Gov. Doug Ducey signed the Fiscal Year 2017 state budget today, that includes transfer of the Arizona Geological Survey to the University of Arizona, effective July 1.
The bill also transfers the former Mining & Mineral Museum in Phoenix from the Arizona Historical Society to AZGS, to be re-opened as the Mining, Mineral, and Natural Resources Education Museum. AZGS is given two years to raise the funds to refurbish the building, construct exhibits and make operations sustainable, otherwise the building is returned to AHS.
We are in conversations with UA officials about the mechanics of the transfer. Legislative intent language directed the university to maintain AZGS's current level of services, but the AZGS appropriation is zeroed out June 30 and UA was instructed to fund Survey operations out of their existing funds.
The AZGS duties to provide technical and administrative support for the Arizona Oil & Gas Conservation Commission are transferred to the AZ Dept. of Environmental Quality.
The move to UA was announced by Gov. Ducey in January as part of his efforts to consolidate state government.
This is great news and a major surprise! It also represents a big challenge to reopen the museum within the specified two year time frame. All organizations and individuals who supported the mineral museum need to step up and work together to bring back this special place for Earth science education!
ReplyDeleteThis is great news and a major surprise! It also represents a big challenge to transfer and reopen the mineral museum within the specified two year time frame. Organizations and individuals who support the museum need to step up and work together with AZGS to bring back this special place for Earth science education.
ReplyDeleteReally glad to see this. We very much enjoy these types of museums and this looks like a really good move putting it under the University. They obviously have a lot of expertise to help make the facility shine.
ReplyDeleteWow, that is wonderful news. I just love visiting geological museums and it would be really fun.
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