After 76 years of existence, the Louisiana Geological Survey could be gone after the University’s expected 23 percent budget cut for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.LGS is the primary geological institution in the state, and its elimination would make Louisiana the only state without a geological survey.Pending another round of budget cuts, LGS would lose $1,028,666 and be forced to close, eliminating the state’s public source of archived state geological maps, vital reference logs for oil and gas development, support during hurricane emergencies and availability of critical publications and maps.LGS Director Chacko John said he was not previously approached about the decision, and he was surprised when he heard LGS was facing the axe in the next round of budget cuts. John stressed the importance of the department’s work to the oil and gas industry. The LGS discovers new oil and gas deposits using geological mapping, which greatly benefit the industry.John said no institution in the state ranks near LGS in many areas, like modeling of aquifers, locating of natural resources and mapping the state.”These are things that no one else in the state does but us,” John said. “These are things that would disappear from the state.”LGS used to be part of the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources but was transferred to the University’s Office of Research and Economic                        Development by a legislative act in 1997.John said it is unclear of whether the LGS could be transferred back to the Department of Natural Resources, and the decision is up to the Legislature.”We don’t exactly know what the situation is because it is more or less an exercise in case the University gets a cut in the 2011-2012 year,” John said. The cut from LGS is one small portion of a larger $46 million budget cut from the entire University. Although no plans are definite, the University put the budget crisis plan in place to have cuts ready if they do occur. –Contact Catherine Threlkeld at [email protected]