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The observatory had appeared on lists of federal building leases set to be terminated by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) as part of efforts to shrink the size of the federal government.
However, the office of Representative Nick Begich, a Republican from Alaska, said in a news release on Tuesday that he had coordinated with the Department of the Interior and the General Services Administration to secure a reversal of the plan for the observatory.
The congressman said in a statement that the lease was "critical for mission objectives, particularly in the midst of a growing
volcanic threat."
What To Know
On March 6, NOTUS, a nonprofit news organization, reported that the Trump administration was in the process of terminating the leases for the building that houses the observatory in Anchorage and another building used to monitor volcanoes in Hawaii.
The building that houses the Alaska Volcano Observatory, one of a number used by USGS on the Alaska Pacific University campus, had a lease termination date set for August, NOTUS said, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
Relocating the equipment in the observatory building could cost more than $1 million and would risk damage to sensitive devices and computers, the sources said.
Begich's office said the lease was officially reinstated on March 18, ensuring operations at the observatory would be uninterrupted.
The news release noted that previous eruptions have led to widespread ash causing flight disruptions and serious economic consequences for Alaska.
"By acting swiftly to restore the lease, Congressman Begich ensured that critical monitoring systems remain in place, aviation alerts continue uninterrupted, and Alaska's residents, businesses, and visitors are protected from avoidable risks," it said.
What People Are Saying
Representative Nick Begich, who sits on the House Subcommittee on Aviation, said in a statement: "The Alaska Volcano Observatory federal office lease is critical for mission objectives, particularly in the midst of a growing
volcanic threat. This observatory is important to Alaska's safety and aviation industry. My staff and I worked with the Department of Interior and the GSA to address this issue as a high priority."
A spokesperson for the U.S. Geological Survey told Newsweek: "We are actively working with General Services Administration to ensure that every facility and asset is utilized effectively, and where necessary, identifying alternative solutions that strengthen our mission. These efforts reflect our broader commitment to streamlining government operations while ensuring that our scientific endeavors remain strong, effective, and impactful. This process is ongoing, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available."
The Alaska Volcano Observatory said in a statement on Wednesday: "AVO continues monitoring
activity at Mount Spurr for signals indicating that the volcano is moving closer to an eruption. Based on previous eruptions, changes from current
activity in the earthquakes, ground deformation, summit lake conditions, and fumarolic
activity would be expected if magma began to move closer to the surface. Therefore, if an eruption occurred, it would be preceded by additional signals allowing warning."