Minutes - April 23, 1999
Utah Geological Survey Board Meeting

Attendance:

• Cary Smith
• Charles Semborski
• Deedee O'Brien
• Richard Kennedy
• Craig Nelson
• Robert Robinson
• David Terry

• William Berge

• Lee Allison
• Kimm Harty
• Cory Bird
• Cheryl Ostlund
• Gary Christenson

• Sherm Hoskins

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

1999 Legislative Session
Kimm Harty, Deputy Director, reported that the geologist registration bill was not brought out to the floor during the recent legislative session. During the session, a committee was created to review occupational licensing, and geologist registration will go before this committee.

Director Allison reported that the letter the Board sent to the Governor received a negative response. The building block in the Department's budget for a hazards geologist to review school sites was not in the governor's budget; however, it was in appropriation committee's recommendations. Unfortunately, it was not approved in the final budget.

A bill was submitted that would take mineral lease revenues for lands involved in the federal/state exchange for lands within the monument from the Survey budget and use them for economic development in the counties within the monument. This will amount to a loss of $150,000-$165,000 annually from the UGS mineral lease appropriations. The sponsor of the bill said he would try to find alternative funds for the Survey. Director Allison was given the option of $110,000 in ongoing general funds or $42,000 for the hazards geologist. He decided to take the $110,000.

The merit increases for staff and the market comparability increases for geologists approved by the legislature were not fully funded. Director Allison informed the Board that the Survey is facing a shortfall next year. David Terry suggested that the UGS work with the Community Impact Board for project funding. Director Allison indicated that we have been working with local communities on projects that have been funded by the CIB.

After much discussion about UGS and its role, Director Allison suggested an in-depth review of the role of the UGS at the next Board meeting. Cary Smith recommended that the Board take a more aggressive role, and suggested holding a working meeting to look at the UGS's role and funding sources. Director Allison feels we have good working relationship with the industry and local government. However, we need to work on other areas. Director Allison suggested that the Board take a trip to the Uintah Basin and possibly hold hearings. Mr. Smith suggested the field trip be in September.

Interim Study Results
Director Allison handed out the information that was given at our presentation to the legislative Interim Committee on April 21. Part of the Interim Committee meeting was a discussion on mineral lease funds - what they are and how they are appropriated. The governor's staff and the legislature treat the budget as if mineral lease royalties go up every year. We showed that for the last several years mineral lease revenues have been relatively static, although more expenses are assigned to them every year. Director Allison reported that the UGS commonly budgets for less mineral lease funds than are appropriated. We also presented statistics of where the UGS ranks with other state surveys throughout the country. Sherm Hoskins reported that the Interim Committee is looking for alternative funding sources. It will be up to the Survey to identify possible funding sources. Most of the sources of revenue that we can identify are currently appropriated by other agencies. There is some legislative support to charge public education for hazards reviews.

Bookstore Software
Mr. Bird reported the new point-of-sales software package is working well. Parks and Recreation and Wildlife Resources will be using the same software. The Bookstore is no longer open on Saturdays because of security issues and low sales figures.

Salt Palace - UGS Role
Director Allison informed the Board that it was his decision that the UGS would not formally review the reports submitted by Salt Lake County to Salt Lake City on the possible tectonic faults discovered during the excavation for the Salt Palace expansion. He didn't feel that the Survey's results would be viewed as unbiased because some people felt that the Survey's opinion would be prejudiced and any conclusions be predrawn. Staff expressed their concerns to him about putting their careers in jeopardy by reviewing the report. Dr. Kennedy felt his decision was proper. Mr. Nelson expressed his concerns about the precedent this sets. Director Allison agreed. Mr. Hoskins felt it wasn't a matter of who would be sacrificed. He felt the newspaper article was full of a lot of hearsay. Mr. Hoskins said that Kathleen Clarke had a concern that the opinions about the project were being made in the media and not directly to the individuals involved. Mr. Nelson felt there was also a concern among staff that they cannot do their work independently without fear of political repercussion. Mr. Hoskins said that if the UGS had conducted the study, there would not have been any concerns with the scientific results. However, there may still be some political and economic concerns on how and what information is released. Mr. Nelson reiterated his concerns about whether the UGS is an independent review board or if they are subject to political pressures.

Amoco Donation/Future of Sample Library
Director Allison reported the $50,000 donation from Amoco has been received for the Sample Library Trust Fund. We received approximately 7,000 boxes of core which Amoco also donated. With this donation, the Sample Library is expected to be filled to capacity within the next 2 to 3 years. The interest off of the Amoco donation could pay for surplus marine shipping containers that could be placed out by the library to hold additional donations to the Sample Library.

Landslide Update
Gary Christenson, Applied Geology Manager, updated the Board on landslide activity in Utah. The last few years have been the most active since the early 1980s. Precipitation levels are currently down. We don't anticipate as much activity this year as last year. The North Salt Lake slide is still moving. This year we have investigated four slides. Two of them may be development related - the one in Ogden Valley near Eden near the water tank, and the other near the Bonneville Shoreline Trail on Capitol Hill. Applied Geology staff will continue monitoring landslide activity.

Friends of the Utah Geological Survey
Director Allison gave the yearly report on the Friends of the Utah Geological Survey fund (copy attached to official copy of minutes).

Skull Valley Update
Director Allison reported that the Survey has been interpreting a lot of data collected by Private Fuel Storage. Their data have indicated that there are more faults that originally anticipated. Also, the processing of the data is suspect. Better data was requested for some areas.

BYU Fossil Collection
Director Allison informed the Board about BYU selling or passing on part of their collection to Los Angeles County Museum. The Utah Museum of Natural History is working on a proposal to acquire the collection. We are partnering with the Museum, and are working with the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands to determine the ownership of part of the collection.

Federal Legislation
Director Allison reported that the reauthorization of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Act is up for renewal this year and should pass with no problems. There should be more funds available to the states for their mapping programs. USGS budget, which was approved on April 22, includes $1.6 million for demonstration projects for real time response. Of that money, $400,000 is targeted for Salt Lake City. The University of Utah Seismograph Station will in charge of the program and the Survey will be partnering with them.

Personnel Issues
Director Allison reported that the two personnel issues reported to the Board in its January meeting have been resolved.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Management Plan for Southern Utah Office
Director Allison reported that since the Cedar City office opened, we have only had one person in the office. With Bob Blackett finishing up his work on the Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument Planning Team, he will be housed in the Cedar City office. There are two proposed ways to run the office - a mini UGS with one manager running it or have staff report directly to their program managers in Salt Lake. Director Allison has been researching how other Surveys run their regional offices. He is asking for the Board's input. Dr. Kennedy felt it would be best to have them report back to their supervisors until the office is expanded to considerably more than two people.

ACTION ITEMS

ANNOUNCEMENTS/MISCELLANEOUS

The date of the next Board meeting was changed to June 18, 1999. The meeting will be a working meeting to discuss the role of the Survey and the Board, alternative funding sources, and to plan the September tour and meetings in the Uintah Basin.

ADJOURNMENT

Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.