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“… Relocating the equipment in the Alaska volcano observatory building could cost more than $1 million and would be so technically challenging it would risk damaging sensitive devices and computers, multiple sources familiar with the situation told NOTUS.“… The government currently monitors dozens of active volcanoes near population centers, including Mount Spurr near Anchorage, Alaska, and the most active volcano in the world, Kilauea, on the island of Hawaii. Hundreds of thousands of people live near these two volcanoes alone. Without the observatories in place, scientists would be unable to do the work that leads to early warnings for evacuations or for changes to air travel.
…NOTUS confirmed that the General Services Administration sent notice of its plans to terminate the lease for the building that houses much of the Alaska observatory’s equipment and staff in Anchorage, and for a building in Hilo, Hawaii, that houses at least some staff and equipment. Both the Hawaii and Alaska observatories are run by the United States Geological Survey.
Agencies are also planning to fire the government experts who could help relocate some of these observatories or preserve the leases for the buildings.
… The Alaska building, one of several used by USGS on the Alaska Pacific University campus, has a lease termination set for August, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The lease on the Hilo Iron Works building has already been paid for through May 2027, according to a letter reviewed by NOTUS from Hawaii Rep. Jill Tokuda to Doug Burgum, the secretary of the Department of the Interior. It’s unclear when staff and equipment would need to relocate or what money would be saved by terminating that lease.
“Without this facility, HVO may no longer be able to maintain a continuous presence on Hawaii Island to monitor ongoing volcanic activity, endangering the crucial scientific and technical expertise offered by HVO staff, who may be forced to relocate or quit,” Tokuda wrote in the letter. …”
“Unfortunately, there are currently no transition plans or alternate points of contact I can provide,” one of the fired General Services Administration officials wrote in an email. “Contacting your Senator, Congressperson, Governor, or other elected officials may be required to escalate.”
A source inside the federal government told NOTUS that contacting any of these officials in writing could pose great professional risk for any government workers who do so.
…Possible public safety risks from cutting leases extend far beyond the Department of the Interior. GSA had planned to cancel the lease for the office that oversees one of the U.S.’s most important nuclear waste sites in Carlsbad, New Mexico, but reversed course on March 5, NOTUS reported.
“DOGE is like a bull in a china shop, and the havoc they’re creating by tearing down essential government functions is going to have severe public safety impacts,” said Rep. Jared Huffman, the ranking Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee. …”
