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<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 />