Geoscience Policy Monthly Review
february 2015
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federal agencies & administration
DOI distributes $50 million for Western drought response
February 6, 2015
On February 6, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell announced that $50 million allocated by Congress for Western drought relief will be used by the Bureau of Reclamation, water districts, and other water users to increase efficiency and conserve water in drought-stricken areas. The California Central Valley Project will receive $20 million, which will help with scientific monitoring and managing limited water supplies. Colorado will receive aid for the Colorado River system and declining Lake Mead. The funds will also support drought response and comprehensive drought plans and WaterSMART’s reclamation and reuse work with farmers and municipalities in conserving water.
Sources: Department of the Interior, E&E News
BOEM announces new chief for renewable energy
February 11, 2015
Jim Bennett is the new chief of the Renewable Energy Programs Office at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), a position left empty since Maureen Bornholdt retired last year. Bennett has 35 years of Federal service, and previously served as chief of BOEMs Division of Environmental Assessment. Lauded for his background in environmental policy, Bennett will help BOEM continue exploring offshore wind farms and hydrokinetic power harvested from ocean currents and wave action.
Sources: Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, E&E News
USGS releases report on 60 years of hydraulic fracturing
February 17, 2015
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) released a report on February 17 that examines trends in the spatial distribution, treatment fluids, additives, proppants, and water volumes for nearly 1 million hydraulically fractured wells and 1.8 million fracturing treatments during the period 1947 through 2010. The report notes the recent increase in horizontal, or directional, drilling, which has grown from six percent of new wells drilled in 2000 to 42 percent of new wells drilled in 2010.
Sources: E&E News, U.S. Geological Survey
NASA names new Associate Administrator
February 23, 2015
Steve Jurczyk is the new Associate Administrator for the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASA, replacing Michael Gazarik who left NASA earlier in February. Jurczyk has been at NASA for 27 years, serving most recently as Center Director for NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. Jurczyk is an accomplished engineer, and has previously worked for NASA as both an electronics engineer and an instrument systems engineer.
Sources: NASA
Obama renominates Kimball as USGS Director
February 26, 2015
President Obama renominated Dr. Suzette Kimball as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on February 26, following the lapse of her nomination at the beginning of the 114th Congress in January. Dr. Kimball, who has been with USGS for 16 years, was first nominated to the post in January 2014. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee approved Kimball by unanimous consent, but her nomination stalled on the Senate floor. Dr. Kimball has served as Acting Director of the agency for the past two years following the retirement of the previous director, Marcia McNutt.
Sources: E&E News, the White House