Washington, D.C. 20530

November 15, 2002

MEMORANDUM FOR BUREAU PERSONNEL OFFICERS

This provides the annual review of the emergency dismissal and closure procedures which the Department follows in the event of inclement weather or other conditions or disruptions of Federal government operations leading to such decisions. The Department follows the procedures established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), acknowledging the need to avoid independent action in such circumstances, and to minimize disruption of the highway and mass transit systems. Accordingly, the attached memorandum and guidelines from OPM concerning current emergency dismissal or closure procedures for the Washington, DC, area are provided for your reference.

The procedures established by OPM are designed to apply to any situation which prevents significant numbers of employees in the Washington, DC, area from reporting to work on time, or which requires agencies to close all or part of their activities. The procedures are intended to apply to all employees (including employees telecommuting from an alternative work site) of executive agencies located inside the Washington Capital Beltway. They do not apply to employees of the U.S. Postal Service, the government of the District of Columbia, or private sector entities, including contractors. These groups are responsible for setting their own procedures and advising their employees of them. Facilities located outside the Beltway may wish to develop their own plans, since they are often subject to different weather and traffic conditions than those experienced inside the Beltway. However, under unusual circumstances OPM may issue guidelines affecting facilities outside the Beltway, as well. For employees of government offices outside of the Washington area facing such conditions or situations, Federal Executive Boards (FEBs) and Federal Executive Associations (FEAs) have established similar emergency dismissal or closure procedures tailored to their respective metropolitan areas.

In general, for each instance when conditions warrant, OPM officials will serve as the Federal government's point of contact, and will consult with appropriate municipal, regional, and mass transit officials before making a decision on closure, dismissal, or special leave treatment. After being briefed on conditions, the Director of OPM will make a decision on whether to curtail Federal operations. OPM will notify agency human resources directors of any decision. Agencies are responsible for providing the emergency dismissal or closure procedures to employees in advance of any need. Terms, such as "unscheduled leave," "delayed arrival," or "early dismissal," that may be used in media announcements should be identified and defined.

Please ensure that employees in your component receive a written copy of the procedures specified by OPM. You should inform employees of the procedures they are to follow for requesting leave when an "unscheduled leave" policy is announced. Any special notification procedures your component will follow in addition to the OPM procedures should be identified also. You will note that, in some situations, only "emergency employees" will be expected to report for work on time, or stay on in the event of an early dismissal. Each year, agencies are required to notify in writing those employees they have designated as "emergency employees" of their status. Please ensure that the employees of your components who have been designated as "emergency employees" are made aware of this in writing. In addition, you should inform any employees who are on shift work or alternative work schedules how the procedures for closure, dismissal, and special leave treatment are likely to affect them.

Questions from employees concerning these procedures should be referred to an appropriate person in their servicing personnel offices. Personnel specialists from your staff who need assistance interpreting the procedures and guidelines may contact Margaret Foskey, of the Personnel Staff's Policy Group, on (202) 514-6778, or via e-mail at Margaret.Foskey2@usdoj.gov. OPM will make the current "Washington, DC, Area Dismissal and Closure Procedures" available on their Web site at:   www.opm.gov/oca/compmemo/dismissal.htm. Announcements from OPM of current weather status and/or the status of Government operations will be available on the OPM web site at:   www.opm.gov. OPM's Office of Communications also will provide recorded messages on operating status on (202) 606-1900.

Attachment 1

Attachment 2

Return to the TOP