Discussion Topics

• Purpose and Goals of ANSS-National
• ANSS Regions Outside of Alaska
• Alaska Region ANSS Working Group
• Alaska Region ANSS Advisory Committee Membership
• Purpose and Goals of the Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee
• AK-ANSS Advisory Committee Membership
• Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee Meeting Procedures
• Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee Chairman Job Description
• Election of Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee Chairman
• Instrument Deployment Discussion
• Next Meeting Date
• Action Items

John Aho, CH2M Hill
Bob Chaney, Alaska Science and Technology Foundation
David Cole, DOWL
Jeff Freymueller, Geophysical Institute, UAF
Roger Hansen, Alaska Earthquake Information Center, UAF
Don Hunter, Anchorage Daily News
Helen Liu, Engineering Department, UAA
Tom Murray, Alaska Volcano Observatory, USGS
Bob Scher, R&M consultants
Scott Simmons, Alaska Division of Emergency Services
Bob Stewart, MOA Office of emergency Management

Purpose and Goals of ANSS-National

There was a general overall review of the ANSS National Program. A 1997 directive from Congress instructed the USGS to prepare an assessment of seismic monitoring in the United States. This resulted in the document titled An Assessment of Seismic Monitoring in the United States: Requirements for an Advanced National Seismic System dated 1999. The FY2000 reauthorization of the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) requested that the USGS provide a 5-year management plan for ANSS. The draft Management Plan for the Advanced National Seismic System has been prepared and is currently being reviewed.

It was noted during the meeting discussion that current seismic monitoring has not kept pace with need, much of the equipment is outdated, and we are losing the opportunity to collect valuable information. The program envisioned in the ANSS would (1) provide dense seismic instrumentation in urban areas, (2) less dense regional networks, (3) an expanded U.S. National Seismographic Network, (4) two portable seismograph arrays, and (5) modernization and integration of regional and national data centers.

ANSS Regions Outside of Alaska

The ANSS organizational structure includes seven regions: Alaska, California, Pacific Northwest, Hawaii, Inter-Mountain West, Mid-America, and Northeast United States. Each of these regions are in various stages of organization selecting their working group and advisory committee members, establishing goals, and developing procedures for operation.

Alaska Region ANSS Working Group

The ANSS Alaska Region Working Group is responsible for implementation and operation of the seismic monitoring networks in Alaska. Its current membership includes Tom Murray (Alaska Volcano Observatory), ANSS Alaska Regional Coordinator; Roger Hansen, Alaska Earthquake Information Center; Tom Sokolowski, West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center; Niren Biswas, MOA Strong Motion Project; Bob Page, Member-at-Large; and John Aho, ANSS Regional Advisory Committee Chairman (ex-officio, non-voting).

The goals of the Alaska Working Group are: (1) to enhance the timely delivery of information, (2) improve earthquake monitoring and reporting, (3) implement an outreach program, (4) foster modernization of equipment, and (5) enhance national standardization of archival and distribution data.

Alaska Region ANSS Advisory Committee Membership

The Alaska Regional Advisory Committee is comprised of end users of seismic information. Its membership is comprised of strong advocates of the ANSS program. The current membership includes people from engineering, emergency management, transportation, industry risk management, seismology, geology, and education.

The Advisory Committee is currently has the following membership:

• John Aho, CH2M HILL, Chairman
• Bob Chaney, Alaska Science and Technology Foundation
• Doug Christensen, UAF Geophysical Institute, Alaska Earthquake Information Center
• David Cole, DOWL
• Jeff Freymueller, UAF Geophysical Institute
• Kent Lindquist, Alaska Earthquake Information Center
• Helen Liu, UAA Engineering
• Vince McCoy, MOA Building Safety
• Tom Murray, Alaska Volcano Observatory, Working Group Regional Coordinator, Ex-officio, non-voting
• Robert Scher, R&M Consultants
• Terry Smith, Alaska Division of Emergency Services
• Bob Stewart, MOA Office of Emergency Management
• Max Wyss, UAF Geophysical Institute

• Peter Haeussler, USGS
• Doug Lalla, Joint Pipeline Office
• Elmer Marx, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities
• Chris Roach, Alyeska Pipeline Service Company

Purpose and Goals of the Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee

The general purpose and goals were presented at the meeting for review and comment. The Committee members were asked to comment on them and suggest any revisions that they believe will enhance the Committee function. The goals will be refined in subsequent meetings and measurements of success can be attached. Draft goals include:

• Provide oversight of the Regional Working Group.
• Give planning and guidance recommendations on the development and operation of the ANSS in the Alaska Region.
• Oversee and review instrument siting decisions.
• Be a strong advocate of the ANSS program.

Committee members are asked to review and comment on the following procedures.

It was proposed that meetings will be held quarterly with phone conferences held as necessary. Meeting dates and locations and a formal agenda shall be decided by the Committee Chairman and submitted to all members for approval at least two weeks in advance. Any member can call a meeting by putting forth a request through the Committee Chairman. Guests are allowed at any meeting upon the approval of the Committee Chairman.

Minutes and an action item list will be compiled and published within one week of a meeting and distributed to all members for comments. Members will have two weeks to submit comments and corrections. After being finalized by the Committee Chairman, the aforementioned documents will be posted on the Alaska ANSS website.

Meetings will be chaired by the Regional Advisory Committee Chairman, or his designee, and will follow Robert's Rules of Order. All decisions will be made through consensus if possible; however, if consensus cannot be reached, a majority vote will be utilized.

Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee Chairman Job Description

1.  Job Description

The ANSS Alaska Regional Advisory Committee Chairman oversees and serves as spokesperson for Committee. The Chairman fosters cooperation and collaboration of efforts between members of the Regional Advisory Committee and the Regional Working Group.

The Regional Coordinator:

a) Chairs Regional Advisory Committee meetings .

b) Works closely with the Regional working Group Coordinator.

c) Ensures that Advisory Committee members are informed of ANSS activities and the status of ANSS projects, both regionally and nationally. Ensures that all members of the Committee may participate at a level they choose.

d) Develops plans, budgets, and implementation schedules for ANSS projects by closely working with the Regional Advisory Committee and Regional Working Group.

e) Serves as ex-officio, non-voting member of the Regional Working Group and promotes interaction between the Regional Advisory Committee and the Regional Working Group , as needed.

f) Delegates authority to another voting member of the Regional Advisory Committee to represent the Regional Advisory Committee and to coordinate its activities for a limited, defined duration when the Committee Chairman is absent or unavailable for duty.

g) Participates in the annual presentation to the National Steering Committee.

h) Is a strong advocate of the ANSS program.
 

2. Terms of Appointment

a) The Advisory Committee elects the Regional Advisory Committee Chairman by majority vote for a two-year term.

b) There are no limits to the number of terms that a person may serve as Regional Advisory Committee Chairman. At the end of a Chairman's term, the Advisory Committee may choose to elect a new Chairman or re-elect the present.

c) An election for a new Chairman may be held at any time if four Advisory Committee members request it in writing with reasons specified. A discussion and decision meeting will be held within one month of the request, with a majority vote by secret ballot determining the continuance or replacement of the Chairman. If the Chairman is replaced, the new Chairman serves only the remaining duration of the term.

Election of Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee Chairman

Bob Stewart nominated John Aho for the position of Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee Chairman. Dave Cole seconded the nomination. The following discussion ensued:

• John Aho announced that he would be very willing to undertake the responsibilities of the position.
• Bob Chaney offered Dave Cole's name for the position but Dave declined.
• Buzz Scher mentioned that perhaps we should hold off on the voting until we had more definition of the Committee make-up, goals, and procedures.
• Roger Hansen noted that the Chairman had to ensure that the Committee represented the entire State and not focus just on Anchorage.

All voting members voted in favor of having John Aho as the Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee Chairman.

ANSS Alaska Regional Instrument Deployment

The ANSS currently has ten (10) instruments available for deployment in Alaska. They are to be installed by September 30, 2001. Thirty (30) instruments have been allocated for FY2002.

The Regional Working Group and Advisory Committee needs to have deployment recommendation in place for the initial ten instruments by May 2001. The two groups should also begin developing deployment recommendations for future instrument procurement.

The tentative ANSS National schedule is:

• Instrument specifications  -  April 2001
• Procurement solicitation  -  May 2001
• Regional Plans in place  -  August 2001
• Procurement obligations (FY2002)  -  October 2001

We hope to reach a consensus decision on deployment of the first ten instruments at this meeting.

Miscellaneous Items

The Advisory Committee will hold one meeting per year in Fairbanks. It was again emphasized that when consideration instrument location "look at the big picture" and think "long range".

Next meeting

The decision of when the Alaska ANSS Regional Advisory Committee would next meet was put on hold. The meeting however, will most likely be held in March after the Working Group has met.