting Secretary Lynn Scarlett
said. ``He brings more than 22 years of wide ranging experience in
geological science and strong leadership skills to the U.S. Geological
Survey.''
As State Geologist and Director of the State of Alaska Division of
Geological and Geophysical Survey, Myers managed a research
organization that included 38 scientists and support staff. The state
survey generates analyses and interprets data on geologic resources and
natural conditions and maps and inventories mineral and energy
resources on state land. That information is used by the government,
private industry, scientists, educators and the public.
As Director of the State of Alaska Division of Oil and Gas, Myers
oversaw a professional staff of nearly 100 employees, including
geoscientists, engineers, land managers, accountants, commercial
analysts, and auditors.
Myers, an expert on North Slope sedimentary and petroleum geology,
served as survey chief for field programs in the MacKenzie Delta (ARCO,
1985), Cook Inlet (State of Alaska/U.S. Geological Survey, 1997), and
North Slope (ARCO, 1999). He also served as sedimentologist for 13
other North Slope field programs.
Myers is a past president and board member of the Alaska Geological
Society; a certified professional geologist with the American Institute
of Professional Geologists; a certified petroleum geologist with the
American Association of Petroleum Geologists; and a licensed geologist
with the State of Alaska.
He served as an officer in the U.S. Air Force Reserve from 1977 to
2003, retiring as a Lt. Colonel.
He received his doctorate in geology from the University of Alaska-
Fairbanks in 1994, specializing in sedimentology, clastic depositional
environments, surface and subsurface sequence analysis and sandstone
petrography. Myers earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from the
University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific
information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize loss of life
and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy,
and mineral resources; and enhance and protect America's quality of
life. The USGS is organized with a Headquarters and Eastern Region
facility in Reston, Va. Central Region and Western Region offices are
located in Denver, Colo., and Menlo Park, Calif., respectively.
The 10,000 scientists, technicians and support staff of the USGS
are located in nearly 400 offices in every state and in several foreign
countries. With a budget of more than $1 billion a year, the USGS
leverages its resources and expertise in partnership with more than
2,000 agencies of state, local and tribal government, the academic
community, other federal allies, non-governmental organizations, and
the private sector. Field investigations, direct observations of
natural science processes and phenomena, and monitoring and data
collection at the local scale are the scientific hallmarks of the USGS.