Bill would allow GMC to charge fees

The Alaska Legislature has passed Senate Bill 170 which will allow the Department of Natural Resources’ Geologic Materials Center in Anchorage to charge fees for use of the facility.

The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Cathy Giessel, R-Anchorage, said the center is currently unable to charge user fees, something done by virtually all similar facilities in the United States.

The Geologic Materials Center recently moved into new facilities in east Anchorage, relocating from an outdated Eagle River location.

Steve Masterman, state geologist and GMC director, told Giessel in a letter that charging for services has been part of planning for the new facilities, and said the GMC would not charge for donations; would waive, or greatly reduce, fees for government agencies and academic research; and plans mid-range fees when compared to other such centers in the U.S. and Canada.

The bill provides that fees will be waived “for a student who uses facilities, equipment, products, or services for educational purposes.”

In recent years the GMC has gotten some 500 visitors annually, according to a fact sheet provided for the bill by DNR, 50-60 percent oil and gas/mineral geologists; 20 percent academics; 20 percent other government agencies; and 5-10 percent public and school groups.

- Petroleum News