About the Energy Program

USGS Energy Resources Program,
Oct. 2010, Fact Sheet 2010–3100

The USGS Energy Resources Program addresses the challenge of increasing demand for energy sources by conducting basic and applied research on geologic energy resources and on the environmental, economic, and human health impacts of their production and use. The ERP provides reliable and impartial scientific information on geologically based energy resources, including: oil, natural gas, coal, coalbed methane (CBM), gas hydrates, geothermal resources, uranium, oil shale, and bitumen and heavy oil. The Energy Resources Program is also involved in studying the impacts of wind and solar energy development. The results of USGS research and USGS data are used to inform policymakers regarding domestic and foreign energy resources and to manage energy resources on Federal lands. Major consumers of our products are the land and resource management bureaus of the Department of the Interior, federal environmental and national security agencies, State geological surveys, the energy industry, and the environmental community.

Energy Program Inquiries

PROGRAM OFFICE (Headquarters)

Mailing Address
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
National Center, MS 913
Reston, VA 20192
Program Phone: 703-648-6470
Telefax #: 703-648-5464
Energy Program Inquiries Email: gd-energyprogram@usgs.gov

Brenda Pierce, Program Coordinator
Email: bpierce@usgs.gov

Douglas Duncan, Associate Program Coordinator
Email: dduncan@usgs.gov

Jon Kolak, Associate Program Coordinator
Email: jkolak@usgs.gov

Vito Nuccio, Associate Energy Program Coordinator &
EMEH Senior Management Advisor
Email: vnuccio@usgs.gov

Lisa Jordan, Financial Analyst
Email: ljordan@usgs.gov

Donna Read, Program Assistant (Program Information)
Email: dread@usgs.gov

Donna Beaver Pizzarelli, Web Master & Education Outreach
Email: dpizzarelli@usgs.gov 

RESTON STAFF

Mailing Address
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
956 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
Telefax #: 703-648-6419

Dan Hayba, Science Center Director
Email: dhayba@usgs.gov

Terry Lerch, Associate Science Center Director
Eastern Energy Resources Science Center
Email: tlerch@usgs.gov

Kathleen Spiegelberg, Team Secretary
Email: kspiegelberg@usgs.gov

Shirley McManus, Administrative Officer
Email: smcmanus@usgs.gov

DENVER STAFF

Mailing Address
Denver Federal Center, MS 939
P.O. Box 25046
Denver, CO 80225
Telefax #: 303-236-5888

Chris Potter, Chief Scientist
Central Energy Resources Science Center
Email: cpotter@usgs.gov

Margaret S. Ellis, Associate Chief Scientist
Email: mellis@usgs.gov

Mirian Cuara, Team Assistant
Email: mcuara@usgs.gov

Nancy Williams, Administrative Officer
Email: nwilliams@usgs.gov

MENLO PARK STAFF

Mailing Address
345 Middlefield Road
MS 977
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Telefax #: 659-329-5163

Colin Williams, Director
Geology, Minerals, Energy & Geophysics Science Center
Email: colin@usgs.gov

Visiting the Energy Resources Program? Below are directions and maps of Reston, Denver, and Menlo Park offices.

Reston Office (USGS Headquarters)
USGS National Center
12201 Sunrise Valley Drive
Reston, VA 20192, USA
Phone: 703-648-4000
USGS Employee Information Line: 703-648-7075 or 1-800-228-0975

National Center Directions

Denver Office
U.S. Geological Survey
Box 25046 Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225, USA
Phone: 303-236-5900
USGS Employee Information Line: 303-236-8961

Airport to Denver Federal Center
Denver Federal Center Campus (PDF)

Menlo Park Office
U.S. Geological Survey
345 Middlefield Road
Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
Phone: 650-853-8300
USGS Employee Information Line: 1-800-223-8081 (Option 1) or 650-329-5555

Menlo Park Area
Menlo Park Campus

For more information: gd-energyprogram@usgs.gov

USGS Links

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
The USGS, a bureau in the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), among many other things, focuses on onshore (and state offshore) U.S. energy resources (pre-development) and the geologic controls of resource abundance, quality, and location. It produces objective scientific information to inform decisionmakers and directly supports the DOI’s Mission of protecting and responsibly managing the Nation’s natural resources. Collectively, this information advances the scientific understanding of energy resources, contributes to plans for a balanced and secure energy future, and facilitates the strategic use and evaluation of resources.

External Links

(Links to Principal Federal “Energy” Agencies)

Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE)
The Department of the Interior's (DOI), Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement (BOEMRE), is the federal agency responsible for overseeing the safe and environmentally responsible development of energy and mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
The Department of the Interior's (DOI), Bureau of Land Management (BLM) manages vast stretches of public lands that have the potential to make significant contributions to the Nation's renewable energy portfolio. This gives the BLM a leading role in fulfilling the Administration's goals for a new energy economy based on a rapid and responsible move to large-scale production of solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass energy. The BLM also manages Federal onshore oil, gas and coal operations that make significant contributions to the domestic energy supply as the Nation transitions to a clean energy future.

Forest Service
The USDA Forest Service like BLM is also responsible for managing energy and mineral resources on federal onshore areas. Forest Service activities include the protection and management of natural resources on National Forest System lands. The Forest Service’s mission is to achieve quality land management under the sustainable multiple-use management concept to meet the diverse needs of people. It includes: providing international technical assistance and scientific exchanges to sustain and enhance global resources and to encourage quality land management.

Department of Energy (DOE)
DOE's mission is to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States; to promote scientific and technological innovation in support of that mission; and to ensure the environmental cleanup of the national nuclear weapons complex.

Energy Information Administration (EIA)
The Energy Information Administration (EIA), created by Congress in 1977, is a statistical agency of the U.S. Department of Energy. It provides policy-independent data, forecasts, and analyses to promote sound policy making, efficient markets, and public understanding regarding energy and its interaction with the economy and the environment.