Utah Geological Survey - UGS Board

Minutes - January 8, 1999
Utah Geological Survey Board Meeting

UGS Conference Room

Attendance:

Board Members:
  • Russell Babcock, Chairman
  • Jerry Golden, Vice Chairman
  • Deedee O'Brien
  • William Berge
  • Craig Nelson
  • Cary Smith
  • Richard Kennedy
UGS Staff:
  • Lee Allison
  • Kimm Harty
  • Doug Sprinkel
  • Cheryl Ostlund
  • Cory Bird
  • Vanonda Kern
  • Christopher Ditton
  • Alison Corey
  • Basia Matyjasik
Chairman Russell Babcock welcomed everyone to the meeting and called the meeting of the Board of Utah Geological Survey to order at 8:30 a.m.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Jerry Golden made the motion to approve the minutes of the September 17, 1998, UGS Board meeting. Deedee O'Brien seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.

INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF

Director Lee Allison introduced new UGS staff members to the Board. Vanonda Kern and Christopher Ditton, revenue technicians, Bookstore; Alison Corey and Basia Matyjasik, geotechnicians, Environmental Sciences.

BOARD TERMS AND ELECTIONS

Director Allison informed the Board that the terms of Russell Babcock, Jerry Golden, and Deedee O'Brien expire in March. Ms. O'Brien is eligible for reappointment since she has served only one term. Letters have been sent out to professional societies and associations soliciting nominations for the vacant positions. Nominations need to be submitted to the Governor's office by February 1. This will allow time for the Governor's appointments to be approved during this legislative session.

Richard Kennedy nominated William Berge as chair and Deedee O'Brien as vice-chair. Cary Smith seconded. Motion unanimously approved.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Budget Status
Mineral Lease Revenues - Cory Bird, associate director, reported Mineral Lease revenues are down because of lower energy costs. We anticipate having a $100,000 deficit. Director Allison has imposed a hiring freeze to help defray the anticipated shortfall.

FY 2000 - Mr. Bird informed the Board that the Governor's budget has been released and none of the UGS building blocks were approved. There is also a proposed $10,400 cut in our general fund budget, which is being done in all agencies statewide to help fund education, public safety, and roads.

Legislative Issues
Kimm Harty, deputy director, informed the Board that no legislation is currently known that will directly affect the Survey. There is a geologist registration bill that has been introduced. The bill is based on the Wyoming registration legislation. We have informed the geologic community of this bill. Ms. Harty will be meeting with Representative Bud Bowman to discuss our concerns about the bill.

Bookstore Software
Mr. Bird reported that a committee reviewed several software packages and has selected QuickSell 2000 to replace the software program currently being used in the Bookstore. The new software package is year 2000 compliant. Some of the hardware has been delivered, and data entry of the inventory into the new program should begin in February.

Personnel Issues
Director Allison briefed the Board on two personnel issues the Survey is currently addressing.

UGS 50th Anniversary
Deputy Director Harty reported that several things are planned for the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Survey - special publications, events, and promotional items. The first item to be produced is the 50th Anniversary Calender.

Sample Library
Amoco is closing their core sample library in Denver and also has some core samples in Tulsa and Houston they want to donate to state surveys. Director Allison has been working with the state geologists on how to handle the donations. Amoco was asked to make a $4.00 per box fee for processing the core. However, Amoco wanted the tax benefits of making donations. Director Allison negotiated a $50,000 donation from Amoco, which will be put into the Sample Library Trust Fund. It should be sent in the next few weeks, and another donation may be given at the end of the year. The UGS will be receiving approximately 17,000 boxes of core.

National Park Service Cooperative Project
The National Park Service is implementing a new program to evaluate needs and educate park staff about the geology in their parks. Utah is the first state selected to implement this program after a test of it in Colorado. Director Allison attended the initial meeting and will keep the Board apprised.

Changes in DNR Administration
DNR Goals, Mission, Values, and Theme - DNR executive staff and division directors met a couple of months ago to develop new goals, mission, values, and theme for the department (copy included in Board packet). The goal of finalizing and implementing the Great Salt Lake Plan is heavily impacting the divisions due to staff time commitments. The other goals are in the preliminary stages.

Changing Duties - There was an initial proposal to assign each division director to be responsible for all of the natural resource issues occurring within a Utah watershed region. This has not been implemented. Instead, the Department is creating teams as needed and assigning division staff members when necessary. Director Allison also reported that 50 percent of a division director's time is now to be spent on helping the Department achieve it's goals and mission.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
Director Allison reported the Draft Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement for the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument has been distributed for public comment. Deputy Director Harty said the Department wants to have one unified comment. A copy of the comments the UGS submitted was handed out to the Board members. None of the alternatives adequately addresses science being done within the entire monument - only in a very limited area, nor does the plan clearly define what science can be conducted. Alternative C is viewed as restricting the ability to carry out science in the monument. Mr. Babcock encouraged Board members to submit their comments to the planning team. Comments are due February 12, 1999.

Geological Resources Atlas of Utah
Doug Sprinkel, with assistance from other Economic Program staff, was assigned to inventory the energy and mineral resources within proposed wilderness lands in Utah. The project evolved into developing a statewide digital atlas of the geological, geographic, and land-use data at a scale of 1:100,000. Mr. Sprinkel demonstrated the atlas to the Board members. A lot of information used was already within the Survey, and data were also obtained from AGRC, SITLA, BLM, and the Census Bureau. The data will be put on CD, with a hard copy executive summary. Updates will be produced when additional data are available. The Board members encouraged staff to ensure that the Survey was pricing the CD appropriately, high enough to support expansion of digital products.

ACTION ITEMS

Policy for Support of Conferences and Approval of Conferences
Director Allison informed the Board that one of Mr. Bird's responsibilities is to review UGS policies and procedures to keep UGS in compliance with state rules and requirements. Mr. Bird drafted a policy for the Board to approve the conferences the UGS sponsors. Richard Kennedy made motion to adopt the policy, Craig Nelson seconded, motion passed unanimously.

There are three conferences we are asking for the Board's approval - The Society for Organic Petrology, Forum on the Geology of Industrial Minerals, and the Utah Geographic Information Council. Cary Smith made motion to approve, Jerry Golden seconded, motion unanimously passed.

Policy for Professional Development and Approval of Memberships Director Allison reviewed the proposed professional development policy with the Board. Memberships currently paid by the Survey are: Association of American State Geologists, Natural Resources Coordinating Council, and Association of Professional Engineers. The Survey also pays 70 percent of the cost for attending professional society lunch or dinner meetings. Mr. Smith made the motion to approve the policy, Mr. Kennedy seconded, and the motion unanimously passed.

Director Allison asked the Board for approval for Roger Bon to be a member of SPE ($75/year); and approval for Survey director's memberships in NRCC ($100/year) and AASG ($150/year). Estimated costs for UGS employees to attend professional meetings is approximately $1,000 per year. Mr. Smith made motion to approve the list of professional memberships, Mr. Berge seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.

1999 BOARD MEETING SCHEDULE

Dr. Kennedy made the motion to approve schedule for the UGS Board meetings (April 23, June 25, and September 17, 1999, and January 7, 2000). Mr. Smith seconded, and the motion was approved unanimously.

The Board commended Russell Babcock and Jerry Golden for their outstanding and dedicated service on the UGS Board. They will be honored at a luncheon following the April Board meeting.

OTHER

Mr. Babcock requested that the UGS mission statement be reviewed at the next Board meeting.

Meeting adjourned at 12:20 p.m.