U.S. Geological Survey - Geologic Division

120.5 - Organization - Geologic Division

10/1/98

OPR: Geologic Division

1. General Functions. The Geologic Division (GD) is the Nation's primary provider of objective, relevant, and reliable earth-science information on geologic hazards, energy and mineral resources, geologic framework, and coastal and marine processes. To provide this information, the division conducts geological, geophysical, and geochemical surveys and investigations throughout the United States and its territories and continental shelves and cooperates in global geophysical monitoring and foreign disaster response. The division operates earthquake, crustal deformation, volcanologic, geomagnetic, marine, erosion, and climatological monitoring networks and arrays that provide information necessary for analysis and modeling of key geologic processes affecting the nature and quality of our Nation's lands, the safety and well-being of our people, and the Nation's economic and political security within the international arena. The division also collects, analyzes, and disseminates information on the domestic and international supply and demand for minerals and materials essential to the U.S. economy and National security. It conducts geologic mapping to establish the composition, structure, and geologic history of sediments and rocks at and beneath the earth's surface. These maps convey information critical to understanding and assessing our Nation's endowment of mineral and energy resources, to maintaining the environmental quality of our Nation's lands and waters, and to understanding and mitigating the effects of geologic hazards. The Geologic Division coordinates closely with a broad constituency of Federal, State, and local agencies; other public and private sector entities; and international agencies and institutions to assure that their earth-science information needs are identified and met in a timely manner. The information is made available in electronic and printed form as assessments, interpretative reports, maps, and data, and through personal communications such as workshops, forums, and meetings.

To accomplish this mission, the Geologic Division conducts surveys, investigations, and research on:

A. Natural disasters such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides, subsidence, erosion from coastal storms and hurricanes and geomagnetic storms that inflict on the Nation an average annual loss of scores of lives and billions of dollars of damage. Division activities provide information and data with which to make informed management and policy decisions that effectively reduce economic risks and improve public safety.

B. Natural geologic processes and phenomena and human-induced actions that operate at the earth's surface and control the evolution of landscapes and the resulting quality of our physical environment.

C. The location, quantity, quality, and availability of the Nation's mineral and energy resources. Assessments of undiscovered resources are used to develop effective and balanced land-use policies and to understand the environmental impacts of future mineral and energy production. Based on assessments, cost-effective management plans can be developed to anticipate and mitigate potential environmental problems.

D. The minerals economic cycle to include production, consumption, recycling, stock, and shipments for over 100 commodities and about 190 countries. The provided information and analysis is required to ensure that the Nation can have an adequate and dependable supply of minerals and materials to meet its defense and economic needs at acceptable environmental and economic costs.

E. The geologic and geophysical framework and natural processes that shape our nation's land, coastal and marine areas and affect human activities. Studies of these areas are necessary to assess hazards, ensure sustainable economic development, preserve sensitive biological habitats, and improve environmental health.

F. Global change and climate history. Studies of global environmental systems and past and present climate changes are necessary to document the natural variability of the climate system, to establish the environmental consequences of past climate change and likely future climate change for sensitive regions, and to monitor related physical properties that could indicate changing environmental conditions.

G. The physical framework and processes of planetary bodies. These activities include the analysis of remotely-sensed imagery, the preparation of thematic maps and imagery products, and the production of reports and data bases in support of mission activities of NASA.

The Geologic Division also provides scientific and technical assistance, domestically and abroad, to other Federal State, and local agencies; other public and private sector entities; and international agencies and institutions requiring geological, geophysical, and/or geochemical information and assessments.

2. Headquarters Organization. The headquarters office of GD is located in Reston, Virginia, and consists of: the Office of the Chief Geologist; the Office of the Associate Chief Geologist for Scientific Programs; and the Office of the Associate Chief Geologist for Program Operations.

A. The Office of the Chief Geologist is composed of the Chief Geologist, the Associate Chief Geologist for Scientific Programs and the Associate Chief Geologist for Program Operations who, with the assistance of immediate staff, exercise the general authority delegated by the Director for the planning, execution, and evaluation of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) geologic programs and the preparation and production of reports and publications.

B. Office of the Associate Chief Geologist for Scientific Programs has primary responsibility for the development and evaluation of the annual science plan which integrates the various programmatic activities with bureau, department, OMB, and Congressional priorities and the establishment of divisionwide program policy in addition to the management and oversight of activities associated with the establishment of national program goals, development and processing of project proposals, distribution of program funds, and evaluation of program accomplishments. Serves as primary advisor and consultant to the Chief Geologist and other Division managers as required on scientific program activities within the Division. Provides guidance and direction to the following organizational units:

(1) The Program Offices are responsible for the development of national program plans and annual operational plans, for coordinating, representing, and supporting programmatic activities within and outside of the bureau, for conducting program reviews, and for providing recommendations for program funding at the program and project level. The Program Offices include:

(2) Program Development Group has primary responsibility for the formulation and coordination of national program activities, including program definition, description, and analysis, program budget formulation, presentation, and defense, Congressional relations, program outreach and marketing. Serves as the program/budget liaison to the Bureau Program Office, the Bureau Congressional Liaison Office, the Bureau Public Affairs and Outreach Offices, other divisions within the bureau, other Federal agencies, and the general public.

(3) International Programs has primary responsibility for the development, coordination and support of bureauwide international travel activities including the processing of foreign travel certification requests, passports and visas, country-clearance official cables, foreign visitor authorizations, and serving as USGS liaison to the State Department. This Group also provides support and direction to GD managers and individual scientists in the development and implementation of international projects.

C. The Office of the Associate Chief Geologist for Program Operations has primary responsibility for the establishment of divisionwide operational policy in addition to the management and oversight of activities associated with budget and finance, human resources and information resources. Serves as primary advisor and consultant to the Chief Geologist and other Division managers as required on administrative and management activities within the Division. Provides guidance and direction to the following organizational units:

(1) The Division Administrative Services Group provides advice, formulation, and direction to management of an administrative nature in support of the division scientific program operations, including budget execution, financial accounting, management analysis, acquisition management, property management, records management, internal management controls, and audit coordination. This group develops administrative policies, procedures, and systems to be implemented on a divisionwide basis. This group also provides administrative and financial management support to the GD Headquarters organization.

(2) Human Resources Group provides advice and direction to management on human resources management in the following areas: Diversity Programs including the Graduate Intern Program; Educational Outreach to K-12; Employee Evaluation Processes including the Employee Evaluation and Promotion Process, the Performance Management System and the Awards and Recognition Program; Human Resource Initiative Funding in the areas of Education, Volunteerism, Training for Women, Minorities and Persons with Disabilities, and Recruitment; Equal Employment Opportunity Program; Personnel Policy, Staffing Issues and Position Management; Special Hiring Programs including the NAGT-USGS Cooperative Field Training Program, ECO, and the Guest Researchers (PostDoc) Program; Training; and the Volunteer for Science Program.

(3) Information Resources Group provides advice and consultation to management on information management planning and policy. The Group is the principal advisor to Division management on matters related to the execution of outreach, publications, data management, and library services activities.

3. Field Organization. The field organization of the GD consists of three regional offices, each led by a Regional Geologist. The Regional Geologists are responsible for implementing scientific program activities of the Division and developing and managing inter-division programs and projects and most reimbursable work supported by other Federal and State agencies. They exercise line management authority over program teams (each headed by a Chief Scientist) within their particular region, the level at which division programmatic activities are carried out. They are the principal GD contacts with State agencies including the State Geological Surveys, and are responsible for managing regional outreach and educational activities. They are responsible for regional administrative functions, including the management of regional facilities and the publications units that produce or help to prepare most of the division's reports and maps. Regional Geologists represent the interests of the Chief Geologist in furthering the objectives, policies, and procedures of the division. Regional Geologists represent the Geologic Division on bureau regional councils.

A. The Office of the Eastern Regional Geologist is located in Reston, Virginia. Provides guidance and direction to the following organizational units located in the Eastern Region:

B. The Office of the Central Regional Geologist is located in Lakewood, Colorado. Provides guidance and direction to the following organizational units located in the Central Region:

C. The Office of the Western Regional Geologist is located in Menlo Park, California. Provides guidance and direction to the following organizational units located in the Western Region:

U.S. Geological Survey Manual