Forwarded message: Director of USGS resigns

FORWARDED MESSAGE:

Office of the Secretary
CONTACT: Dan DuBray or Frank Quimby (202) 208-6416
June 9, 2005

Secretary Gale Norton Praises Leadership
of U.S. Geological Survey Director Dr. Charles Groat

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton today announced
The resignation of Dr. Charles G. Groat as Director of the U.S. Geological
Survey (USGS). Dr. Groat will resume his distinguished academic career -
accepting appointments at the University of Texas at Austin. His
resignation is effective June 17, 2005.

In a letter to Dr. Groat, Secretary Norton praised the knowledge, management
skills, leadership and perseverance that he has brought to the USGS and the
Department of the Interior:

"I cannot overstate your positive impact on the USGS and its contributions
to science excellence and leadership under your stewardship," she said.
"You have worked successfully to ensure that the USGS's scientific
capabilities are effectively applied to supporting important decisions
regarding resource and environmental management and policy. You have
substantially increased the USGS's interactions with organizations that use
science in decisionmaking, and especially those within the Department of
the Interior, to ensure the relevance of the USGS's work to their needs."

Dr. Groat was confirmed as the 13th Director of the USGS on November 13,
1998. He plans to accept appointments as the Jackson Chair in Energy and
Mineral Resources in the School of Geosciences and the founding Director
of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy at the
University of Texas at Austin.

In his letter of resignation to President George W. Bush, Dr. Groat said
his term as USGS Director has been the most challenging and rewarding part
of his career:

"It has been a privilege to be part of your administration and a pleasure
to work with Secretary Norton and the leadership of the Department of the
Interior," Dr. Groat said. "As the need for a more thorough understanding
of complex natural systems and their interaction with human activities has
grown, I have endeavored to increase the ability of the USGS to provide this
knowledge. By reducing internal organizational barriers to collaborative
research among our geology, water, biology, geography, and geospatial
information disciplines, we have been a leader in integrated approaches
to scientific inquiry."

"I leave my position with a great respect for the people of the USGS,"
Dr. Groat added. "Their dedication to the mission of the organization,
commitment to excellence, and enthusiasm for their work, have been an
inspiration to me. The people of our great country are served well by
this outstanding organization."

In 1998, before his appointment as USGS Director, Dr. Groat served as
Associate Vice President for Research and Sponsored Projects at the
University of Texas at El Paso, following three years as Director of the
Center for Environmental Resource management. He was also Director of
the university's Environmental Science and Engineering Ph.D. Program and
A Professor of Geological Sciences.

Prior to Joining the University of Texas, Dr. Groat served as Executive
Director (1992-95) at the Center for Coastal, Energy, and Environmental
Resources at Louisiana State University. He was Executive Director
(1990-92) for the American Geological Institute. He served (1983-88) as
Assistant to the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources,
where he administered the Coastal Zone Management Program and the Coastal
Protection Program. He held positions (1978-90) at Louisiana State
University and the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources which included
serving as professor for the Department of Geology and Geophysics, and as
Director and State Geologist for the Louisiana Geological Survey.

Dr. Groat's new position with the University of Texas at Austin marks his
return to the institution where he once served as associate professor in
the Department of Geological Sciences and as Associate Director and Acting
Director of the Bureau of Economic Geology.

The Department of the Interior will name an acting USGS Director upon
Dr. Groat's departure. A permanent replacement must be nominated by
President Bush and confirmed by the U.S. Senate.