FY 2010 Request for U.S. Geological Survey

The Obama Administration has requested a 5.1 percent, or $53.2 million increase in the FY 2010 budget for the U.S. Geological Survey. An Interior Department budget document explains that:

“Increases in the areas of climate change, renewable energy, and education and training programs to ensure that the USGS builds strong scientific expertise among America’s youth are the highest budget priorities. The budget emphasizes science that will ensure the long-term viability of wildlife and habitat as energy and alternative energy resources are being developed on Federal lands; contribute research to enhance ecosystem-based management of coastal resources on the Great Lakes; and enhance multi-disciplinary work related to climate change.”

The FY 2009 USGS appropriation was $1,046.4 million
The FY 2010 request is $1,099.5 million, an increase of $53.2 million or 5.1 percent.

There are eight components of the USGS budget:

Geographic Research, Investigations, and Remote Sensing:

The FY 2009 appropriation was $72.3 million
The FY 2010 request is $143.9 million, an increase of $71.6 million or 99 percent.

The budget document explains this increase as follows: “Most of this increase, $70.7 million, is due to the realignment of the National Geospatial program from Enterprise Information into the Geography discipline. This realignment will allow USGS to gain efficiencies, improve effectiveness, promote geographic research, leverage remote sensing technologies, and focus USGS geography programs on addressing important societal issues identified in the USGS Science Strategy.”

Geologic Hazards, Resource, and Processes:

The FY 2009 appropriation was $242.1 million.
The FY 2010 request is $247.0 million, an increase of $4.8 million or 2.0 percent.

Water Resources Investigations:

The FY 2009 appropriation was $221.4 million.
The FY 2010 request is $227.9 million, an increase of $6.5 million or 2.9 percent.

Biological Research:

The FY 2009 appropriation was $185.3 million.
The FY 2010 request is $199.3 million, an increase of $13.9 million or 7.5 percent.

Enterprise Information:

The FY 2009 appropriation was $112.5 million.
The FY 2010 request is $46.0 million, a decline of $66.5 million.

Note that $70.7 million is proposed to be moved from this account into Geographic Research (see above.)

Global Change:

The FY 2009 appropriation was $40.6 million.
The FY 2010 request is $58.2 million, an increase of $17.5 million or 43.2 percent.

Science Support:

The FY 2009 appropriation was $67.4 million.
The FY 2010 request is $69.2 million, an increase of $1.8 million or 2.7 percent.

Facilities:

The FY 2009 appropriation was $102.1 million.
The FY 2010 request is $106.4 million, an increase of $4.3 million or 4.2 percent.

Details on these programs are available here .