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Bush Plans to Nominate Mark Myers as Director of the U.S. Geological =
Survey
President Bush intends to nominate Mark D. Myers to be Director of the =
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), according to a White House announcement. =
Myers was one of six Alaska officials who resigned on October 27, 2005 =
in response to Gov. Frank Murkowski's (R) dismissal of the Alaska =
Commissioner of Natural Resources and the position the state has taken =
in negotiations with oil companies regarding a $20 billion natural gas =
pipeline to the North Slope.=20
Myers resigned his positions as Alaska State Geologist and Director of =
Alaska's Division of Oil and Gas. He thought the state's concessions to =
the oil companies were too generous.=20
"Staying in this position would require me to compromise my values as to =
what is right, both legally and ethically, and what is in the interests =
of the state," Myers said in his letter of resignation to Gov. =
Murkowski. "I adamantly disagree with the [Alaska] Administration's =
current position on gasline negotiations," Myers wrote. "I cannot =
continue as Director and watch silently as the state's interests are =
undermined by creating barriers for the new oil and gas participants =
that are so vital to the economic future of our state," he continued.=20
Gov. Murkowski supports Myers' nomination as Director of the U.S. =
Geological Survey, according to a spokesman for the governor. Myers =
said the USGS position is unrelated to the controversy in Alaska.=20
Myers previously served as Senior Staff Geologist for Exploration at =
ARCO Alaska Inc. and Phillips Alaska Inc. Earlier in his career, Myers =
was a Petroleum Geologist for the State of Alaska Division of Oil and =
Gas. An expert on North Slope sedimentary and petroleum geology, Myers =
served as survey chief or sedimentologist for 16 North Slope field =
programs.=20
Praising Myers, Acting Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett said, =
"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."
Myers received his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Alaska at =
Fairbanks in 1994. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from =
the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Myers would become the 14th Director of =
the USGS since the agency was established in 1879. Myers would succeed =
Charles Groat, who served under from 1998 to 2005 under both President =
Clinton and President Bush. USGS Associate Director for Geology P. =
Patrick Leahy will continue serving as Acting Director until Myers is =
confirmed by the Senate.=20
Craig M. Schiffries, Ph.D.
Director of Science Policy
National Council for Science and the Environment
1707 H Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202-530-5810
E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
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The National Council for Science and the Environment (NCSE) is a =
non-profit organization working to improve the scientific basis for =
environmental decisionmaking. NCSE is supported by nearly 500 academic, =
scientific, environmental, government and business organizations.
To unsubscribe from this list, please visit the following web site:=20
http://list.ncseonline.org/mailman/listinfo/ncse
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