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ADMINISTRATION

U.S. Geological Survey National Center in Reston, Va. (Photograph by William Dize, U.S. Geological Survey.)

MISSION

The Administrative Division provides administrative direction and coordination for the support service aspects of the scientific, research, and technical programs of the U.S. Geological Survey. The administrative services include financial management, personnel services, procurement, property and space management, management analysis and improvement, safety and occupational health, and administrative systems management.

BUDGET AND PERSONNEL

The cost of the central administrative services provided by the Administrative Division totaled about $26 million in fiscal

year 1986. Division staffing consisted of about 430 employees, located primarily at the Reston, Va., headquarters and at two Regional Management Offices in Denver, Colo., and Menlo Park, Calif.

HIGHLIGHTS

Volunteer for Science
Program

During fiscal year 1986, the Geological Survey launched its Volunteer for Science Program, a service-oriented program designed to accept volunteer services from individuals or groups interested in science and public service. The Volunteer for Science Program relates directly to the national "Take Pride in America" campaign, which, among other things, encourages citizens to become more knowledgeable and careful about public land use and fosters responsibility and respect for the Nation's natural resources.

The Geological Survey's Volunteer for Science Program received immediate

bureau, academic, and community support and interest. During the program's first three months, program coordinators and a bureauwide network of key individuals enlisted about 55 volunteers, who provided services in library research, hydrologic and geologic field assistance, laboratory work, computer assistance, procurement assistance, and administrative clerical support. Additionally, over 300 citizens, concentrated in the San Francisco area of California, volunteered to collect rainfall data for landslide hazard studies. The Geological Survey expects increased participation during fiscal year 1987 and development of a quality corps of volunteers, who will make significant contributions to our mission.

Streamlined Personnel
Processing

As part of a continuing effort to improve administrative practices, the Geological Survey reviewed its personnel processing system and identified actions that could streamline those processes and save manpower and dollars. Efforts are now underway to increase automation, eliminate duplication, increase delegations of authority to managers, and increase standardization in personnel documentation. In support of the President's Management Improvement Program and the Department of the Interior's Reform 88 management initiatives, action has been taken to automate Personnel Action Requests and vacancy announcements in fiscal year 1986. The automated Personnel Action Request system will be a prototype for application throughout the Department of the Interior. Efforts are also in progress to increase the use of standardized position descriptions, performance standards, and job selection factors and to identify and eliminate duplication of personnel recordkeeping and systems. through expanded direct access to the integrated payroll-personnel system.

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Landsat Data Acquisitions

The Geological Survey entered into a contractual agreement with the Earth Observation Satellite Company (EOSAT) to purchase Landsat satellite data for the Geological Survey and other interested Federal agencies through 1994. Previously, the Geological Survey and other Federal agencies acquired data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In 1984, Congress passed Public Law 98-365, which resulted in the Department of Commerce's awarding EOSAT exclusive marketing rights for the data as part of the contract transferring the Landsat satellite system to the private sector. Federal agency data acquisition costs under the agreement are expected to be approximately $5 million per year.

Consolidation of Operations at the Denver Federal Center

Plans have been completed to bring two of the Geological Survey's public service

organizations-the Geologic Division's Core Library and the National Mapping Division's consolidated Map Distribution Centerinto the Denver Federal Center. This action not only reduces costs but also is consistent with Government initiatives to move more Federal agency operations into Governmentowned space.

The Core Library, which contains about 4,900 cores from holes drilled by Federal and State agencies and private companies, has been occupying leased space and has had little room for expansion. Not only will

relocation to the Denver Federal Center make the Core Library more accessible to the public and to Geological Survey scientists, but it will also increase the Survey's ability to accept rock collections from other organizations and ensure that they are properly maintained. The consolidation of the Map Distribution Center at the Denver Federal Center allowed the release of expensive leased space in northern Virginia. The newly consolidated center will be the public's source of Geological Survey maps and publications.

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