Highlights for May 30, 2002

I. Key Department/Bureau News

• DSS and Community Environmental Planning: In an ongoing effort to explore the application of Decision Support Systems (DSS) for local community planning related to environmental issues, Mike Mulligan and Susan Fayad, USGS Center for Biological Informatics, have coordinated a meeting, to be held on June 5, between Douglas County (Colorado) community planners and representatives of the Orton Family Foundation (www.orton.org). The meeting is being hosted by the Douglas Public Library District (www.douglas.lib.co.us) which, as part of it new mission "to build community and improve lives in Douglas County", seeks to advance the role of the library as a resource for tools, data, and activities that advance community planning with resident participation. The focus of the meeting will be a demonstration of CommunityViz DSS software developed by the Orton Family Foundation, followed by discussion of its possible use in Douglas County planning and the expanded role for the library in the planning endeavor. As one of the fastest growing counties in the nation, Douglas County, located about 30 miles south of Denver, faces critical open space issues, including habitat for the threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei). (Susan Fayad, Denver, 303-202-4224)

• USGS Gap Analysis Program (GAP) to be represented at EPA Region/ORD Critical Ecosystems Workshop: Julie Prior-Magee from the USGS Center for Biological Informatics will participate in an interagency panel at the EPA Region/Office of Research and Development Critical Ecosystems Workshop in Keystone, Colorado on June 20, 2002. Panel members will present additional information on workshop session topics and interagency partnership opportunities between EPA and Other Agencies respective programs. This workshop will address EPA Regions' high priority science issues relating to the development and application of critical ecosystem assessments. (Julie Prior-Magee, Las Cruces, 505-646-1084)

II. Management Reform
Nothing to report this week.

III. Notable Congressional Activity
Nothing to report this week.

III. Press/Media Inquiries
Nothing to report this week.

V. Key FOIA Requests
Nothing to report this week.