[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 22014-22015] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]TRIBUTE TO THE ENERGY AND MINERALS FIELD INSTITUTE ______ HON. MARK UDALL of colorado in the house of representatives Tuesday, November 14, 2006 Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Energy and Minerals Field Institute (EMFI), an organization affiliated with the Colorado School of Mines that provides policy makers, elected officials and their staff with direct and in-depth information about energy resources and production in the western United States. A number of staff in my office have had the opportunity to participate in the informative field tours the EMFI provides. Through the EMFI, they and the many other participants from state and federal agencies, Congressional committees, Native American Tribes, and other offices have had the chance to travel to locations where energy, resources, and minerals are developed, extracted and produced. On such trips, participants have descended into active molybdenum, gold and coal mines, watched oil and gas drill rigs in action, explored wind turbine technological development at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and witnessed new water projects under construction. The information acquired through direct contact with these activities has greatly enhanced my staff's knowledge of resource development, as well as their understanding of the positive and negative impacts these resources can have on local communities and the nation as a whole. The professional and knowledgeable staff, including Director Gary Baughman, Tom Sladek, Jim Proud, and other consultants and support personnel, put together outstanding programs and tours year after year. As an added plus, participants are also provided extensive roadside geologic tutorials by Mr. John Rold, former Colorado State Geologist and Director of the Colorado Geologic Survey; educating program participants on everything from rockslides and fractures to the energy industry and anecdotes about life in general. The Energy and Minerals Field Institute was established in 1978 as the ``Energy Field Institute'' to create a forum for exploring interactions between regional energy development in the West and federal policies. ``Western Energy: Opportunities, Problems, and Policy Issues'' was the first field program, cosponsored by the Colorado School of Mines and Resources for the Future. Participants consisted of federal officials from Colorado. In 1980, a new July program was added, directed toward representatives of the regional and national media. With the inclusion of non-fuel minerals in 1981, the EMFI was renamed to its present title. In 1985, participation in the July program was expanded to include secondary level teachers, business leaders, government personnel, and staff and students from the Colorado School of Mines. This diversity of disciplines and professions created an exciting educational atmosphere in which many perspectives on the various issues were represented. With the continued success of the traditional ``Government Program'' in August and the growth of the ``Interdisciplinary Program'' in July, it was decided in 1985 to make the itineraries of both trips identical. This approach provided similar educational opportunities for all participants and made logistical planning more efficient. In addition to the summer field sessions, the EMFI also conducted an annual Washington Workshop. This conference was designed to familiarize EMFI alumni and invited guests with topical issues related to Western resource development. The EMFI also published a newsletter entitled ``Field Notes'' twice each year to keep its alumni and supporters informed of recent events. However, due to funding difficulties in 1996, the EMFI was forced to discontinue its major summer field programs, the Washington Workshop, and ``Field Notes.'' It continued to conduct customized field programs for corporate clients, specific government organizations, and delegations from other countries. [[Page 22015]] In 2003, the Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) provided funding to reactivate the Colorado Energy Research Institute (CERI), which is administered by the Colorado School of Mines. With funding from CERI, and with in-kind contributions from the Colorado School of Mines, sufficient funding was provided to reestablish the EMFI Field Program. The small but steady source of grant dollars from CERI and the Colorado School of Mines, as well as additional financial support from federal agencies, have allowed the EMFI to conduct a single Field Program each summer. It is hoped that the successful conduct of these field programs, coupled with the creation of additional EMFI alumni, will generate sufficient interest and financial support to enable the EMFI to recreate all of its previous outreach programs and become financially independent. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the work of the Energy and Minerals Field Institute. The practical knowledge and invaluable experiences gained by program participants will undoubtedly help shape important energy, natural resource, and environmental policy for years to come. ____________________