Decision on funding earth sciences interns for operational 

Date: Mon, 22 Jan 1996 15:49:22 -0500
From: John K Peterson <jpeterso>
To: "Susan E Pimble, , Reston, VA" <spimble>
Cc: "Catherine L Hill, ACH/Operations, Reston, VA" <clhill>,
        "Donald A Palmquist, , Reston, VA" <dpalmqui>,
        "Shirleen Stephens, , Reston, VA" <sstephen>
Subject:  Decision on funding earth sciences interns for operational 

	         shutdown periods

For the record:

After several discussions with a number of personnel involved with the
intern project including ECO program staff, we have concluded that the
original intent of the parties was to establish an annual stipend for the
intern to work on his/her mentored project with USGS.  Establishment of
hourly rates in the agreements were an administrative conveinence for
both USGS and ECO, but did not change the parties' intent.

Given the foregoing, where through no fault of the intern(s),  the
Government precludes  them from working on their project, we intend to
assure that so long as significant progress has been made on the project
the intern(s) will be compensated for the total annual stipend over the
year (paid in reasonable increments as the situation permits).

This would apply to inclement weather related shutdowns and the
unprecedented budgetary shutdowns similar to those encountered in late
1995 and early 1996.  Related to budgetary shutdowns, this decision
applies so long as any continuing resolution or appropriation enacted by
Congress "reaches back" to cover any days lost and which does not
otherwise preclude us from making such payments.

<<Susan, please relay this to HQ, CR & WR staff administering intern
subagreements.  I am sending a CC: to WRD-ACH-OPS for their info. and
dist. to the field. Please ask administering personnel to let Geol. offices
know of this.>>


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