Division of Geology and Land Survey

Missouri's 19th State Geologist and Director of the Division of Geology and Land Survey Assumes Responsibility

Joe Gillman, State Geologist and Division Director

ROLLA, MO, SEPT. 11, 2008 -- One month on the job, fifth generation Missourian, Joe Gillman is leading the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey in areas important to the health, safety and welfare of Missourians. The director of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources named Gillman to succeed Mimi Garstang, who retired August 1. 

Gillman represents the state regarding issues such as the development of new energy resources including coalbed methane and tar sands, understanding earthquake hazards related to the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the investigation of potential underground reservoirs for long term storage of carbon dioxide and developing and providing information required for the accurate and economical location of property boundaries in Missouri. A registered geologist, Gillman joined the department in 1995.

"The division has a long history of providing geology and land survey expertise to the citizens of Missouri while maintaining a commitment to help Missourians protect their environment, protect employment opportunities and enhance their quality of life." said Gillman. Earlier this year, the division marked 155 years of service to the state.

Gillman, a Carthage native, graduated from Missouri State University, Springfield, in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology. "We are in a unique position to serve the citizens of Missouri," said Gillman. "Our staff members are sought out by the public, the academic community, business interests and local and state government officials to provide technical assistance, education and guidance in the use and protection of Missouri's natural resources. I am pleased with our exceptional staff and I am confident that we are prepared to assist Missourians with the geology and land survey opportunities of the 21st century."

Primary responsibilities for the division include: interpreting the state's geological setting, assessing the availability of its energy and mineral resources, evaluating and interpreting geological hazards, creating geologic maps, determining and maintaining more than 1.8 million land survey records and participating in county surveyor partnerships that assist in reestablishing lost survey corners that are the basis for all land surveys in Missouri.

Prior to his appointment as division director and state geologist, Gillman served as the department's Geological Survey Program director. In that capacity, he managed staff activities relating to the state's environmental geology section, which evaluates liquid, solid, and hazardous waste disposal and spill sites; and the geologic resources section, which conducts geologic mapping, and provides expertise on mineral and energy resources, and evaluates geologic hazards related to earthquakes, landslides and sinkholes. The state's underground Mine Map Repository and McCracken Core Library were also responsibilities directly under Gillman's charge. Prior to that, Gillman served for six years as chief of the Environmental Assistance Unit, where he managed a team of geologists evaluating geologic and hydrologic conditions at both liquid and solid waste disposal areas in Missouri.

The Division of Geology and Land Survey offers a wide variety of publications on topics such as rocks, minerals and fossils, fact sheets, maps and educational trading cards. Visitors are welcome to tour the Ed Clark Museum of Geology, which is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The publications desk in Rolla can be reached by calling 573-368-2125 or 800-361-4827 or visit on the Web at www.dnr.mo.gov/geology.