AAPG is at the forefront of two major
initiatives to further the profession of petroleum geology that
are planned in Washington, D.C., involving an invited appearance
before Congress in March and a special AAPG-convened Energy Summit
in April.
AAPG
President Marlan W. Downey was scheduled to present testimony before
the U.S. House Subcommittee on Energy & Mineral Resources, chaired
by Rep. Barbara Cubin (R-Wyo.) on March 15. Downey presented testimony
concerning the U.S. onshore and offshore natural gas resources and
the need for access to federal public lands.
The invitation on behalf of Rep. Cubin was offered
following previous AAPG testimony before both House and Senate panels
concerned with U.S. natural resources.
AAPG's legislative effort also was assisted by David
Applegate, of the American Geological Institute, and others.
In April, AAPG will be the convening body for a major
Energy Summit that is attracting
the attention of highly placed staffers in Congress, the Executive
Branch and regulatory agencies.
The focus of the by-invitation-only Summit will be
to "pull together National Energy Policy recommendations,"
according to organizers.
"Our nation faces an ever-growing production
shortage of domestic oil and ever-increasing imports of foreign
oil - a dependence that holds America hostage," Downey wrote
in explaining the need for the Summit.
"The fact is," he continued, "we lack
an effective U.S. Energy Policy."
Carl J. Smith, of the West Virginia Geological Survey,
and Lee C. Gerhard, of the Kansas Geological Survey, are instrumental
in coordinating the agenda and logistics, which will include the
presidents of other scientific, professional and learned societies
that are joining with AAPG in the Summit. Gerhard is chairman of
the Division of Professional Affairs Government Affairs Committee.
Co-conveners are the American Association of Professional
Landmen, American Institute of Professional Geologists, Association
of American State Geologists, Society of Professional Earth Scientists
and the Society of Exploration Geophysicists.
Summit co-sponsors are the American Geological Institute,
Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, Potential Gas Committee,
National Petroleum Council and the National Association of State
Energy Officials.
Reports on the AAPG initiatives in Washington will
appear in the May and June EXPLORERs.