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USGS Scientists Participate in Ocean Science Forums in Washington, DC
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Mike Bothner
and Maine Congressman Tom Allen, co-chair of the House Oceans Caucus, who has
great interest in the marine science and environmental health of the coastal ocean.
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On July 17th and 18th, Bill Dillon and Mike Bothner (WHFC) presented briefings to the House Oceans
Caucus on their work on gas hydrates and Boston Harbor pollution. The purpose of the forums was to compile and
evaluate information necessary for the Caucus to develop legislation on a wide range of pressing marine issues.
On July 17th, Bill Dillon (WHFC) and Tim Collett (Denver) of the USGS Gas Hydrates Project participated in the
International Ocean Science Day hosted by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and
held at the AAAS headquarters. Briefings were provided on the topics: "Fisheries," "Pollution & Health," and
"Gas Hydrates--Implications for Energy, Climate, and Marine Ecosystems." Bill and Tim provided two of the three
presentations on gas hydrates, including discussions on the potential impact on climate, seafloor stability,
and energy resources. The USGS work was also highlighted in two of the four briefings regarding fisheries.
Felicia Coleman of Florida State University displayed the Woods Hole Field Center sidescan imagery and gave great praise
to Kathy Scanlon (WHFC). Peter Auster (National Marine Fisheries) during his presentation used USGS bottom
photographs (collected by systems developed by Dann Blackwood and Ken Parolski of the WHFC), and credited
Page Valentine (WHFC) for his seafloor-characterization studies. The results of these briefings were to
be summarized for Congress by Jane Lubchenco, former President of AAAS.
On July 18th, Mike Bothner (WHFC) participated in the forum, "Oceans for the New Millennium, Developing and
Implementing Ocean Policy." This forum was hosted by AGU and AAAS and was held at the House Cannon Caucus Room.
Mike emphasized the value of detailed mapping and oceanographic modeling in the panel discussion on pollution,
"Impacts of Non-Point Source Pollution on the Coastal Ocean," and highlighted the USGS contributions to
management decisions from our research in Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay. The information presented
during both forums will assist in setting an aggressive agenda for ocean policy legislation for the later
part of the 106th Congress and the 107th Congress.
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September 2000
in this issue:
cover story:
Recovery of Confederate Submarine H.L. Hunley
Crater Lake Mapping
Lake Erie Nearshore Habitat
Channel Islands
Pinnacles Area—Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Maine
Seafloor Mapping Seminar
Ocean Science Forums
Blacks in Government
SF Bay Oil-Spill Hazards
Gas Hydrates
Presentations
Arrivals
Visitors
September Publications List
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U. S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
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