Developing the next generation of USGS resource assessments

Resource assessments constitute a key part of the USGS mission, and represent a crucial contribution toward Department of the Interior (DOI) and broader Federal objectives. Current USGS energy and mineral assessment methods evaluate total technically recoverable resources (energy) or economically exploitable materials (minerals); the fiscal year 2010 budget for this work is $82M.  To help stakeholders respond to escalating national and worldwide demand for energy, mineral, water, and biological resources, the USGS will expand existing assessment methods to include the environmental and human-health impacts of resource extraction and use, along with multi-resource dependencies and conflicts. This Powell Center working group will develop a framework for conducting these integrated resource assessments by identifying the needs of current and potential users of the assessment data and by establishing a clear vision for the scope and type of information that will be provided by the new methods. The framework development will include identification of the necessary input data and the methods for determining interrelations between resources. We will assemble a diverse group of experts whose knowledge spans the breadth of topics required, and we will solicit input from relevant authorities, stakeholders, and policy makers. Major products will include a peer-reviewed journal article describing the integrated resource assessment framework and a report specifying the resources and actions required to develop and implement integrated resource assessments within the USGS and DOI.



Publication(s):
Haines, S.S., Diffendorfer, J.E., Balistrieri, L.S., Berger, B.R., Cook, T.A., DeAngelis, D., Doremus, H., Gautier, D.L., Gallegos, T.J., Gerritsen, M., Graffy, E.A., Hawkins, S.J., Johnson, K.M., Macknick, J., McMahon, P.B., Modde, T., Pierce, B.S., Schuenemeyer, J.H., Semmens, D.J., Simon, B., Taylor, J., and Walton-Day, K. (2014). A Framework for Quantitative Assessment of Impacts Related to Energy and Mineral Resource Development. Natural Resources Research, 23(1), 3-17. doi: 10.1007/s11053-013-9208-6