U.S. Geological Survey Manual
U.S. Geological Survey Instructional Memorandum
No.: OOP-07-003
Issuance Date: March 25, 2008
Expiration Date: March 24, 2009
Subject: Revised Competitive Areas
Instructions: This Instructional Memorandum (IM) updates IM No. OOP-06-003.
1. Purpose. The purpose of this Instructional Memorandum (IM) is to document the new competitive areas for the Bureau.
2. Background. Competitive areas are established to define the boundaries within which employees compete for retention under reduction-in-force procedures. A competitive area is defined in terms of an organizational unit(s) and geographical location, and it must include all employees within the competitive area so defined. A competitive area may consist of all or part of an agency. The minimum competitive area is a subdivision of the agency under separate administration within the local commuting area. In USGS, competitive areas have been established primarily at the science center and/or office level.
This document reflects the change of Regional Executives from a single disciplinary focus in each region to a multidisciplinary focus in a geographic area. It also includes the following changes: (1) elimination of the competitive area for “Chief, Office of the Deputy Chief Financial Officer” (2) elimination of the competitive area for “Chief, Branch of Fiscal Services” (3) elimination of the competitive area for "Cascades Volcano Observatory" (4) elimination of the competitive areas for "Office of the Chief, Information Policy and Services" and "Chief Scientist for Information" and replacement with "Office of the Chief, Science Information and Education," (5) change of title of competitive area for "Chief, Office of Internal Control and Quality Assurance" to "Chief, Office of Internal Controls and Reporting," (6) change of title for "Office of the Chief Technology Officer" to "Office of the Chief, Information Technology and Security," (7) elimination of competitive area for "Chief, Office of Communications, Eastern Region," and (8) creation of a new separate competitive area for a Safety Branch established in each Office of Regional Services.
3. Responsibilities. The Office of Human Resources (OHR) is responsible for establishing Bureau competitive areas. OHR coordinates with and gains the concurrence of the managers of the affected organizations when establishing competitive areas.
4. Cancellation. Competitive areas are subject to periodic revision. This IM will remain in effect until March 24, 2009, or until superseded by a revision.
5. Prescribed Competitive Areas.
Area 1000 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Director
Area 1001 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Communications
Area 1002 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Budget and Performance
Area 1020 Local Commuting Area –All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Geospatial Information
Area 1030 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Biology
Area 1040 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Water
Area 1050 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Geography
Area 1070 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Geology
Area 1100 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Human Capital
Area 1101 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Human Resources
Area 1102 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Equal Opportunity
Area 1103 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Employee Development
Area 1210 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the National Geospatial Programs Office
Area 1220 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the National Geospatial Technical Operations Center
Area 1230 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Chief, Information Technology and Security
Area 1240 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Chief, Science Information and Education
Area 1310 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Chief Scientist for Biology
Area 1320 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Associate Chief Biologist for Information
Area 1330 Local commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of the Chief, Cooperative Research Unit
Area 1410 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief Scientist for Hydrology
Area 1420 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Water Information
Area 1430 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Surface Water
Area 1440 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Ground Water
Area 1450 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Water Quality including the Office of National Water Quality Assessment
Area 1510 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Land Remote Sensing
Area 1520 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Office of Geographic Analysis and Monitoring
Area 1530 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science
Area 1600 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Associate Director for Administrative Policy and Services
Area 1610 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Accounting and Financial Management
Area 1613 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Internal Controls and Reporting
Area 1630 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Management Services
Area 1640 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Business Information Systems
Area 1650 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Acquisition and Grants
Area 1660 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Office of Policy and Analysis
Area 1710 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief Scientist for Geology including the Science Information Resources Group
Area 2000 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Director, Eastern Region
Area 2200 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Regional Geospatial Information Office, Eastern Region
Area 2600 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Chief, Regional Services, Eastern Region
Area 2601 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Fiscal Services, Eastern Region
Area 2602 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Human Resources, Eastern Region
Area 2604 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Management Services, Eastern Region
Area 2605 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Acquisition and Grants, Eastern Region
Area 2606 Local Commuting Area – All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Safety Branch, Eastern Region
Area 2010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Northeast Area, Eastern Region
Area 2301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Leetown Science Center
Area 2302 Local Commuting Area – All positions reporting to and including the Director, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Area 2401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Connecticut Water Science Center
Area 2402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Maine Water Science Center
Area 2403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Maryland/Delaware/District of Columbia Water Science Center
Area 2404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Massachusetts/Rhode Island Water Science Center
Area 2406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, New Hampshire/Vermont Water Science Center
Area 2407 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, New Jersey Water Science Center
Area 2408 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, New York Water Science Center
Area 2409 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Pennsylvania Water Science Center
Area 2410 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Virginia Water Science Center
Area 2411 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, West Virginia Water Science Center
Area 2701 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Earth Surface Processes Team
Area 2702 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Coastal/Marine Geology Team
Area 2703 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Minerals Information Team
Area 3010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Southeast Area, Eastern Region
Area 3100 Local Commuting Area–All positions assigned to the Florida Integrated Science Center
Area 3401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Alabama Water Science Center
Area 3402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Georgia Water Science Center
Area 3403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Mississippi Water Science Center
Area 3404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, North Carolina Water Science Center
Area 3406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Caribbean Water Science Center
Area 3407 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, South Carolina Water Science Center
Area 3408 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Tennessee Water Science Center
Area 3501 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Eastern Geographic Science Center
Area 4010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Midwest Area, Eastern Region
Area 4301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Upper Midwest Environmental Science Center
Area 4302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, National Wildlife Health Center
Area 4303 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Great Lakes Science Center
Area 4401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Illinois Water Science Center
Area 4402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Indiana Water Science Center
Area 4403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Kentucky Water Science Center
Area 4404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Michigan Water Science Center
Area 4405 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Ohio Water Science Center
Area 4406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Wisconsin Water Science Center
Area 4701 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Mineral Resources Team
Area 4702 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Energy Resources Team
Area 5000 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Director, Central Region
Area 5600 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Chief, Regional Services, Central Region
Area 5601 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Fiscal Services, Central Region
Area 5602 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Human Resources, Central Region
Area 5603 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Management Services, Central Region
Area 5604 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Acquisition and Grants, Central Region
Area 5605 Local Commuting Area – All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Safety Branch, Central Region
Area 5200 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Regional Geospatial Information Office, Central Region
Area 5010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, North Central Area, Central Region
Area 5301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Area 5302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center
Area 5401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Iowa Water Science Center
Area 5402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Minnesota Water Science Center
Area 5403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Montana Water Science Center
Area 5404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Nebraska Water Science Center
Area 5405 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, North Dakota Water Science Center
Area 5406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, South Dakota Water Science Center
Area 5407 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Wyoming Water Science Center
Area 6010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, South Central Area, Central Region
Area 6301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Columbia Environmental Research Center
Area 6302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, National Wetlands Research Center
Area 6401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Arkansas Water Science Center
Area 6402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Kansas Water Science Center
Area 6403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Louisiana Water Science Center
Area 6404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Missouri Water Science Center
Area 6405 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Oklahoma Water Science Center
Area 6406 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Texas Water Science Center
Area 6501 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Mid-Continent Geographic Science Center
Area 7010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Rocky Mountain Area, Central Region
Area 7301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Fort Collins Science Center
Area 7401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Colorado Water Science Center
Area 7402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, New Mexico Water Science Center
Area 7501 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Rocky Mountain Geographic Science Center
Area 7701 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Mineral Resources Team
Area 7702 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Earth Surface Processes Team
Area 7703 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Energy Resources Team
Area 7704 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Geologic Hazards Team
Area 7705 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Crustal Imaging and Characterization Team
Area 8000 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Director, Western Region
Area 8200 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Regional Geospatial Information Office, Western Region
Area 8600 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Chief, Regional Services, Western Region
Area 8601 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Fiscal Services, Western Region
Area 8602 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Human Resources, Western Region
Area 8603 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Management Services, Western Region
Area 8604 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Branch of Acquisitions and Grants, Western RegionArea 8605 Local Commuting Area – All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Safety Branch, Western Region
Area 8010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Southwest Area, Western Region
Area 8301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Pacific Islands Ecosystem Research Center
Area 8302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Western Ecological Research Center
Area 8303 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Southwest Biological Science Center
Area 8401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Arizona Water Science Center
Area 8402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, California Water Science Center
Area 8403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Hawaii Water Science Center
Area 8404 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Nevada Water Science Center
Area 8405 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Utah Water Science Center
Area 8501 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Chief, Western Geographic Science Center
Area 8701 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Mineral Resources Team
Area 8702 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Earth Surface Processes Team
Area 8703 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Coastal and Marine Geology Team
Area 8704 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Earthquake Hazards Team
Area 8705 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Volcano Hazards Team
Area 8706 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Team Chief Scientist, Astrogeology Team
Area 9010 Local Commuting Area–All positions in the immediate Office of the Regional Executive, Northwest Area, Western Region
Area 9301 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center
Area 9302 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Western Fisheries Research Center
Area 9401 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Idaho Water Science Center
Area 9402 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Oregon Water Science Center
Area 9403 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Director, Washington Water Science Center
Area 9901 Local Commuting Area–All positions reporting to and including the Regional Executive for Alaska
Area 9911 Local Commuting Area-All positions assigned to the Alaska Integrated Science Center
Area 9800 Local Commuting Area–All departmental and field service positions in foreign geographical locations
(Signed)
________________________
S. Kaye Cook
Chief, Office of Human Resources