<br />return to the Geologic Division.' He will become a
<br />scientnic advisor to the Chief Geologist for Ignacious
<br />and Geothermal Processes, USGS Associate Director,
<br />Doyle Frederick, will take a short-term assignment with
<br />the National Biological Survey, before becoming an
<br />advisor to the Chief of the National Mapping Division.
<br />
<br />A number of highly qualified candidates for the
<br />director's position have been interviewed. While no
<br />final decision has been made, Babbitt expects a new
<br />director to be nominated and confirmed by November.
<br />In the interim, the Secretary named Robert M. Hirsch
<br />as Acting Director and Bonnie A. MacGregor as Acting
<br />Associate Director. Bob is Assistant Chief Hydrologist
<br />for Research and External Coordination in the Water
<br />Resources Division, and Bonnie is a career scientist in
<br />the Geologic Division. The Changes take effect on
<br />August 16, Babbitt hopes that a smooth transition will
<br />allow the new director to 'hit the ground running.'
<br />
<br />Secretary Babbitt has also created a transition team
<br />to be named from the USGS divisions and regions,
<br />and asked them to develop a new mission statement
<br />for the agency and a report presenting a series of
<br />options for addressing critical issues and concerns
<br />about the Survey's future. Assistant Secretary for
<br />Water and Science, Betsy Rieke, will make budget
<br />decisions until a new director is confirmed. Deputy
<br />Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, Debra
<br />Knopman, will chair a budget committee of the
<br />transition team and division chiefs to evaluate
<br />programs and prepare budget options.
<br />
<br />Babbitt praised USGS as a 'vibrant interdisciplinary
<br />institution, responsive to the Nation's need for good
<br />science to support wise resource management
<br />decisions,' He added, 'Earth science information is
<br />vital to the protection of the environment and to the
<br />renewal of the Nation's economy.... The transition,
<br />which I know many of you have anxiously awaited, will
<br />require everyone's full support and cooperation.... I
<br />am confident that the plan I have laid out will begin to
<br />build momentum for positive change in the Survey.'
<br />
<br />E~RONMENT/WATERQUAUTY
<br />Wetlands/Clean Water Act (CWA>
<br />
<br />On July 28, the Wetlands Conservation and
<br />Regulatory Improvements Act (S. 1304) was
<br />introduced by Senator Max Baucus (D-Ml). The bill
<br />
<br />will likely be blended into S. 1114, Clean Water Act
<br />reauthorization legislation ryvSW #1002), Among
<br />other things, the bill declares, ',..it Is the national policy
<br />to achieve, through regulatory and nonregulatory
<br />strategies Involving all levels of government -- the
<br />restoration of...the quality and quantity of the wetlands
<br />resource base of the United States; and no overall net
<br />loss of the remaining wetlands....' It address the
<br />definition and processes for delineation of wetlands,
<br />and directs the use of the -- Corps of Engineers
<br />Wetlands Delineation Manual, January, 1987 -- until
<br />other guidelines are issued under Section 404(a), as
<br />amended by the bill. Funding is authorized for
<br />wetland delineation training, certification and outreach,
<br />as well as assistance for small private landowners.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Other sections address regulated and exempted
<br />activities, permit processing improvements, general
<br />permits, and interagency cooperation. Some other
<br />significant changes include the establishment of
<br />mitigation banks, with rules for their use and oversight,
<br />funding and criteria for the deveiopment and
<br />implementation of state wetlallds conservation plans,
<br />designation and approval of state wetlands and
<br />watershed management plans, and development of a
<br />cooperative wetlands restoration strategy. Of note,
<br />there are no new incentives for states to assume
<br />responsibility for the Section 404 permitting program,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />WATER RESOURCES
<br />
<br />Drought/Flooding
<br />
<br />While devastating flooding afflicts the Midwest,
<br />concerns over drought in the West are disappearing,
<br />tholjgh it will take some time to replenish sur1ace and
<br />grollnd water supplies. The Palmer Drought Index still
<br />shows severe and extreme drought conditions along
<br />the central California coast, northeastern Sierras and
<br />western Nevada, parts of northeastern Colorado, the
<br />southwest corner of Wyoming and southeast corner of
<br />Idaho, northeastern Oregon, central Washington and
<br />the usually soggy Olympic Peninsula. Of note, the
<br />coastal rainforests of southeast Alaska are also drier
<br />than average. The towns of Wrangell and Petersburg
<br />have received only about half their usual rainfall,
<br />depleting local reservoirs in the Tongass National
<br />Forest. Both towns are on islands accessible only by
<br />air or sea. Voluntary water conservation measures
<br />have been taken, and mandatory rationing is a
<br />possibility.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of
<br />member Slates - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada. New Mexico, North Dalkota,
<br />Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
<br />
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