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EVALUATION OF THE MRSP PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 36 SUBPROGRAMS Distributions, to reflect the growing national and international importance of this activity. If recommendations D and E are followed, there will no longer be a subprogram entitled Mitigation Studies but there will be a new subprogram entitled Geochemical Backgrounds and Baselines (Figure 2-1). Recommendation F Increase collaboration with WRD staff to address such issues as chemical releases from mineral deposits, acid drainage prediction, and metal leaching. Recommendation G Discontinue activities directed at the adaptation and improvement of remedial technologies, a part of the Studies in Support of Remediation component. These activities should be conducted by organizations other than MRSP, such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, other federal and state agencies, universities, and the private sector. Redirect funds from the Studies in Support of Remediation to fundamental investigations in other parts of the new Geochemical Backgrounds and Baselines and Resource and Environmental Investigations Subprograms. Recommendation H Use a multi-disciplinary approach to determining geochemical backgrounds and baselines by collaborating with other scientists such as microbiologists, soil scientists, aqueous geochemists, sedimentologists, hydrologists, and aquatic biologists. A multidisciplinary approach should also be used in other parts of the MRSP where appropriate. RESOURCE INVESTIGATIONS SUBPROGRAM The panel finds that there is an appropriate role for the USGS in the Resource Investigations Subprogram because this research addresses national needs and other research organizations do not have the national jurisdiction, facilities, expertise, and commitment required to conduct research on mineral resources at the necessary scale and scope. The
