Despite discussion of the highly controversial topic of hydraulic fracturing, it was all pleasantries around a House Appropriations hearing table yesterday, as U.S. Geological Survey Director Marcia McNutt sat down with lawmakers to discuss the agency's proposed fiscal 2013 budget.

While a few members of the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee expressed some concerns about cuts to water, environmental contaminants and minerals research programs, overall, they seemed pleased with the funding allocations totaling $1.1 billion.

For example, Rep. James Moran (D-Va.) expressed concern about the 19 percent cut to water toxins research and the elimination of funding for the 54 Water Resources Research Institutes across the United States and its territories, which received $6.5 million last year.

"It is a concern in a budget that otherwise makes sense," Moran said.

Much of the hourlong hearing focused on the role the scientific research arm of the Interior Department will play in studying hydraulic fracturing.

With $18.6 million in dedicated funding, the agency will work with other federal agencies to analyze how extracting shale gas by injecting a mixture of water and chemicals into the ground affects environmental quality and induces earthquakes, McNutt said.

"We believe this is a problem that can be effectively addressed and best practices can be put forward," McNutt said.

Research findings will help guide where wells are drilled to avoid areas that may be more stressed and prone to earthquakes, McNutt said. In particular, USGS would share this information with the Bureau of Land Management so they can be "a leader in best practices to ensure any wastewater injection on federal lands doesn't start triggering earthquakes," McNutt said.

The agency also plans to reorient its research focus on rare earth minerals -- materials that are essential for things like cellphones and computers -- from mapping where they are internationally to finding out where they are at home and how they can be extracted profitably, McNutt said.

"We're going to focus more on the economic, less on environmental, part of it," she said.