Bush Plans to Nominate Mark Myers as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey
President Bush intends to nominate Mark D. Myers to be Director of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), according to a White House announcement. Myers was one of six Alaska officials who resigned on October 27, 2005 in response to Gov. Frank Murkowski’s (R) dismissal of the Alaska Commissioner of Natural Resources and the position the state has taken in negotiations with oil companies regarding a $20 billion natural gas pipeline to the North Slope.
Myers resigned his positions as Alaska State Geologist and Director of Alaska’s Division of Oil and Gas. He thought the state’s concessions to the oil companies were too generous.
“Staying in this position would require me to compromise my values as to what is right, both legally and ethically, and what is in the interests of the state,” Myers said in his letter of resignation to Gov. Murkowski. “I adamantly disagree with the [Alaska] Administration’s current position on gasline negotiations,” Myers wrote. “I cannot continue as Director and watch silently as the state’s interests are undermined by creating barriers for the new oil and gas participants that are so vital to the economic future of our state,” he continued.
Gov. Murkowski supports Myers’ nomination as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, according to a spokesman for the governor. Myers said the USGS position is unrelated to the controversy in Alaska.
Myers previously served as Senior Staff Geologist for Exploration at ARCO Alaska Inc. and Phillips Alaska Inc. Earlier in his career, Myers was a Petroleum Geologist for the State of Alaska Division of Oil and Gas. An expert on North Slope sedimentary and petroleum geology, Myers served as survey chief or sedimentologist for 16 North Slope field programs.
Praising Myers, Acting Secretary of the Interior Lynn Scarlett said, “Mark is known not only for his accomplishments as a geologist and state survey manager but also for the consensus building approach he has emphasized throughout his career.”
Myers received his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Alaska at Fairbanks in 1994. He earned his B.S. and M.S. degrees in geology from the University of Wisconsin at Madison.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Myers would become the 14th Director of the USGS since the agency was established in 1879. Myers would succeed Charles Groat, who served under from 1998 to 2005 under both President Clinton and President Bush. USGS Associate Director for Geology P. Patrick Leahy will continue serving as Acting Director until Myers is confirmed by the Senate.
Craig M. Schiffries, Ph.D.
Director of Science Policy
National Council for Science and the Environment
1707 H Street, NW, Suite 200
Washington, DC 20006
Tel: 202-530-5810
E-mail: policy@NCSEonline.org
