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DGGS brief: mineral mapping, geothermal hiring and hazard monitoring remain priorities
Summary
Deputy Commissioner John Crother and DNR officials told the subcommittee the Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys is advancing mineral assessments, a new geothermal hire, geologic mapping and hazard monitoring while supporting communities with hazard data and sample repositories.
Deputy Commissioner John Crother and DNR staff told the Finance Subcommittee on March 4 that the Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys is expanding mapping and scientific capacity to support mineral, energy and hazard planning across Alaska.
Crother described DGGS as the department’s in-house geological and geophysical scientific team and said recent work includes geologic mapping around known mineral occurrences and mineral assessments that support exploration and possible development. He said the legislature has directed studies into strategic and critical minerals that DGGS will help implement.
On energy, Crother said the division is standing up a geothermal program and has hired a geothermal expert following legislative direction and statutory changes to support regulatory and leasing work. On mapping and assessments, senators asked about an updated U.S. Geological Survey assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable gas in Cook Inlet (the last USGS estimate dates to 2011). Crother said DGGS would support and collaborate with USGS if requested but does not control federal prioritization or budgets.
On geologic hazards and hydrology, Crother described the division’s role monitoring landslides, flooding, coastal erosion and permafrost changes and said published reports and data help communities plan and respond. He noted the Alaska Volcano Observatory (a partnership with USGS and the University of Alaska) monitors volcanoes such as Mount Spurr and issues official alerts.
Senator Dunbar asked about staffing and revenue at the Geologic Materials Center (GMC); Crother said the GMC is largely staffed but requires capital investments to secure samples and maintain safety protocols. He said the GMC generates receipts through data access fees and charges for sample handling and workshops and would provide the committee a written revenue figure.
Why it matters: Geologic data and hazard monitoring are used by industry, local governments and emergency responders for planning, permitting and safety. Geothermal and critical-mineral work have economic and strategic implications.
What’s next: DGGS will continue field work and publish data; the department will provide written follow-up on GMC staffing and revenue.
