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1.  Purpose.  Pursuant to the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (Vacancies Act), 302 DM 2 requires that permanent arrangements be made for automatic succession of Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed positions, such as the Director, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).  The purpose of this chapter is to designate automatic successors in compliance with this requirement.  

2.  Authority.  

A.  Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998, 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq.

B.  Concurrence of the Assistant Secretary—Water and Science, dated January 15, 2009, to the USGS Director’s memorandum, dated January 13, 2009, Designation of Succession for Presidentially Appointed, Senate Confirmed Positions.

3.  Automatic Succession - Director.  Subject to the Vacancies Act, the USGS positions listed below will automatically succeed the Director in the event of a vacancy or absence of the incumbent, in the order listed.  Incumbents in all of the positions listed are delegated the authority to perform all duties and responsibilities of the Director when required to ensure continued uninterrupted direction and supervision and to perform essential functions and activities of the office.  The authority of the Director should be exercised only when an official in one of the following positions is reasonably certain that no superior on the list is able and available to exercise the authority and when the nature of the situation requires immediate action.  Individuals exercising authority of the Director will be relieved of this responsibility as soon as a superior on the list is available and able to exercise the authority of the Director or when an official with the requisite authority designates a permanent or acting Director.  Individuals exercising the authority of the Director shall sign documents and use the title of the position occupied preceded by the word "Acting," and keep a record of important actions taken and the period during which the authority was exercised.

A.  Associate Director Geology.  

B.  Associate Director Water.

C.  Associate Director Geography.

D.  Associate Director for Biology.

E.  Associate Director for Geospatial Information.

F.  Deputy Director.

G.  Eastern Regional Director.

H.  Central Regional Director.

I.  Western Regional Director.

________________________________________                ___2/11/09__________

Suzette M. Kimball                                                                    Date
Acting Director, U.S. Geological Survey                                                  

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