The NGDRS has facilitated 85% of cores, cuttings, and other data identified available for transfer to the public sector. Over 12 million linear feet of cores and cuttings, in addition to large numbers of paleontological samples and are now available for public use. To date, with industry contributions for program operations and data transfers, the NGDRS project has realized a 6.5 to 1 return on investment to Department of Energy funds.Large-scale transfers of seismic data have been evaluated, but based on the recommendation of the NGDRS steering committee, cores have been given priority because of the vast scale of the seismic data problem relative to the available funding. The rapidly changing industry conditions have required that the primary core and cuttings preservation strategy evolve as well. Additionally, the NGDRS clearinghouse is evaluating the viability of transferring seismic data covering the western shelf of the Florida Gulf Coast.AGI remains actively involved in working to realize the vision of the National Research Council's report of geoscience data preservation. GeoTrek has been ported to Linux and MySQL, ensuring a purely open-source version of the software. This effort is key in ensuring long-term viability of the software so that is can continue basic operation regardless of specific funding levels. Work has been on a major revision of GeoTrek, using the open-source MapServer project and its related MapScript language. This effort will address a number of key technology issues that appear to be rising for 2003, including the discontinuation of the use of Java in future Microsoft operating systems. The recent donation of BPAmoco's Houston core facility to the Texas Bureau of Economic Geology has provided substantial short-term relief of the space constraints for public repository space.

DIGTr-_C, UTtON OF""FH_ DO_'UM_::_',IT _ UN[_'IT_D The AmericanGeological Institute(AGI)has Steering Committee liaisons included reprecompleted the first phase of a study to asSeSS Sentatives from federal agencies and nonthe feasibility of establishing a National governmentalorganizations. Geoscience Data Repository _j tern to capture and preserve valuable geoscience data. AGI is a nonprofit federation of 24 geo-The study was conducted through the sup-scientific and professional associations that port of the U.S. Department of Energy's representmore than 80,000 geologists, geo-Office of Fossil Research. physicists, and other earth scientists. In addition, 115 colleges and universities are AGI's feasibility study was coordinatedby AGI Academic Associates, and 30 private a Steering Committee composed of the pres-companies are AGI Corporate Members. idents of the American Association of Petro-Founded in 1948, AGI providesinformation leum Geologists, American Institute of Pro-services to geoscientists, serves as a voice fessional Geologists, and Geological Society for shared interests of the profession, plays of America; senior executives from major a major role in strengthening geoscience oil companies; independent petroleum pro-education, and strives to increase public ducers; and representatives from oil service awareness of the vital role the geosciences companies, state geological surveys, univer-play in mankind's use of resources and insities, and the National Research Council. teraction with the environment.

The NGDRS has attained 72% of its targeted goal for cores and cuttings transfers, with over 12M linear feet of cores and cuttings now available for public use. Additionally, large-scale transfers of seismic data have been evaluated, but based on the recommendation of the NGDRS steering committee, cores have been given priority because of the vast scale of the seismic data problem relative to the available funding. The rapidly changing industry conditions have required that the primary core and cuttings preservation strategy evolve as well.

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