302.2 - Automatic Succession - Director
3/5/01
OPR: Director's Office
1. Purpose. Pursuant to the Vacancies Act, Part 302, Chapter 2 of the Departmental Manual requires that permanent arrangements be made for automatic succession of Presidentially-appointed, Senate-confirmed positions, such as the Director, U.S. Geological Survey. The purpose of this chapter is to designate automatic successors in compliance with this requirement. The Department has incorporated 290 DM 1 and 2 "Emergency Automatic Succession" into 302 DM "Automatic Succession," removing the distinction between "emergency" and "normal" automatic succession. Therefore, the section that included the Regional Directors as Designated Field Officials to Act for the Director in an Emergency is being abolished.
2. Authority. 5 U.S.C. 3345 et seq. (Vacancies Act)
3. Automatic Succession - Director. Subject to the Vacancies Act, the U.S. Geological Survey 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. Deputy Director
B. Chief, Office of Administrative Policy and Services
C. Associate Director for Geology
D. Associate Director for Water
E. Associate Director for Geography
F. Associate Director for Biology
G. Regional Director for Eastern Region
H. Regional Director for Central Region
I. Regional Director for Western Region