BOARD OF THE UTAH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MEETING MINUTES
UGS Conference Room
Salt Lake City, Utah
August 10, 2001

Attendance

Excused:
Craig Nelson

Staff:
Richard Allis
John Kingsley
Cheryl Ostlund
James Kirkland
John Alexander

Chair Robert Robison called the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey to order at 8:40 a.m. Board member Craig Nelson asked to be excused.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

INTRODUCTION OF NEW STAFF

Director Rick Allis introduced the Board members to John Alexander, paleontologist/
preparator, Environmental Sciences. Neil Storey, newly hired as a GIS Analyst, Hazards, was unable to attend the meeting.

DISCUSSION ITEMS

Paleontology Program Update
Dr. James Kirkland reported that the program is working on Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument project that was funded by the BLM to complete a paleontological survey of a 60-mile stretch on the south end of the monument. It should be funded for the next four years, with funding of $35,000 this year. John "Alex" Alexander will be working on this survey. The paleontology staff also have an agreement with the Division of Oil, Gas and Mining to clear mine entrance areas for closure. Mr. Alexander will also be working on this project. Dr. Kirkland has also done some advising on films, most recently "When Dinosaurs Roamed America." The producers of an IMAX film have requested Dr. Kirkland's assistance. The research on the Cedar Mountain Formation is continuing. Dr. Kirkland has been working on this site for 10 years. He is also working on a new dinosaur site near Green River.

St. George Tracksite - Dr. Kirkland reported to the Board that at the last legislative session, Senator Bill Hickman spearheaded a bill for funding to help stabilize and preserve the dinosaur trackway site near St. George. Dr Kirkland's input was requested to oversee what is being done at the site. The project is in limbo for the time being. Congressman Jim Hansen has filed a bill to make the tracksite a national monument to ensure preservation of the site. No work is being done on site until the legislation has gone through Congress. They are looking at acquiring 10 acres if the funding is approved. There is also a site on nearby School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration property.

Destruction of Red Fleet Tracksite - Dr. Kirkland reported to the Board that last month some Boy Scouts were caught throwing rock slabs with dinosaur tracks into Red Fleet Reservoir. Although three of the Scouts said that they didn't know what they were throwing, one Scout said that he knew that they were dinosaur tracks. They were caught on video tape. The park manager was nearby and heard the splashes and saw the Scouts throw the rock slabs into the reservoir. Unfortunately, the signage describing the site had been torn down, and the new sign wasn't up yet. The Scouts will probably be cited. State Parks is determining whether or not to prosecute. Fortunately several of the slabs were recovered from the reservoir, and Sue Ann Bilbey, curator at the Utah Field House of Natural History State Park, is trying to determine the best method to restore the slabs to their original site.

DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Budget Status
FY01 Budget Closing - Director Allis informed the Board that we closed out FY01 yesterday. Based on the increase in mineral-lease royalties, we purchased some much needed equipment. Even with those purchases, there will be approximately $284,000 in carry forward. The total carry forward is $565,000 (including the carry forward funds from FY00). Staff have been concerned about the large amount of carry forward, and wanted to use the extra funds to pay down the loan for the Utah Core Research Center. Unfortunately, the way the state laws are written, we cannot do it. We have contacted our legislative budget analyst, Steve Allred, to discuss the situation. He understands the peaks and valleys of mineral-lease funds. Mr. Allred will work with us to put intent language into our supplement appropriation for this year to allow us to pay off some of the loan for the research center.

Associate Director John Kingsley reviewed the list of equipment that was purchased. We have hired some temporary employees to complete a backlog on some projects.

The Governor has required all state agencies, including higher education, to hold back 4 percent of budgets this fiscal year because of low tax revenues. The Department of Natural Resources requested its divisions to identify 6 percent. We had offered several items and two were selected - a project geologist position and 2 percent of the funding for the St. George track site - for a total of $79,000.

Mineral Lease Revenues - Mr. Kingsley reported that mineral-lease royalties for last fiscal year were $1,117,000. This is $400,000 more than projected. Mr. Kingsley prepared a chart detailing mineral-lease revenues for the last 10 years which was included in the packet. As noted on the chart, mineral-lease revenues were higher during the last fiscal year than they have been for over 10 years. We are anticipating that these revenues will continue to be high this year and have identified some projects and short-term staffing needs to utilize these funds.

Proposal/Grant Update - Mr. Kingsley reviewed the list of grants the Survey has secured this past fiscal year. The Energy & Minerals staff are working on securing another grant from DOE. The proposal is being submitted this week. It is two-year project, with funding of $124,000 per year. It will begin as two other DOE projects wind down.

Utah Energy Office Update
Director Allis reported at the last Board meeting that the two offices that oversee energy issues for the state are being combined into one office that will be housed in the Department of Natural Resources. Lowell Braxton, Division of Oil, Gas and Mining director, and Director Allis were asked by Kathleen Clarke, DNR executive director, to review how the Energy office should operate and how it is staffed. During this initial review process, the Survey inherited three staff from the Office of Energy and Resource Planning. That has changed. After numerous meetings, Ms. Clarke decided to keep the combined energy office directly under DNR Administration with Deputy Director Hugh Thompson overseeing the office.

Ms. Clarke successfully proposed the concept of a public policy section in DNR to the Governor and his staff. They have concurred, and three members of the Governor's Office of Planning and Budget have moved to DNR.

As part of the Governor's recent electric power initiative, Ms. Clarke was instructed to establish State Energy Committee. This committee is comprised of members from key departments that address energy issues. This committee meets monthly. Director Allis is a member of the committee.

Staffing Issues
Director Allis informed the Board that there has been a vacant senior geologist position. The focus of the position was reviewed by program managers, and it was decided to fill the position with person with a remote sensing background. It is currently being advertised. Director Allis reported that one focus for the Survey in the next few years is to get more of our information onto the Web, especially interactive maps. The person filling the vacant senior geologist may play a significant role in getting the Survey's information onto the Web.

The STATEMAP proposal is due in mid-October. Grant Willis met with Geoff Bedell and they have set up the State Mapping Advisory Committee meeting for September 6 or 7. The SMAC determines the direction the mapping program will go for the next few years. Director Allis would like to request a higher level of funding when we submit our STATEMAP proposal than the Survey has done in the last few years.

Legislative Update
Director Allis reported that the upcoming session will be divided into two sessions because of the Olympics. Staff took legislative analyst Steve Allred on a trip to show him what the UGS is working on in our hazards and energy & minerals programs. Rep. Margaret Dalton from Utah County attended the hazards portion of the field trip. She is very interested in learning more about hazards issues in Utah County.

As stated in the information sheet in the Board packet, geologist registration will probably be introduced in the upcoming session. The group initiating registration has drafted a bill and will be hiring a lobbyist to represent them during the session. Deputy Director Kimm Harty is working with the group, and has reviewed and commented on the draft legislation.

ACTION ITEMS

Approval of UGS Hosting National Digital Geologic Mapping Workshop
Director Allis reported that every year the U.S. Geological Survey sponsors a digital workshop for geologic mappers. The UGS has been asked to host this workshop next spring. Ron Bruhn has been working with Grant Willis to secure facilities at the University of Utah. Staff are requesting Board approval to host this workshop. Mr. Bedell made the motion to accept the program for the workshop, Dr. Bruhn seconded, and motion carried unanimously.

DISCUSSION ITEMS-continued

Agenda for September Field Trip
Director Allis reported that Deputy Director Kimm Harty and Bill Lund have developed the tentative schedule for the Board field trip in September. The Board members agreed with the proposed schedule.

UPCOMING BOARD MEETINGS

September 28-30, 2001 (field trip)
January 11, 2002
April 12, 2002

ANNOUNCEMENTS/MISCELLANEOUS

Other - Chair Robison reported that the DNR division directors and Board chairs met with the Governor in June, along with DNR Administration. The meeting was to let the Governor and various divisions know what issues each division is facing. They will be meeting again with the Governor in September. There is a planning meeting on August 21. Chair Robison asked the Board members if they had any issues they wanted raised to let him know. Kathleen Clarke felt that each Board had their own agendas and this was a mechanism to meet to understand the missions/positions of all boards and division in DNR.

ADJOURNMENT

Vice Chair Charles Semborski made the motion to adjourn the meeting of the Board of the Utah Geological Survey. Mr. Bedell seconded and the motion carried unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.