Department of the Interior
Departmental Manual
Effective Date: 7/12/00
Series: Organization
Part 135: Bureau of Land Management
Chapter 3: National Organization
Originating Office: Bureau of Land Management
135 DM 3
3.1 National Organization. The national organization consists of the Headquarters Office and national centers.
3.2 Headquarters Office (HQ Office). The role, structure, and organization of the HQ Office are described in the following paragraphs.
A. Role of HQ Office. The role of the HQ Office is as follows:
(1) Strategic Direction -- Identifies/articulates the critical BLM missions, priority program efforts, and the essence of the BLM's activities, including where the BLM is going to be in 1 to 5 years, and how various activities fit into that movement. The HQ Office maintains and refines the Corporate Agenda and the BLM Vision Statement, prepares the BLM Strategic Plan and Performance Plans under the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA), and develops strategic analyses and action plans, budgets, and guidance documents that articulate the goals and objectives of the BLM and directions for the future.
(2) Policy Leadership -- Initiates efforts in developing, revising and refining BLM policies, and resolving policy issues whether the source is external or internal. The HQ Office has the lead, using field office involvement, in developing and preparing BLM policy statements and documents that explain how policies will be implemented. The HQ Office is responsible for approving and signing all final policy statements/documents. The HQ Office facilitates the consistent implementation of policy by the field, especially among State Offices, by communicating with the field, and through evaluation and assessment of policy implementation. The HQ Office maintains subject-matter expertise in the core processes of the BLM, provides issue management, and serves as an advocate to enhance the ability of BLM State organizations to carry out programs/initiatives. The HQ Office provides support to the Secretary's Office in Departmentwide or BLM-related matters and/or for Department policy development or analysis projects.
(3) Communications -- Communicates the BLM policies, needs, and accomplishments at the national level to the media, national organizations and partners, and communicates the Administration, Secretarial and BLM initiatives to the field organization. The HQ Office provides the interface between the interdisciplinary-oriented field management and the program-oriented external customers and stakeholders.
(4) Legislative Involvement -- Facilitates legislative and regulatory changes needed to accomplish and/or facilitate accomplishment of the BLM mission. The HQ Office works with external groups to identify problems requiring legislative solutions or changes in regulations; prepares testimony and witnesses to testify before congressional committees, and works with congressional committees and staffs on legislative issues affecting BLM functions; and drafts regulations, using substantive participation from field offices in these efforts. The HQ Office leads BLM efforts to respond to new Administrative, political, and statutory direction impacting the BLM.
(5) Budget -- Accomplishes Bureauwide budget resource acquisition and allocation of funds within the BLM. The HQ Office formulates, presents, and defends the BLM budget request to the Secretary, Office of Management and Budget, and the Congress, and provides the allocation of funds among the major operating components of the BLM for budget execution.
(6) Administrative Leadership -- Provides leadership in developing and implementing Bureauwide general management and business practices of the BLM. The HQ Office facilitates the implementation of managerial and business practices and systems common throughout the BLM, interprets administrative policy within the BLM, and facilitates the consistent implementation of policy by communicating with the field and through evaluation and assessment of administrative process implementation.
(7) Interagency Coordination -- Maintains national and international level coordination with other bureaus and agencies, including working on interagency task forces.
(8) Process Improvement -- Encourages and stimulates process re-engineering and improvement, customer service improvement, improving methods of doing business, and developing common Bureauwide processes which can be used in multiple programs.
(9) Performance Evaluation and Accountability -- Is responsible for evaluation of Bureauwide program effectiveness and accountability of field managers for program policy implementation using, when possible, performance measures. The HQ Office ensures the preparation of performance reports such as those required by GPRA and CFO Act and if necessary, takes corrective action to ensure that specified performance indicators or measures are met.
(10) Routine Functions -- Responds to correspondence to the Director, or referred from the offices of the Secretary or President; handles Bureauwide administrative actions, e.g., major procurement, higher-level personnel actions, etc.; conducts special reviews/administrative inquiries as directed by the Secretary's Office; and conducts internal support operations to maintain the HQ Office organization and infrastructure.
B. HQ Office Structure. The HQ Office is composed of the Directorate and groups.
(1) Directorate. The BLM Directorate includes the Director; the Principal Deputy Director; the Deputy Director (Associate); the Chief of Staff/Counselor; the Assistant Directors and two national offices. The Director; the Principal Deputy Director; the Deputy Director; the Assistant Directors; the Director, Office of Fire and Aviation Policy; and the Director, Office of the National Landscape Conservation System share the BLM-wide authority for direction and management of the BLM programs and exercise line management authority and responsibility. The Assistant Directors support the Director by providing leadership in management; program direction; and analyses for the programmatic, functional, and systematic support components of the BLM.
(2) Groups. Headquarters employees are assigned for administrative and program purposes to a group, led by a group manager who is the supervisor of record for members of the group. The group is composed of individuals with similar training/specialties (for example wildlife biologists, foresters, budget analysts) which facilitates professional networking. The group names reflect the specialties of their members (for example, the "Management Systems Group"), and the group provides an identified source for initial internal and external contact with the HQ Office.
C. HQ Office Organization. The HQ Office organization includes the Office of the Director, Assistant Directorates, Office of Fire and Aviation Policy, Native American Office, and Office of the National Landscape Conservation System.
(1) Office of the Director The Office of the Director is composed of the following:
(a) The Director, as Chief Executive of the BLM, formulates BLM policy within limits delegated by the Secretary of the Interior and directs all activities of the BLM. He/she advises and assists the Assistant Secretary - Land and Minerals Management on national public land and resources management and on all programs within the purview of BLM responsibilities. He/she maintains relationships with other Federal agencies, the Congress, Native American authorities, State and local authorities, and private groups. The Director may have a Chief of Staff/Counselor and Special Assistants who receive their assignments directly from him/her, advise the Director on specific areas of BLM focus, may act as the Director's personal representative, and are primarily involved in matters that are nonrecurrent and sensitive in nature.
(b) The Principal Deputy Director shares with the Director the responsibility for all BLM functions and in his/her absence acts as Director.
(c) The Deputy Director (Associate) shares with the Director the responsibility for all BLM functions and in his/her absence acts as Director. The Deputy Director (Associate) provides top level executive direction and management continuity for all the BLM programs and activities. The Deputy Director oversees Bureauwide issue management, directs policy activities related to Native American relationships, and chairs the IRMRC. Specific HQ office groups report to the Deputy Director.
(d) The Chief of Staff/Counselor and Special Assistants provide counsel, advice, technical expertise, and assistance to the Director in formulating and evaluating policy for significant and politically sensitive or urgent issues. They maintain close review and coordination on items of a sensitive policy nature between the Director and high level officials throughout the Department; represent the Director and act as the Director's liaison in contacts with White House staff, the Congress, other Departments and agencies, the public, and Government officials; and develop, coordinate, resolve, and implement a variety of special projects which are often highly sensitive and confidential as assigned by the Director.
(2) Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning (AD, RRP) is responsible for establishing and coordinating policies and guidance for the BLM's land use planning and renewable resources programs, including rangeland and forest management, riparian, watershed, wildlife habitat and fisheries management, threatened and endangered species, wild horses and burros, recreation use, cultural heritage, paleontology, community support programs, and geographic information systems. The Directorate develops policies and guidance for monitoring and assessing resource conditions, for land use planning efforts, including resolution of all plan protests, and for administrative designations and management of significant trails and research or outstanding natural areas; provides substantive guidance for program development, policy analysis, and activities under his/her direction; prepares and maintains current and long-range program plans and strategies; and monitors program management implementation in order to achieve the BLM's goals and strategic objectives.
The AD, RRP supervises the National Applied Resource Sciences Center (NARSC) located in Lakewood, Colorado. (See 3.3A below.)
(3) Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty and Resource Protection (AD, MRRP) is responsible for establishing and coordinating policies and guidance for the BLM's mineral, realty, and resource protection programs. The Directorate develops policies and guidance for the fluid minerals programs, including oil and gas, geothermal, and helium; solid minerals programs, including mining and salable minerals; the lands and realty programs, the Public Land Survey System, and resource protection programs, including law enforcement, hazardous materials management, pollution prevention, and site remediation, mitigation, and restoration approaches (including engineering applications); provides substantive guidance for program development, policy analysis, and activities under his/her direction; prepares and maintains current and long-range program plans and strategies; and monitors program management implementation in order to achieve the BLM's goals and strategic objectives.
The AD, MRRP supervises the National Law Enforcement Office located in Boise, Idaho. (See 3.3G below.)
(4) Assistant Director, Information Resources Management (AD, IRM) (located in Lakewood, Colorado) serves as the BLM's Chief Information Officer and is responsible for establishing and coordinating policies and guidance for BLM's information resources management program. The Directorate develops policies and guidance for the development, management, integration, and use of information resources management systems, data administration, records administration, information access and security, assesses the BLM's information management skills; monitors and evaluates the performance of information technology programs; and prepares and maintains current and long-range program plans and strategies, and monitors program management implementation in order to achieve the BLM's goals and strategic objectives. The Directorate also provides IRM services to the Headquarters Office, including directives and records management, telecommunications, computer support and configuration management, and user training and assistance.
The AD, IRM supervises the National Information Resources Management Center. (See 3.3F below.)
(5) Assistant Director, Communications (AD, COMM) is responsible for establishing and coordinating policies and guidance for BLM's external communications with the media, Members of Congress, various Federal and non-Federal agencies, interest groups, schools, and members of the public. The Directorate develops policies and guidance for and conducts activities in public affairs, legislative affairs, intergovernmental and international affairs, regulations management, environmental education, and volunteers programs; prepares and maintains current and long-range program plans and strategies; and monitors program management implementation in order to achieve the BLM's goals and strategic objectives.
(6) Assistant Director, Business and Fiscal Resources (AD, BFR) is the Chief Financial Officer and the Head of Contracting Activity for the BLM, and is responsible for establishing and coordinating policies and guidance for BLM's business and fiscal management programs. The Directorate is responsible for control of fund systems, budget development and execution, management of fiscal assets, accounting principles and standards, management control and continuous improvement (evaluation), Inspector General's Office/General Accounting Office liaison, acquisition of goods and services, real and personal property management, Federal assistance programs, organization management/analysis, strategic planning coordination, performance measurement, quality management, and process reengineering; prepares and maintains current and long-range program plans and strategies; and monitors program management implementation in order to achieve the BLM's goals and strategic objectives.
The AD, BFR supervises the National Business Center located in Lakewood, Colorado. (See 3.3C below.)
(7) Assistant Director, Human Resources Management (AD, HRM) is responsible for establishing and coordinating policies and guidance for BLM's human resources management program, including personnel, equal employment opportunity, employee development, training, and occupational safety and health. The Directorate develops policies and guidance to improve human resources management practices through implementation of policies for assessment of staffing and skills needs, position management and classification, pay administration, employee development and training, employee relations, labor-management partnerships, ethics, diversification of the workforce, administration of Bureauwide discrimination complaints, EEO counseling, alternative dispute resolution, affirmative employment programs, and other human resources responsibilities assigned to the BLM; prepares and maintains current and long-range program plans and strategies; and monitors program management implementation in order to achieve BLM's goals and strategic objectives.
The AD, HRM supervises the National Training Center located in Phoenix, Arizona and the National Human Resources Management Center located in Denver, Colorado. (See 3.3B and 3.3D below.)
(8) Office of Fire and Aviation Policy (located in Boise, Idaho) consists of a National Director, Associate Director, a national office staff, and a National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC) staff. The Director, Associate, and national office staff develop national policy, guidance, and standards, and maintain functional oversight and interagency coordination for all fire, aviation, and all-hazard activities. The Office provides leadership in the effort to protect life, property, and ecosystems from wildfires and to protect and enhance ecosystem health, integrity, and diversity through the use of fire. It also oversees aviation management services to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse and promotes aviation safety in support of all aspects of the BLM's mission.
(9) Native American Office (located in Santa Fe, New Mexico) supports the Bureau and State Directors with coordination, consultation, and cooperative relationships with Indian Nations and Native Americans.
(10) Office of the National Landscape Conservation System consists of a National Director and a national office staff. The Director and staff develop national policy, guidance, and procedures for management of component areas of the National Landscape Conservation System consistent with enabling legislation or Presidential Proclamation. The National Landscape Conservation System is composed of National Monuments, National Conservation Areas (including the California Desert Conservation Area and the Headwaters Forest Reserve), Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas, and segments of National Wild and Scenic Rivers and National Historic and National Scenic Trails on lands administered by the BLM.
3.3 National Centers/Office. The BLM has six national centers and one national office having specific assigned service and support responsibilities.
A. National Applied Resource Sciences Center (NARSC). The NARSC is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and reports to the AD, RRP. The NARSC provides services in the areas of scientific and technical consulting, information exchange, production, analysis and assessment, and systems. The NARSC provides assistance and advice on natural resource subjects to BLM field specialists and others upon request, develops and provides training in coordination with the NTC, identifies (but does not conduct) research needs, assesses research results, manages Bureauwide energy conservation, provides scarce skills, and serves as an agent to bring scientific and technical skills together to assist its customers. The NARSC collects, assimilates, synthesizes, and disseminates scientific and technical information; supplies necessary tools or specialized equipment to support the customers' use of science and technology; as requested, analyzes and assesses land management issues; designs resource systems for use in assessing, documenting, and monitoring ecosystem conditions; and coordinates scientific systems design and maintenance, data management, and geospatial projects between field resource specialists and computer system specialists.
B. National Human Resources Management Center (NHRMC). The NHRMC is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and reports to the AD, HRM. The NHRMC provides BLM-wide human resource services, support, advice, and/or assistance in labor relations, employee relations, employee benefits, ethics, workers' compensation pay administration, automated personnel systems, position management, classification appeals, training coordination, merit promotion, staffing, recruitment, equal employment opportunity, and occupational and environmental safety and health. The NHRMC develops, implements, administers, and coordinates the transition to more efficient and productive human resources processes. The NHRMC also manages the following programs: ethics, Federal Equal Opportunity Recruitment Plan, workers' compensation, Hispanic Coalition Memorandum of Understanding, Resources Apprenticeship Program for Students, and occupational and environmental safety and health. The NHRMC provides operational human resources, occupational and environmental safety and health, and Equal Employment Opportunity support to the NBC and the NARSC.
C. National Business Center (NBC). The NBC is located in Lakewood, Colorado, and reports to the AD, BFR. The NBC has operational responsibilities in finance and budget, including cash processing, payments and reporting, and in the areas of property and acquisition. The NBC provides Bureauwide contract support in excess of the simplified acquisition threshold, except for Headquarters and Oregon, which have unlimited contracting authority. This includes acquisition of all types of supplies and services, Federal information processing, construction acquisition, and space leasing. In addition, the NBC provides business support services to the NIRMC, NHRMC, and NARSC. The NBC provides Bureauwide services, support, advice, and/or assistance in BLM's Federal Financial System (FFS) and BLM Working Capital Fund, implementing the Debt Collection Act of 1982, and recommending policy for implementation of the Federal Manager's Financial Integrity Act. The NBC provides acquisition and property management systems support, advice, and assistance to field offices. The NBC maintains liaison with appropriate DOI offices and the DOI administrative service centers.
D. National Training Center (NTC). The NTC is located in Phoenix, Arizona, and reports to the AD, HRM. The NTC provides dynamic, innovative training and necessary services to effectively manage public lands and natural resources. The NTC is responsible for standard classroom courses, facilitated package courses, private vendor courses, and self-study courses. In addition, the NTC maintains a video program which meets both training and public and internal information needs.
E. National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC). The NIFC is located in Boise, Idaho, and is managed by an Administrator, who reports to the Director, Office of Fire and Aviation Policy. With BLM as the host bureau, the NIFC includes cooperating fire related units from the Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and a fire weather support unit from the National Weather Service. The NIFC is responsible for designing, building, and delivering products and logistical and administrative services in support of the fire and aviation activities of the BLM and its partners. Support is also provided to other wildfire suppression and emergency response agencies through reimbursable agreements with BLM or other participating agencies. Such support includes telecommunications and data systems, specialized personnel and equipment, administrative support, fire training, and fire business management guidance. The NIFC participates in the development and improvement of standards and technology for the fire protection activity, is a clearinghouse for information on fire fighting techniques, and collects data on fire danger, fire occurrences, and suppression resources used. A Board of Directors (composed of the BLM Director, Office of Fire and Aviation Policy; the Fire Directors for the Forest Service, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Area Manager for the National Weather Service; and the Director, Office of Aircraft Services) resolves issues and provides input to the NIFC Administrator on the operation of NIFC and base facilities.
F. National Information Resources Management Center (NIRMC). The NIRMC is located in Lakewood, Colorado and reports to the AD, IRM. Functions include management of cross-cutting IRM functions; management of data; development of new applications, and operations and maintenance of IRM applications and systems.
G. National Law Enforcement Office (NLEO). The NLEO is located in Boise, Idaho and is managed by a Chief located in Washington, D.C. The office provides Bureauwide leadership, advice, and guidance on law enforcement, security, and investigative actions to protect resources under BLM jurisdiction. It identifies, develops, and maintains cognizant policy and procedures, and provides leadership and coordination in law enforcement and security matters, both internal and external to the BLM, and assists field teams in implementing those policies.
7/12/00 #3311
Replaces 12/13/99 #3293