Instruction Memorandum 99-02 -- Competitive Areas Date: Thu, 23 Sep 1999 16:36:15 -0400 From: Norman Schmidt To: "DC - All District Chiefs", "AO - All Administrative Officers", "A - Division Chief and Staff" CC: Michelle L Frederick , "C. Larry Togans" , "Norman EJr. Schmidt" , Barbara J Gunderson , Charlene T Simpson , "Beverly F Culla, Human Resources Mgmt Spec, Reston, VA" , Connie L Smith , Carole A Coburn , "Rudolph MJr. Partida" , Sharon L Doung , Lela K Sandoval Subject: Re: Instruction Memorandum 99-02 -- Competitive Areas My apologies for sending the attached out without any background. The division and Office of Human Resources have been working with Department of the Interior staff for over two years to modify our competitive areas. We have just received the approval to do so. The distribution of this Instructional Memorandum from the bureau Personnel Officer at this time has nothing to do with the reorganization that is currently taking place at the Director's Office level. Skip Staff Assistant, ACH/PO Subject: Instruction Memorandum 99-02 -- Competitive Areas U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY INSTRUCTIONAL MEMORANDUM Instructional Memorandum Number: 99-02 Date: September 23, 1999 Subject: Competitive Areas Reference: 370 DM 351 1. Purpose. The purpose of this Instructional Memorandum (IM) is to document the new competitive areas for the bureau. 2. Background. The Water Resources Division (WRD) has requested a revision to the current U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) competitive area structure. The purpose of this request is to minimize the adverse effect of a reduction-in-force on multiple organizational entities located in the same local commuting area while still allowing adequate competition for positions among affected employees. Since this WRD proposal represents a major departure from the current bureau competitive area practice, this office initiated discussions with officials of the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Department of the Interior (DOI) to obtain their views on any possible conflicts with 5 CFR 351.402. Neither OPM nor DOI had a problem with the proposal to increase the number of WRD competitive areas. Recently, DOI delegated responsibility for establishing and revising competitive areas to the bureaus. 3. Responsibilities. The Office of Personnel is responsible for coordinating the establishment of revised competitive areas to accommodate USGS management requirements. 4. Cancellation. The interim update provided by this IM will remain in effect until the proposed bureau organizational structure revision is approved by DOI. 5. Prescribed Competitive Areas. Area 1 Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Office of the Director Area 2 Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Office of Program Support Area 3A Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Biological Resources Division except Cooperative Research Unit positions Area 3B Local Commuting Area -- All Cooperative Research Unit positions in the Biological Resources Division Area 4 Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Geologic Division Area 5 Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the National Mapping Division Area 6A Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Office of the Chief Hydrologist, Water Resources Division Area 6B Local Commuting Area -- All positions reporting to the Associate Chief Hydrologist for Program Operations, Water Resources Division Area 6C Local Commuting Area -- All positions reporting to the Associate Chief Hydrologist for Scientific Programs, Water Resources Division Area 6D Local Commuting Area -- All positions reporting to the Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Information, Water Resources Division Area 6E Local Commuting Area -- All positions reporting to the Assistant Chief Hydrologist for Research, Water Resources Division Area 6F Local Commuting Area -- All positions reporting to the Regional Hydrologist/Northeastern Region, Water Resources Division Area 6G Local Commuting Area -- All positions reporting to the Regional Hydrologist/Southeastern Region, Water Resources Division Area 6H Local Commuting Area -- All positions reporting to the Regional Hydrologist/Central Region, Water Resources Division Area 6I Local Commuting Area -- All positions reporting to the Regional Hydrologist/Western Region, Water Resources Division Area 6J Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Office of Ground Water, Water Resources Division Area 6K Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Office of Surface Water, Water Resources Division Area 6L Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Office of Water Quality, Water Resources Division Area 6M Local Commuting Area -- All positions in the Office of National Water Quality Assessment, Water Resources Division Area 7 Local Commuting Area -- All departmental and field service positions in foreign geographical locations (Signed) Robert Hosenfeld Personnel Officer For additional information or any questions, please call Ray Gendron on ext. 7448.