WASHINGTON  -  U.S. Representative Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) and Missouri Senators Jim Talent and Kit Bond today requested a meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton. Secretary Norton is the cabinet official responsible for administering the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which recently announced it would consolidate Rolla operations of its Mid Continent Mapping Center in Denver.

 

The letter reads, in part: “Recently the United States Geological Survey (USGS) announced the consolidation and closure of the mapping center in Rolla, Missouri.  We are very concerned about the lack of specific evidence, criteria and documentation regarding this decision to consolidate four offices to a central location in Denver, Colorado.

 

“Last week, we sent a letter to Mr. Earl Devaney, Inspector General at the Department of the Interior, requesting a thorough investigation into the USGS site selection process.  We have enclosed a copy of the letter for your review.  We encourage you to look into this matter as well.”

 

Thus far, USGS officials have been unable to provide a satisfactory rationale for closing the Rolla facility, which employs 185 individuals.  Documents suggest that Rolla obtained a significantly higher score than Denver in an internal USGS site selection process.