PROGRAMS AND PLANS -- Freeze on spending real-time hazards funding

07/07/2000 


 
To:       GS-W DC, GS-W CD, Mary J Baedecker/WRD/USGS/DOI@USGS, 
          Lewis Wade/WRD/USGS/DOI@USGS, Alan M Lumb/WRD/USGS/DOI@USGS, 
          John E Costa/WRD/USGS/DOI@USGS, Ralph T Cheng/WRD/USGS/DOI@USGS, 
          Susan M Trapanese/WRD/USGS/DOI@USGS
cc:       GS-W A, GS-W AO, J. Michael Norris/WRD/USGS/DOI@USGS, 
          James R Kolva/WRD/USGS/DOI@USGS
Subject:  PROGRAMS AND PLANS -- Freeze on spending real-time 
          hazards funding

This email announces a freeze on any additional expenditures against 
allocations from the real-time hazards initiative.  The Bureau is 
requesting permission of Congress to reprogram the real-time hazards 
appropriations to cover our unanticipated flood expenses associated with 
Hurricane Floyd and other storms last summer and fall.  This action is 
being taken because Congress did not provide the USGS with the $1.8 
million supplemental appropriation for floods that was requested.   I 
apologize for the disruption of your summer field and construction 
activities and the potential problems with cooperators that the freeze may 
cause, but we cannot continue to absorb costly damages and extraordinary 
expenses without adequate appropriations.

The freeze applies to the following:
1.  Districts will not be able to use any more HIF credits.
2.  Districts should not sign any contracts for construction of real-time 
hazard stations.
3.  Districts should not incur any salary or other expenses for 
construction of new stations or reactivation of existing stations.
4.  NRP should not incur any additional salary, travel, or procurement 
expenses for surface-velocity research.
5.  Office of Information should not incur any salary, travel, or 
procurement expenses for robust data delivery.
6.  The Hydro21 Committee should not incur any additional travel or 
procurement expenses.
7.  Districts should not incur any additional expenses for rating 
extensions.

The freeze does not apply to the following:
1.  O&M expenses for stations that were completed and operational by COB 
July 7.

We have estimated how much of the real-time hazard allocations have not 
been spent, but we will need firm figures by Friday, July 14.  Please send 
the following information to Jim Kolva.
1.  Real-time hazard allocation (gross funds) that were not committed by 
6:00 pm EDT, July 7, 2000.
2.  List of stations that are not completed or upgraded and a very brief 
status of the station.

There is some potential for a supplemental appropriation being passed in 
the next few weeks.  If that happens we will not rescind (de-allocate) the 
remainder of your real-time hazards funds.  However, please do not count 
on having these funds in FY 2000.

The actions we are taking are not permanent, but they will spread out the 
implementation of the real-time hazards initiative.   Districts that will 
have funds rescinded (de-allocated) this year will have those funds 
available next year for station construction, instruments, and rating 
extensions.  Some of the proposed new stations and upgrades proposed for 
FY2001 may be delayed until FY2002.  The overall impact of our actions 
really depends on how we fare in the FY2001 budget process.

I apologize again for the disruption and extra work that this freeze and 
probable de-allocation will cause.  I will be in the office on Monday, 
July 10, and I will be happy to answer questions or help resolve any 
really sticky issues with cooperators.

Thomas H. Yorke
Chief, Office of Surface Water
U. S. Geological Survey
415 National Center
Reston, VA 20192

Voice: 703-648-5305
Fax: 703-648-5722