The American Association of Petroleum Geologists is seeking a director of its Geoscience and Energy Office in Washington, D.C. area (GEO-DC).

Applicants must have industry experience; a geoscience degree is preferred along with a strong familiarity with the geoscience community through active society participation. In addition, demonstrated outstanding written, verbal, and management skills are required.

The GEO-DC office is the focus for AAPG’s government affairs program, working actively with AAPG members, sister societies, Congress, and federal and international agencies to bring good science into the decision-making process of public policy.

The GEO-DC Director will monitor and analyze legislation and policy developments affecting the geosciences, and work with AAPG committees to develop congressional testimony and policy positions on national and international geoscience and energy issues. In addition, this position is responsible for key components of AAPG’s development program to actively grow government and industry interest in geoscience and energy research for the benefit of AAPG members and the general public.

The office is located at the American Geosciences Institute in Alexandria, Virginia.

Candidates should submit a resume and the names of three references with cover letter to GEO-DC Director Search, P.O. Box 979, Tulsa, OK 74101-0979, or by e-mail to info@aapg.org.

For more information on the program, see www.aapg.org/geodc.

Erin Riley Camp takes a look at the issue of hydraulic fracturing, and the many ongoing studies being conducted on the safety of the practice.  Camp, who holds a B.A. in Geology from Amherst College, completed her assignment  as the AGI/AAPG Government Affairs Program fall intern in December.  She plans to pursue graduate studies in energy.

AAPG and AGI jointly fund the spring and fall Government Affairs Program internships.  AIPG and AGI jointly fund three summer interns.  Application instructions for both the summer and fall internship programs are now available online.  The deadlines are March 15 and April 15 respectively.

As Peter MacKenzie, chairman of the AAPG GEO-DC Governance Board, explains, “[A]s geoscientists, we are uniquely qualified to be a part of the conversation of a plethora of public issues. Science, education, energy, environment and the economy are important to us. Find ways to share that knowledge with your community and its leaders.”

That’s at the heart of AAPG’s purpose in having an office in Washington, D.C.  Join us and participate in the process.

Earlier this week BOEMRE Director Michael Bromwich announced the appointment of senior managers who will be guiding these new bureaus.  And today, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced that Michael Bromwich will lead BSEE until a permanent Director is hired and Tommy P. Beaudreau will lead BOEM.

“We have moved quickly and thoughtfully to create strong and separate agencies to manage offshore energy development, collect energy revenues, and to oversee safety and environmental protection on the Outer Continental Shelf,” said Secretary Salazar in a statement.  “Director Bromwich is a top-flight manager with a track record of solving problems and implementing reform, in the private sector, in the public sector, and his time at BOEMRE. Tommy Beaudreau has been an engine behind the many changes BOEMRE has made to raise the bar for safety and environmental protection in energy operations – he will be a strong, tireless, and effective leader for BOEM.”

According to the press release, “Bromwich previously served as Inspector General for the Department of Justice from 1994 to 1999. Prior to that he served as a federal prosecutor in New York and Washington, D.C., and during his career has spent eighteen years in private law practice.  Beaudreau currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the BOEMRE Director where he has played an integral role in implementing the Bureau’s aggressive reform agenda with respect to the regulation of offshore oil and gas development and the reorganization of the former MMS. Prior to his work at BOEMRE, Beaudreau was a partner at the law firm Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP.”

BOEM will be responsible for managing development of the nation’s offshore resources in an environmentally and economically responsible way. Functions will include: Leasing, Plan Administration, Environmental Studies, National Environmental Policy Act Analysis, Resource Evaluation, Economic Analysis and the Renewable Energy Program.

Some of the key leaders for BOEM will include:

Dr. Walter D. Cruickshank, who will serve as the BOEM Deputy Director. Dr. Cruickshank has more than 25 years of experience at the Department of Interior. He most recently served as the BOEMRE Deputy Director. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Geological Sciences from Cornell University and Doctorate in Mineral Economics from the Pennsylvania State University.

Renee Orr, who will serve as BOEM’s Strategic Resources Chief in BOEM. She has more than 23 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. Ms. Orr has overseen the staff implementation teams that have been at the core of the bureau’s reorganization effort, and previously served as Chief of Leasing where she was responsible for the development and completion of several 5-Year Oil and Gas Leasing Programs. She earned Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and History from Metropolitan State College in Denver.

Maureen Bornholdt, who will serve as the BOEM Renewables Chief. Ms. Bornholdt has more than 27 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. She most recently served as the Project Manager for BOEMRE’s Offshore Renewable Energy Program. Ms. Bornholdt earned a Bachelor of Science in Public Administration from George Mason University.

Ellen G. Aronson, who will serve as the BOEM Pacific Region Director. Ms. Aronson has over 33 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. She most recently served as the BOEMRE Pacific Region Director. Ms. Aronson earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts from Sara Lawrence College and a Master’s of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Southern California.

Dr. James Kendall, who will serve as the BOEM Alaska Region Director. Dr. Kendall has over 27 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. He most recently served as the BOEMRE Alaska Region Director. Dr. Kendall earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Old Dominion University, Ph.D. in oceanography from Texas A&M University, and a Post-doctoral Fellowship in Marine Biology from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. He is also a graduate of the Federal Executive Institute, Charlottesville, Virginia, and the Senior Executive Fellows Program of the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

John Rodi, who has been the Deputy Regional Director of BOEMRE’s Gulf of Mexico Region since November 2007 and will serve as the BOEM Gulf of Mexico Acting Regional Director until a permanent Regional Director is selected. Mr. Rodi has more than 40 years of federal service with five different agencies. Mr. Rodi has both Bachelor and Master Degrees in Economics from Tulane University and the University of New Orleans, respectively.

BSEE will enforce safety and environmental regulations. Functions will include: All field operations including Permitting and Research, Inspections, Offshore Regulatory Programs, Oil Spill Response, and newly formed Training and Environmental Compliance functions.

Some of the key leaders for BSEE will include:

Charles Barbee, who will serve as the BSEE Chief of the Environmental Enforcement Division. Mr. Barbee has more than 20 years of experience with the U.S. Coast Guard. Most recently, he was the Coast Guard’s program manager for both marine investigations and environmental crime. During his career, Mr. Barbee has specialized in oil spill contingency planning, pollution investigation and response, marine inspections and marine casualty investigations. He graduated and received his commission from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and earned a Master’s Degree in Organizational Management from the University of Phoenix.

Chris Barry, who will serve as the BSEE Director of the National Offshore Training Center. Mr. Barry currently serves as Chief of National Training and Leadership for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in the National Preparedness Directorate. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (dual) degree in Art History and Special Education and a Master of Instructional Systems Design.

David Moore, who will serve as the BSEE Oil Spill Response Supervisor. Mr. Moore has more than 14 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. He most recently served as the Coordinator of BOEMRE’s Oil Spill Program. He earned a Master of Engineering degree from Tulane University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning degree from the University of New Orleans.

Bob Brown, who will serve as the BSEE Associate Director for Administration. Mr. Brown has more than 30 years of experience at the Department of the Interior, Small Business Administration and U.S. Navy. He most recently served as the BOEMRE Associate Director for Administration and Budget and Chief Information Officer. Mr. Brown earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Seton Hall University and pursued post-graduate studies in History at Georgetown University.

Lars Herbst, who will serve as the BSEE Gulf of Mexico Regional Director. Mr. Herbst has over 27 years of experience with the Department of the Interior. He most recently served as the Gulf of Mexico Regional Director for BOEMRE. He is a registered professional engineer in the State of Louisiana and earned a Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering from Louisiana State University.

Jaron E. Ming, who will serve as the BSEE Pacific Region Director. Mr. Ming most recently served as the Pacific Region’s Lead Leasing Specialist. He previously served as the Senior Policy Advisor to the Regional Director. He started his career in the federal government as a Presidential Management Fellow. Mr. Ming earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University, a Master of Arts degree in Marine Affairs and Policy from the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of Miami School of Law.

Mark Fesmire, who will serve as the BSEE Alaska Region Director. Mr. Fesmire most recently served in the New Mexico Energy Minerals and Natural Resources Department, where he has was the Director of the state oil and gas regulatory agency and Chairman of the Oil and Gas Commission for the past seven years. Prior to attending New Mexico State University where he received bachelor’s degrees in Geological and Civil Engineering, Mr. Fesmire worked in the offshore oil fields of the Gulf of Mexico. After 12 years as a petroleum engineer, he completed Law School at the Texas Tech University School of Law. He is a Registered Professional Petroleum Engineer and Licensed Attorney.

BSEE is currently accepting applications for the Deputy Director position. More information can be obtained at: http://www.boemre.gov/jobs/.

Dear Mr. President:

The undersigned organizations are part of the broad community of groups that represent the men and women who have been directly impacted by the Administration’s permitting slowdown in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere in the United States.  We understand that you are preparing a major address this week to the Congress to announce a new jobs agenda in order to assist with economic recovery.  At the same time, you intend to continue to make progress towards deficit reduction.  To be sure, doing both will be a challenge.

One policy initiative that simultaneously creates high-paying jobs and increases revenues into federal coffers would be to improve efficiency and the rate of permitting activity in the Gulf of Mexico to a rate that is commensurate with industry’s ability to invest.   Because safe, reliable domestic energy impacts all sectors of the US economy — manufacturing, agriculture, transportation and small business – such a move makes sense in light of the new regulatory regime and containment protocols developed by the Interior Department and private industry working in partnership.

Getting back to work in the Gulf of Mexico creates jobs all across the United States.  According to a recent study from some of the leading energy economists in the world – IHS Global Insight and IHS CERA – increased exploration and production activities in the Gulf would create 230,000 jobs, increase US gross domestic product by more than $44 billion, and contribute some 400,000 barrels per day of oil production towards US energy independence.  This study adds to previous work, including the Quest Offshore report, which found that a return to historic permitting levels would add almost 200,000 jobs by 2013 for a total of nearly 430,000 jobs and an increase in capital expenditures of some 140 percent.

But unlike other proposals, permitting activity in the Gulf actually decreases the budget deficit at a time when local, state and federal budgets are in strong need of revenues.  Increasing exploration and production can be expected to increase revenues and royalty payments to state and federal treasuries by almost $12 billion while reducing US payments for oil imports by about $15 billion.

Mr. President, some in your Administration dispute the actual rate of permitting in the Gulf of Mexico.  However, the rate of approval of exploration plans is down 85 percent, and the median approval time has slipped from 36 days to 131 days.  Rigs are actually leaving the Gulf for greater business certainty in places like Egypt, Congo, and Nigeria. We would prefer less dispute over numbers and more action on permits if this situation is to reverse.  Therefore, we urge you to make responsible and effective exploration and development of energy resources in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere a centerpiece of your jobs agenda.

Respectfully,

American Association of Petroleum Geologists

Associated Industries of Florida
Consumer Energy Alliance
The Fertilizer Institute
Gulf Economic Survival Team
Independent Petroleum Association of America
Industrial Energy Consumers of America
International Association of Drilling Contractors
Louisiana Oil & Gas Association
Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association
Manufacturers Association of Florida
National Association of Manufacturers
National Ocean Industries Association
Offshore Marine Service Association
60 Plus Association
Shallow Water Energy Security Coalition
Shipbuilders Council of America

Last month the AAPG EXPLORER ran an article on the budget difficulties facing the Louisiana Geological Survey.

And just yesterday AAPG member Peter MacKenzie penned an op-ed piece in the Cleveland Plain Dealer about the difficulties facing the Ohio Geological Survey.

“Understanding the geology under our feet helps us make better decisions about where and how to build roads, sewers, tunnels, shopping centers and homes, as well as helping us find where the oil, gas, coal, limestone, sand and gravel are best located to build and power our society,” MacKenzie writes.  “Its products and expertise are also employed by mining companies, the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the Ohio Department of Transportation, other divisions within the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and governmental agencies, university researchers, K-12 educators, nongovernmental organizations, realty agents and a cross section of environmental and geotechnical engineering consultants.”

He cites a recent study on the economic contributions of the Ohio Geological Survey to the state economy that “shows that the products, services and data provided by the Survey contribute an estimated $575 million to the Ohio economy — in the recession and before the shale frenzy had gripped the state.”

“With its broad-reaching economic impact, the Survey is an example of an appropriate general revenue fund agency,” MacKenzie writes and calls for the Ohio legislature to restore the survey’s state funding.

Rep. Doc Hastings (R-Wash.), chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, reminds his colleagues in a forcefully worded op-ed today that there are two sides to the equation:  cutting expenditures and increasing revenue.  He suggests that increasing oil drilling on federal lands would increase revenue to the federal treasury.

“Reducing our debt will require creative thinking and new approaches that include both spending cuts and raising new revenue,” Hastings wrote.  However, new revenue should not come from punitive tax increases that would destroy jobs.  Unlocking our country’s energy resources and expanding energy production in new areas can generate billions in government revenue, strengthen the economy, create new jobs and make America more secure.”

“I strongly urge the Joint Committee to consider ways to increase both onshore and offshore energy production as a way to pay down the debt, put Americans back to work and jump start our economy,” he concluded.

The super committee has scheduled its first meeting for Thursday, September 7.

As Congress returns to Washington, D.C. next week the  deliberations will begin in earnest on specific measures to deal with the nation’s fiscal woes.  The impact of these decisions could be significant for AAPG members in industry, academia, and government.  We’re keeping a close watch on the process.

Western Gulf of Mexico Lease Sale 218 will be held December 14, 2011 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The sale will offer more than 20 million acres for exploration and development.  According to the Department of Interior’s press release, “BOEMRE estimates the proposed lease sale could result in the production of 222 to 423 million barrels of oil and 1.49 to 2.65 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.”

“This sale is an important step toward a secure energy future that includes safe, environmentally-sound development of our domestic energy resources,” Secretary Salazar said.  “Since Deepwater Horizon, we have strengthened oversight at every stage of the oil and gas development process, including deepwater drilling safety, subsea blowout containment, and spill response capability. Exploration and development of our Western Gulf’s vital energy resources will continue to help power our nation and drive our economy.”

Details on Lease Sale 218 are available on BOEMRE’s website.