For a few years now, [the nation's] main concerns have been protecting ourselves from terrorism. Now, the question is, what are we willing to do for a major American city that has some warts and has some challenges.

Detailed planning will follow if the forecast for success in program growth is positive.

Some of the reason levees aren't as high as they're designed to be is because they sink. We don't have a good enough handle on the rates of subsidence, and it doesn't subside everywhere at the same rate.

The USGS presence and efforts in Alaska, while significant, are clearly not adequate to meet the growing needs of a frontier area that will see major growth as our need for resources increases and tourism continues to surge. There are many competing priorities in the lower 48 states.

While the USGS presence and efforts in Alaska are significant, they are clearly not adequate to meet the growing needs of an area that will see major growth in tourism and resource development.

Alaska is a land of great opportunity for scientific research.