The longtime interim director of the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS) has announced his plans to retire next year. Rex Buchanan will step down from the agency in June. He's been leading the KGS since 2010 but has held various positions at the survey since 1978. Buchanan said, "I appreciate the opportunity I’ve had to work with outstanding colleagues on water, energy and geologic hazards. These are some of the most important long-term issues facing the state of Kansas." In addition to his role at the KGS, Buchanan chairs the Induced Seismicity State Task Force and serves as secretary of the Association of American State Geologists. He's also the co-author of Roadside Kansas: A Traveler's Guide to Its Geology and Landmarks as well as editor of Kansas Geology: An Introduction to Landscapes, Rocks, Minerals, and Fossils. A 10-person search committee has been appointed to find a successor for the KGS, which is based at the University of Kansas in Lawrence. Rex Buchanan is also a commentator and occasional book reviewer for Kansas Public Radio.
