U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Director Mark Myers has informed NSF's Office of Polar Programs that USGS intends to continue to operate the National Ice Core Laboratory (NICL) for the foreseeable future. An advisory committee consisting of Richard Alley (Penn State University), Tammy Dickinson (USGS), Dan Fagre (USGS), Marty Goldhaber (USGS), Randy Schumann (USGS), and Woody Wise (Florida State University) recommended that USGS continue to operate NICL in a written report and in a briefing given to Director Myers by committee chair Randy Schumann on September 30. Director Myers agreed that NICL is an important asset to USGS and the scientific community and that USGS should continue its long-term partnership with NSF in operating the NICL. USGS will also explore integrating more cryospheric research into its Global Change Research Program, hopefully resulting in more direct USGS participation in NICL-supported research. USGS will name an interim Technical Director by the end of the year, and will begin a search for a permanent NICL Director, who would oversee both NICL and the USGS rock Core Research Center (CRC), as soon as possible. USGS will form a selection committee to evaluate prospective candidates for the NICL/CRC Director position, and welcomes input from the ice-core science community in this process. Many thanks to the committee members for their time and participation, and to the NICL user community for your support and input.