U.S. Geological Survey 1998 Budget: Increased Support For Drinking Water, Earthquakes And Biologica...( The Clinton Administration ha...)

The Clinton Administration has proposed a budget of $745.4 million for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Fiscal Year 1998 that calls for increasing the availability of water quality information, for expanding earthquake monitoring to reduce hazards and support the comprehensive nuclear test ban treaty, and for increasing biological science in support of federal land managers.

"The next century will make extraordinary demands on the Nation's wildlife and natural resources," USGS Director Gordon Eaton said. "We can expect our growing population to consume enormous quantities of water, energy and mineral resources and to push development into areas that are prone to natural hazards or already valued for recreation or natural resources. This budget is designed to help us solve some of the most pressing of these demands while doing our share not only to help balance the budget, but to help trim the burden of government.

"Increasingly, the USGS is providing the science and information needed to help find the best and most economical solutions for problems ranging from the quality of drinking water to the quality of biological and natural resources in regional watersheds like Everglades and South Florida, San Francisco Bay and Chesapeake Bay," Eaton said. "The USGS is committed to providing the best science and the impartial information needed to help build the best tomorrow.

"In the past few years, the 'new USGS' has evolved rapidly to serve the Nation as the federal government's natural resources science agency," Eaton said. "By adding the special science capabilities of the former National Biological Service and the mineral information function of the former Bureau of Mines, we have taken on some exciting new responsibilities. With these responsibilities has come the opportunity to join with hundreds of new cooperators in every state and more than 100 countries to produce the credible, reliable and impartial info
'"/>

Contact: Donovan Kelly
dkelly@usgs.gov
703-648-4459
United States Geological Survey
5-Feb-1997