[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 128 (Tuesday, November 14, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           TRIBUTE TO THE ENERGY AND MINERALS FIELD INSTITUTE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. MARK UDALL

                              of colorado

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 14, 2006

  Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the Energy and Minerals Field Institute (EMFI), an organization 
affiliated with the Colorado School of Mines that provides policy 
makers, elected officials and their staff with direct and in-depth 
information about energy resources and production in the western United 
States.
  A number of staff in my office have had the opportunity to 
participate in the informative field tours the EMFI provides. Through 
the EMFI, they and the many other participants from state and federal 
agencies, Congressional committees, Native American Tribes, and other 
offices have had the chance to travel to locations where energy, 
resources, and minerals are developed, extracted and produced. On such 
trips, participants have descended into active molybdenum, gold and 
coal mines, watched oil and gas drill rigs in action, explored wind 
turbine technological development at the National Renewable Energy 
Laboratory, and witnessed new water projects under construction. The 
information acquired through direct contact with these activities has 
greatly enhanced my staff's knowledge of resource development, as well 
as their understanding of the positive and negative impacts these 
resources can have on local communities and the nation as a whole.
  The professional and knowledgeable staff, including Director Gary 
Baughman, Tom Sladek, Jim Proud, and other consultants and support 
personnel, put together outstanding programs and tours year after year. 
As an added plus, participants are also provided extensive roadside 
geologic tutorials by Mr. John Rold, former Colorado State Geologist 
and Director of the Colorado Geologic Survey; educating program 
participants on everything from rockslides and fractures to the energy 
industry and anecdotes about life in general.
  The Energy and Minerals Field Institute was established in 1978 as 
the ``Energy Field Institute'' to create a forum for exploring 
interactions between regional energy development in the West and 
federal policies. ``Western Energy: Opportunities, Problems, and Policy 
Issues'' was the first field program, cosponsored by the Colorado 
School of Mines and Resources for the Future. Participants consisted of 
federal officials from Colorado.
  In 1980, a new July program was added, directed toward 
representatives of the regional and national media. With the inclusion 
of non-fuel minerals in 1981, the EMFI was renamed to its present 
title. In 1985, participation in the July program was expanded to 
include secondary level teachers, business leaders, government 
personnel, and staff and students from the Colorado School of Mines. 
This diversity of disciplines and professions created an exciting 
educational atmosphere in which many perspectives on the various issues 
were represented.
  With the continued success of the traditional ``Government Program'' 
in August and the growth of the ``Interdisciplinary Program'' in July, 
it was decided in 1985 to make the itineraries of both trips identical. 
This approach provided similar educational opportunities for all 
participants and made logistical planning more efficient.
  In addition to the summer field sessions, the EMFI also conducted an 
annual Washington Workshop. This conference was designed to familiarize 
EMFI alumni and invited guests with topical issues related to Western 
resource development. The EMFI also published a newsletter entitled 
``Field Notes'' twice each year to keep its alumni and supporters 
informed of recent events.

  However, due to funding difficulties in 1996, the EMFI was forced to 
discontinue its major summer field programs, the Washington Workshop, 
and ``Field Notes.'' It continued to conduct customized field programs 
for corporate clients, specific government organizations, and 
delegations from other countries.
  In 2003, the Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation 
(OEMC) provided funding to reactivate the Colorado Energy Research 
Institute (CERI), which is administered by the Colorado School of 
Mines. With funding from CERI, and with in-kind contributions from the 
Colorado School of Mines, sufficient funding was provided to 
reestablish the EMFI Field Program.
  The small but steady source of grant dollars from CERI and the 
Colorado School of Mines, as well as additional financial support from 
federal agencies, have allowed the EMFI to conduct a single Field 
Program each summer. It is hoped that the successful conduct of these 
field programs, coupled with the creation of additional EMFI alumni, 
will generate sufficient interest and financial support to enable the 
EMFI to recreate all of its previous outreach programs and become 
financially independent.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the work of the Energy 
and Minerals Field Institute. The practical knowledge and invaluable 
experiences gained by program participants will undoubtedly help shape 
important energy, natural resource, and environmental policy for years 
to come.

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