AIP FYI #155: USGS FY 2005 Funding

The FY 2005 omnibus appropriations bill provides essentially flat
funding for the U.S. Geological Survey. Total USGS funding would
decline 0.2% or $2.3 million from $938.0 million to $935.7 million,
after allowing for two across-the-board reductions that were
mandated within the bill. Congress is taking final action on this
bill today, after which it will be sent to President Bush for his
signature.

Below are selections from the Joint Explanatory Statement
accompanying this bill, as well as the calculated budgets for each
of the seven components of the survey’s budget. Note that the
figures quoted in the selections from this Statement have NOT been
reduced by the mandated 1.394% adjustment. The complete legislative
language can be viewed under Division E at
http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app05.html

MAPPING, REMOTE SENSING AND GEOGRAPHIC INVESTIGATIONS: Funding
declines by 8.5% or $11.0 million from $129.8 million to $118.8
million (after adjustments.) The Bush Administration requested
$118.9 million.

“The managers understand that this decrease will be partially offset
by anticipated buyout savings. The managers expect that the Alaska
digital data mapping program will continue from within base funding
at no less than the fiscal year 2004 enacted level.

“The managers reiterate their concern with the equipment failure on
the Landsat 7 satellite, which occurred well over a year ago, and
the issues that have arisen as a result. Despite repeated requests
from both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations, a clear
plan has yet to be submitted by the Administration regarding long
term USGS satellite operations, nor has an interim solution been
offered to address the current funding issues surrounding Landsat 7.
The managers are dismayed that the Administration has been unable to
provide specific guidance and coordination on an issue that crosses
multiple agencies and jurisdictions. Further, the managers object to
the notion of continuing to redirect funds from other valuable
Survey activities in order to maintain the status quo for a program
that is no longer fully functional. The managers expect to see a
fiscal year 2006 budget submission that contains a detailed proposal
to address the Landsat issue. If, however, a clear plan regarding
mission and funding options is not received by June 30, 2005, the
managers direct the Department of the Interior to submit a plan for
shutdown of the Landsat program. In the meantime, to the extent that
buyout savings may be required to contribute to EROS Data Center
operations during fiscal year 2005, the mapping program should
reserve these funds to do so. The managers expect the Survey to be
extremely cautious in expanding its mapping programs or entering
into additional cooperative agreements with these monies until it is
clear how the Landsat issue will be resolved.

“The managers agree that long-term remote sensing data is vital to
many aspects of the government and private sector in the nation.
Once again, the managers encourage the Administration to work with
NASA and other Federal agencies to place the next generation Landsat
sensor in orbit as soon as possible to reduce future gaps in data.”

GEOLOGIC HAZARDS, RESOURCES AND PROCESSES: Funding declines by 2.1%
or $4.9 million from $234.2 million to $229.3 million, after
adjustments. The Administration requested $220.8 million.

The Joint Statement makes specific funding recommendations for the
volcano monitoring program, an Alaskan mineral programs, the
Advanced National Seismic System program, a landslide program,
geothermal assessments, coastal erosion programs, and a subsidence
program. It also explains: ” The managers agree that the volcano
monitoring program is vital to both the safety of citizens living
near these areas and the protection of commercial aircraft. Within
the funds provided in the conference agreement, the Survey shall
continue its ongoing volcanic research and monitoring activities at
no less than the fiscal year 2004 enacted level, and should direct
increased funding to areas of recent and imminent volcanic
activity.” In addition, “The managers agree that the amount of
funding provided for conducting inquiries into the economic
conditions affecting mining and materials processing industries is
$15,499,000. This number will no longer appear in bill language.”

WATER RESOURCES INVESTIGATIONS: Funding would decline 2.0% or $4.4
million from $215.7 million to $211.3 million, after adjustments.
The Administration requested $202.7 million. The Joint Statement
makes funding recommendations on several site-specific projects.

BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH: Funding would decline 1.6% or $2.7 million
from $174.5 million to $171.8 million, after adjustments. The
Administration requested $167.6 million. The Joint Statement makes
funding recommendations on several site-specific projects.

ENTERPRISE INFORMATION: This is a new budget category this year.
The Administration requested $45.2 million; the bill provides $44.4
million, after adjustments. The Joint Statement explains “Changes
to the House level for enterprise information include increases of
$500,000 for certification and accreditation of information
technology systems, $300,000 for accessible data transfer and
$50,000 for the enterprise services network.”

SCIENCE SUPPORT: Funding would decline 27.8% or $25.2 million from
$90.8 million to $65.6 million, after adjustments. The
Administration requested $66.8 million. The Statement only says,
“The change to the House level for science support is a decrease of
$1,000,000 for financial management improvements.”

FACILITIES: Funding would increase 1.6% or $1.5 million from $93.0
million to $94.5 million, after adjustments. The Administration
requested $95.9 million. The Joint Statement explains: “There are
no changes to the House funding level for facilities activities. The
conference agreement also retains language proposed in the House
bill designating $1,600,000 from within amounts provided to remain
available until expended for deferred maintenance and capital
improvement projects exceeding $100,000. The managers have not
agreed to provide base funding to the Lake Ponchartrain restoration
project.”

Richard M. Jones

Media and Government Relations Division

The American Institute of Physics

fyi@aip.org
http://www.aip.org/gov

(301) 209-3094