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technology and for his exceptional personal contributions in lunar and planetary science.

Gerald Meyer and C.L. McGuinness
(posthumously), Hydrologists, Water
Resources Division, each received the
Distinguished Service in Hydrogeology
Award from the Hydrogeology Division
of the Geological Society of America.
Douglas J. Nichols, Geologist, Geologic
Division, was presented the 1989 Unocal
Best Geological Applications award by
the American Association of Stratigraphic
Palynologists for his paper on the
Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the
Powder River Basin, Wyoming and
Montana.

William H. Orem, Chemist, Geologic
Division, was elected Secretary of the
Geochemistry Division of the American
Chemical Society for the period 1988-91.
Roger L. Payne, Geographer, National
Mapping Division, was elected President
of the American Name Society for
1989-90.

Joseph S. Rosenshein, Hydrologist, Water Resources Division, was elected Chairman of the Hydrogeology Division of the Geological Society of America. James C. Savage, Geophysicist, Geologic Division, was awarded the Charles A. Whitten Medal by the American Geophysical Union for his outstanding research in the form and dynamics of the Earth and planets.

Christopher J. Schenk, Geologist, Geologic Division, was elected President, Rocky Mountain Section, Society of Economic Paleontologists and Mineralogists for 1989-90.

Wayne C. Shanks, Geologist, Geologic Division, was named the Thayer Lindsley Visiting Lecturer for the period 1989–90 by the Society of Economic Geologists, in recognition of his major contributions on the genesis and character of sea-floor minerals.

Eugene M. Shoemaker, Geologist, Geologic Division, and his wife Carolyn, a USGS volunteer, were awarded the Rittenhouse Medal by the Rittenhouse Astronomical Society in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the science of astronomy.

Charles W. Spencer, Geologist, Geologic
Division, was elected to a 4-year term
(1989-93) as a member of the Rocky
Mountain Association of Geologists Foun-

dation. This three-person Board of Directors awards scholarships, funds selected publications, and provides awards for outstanding students. Nancy K. Tubbs, Cartographer, National Mapping Division, was elected President, Rocky Mountain Region, American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing for 1989.

David J. Varnes, Geologist, Geologic Division, was presented the Hans Cloos Medal, the highest award of the International Association of Engineering Geology (IAEG), at the 28th IGC, in honor of his contributions to the science of engineering geology and for his service to the profession and IAEG.

Robert E. Wallace, Geologist, Geologic Division, was awarded the Medal of the Seismological Society of America in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the fields of seismology and earthquake engineering.

Donald E. Wilhelms, retired Geologist and USGS volunteer, Geologic Division, was presented the 1989 G.K. Gilbert Award of the Planetary Geology Division of the Geological Society of America, in recognition of outstanding contributions to the solution of fundamental problems in planetary research.

Presidential Rank Awards

Presidential Rank Awards are presented annually by the Office of Personnel Management to career members of the prestigious Senior Executive Service for exceptional service at an executive level over an extended period of time. Presidential Rank Awards, the highest civilian honor awarded to Federal executives, are given at two levels: Distinguished ($20,000 award) and Meritorious ($10,000 award). In 1989, President George Bush recognized the following USGS executives with the rank of Meritorious Executive:

Benjamin A. Morgan III, Chief Geologist, Geologic Division, for his leadership in guiding the scientific programs of the Geologic Division through a period of transition and essentially level funding, while providing a framework for a vigorous earth science research program for the next decade.

Roy R. Mullen, Associate Chief, National Mapping Division, for his work as principal architect of the Mark II program, which is designed to carry the national mapping program into the next century by implementing automated procedures and the science of digital cartography within the USGS and the Department of the Interior.

Merle E. Southern, Chief, Rocky Mountain Mapping Center of the National Mapping Division, for his successful integration of research activities into the production process and for his accomplishments in establishing a central distribution center for the storage and dissemination of the thousands of USGS book, map, and digital cartographic products.

John Wesley Powell Awards

Each year the USGS presents the John Wesley Powell Award to persons or groups outside the Federal Government for voluntary actions that result in significant gains or improvements in the efforts of the USGS to provide earth science in the public service.

Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan presented the 1989 John Wesley Powell Awards at the USGS National Center in Reston, Va., on the 110th anniversary of the USGS, March 3, 1989. Recipients of these awards, named for the second director of the USGS, were Duane M. Hamann and M. Gordon Wolman. Duane M. Hamann, a teacher at the Parkfield, Calif., elementary school, provided invaluable assistance to the USGS in describing and explaining to the local community the Parkfield Earthquake Prediction experiment being conducted there. In addition, his willingness to integrate USGS research activities into the school curriculum resulted in national and international media coverage that provided public education about USGS activities.

M. Gordon (Reds) Wolman, Chairman of the Department of Geography and Environmental Engineering of Johns Hopkins

University, has served as a trusted and valued advisor to the Directors and division chiefs of the USGS for over two decades and has helped to strengthen the technical content of many USGS programs. In addition, he has trained an impressive list of young scientists, a number of whom now serve in significant positions within the USGS.

Outstanding Federal Employees with Disabilities-1989

William L. Rambo, Geologist with the Geologic Division in Menlo Park, Calif., was one of 12 Federal employees Governmentwide honored at the Twenty-first Annual Presidential Awards Ceremony for Outstanding Federal Employees with Disabilities. This ceremony focuses attention on the job capabilities of federal employees with disabilities, highlighting their accomplishments and increasing public awareness of their valuable contributions.

Mr. Rambo, whose career as a field geologist was cut short by an on-the-job accident which left him confined to a wheelchair, was cited for his major impact on the USGS public outreach program in California, where he has been active in fielding questions from the public; in organizing and chairing the local Earth Science Information Committee; and his instrumental role in public outreach activities at the Menlo Park regional center.

Mr. Rambo joined Amy W. Meade and R. Michael Hathaway at special ceremonies at the USGS National Center recognizing Ms. Meade and Mr. Hathaway as USGS Outstanding Federal Employees with Disabilities for 1989. Ms. Meade, who had planned a career in architectural design, lost her sight and subsequently came to work for the USGS, where, with the help of an Artic Vision Speech Synthesizer, she has begun a promising new career as a computer assistant. Mr. Hathaway, confined to a wheelchair, was cited for his exceptional contributions to the development of computer technology within the USGS.

Program Descriptions

Geologic Division

Organization

The headquarters office of the Geologic Division is located in Reston, Va., and consists of the Office of the Chief Geologist and six subordinate offices: Earthquakes, Volcanoes, and Engineering; Regional Geology; Mineral Resources; Energy and Marine Geology; International Geology; and Scientific Publications. Assistant Chief Geologists in the Eastern, Central, and Western Regions act for the Chief Geologist in carrying out general objectives, policies, and procedures for the Division. Project operations are conducted by personnel located principally in regional centers at Reston, Va.; Denver, Colo.; and Menlo Park, Calif.; and at field centers in Flagstaff, Ariz.; Anchorage, Alaska; Woods Hole, Mass.; Tucson, Ariz.; Reno, Nev.; and Spokane, Wash.

Geologic Hazards Surveys

The Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program conducts a national research effort to reduce hazards and risks from future earthquakes in the United States. Specific tasks include evaluation of earthquake potential for seismically active areas of the United States and operation of global seismic networks.

The Volcano Hazards Program conducts research on volcanic processes to help reduce the loss of life, property, and natural resources that can result from volcanic eruptions and related hydrologic events. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory on the Island of Hawaii and the Cascades Volcano Observatory in Vancouver, Wash., are the principal field research centers for this program. The Alaska Volcano Observatory, a cooperative effort with State and academic organizations, is located in Anchorage.

The Landslide Hazards Program emphasizes field and laboratory research into the active earth processes that result in ground failures such as landslides, mudflows, and debris flows.

Geologic Framework and Processes

The National Geologic Mapping Program conducts basic geologic research to acquire fundamental data on the Nation's geologic structure and the environmental and dynamic processes that have shaped it. Geologic mapping, geophysical research on the properties of Earth materials, age determinations of rocks, and modernization of mapping techniques are the main components of the program.

The Deep Continental Studies Program conducts research to obtain information on the composition, structure, formation, and evolution of the middle and lower crust and upper mantle of the Earth.

The Geomagnetism Program measures and interprets changes in the strength and direction of the Earth's magnetic field. Eleven geomagnetic observatories provide data for continually updating global navigational charts and maps produced by various Federal agencies.

The Climate Change Program conducts research on the natural variability of past climate, on the extent of human influence on natural patterns of change, and on the magnitude of climate change demonstrated in the geologic record in support of Federal global change research efforts.

The Coastal Erosion Program provides geologic information on the nature, extent, and cause of coastal erosion, which is used by various Federal and State agencies to mitigate coastal retreat and land loss.

Offshore Geologic Surveys

The Offshore Geologic Framework Program conducts scientific investigations to acquire an understanding of basic geologic and geophysical characteristics of the continental margins, adjacent slope and deep-ocean areas, and the U.S.

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Exclusive Economic Zone. Results of these studies and analysis of new information are essential for energy and mineral resource evaluation and assessment of these areas.

Mineral Resource Surveys

The National Mineral Resource Assessment Program provides comprehensive scientific surveys to identify significant new targets for industry exploration in the conterminous United States and Alaska and also provides mineral resource information for planning the use of public lands.

The Strategic and Critical Minerals Program provides comprehensive information on domestic and world resources of nonfuel minerals that are essential to a strong national economy and defense. The Development of Assessment Techniques Program carries out basic and applied research on the origin and the geologic, geochemical, and geophysical characteristics of mineral deposit systems in order to develop concepts and techniques to improve the capability to identify and evaluate mineral resources.

Energy Geologic Surveys

The Evolution of Sedimentary Basins Program studies the tectonic framework and depositional, thermal, and diagenetic processes of sedimentary basins in the United States to develop data essential to the successful exploration for and evaluation of mineral and energy resources.

The Coal Investigations Program conducts geologic, geophysical, and geochemical research to develop scientifically based assessments of the quality, quantity, and availability of the Nation's coal

resources.

The Oil and Gas Investigations Program supports basic and applied research on the generation, migration, and entrapment of petroleum and natural gas.

The Oil Shale Investigations Program conducts research to assess the Nation's oil shale resources, including investigation of the structure and chemistry of oil shale deposits and identification of oil shale deposits suitable for exploita

tion under current environmental and technological constraints.

The Uranium/Thorium Investigations Program conducts basic research to determine the nature and distribution of uranium and thorium resources, including newly forming uranium deposits and daughter products, such as radon, that may be health hazards.

The Geothermal Investigations Program conducts basic research to determine the nature, distribution, and magnitude of the Nation's geothermal resources. These studies define the geologic and hydrothermal regimes of the various classes of geothermal resources and identify the crustal, geochemical, and hydrothermal processes that produce geothermal systems.

The World Energy Resources Assessment Program provides information on worldwide energy resources for use by other agencies in the development of national-energy, international-trade, and foreign policies.

Water Resources Division

Organization

The headquarters office of the Water Resources Division is located in Reston, Va. The Chief Hydrologist, the Associate Chief Hydrologist, and five Assistant Chief Hydrologists are responsible for the overall direction of the Division. National water-research programs are developed at Division headquarters under the direction of the Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Research and External Coordination.

General direction of the Division's field programs is conducted through four Regional Hydrologists, located in Reston, Va.; Atlanta, Ga.; Denver, Colo.; and Menlo Park, Calif. Forty-two District Offices conduct the water-resources investigations and data-collection programs of the Division in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Territory of Guam.

National Water-Quality Assessment Program

The National Water-Quality Assessment Program seeks to provide nationally consistent descriptions of the quality of the Nation's water resources over a large, diverse, and geographically distributed portion of the country; provide a baseline for evaluating future trends in water quality and, where possible, define trends. in water quality over recent decades; and provide an understanding of the factors influencing water quality. This information provides the basis to forecast change and evaluate the likely effect on water quality of various proposed remedial actions. Initial efforts involve four surface-water and three ground-water pilot studies, with plans to have 20 study units in operation by the beginning of FY

1991.

National Water Summary Program

The National Water Summary Program provides water information on a State-by-State and national basis to aid policymakers in the analysis and development of water policies, legislation, and management actions. Changing patterns in availability, quantity, quality, and use of water resources are summarized for use by Government officials, natural resources managers, and the general public.

The principal products of the program are National Water Summary reports that describe hydrologic events. and water conditions for a water year and provide a State-by-State overview of specific water-related issues.

Hazardous Waste Hydrology
Programs

The USGS conducts research and investigations into the disposal of hazardous chemical and radioactive wastes, which provides information to help in alleviating their effects on the Nation's water resources. The USGS evaluates the existing and potential effects on water resources of the earth-science aspects in hazardous-waste disposal and

provides baseline data on the chemical contamination of surface and ground water to assist the Department of Energy in developing procedures and guidelines for identifying suitable waste-disposal sites. Radioactive-waste studies are conducted in the Nuclear Waste Hydrology Program, the principal emphasis of which is a better understanding of radionuclide transport in ground-water systems. Nonradioactive wastes are the focus of the Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, which provides data to mitigate existing and potential contamination problems.

Regional Aquifer Systems Analysis Program

The Regional Aquifer Systems Analysis Program is a systematic study of a number of regional ground-water systems that represent a significant part of the Nation's water supply. The program includes assessment of dischargerecharge dynamics, hydrogeologic and chemical controls governing response of aquifer systems to stress, and development of computer simulation models.

Acid Rain Program

The USGS provides information needed to improve the scientific understanding of the occurrence and effects of acid rain, so that judgments can be made about effective measures for controlling or alleviating the problem. Components of the acid rain research and monitoring program include determination of the effects of acid deposition on lakes, streams, and aquifers; operation of the National Trends Network; and research into more precise methods of measurement. The program is coordinated through the Interagency Task Force on Acid Precipitation.

Hydrologic Data Collection Program

The Hydrologic Data Collection Program provides information on the quantity, quality, location, and use of the Nation's surface and ground water to support the needs of Federal, State, and

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