U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Performance and Accountability Report

Fiscal Year 2004
The Bureau at a Glance

History and Enabling Legislation

The USGS, created by an act in the final session of the 45th Congress in 1879, celebrated its 

125th anniversary this year. The USGS was established for the “classification of the public lands, 

and examination of the geological structure, mineral resources, and products of the national 

domain.” 

Mission

The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the Earth; minimize 

loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and 

protect our quality of life.

Strategic Goals

Resource Protection: Protect the Nation’s natural, cultural, and heritage resources

Resource Use: Manage resources to promote responsible use and sustain a dynamic economy

Serving Communitites: Safeguard lives, property and assets, advance scientific knowledge, and improve the quality 

 of life for communities we serve

Organization

Regions: Eastern, Central, and Western 

Scientific Disciplines: Biology, Geology, Geography, and Water

Programs: 

Employees

USGS has scientists, technicians, and support staff in every State with a total of approximately 9,500 employees.

Financial Resources

The Bureau’s FY2004 budget was approximately $1 billion.

Internet

The Bureau’s internet address is http://www.usgs.gov.

Performance and Accountability Report

Limited copies of the FY2004 Performance and Accountability Report were printed in black and white.

The FY2004 Performance and Accountability Report is available at: http://www.doi.gov/pfm/burrept.html.

Biological Informatics, Coastal and Marine Geology, Contaminant Biology, Cooperative 

Research Units - Biology, Cooperative Topographic Mapping, Cooperative Water, Earth 

Surface Dynamics, Earthquake Hazards, Energy Resources, Enterprise Information, 

Facilities, Fisheries: Aquatic and Endangered Resources, Geographic Analysis and 

Monitoring, Geomagnetism, Global Seismic Network, Ground Water Resources, Hydrologic 

Networks and Analysis, Hydrologic Research and Development, Invasive Species, Land 

Remote Sensing, Landslide Hazards, Mineral Resources, National Cooperative Geologic 

Mapping, National Streamflow Information, National Water-Quality Assessment, Science 

Support, Status and Trends of Biological Resources, Terrestrial, Freshwater, and Marine 

Ecosystems, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Volcano Hazards, Water Resources Research Act, 

and Wildlife: Terrestrial and Endangered Resources
Table of Contents

i

Introduction

Message from the Director. ..............................................................................ii

Message from the Chief Financial Officer. ......................................................iii

Message from the Chief, Office of Budget and Performance ........................... iv

SECTION I - Management Discussion and Analysis 

Overview of the Organization ......................................................................... 2

Strategic Goals ................................................................................................ 5

Performance Reporting .................................................................................... 8

Looking Forward ........................................................................................... 39

Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements ................................... 43

Analysis of Our Financial Statements ............................................................ 53

Limitations to Our Financial Statements ....................................................... 55

SECTION II - Basic Financial Statements

Consolidated Balance Sheet ........................................................................... 57

Consolidated Statement of Net Cost ............................................................. 58

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Position ...................................... 59

Combined Statement of Budgetary Resources ............................................... 60

Consolidated Statement of Financing ............................................................ 61

Notes to the Financial Statements ................................................................. 62

SECTION III - Required Supplemental Information

Combining Statements of Budgetary Resources by Major Budget Accounts .. 82

Working Capital Fund .................................................................................. 86

Deferred Maintenance ................................................................................... 89

SECTION IV - Required Supplemental Stewardship Information

General Stewardship Information .................................................................. 93

Heritage Assets – Museum Collections .......................................................... 95

Heritage Assets – Library Collections. ........................................................... 96

Research and Development Investments ........................................................ 98

SECTION V - Independent Auditors’ Report

Inspector General Transmittal Letter. .......................................................... 112

Independent Auditors’ Report ..................................................................... 114

SECTION VI - Appendices

A. Glossary of Acronyms ............................................................................ 127

B. Validation and Verification of Performance Measures. ............................ 130

C. Program Evaluation Data ...................................................................... 132

D. Significant FY2004 Accomplishments by USGS Employees .................. 134
Message from the Director

In FY2004, the USGS celebrated its 125th anniversary, marking a long and distinguished 

history of providing science information to the Nation. This Performance and Accountability 

Report (PAR) highlights examples of USGS science that inform decisions on earth processes 

and resources.

We are proud of the many contributions that USGS has made to the knowledge needed to 

manage public lands, protect human health, guide community decisions, and many other 

purposes. For example, USGS has provided essential information to:

• Protect lives, resources, and property. In the Fall of 2004, USGS scientists monitored 

the eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State. Seismic unrest at the volcano began 

on September 23rd. USGS scientists quickly expanded monitoring networks and issued appropriate warnings of the potential 

dangers of the eruption. They have provided continuous updates and information needed to protect people and aircraft 

from hazardous situations, as the volcano produced periodic steam and ash explosions that sent ash as high as 10,000 feet, 

accompanied by persistent seismic unrest. 

• Improve the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine resources. The USGS conducted fire ecology research to 

assist the National Park Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners to 

determine in advance if habitats are naturally vulnerable to or resistant to invasions of non-native species, enabling limited 

resources to be more effectively deployed both during and after fires.

• Sustain biological communities. The USGS developed statistical models to predict the distribution of mussels and 

fishes in large rivers using biological, physical, landscape, and hydraulic variables. A decision support system with spatial 

information on fish community distributions at large spatial scales for the Middle Mississippi River will enable the FWS to 

manage endangered, threatened, or at-risk species of native mussel and fish populations in large, managed rivers of the United 

States.

• Manage or influence resource use (energy). Systematic energy-resource analyses of the San Joaquin Basin, Barnett Shale, 

Raton Basin, Wyoming Thrust Belt, and Burgos Basin are the foundation of a multi-agency effort in which USGS provides the 

technically recoverable, undiscovered oil and gas resource assessments for land managing agencies. 

• Manage or influence resource use (non-energy minerals). A web-based geochemical database (http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2004/1001/), released in January of this year, includes data for approximately 71 percent of the land area of the United 

States, including sites in all 50 States. The web site provides complete access to the geochemical data, much of it collected in 

partnership with States; describes analytical methods used; and presents geochemical maps of the United States for all analyzed 

elements.

• Advance knowledge. Geospatial information now supports an ever-expanding range of management and 

decisionmaking activities by providing credible, accurate, and timely geographic information to policy makers and the public. 

The National Map provides a consistent framework for geographic knowledge and is based on partnerships. An example of 

these efforts is the innovative partnerships being used to develop the National Hydrography Dataset, which contains streams, 

lakes, and other bodies of water. The data are being developed by a consortium of the USGS, other Federal agencies and 

groups, States, regional organizations, and universities. The program saves money by sharing in the creation of the data and by 

using it multiple times to meet specific but diverse mission needs. 

The accomplishments described in this PAR attest to the diversity of USGS science conducted on behalf of the Nation and the 

importance of collaboration with partners in planning and implementing projects. 

For 125 years USGS has employed its talented work force and resources to support public health, public safety, and public 

prosperity. We look forward to the next 125 years of scientific advancement and dissemination of knowledge to inform the best 

decisions for the Nation’s resources.

Charles G. Groat

Director

October 2004

ii
i

The USGS continues on the path towards excellence in its business and financial 

practices which we believe supports our commitment to excellence in science. After 

several years of effort, we received an unqualified opinion on our Consolidated 

Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2003. The Independent Auditor’s Report 

identified four reportable conditions, one of which was a material weakness related 

to deficiencies in the USGS’ policies, procedures and controls over accounting for 

reimbursable agreements. In FY2004, corrective action plans were developed and 

implemented, and the Bureau has made substantial improvements in all areas of 

financial management. 

During FY2004, the USGS made measurable improvement to Information Technology. We developed and 

implemented an action plan to achieve compliance with the Federal Information Security Management Act. 

The resulting improvements to the USGS security infrastructure include: improved information technology 

security plans, enhanced computer incident response capabilities including reporting of security incidents to the 

Federal Computer Incident Response Center, annual incident response training of all personnel, and standard 

procedures for system configuration and patch management. The USGS also completed security certification 

and accreditation of all IT systems as of July 31, 2004. Additionally, we completed bureau-wide implementation 

of the new Federal Personnel Payroll System web-based Time and Attendance system, Quicktime, effectively 

eliminating stand-alone systems and providing the Bureau a single time and attendance system.

We continued our investment in training for the Bureau’s financial and administrative staff, conducting three 

regional workshops that addressed the annual financial operating schedule, Working Capital Fund policies and 

procedures, and reimbursable accounting. We recently hired two new senior staff, filling the vacant Chief of 

the Office of Accounting and Financial Management position and replacing the retired Chief of the Office of 

Fiscal Services. The Business Leaders Team and the Field Managers Team continued to play an important role by 

providing advice and insight on business practices to ensure that we effectively meet our challenges and goals. 

We established a Configuration Management Committee (CMC) and Technical Review Board (TRB) to 

provide oversight and guidance for enhancements and changes to the “Budget and Science Information System” 

(BASIS+), the system that provides to our scientists and managers an automated tool for planning and tracking 

their work. The CMC in conjunction with the TRB will ensure that BASIS+ is responsive to our program 

manager’s needs and provides information necessary to make financial decisions. 

The result of these efforts is an unqualified opinion on all of the basic financial statements as of and for the 

year ended September 30, 2004. The opinion also identified two reportable conditions, neither of which was a 

material weakness. The USGS is proud of the extraordinary efforts given by all our employees and most especially 

our program managers who have over the last year worked to ensure that internal control procedures were 

implemented effectively. The successful outcome of our FY2004 audit is attributable to this level of commitment 

and diligence. 

We will continue our endeavors to maintain and improve upon the successes we have achieved over the last two 

years. To that end, I am committed to supporting integrated science with modern systems and processes in an 

environment of competent and accountable financial management. 

Carol F. Aten

Chief Financial Officer and

Chief, Administrative Policy and Services

October 2004

Message from the Chief Financial Officer

iii
Integrating planned performance with budget requests and actual accomplishments with 

financial and performance reports is fundamental to understanding what is being achieved in 

relation to what is being spent. Since FY2002, USGS has worked with the Department of the 

Interior and the Administration to establish accurate and meaningful performance measures 

for its programs in accordance with the President’s Management Agenda. The USGS has 

been particularly successful in this endeavor, owing to the physical integration of its budget, 

regional, and planning and performance teams in its Office of Budget. Working in constant 

contact, these teams jointly develop and produce budget and performance documents that are 

fully integrated with respect to description of base programs and analyses, their funding and 

FTE implications, and what the standards of their performance will be and how they will be 

evaluated. The three teams work closely with Bureau program staff to understand and evaluate 

the science programs’ budget and performance levels, ensuring delivery of mission and responsiveness to USGS executive 

management decisions, Departmental concerns, and Administration policies. The result of this close coordination has 

been a commendation by the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget on the functional organization and 

coordination of budget and performance planning for USGS within the Office of Budget.

USGS employs a robust, cyclic requirement for science planning, program reviews, cost center reviews, management control 

reviews, and peer reviews and continues to refine these processes. Program evaluations are the foundation on which USGS 

gauges performance relative to the DOI End Outcome measure for soundness of methodology, accuracy, and reliability 

of science. External reviews from the GAO, OMB, Office of the Inspector General, and other organizations, such as the 

National Academy of Public Administration and the National Research Council are critical to maintaining the USGS’ 

reputation for scientific excellence and credibility as well as providing guidance for future research needs. The evaluations 

not only improve the accountability and quality of programs, but also identify and address gaps in programs; redirect or 

reaffirm program directions; identify and provide guidance for development of new programs; and review and/or motivate 

managers and scientists. Another means of ensuring product quality and relevance is Standard Customer Satisfaction/

Outcome Surveys which we began in FY2001. Since then, more than 1,500 customers, mostly scientists and resource 

managers, have described their satisfaction with various aspects of more than 30 different USGS science products. Many 

enhancements have been made to these products in response to the expressed needs of our customers. While the surveys all 

follow the same format, each one is modified to meet a specific program’s customer information needs, and the final result of 

each survey is immediately useful to the program manager. The results meet the goals of the Department’s Unified Strategic 

Plan.

This array of tools is now supplemented further and coordinated with OMB Program Assessment Rating Tool evaluations, 

and is also beginning to include the results of Activity Based Cost/Management (ABC/M) to further instruct our planning 

processes. Cost management information will help our employees and the public that we serve better understand what 

it costs to deliver quality products and services, such as the cost of producing geospatial data or monitoring for volcano 

and earthquake hazards. Capturing the cost of work will also help the USGS better document our basis for cost-share 

projects, and cost recovery. In FY2004 USGS actively participated in the Department’s ABC/M oversight efforts to “get 

the work activities right,” by reviewing 326 DOI work activities for commonality and distinctions, challenging models and 

assumptions to define common ground, improving activity definitions, and realigning bureau work activities with a revised 

set of DOI activities for implementation in FY2005 to ensure continuous improvement in accuracy and usefulness of the 

information. Several years of implementation will be needed to standardize processes, to ensure consistency of interpretation 

and application of work activity definitions across the organization and across the scientific disciplines, and to identify 

trends in the data that can lead to programmatic decisions. 

USGS is committed to science and management excellence.

Carla Burzyk

Chief, Office of Budget and Performance

October 2004

Message from the Chief, Office of Budget and Performance

iv
Section I

Management Discussion and Analysis

A USGS scientist conducts a mussel survey in Big Bend National Park in Southwest Texas as part of the Rio Grande Bioassessment 

being conducted with the National Park Service.

 1

Contents

Overview of the Organization ............................................................................... 2

Strategic Goals ...................................................................................................... 5

Performance Reporting .......................................................................................... 8

Looking Forward ................................................................................................. 39

Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements ......................................... 43

Analysis of Our Financial Statements .................................................................. 53

Limitations to Our Financial Statements ............................................................. 55
The USGS serves the Nation as an 

independent fact-finding agency that 

collects and analyzes natural resource data 

and provides scientific understanding about 

conditions, issues, and problems. The USGS 

is the science provider of choice for accessing 

information and understanding to help 

resolve complex natural resource problems 

across the Nation and around the world. 

Created by an act of Congress in 1879, the 

USGS celebrated its 125th anniversary this year. When 

the USGS was established, the Federal government 

held title to more than 1.2 billion acres of land, nearly 

all of it west of the Mississippi River, and only 200 

million acres of this land had been surveyed. John 

Wesley Powell, who led one of the great western surveys 

that preceded the creation of the USGS and who later 

served as the second USGS Director, suggested that 

very little of the remaining public land was suitable for 

conventional farming and that only a small fraction of 

the arid land was irrigable using known resources. Powell 

proposed radical changes in the land system, including 

organization of irrigation and pasturage districts, to 

improve management of water and natural resources by 

sociopolitical institutions, based on natural science. One 

hundred twenty five years later, the USGS continues 

to provide the scientific foundation to ensure the best 

planning and the best decision-making. 

Today, the USGS is sought out by thousands of partners 

and customers for its natural science expertise and its vast 

earth and biological data holdings. The value of USGS 

to the Nation rests on its ability to carry out studies on 

a national scale and to sustain long-term monitoring 

and assessment of natural resources. Because it has no 

regulatory or management mandate, the USGS provides 

impartial science that serves the needs of our changing 

world. Its diversity of scientific expertise enables the 

USGS to carry out large-scale, multi-disciplinary 

investigations that build the base of knowledge about 

the Earth. In turn, decision makers at all 

levels of government and citizens in all walks 

of life have the information they need to 

address pressing societal issues.

The thousands of scientists, technicians, 

and support staff of the USGS are located 

in nearly 400 offices in every State and in 

several foreign countries. With an annual 

budget exceeding $1 billion, the USGS 

leverages its resources and expertise in 

partnership with more than 2,000 agencies of State, 

local and Tribal governments, the academic community, 

other Federal agencies, non-governmental organizations, 

and the private sector. Field investigations, direct 

observations of natural science processes and phenomena, 

and monitoring and data collection are the scientific 

hallmarks of the USGS.

The USGS is proud of its outstanding history of public 

service and staying at the forefront of advances in 

understanding the Earth, its processes, and its resources. 

USGS scientists pioneered hydrologic techniques 

for gaging the discharge in rivers and streams and 

modeling the flow of complex ground-water systems. 

Innovative ventures with the private sector have given 

the world access to digital images of neighborhoods 

and communities in one of the largest data sets ever 

made available online. Modern-day understanding 

of the formation and location of energy and mineral 

resource deposits is rooted in fundamental scientific 

breakthroughs by USGS scientists. USGS biologists 

revolutionized thinking about managing wildlife 

resources, providing a sound scientific basis for waterfowl 

conservation and recreational hunting to work in tandem 

as adaptive management, not as conflicting interests. 

Advances in seismology are making early warnings of 

earthquakes a reality that will give the needed alert time 

to save lives. The future of the global community presents 

unprecedented opportunities for the science of the USGS 

“For 125 years, the USGS has provided the DOI, the Nation, and the world with the 

science needed to make important decisions and safeguard society. I am delighted to 

have the opportunity to mark this significant anniversary and invite you to join us as we 

celebrate 125 years of science for America--the mission that has guided us, the people and 

traditions that have shaped us, the science that has made us great, and the partnerships 

that will continue to help us achieve our goals for the next 125 years.” 

Dr. Chip Groat at the 125th anniversary celebration

Vision

The USGS is a world 

leader in the natural 

sciences through our 

scientific excellence 

and responsiveness to 

society’s needs.

2 Management Discussion and Analysis - Overview
to continue to make substantive and 

life-enhancing contributions to the 

betterment of the Nation and the 

world.

The USGS addresses both national 

program priorities and local science 

needs on the landscape through 

a matrix management approach. 

National programs are overseen 

by Associate Directors for each 

discipline and administered by Program Coordinators at 

Headquarters in Reston, Virginia. Regional Directors, 

Regional Executives for each discipline, and Science 

Coordinators are deployed across the Nation, bringing 

Bureau leadership and programs 

closer to customers and their issues. 

Together, they ensure the quality of our 

science and its relevance to the needs 

of land and resource management 

decisionmakers. Together, they offer 

holistic science solutions by bringing 

to bear the expertise of scientists 

from multiple disciplines, integrating 

science to confront the complexity of a 

continually changing world. Together, 

USGS resources and science benefit not only the 

immediate needs of partners and customers but also the 

Nation as a whole through application of the results to 

similar issues across the country and into the future. 

Management Discussion and Analysis - Overview 3

Strategic Direction

The USGS will combine and 

enhance our diverse programs, 

capabilities, and talents and 

increase customer involvement to 

strengthen our science leadership 

and contribution to the resolution 

of complex issues.
The USGS has major field centers for the three regions in 

Reston, Virginia (Eastern), Denver, Colorado (Central), 

and Menlo Park, California (Western). The USGS 

rents 4.5 million square feet of space in about 220 GSA 

buildings nationwide and owns 35 installations with 1.2 

million square feet of space in 280 owned buildings. The 

USGS operations include: 

• an earthquake monitoring network comprising a 

global seismographic network of 130 stations located 

worldwide with national and regional networks 

located throughout 35 states and territories and the 

National Earthquake Information Center in Golden, 

Colorado; 

• 14 geomagnetic observatories; 

• a landslide network and the National Landslide 

Information Center;

• a volcano hazards network and volcano observatories 

in five states to monitor 49 U.S. volcanoes;

• 17 biological science centers and associated field 

stations and a center for biological informatics;

• approximately 7,000 streamgages and water quality 

monitors, the National Water Quality Laboratory, and 

the Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility; 

• production and distribution facilities that manage 

more than 55,000 topographic maps, 2.6 petabytes 

of cartographic and digital data stored at EROS Data 

Center, and archive aerial photographs, and 32 years 

of global satellite data; 

• an average of 10,800,000 

successful requests made to the 

USGS home page every month, 

an average of 400,000 customer 

inquiries made to USGS 

libraries and Earth Science 

Information Centers annually, 

more than 25,000 scientific and 

technical publications previously 

available only in paper made 

electronically accessible, and an 

average of 19,000 SPAM and 

virus messages blocked daily by 

IT security operation; and

• affiliation with 40 Cooperative 

Research Units and 54 State 

Water Resources Research 

Institutes.

The Eastern region is composed of 

26 States, the District of Columbia, 

the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, 

and the U.S. Virgin Islands and has approximately 3,300 

employees distributed across duty stations throughout 

the region. USGS Eastern region offices are located 

at 175 sites in the 26 States east of the Mississippi 

River, plus Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The 

Central region is composed of 15 States between the 

Mississippi River and the western slope of the Rocky 

Mountains. Approximately 2,700 employees and 900 

onsite contractors are distributed in 76 cities and 21 field 

offices across the Central region. The Western region 

is composed of nine western States, Guam, American 

Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands. 

Approximately 2,500 employees are distributed in 33 

cities and 64 field offices across the Western region. The 

Headquarters location in Reston, Virginia, is within 

the District of Columbia metropolitan area and has 

approximately 1,000 employees stationed in Reston and 

in several foreign countries.

The USGS vision, mission, and strategic direction focus 

on responsiveness and customer service, underscoring 

the application of science to customer, partner, and other 

stakeholder needs; directing the combined expertise 

of the Bureau’s scientific disciplines; and defining its 

commitment to pursuing an integrated approach to 

providing science for a changing world. All support the 

DOI’s unified Strategic Plan implemented in FY2004.

4 Management Discussion and Analysis - Overview
 Strategic Goal Resource Protection: Protect the Nation’s Natural, Cultural, and 

 Heritage Resources

 End Outcome Goal: Improve the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine resources 

 that are DOI managed or influenced in a manner consistent with 

 obligations regarding the allocation and use of water

 End Outcome Goal: Sustain biological communities on DOI managed and influenced 

 lands and waters in a manner consistent with obligations regarding 

 the allocation and use of water

 Strategic Goal Serving Communities: Safeguard Lives, Property, and Assets; Advance 

 Scientific Knowledge; and Improve the Quality of Life for the

 Communities We Serve

 End Outcome Goal: Protect lives, resources, and property 

 End Outcome Goal: Advance knowledge through scientific leadership and inform 

 decisions through the applications of science

 Strategic Goal Resource Use: Manage Resources to Promote Responsible Use and 

 Sustain a Dynamic Economy

 End Outcome Goal: Energy – Manage or influence resource use to enhance public benefit, 

 promote responsible use, and ensure optimal value 

 End Outcome Goal: Non-Energy minerals – Manage or influence resource use to enhance 

 public benefit, promote responsible use, and ensure optimal value

Management Discussion and Analysis - Strategic Goals 5
Strategic Goals

In the past, each DOI Bureau prepared an individual 

strategic plan outlining missions, responsibilities, 

organizations, programs, and measureable 

performance goals linked to five Government 

Performance Results Act (GPRA) goals. Providing 

Science for a Changing World was the goal that 

was the focus of USGS financial and performance 

results. As the DOI planned for the future, Secretary 

Gale Norton endorsed a dramatic change in the 

fundamental structure of performance planning and 

execution: a logic model (see performance model 

on next page) was used to revise GPRA goals across 

the organization and create one Department-wide 

strategic plan implementated in FY2004. It provides 

the Department a set of consistent goals with a 

common agenda and the means to increase focus 

on performance results; helps to make managers 

more accountable; and creates a springboard for 

communication, collaboration, and coordination in 

the interest of conservation with interested citizens, 

organizations, and constituents on a shared future 

direction.

DOI CHANGED ITS STRATEGIC PLAN

FY2003 GPRA GOALS FY2004 GPRA GOALS

Protect the environment and 

preserve our Nation’s natural 

and cultural resources

Resource Protection: Protect 

the Nation’s natural, cultural, 

and heritage resources

Provide recreation for America Recreation: Provide 

recreation 

opportunities for America

Manage natural resources for 

a healthy environment and a 

strong economy

Resource Use: Manage 

natural resources to promote 

responsible use and sustain a 

dynamic economy

Provide science for a changing 

world

Meet our trust responsibilities 

to Indian tribes and our 

commitments to island 

communities

Serving Communities: 

Safeguard lives, property, 

and assets; advance scientific 

knowledge; and improve 

the quality of life for the 

communities we serve

The previous five DOI GPRA goals were replaced with 

four GPRA mission goals, supported by seventeen 

Department-level end outcome goals. USGS activities in 

FY2004 focus on three of the new DOI GPRA goals and 

six of the DOI’s seventeen end outcome goals. USGS 

activities in relation to the GPRA goals are described 

below.

Serving communities strategic goal: Safeguard lives, 

property, and assets; advance scientific knowledge; and 

improve the quality of life for the communities we 

serve. The USGS geologic hazards programs produce 

information and understanding that reduce the impact 

of natural hazards and disasters on human life and the 

economy. USGS analyses of the availability and quality 

of water resources help to develop, regulate, and monitor 

management practices to ensure the continued availability 

of water resources for human consumption, agriculture, 

business, recreation, and environmental stability. The 

USGS geography program is expanding its partnerships 

with Federal agencies and State and local governments 

to develop and promote the use of geographic data and 

mapping products that are essential for economic and 

community development, land and natural resource 

management, and health and safety services. 

Resource use strategic goal: Manage natural resources to 

promote responsible use and sustain a dynamic economy. 

USGS information on the availability and extraction of 

mineral, oil, gas, and alternative energy resources is a 

primary Federal source of objective resource assessments 

and unbiased research on mineral, oil, gas, and 

alternative energy potential, production, consumption, 

and environmental effects. The USGS will continue to 

conduct national and global energy resource assessments 

of oil, natural gas, coalbed natural gas, gas hydrates, 

and coal resources, as well as evaluate their risks for 

environmental and ecological degradation associated 

with the production and use of energy resources. 

These investigations enable the Nation to make sound 

decisions regarding domestic energy production with an 

understanding of potential impacts on the environment.

Resource protection strategic goal: Protect the Nation’s 

natural, cultural, and heritage resources. USGS biological 

studies assist in maintaining healthy ecosystems and 

natural resources so that these habitats can continue 

to provide food, energy, medicine, transportation, 

and recreation. The USGS will continue to serve the 

biological research needs of DOI Bureaus and others 

by providing scientific information through research, 

inventory, and monitoring investigations. Information

6 Management Discussion and Analysis - Strategic Goals
Management Discussion and Analysis - Strategic Goals 7

generated by the biological research program 

contributes to achieving DOI Bureau goals 

for improved management of the Nation’s 

land and water resources and improved 

decision-making regarding land and resources 

use.

Last year, USGS reported all activities under 

two end outcome goals: environment and 

natural resources and hazards, which rolled 

into the DOI strategic goal of providing 

science for a changing word. In FY2004, 

the USGS is reporting all activities under six 

end outcome goals listed in the charts on the 

previous page, which roll into the three DOI 

strategic goals also listed in the charts on the 

previous page.

Performance Plan Development and 

Implementation

The DOI Strategic Plan provides a highlevel overview of performance, setting large 

mission goals and broad program objectives. 

 

Its greatest value, day-by-day, comes from 

connecting that larger view with each day’s 

ground-level work. 

Because the plan sets up a clear hierarchy of objectives, 

organized from mission to strategic goal to program, it 

demonstrates how each Bureau’s work contributes to 

DOI’s end results. Targets are set at every level, providing 

numerical measures of USGS accomplishment. 

The plan structure is focused on end outcomes, 

selected high-priority intermediate outcomes, and on 

performance measures, indicators, and output that verify 

progress toward outcome achievement. Just as each 

mission area has its own strategic goals, each strategic 

goal has its own end outcome goals and measures. 

Supporting those, in turn, are intermediate outcome 

goals and measures, with outputs and inputs below that.

Outputs are typically quantifiable products of work 

processes or activities. Activity-based costing, in its first 

year of implementation at USGS, holds the potential 

to connect outputs to costs and create a powerful 

management tool for identifying superior efficiencies, 

focus attention on achievement and innovation, and 

move more quickly to spread best practices throughout 

the organization.

Performance measures are also generated through 

application of OMB’s Program Assessment Rating Tool 

(PART).

Those measures and their performance results are 

included with the strategic plan measures within the 

tables to follow. The following legend applies:

Ω Target Not Met

∆ Target Exceeded

√ Target Met

Summary Performance Result Each analysis of results 

begins with Target Met; Target Not Met; or Target 

Exceeded. USGS is applying the Department’s 5% 

threshold application in determining the result, which 

dictates that if the result is within 5% of the target 

performance, this generates a “goal met” rating. The 

summary result for actual or estimated values that are 

less than 95% or more than 105% of the target must be 

either Target Not Met or Target Exceeded, respectively.
Resource Protection: Protect the Nation’s Natural, Cultural and Heritage Resources

End Outcome Goal:

Improve the health of watersheds, landscapes, and marine resources that are DOI managed or influenced in a 

manner consistent with obligations regarding the allocation and use of water

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Restore and maintain proper functions to watersheds and landscape

√ Restore Fire Adapted Ecosystems: Percent satisfaction with scientific 

and technical products (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 97% ≥ 80% 100%

FY2004 Performance Outputs:

Ω Number of systematic analyses and investigations delivered to 

customers

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

11 11 11 41

√ Number of formal workshops or training provided to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

1 1 1 1

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Forge Effective Partnerships: Satisfaction score (number score) on 

resource protection partnerships (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 97% ≥ 80% 97%

√ Customer Satisfaction: Percent satisfaction with scientific and 

technical products and assistance 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 97% ≥ 80% 97%

√ Customer Satisfaction: Timeliness of scientific and technical products 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

95% 93% ≥ 80% 93%

√ Customer Satisfaction: Usefulness of scientific and technical products 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

98% 97% ≥ 80% 97%

√ Quality: Percentage of watershed and landscape-related research 

studies validated through appropriate peer review or independent review 

(DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 100%

8 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 9

FY2004 Performance Results

√ Facilities Condition: Conservation and biological research facilities are 

in fair to good condition as measured by the Facilities Condition Index 

(lower FCI is good) 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a .24 .24

FY2004 Performance Outputs:

Ω Number of systematic analyses and investigations delivered to 

customers

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

143 151 148 1071

√ Number of new or improved decision support tools 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

0 1 1 1

Ω Number of formal workshops or training provided to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

63 63 63 1

Biology Accomplishments

Fire Science Research: Terrestrial, Freshwater, and 

Marine Ecosystems

This project supports fire ecology research to determine 

the role of fire in the restoration of non-forested 

ecosystems, the role of fire in the control and spread 

of invasive plants, and the effectiveness of fire/fuel 

treatments to reduce fire hazard. 

Annual grasses have invaded scrubland and forest 

ecosystems in Western North America and are linked to 

changes in plant communities and altered fire regimes. 

This has occurred over vast expanses of public lands in 

the Great Basin and the Mojave Desert, and is a threat to 

lower elevation yellow pine forests. Fire has the potential 

for contributing the most to annual grass invasion 

in low nutrient soils. Soil nutrient changes can vary 

widely depending on soil properties and the amount and 

duration of soil heating.

Results of the study were conveyed to the NPS, BLM, 

FWS, and other client agencies in progress and annual 

reports, peer-reviewed journal articles, oral presentations, 

databases, Geographic Information System (GIS) 

products, publication briefs, Web sites, and other forms 

of outreach.

With this information, managers can determine in 

advance if habitats are naturally vulnerable or resistant 

to invasions, enabling limited resources to be more 

effectively deployed both during and after fires. 

Targets Met = 9 Targets Not Met = 3 Targets Exceeded = 0

Summary Performance Result

1Systematic analyses and workshops/training are funded by multiple sources for multiple purposes resulting in difficulty 

ensuring that a product is counted only once and deciding which goal it supports. This is further complicated by the 

actual products being customer driven, which also influences the goal to which they are associated, compared against 

a target set well before requirements and customers are identified. There is no effect on overall program or activity 

performance.
Resource Protection: Protect the Nation’s Natural, Cultural, and Heritage Resources

End Outcome Goal:

Sustain biological communities on DOI-managed and -influenced lands and waters in a manner consistent with 

obligations regarding the allocation and use of water

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Create habitat conditions for desired biological communities to flourish

√ Invasive Species - Prevention: Percentage of invasive species research 

focused on pathways and prevention methods 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

2% 8% 7% 7%

∆ Invasive Species - Early Detection: Percentage of invasive species 

research focused on detection and assessments of new invasions 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

2% 3% 5% 8%

√ Invasive Species - Rapid Response: Percentage of invasive species 

research focused on rapid management response to new invaders 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

<1% <1% 2% 1%

√ Invasive Species - Control & Management: Percentage of invasive 

species research focused on providing information and methods for 

control and management of established invasive species 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

95% 89% 86% 84%

√ Invasive Species - Forge Effective Partnerships: Satisfaction score 

(number score) on biological research partnerships 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 97% ≥ 80% 99%

FY2004 Performance Outputs:

∆ Number of systematic analyses and investigations delivered to 

customers

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

16 20 24 51

√ Number of formal workshops or training provided to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

1 1 1 1

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Forge Effective Partnerships: Satisfaction score (number score) on 

biological research partnerships (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 97% ≥ 80% 98%

10 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 11

FY2004 Performance Results

√ Shared Data: Percentage of DOI databases with species information 

that is available throughout DOI and other partners 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 100%

√ Customer Satisfaction: Percent satisfaction with DOI scientific and 

technical information

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 99% ≥ 80% 98%

√ Customer Satisfaction: Timeliness of scientific and technical 

information 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

97% 97% ≥ 80% 97%

√ Customer Satisfaction: Usefulness of scientific and technical 

information 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

99% 98% ≥ 80% 98%

√ Quality: Percentage of biological research studies validated through 

appropriate peer review or independent review (DOI strategic plan key 

measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 100%

√ Facilities Condition: Conservation and biological research facilities are 

in fair to good condition as measured by the Facilities Condition Index 

(lower FCI is good) (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a .19 .19

FY2004 Performance Outputs:

√ Number of systematic analyses and investigations delivered to 

customers

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

816 796 813 797

√ Number of long-term data collections maintained 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

8 9 10 10

√ Number of new or improved decision support tools 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

2 1 1 1

Ω Number of formal workshops or training provided to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

125 97 126 702

Targets Met = 15 Targets Not Met = 1 Targets Exceeded = 2

Summary Performance Result

2Workshops/training are funded by multiple sources for multiple purposes resulting in difficulty ensuring that a 

product is counted only once and deciding which goal it supports. This is further complicated by the actual products 

being customer driven, which also influences the goal to which they are associated, compared against a target set well 

before requirements and customers are identified. There is no effect on overall program or activity performance.
Upper Mississippi River near Genoa, WI. The island picture is a constructed 

island designed to replace those lost to erosion from lock and dam operations. 

Biology Accomplishments 

River and Stream Ecosystems, Living Resources, 

Human Uses, and Impact Mitigation in the Upper and 

Middle Mississippi River Basins: Fisheries: Aquatic and 

Endangered Resources

The USGS developed aquatic systems models from 

assessments of the biological and physical health of 

river biota and habitats to provide resource managers 

with appropriate data and analytical tools to develop 

scientifically sound adaptive management plans for 

multiple uses of river resources, including aquatic species 

and habitat management and restoration, water and 

human health protection, and river management.

This multi-disciplinary project investigated nutrient 

cycling and aquatic species and habitats in the largest 

river system in the United States. The fisheries-related 

tasks focus on the effects of river and watershed 

management on at-risk species (native mussels) and 

important fish populations. These tasks help determine 

if the physical-chemical condition of the Upper 

Mississippi River can be used to estimate and predict the 

productivity and available habitat for aquatic organisms, 

including fish and plants, and determine if the habitat 

is limiting. Determining the effects of waterborne 

pharmaceuticals from feedlots, aquaculture facilities, and 

personal care products on fish, aquatic organisms, and 

potentially human health in the Mississippi Basin are 

an associated task with a focus on areas in the national 

refuge and national park systems.

The USGS developed statistical models to predict the 

distribution of mussels and fishes in large rivers using 

biological, physical, landscape, and hydraulic variables. 

A decision support system with spatial information on 

fish community distributions at large spatial scales will 

be developed for the Middle Mississippi River. The FWS 

will use the information, models, and tools to manage 

endangered, threatened, or at-risk species of native mussel 

and fish populations in large, managed rivers of the U.S. 

models of areas of concern where aquatic populations and 

habitats may be at risk from affected waters. Some of the 

products will be completed in FY2005.

The FWS and the EPA provide financial support for 

these tasks. The FWS applies the information to the 

management and restoration of aquatic species and 

habitats in the Mississippi River. The EPA funds the 

tasks that evaluate the effects of different spill and river 

management actions on aquatic populations and habitats, 

including potentially contaminated water supplies. The 

U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (USCOE) may apply 

information to spill management and to management 

backwaters for aquatic populations. The FWS and the 

NPS use the information to manage aquatic species and 

habitats under their responsibility in the Mississippi 

Basin.

Population and Habitat Ecology of Virginia’s Hunted 

Black Bear Population

The USGS conducted research on Virginia’s hunted black 

bear population to estimate important demographic 

variables, determine effects of hunting, 

describe essential habitats, and provide the 

basis for developing a bear management 

plan for Virginia.

Prior to the initiation of this 10-year bear 

study, Virginia’s annual bear harvest was 

steadily increasing, but there was no data 

on the number of bears in Virginia, the 

number of bear hunters, or the harvest 

rate. In addition, animal rights groups 

had successfully stopped bear hunting in 

several States, arguing that the States lacked 

sufficient data on their bear populations to 

permit hunting. Virginia was vulnerable 

to the same argument. Thus, the Virginia 

Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, 

12 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 13

along with the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), commissioned 

this study to provide them with the kinds of data they 

could use to manage bears in a more informed way and 

to develop a Statewide bear management plan.

The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries 

used the information from this study to develop a bear 

management plan for Virginia and to alter the harvest 

strategy. In addition, they used data from this research to 

successfully argue for restrictions on bear chase and for 

the banning of feeding bears on both private and public 

lands in Virginia. As a final product of this research, 

the USGS will prepare a document designed for day-today use by wildlife managers in Virginia and elsewhere 

in dealing with bear-related issues. It will contain the 

most in-depth and up-to-date information on black bear 

ecology in the Appalachian Mountains.

Barrens Topminnow

USGS scientists and cooperators are monitoring the 

stocking program of a multi-agency task force trying 

to establish new populations of an imperiled fish 

species, the Barrens Topminnow (Fundulus julisia), 

and are identifying factors that influence the fate and 

persistence of stocked fish. The task force is comprised of 

representatives from the FWS, the Nature Conservancy 

of Tennessee, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, 

Tennessee Technological University, the Tennessee 

Aquarium, and Conservation Fisheries, Inc.

The Barrens Topminnow is endemic to the Barrens 

Plateau Region of middle Tennessee, but its continued 

survival is uncertain. This species inhabits small spring 

pools at the headwaters of first-order streams. Land-use 

practices have altered many of these spring habitats, and 

an exotic competitor and potential predator, the Western 

Mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), has invaded most of 

these habitats throughout the topminnows’ former and 

current range. Currently, only four wild populations 

are known, and each consists of several hundreds, not 

thousands, of individuals. The State of Tennessee lists the 

Barrens Topminnow as threatened, and some authorities 

consider it one of the most imperiled fish species in 

Eastern North America. The Barrens Topminnow is not 

yet listed under the Endangered Species Act because of 

ongoing efforts to establish new populations. Recovery 

of the species will not occur without identifying the 

factors that influence the population dynamics of stocked 

and wild Barrens Topminnows.

Field and laboratory investigations have produced similar 

findings: mosquitofish suppress Barrens Topminnow 

populations. Reproduction and recruitment by 

stocked topminnows is essentially nil in the presence 

of mosquitofish. USGS scientists documented longterm persistence of topminnows stocked as adults, 

even in habitats supporting dense populations of 

mosquitofish, but no recruitment by topminnows 

was observed. Laboratory studies demonstrated that 

larval and juvenile topminnows were preyed upon or 

injured by mosquitofish. One report summarizing 

the field component of this study was presented to the 

task force in March 2004, and one report summarizing 

the laboratory study was distributed in August 2004. 

Additional field studies are also underway to monitor 

the fate and persistence of topminnows scheduled to be 

stocked by the task force later in 2004 and 2005.

The FWS is now partnering with the U.S. Air Force 

(Arnold Engineering Development Center, Tullahoma, 

TN) to support new research on creating topminnow 

habitats with fish barriers to prevent invasion by 

mosquitofish. Proposals to collect information on 

negative interactions between mosquitofish and 

topminnows are also being solicited. Finally, the task 

force is placing less emphasis on stocking hatchery-reared 

Barrens Topminnows into as many habitats as possible 

and more emphasis on stocking topminnows into 

habitats with few mosquitofish.

Virginia Black Bears in their Native Habitat
Resource Use: Manage Resources to Promote Responsible Use and Sustain a Dynamic 

Economy

End Outcome Goal: 

Energy – Manage or influence resource use to enhance public benefit, promote responsible use, and ensure optimal value

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Baseline Information: Number of targeted basins with oil and gas 

resource assessments available to support management decisions (DOI 

strategic plan key measure and PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 7 5 5

√ Quality & Utility of Information: Percentage of customers satisfied 

with timeliness of data 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 100%

√ Quality & Utility of Information: Percentage of accessible data 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

95% 95% ≥ 80% 95%

√ Quality & Utility of Information: Percentage of customers for which 

energy data meets their needs 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

93% 93% ≥ 80% 93%

√ Quality and Utility of Information: Percentage of studies validated 

through appropriate peer review or independent review (DOI strategic 

plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 100%

FY2004 Performance Outputs:

√ Number of systematic analyses and investigations delivered to 

customers

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

4 7 5 5

√ Number of long-term data collections maintained 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

5 5 3 3

√ Number of new or improved decision support tools 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

1 1 1 1

√ Number of formal workshops or training provided to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

10 9 8 8

√ Percentage of targeted analyses/investigations delivered which are 

cited by identified partners within 3 years of delivery (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 80% 80%

14 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 15

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

Ω Average cost of a systematic analysis or investigation (PART measure) 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a $2.75M $2.75M $2.2M3

Geology Accomplishments

Systematic Analyses Delivered on San Joaquin Basin, 

Barnett Shale, Raton Basin, Wyoming Thrust Belt, and 

Burgos Basin

These are thorough, geologically-based assessments 

of the undiscovered, technically recoverable oil and 

gas resources in these Basins. These assessments are 

important because the USGS is the only group to do 

such assessments and is the only source of geologicallybased information concerning the as yet undiscovered 

oil and gas resources of the Nation and the world. These 

domestic assessments are the basis and foundation of 

the Energy Policy and Conservation Act Amendments 

of 2000 (EPCA) work. The EPCA work is a multiagency effort conducted by USGS, which provides the 

technically recoverable, undiscovered oil and gas resource 

assessments; BLM, which provides the restrictions and 

impediments to development on BLM-managed lands; 

USFS, which provides the restrictions and impediments 

to development on Forest Service-managed lands; and 

the Department of Energy and Energy Information 

Administration, which provides current production 

and reserves of the oil and gas on these lands. The 

international assessments are also part of Energy 

Resources Program (ERP) World Petroleum assessment 

project, cited and used by international organizations all 

over the world. USGS is the only organization to provide 

such data. It provides an invaluable source of oil and gas 

resource assessments to U.S. law makers, policy makers, 

resources managers, foreign governments, industry 

consortia, and other nongovernmental groups.

Manuscript on Oil and Gas Resources and Reserves of 

Iraq

The ERP has published a manuscript on the oil and 

gas resources and reserves of Iraq, entitled “Petroleum 

Reserves and Undiscovered Resources in the Total 

Petroleum Systems of Iraq: Reserve Growth and 

Production Implications.” This manuscript was 

published in GeoArabia, Volume 9, Number 3, 2004. 

GeoArabia is the major journal for geosciences in the 

Middle East, thus an appropriate medium for the 

publication of Iraq’s petroleum resources. A petroleum 

migration modeling paper on Iraq, also by ERP scientists, 

will follow in the next issue as a companion paper, 

further supporting the analysis in Iraq. This companion 

paper will reaffirm the claim of the large hydrocarbon 

potential of Iraq.

The ERP paper on Iraq not only complements the 

undiscovered resources given in the USGS World 

Petroleum Assessment 2000 (WPA 2000), but also 

provides significant additional information such as 

reserve volumes and important reservoir parameters of 

individual fields, reserve growth, hydrocarbon potential 

of individual producing and non-producing fields, status 

of crude-oil handling facilities, upstream infrastructure, 

and the outlook for Iraq’s oil. WPA 2000 described 

the geology from a regional standpoint and reported 

Iraq’s known reserve (sum of cumulative oil production 

and remaining reserves). In 1996, Iraq’s known oil 

reserves were estimated to be about 100 billion barrels 

compared to the current reserves of about 136 billion 

barrels. These types of analyses are integral to ERP’s base 

mission to understand the energy needs and distribution, 

directly linked to our national energy needs, because of 

our dependence on this fossil energy resource, which 

is expected to dominate the world for at least the next 

several decades.

Release Of Production Data Test From Gas Hydrate Well

The ERP participated in the release of the first 

production test data from a gas hydrate well in Makuhari, 

Japan. The ERP was part of an international research 

Targets Met = 10 Targets Not Met = 1 Targets Exceeded = 0

Summary Performance Result

3Target is an estimate. Our current ABC capability is not able to do this level of analysis automatically. Manual 

calculations are needed and will also instruct the definition of processes to mature ABC system design.
consortium that drilled a hydrate test well in 2002 and 

produced natural gas from a hydrate accumulation for 

the first time. Gas hydrates are a naturally occurring 

“ice-like” combination of natural gas and water that have 

the potential to be a significant new source of energy 

from the world’s oceans and polar regions. The first 

public results were released in December 2003 showing 

for the first time that gas hydrates are producible. These 

results are important because gas hydrates represent 

a potentially huge new energy resource and those

interested in energy resources. (For example, Congress, 

policy makers, other research organizations, foreign 

governments, etc., are interested in these concrete test 

results.) For the first time, it has been proven that it is 

technically feasible to produce gas from gas hydrates. 

At the symposium in Japan, the successful results of the 

first modern, fully integrated production testing of gas 

hydrates were released. The test drilling took place in 

the MacKenzie Delta of the Canadian Arctic because 

of its very high concentrations of known hydrates. 

Depressurization and thermal heating experiments at 

the Mallik site were extremely successful. The results 

demonstrated that gas can be produced from gas hydrates 

with different concentrations and characteristics, 

by both temperature and pressure changes, and also 

exclusively through pressure stimulation. The data 

supports the interpretation that the gas hydrates are 

much more permeable and conducive to flow from 

pressure stimulation than previously thought. In one 

test, the gas production rates were substantially enhanced 

by artificially fracturing the reservoir. These tests are 

extremely valuable as hydrates represent a potentially vast 

new source of clean-burning natural gas. 

Release of Organic Geochemistry Database (OGDB)

The ERP released an organic geochemistry database 

containing over 65,000 records from over 18,000 

worldwide locations. The OGDB contains chemical 

analysis data for crude oil, natural gas, and rock samples 

analyzed by the USGS Central Energy Resources Team’s 

Organic Geochemistry Laboratory or by contractedservice laboratories. Data were also obtained from 

the literature and unpublished public domain sources 

including a substantial amount of natural gas data from 

the U.S. Bureau of Mines. The sample types included 

are primarily rock, oil, and gas samples collected from 

outcrops or from exploratory or production wells. This 

information is used by the USGS for domestic and 

worldwide energy resource assessments based on the 

petroleum systems model (source rock - reservoir rock 

relation), and is periodically released to the public. 

Analytical data within the OGDB includes Rock-Eval 

pyrolysis, organic mass spectrometry, vitrinite reflectance, 

gas chromatography, column chromatography, stable 

carbon isotopes, and a number of other related petroleum 

geochemical analyses that, in some instances, predate 

the OGDB. Throughout the years, ERP scientists have 

utilized these data to not only develop an understanding 

of the physical and geochemical processes responsible 

for hydrocarbon formation, maturation, generation, 

migration, and accumulation, but also as a tool to 

assess the oil and gas potential for petroleum systems in 

both national and international settings. The general 

public will find the information suitable in aiding their 

understanding of the geochemistry of many of the world’s 

major oil and gas producing regions. The OGDB will 

be a useful reference for Federal, State, and local agencies 

involved in planning, oil and gas production, oil and gas 

assessments, public safety, and environmental concerns. 

Additionally, it is a useful reference for basic academic 

research into the processes responsible for the formation 

and accumulation of petroleum.

Revision of Coal Assessment Methodology

The ERP is revising its coal assessment methodology, 

in anticipation of conducting assessments to estimate 

the amount of remaining technically recoverable coal 

in the U.S. The National Coal Resource Assessment 

(NCRA), nearing its completion phase, will result 

in a digital assessment of the United State’s coal 

resources on a regional basis. The next phase of the 

NCRA, already initiated, is the development of a 

standardized approach for the assessment of economic 

coal resources. The USGS’s evaluation of the Nation’s 

economic coal resources grew from concerns regarding 

the reliability of current estimates of the remaining 

coal resources necessary to meet the future fuel supply 

needs of the United Sates. Thus, the economic coal 

resource assessment methodology is being developed 

and incorporates the use of mine modeling and mining 

economic analysis software developed by the USGS. A 

revised methodology has been drafted which received 

an external peer review of the methodology. The peer 

review panel was comprised of experts with an extensive 

background in coal geology, mining, management, 

economics, and resource evaluation from academia, State 

and Federal agencies, and industry. The purpose of the 

team has been to provide an independent review and 

constructive review of the ERP’s coal resource assessment 

methodology, associated support programs, and results. 

Suggestions for improvement will be incorporated into 

the new methodology.

16 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 17

Resource Use: Manage Resources to Promote Responsible Use and Sustain a Dynamic 

Economy

End Outcome Goal:

Non-energy minerals – Manage or influence resource use to enhance public benefit, promote responsible use, and ensure 

optimal value

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Baseline Information: Average square miles of the United States 

with non-energy mineral information available to support management 

decisions (DOI strategic plan key measure and PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 2,368,794 2,535,644 2,401,329

√ Quality & Utility of Information: Percentage of U. S. with geologic, 

geochemical, geophysical, and mineral locality data (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 67% 71% 68%

√ Quality & Utility of Information: Percentage of customers satisfied 

with timeliness of data

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

78% 78% ≥ 80% 78%

√ Quality & Utility of Information: Percentage of customers for which 

minerals data meets their needs 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

84% 84% ≥ 80% 84%

√ Quality & Utility of Information: Percentage of studies validated 

through appropriate peer review or independent review (DOI strategic 

plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 100%

FY2004 Performance Outputs:

√ Number of systematic analyses and investigations delivered to 

customers

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

5 4 5 5

√ Number of long-term data collections maintained 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

5 5 5 5

√ Number of new or improved decision support tools 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 1 1 1

√ Number of formal workshops or training provided to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

8 9 8 8

√ Number of mineral commodity reports available for decisions (PART 

measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 725 733
FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Percentage of targeted analyses/investigations delivered which are 

cited by identified partners within 3 years of delivery (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 80% 80% 80%

Ω Percentage of expected responses for which canvas forms have been 

converted to electronic format (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 70% 58%4

√ Average cost of a systematic analysis or investigation (PART measure) 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a $4.125M $4.125M $4.306M

Geology Accomplishments

Mineral Resources External Research Program

The National Academy of Sciences, in recent reviews of 

the Mineral Resources Program (MRP), recommended 

developing an external grants program to assist MRP’s 

basic research function. In March 2004, the Mineral 

Resources External Research Program (MRERP) was 

introduced and research-based proposals that supported 

the goals of MRP were solicited. The new MRERP was 

announced and managed using the Grants.gov system, 

as mandated by the President’s Management Agenda 

(http://www.grants.gov).

In June 2004, the MRP announced that 6 of the 

34 proposals received would be funded for mineralresources research; total funding awarded was $200,000. 

Among the grant recipients who received funding were 

researchers at Oregon State University, University of 

Florida, Colorado School of Mines, University of Alaska 

at Fairbanks, Southern Illinois University, Washington 

State University, and the Idaho Geological Survey. 

One of the proposals had two researchers with three 

affiliations, one was from Washington State University, 

and the other was affiliated with both the University 

of Idaho and the Idaho Geological Survey. The overall 

quality of the proposals that were reviewed by a panel of 

six research scientists (five from USGS and one external 

to the USGS) was high; and USGS has high expectations 

that the grants program will offer opportunities for 

collaborative research and synergy. 

Department of Commerce Trade Ruling Relies Upon 

USGS Data

The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and 

Security (BIS) used USGS data and analyses to make 

a decision concerning export controls for copper-base 

scrap. The decision, published on July 22, 2004, rejected 

a petition by the copper- and brass-producing industry 

for export controls and export monitoring of copper-base 

scrap. Based on USGS minerals information, the BIS 

rejected the industry claims that rising exports of scrap 

to China had the effect of causing scrap price increases, 

shortages of domestic materials, and severe economic 

harm to the brass industry. The USGS continues to 

advise the BIS as it works with the Bureau of the Census 

to refine export classification for copper-base scrap. 

New Geologic and Geochemical Data Available for Land 

Managers

A long-term goal of the MRP is to provide consistent, 

accurate geologic, geochemical, geophysical, and mineral 

locality information in readily-available digital formats. 

This information will be available to assist managers 

from Federal and State agencies, industry, and Congress 

to make informed land-planning decisions. Among 

other accomplishments in FY2004, new geologic and 

Targets Met = 12 Targets Not Met = 1 Targets Exceeded = 0

Summary Performance Result

4Progress in conversion of forms to electronic format was delayed by about 9 months due to difficulties in diagnosing 

software problems.

18 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 19

Maps of the United States showing the distribution of arsenic from data in the National Geochemical Survey database. Data 

for stream sediments, soils, and other media were combined to generate the images.

geochemical data have been made available to land 

managers.

In a cooperative effort with State Geological Surveys, 

digital data sets consisting of geologic information for 

the States of Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, 

Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, Wisconsin, and 

Wyoming, as well as two large blocks of land in Alaska 

(14 1:250,000-scale quadrangles) have been prepared for 

release as USGS publications. For the first time, data 

for each of these States, organized in a consistent format 

and reviewed for quality, are readily available to landplanners. These data are critical for regional mineralresource and environmental assessments.

A Web-based geochemical database (http://pubs.usgs.

gov/of/2004/1001/), released in January of this year, 

includes data for approximately 71 percent of the land 

area of the United States, including sites in all 50 states. 

The Web site provides complete access to the geochemical 

data, describes the history of the project, describes 

analytical methods used, and presents geochemical maps 

of the United States for all analyzed elements. This 

national data set provides regional background values 

for chemical elements having potential environmental 

impact, characterizes regional mineral districts, and 

provides studies on the relationship between toxic 

commodities, mining practices, and human health. 

Future work includes collaborative efforts with State and 

private partners to collect and analyze samples from areas 

where none are currently available.

Mineral resources online spatial data can be accessed at 

(http://mrdata.usgs.gov/).
Serving Communities: Safeguard Lives, Property, and Assets; Advance Scientific Knowledge; 

and Improve the Quality of Life for the Communities We Serve

End Outcome Goal:

Protect lives, resources, and property

FY2004 Performance Results

End Outcome Measure: Protect lives, resources, and property

∆ Hazards: Percentage of communities using DOI science on hazard 

mitigation, preparedness, and avoidance for each hazard-management 

activity (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 34.9% 36.7% 43.2%5

√ Decision Maker Satisfaction: Met need for information to help achieve 

goal of reduced risk (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

97% 98% ≥ 80% 98%

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve public safety and security and protect public resources from damage

√ Facilities Condition: Buildings (administrative, employee housing) are 

in fair-to-good condition as measured by the Facilities Condition Index 

(FCI) (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a .20 .20

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Provide information to assist communities in managing risks from natural hazards

∆ Use Rate - Earthquakes: Percentage of communities using DOI 

science on hazard mitigation, preparedness, and avoidance for each 

hazard management activity 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 42.7% 43.2% 62.7%5

√ Use Rate - Landslides: Percentage of communities using DOI science 

on hazard mitigation, preparedness, and avoidance for each hazard 

management activity 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 3.3% 3.7% 3.7%

√ Use Rate - Volcanoes: Percentage of communities using DOI science 

on hazard mitigation, preparedness, and avoidance for each hazard 

management activity 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 58.6% 63.3% 63.3%

√ Use Rate - Landslide Hazards: Number of responses to inquiries from 

the public, educators, and public officials to the National Landslide 

Information Center on hazard mitigation, preparedness, and avoidance 

strategies for landslide hazards 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

1,600 1,600 1,600 1,600

√ Adequacy: Percentage of sampled stakeholders reporting adequacy 

of science base to inform decision-making for each hazard-management 

activity (volcanoes, earthquakes, etc.) (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 97% ≥ 80% 98%

20 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 21

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Provide information to assist communities in managing risks from natural hazards

√ Adequacy - Earthquake Hazards: Percentage of customers for which 

earthquake hazards data meets their needs 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 97% ≥ 80% 97%

FY2004 Performance Outputs:

√ Number of hazards monitoring networks maintained 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

4 4 4 4

√ Number of risk/hazard assessments delivered to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

5 4 3 3

∆ Number of real-time earthquake sensors (reported yearly and 

cumulative at the end of the year) (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

96 (cum 

425)

51 (cum 

476)

64 (cum 

540)

75 (cum 

551)6

√ Number of formal workshops or training provided to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

6 13 14 14

√ Number of sites (mobile or fixed) monitored for ground deformation 

to identify volcanic activity 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 75 85 85

√ Adoption of National Seismic Hazard Maps by NEHRP provisions 

and International Building Codes (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

0 1 0 0

√ Number of urban areas for which detailed seismic hazard maps are 

completed (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

0 1 2 2

∆ Number of areas or locations for which geophysical models exist that 

are used to interpret monitoring data (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 3 3 1⁄3 47

√ Number of metropolitan regions where Shakemap is incorporated 

into emergency procedures (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

3 4 5 5

√ Number of volcanoes for which information supports public safety 

decisions (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

45 48 49 49
FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Provide information to assist communities in managing risks from natural hazards

√ Percentage of potentially hazardous volcanoes with published hazard 

assessments (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

58.6% 61.4% 61.4% 61.4%

√ Number of counties, or comparable jurisdictions, that have adopted 

improved building codes, land-use plans, emergency response plans, or 

other hazard mitigation measures based on USGS earthquake hazards 

information (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 503 559 559

√ Number of counties, or comparable jurisdictions, that have adopted 

improved building codes, land-use plans, emergency response plans, 

or other hazard mitigation measures based on USGS landslide hazards 

information (Baseline is 1,800 counties and parks with moderate to 

high landslide susceptibility in the U.S. (FY1999-FY2003, 60 adopted 

measure) (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 60 68 68

√ Percentage data availability for real-time data from the GSN (PART 

measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

89% 90% 90% 90.5%

∆ Data processing and notification costs per unit volume of input data 

from earthquake sensors in monitoring networks (in cost per gigabyte) 

(PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 1.007 

$k/Gb

0.997

$k/Gb

.908

$k/Gb

Geology Accomplishments

Development of Method for Forecasting RainfallInduced Landslides

To help mitigate landslide hazards in Seattle, 

Washington, USGS scientists developed a Web-based, 

prototype system for forecasting precipitation-induced 

landslides. Presently, the system provides hourly updates 

on current conditions relative to a recently developed 

precipitation threshold for anticipating the occurrence 

of landslides. Several departments in the City of 

Seattle use the Web-based information for preparedness 

and emergency-response planning. The information 

is also available to residents of the Seattle area as an 

indicator of general conditions that commonly produce 

landslides. Continuous monitoring of precipitation 

and soil-moisture conditions at sites of recent landslides 

near Seattle, in concert with laboratory studies of soil 

properties and theoretical studies of rainfall infiltration 

and landslide initiation, are providing a basis for 

understanding how winter storms cause landslides in 

the Seattle area and are clarifying the conditions under 

Targets Met = 19 Targets Not Met = 0 Targets Exceeded = 5

Summary Performance Result

5The FY2003 baselines were recalculated to reflect more accurate assessment of number of communities at risk for 

Earthquakes. The FY2005 targets will be increased.

6More real-time sensors were installed than planned due mainly to leveraging of outside funds from the National 

Science Foundation’s EarthScope Initiative, and State and University partners. 

7The modeling of debris flow following the fire in California was accelerated. 

8The 2004 final plan for data processing and notification costs per unit volume of input data from earthquake sensors 

in monitoring anticipated increased costs from the moving of staff from lower to higher cost areas to areas collocated 

with other program staff. Those increased costs, however, were offset by other efficiencies.

22 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 23

which the empirical rainfall thresholds can be relied upon 

for anticipating landslide activity. A preliminary test to 

integrate a numerical weather forecast by the University 

of Washington Department of Atmospheric Sciences with 

precipitation measurements to forecast conditions relative 

to the precipitation threshold demonstrated the potential 

of the method for forecasting precipitation-induced 

landslides in the Seattle area. Representatives from the 

city of Seattle have recently expressed a strong interest in 

further development of the landslide forecasting system 

and deploying soil moisture monitoring stations on city 

hillsides.

Post-Fire Debris Flow Hazard Maps

Landslide Hazard Program (LHP) scientists produced 

maps of basins in Southern California with the greatest 

potential for producing debris flows as a result of the 

devastating October 2003 fires. The new maps show 

the probability for debris-flow (mudslide) activity and 

estimates of the peak discharge from drainage basins 

burned by the Old and Grand Prix Fires near San 

Bernardino and the Piru, Simi, Verdale Fires near Simi 

Valley and Fillmore, and the Cedar and Paradise Fires. 

The devastating Christmas Day mudslides, located in the 

Waterman Canyon burned by the Old Fire, resulted in 

the deaths of 14 people. 

The new maps, produced in cooperation with the Federal 

Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), are available 

on the Internet, and paper copies were provided to each 

County Flood Control District impacted by the fires 

in California. The maps provided decision makers; 

emergency responders; and Federal, State, and county 

agencies the tools to help identify risk potential and 

develop mitigation strategies. The maps were also used 

to identify potential hazards and aid in decisions about 

evacuation timing and routes.

The USGS continues to provide support by producing 

new maps, installing rain gages, disseminating 

information on stream flow and sediment transports, 

conducting field surveys and reconnaissance, and 

documenting hazards created by the changes in the 

carrying capacity of streams and the steepness of slopes.

Earthquake Partners Deliver Real-Time Data for Effective 

Response

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck California’s central 

coast three days before Christmas 2003 killing two people 

in the town of Paso Robles and causing an estimated 

$300 million worth of damage in the region. In the 

minutes following the event, emergency managers needed 

to know where the greatest damage had occurred so 

they could deploy their teams to the most affected areas. 

Fortunately, data on shaking intensity was available in 

real-time from the California Integrated Seismic Network 

(CISN), a partnership of USGS, UC Berkeley, Caltech, 

and the California Geological Survey. A preliminary 

ShakeMap portraying the extent 

of potentially-damaging ground 

shaking was available in minutes, 

allowing the FEMA and California 

Office of Emergency Services, 

also a CISN partner, to quickly 

generate loss estimates by plugging 

the shaking intensity information 

into FEMA’s HAZUS software. 

The California Department of 

Transportation used the ShakeMap 

to prioritize their bridge inspections. 

USGS also provided real-time 

information and analysis on 

aftershock location and probability 

of occurrence. Pacific Gas & Electric 

made the decision to proceed with 

critical maintenance on the Diablo 

Canyon Nuclear Power Plant based 

on the USGS aftershock analysis, as well as USGS data 

suggesting that the San Simeon earthquake had reduced 

stress on faults near the facility. The Survey’s ability to 

produce timely ShakeMaps depends on the proximity 

of seismic stations providing strong-motion data in real 
time. And that is why the 

Advanced National Seismic 

System (ANSS) is so important. 

ANSS, of which CISN is a 

regional component, will deliver 

1,000 regional broad-band 

stations across the country 

and 6,000 ground-based and 

structural strong-motion sensors 

in 26 seismically active urban 

areas. Deploying ANSS means 

a great deal more than simply 

installing new sensors. It means 

building a system that seamlessly 

integrates the new sensors with 

existing networks. It also means 

developing tools like ShakeMap 

and delivery mechanisms to 

provide this information to the 

people who need it.

As part of the expansion and 

modernization of earthquake 

monitoring in the U.S. that is 

being carried out through the 

development of ANSS, USGS 

installed 75 seismic stations in 

FY2004, significantly expanding 

the ANSS and meeting its 

PART and GPRA targets. A 

major accomplishment was the 

expansion of the ANSS national 

seismic “backbone” network 

from 53 to 63 stations. This will 

provide a nationwide earthquake 

detection capability of magnitude 3.5 or better 

–essentially allowing the rapid technical characterization 

of all felt earthquakes. This has been a major program 

goal for many years, and its achievement means that a 

key performance target of the program’s Five-Year Plan 

has been met nearly four years ahead of schedule. ANSS 

is also working with the National Science Foundation 

(NSF) to expand the backbone network to 80 stations. 

NSF will provide funding in FY2005-FY2006 for 17 new 

ANSS backbone stations and 8 station upgrades as part 

of their Earthscope research initiative. USGS will install, 

operate, and maintain the stations as part of ANSS. 

The design goal for the ANSS backbone network is 100 

stations with a national earthquake detection capability 

of magnitude 3.0.

Oregon’s Mount Hood

USGS scientists with the Volcano Hazard Program 

(VHP) are working with Federal, State, Tribal, and local 

officials to develop plans that explain how governmental 

agencies will coordinate their activities in the event of 

volcanic unrest or eruption at Oregon’s Mount Hood. 

The plan has been completed and awaits the last few 

signatures by county officials before it is released.

24 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 25

Serving Communities: Safeguard Lives, Property, and Assets; Advance Scientific Knowledge; 

and Improve the Quality of Life for the Communities We Serve

End Outcome Goal:

Advance knowledge through scientific leadership and inform decisions through the applications of science

FY2004 Performance Results

End Outcome Measure: Advance knowledge through scientific leadership and inform decisions through the 

applications of science

Ω Research: Soundness of methodology, accuracy, and reliability of 

science (program evaluation) (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 80%9

√ Inform decisions through the application of science: Improved access 

to needed science information (number score) (DOI strategic plan key 

measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

80% 92% 90% 90%

√ Inform decisions through the application of science: Stakeholders 

reporting that information helped achieve goal (number score) (DOI 

strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

80% 94% 90% 93%

∆ Inform decisions through the application of science: Improved access 

to needed science information, number of USGS science publications 

cataloged in master USGS publications database 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

38,000 56,086 63,000 66,62610

∆ Inform decisions through the application of science: Improved access 

to needed science information, number of associated USGS science 

publications accessible online 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

1,000 3,533 15,000 25,90911

√ Inform decisions through the application of science: Improved access to 

needed science information (number of biological partnership links) 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

27,000 32,500 34,300 36,000

√ Inform decisions through the application of science: Percentage of IT 

customers reporting that information helped achieve goal 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

91% 91% ≥ 70% 86%

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Percentage of land with 

temporal and spatial monitoring, research, and assessment/data coverage 

to meet land use planning and monitoring requirements (Roll-up of all 

components below)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 54.59% 54.66%

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Percentage of land with 

temporal and spatial monitoring, research, and assessment/data coverage 

to meet land use planning and monitoring requirements (number of 

square miles assessed by GAP analysis) (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 82% 82%
FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Percentage of land with 

temporal and spatial monitoring, research, and assessment/data coverage 

to meet land-use planning and monitoring requirements (NCGMP) 

(DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

2.2% 5.5% 7.7% 7.3%

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Percentage of land with 

temporal and spatial monitoring, research, and assessment/data coverage 

to meet land-use planning and monitoring requirements (percentage 

of proposed NSIP sites currently in operation) (DOI strategic plan key 

measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

64% 65% 64% 64%

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Percentage of land with 

temporal and spatial monitoring, research, and assessment/data coverage 

to meet land-use planning and monitoring requirements (satellite data 

collected over global land surface) (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 100% 100%

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Percentage of land with 

temporal and spatial monitoring, research, and assessment/data coverage 

to meet land-use planning and monitoring requirements (GAM) 

National Land Cover dataset - 66 mapping units across country (DOI 

strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

.05% 17% 45% 45%

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Percentage of land with 

temporal and spatial monitoring, research, and assessment/data coverage 

to meet land use planning and monitoring requirements (number of 

completed eco-region assessments out of 84 eco-regions) (DOI strategic 

plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 18% 29% 31%

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Average percentage of coverage 

for 6 data themes in The National Map in national databases at medium 

resolution; does not measure currentness (TNM) (DOI strategic plan key 

measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

67% 67% 67% 67%

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Average percentage of coverage 

for 7 data themes in The National Map in national databases at high 

resolution; does not measure currentness (TNM) (DOI strategic plan key 

measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

18% 33% 42% 41%

√ Content and expanse of knowledge base: Percentage of data accessible: 

Percentage of satellite data available from archive within 24 hours of 

capture 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

99% 95% 90% 90%

√ Quality: Percentage of studies validated through appropriate peer 

review or independent review (DOI strategic plan key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 100%

√ Access: For information products surveyed, percentage of mapping, 

water, and biology customers that are satisfied with ease and timeliness of 

access 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

91% 92% ≥ 80% 90%

26 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 27

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Access: Customer satisfaction (number score) with ease and timeliness 

of delivery of science support services 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

81% 81% ≥ 70% 82%

√ Ease of use: Customer satisfaction (number score) with 

documentation and ease of usability of science support services 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

81% 81% ≥ 70% 74%

√ Facilities Condition: Facilities are in fair-to-good condition as 

measured by the Facilities Condition Index (FCI) (DOI strategic plan 

key measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a .17 .17

√ Learning Approach: Percentage of instructor proficiencies in select 

subject areas, GIS and Earth Science 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 20% 30% 30%

√ Percentage of time that all WAN and Internet access locations are up 

and running and accessible 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

95% 99.8% 98.5% 99.7%

Ω Online transactions: Increase online transactions to a percentage 

relative to baseline inventory of all USGS transactional services

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 51% 70% 58%12

√ IT Investment: Percentage of major IT investment projects for which 

cost estimates, established in project or contract agreement, meet actual 

costs with a variance of a certain percentage

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

100% 100% 100% 100%

FY2004 Performance Outputs:

√ Number of long-term data collections maintained 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

26 26 27 27

√ Number of systematic analyses and investigations delivered to 

customers

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

588 573 556 571

√ Number of new or improved decision support tools 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

2 4 4 4

∆ Number of formal workshops or training provided to customers 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

22 61 101 107
FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

∆ Number of real-time streamgages reporting in NWIS Web 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

5,626 5,621 5,320 5,97813

∆ Number of real-time ground-water sites reporting in NWIS Web 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 697 700 77913

∆ Number of real-time water-quality sites reporting in NWIS Web 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 891 900 1,06213

√ Number of mapping nodes (publicly available Web mapping services 

available through The National Map) 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

25 50 90 90

∆ Improve the value of the geospatial data available to the natural 

resource decision makers and the public by building The National 

Map distributed databases through partnerships with State and local 

governments that collect and maintain higher resolution and more 

current data (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 10 13 3014

√ Ensure availability of nationally consistent and integrated geospatial 

data by leading development and promoting the use of international, 

national, and FGDC NSDI standards among The National Map partners 

(number of standards used or in work) (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

12 17 17 17

Ω Percent of the Nation’s surface for which hydrography, elevation, 

and orthoimagery data are available through the National Spatial Data 

Infrastructure Clearinghouse and supported through partnerships (PART 

measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

.8% 41% 68% 62%15

∆ Cost avoided by making data available through The National Map 

partnerships. USGS is in the process of determining the baseline (the 

value of data and access to the data) (PART measure)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 40% 71%16

∆ Number of summer workshop provided to instructors of Tribal 

Colleges & Universities (TCUs) 

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

1 2 2 4

√ Number of academic year short courses and mini-workshops provided 

to TCUs

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

7 9 8 8

√ Number of summer internships 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

1 4 5 5

28 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 29

FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

Ω Number of academic year internships 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

2 3 4 317

√ Number of bureau conditional assessments in progress or completed 

(within a 5-year cycle)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

25 39 39 41

Ω Number of deferred maintenance and capital improvements 

completed (cumulative)

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

14 24 40 3618

√ Number of bureauwide data integration practices and/or policies 

adopted

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 1 1

∆ Number of new NSDI Clearinghouse nodes established for serving 

data

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

41 41 50 8219

∆ Number of informal NSDI conference outreach exhibits 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

58 52 43 5220

Ω Number of new NSDI standards developed 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

2 2 2 021

Ω Number of new NSDI partnership agreements 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

29 51 60 5222

∆ Number of significant Webvsites co-located on consolidated 

hardened, secure, and redundant Internet servers

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

17 61 80 16723

√ Percentage of total legislatively-mandated narrowband radio 

transition achieved

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

9% 34% 98% 100%

√ Number of IT help desks operational in major USGS offices 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a 8 4 524

√ Percentage of Internet hosts potentially vulnerable to unauthorized 

access

2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

n/a n/a 5% 5%
FY2004 Performance Results

Intermediate Outcome: Improve information base, information management, and technical assistance

√ Number of NBII nodes 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

10 10 14 14

∆ Number of NBII Clearinghouse metadata records 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

4,000 6,600 6,900 7,50025

Ω Number of gigabytes of data in servers under biology management 2002

Actual

2003

Actual

2004

Planned

2004

Actual

389 400 420 360

Targets Met = 35 Targets Not Met = 8 Targets Exceeded = 13

Summary Performance Result

9External reviews were delayed from the original schedule. There is no effect on overall program or activity 

performance.

10Additional focus was placed on adding citations for historical and previously retired scientific publication report 

series. Adding these older references enables the USGS to be more comprehensive in completing its citation lists.

11USGS has installed new, faster scanners and implemented efficiencies for the conversion and quality control of paper 

reports and publications to digital form.

12Results were lower than planned due to technical problems and subsequent delays relating to database software.

13The vast majority of funding for USGS water data collection programs is provided by State, local, Tribal, and 

Federal partners, and precise funding levels for these activities often are not known until well into the year. Additional 

reimbursable funds were received, allowing USGS to exceed targets by installing additional real-time sensors that were 

not originally planned.

14Changed emphasis to create more but smaller projects to encourage broader participation in The National Map

15Production efforts declined as a result of staff taking the buyout.

16USGS was more successful than anticipated in partnering with local governments.

17The performance goal was set at an approximate target level, and the deviation from the level is slight. There is no 

effect on overall program or activity performance.

18The FY2004 target was erroneously set as the entire backlog, when annualized and prioritized results in a true target 

of 14 completions for FY2004. However, 25% of the deferred maintenance funding was reprogrammed to address the 

Landsat 7 malfunction. The loss of funds coupled with the normal variability of project cost resulted in two projects 

being completed. There is no effect on overall program or activity performance.

19The number of additional NSDI Clearinghouse Nodes registered by October 2004 exceeded the projected target by 

40% due in large part to the collaboration between the FGDC and the Canada GeoConnections program that yielded 

additional metadata collections.

20Additional conference opportunities were available as a result of NSDI collaboration with Geospatial One-Stop 

E-Government initiative.

30 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Biology Accomplishments

Southern Appalachian Information Node (SAIN) 

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Project

The Southern Appalachian Information Node (SAIN) 

staff of the National Biological Information Infrastructure 

(NBII) work with scientists who are seeking ways to 

combat the infestation of hemlock woolly adelgid by 

building 3-D models that track the damage inflicted by 

the woolly adelgids and by providing Web support to the 

Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Action Team.

Hemlock forests throughout Appalachia are being 

devastated by the hemlock woolly adelgid. The USDA 

says the woolly adelgid threatens to infest the entire 

hemlock range in the eastern U.S. The models and 

Web sites provide assistance by informing people and 

helping them understand and combat the spread of this 

destructive invader.

SAIN has joined forces with the Hemlock Woolly 

Adelgid Action Team (HWAAT) to spread awareness and 

communicate the importance of combating this species 

by establishing and hosting the HWAAT public Web 

site (www.saveourhemlocks.org). It includes important 

facts about “How to Help Save Our Hemlocks on Our 

Pubic Lands and Private Property,” maps, and photos. 

It is an interactive web site, allowing visitors to submit 

questions that are directed to an action team specialist. 

An HWAAT community on the (My.NBII.Gov) portal 

has been established this year. Work will continue into 

FY2005 on development of 3-D models and associated 

data sets to support the models.

Federal, State, and local resource agencies use this 

information in their management plans and in specific 

efforts to combat the invader. The Web site also provides 

information about beetles as biocontrol agents. For 

example, using information from this project, a Girl 

Scout troop in Michigan raised over $1,000 to develop 

a new rearing facility for predator beetles, which is now 

two years ahead of schedule.

Great Basin Information Project

The goal of the Great Basin Information Project 

(GBIP) is to provide consolidated and efficient access to 

information about the Great Basin and Columbia Plateau 

regions of the Intermountain West. Effective decisionmaking and management of the natural resources of 

an area as complex as the Great Basin requires ready 

access to scientific and educational information so that 

stakeholders can explore the biological diversity in this 

region and work together in an informed manner.

The unique biodiversity of the Great Basin and Columbia 

Plateau Regions faces potentially devastating and 

irreversible changes as a result of varying land uses and 

human population growth, invasive species, altered 

Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 31

21The FGDC has assumed leadership for continued standards activities for the Framework data standards initially 

developed through the Geospatial One-Stop E-Government project. As a result, several new NSDI standards are 

undergoing public review through the formal American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards approval 

process. USGS anticipates that these new standards will be endorsed as NSDI standards in FY2005.

22Results were lower than planned due to natural variation from year-to-year in the number of projects awarded 

funding through the NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program (CAP). Number of project awards made each year 

varies due to quality of project proposals and size of proposed project budgets, category of awards, and total amount of 

funding available.

23As part of the effort to achieve security Certification and Accreditation of the Enterprise Web system, the USGS 

reprioritized existing resources (staff time and funding) to accelerate the consolidation of public Web sites into the 

NatWeb infrastructure.

24FY2004 actual number is more than the planned target (i.e., fewer help desks have been consolidated) as a result of 

unanticipated delays in the acquisition of a new Bureau-wide help desk tracking software suite.

25NBII successfully expanded partnership contributions to the knowledge base beyond original expectations for 

FY2004. Because metadata records are created for each dataset or information product registered by an NBII partner, 

this expansion resulted in a greater-than-target increase in the number of metadata records in the NBII Clearinghouse.
fire regimes, mineral and energy development, and 

competition for scarce water resources. 

Our first-year products are the GBIP Web site, a 

metadata server and bibliography for the region, and an 

Internet mapping application. The Web site has been 

on-line since January 2004, with the Internet mapping 

application debuting in June 2004. The bibliography 

now has approximately 1200 articles, while the metadata 

server had approximately 100 records at the end of 

Summer 2004.

The wide variety of stakeholders involved in managing 

these regions can use information gathered here to 

guide decisionmaking on a more regional basis and in a 

collaborative manner. By using GBIP as a clearinghouse 

of information in the Great Basin and Columbia Plateau 

regions, decisions can be made with a regional or 

cumulative understanding of the consequences.

Water Accomplishments

National Water-Quality Assessment Program

America’s rivers and streams are generally suitable for 

irrigation, drinking water, and home and recreational 

uses. However, in areas with significant agricultural and 

urban development, the quality of our Nation’s water 

resources has been degraded by contaminants such as 

pesticides, nutrients, and gasoline-related compounds. 

In May 2004, the USGS National Water-Quality 

Assessment (NAWQA) Program released the last 15 of 51 

reports on water quality in major river basins and aquifers 

across the Nation. The river basins are in Hawaii, Alaska, 

California, Washington, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, 

Idaho, North Dakota, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Illinois, 

Wisconsin, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, 

Tennessee, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, 

Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, 

Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia. Findings of regional 

and national interest are highlighted in a separate report 

entitled, “Water Quality in the Nation’s Streams and 

Aquifers—Overview of Selected Findings, 1991-2001.” 

Collectively, the new reports characterize the general 

health of ground-water and surface-water resources, 

address current and emerging water issues and priorities, 

and describe trends in water quality. These assessments 

use a nationally consistent design and methodology so 

that water-resource managers can compare water quality 

in their basins to other areas in the Nation. Using this 

information, decisionmakers can implement cost-effective 

water-management strategies in specific geographic areas.

Hydrologic Networks and Analysis – National Water 

Information System

In FY2003, the USGS developed a new tool to detect 

probable erroneous real-time water-level data that is 

publicly available on the Internet through the National 

Water Information System Web interface (NWISWeb). 

The use of this program, combined with increased 

vigilance by data maintainers, has dramatically reduced 

the number of real-time water-level gages with large data 

spikes on NWISWeb. Because of this success, a new realtime data quality assurance tool was developed during 

FY2004 to check for possible erroneous data in other 

types of real-time data, including selected water-quality 

parameters. Results of the modified tool are sent daily by 

electronic mail to the District Offices whenever a publicly 

available spike is detected for that District. This tool 

allows staff to focus their attention on identified problem 

areas, thereby reducing the time needed to quality assure 

the vast amounts of water data that the USGS collects 

daily.

Water Resources Research Act Program

The USGS completed evaluations of each of the 54 

State Water Resources Research Institutes in 2004 to 

determine their eligibility to continue receiving grants, 

in accordance with the provisions of the Water Resources 

Research Act and the Code of Federal Regulations 

(30 CFR Part 401.26). The Institutes will be notified 

of the results of the evaluation. Institutes failing the 

evaluation will not be eligible for future grants until they 

have developed and implemented a plan to overcome 

identified deficiencies.

Toxic Substances Hydrology: Emerging Water Quality 

Issues

Toxic Substances Hydrology Program scientists have 

published new methods developed during the past year 

that provide improved measurement capability for many 

tens of contaminants, including those for sedimentassociated contaminants and for improved measurement 

of antibiotics. These new methods provide crucial tools 

that are enabling scientists to determine: 

• the levels and mixtures of compounds that occur in 

the environment, 

• the mechanisms by which these compounds enter the 

environment, and 

• the processes that affect the transport, persistence, and 

fate of the compounds in the environment.

32 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 33

Geography Accomplishments

Fire Fuel Mapping

In FY2004, the USGS Geography Discipline applied 

land cover mapping techniques to assist DOI bureaus 

and the USFS in their efforts to manage wildfires. 

Over ninety years of fire exclusion, domestic livestock 

grazing, logging, and widespread exotic species invasions 

have altered fire regimes, fuel loadings, and vegetation 

composition and structure. As a result, the number, size, 

and intensity of wildfires have significantly changed from 

the historic conditions, sometimes with catastrophic 

consequences. In response to these severe conditions, the 

Federal government has developed a National Fire Plan 

that is being implemented jointly by the USFS and the 

DOI. The LANDFIRE project involves the USFS and 

Bureaus of DOI and is critical to the National Fire Plan, 

the Healthy Forests Initiative, and implementation of the 

Healthy Forests Restoration Act. This project will help 

land managers identify priority areas for reduction of 

wildfire risks and to identify and facilitate restoration of 

forest, shrub, and grass ecosystems.

At the heart of LANDFIRE lies a reference database 

containing geo-referenced field data describing 

vegetation, fire, and fuels. The LANDFIRE project 

integrates referenced data, satellite imagery, and 

models of fire and vegetation dynamics. The project 

will generate nationally consistent, mid-scale maps 

and digital geospatial data of vegetation characteristics 

and condition, fire behavior and effects, fuels models, 

historical fire regimes, and fire regime condition class at 

the landscape level.

Models and methods are 

currently being developed 

and refined in two prototype 

areas in the western U.S.: 

central Utah and the 

northern Rocky Mountains 

(shown on the map). The 

land cover data developed 

for The National Map are 

used as the base vegetation 

layer to map tree species 

and forest structure for 

these areas. Fire fuel maps 

have proved valuable for 

emergency wildland fire 

management planning.

Landsat 7 Price Reduction

The Landsat Project is the longest-running enterprise for 

acquisition of moderate resolution imagery of the Earth 

from space. The first Landsat 1 satellite was launched 

in 1972; the most recent, Landsat 7, was launched in 

1999. Since 1972, the instruments aboard have acquired 

millions of images. These images provide a unique 

resource for applications in agriculture, geology, forestry, 

regional planning, education, mapping, and global 

change research.

An instrument malfunction occurred onboard Landsat 

7 in May 2003, caused by failure of the scan line 

corrector (SLC), which compensates for the forward 

motion of the satellite. The failed component has been 

turned off, leaving “gaps” in the data received from the 

satellite. About 75 percent of the picture elements, or 

pixels, in each new Landsat 7 scene are intact with the 

SLC remaining off. In October 2003, the USGS began 

producing Landsat 7 products from post-anomaly data, 

i.e., from scenes containing the gaps. By April 2004, the 

USGS had developed a new Landsat 7 product that filled 

the data gaps with information derived from a Landsat 

image acquired prior to the equipment malfunction. 

This new product meets the requirements of many users. 

The USGS continues to research methods for improving 

data products. In an effort to expand the use of postanomaly data, the USGS announced in May 2004 a price 

reduction for some Landsat products. This lowered the 

price from $600 a scene to $250 for scenes containing 

data gaps and to $275 for scenes with the gaps filled 

using the data from a previously acquired scene.

The picture on the left shows pixels missing in a Landsat 7 image resulting from the SLC turned 

off. The picture on the right is the image after the data gaps have been filled using data from a 

previously acquired scene. 
The National Map: Collect Data Once, Use Them Many 

Times

Geospatial information now supports an ever-expanding 

range of management and decisionmaking activities 

by providing credible, accurate, and timely geographic 

information to policy makers and the public. The 

USGS’s efforts on The National Map, which provides a 

consistent framework for geographic knowledge based on 

partnerships, is finally realizing the management goal of 

the last four Administrations to manage geospatial data 

properly by acquiring them once and using them many 

times.

An example of these efforts is innovative partnerships 

being used to develop the National Hydrography Dataset 

(NHD), which contains streams, lakes, and other bodies 

of water in The National Map. The data are being 

developed by a consortium of the USGS, the EPA, the 

USDA, and five other Federal agencies and groups; 27 

States; two regional organizations; and five universities 

(see figure below).

The program saves money by sharing in the creation of 

the data and by using it multiple times to meet specific 

but diverse mission needs. The USGS uses the data 

for mapping and to model stream flows and nutrient 

loads. The EPA uses the data to link and integrate 

water quality information geographically for managing 

its programs and reporting water quality to the public. 

The USFS uses the data to manage and analyze aquatic 

resource information and water improvements and rights. 

State agencies use the data as the basis for reporting 

requirements of the Clean Water Act and other laws.

Geology Accomplishments

Geologic Mapping Helps the Navajo Nation with LandUse Planning

USGS Navajo Nation studies, conducted jointly with 

members of the Navajo Nation, are resulting in surficial 

and bedrock geologic maps, water quality maps and 

reports, and documentation of the impacts of land 

34 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting

Partners working with the USGS to develop high-resolution data in the National Hydrography Dataset (NHD), the integrated, 

nationally-consistent surface-water data layer of The National Map. Notable among the partners is the USFS, which has adopted 

the NHD for its bureau-wide activities.
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 35

use versus climate change on the Navajo Nation in 

Colorado. This interdisciplinary work is also determining 

how local bedrock geology may contribute uranium, 

arsenic, and other contaminants to local ground-water 

resources and springs. The Navajo Nation is the largest 

and most rapidly growing Native American tribe in 

the United States, with half of the present population 

of 300,000 under the age of 23 (Census, 2000). These 

studies provide local governing bodies, who are currently 

developing land-use plans, the information they need 

to plan urban development, highways, buildings, 

bridges, and domestic septic and landfill systems. In 

addition, USGS assessment of land surface conditions 

during drought, such as sand dune activity, provides 

information for revising grazing allocations and drought 

mitigation by the Navajo Nation Department of 

Emergency Management. The joint research approach 

fosters community-based land-use planning and assists in 

developing Native American science education curricula.

National Assessment of Coastal Change Hazards

Coastal and Marine Geology Program (CMGP) scientists 

are coordinating national, regional, and topical studies 

of coastal erosion, storm impacts, and sea-level rise 

impacts to develop a National Assessment of Coastal 

Change Hazards. In the process, they are building a 

consistent and comprehensive information base for the 

assessment and understanding of coastal change. As 

coastal populations grow and community infrastructures 

are threatened by shifting shorelines, there is an increased 

demand for accurate information regarding past and 

present trends and rates of shoreline movement. To 

meet these national needs, the USGS is conducting an 

assessment of historical shoreline changes along openocean sandy shores of the conterminous United States 

and parts of Hawaii and Alaska. The initial phase of this 

effort was completed with the publication of a National 

Assessment of Shoreline Change: Part 1, Historical 

Shoreline Changes and Associated Coastal Land Loss 

Along the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (http://pubs.usgs.gov/

of/2004/1043/).

This report establishes a standard and repeatable 

methodology so that periodic updates that are systematic 

and internally consistent can be made nationally. 

The report, 

comparing 

shorelines 

from historical 

sources 

reaching back 

into the 1800s 

with modern 

airborne 

laser mapped 

shorelines, 

provides 

policy-makers 

and coastal 

managers with 

consistent longterm measures 

of shoreline 

change. The 

report shows that erosion is widespread throughout the 

Gulf of Mexico Region, though highly variable. Highest 

erosion rates are seen in Louisiana along barrier island 

and headland shores associated with the Mississippi 

Delta. Erosion is also rapid in Texas, while the barrier 

islands in Mississippi are migrating along the coast and 

erosion in Florida is generally localized around tidal 

inlets. Elsewhere, beaches are stable or growing as a result 

of both natural processes (low wave energy) and human 

activities (inlet stabilization, beach nourishment). 

While sandy shorelines are critical resources of national 

importance, much of the Nation’s coast is backed by 

coastal bluffs and cliffs. Throughout the Great Lakes, 

New England, and along much of the West Coast, the 

hazards of coastal change are associated with failing and 

retreating cliffs. As a first step towards development of 

national assessment products that appropriately reflect 

these important coastal settings, the USGS has developed 

and published a comprehensive review, “Formation, 

Evolution, and Stability of Coastal Cliffs – Status and 

Trends” (USGS Professional Paper 1693), that assesses 

the status and trends of coastal cliffs along the shoreline 

of the conterminous United States and the Great Lakes. 

Children from the Dilkon Chapter of the Navajo Nation at 

Castle Butte Spring assisting USGS in water sampling.
This report, authored by USGS and academic researchers, 

provides an overview of the processes that govern the 

formation and evolution of coastal cliffs as well as 

regional overviews of the cliffed shorelines of California, 

Oregon, Washington, New England, and the Great 

Lakes.

Understanding the Structure of San Francisco Bay: 

Geologic Foundation of Ecosystem Health and 

Earthquake Hazards

Coastal and marine geologists have just completed 

an analysis of the effects of human activities on the 

submarine landscape of San Francisco Bay as part of 

a multi-disciplinary effort to understand the history 

and health of the Bay system. San Francisco Bay is a 

heavily urbanized estuary extensively modified by 

human activities. To restore the estuary to a more 

“natural” condition than at present, scientists and 

managers must be able to differentiate between natural 

and anthropogenic processes and define sustainable 

restoration goals. A clear and concise analysis of the Bay 

ecosystem, issues, and human influences over the past 

150 years is presented in USGS Circular 1259, “Shifting 

Shoals and Shattered Rocks – How Man has Transformed 

the Floor of West-Central San Francisco Bay,” found at: 

http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/2004/c1259.

A related work in San Francisco Bay, produced by 

coastal and marine geologists, is Professional Paper 

#1568, “Crustal Structure of the Coastal and Marine 

San Francisco Bay Region, California.” This work is a 

compilation of seven papers resulting from a five-year 

project aimed at unearthing the basic structure and 

processes of the San Andreas fault system. The results of 

this work establish the geologic framework for the major 

part of the complex strike-slip fault system that poses a 

persistent hazard to a large population center. 

Enterprise Information Accomplishments

Information Security

The USGS continues to emphasize the improvement of 

the information technology security program as one of 

the Bureau’s highest overall priorities. Prior to FY2004, 

the DOI had received a series of failing grades in an 

OMB scorecard measuring against requirements of the 

Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA). 

DOI revised its internal FY2004 scorecard to more fully 

align with the OMB scorecard. A score of 83 (letter grade 

of B) was established as a minimum requirement for 

all DOI Bureaus for FY2004. USGS finished FY2004 

with a score of 99. Highlights of specific USGS FISMArelated accomplishments are: 

• All 12 USGS information technology systems were 

Certified and Accredited as of July 29, 2004. The 

USGS received $1.385M in appropriated funds in 

FY2004 for Certification and Accreditation.

• A formal determination has been made that USGS has 

no Critical Infrastructure Protection systems.

• An inventory of all positions with sensitivity 

activities has been completed and the processing of 

investigations begun within the compliance timeframe.

• USGS named an A-130 function coordinator. 

• USGS has populated the Department Enterprise 

Architecture Repository with information technology 

system information.

Bottom Topography from Multi-beam Sonar 

Mapping of San Francisco Bay.

36 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting

Coastal Cliff Failure along the California Shoreline at 

Esplanade Beach, Pacifica.
Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting 37

Enterprise Publishing

To allow a single source for searching, viewing, and 

ordering USGS publications, the publications warehouse 

Web site was launched in January 2004. The USGS 

publications warehouse (http://pubs.usgs.gov) contains 

a complete, fully searchable collection of more than 

63,000 bibliographic citations (for reports, thematic 

maps, etc.) in 31 historic and current USGS publishing 

series (including series begun as early as 1882). For 

more than 23,000 of these citations, the full text of the 

source document is now also available online, including 

documents that have previously only been available 

in paper form. New citations and online documents 

are added regularly with about 1,000 existing paper 

reports scanned and made newly accessible online each 

month. Historical reports authored by USGS scientists 

are being identified and these citations are being added 

to the database. A single, comprehensive site facilitates 

customer access, assures reliability through multiple 

servers, and provides certification of USGS report 

content by serving information from a single official, 

secure site.

Enterprise Web

The enterprise Web project is developing more efficient 

and consistent bureau-level tools and practices to ensure 

that USGS public Web sites are secure, reliable, well 

organized, and customer friendly. In FY2004, the 

enterprise Web project established a thesaurus that is 

used to consistently categorize USGS scientific content 

on Web pages. The thesaurus also was further used to 

cross-reference 673 scientific terms with 863 common 

terms (more likely to be used by our external customers). 

Using the thesaurus, 1,300 USGS Web pages were 

indexed or cataloged during FY2004. The enterprise 

Web project also focused on providing better access to 

USGS science information by providing immediate 

replies to approximately 750 Internet queries per month, 

and quickly pointing customers to specific information 

that would meet their needs. An integrated “frequently 

asked questions” database was implemented with over 

740 questions highlighting questions from across USGS 

scientific programs. The enterprise Web project also 

consolidated 100 USGS public Web servers into a single 

reliable and highly secure infrastructure that was one of 

12 systems that underwent certification and accreditation 

by July 29, 2004. 

Narrowband Radio Conversion

USGS will successfully convert all its remaining Volcano 

Hazards Program radio equipment to narrowband 

channels to meet the December 31, 2004 governmentwide deadline. USGS received an appropriation of 

$3.9M in FY2004 and has replaced 1,745 radios this 

year. Additionally, USGS will complete conversion 

of all UHF wideband radios to UHF narrowband in 

2004 (thereby meeting the January 1, 2008 government 

deadline). USGS will be the only DOI Bureau to 

complete conversion of UHF radio band by the end of 

2004 and the only DOI Bureau to be completely finished 

with the narrowband conversion project.

FY2004 Initiative $3.9M 

Total expenditures for conversion: $6.239M

Radios Replaced in FY2004: 1,745 

Total Radios Replaced or Upgraded: 2,429

NSDI Cooperative Agreements Program

For many years the Federal Geographic Data 

Committee (FGDC) has used the incentive approach 

to encourage Federal agencies, States, communities, 

academic institutions, non-profit organizations, and the 

commercial sector to participate in the National Spatial 

Data Infrastructure (NSDI) through the Cooperative 

Agreements Program (CAP) Grant Program. During 

FY2004, the FGDC worked cooperatively with the 

The National Map initiative of USGS and with the 

Geospatial One-Stop E-Government project to further 

leverage the dollars provided through CAP. As a result 

of this partnership, the FY2004 NSDI CAP Grant 

Program provided funding totaling $1.5 million to 50 

different local, State, Federal, academic, and regional 

organizations. The funding is providing assistance to 

projects focused on:

• beginning metadata implementation;

• assisting others in metadata training, service and 

outreach; 

• implementing Open GIS-compliant online web 

mapping services;

• serving key NSDI framework data over the web using 

consistent, interoperable specifications; and 

• broadening participation in The National Map.
Facilities Accomplishments

Facilities Operations and Maintenance

The Facilities Maintenance Management System 

(FMMS) implementation included completing 

building and equipment inventories at 13 owned USGS 

installations and the Headquarter’s facility. Through the 

inventory process, USGS identified over 22,000 pieces of 

equipment. The identification included using a standard 

naming convention, a standard template, and barcoding. 

In addition, most equipment was linked to a standard job 

plan and building system. This data has been captured in 

one of the FMMS environments and will be used as the 

foundation for a Preventative Maintenance program and 

for tracking work orders for day-to-day operations.

The FMMS utilized a Commercial Off-The-Shelf 

software common to other DOI bureaus and 

fully supports the key business principles guiding 

Interior’s operations: customer value; accountability; 

modernization; and integration. Through the use of 

standard business practices, standard nomenclature, 

specification templates, and building system definitions, 

USGS will be able to report our operations and 

maintenance consistently across the Bureau. Once 

FMMS is implemented at the initial 14 installations, it 

will continue to expand to the remainder of 

the USGS-owned installations, including 

vessels. In addition to expanding to new 

sites, additional functionality will be added 

as funding permits.

Deferred Maintenance

The condition assessments for five of the 

eight largest USGS research vessels, the 

Alaska Gyre, Turning Tide, Polaris, Kiyi, 

and the Sturgeon, were completed. The 

second round of condition assessments 

began at six science installations in FY2004. 

These initial condition reports will establish 

a baseline of the most critical maintenance 

deficiencies and help determine future 

priorities. 

Cableways at many of the 113 sites nationwide are 

being replaced or renovated. Many cableways at these 

sites do not meet modern design and load-testing criteria 

to ensure the safe collection of essential scientific data. 

All 113 sites are scheduled for replacement or renovation.

Science Support Accomplishments

Financial Management

The USGS received a disclaimer audit opinion on the 

Bureau’s FY2001 financial statements and did not receive 

an audit opinion on the Bureau’s FY2002 financial 

statements. In FY2003, the audit opinion was limited 

to the Bureau’s consolidated balance sheet in order to 

establish a beginning balance from which future audits 

could cover the full scope of the Bureau’s financial 

activities. For FY2004, the Bureau underwent a fullscope audit and received an unqualified opinion on the 

full suite of financial statements. The USGS also met 

the governmentwide target due dates as published by the 

OMB.

Activity Based Costing/Management (ABC/M)

ABC/M was successfully implemented in FY2004. 

USGS developed charts and graphs portraying the 

information collected during the year, in order to aid the 

scientists and managers in future planning, execution, 

and formulation of their budgets. USGS held sessions 

with the scientists and managers to further refine the 

activities for better linkages to Interior’s activities and the 

DOI Strategic Plan.

38 Management Discussion and Analysis - Performance Reporting

One of the USGS vessel fleet used by the Great Lakes Science Center
Management Discussion and Analysis - Looking Forward 39

Looking Forward

Annually, the USGS produces a program direction 

document, which is a collaborative effort between the 

Bureau program coordinators, regional managers, and 

scientists and is issued by the Director. It contains 

details on opportunities to address new science thrusts; 

major changes in direction of, or emphases of, program 

goals and related increases or decreases in funding; 

opportunities supported by multiple programs; and 

identification of new capabilities, facilities, and expertise 

available to support project work in the coming year. 

The document describes new directions in integrated 

science as well as new directions and opportunities 

from within the disciplines. Information about the 

possible effects of future events, conditions, and trends 

are incorporated into specific discussions on a variety of 

scientific projects. Because the science is integrated and 

focuses on complex issues, the research outcome will 

crosscut all DOI goals. The following are highlights of 

issues that will drive USGS science in the future.

Coastal Environments

Hawaii – Ridge to Reef Coral Studies to Support Coastal 

Health

Sediment, nutrients, and other pollutants from a variety 

of land-based activities threaten coral reef ecosystems 

around the world. These pollutants are transported in 

surface-water runoff and ground-water seepage into 

coastal waters. The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force, for 

which DOI is a lead agency, identified land-based 

pollution as one of six priority areas to be addressed 

in future work by Federal and State agencies to 

protect coral reefs. Land-based pollution threats 

are identified for action in the local action strategies 

of the Task Force’s numerous regional partnerships 

in the Pacific, including Hawaii and the Pacific 

Islands. Similar threats are present in Guam and 

other former trust territories for which the DOI has 

responsibility to provide technical expertise. USGS 

is using multidisciplinary science capabilities to 

provide the integrated science needed for making 

informed decisions on land-based pollution threats 

in Hawaii. Watershed ecology studies are being 

used by USGS to illuminate how changes in landuse practices effect land cover and soil retention. 

Surface and groundwater studies are being used 

to characterize resulting changes in sediment load 

and additions of nutrients and contaminants that 

are carried to the sea by streams and groundwater 

discharge. Lastly, coastal and marine studies are tracking 

the transport and fate of sediment and other pollutants 

in the reef environment to evaluate their impact on reef 

health and ecology and to help determine the relative 

role of pollutant threats and other natural as well as 

human-induced threats to reef health. This information 

is being used by Federal and local resource managers to 

build integrative adaptive management approaches to 

watershed and reef management in Hawaii.

Earthquake Hazards

Drilling of the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth 

(SAFOD)

On June 11, 2004, scientists from the USGS and 

Stanford University began the drilling of the San Andreas 

Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD), a deep drill hole 

into the heart of the San Andreas Fault. This partnership 

project with the academic community receives its major 

funding from the National Science Foundation through 

the EarthScope Program. The project will drill an 

inclined borehole across the San Andreas Fault Zone to 

a depth of 3 km. SAFOD will help scientists answer 

fundamental questions about the physical and chemical 

processes controlling faulting and earthquake generation 

within a major plate-bounding fault. Through 

sampling, downhole measurements, and long-term 

monitoring directly within the San Andreas fault zone 

at seismogenic depths, USGS will learn the composition 

of fault zone materials and determine the constitutive 
laws that govern their behavior, measure the stresses 

that initiate earthquakes and control their propagation, 

test hypotheses on the roles of high pore fluid pressure 

and chemical reactions in controlling fault strength 

and earthquake recurrence, and observe the strain and 

radiated wave fields in the near field of microearthquakes.

Energy

Effects of Coalbed Methane Production on Wetlands in 

Montana

During the next 10 years, thousands of coalbed methane 

(CBM) wells in Montana and Wyoming may withdraw 

millions of gallons of water from target coals and 

discharge it into infiltration ponds, streams, or injection 

wells. The full impact of this practice is unknown. 

Maintaining wetland processes in these human-modified 

systems requires the understanding of dynamic, historic 

wetland ecological processes and management strategies, 

raising not only ecological questions about wetland 

successional stages, but also geological, temporal, and 

spatial questions. Little work has been done to identify 

wetlands in the areas that are most vulnerable to potential 

impacts from CBM development. Results will provide 

stakeholders with information about wetlands that 

might be affected by CBM development in Southeastern 

Montana. This information will include the potential 

impacts of CBM development on area wetlands and the 

waterfowl and water birds that use them.

Ground-Water Resources

Simulated Effects of Aquifer Management Scenarios in 

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Water availability is a critical issue in the southwest 

desert. Land and water resource planners and managers 

are requesting information to help them evaluate impacts 

of management options on water supplies. Conditions 

from 2001 through 2040 were simulated to investigate 

the likely effects of different scenarios of groundwater 

pumping by the City of Albuquerque on their groundwater system. The study is a culmination of many 

years of data collection, analysis, and modeling. The 

information will be used by the City of Albuquerque in 

future land and water-use planning activities.

Environmental Information Science

Assessment of Spatial and Temporal Scales of Mojave 

Ecosystem Processes and Critical Habitat in Support of 

DOI Land Management

The Mojave Desert is a 125,000-km2 landscape of 

contrasts and challenges spread over southern Nevada, 

western Arizona, southwestern Utah, and a quarter 

of California. It is within a day’s drive of 40 million 

people; it encompasses six military bases, four national 

park units, and considerable BLM and other Federally 

managed lands. The desert is home to active and 

abandoned mines, off-road recreation areas, and waste 

disposal sites; it is also a web of utility corridors and 

aqueducts that sustain Southern California cities and 

provide local road access across it. Estimating the effects 

of continued population growth and increased resource 

use in the region has been difficult given the limited 

knowledge of biological diversity, mineral wealth, and 

surface and ground-water hydrology.

USGS work on the Mojave ecosystem processes 

and critical habitat is moving into integrated efforts 

to focus on the assessment of multiple spatial and 

temporal scales to understand the influence of climate 

and geomorphology on plant productivity/health, soil 

health, and soil stability for developing monitoring 

protocols. Through integrated geospatial models, the 

capability to develop a model that predicts texture as 

a function of depth and lateral extent, soil texture, 

and structure, provides a powerful spatial database for 

evaluating ecological function. Finally, a statisticallybased spatial model of desert tortoise habitat for large 

areas of the Mojave Desert based on abiotic, biotic, and 

anthropogenic descriptors with decision tree modeling, 

is being extrapolated across the study area to characterize 

habitat suitability and will include measures of predictive 

uncertainty. The goal of this science is to: document 

past and present changes to the land surface; develop 

conceptual ecosystem models; develop a methodology 

for predictive modeling of ecosystem health and 

sustainability; and assess the condition and status of 

Mojave ecosystems and the resources they provide. These 

new models are providing valuable new tools for Federal, 

State and local land-use managers and planners in the 

Mojave Desert.

Ecosystem Health, Sustainability, and Land Surface 

Change

Everglades Restoration and Mercury Contamination

Restoration of the Florida Everglades, estimated to 

cost $8 billion, is the largest environmental restoration 

project ever attempted in the United States. The USGS 

is a key player in providing fundamental scientific 

information for aiding restoration decisions. The 

USGS is collaborating with Federal and State agencies 

40 Management Discussion and Analysis - Looking Forward
Management Discussion and Analysis - Looking Forward 41

to conduct experimental studies to unravel the complex 

factors that control mercury toxicity in the Everglades, 

with particular emphasis on those factors that are 

expected to change under a restored condition. Mercury 

toxicity studies will document the toxicological impacts 

of mercury exposure to several native Everglades species, 

such as largemouth bass and threatened alligators. 

The framework of the Comprehensive Everglades 

Restoration Plan (CERP) was based originally on large 

regional-scale hydrologic models, developed by Florida’s 

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) 

and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USCOE), and 

ecological models developed by USGS. USGS has 

developed a decision support tool that links ecological 

models to the regional-scale hydrologic model through 

a GIS-based data viewing system for use in assessing 

projects at the sub-regional level. However, design, 

implementation, and assessment of specific CERP 

projects to be constructed over the next two-to-three 

decades, require project-scale predictive models and 

decision support tools. In partnership with SFWMD 

and USCOE as well as Federal and State agency leads 

implementing CERP, the USGS is using the Taylor 

Slough/Florida Bay Region of Everglades National 

Park as a ‘proof of concept’ for linking hydrologic, 

topographic, and ecological models in developing 

project-level predictive models and decision support 

tools.

Rivers

Understanding and Addressing Elevated Nitrate 

Concentrations in Midwestern Streams in Cedar River 

Basin, Iowa

The USGS has documented historical increases in nitrate 

levels in the Missouri and Mississippi River Basins. These 

increased nitrate concentrations have been implicated in 

the Gulf Hypoxia Syndrome (low dissolved oxygen zone) 

that threatens valuable marine fishery resources. High 

levels of nitrate result from a combination of factors 

including agricultural expansion and increased nitrogen 

application rates. These factors are exacerbated by land 

alterations including loss of riparian corridors, wetland 

drainage, and widespread use of tile drain systems. A 

dataset of historical nitrate levels, of particular use for 

USDA, EPA, and States will provide information critical 

to informed future land use planning activities.

Integrated Research on the Upper Mississippi River 

System

The Upper Mississippi River, a multiple-use resource 

in the Nation’s heartland, suffers from a variety of 

stresses including wetland loss, agricultural and urban 

development, and navigation dams and levees that reduce 

the river’s ecological benefits. Important habitats and 

their species are in decline, and excess nutrients from the 

basin contribute to hypoxia in the Gulf of Mexico. The 

USGS provides water quantity and quality, biological, 

and land-change data in partnership with Federal and 

State agencies to help overcome these negative effects. 

Information from biology and water disciplines provide 

a comprehensive basis for more in-depth studies of 

large river ecology. The USGS determined how major 

floods can have long-term benefits on the abundance 

of desirable fish species but also can increase invasive 

species, such as common and asian carps. In the future, 

USGS findings will provide a better understanding of 

flooding as an important ecological factor and will also 

influence where and how managers modify river levees 

to mitigate negative ecological effects. With State and 

USACE partners, the Long-Term Resource Monitoring 

Program (LTRMP) is tracking the spread and habitat 

preferences of invasive asian carps (bighead, silver, and 

black carp) that are moving up the river from the South. 

These fish compete directly with native fish for food and 

habitats with possible drastic effects to the ecosystem. 

Results from a 10-year review of status and trends for the 

Upper Mississippi River include information on aquatic 

vegetation, limnology, macroinvertebrates, and fish. 

USGS also expanded large river research on nutrients to 

determine how water-level management techniques can 

reduce excess nutrient delivery to the Gulf and found 

that lowering summer water levels can increase plant 

production, restore critical habitat for fishes and birds, 

and reduce nitrogen concentrations. Results from this 

work is being published in the “Journal of the North 

American Benthological Society and the Canadian 

Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences.” The effect 

of nutrients on native mussels in river sediments was 

recently published in “Environmental Toxicology and 

Chemistry.” Habitat mapping, modeling, and wildlife 

studies have provided a better understanding of the role 

of invasive plants in wetlands. Such data will improve 

future conservation efforts for declining grassland birds 

that depend on these habitats in the basin and assist 

National Wildlife Refuge Managers in restoration 

approaches. This information helps support societal 
discussions of the Upper Mississippi River as a national 

multiple-use resource.

Invasive Species

Adaptive Management for Invasive Species in the Great 

Basin

Invasive species and their impacts on native plants and 

animal populations and communities are a major focus 

of concern for USGS research. In the Great Basin, 

Sagesteppe Grasslands have been seriously impacted 

by invasive annual grasses, especially cheatgrass and 

medusahead. These annual grasses perpetuate a more 

frequent fire cycle than the historic plant and animal 

communities have experienced. Researchers are studying 

how to reduce the problems caused by these invasive 

species by understanding disturbance dynamics along 

with determining appropriate plant materials, sitepreparation techniques, weed-control methods, seeding 

equipment, management methods, and monitoring 

techniques for restoration projects. This research has 

developed recommendations of improved protocols 

for rehabilitation and demonstration of the results for 

land and resource agencies. USGS researchers are also 

studying the impacts of invasive animals on amphibian 

larvae, which is important information for resource 

managers concerned about amphibian declines. For 

example, studies in the Willamette Valley have shown 

that replacement of temporary wetlands with deep 

permanent ponds expand the spread of non-native 

bullfrogs and fish at the expense of amphibian larvae, and 

stocking naturally fishless mountain ponds and lakes with 

trout results in decreased reproduction and abundances 

of native salamander larvae.

Distribution of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) determined from field sampling points. (Connelly et al. 2004. Range-wide 

conservation assessment of greater sage-grouse and sagebrush habitats. Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. 

Unpublished Report. Available at: http://sagemap.wr.usgs.gov).

42 Management Discussion and Analysis - Looking Forward
Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements 43

FY2004 Management Control Assessments

The Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 1982 

(FMFIA) and the OMB require all cabinet-level Federal 

agencies to annually review their management control 

system. The objectives of DOI’s management control 

system are to provide reasonable assurance that: 

• The Department’s obligations and costs are in 

compliance with applicable laws;

• The Department’s assets are safeguarded against waste, 

loss, unauthorized use, or misappropriation; 

• The revenues and expenditures applicable to agency 

operations are properly recorded and accounted for 

to permit the preparation of accounts and reliable 

financial reports and to maintain accountability over 

assets; 

• All programs are efficiently and effectively carried out 

in accordance with applicable laws and management 

policy.

The efficiency of the DOI’s operations are continually 

evaluated using information obtained from reviews 

conducted by GAO, OIG, Bureau reviews, and/or 

specifically requested studies. On a yearly basis, DOI 

requires all of its Bureaus to conduct self-assessments of 

their FMFIA compliance. These diverse reviews provide 

a high level of assurance that Department systems and 

management controls comply with standards established 

by the FMFIA.

In conjunction with the annually required DOI 

Bureau reviews, the associate directors of Biology, 

Geology, Geography and Water; the regional directors 

of Eastern, Central, and Western Region; the Chief of 

Administrative Policy and Services; and the Geographic 

Information Officer provided signed assurance statements 

to the Director that their areas of responsibility had 

assessed the systems of management, administration, 

and financial controls in accordance with standards, 

objectives, and guidelines prescribed by the FMFIA and 

the OMB Circular A-123. 

The objectives of the assessments ensured that:

• programs achieved their intended results;

• resources were used consistent with the Bureau’s 

mission;

• resources were protected from fraud, waste and 

mismanagement;

• laws and regulations were followed; and

• reliable and timely information was maintained, 

reported, and used for decision making.

In performing this assessment, they relied on the 

knowledge and experience gained from the daily 

operations of their programs and systems of accounting 

and administrative controls, and information obtained 

from sources such as management control assessments, 

OIG and GAO audits; program evaluations and studies; 

independent audits of financial statements; performance 

plans and reports; and other information. Each 

assurance statement provided documentation on specific 

management control assessments conducted and audits 

and or reviews conducted by the OIG and/or GAO. The 

USGS Director relied on this extensive documentation to 

support the Bureau assurance statement provided to the 

Department on September 15, 2004 (see Appendix C for 

additional information on the program evaluation).

Based on the preliminary results of the USGS independent financial statement audit for FY2004, 

the USGS can conclude that it is in substantial compliance with Federal Accounting Standards and 

the U.S. Government Standard General Ledger at the transaction level as required by the Federal 

Financial Management Improvement Act (FFMIA). However, due to a reportable condition identified 

in security and application controls in financial management systems, the USGS cannot provide 

reasonable assurance that it is in substantial compliance with OMB Circular A-130, “Management of 

Federal Information Resources”, and OMB Circular A-127, “Financial Systems and Federal Accounting 

Standards.” The USGS has developed and will implement a remediation plan to resolve the reportable 

conditions relating to information system security controls and applications, and accounting and 

reporting standards during the next fiscal year.

 Chip Groat

 Director
FY2004 Management Control Automated Surveys

In addition to the department-wide, discipline, region, 

and office-specific reviews, management control 

automated surveys were sent to employees of three 

science centers (Alaska Science Center, Great Lakes 

Science Center, and Grand Canyon Monitoring and 

Research Center), two programs (Global Change 

Program and Safety, Health, and Environmental 

Program), and one team (Business Leaders Team). The 

employees were asked to evaluate various aspects of 

management control at their center, program, or team.

The results of the self-assessment surveys will assist 

managers to improve the effectiveness of center/program 

management, and will also be used to support the 

conclusions expressed in the Director’s Annual Assurance 

Statement to the Secretary of the Interior. These are 

individual examples of a series of on-going reviews 

of management practices in USGS programs and 

organizational units. Results of the surveys are detailed 

below. 

Alaska Science Center (ASC) 

As input to an administrative review of the ASC, 

all science center employees were asked about their 

satisfaction with various aspects of the administrative 

services they receive at the ASC and their overall 

satisfaction with the quality of the service. In addition, 

they were asked how they learn about administrative 

policy and procedures, if they use certain specific 

administrative services, and if they have any suggestions 

for improving administrative services at the Alaska 

Science Center. The survey was sent to all ASC 

employees, a total of 219 persons. Responses were 

received from 101 (46%). The graph below depicts the

percentages of customer satisfaction ASC respondents felt 

with the various aspects of administrative services listed 

below provided by ASC.

Great Lakes Science Center (GLSC) 

Each science center in the eastern region undergoes 

periodic reviews to assess how effectively center 

management, administration, maintenance, technical 

support programs, and policies support the science 

mission of the center, the region, and the USGS. Center 

reviews do not evaluate the quality of the science per se, 

but do evaluate the management processes that promote 

quality science within the center as well as the center’s 

strategic direction and health.

Employees of the GLSC were asked to state the degree 

to which they agree or disagree with a series of 21 

statements about conditions and management practices 

at the GLSC. In addition, they were asked what they 

think is the center’s greatest strength and greatest 

weakness, and what advice they would give the center 

director to improve the GLSC.

The results of the employee opinion survey assisted the 

GLSC review panel to identify apparent strengths and 

weaknesses of the center and issues that merit further 

investigation by the review panel. In addition to the 

opinion survey, all GLSC employees had an opportunity 

to schedule a one-on-one interview with a member or 

group of members of the review panel to discuss any 

issues relevant to the objective of the review that they felt 

were important.

The survey was sent to all employees 

and managers in the GLSC (93 

persons). Responses were received 

from 85 (91%).

44 Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements 45

Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center 

(GCMRC) 

On October 9, 2003, the GCMRC announced a 

major reorganization. An Organizational Assessment 

Committee was formed to develop a mechanism for 

assessing organizational effectiveness and to prepare 

a report of findings for submission to the GCMRC 

management team at intervals of six months and one year 

from the day of the announced reorganization.

Employees of the GCMRC were asked to state the 

degree to which they agree or disagree with a series of 39 

questions about conditions and management practices 

at the GCMRC. They were asked to assess eight aspects 

of GCMRC leadership at four different levels, overall 

effectiveness of leadership at each level, and personal 

and organizational morale. In addition, they were 

asked what they think is working well and not working 

well at GCMRC, and how efficiency and employee 

satisfaction could be improved. The survey consisted of 

two questionnaires, one addressing current 

conditions at the GCMRC, and one addressing 

conditions at GCMRC just prior to the 

reorganization.

The results of the employee opinion survey will 

assist the GCMRC Organizational Assessment 

Committee to identify apparent strengths 

and weaknesses of the center, to highlight 

issues that merit further investigation by the 

committee, and to evaluate the success or 

failure of the reorganization. The survey was 

sent to all employees and managers at the 

GCMRC, a total of 31 persons. Responses 

were received from 24 (77%).

Great Lakes Science Center questions:

Significantly higher agreement with these statements:

• My supervisor supports my need to balance work and family issues (91%)

• My supervisors/team-leaders are committed to a workforce representative of all segments of society (88%)

• My managers/supervisors/team-leaders give fair and equitable treatment to employees of different backgrounds (84%)

• The GLSC provides the appropriate and necessary Information Technology services and tools to support the science mission 

(88%)

• My work gives me a feeling of personal accomplishment (83%)

• I know how my work relates to the GLSC’s missions and goals (84%) 

• The scientific and information products produced at the GLSC are relevant to resource issues and client needs locally, 

regionally, and nationally (88%)

Significantly lower agreement with these statements:

• The GLSC provides the appropriate and necessary services (including administration and facility operations) to support the 

science mission (57%)

• The Regional Office and Biology HQ provides the GLSC the appropriate and necessary services and tools to support the 

science mission (40%)

• Selections for promotion at the GLSC are based on merit (51%)

• I understand the goals and objectives of the six Biology national program elements (50%)

How well did the reorganization work?

GCMRC employees do not feel that the recent reorganization was 

particularly useful. Just over half feel they can now more effectively 

implement the mission of GCMRC. However, there are only two 

statements that more than half of the employees are in agreement with: 

• The new organization has greater potential to foster an integrated 

approach to research and monitoring than the previous organization

• These two surveys adequately cover my concerns about the old and 

new organizational structures at GCMRC and will help to evaluate the 

effectiveness of the new organization

There is widespread disagreement with three statements: 

• The accountability of the program managers for their performance has 

improved under the reorganization

• The new positions created in the reorganization made effective use of the 

FTE’s currently available to GCMRC

• It is my perception that the morale of GCMRC in general has improved 

under the new organization
Global Change Program (GCP) 

Principal investigators (PI’s) who are or have been 

involved with the GCP were asked to state the degree 

to which they agree or disagree with a series of 21 

statements about management practices in the GCP. The 

statements were in three general areas:

• GCP/project review and recompetition process

• Global change program management

• Science center support

In addition, they were asked if they had any suggestions 

for improving the program in each of these general areas.

The survey was designed to identify apparent strengths 

and weaknesses in the GCP and to assist the program 

manager to improve the management of the program.

The sample was all USGS PI’s who had applied to the 

GCP for funding in the last two years. This was a total of 

40 persons. Responses were received from 29 (73%).

Safety, Health, and Environmental Program 

As part of an assessment of the Bureau Safety, Health, 

and Environmental Program, a random sample of 

employees were asked to assess a series of statements 

based upon the Department of the Interior Safety, 

Health, and Environmental Strategic Plan goals. The 

purpose of the survey is to assist the Bureau Safety, 

Health, and Environmental Program Manager in 

directing future program efforts.

Respondents were asked to indicate their agreement or 

disagreement with statements about the application of 

the five safety, health, and environmental strategic plan 

goals of their cost center/team. The five 

strategic goals are:

1. Create a safety, health, and 

environmental culture inclusive of all 

employees and activities.

2. Improve our ability to identify and abate 

unsafe practices and conditions.

3. Implement effective safety, health, and 

environmental resource strategies.

4. Facilitate accountability and program 

improvement through evaluation and 

monitoring.

5. Increase organizational safety, health, 

and environmental awareness and program 

communication.

In addition, respondents were asked if they 

had comments about the strategic goals, 

and also if they had participated in Safety 

and Health Week activities.

Random samples of 70 employees 

were selected from the discipline areas of Biology, 

Geology, Geography, and Water Resources, and from 

Administrative personnel, for a total sample of 350. 

Responses were received from 240 (70%).

A similar survey was conducted in 2002. Average 

agreement in each of the goal areas declined between 

2002 and 2004.

Survey results:

There are dramatic differences in opinion between PI’s who were funded 

and those who were not.

• PI’s who were not funded are significantly less satisfied with all aspects of 

the GC program/project review and re-competition process.

• PI’s who were not funded are much more likely to want more guidance 

from the Program Manager and to have a BRD global change PI 

meeting.

• PI’s who were funded are significantly more likely to consider their 

Center Director and supervisor supportive of their GC project and 

significantly less likely to think that their Center Director/supervisor see 

GC funds as a source of funding for other projects.

There is widespread agreement among all PI’s that they would like to learn 

more, interact more, and be more involved with global change scientists/

activities. Almost all PI’s are very confident that their own research 

projects will contribute to the U.S. Global Change Research Program 

(USGCRP) strategic plan.

Statement 2004 2002 Change

Goal #1 – Safety culture 73 85 -12

Goal #2 – Unsafe practices 70 80 -10

Goal #3 – Resource strategies 71 83 -12

Goal #4 – Eval./monitoring 77 84 -7

Goal #5 – Safety awareness 67 75 -8

Overall 71 81 -10

46 Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements 47

Business Leaders Team (BLT)

In conjunction with the one-year anniversary of 

the formation of the Business Leaders Team, and in 

preparation for a face-to-face team meeting in Austin, 

TX, members of the BLT were asked to complete 

a survey concerning their perceptions about the 

functioning of the BLT.

Members were asked to rate various aspects of their 

experience as an individual team member and the 

effectiveness of the team as a whole. In addition, 

members were asked what they thought was the team’s 

greatest accomplishment and what could be done to 

improve the team’s performance in the coming year.

The survey was sent to the 28 members of the BLT. 

Responses were received from 25 (89%). Members’ 

perception of their own performance strongly correlates 

with their perception of the team’s performance.

Human Capital Department-wide Review 

The USGS worked with the DOI Office of Personnel 

Policy to conduct a departmentwide employee 

opinion survey as part of the DOI Human Capital 

Accountability System. The USGS administered the 

survey, tabulated the responses, and analyzed the results. 

The total sample size was 560; the survey had a 70% 

response rate.

More than 90% of both supervisory and nonsupervisory employees agreed with the statements:

 • I know how my work relates to my organization’s 

missions and goals.

 • My supervisor supports my need to balance work 

and family issues.

 • I like the work I do.

Fewer than 75% of both supervisory and nonsupervisory employees agreed with the statements:

 • Information collected on my work unit’s performance 

is used to improve how we get work 

done.

 • I have sufficient resources (for 

example, people, materials, 

budget, etc.) to get my job 

done.

 • My work unit is able to recruit 

people with the right skills.

 • I hold my organization’s leaders 

in high regard.

In FY2004, USGS conducted internal processes to standardize ABC/M and Strategic Plan outputs so that a single 

set will be used for both. This effort led to a substantial refinement in the distinctions among work activities 

and products, and a new approach to analyzing work fashioned after the OMB’s Business Reference Model 

for Knowledge Creation and Management. Integrating the two management processes with more descriptive 

definition templates will result in a more meaningful and reliable cost and performance tool for project managers. 

Charlene Hall-Raphael, Planning and Performance Management Officer 
Resolution of Internal Control Weaknesses and Non-Compliance with Laws and Regulations

The following tables summarize actions taken to resolve material weaknesses, reportable conditions, and instances 

of noncompliance with laws and regulations reported in the Independent Auditors’ Report on the USGS Financial 

Statements for FY2003.

Material 

Weakness 

Corrective Action Target 

Date

Implemented 

(Yes/No)

Controls 

over accounts 

receivables 

and deferred 

revenues 

related to 

reimbursable 

agreements

Revise Instructional Memorandum for monthly reviews and quarterly 

certifications of accounts receivable balances to include exception reporting 

that identify abnormal balances and provide aging reports; conduct 

statistical sampling reviews of the reports and the certification and include 

results in financial performance indicators to cost center managers and 

regional directors; and automate billing process of Federal bills using PC 

billing.

Status as of 9/30/04:

USGS corrective actions were sufficiently effective for this FY2003 material 

weakness to be downgraded to a reportable condition in FY2004.

9/30/04 Yes

Reportable 

Condition

Corrective Action Target 

Date

Implemented 

(Yes/No)

Controls over 

information 

technology 

(IT) data 

security

Complete corrective actions related to:

1. T&A Application – Designate an independent management official; 

implement restrictions on the reuse of passwords; enforce segregation, 

or implement alternate controls as appropriate.

2. Physical Access – Continue to ensure that all currently authorized 

personnel have legitimate business needs for physical access to 

the USGS data center; obtain and maintain proper authorization 

documentation; establish a program to review physical access to 

sensitive areas.

3. User Account Management – Revise mainframe access review 

and approval in coordination with NBC; document policies and 

procedures for restricting access to the Solaris system software.

4. Logical Access Control – Review the vulnerability assessment results; 

ensure thorough, periodic reviews to identify vulnerabilities on the 

internal network.

Status as of 9/30/04: 

USGS continues to have a reportable condition in certain aspects of 

information technology.

9/30/04 Yes

Policies, 

procedures, 

and controls 

over intradepartmental 

eliminations

Designate FTEs devoted solely to reconciliation of intra-departmental 

expenses and revenues, and assets and liabilities.

Status as of 9/30/04:

USGS corrective actions were sufficiently effective for this FY2003 

reportable condition to be corrected in FY2004.

9/30/04 Yes

48 Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Reportable 

Condition

Corrective Action Target 

Date

Implemented 

(Yes/No)

Policies, 

procedures, and 

controls over 

property, plant, 

and equipment

Develop and implement reports that identify missing and/or erroneous 

information; develop procedures for processing capital improvements that 

extend an asset’s useful-life; revise procedures for asset transfers; research 

alternative useful-life schedules; and implement statistical sampling of 

transactions based on object classes.

Status as of 9/30/04: 

USGS corrective actions were sufficiently effective for this FY2003 

reportable condition to be corrected in FY2004.

9/30/04 Yes

NonCompliance Corrective Action Target 

Date

Implemented 

(Yes/No)

FFMIA 

– Federal 

Financial 

Management 

Systems 

Requirements 

and Federal 

Accounting 

Standards

Complete corrective actions described for the controls over the IT data 

security reportable condition.

Complete corrective actions described for the controls over the accounts 

receivable and deferred revenue related to reimburseable agreements 

material weakness.

Status as of 9/30/04: 

USGS efforts to eliminate material weaknessess in internal control bring 

USGS into compliance with the FFMIA’s Federal Accounting standards 

portion of the Act.

USGS continues to have a non-compliance finding associated with the 

reportable condition in information technology.

9/30/04 Yes

Unqualified Financial Statement Audits

USGS is committed to strong financial management and has recently made much progress in this area. This achievement 

results from our commitment to strong management control and accountability of our financial resources, a commitment 

that we are extending into the future as we seek to further improve management of our financial resources. Significant 

progress was also made in reducing internal control material weaknesses. In FY2001, all nine matters reported by KPMG 

LLP were considered to be material weaknesses. Though no opinion was issued in FY2002, most matters were still 

considered to be uncorrected at that fiscal year-end. In FY2003, many prior material weaknesses were corrected, while 

others were downgraded to reportable conditions. USGS currently has no material weaknesses. This progress illustrates 

our progression toward full attainment of unqualified audit opinions by correcting material weaknesses. 

KPMG LLP’s Opinions Issued to USGS

FY2001 Disclaimer 

FY2002 No Opinion

FY2003 Unqualified Balance Sheet 

FY2004 Unqualified Financial Statements (all)

Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements 49
Debt Management and Receivables Due from the Public

USGS billed accounts receivable from the public decreased from $30 million in FY2003 to $27 million in FY2004. 

Delinquent amounts over 180 days past due decreased from $1.1 million in FY2003 to $1.0 million at the end of 

FY2004. The DCIA requires that delinquencies older than 180 days be referred to the Department of the Treasury’s 

Financial Management 

Service, which was 

established as the 

Federal government’s 

debt collection center. 

The USGS reports the 

status of receivables on 

quarterly Treasury Report 

on Receivables (TROR) 

reports. As of September 

30, 2004, USGS reported 

on the TROR that $1.0 

million in delinquencies 

had been referred to FMS 

for cross servicing.

Health and Human Service (HHS) Payment Management System (PMS)

USGS uses the HHS PMS to make disbursements for grants and cooperative agreements with States, municipalities, 

and universities. In FY2004, USGS issued payments in excess of $72 million through the HHS system, which is an 

increase of $21.1 million from FY2003. Beginning with all new awards issued after October 1, 2001, USGS initiated 

a new requirement that all 

new awards be setup and 

paid through the Payment 

Management System. This 

explains dramatic increase 

between FY2002 and FY2003. 

Our use of PMS further 

increased in FY2004 due to 

fully implementing the new 

policy requiring PMS use.

Good management sets the foundation upon which agencies can successfully meet their responsibilities to the 

American public. These responsibilities require that we deploy our resources efficiently and effectively. To meet 

these responsibilities, USGS strives for management excellence demonstrated by increased accountability for results, 

more effective leverage of available resources, and continued process and technology improvements.

50 Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Prompt Payment Act 

Over 98% of USGS invoices 

were paid on time in FY2004 

and FY2003. In addition, the 

late payment interest penalties 

decreased from $21,074 in 

FY2003 to $19,759 in FY2004. 

Our performance remains above 

DOI’s goal of 97%. We will 

continue to monitor our payment 

performance to ensure our timely 

vendor payment percentage stays 

on target. 

Bankcards

USGS is dedicated to the use of bankcards 

as a means of streamlining procurements. 

USGS workforce size peaked in FY2002, 

with a small reduction in force occuring 

over the past two fiscal years. During the 

past five years, bankcards have become the 

preferred method of procurement for small 

purchases. The number of cardholders 

decreased in FY2003 and further in 

FY2004 based on recommendations from 

the OIG in efforts to strengthen internal 

controls. The value of purchases made 

using the bankcards increased in FY2004 

due to our appropriations being issued 

later in the year than in previous years. 

USGS has paid considerable attention to 

the internal controls surrounding these 

purchases to ensure that all such purchases 

are legal and proper.

DCIA – Electronic funds transfer 

(EFT)

During FY2004, we continued 

our efforts to maximize the use of 

payment mechanisms compliant 

with EFT as required by the 

Debt Collection Improvement 

Act of 1996. DOI’s overall EFT 

performance target for FY2004 was 

raised to 90%. USGS exceeded 

DOI’s goal and made progress 

with a 6.2% increase in the EFT 

percentage for vendor payments.

Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements 51
Financial Management

The Office of Administration and Policy Services (APS) 

within the USGS formulates and prescribes Bureauwide financial management and accounting policies, 

procedures, and controls. APS strives to provide:

• Program managers that are knowledgeable, 

responsible, and accountable fiscal managers;

• Accurate and timely financial data that is readily 

available to management and stakeholders; and

• Financial management that is conducted through 

a Bureau-wide financial management system that 

directly supports work and resource planning and 

program performance measurement. 

APS financial management environment is being 

improved to ensure compliance with Federal laws and 

regulations while providing DOI and USGS executives 

with timely, accurate financial and performance 

indication. Several major initiatives were underway in 

FY2003 and continued into FY2004 to help us achieve 

this endeavor:

• Implement a new financial management system; 

• Improve financial performance indication; and 

• Improve human resources planning in the financial 

management community.

Implement a new Financial Business Management 

System (FBMS)

FBMS is a major enterprise management initiative that 

will integrate budget formulation and planning, financial 

management, acquisition, property management, grants 

administration, and other subsidiary systems and will 

revamp administrative processes throughout the DOI. 

FBMS will provide the system and process structure for 

DOI to modernize its operations and will enable DOI’s 

employees and managers to have better information for 

decisionmaking about their programs. 

The scope of this project is to provide a Department-wide 

solution that significantly improves access to reliable, 

accurate, current, and complete financial and business 

management information to support the decisionmaking 

process throughout all levels of the Department, affecting 

all employees and operations. This includes improving 

our ability to obtain unqualified audit opinions, 

economic and efficient input and retrieval of data, and 

ensuring the best use of taxpayer and other available 

funds to promote proactive management of these funds. 

Since its inception, FBMS has been a collaborative 

undertaking among all the DOI bureaus. USGS is 

heavily involved with system design efforts and is 

currently scheduled to fully implement FBMS (and 

replace existing financial systems) in FY2008.

Improve financial performance indication within the 

Bureau

USGS developed a monthly, and for certain measures 

quarterly, financial performance indicators system, 

the results of which are distributed Bureau wide. This 

new process was designed to facilitate monitoring 

of the effectiveness of internal controls, disseminate 

management information needed to evaluate Bureau 

performance, and provide a consistent manner of 

measuring results within all Disciplines and Offices 

within USGS.

Improve human resources planning in the financial 

management community

USGS financial management workforce plays a critical 

role in safeguarding USGS financial resources and 

ensuring that USGS managers have the most accurate, 

timely, and reliable financial information on which to 

base science and business decisions. The USGS engaged 

in workforce planning during the fiscal year, a process 

that identifies skills that will be needed in the next 5 years 

and develops strategies for acquiring those skills. Because 

of the importance of financial management to the 

Bureau’s and Department’s success, USGS is developing 

a workforce plan, to be completed in FY2005, to ensure 

that our financial management workforce has the skills it 

needs for the future.

“To be successful, our workforce planning efforts must be linked to our science and business 

planning and must be meaningful at the science center, regional, and bureau levels. For this 

reason, we developed a common USGS methodology for workforce planning that is based on 

science and business plans and allows full flexibility at the science center and regional levels to 

set goals and address local and regional workforce needs. This commonly applied methodology 

allows the bureau to roll up science center and regional workforce plans for a bureauwide 

assessment of our workforce needs.” Robert Doyle, USGS Deputy Director

52 Management Discussion and Analysis - Compliance with Legal and Regulatory Requirements
Analysis of Our Financial Statements 

(all amounts are in thousands)

The USGS basic financial statements, which are included 

in section II of this report, are prepared in accordance 

with accounting principles generally accepted in the 

United States of America as set forth by Federal entities, 

guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) and the DOI. While the financial statements 

have been prepared from the USGS books and records in 

accordance with the formats prescribed by OMB, they are 

different from the financial reports used to monitor and 

control budgetary resources that are prepared from the 

same books and records. The statements should be read 

with the realization that they are a component of the U.S. 

Government, a sovereign entity.

The DOI Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is 

responsible for auditing the basic financial statements of 

USGS and has contracted these services to KPMG LLP. 

While the audit of the FY2004 basic financial statements 

is full scope, the audit of the FY2003 basic financial 

statements was limited in scope to the Consolidated 

Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2003. 

This analysis of the financial statements contains 

highlights on selected aspects of the accompanying basic 

financial statements.

Assets – What We Own

The Fund Balance with Treasury (FBWT) of $234,783 

represents 41% of total assets at September 30, 2004. 

The FBWT is primarily composed of appropriated funds 

available to make authorized expenditures. The USGS 

Working Capital Fund comprised 36%, or $85,133 

million, of the FBWT at September 30, 2004. 

The general property, plant, and equipment (PP&E), net 

of accumulated depreciation amounted to $190,769 at 

September 30, 2004. This amount includes a satellite 

reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheet at a net 

book value of $48,829, as well as land, buildings and 

improvements, furniture and equipment, and software 

purchased for internal use. The satellite, transferred 

to the Bureau by the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration in FY2002, represents 26 percent of the 

value of the Bureau’s total PP&E at September 30, 2004. 

During 2003, the satellite experienced technical problems 

and is currently operating in a diminished capacity. As a 

result, the satellite’s value was reduced by $81,100 and an 

impairment loss was recognized in the FY2003 Statement 

of Net Cost for the same amount. 

The total net Accounts Receivable (A/R, net) of $141,860 

is represented by 42.8% of amounts owed from other 

Federal agencies and 57.2% owed from the public. 

The majority of the accounts receivable is established 

to cover the direct and indirect costs for reimbursable 

services performed in support of surveys, investigations, 

and scientific research. The majority of the receivable 

balance is unbilled: 88.5% of the $60,776 receivables 

from Federal agencies are unbilled, while 68.5% of 

the $81,084 receivables from the public are unbilled. 

The large unbilled balance is due to the manner that 

agreements are written for survey and research type work. 

The revenue for many agreements is recognized as work 

is completed, but the receipt of payment is often not 

due until completion of a survey or research report is 

accomplished. Unbilled A/R decreased in FY2004 due to 

placing more emphsis on requiring faster billing cycles.

Liabilities – What We Owe

The USGS is a scientific service organization where the 

majority of its liabilities are payroll and benefit related. 

The accrued payroll and benefits amount of $135,182, 

including Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) 

liabilities and annual leave due to employees, represents 

47% of USGS total liabilities of $284,723 at September 

30, 2004. Of that total liabilities amount, the accounts 

payable of $92,596 consists of $9,885 of accounts 

payable with other Federal agencies and $82,711 of 

accounts payable with the public. Deferred revenue, 

credits, and the deposit fund liability of $12,392 consists 

primarily of amounts advanced to the Bureau to cover 

reimbursable services to be provided at a future date.

Unfunded liabilities, with a balance of $162,186 at fiscal 

year-end 2004, make up 56.9% of the total outstanding 

Management Discussion and Analysis - Analysis of Our Financial Statements 53
liabilities. The largest liabilities in this balance consists 

of $57,652 of unfunded annual leave and $48,510 of 

the FECA liabilities. 

The other unfunded liabilities include the GSA Tenant 

Improvement liability of $21,216; contingent liabilities 

of $20,971; and environmental cleanup liabilities of 

$1,097. The balance of the environmental cleanup costs 

reported in FY2003 included both environmental clean 

up and continent liabilities for equipment removal. 

During FY2004, the environmental costs were adjusted 

to reflect only those sites identified with hazardous 

waste. The remaining sites where only cleanup of 

equipment remains to be completed were reclassified as 

contingent liabilities.

 

 

Budgetary Resources – What We Receive

The USGS received approximately 59%, or $951,381, 

of its total budgetary resources of $1,544,259 through 

appropriations received in FY2004. Other major sources 

of budgetary resources include unobligated balances 

carried over from FY2003 and spending authority from 

offsetting collections, totaling $155,481 and $443,337, 

respectively. Of the total budgetary resources, 

$1,423,949 were obligated as of September 30, 2004. 

The majority of the budgetary resources were 

used during the current year to support surveys, 

investigations, and scientific research. Of the FY2004 

appropriations received, the following restrictions 

applied: $64,080 in funds available only for cooperation 

with states and municipalities for water resource 

investigations; $15,141 to remain available until 

expended for conducting inquires into the economic 

conditions affecting mining and materials processing 

industries; $7,901 to remain available for satellite 

operations until expended; $21,971 for operation and 

maintenance of facilities and deferred maintenance and 

shall be available until September 30, 2006; $170,398 

for biological research activity and the operation of 

Cooperative Research Units until September 30, 2006. 

The offsetting collections from the Bureau’s reimbursable 

program include the following: reimbursements from nonFederal sources are from States, Tribes, and municipalities 

for cooperative efforts and proceeds from sale to the public 

of copies of photographs and records; proceeds from sale of 

personal property; reimbursements for permits and licenses 

of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; and 

reimbursements from foreign countries and international 

organizations for technical assistance. Reimbursements 

from other Federal agencies are for mission related work 

performed at the request of the financing agency. 

The USGS also maintains a Working Capital Fund 

(WCF), established November 5, 1990, that is primarily 

used to invest funds from appropriations and reimbursable 

agreements, without fiscal year limitation, to purchase 

materials, supplies, and equipment for long-term capital 

investments. The WCF also provides fee-for-service 

operations internally and allows the USGS to provide more 

efficient financial management of its telecommunications 

investments; acquisition, replacement, and enhancement of 

scientific equipment; facilities and laboratory operations, 

modernization, and equipment replacement; drilling and 

training services; and publications. 

Appropriations represent the vast majority of the budgetary 

financing sources of the Bureau. Other financing 

sources are comprised of $1,141 of transfers-in without 

reimbursement from other Federal agencies, and $61,242 

in imputed financing from costs absorbed by others, 

which represents costs paid by Treasury’s Judgment Fund 

on the behalf of USGS and from the Office of Personnel 

Management for USGS retirement, health, and insurance 

benefits of USGS employees.

54 Management Discussion and Analysis - Analysis of Our Financial Statements
Net Costs – What We Spend

In FY2004 and FY2003, net cost of operations totaled 

approximately $1,050 and $1,099, respectively. In 

terms of net cost of operations supporting its strategic 

goals, comparative information is not available. As 

discussed in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis 

- Strategic Goals section, DOI created a unified strategic 

plan for the Department as a whole in FY2004. In this 

process, the previous DOI GPRA goal, Provide Science 

for a Changing World, which USGS supported with two 

GPRA program activities, was eliminated. In the new 

plan, USGS supports three GPRA mission goals with six 

end outcome goals. 

Costs not assigned to an end outcome goal in FY2003 

accounted for 7% of total net cost, while all costs in 

FY2004 were assigned to an end outcome goal.

Because the USGS did not have consistency in 

operating segments between FY2004 and FY2003, 

comparison of organizational support of strategic goals 

was provided through four discipline areas: 

• Water, 

• Geology, 

• Geography, and 

• Biology. 

Limitations to Our Financial Statements

The basic financial statements have been presented to report the financial position 

and results of operations of the USGS, consistent with the requirements of the Chief 

Financial Officers’ Act of 1990. While the statements have been prepared from the books 

and records of USGS in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for Federal 

entities and the formats prescribed by the Office of Management and Budget, the statements are 

in addition to the financial reports used to monitor and control budgetary resources which are 

prepared from the same books and records. The basic financial statements should be read with the 

realization that they are for a component of the United States government, a sovereign entity. 

Liabilities not covered by budgetary resources cannot be liquidated without the enactment 

of an appropriation, and the payment of all liabilities, other than for contracts, can be 

abrogated by the sovereign entity.

The charts below show net costs for each discipline for 

each fiscal year.

Management Discussion and Analysis - Analysis of Our Financial Statements 55
USGS volcanologist stands near a skylight and uses an instrument to sample molten lava and gather scientific data.

56 

Section II

Basic Financial Statements

Contents

Consolidated Balance Sheets ............................................................................... 57

Consolidated Statements of Net Cost .................................................................. 58

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Position .......................................... 59

Combined Statements of Budgetary Resources .................................................... 60

Consolidated Statements of Financing ................................................................. 61

Notes to the Financial Statements ....................................................................... 62
Basic Financial Statements - The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements 57

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Consolidated Balance Sheets

September 30, 2004 and 2003

(in thousands)

2004 2003

Assets (Note 3)

Intragovernmental:

Fund balance with Treasury (Note 2) $ 234,783 $ 205,258

Accounts and interest receivable, net (Note 4) 60,776 81,089

Advances and prepayments 3,883 2,654

Total intragovernmental 299,442 289,001

Accounts and interest receivable, net (Note 4) 81,084 91,432

Cash 1 2

Inventory, net (Note 6) 2,433 2,395

Property, plant, and equipment, net (Notes 7 and 8) 190,769 222,126

Advances and prepayments 45 79

Total assets $ 573,774 $ 605,035

Liabilities (Note 9)

Intragovernmental:

Accounts payable $ 9,885 $ 8,940

Accrued payroll and benefits 4,414 7,367

FECA workers compensation liability (Note 10) 7,941 7,929

Deferred revenue (Note 5) 1,744 2,835

Deposit fund liability (Note 5) 2,997 7,262

GSA tenant improvement liability (Note 11) 21,216 26,051

Other liabilities (Note 3) 231 220

Total intragovernmental 48,428 60,604

Accounts payable 82,711 62,423

Accrued payroll and benefits 24,606 16,975

Annual leave liability 57,652 54,390

Deferred revenue (Note 5) 1,474 1,141

Deferred credits (Note 5) 238 135

Deposit fund Liability (Note 5) 5,939 4,378

Environmental cleanup liabilities (Note 12) 1,097 507

Contingent liabilities (Note 12) 20,971 20,638

FECA actuarial liability (Note 10) 40,569 42,816

Other liabilities 1,038 1,181

Total liabilities 284,723 265,188

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 11 and 12)

Net position

Unexpended appropriations 163,343 187,440

Cumulative results of operations 125,708 152,407

Total net position 289,051 339,847

Total liabilities and net position $ 573,774 $ 605,035
58 Basic Financial Statements - The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Consolidated Statements of Net Cost

For the Years Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

(in thousands)

2003

2004 (Unaudited)

Advance Knowledge through Scientific Leadership Environmental and Natural Resources

Intragovernmental gross cost $ 163,998 Intragovernmental gross cost $ 197,831 

Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 155,984 Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 192,112

Intragovernmental net cost 8,014 Intragovernmental net cost 5,719

Gross costs with the public 825,638 Gross costs with the public 948,651

Less: Earned revenues from the public 166,171 Less: Earned revenues from the public 132,099

Net costs with the public 659,467 Net costs with the public 816,552

 Total net cost 667,481 Total net cost 822,271

Protect Lives, Resources, and Property Hazards

Intragovernmental gross cost 10,075 Intragovernmental gross cost 33,473

Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 9,690 Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 32,311

Intragovernmental net cost 385 Intragovernmental net cost 1,162

Gross costs with the public 97,361 Gross costs with the public 228,941

Less: Earned revenues from the public 1,440 Less: Earned revenues from the public 34,074

Net costs with the public 95,921 Net costs with the public 194,867

 Total net cost 96,306 Total net cost 196,029

Sustain Biological Communities Costs not assigned to any program

Intragovernmental gross cost 24,711 Asset impairment (Note 8) 81,100

Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 23,718

Intragovernmental net cost 993

Gross costs with the public 117,779

Less: Earned revenues from the public 1,766

Net costs with the public 116,013

 Total net cost 117,006

Improve Health of Watersheds and Landscapes

Intragovernmental gross cost 37,673

Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 36,286

Intragovernmental net cost 1,387

Gross costs with the public 85,554

Less: Earned revenues from the public 6,693

Net costs with the public 78,861

 Total net cost 80,248

Manage or Influence Resources - Energy

Intragovernmental gross cost 1,690

Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 1,610

Intragovernmental net cost 80

Gross costs with the public 26,954

Less: Earned revenues from the public 83

Net costs with the public 26,871

 Total net cost 26,951

Manage or Influence Resources - Non-Energy

Intragovernmental gross cost 3,841

Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 3,644

Intragovernmental net cost 197

Gross costs with the public 61,944

Less: Earned revenues from the public 558

Net costs with the public 61,386

 Total net cost 61,583

Total Total

Intragovernmental gross cost 241,988 Intragovernmental gross cost 231,304

Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 230,932 Less: Intragovernmental earned revenue 224,423

Intragovernmental net cost 11,056 Intragovernmental net cost 6,881

Gross costs with the public 1,215,230 Gross costs with the public 1,177,592

Less: Earned revenues from the public 176,711 Less: Earned revenues from the public 166,173

Net costs with the public 1,038,519 Net costs with the public 1,011,419

Asset Impairment (Note 8) 81,100

 Total net cost of operations $ 1,049,575 Total net cost of operations $ 1,099,400 
Basic Financial Statements - The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements 59

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Position

For the Years Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

(in thousands)

Cumulative

Results of 

Operations

 Unexpended 

Appropriations Total

Beginning balances $ 152,406 $ 339,846 187,440

Budgetary financing sources

Appropriations received - 949,686 949,686

Appropriations transferred in/out - 87 87

Appropriations used 956,739 (956,739) -

Transfers in/out without reimbursement 1,491 - 1,491

Donations 1,730 - 1,730

Other budgetary financing sources and adjustments - (17,131) (17,131)

Other financing sources

Imputed financing from costs absorbed by others (Note 13) 61,242 - 61,242

Transfers in/(out) without reimbursement (350) - (350)

Donations and forfeitures of property 2,025 - 2,025

Total financing sources 1,022,877 (24,097) 998,780

Net cost of operations (1,049,575) (1,049,575) -

Ending balances $ 125,708 $ 289,051 163,343 

Cumulative

Results of 

Operations

 Unexpended 

Appropriations Total

Beginning balances $ 294,600 $ 474,538 179,938

Budgetary financing sources

Appropriations received - 925,286 925,286

Appropriations transferred in/out - 619 619

Appropriations used 907,121 (907,121) -

Transfers in/out without reimbursement 984 - 984

Donations 387 - 387

Other budgetary financing sources and adjustments 2,730 (11,282) (8,552)

Other financing sources -

Imputed financing from costs absorbed by others (Note 13) 56,237 - 56,237

Transfers in/(out) without reimbursement (10,253) (10,253) - 

Total financing sources 957,206 7,502 964,708

Net cost of operations (1,099,400) (1,099,400) -

Ending balances $ 152,406 $ 339,846 187,440 

2004

2003 (Unaudited)
60 Basic Financial Statements - The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Combined Statements of Budgetary Resources

For the Years Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

2004 2003

Budgetary resources: (Note 15)

Budget authority:

Appropriations received $ 951,381 $ 925,987

Unobligated balance:

Beginning of fiscal year 155,481 127,337

Spending authority from offsetting collections:

Earned:

Collected 492,777 514,296

Receivable from federal sources (31,514) (3,957)

Change in unfilled customer orders:

Advance received (1,165) (96,939)

Without advance from federal sources (16,761) 32,151

Recoveries of prior year obligations 11,191 10,765

Permanently not available (17,131) (11,420)

Total budgetary resources $ 1,544,259 $ 1,498,220

Status of budgetary resources:

Obligations incurred:

Direct $ 982,482 $ 908,078

Reimbursable 441,467 434,661

Subtotal 1,423,949 1,342,739

Unobligated balance available, apportioned 95,112 109,779

Unobligated balance not available 25,198 45,702

Total status of budgetary resources $ 1,544,259 $ 1,498,220

Relationship of obligations to outlays:

Obligations incurred $ 1,423,949 $ 1,342,739

Obligated balance, net, beginning of fiscal year 37,228 115,725

Obligated balance, net, end of fiscal year:

Accounts receivable 142,793 174,307

Unfilled customer orders from federal sources 42,714 59,475

Undelivered orders (170,158) (179,547)

Accounts payable (119,101) (91,463)

Less: Spending authority adjustments 37,084 (38,960)

Outlays:

Disbursements 1,394,509 1,382,276

Collections (491,613) (417,357)

Subtotal 902,896 964,919

Less: Offsetting receipts (1,695) -

Net outlays $ 901,201 $ 964,919
Basic Financial Statements - The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements 61

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Consolidated Statements of Financing

For the Years Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

(in thousands)

Resources used to finance activities (Unaudited)

2004 2003

Budgetary resources obligated:

Obligations incurred (Note 15) $ 1,423,949 $ 1,342,739 

Less: Spending authority from offsetting collections and recoveries (454,528) (456,316)

Obligations net of offsetting collections and recoveries 969,421 886,423

Less: Offsetting receipts (1,695) -

Net obligations 967,726 886,423

Other resources:

Donations and forfeitures of property 2,025 -

Transfers in/(out) without reimbursement (350) (10,253)

Imputed financing from costs absorbed by others (Note 13) 61,242 56,237

Net other resources used to finance activities 62,917 45,984

Total resources used to finance activities 1,030,643 932,407

Resources used to finance items not part of the net cost of operations

Change in budgetary resources obligated for goods, services and benefits 

 ordered but not yet provided (9,733) 9,181

Resources that fund expenses recognized in prior periods 41 (81)

Offsetting receipts that do not affect net cost of operations 1,729 (311)

Resources that finance the acquisition of assets (16,938) (23,589)

Other resources that do not affect net cost of operations - 146

Total resources used to finance items not part of the net cost of operations (24,901) (14,654)

Total resources used to finance the net cost of operations 1,005,742 917,753

Components of net cost of operations that will not require or generate resources

in the current period

Components requiring or generating resources in future periods:

Increase (decrease) in annual leave liability 3,262 (1,310)

Increase (decrease) in environmental liabilities 590 (4,679)

Increase (decrease) in exchange revenue receivable from the public 851 (922)

Increase (decrease) in GSA tenant improvement liabilities (4,835) 26,051

Increase (decrease) in other (3,908) 18,143

Total components of net cost of operations that will require or generate resources

in future periods (4,040) 37,283

Components not requiring or generating resources:

Depreciation and amortization (Note 8) 48,256 73,094

Revaluation of Assets or Liabilities (Note 9) - 81,100

Spending authority transferred from other agencies (Note 16) 1,246 1,466

Bad Debt expense and other (1,629) (11,296)

Total components of net cost of operations that will not require or generate resources 47,873 144,364

Total components of net cost of operations that will not require or generate resources

in the current period 43,833 181,647

Net cost of operations $ 1,049,575 $ 1,099,400 
Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

A. Reporting Entity

The U. S. Geological Survey, a Bureau within the Department of Interior, was established on March 3, 1879 by an act 

of Congress to conduct systematic and scientific “classification of the public lands, and examination of the geological 

structure, mineral resources, and products of the national domain.” The mission of the USGS is to serve the Nation by 

providing reliable scientific information to describe and understand the earth; minimize loss of life and property from 

natural disasters; manage water, biological, energy and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our quality of life. 

The USGS accomplishes its mission through integrated science programs consisting primarily of:

• the national mapping program that meets the Nation’s needs for accurate, nationally-consistent base geospatial data 

by ensuring access to and advancing the application of these data and related natural science information for users;

• the geologic program that provides earth science information used to evaluate resource potential, to define risks 

associated with natural hazards, and to characterize the potential impact of natural geologic processes on human 

activity, the economy, and the environment; and

• the water resources program that continuously assesses the Nation’s water availability and quality, provides geographic 

and cartographic information, and addresses flood hazards by moderating the impacts of floods and improving 

flood disaster response. The biologic research program that generates and distributes information needed in the 

conservation and management of the Nation’s biological resources.

B. Basis of Presentation

These financial statements have been prepared to report the consolidated financial position, the net cost of operations, 

the changes in financial position, the budgetary resources, and the financing of the USGS, consistent with the Chief 

Financial Officers’ Act of 1990 and the Government Management Reform Act of 1994. These financial statements have 

been prepared from the books and records of the USGS in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles 

(GAAP) using guidance issued by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB), the OMB, and USGS 

accounting policies, which are summarized in this note. These consolidated financial statements present proprietary and 

budgetary information, while other financial reports also prepared by the USGS pursuant to OMB directives are used to 

monitor and control USGS use of Federal budgetary resources. The Statement of Budgetary Resources is presented on 

a combined, rather than consolidated basis, and therefore, Intra-entity eliminations were not made for the purpose of 

this statement. The Statement of Financing reconciles combined amounts from the Statement of Budgetary Resources to 

amounts from the consolidated Statement of Net Cost.

C. Basis of Accounting

Financial transactions are recorded on an accrual accounting basis and a budgetary basis. Under the accrual method, 

revenues are recognized when earned and expenses are recognized when a liability is incurred, without regard to receipt 

or payment of cash. Budgetary accounting facilitates compliance with legal requirements and mandated controls over the 

use of federal funds. It generally differs from the accrual basis of accounting in that obligations are recognized when new 

orders are placed, contracts awarded, and services received that will require payments during the same or future period. 

The USGS intra-entity transactions have been eliminated in the Consolidated Statement of Net Cost.

D. Fund Balance with Treasury and Cash

Fund Balances with Treasury are cash balances remaining as of fiscal year-end from which USGS is authorized to pay 

liabilities resulting from operational activity, except as restricted by law. Fund balance with Treasury includes funds 

received from direct appropriations, transfers, offsetting receipts, recoveries, and funds held in budget clearing accounts. 

The USGS is permitted by law to use appropriated funds to finance its working capital fund. 

62 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)
E. Revenues, User Fees, and Financing

Appropriations: The USGS receives the majority of the funding needed to support its programs through Congressional 

appropriations. Financing sources are received in annual, multi-year, and no-year appropriations that may be used, within 

statutory limits, for operating and capital expenditures. 

Upon expiration of an annual or multiple-year appropriation, the obligated and unobligated balances retain their 

fiscal year identity, and are maintained separately within an expired account. The unobligated balance can be used 

to make adjustments to existing obligations, but is otherwise not available for expenditures. Annual and multipleyear appropriations are canceled at the end of the fifth year after expiration. No-year appropriations do not expire. 

Appropriations of budget authority are recognized as used when a liability for goods and services or benefits and grants 

are incurred.

Exchange revenues: Additional funds are obtained through reimbursements for services performed for other Federal 

agencies and the public and fees charged for surveys, investigations, and research. Revenue and intra-governmental 

reimbursements are recognized as earned when the goods have been delivered or services rendered by USGS. Revenues 

earned from public sources are derived from States and municipalities for making cooperative topographic and geologic 

surveys and water resource investigations; proceeds from the sale of photographs, maps, and records; proceeds from the 

sale of personal property; and reimbursements from permits and licenses of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 

Revenues from certain cooperators represent about half of the total cost; the USGS pays the remaining half of the 

total cooperators cost. Revenues earned from other Federal agencies are derived from special-purpose mapping and 

investigations. Revenues are also received through the Department of State, from foreign countries, and international 

organizations for scientific and technical assistance.

The USGS has specific legislative authority to receive revenue from non-Federal reimbursable customers as budgetary 

resources. The USGS also has authority to receive contributions from outside organizations to perform work desired 

mutually by multiple parties. In addition, the USGS receives rental receipts for quarters provided at remote locations.

User fees are set at a level that will recover the full costs associated with the services for specific customers, and prices for 

the sale of information products are set at a level that will recover the full costs of reproduction and dissemination, or 

costs incurred after the mission related information is collected and archived. User fees and product prices are developed 

in accordance with cost components of OMB Circular A 25, with review and approval by the Director, or a delegated 

party. The annual Cost Recovery Report and regularly scheduled independent pricing reviews by product line are among 

the methods used to monitor compliance with the USGS policies.

Imputed financing sources: In certain cases, operating costs of the USGS are paid for by funds appropriated with other 

federal entities. For example, pension benefits for most USGS employees are paid for by the U.S. Office of Personnel 

Management (OPM) and certain legal judgments against the USGS are paid from the Judgment Fund maintained 

by Treasury. OMB limits imputed costs to be recognized by federal entities to the following: (1) employees’ pension 

benefits; (2) health insurance, life insurance, and other benefits for retired employees; (3) other post employment benefits 

for retired, terminated, and inactive employees, including severance payments, training and counseling, continued health 

care, and unemployment and workers’ compensation under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act; and (4) losses 

in litigation proceedings. The USGS includes applicable imputed costs on the Consolidated Statements of Net Cost. In 

addition, an imputed financing source is recognized on the Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Position. 

F. Assets

Assets presented on USGS Consolidated Balance Sheets include both entity and non-entity balances. Entity assets are 

assets that USGS has authority to use in its operations. Non-entity assets are held and managed by USGS, but are not 

available for use in operations. 

Intragovernmental assets arise from transactions between USGS and other Federal entities.

Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 63
G. Liabilities

Liabilities covered by budgetary or other resources are those liabilities of USGS for which Congress has appropriated 

funds or funding is otherwise available to pay amounts due. Liabilities not covered by budgetary or other resources 

represent amounts owed in excess of available Congressionally-appropriated funds or other amounts. The liquidation 

of liabilities not covered by budgetary or other resources is dependent on future Congressional appropriations or other 

funding. 

Intragovernmental liabilities are claims against USGS by other Federal entities. 

H. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consist of amounts owed to the USGS by other Federal agencies and the public. Unbilled accounts 

receivable represent amounts that have been earned but not yet billed to reimbursable customers. Receivables from 

Federal agencies result from reimbursable services performed, and from joint funding agreements with State, local, 

and regional agencies for cooperative work in support of the “Surveys, Investigations, and Research” appropriation. 

Receivables also include balances owed for credit sales of products and maps to Federal agencies and the public and for 

interest, administrative costs, and penalties due on delinquent receivables. The majority of USGS accounts receivable are 

generated from the water resources and the national mapping program. 

Amounts due from Federal agencies are considered fully collectible. Receivables due from the public are stated net of an 

allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts, determined by considering the debtor’s current ability to pay, the debtor’s 

payment record and willingness to pay, and an analysis of aged receivable activity.

I. Deferred Revenue

Deferred revenue consists of advances received from Federal and public entities for goods and services that will not be 

fully earned until the related goods or services have been provided by USGS. The majority of USGS deferred revenue is 

generated from the water resources program.

J. Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment consist of land, structures, facilities and improvements, equipment, and software 

purchased or developed for internal use. There are no restrictions on the use or convertibility of property, plant, and 

equipment.

The USGS capitalizes property, plant, and equipment purchases with an acquisition cost in excess of $100,000 for 

structures, facilities, and software, and $15,000 for all other capital assets. Depreciation or amortization is computed 

using the straight-line method over the assets’ useful lives, of 30 years for structures and facilities, and ranging from 2 to 

20 years for equipment and software. Amortization of capitalized software begins on the date of acquisition, if purchased, 

or when the module or component has been successfully tested if developed internally. 

Costs for construction projects are recorded as construction-in-process until completed. Depreciation expense begins 

once the asset is placed into service.

The USGS leases the majority of its office space and vehicles from the General Services Administration. The lease costs 

approximate commercial lease rates for similar properties and vehicles.

K. Advances and Prepayments

Payments in advance of the receipt of goods and services are recorded as prepaid charges at the time of prepayment and 

recognized as expenditures/operating expenses when the related goods and services are received.

64 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)
L. Inventories

Inventory includes maps and map products that are held for sale and raw materials held for future use. Raw materials 

consist primarily of paper stock and ink used in the production of maps and map products, film for aerial photographs, 

and blank CDs for digital data. All inventory products and materials are valued at historical cost, using a method of 

averaging actual costs to produce like-kind scale maps within the same fiscal year. The USGS estimates an allowance 

for excess, spoiled, or obsolete map inventory to arrive at a net realizable value, based on inventory turnover and current 

stock levels.

M. Accrued Annual, Sick, and Other Leave and Compensatory Time 

Annual leave and other compensatory leave time are accrued when earned. The accrual is presented as a component 

of liabilities not covered by budgetary resources in the Consolidated Balance Sheet and is adjusted for changes in 

compensation rates and reduced for annual leave taken. Sick leave is provided to employees on a use or lose basis and is 

expensed when taken. 

N. Retirement Plans 

Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS): All USGS employees with 

permanent status participate in either the CSRS or FERS defined-benefit pension plans. FERS went into effect on 

January 1, 1987. FERS and Social Security automatically cover most employees hired after December 31, 1983. 

Employees hired prior to January 1, 1984 could elect to either join FERS and Social Security, or remain in CSRS.

USGS is not responsible for and does not report CSRS or FERS assets, accumulated plan benefits, or liabilities applicable 

to its employees. OPM administers the plans, is responsible for, and reports these amounts.

For CSRS-covered employees, in both FY2004 and FY2003, USGS was required to make contributions to the plan 

matching the employee’s contribution, which were within a range from 7 to 8 percent of the employee’s basic pay. For 

each fiscal year, OPM calculates the U.S. government’s service cost for covered employees, which is an estimate of the 

amount of funds that, if accumulated annually and invested over an employee’s career, would be enough to pay that 

employee’s future benefits. Since the U.S. government’s estimated service cost exceeds contributions made by employer 

agencies and covered employees, this plan is not fully funded by the USGS and its employees. USGS has recognized an 

imputed cost and imputed financing source for the difference between the estimated service cost and the contributions 

made by USGS and its covered employees.

FERS contributions made by employer agencies and covered employees exceed the U.S. Government’s estimated service 

cost. For FERS-covered employees, USGS was required in FY2004 and FY2003 to make contributions of 10.7 percent 

of basic pay. Employees contributed 0.8 percent of basic pay. Employees participating in FERS are covered under the 

Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), for which USGS contributes a matching amount to the Social Security 

Administration.

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP): Employees covered by CSRS and FERS are eligible to contribute to the U.S. Government’s 

TSP, administered by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. A TSP account is automatically established 

for FERS-covered employees, and USGS makes a mandatory contribution of one percent of basic pay. FERS-covered 

employees are entitled to contribute up to 14 percent of basic pay to their TSP account, with USGS making matching 

contributions up to four percent of basic pay. Employees covered by CSRS are entitled to contribute up to seven percent 

of basic pay to their TSP account. USGS makes no matching contributions for CSRS-covered employees.

Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program: Most USGS employees are enrolled in the FEHB Program, which 

provides post-retirement health benefits. OPM administers this program and is responsible for the reporting of liabilities. 

Employer agencies and covered employees are not required to make any contributions for post-retirement health benefits. 

OPM calculates the U.S. government’s service cost for covered employees each fiscal year. USGS has recognized the entire 

service cost of these post-retirement benefits for covered employees as an imputed cost and imputed financing source.

Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 65
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Program: Most USGS employees are entitled to participate in the FEGLI 

Program. Participating employees can obtain basic term life insurance, with the employee paying two-thirds of the cost 

and USGS paying one-third. Additional coverage is optional, to be paid fully by the employee. The basic life coverage 

may be continued into retirement if certain requirements are met. OPM administers this program and is responsible for 

the reporting of liabilities. For each fiscal year, OPM calculates the U.S. government’s service cost for the post retirement 

portion of basic life coverage. USGS contributions to the basic life coverage are fully allocated by OPM to the preretirement portion of coverage, and accordingly, USGS has recognized the entire service cost of the post-retirement 

portion of basic life coverage as an imputed cost and imputed financing source.

O. Workers’ Compensation

A liability is recorded for estimated future payments to be made for workers’ compensation pursuant to the FECA. 

The FECA program is administered by the Department of Labor, which initially pays valid claims and subsequently 

seeks reimbursement from Federal agencies employing the claimants. Reimbursements to the Department of Labor on 

payments made occur approximately two years subsequent to the actual disbursement. Budgetary resources for this intragovernmental liability are made available to USGS as part of its annual appropriation from Congress in the year in which 

the reimbursement to the Department of Labor takes place.

Additionally, the liability estimate includes the expected liability for death, disability, medical, and miscellaneous costs 

for approved compensation cases. The estimated liability also includes a provision for incurred but not reported claims. 

Based on information provided by the Department of Labor, DOI allocates the actuarial liability to its Bureaus and 

Departmental offices based on the payment history for the Bureaus and Departmental offices. The estimated liability is 

not covered by budgetary resources and will require future funding.

P. Contingent Liabilities

A contingency is an existing condition, situation, or set of circumstances involving uncertainty as to possible gain or 

loss. The uncertainty will ultimately be resolved when one or more future events occur or fail to occur. USGS recognizes 

a contingent liability when a past event or exchange transaction has occurred and a future outflow or other sacrifice of 

resources is measurable and probable. A contingency is disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements when any of 

the conditions for liability recognition are met and when the chance of the future confirming event or events occurring is 

more than remote but less than probable. A contingency is not disclosed in the Notes to the Financial Statements when 

any of the conditions for liability recognition are not met and when the chance of the future event or events occurring is 

remote. 

Q. Income Taxes

The USGS, as a Federal agency, is not subject to Federal, State, or local income taxes and, accordingly, no provision for 

income taxes has been recorded in the accompanying financial statements.

R. Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United 

States of America requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions in reporting assets, liabilities, 

revenues, expenses, and financial sources; and in the related note disclosures. Actual results could differ from these 

estimates. Significant estimates underlying the accompanying financial statements include accounts payable; the 

allowance for doubtful accounts receivable; property, plant, and equipment useful lives and impairments; contingent and 

environmental liabilities; the FECA actuarial liability; and the allowance for obsolete inventory. 

S. Reclassifications

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2003 balances to conform to the 2004 presentation.

66 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)
Note 2 Fund Balance with Treasury

Fund Balance with Treasury consists of the following at September 30:

USGS maintains balances with Treasury by fund type. The fund types and purpose are described below:

General funds – These funds consist of expenditure accounts used to record financial transactions arising from 

Congressional appropriations.

Special funds – These accounts are credited with receipts from special sources that are earmarked by law for a specific 

purpose. When collected, these receipts are available immediately for expenditure for special programs, such as providing 

housing for employees on field assignments, operations and maintenance for the temporary housing, cleanup associated 

with the Exxon Valdez oil spill, and operating science and cooperative programs.

Revolving funds – These funds account for cash flows to and from the government resulting from operations of the 

Working Capital Fund and do not fund normal operating expenses of the Bureau. These funds are also restricted to the 

purposes set forth in the legislation that established the Working Capital Fund and related investment plans. 

Trust funds – These funds are used for the acceptance and administration of funds contributed from public and private 

sources and programs in cooperation with other Federal and State agencies or private donors.

Other Fund Types – These include miscellaneous receipt accounts, transfer accounts, performance bonds, deposit and 

clearing accounts maintained to account for receipts, and disbursements awaiting proper classification. 

Status of Fund Balance with Treasury at September 30 is as follows:

Unobligated, unavailable fund balance represents amounts in deposit and budget clearing accounts and amounts from 

appropriations for which the period of availability for obligation has expired. These balances remain available for upward 

adjustments of obligations incurred during the period for which the appropriation was available.

2004 2003

General funds $ 136,992 105,229 

Special funds 1,798 2,984 

Revolving funds 85,133 84,029 

Trust funds 1,509 1,376 

Other funds 9,351 11,640 

Total $ 234,783 205,258 

2004 2003

Unobligated balances:

 Available $ 95,910 110,355 

 Unavailable 34,548 57,340 

Obligated balances not yet disbursed 104,325 37,563 

Total $ 234,783 205,258 

Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 67
Note 3 Non-Entity Assets

Non-entity assets include amounts receivable to USGS from accrued interest and penalties on delinquent debt. A 

corresponding payable to Treasury is recorded in other liabilities.

Note 4 Accounts and Interest Receivable, Net

Accounts receivable consist of amounts owed to the USGS by other Federal agencies and the public. Unbilled accounts 

receivable represents amounts that have been earned but not yet billed to reimbursable customers. This account functions 

much like a “work-in-process” record of the costs incurred on customer agreements. Due to the nature of agreements 

with reimbursable customers that frequently require invoicing upon completion of the work, USGS sometimes bills 

customers years after the project was initiated. This procurement practice results in the majority of accounts receivable 

being comprised of unbilled balances.

Accounts receivable are reduced to net realizable value by an allowance for doubtful accounts. Federal receivables are 

considered fully collectible. The allowance for public receivables is estimated quarterly based on identification of specific 

delinquent receivables, an analysis of aged receivable activity and historical trends adjusted for current market conditions, 

as well as management’s judgment regarding the debtor’s willingness and ability to pay. 

Interest receivable represents interest income earned on outstanding receivables that has not yet been collected. Interest 

accrues on a daily basis beginning thirty days from the date the notice of amount due was sent. Interest is charged at the 

rate established by the Secretary of the Treasury.

Accounts and Interest Receivable at September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, consists of:

2004 2003

Accounts and Interest Receivable from Federal Agencies

 Current $ 6,454 1,271 

 1-180 Days Past Due 255 4,755 

 181-365 Days Past Due 276 - 

 Over 1 Year Past Due 2 500 

Total Billed Accounts and Interest Receivable - Federal 6,987 6,526

Unbilled Accounts Receivable 53,789 74,563

Total Accounts and Interest Receivable - Federal 60,776 81,089

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Federal - -

Total Accounts and Interest Receivable - Federal, 

Net of Allowance Total $ 60,776 81,089 

2004 2003

Fund balance with Treasury $ 231 220 

Total non-entity assets 231 220 

Total entity assets 573,543 604,815 

Total assets $ 573,774 605,035 

68 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)
Note 5 Deferred Revenue, Deferred Credits, and Deposit Fund Liability

Deferred revenue and deferred credits represent receipts of funds for reimbursable work not yet provided to public and 

Federal entities. Revenue is recognized as reimbursable costs are incurred, and the deferred revenue balance is reduced 

accordingly. 

In some instances, USGS is a party 

to long-term fixed price agreements 

that may result in gains or losses in 

future periods.

The deposit fund liability represents 

receipts of funds held on deposit 

prior to completion of a signed 

agreement to provide reimbursable 

services to public and Federal 

entities. The deposit fund liability 

also consists of monies that were 

not obligated prior to the agreement 

expiration that are funded by annual 

year appropriations, which will be 

returned to the customer.

Accounts and Interest Receivable from Public Agencies

 Current $ 17,553 18,378 

 1-180 Days Past Due 8,771 10,628 

 181-365 Days Past Due 686 739 

 Over 1 Year Past Due 203 349 

Total Billed Accounts and Interest Receivable - Public 27,213 30,094

Unbilled Accounts Receivable 55,562 64,667

Total Accounts and Interest Receivable - Public 82,775 94,761

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Public (1,691) (3,329)

Total Accounts and Interest Receivable - Public, 

Net of Allowance Total $ 81,084 91,432 

Change in Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Public

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts, beginning $ 3,329 12,351 

Additions - - 

Deletions (1,640) (9,022)

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts - Public $ 1,691 3,329

2004 2003

Deferred revenue

Received from Federal agencies $ 1,744 2,835

Received from the Public 1,474 1,141 

Total deferred revenue $ 3,218 3,976 

Deferred credits

Received from Federal agencies $ - -

Received from the Public 238 135 

Total deferred credits $ 238 135 

Deposit Fund Liability

Received from Federal agencies $ 2,997 7,262

Received from the Public 5,939 4,378 

Total deposit fund liability $ 8,936 11,640 

Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 69
Note 6 Inventory

Inventory consists of the following at September 30, 2004 and 2003:

USGS disseminates earth, water, and biological science information through various media, including maps, reports, 

digital data sets, and general interest publications of the USGS and other Federal agencies. Maps and map products are 

located at the USGS Rocky Mountain Mapping Center in Denver, Colorado, and at several Earth Science Information 

Centers across the United States. The USGS maintains an inventory of maps and map products that are available to 

respond to national emergencies and resource management needs, as well as governmental requests. 

Note 7 Property, Plant, and Equipment

Property, plant, and equipment consist of the following at September 30, 2004:

Property, plant, and equipment consist of the following at September 30, 2003:

Cost

Accumulated 

Depreciation

Net Book 

Value

Land $ 300 - $ 300

Construction in process 6,514 - 6,514

Buildings 100,007 68,040 31,967

Leasehold improvements 23,720 2,504 21,216

Structures and facilities 12,980 9,201 3,779

Equipment 465,756 346,600 119,156

Software in use 8,655 2,914 5,741

Software in development 2,096 - 2,096

Total $ 620,028 429,259 $ 190,769

Cost

Accumulated 

Depreciation

Net Book 

Value

Land $ 300 - $ 300

Construction in process 1,352 - 1,352

Buildings 99,997 64,980 35,017

Leasehold improvements 26,051 - 26,051

Structures and facilities 12,980 8,793 4,187

Equipment 469,231 322,041 147,190

Software in use 8,032 1,581 6,451

Software in development 1,578 - 1,578

Total $ 619,521 397,395 $ 222,126

2004 2003

Finished inventory $ 10,070 10,859 

Raw materials 1,252 1,056 

Allowance for obsolescence (8,889) (9,520) 

Total $ 2,433 2,395 

70 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)
Depreciation expense amounted to approximately $48.3 million and $73 million, for the years ended September 30, 

2004 and 2003 (unaudited), respectively. Impairment of property, plant, and equipment was recognized in 2003 for 

$81.1 million (see Note 8).

Note 8 Property, Plant, and Equipment Impairment

The USGS jointly developed a sun-synchronous, earth-orbiting satellite (Landsat 7) with the National Aeronautics 

and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. NASA incurred the 

construction and launching costs. In FY2002, the satellite was transferred to USGS and recorded in equipment at its net 

book value of $258 million. The satellite is being depreciated over its estimated useful life of five years.

The primary objective of the Landsat Project is to ensure a collection of consistently calibrated Earth imagery. Landsat’s 

Global Survey Mission is to establish and execute a data acquisition strategy that ensures repetitive acquisition of 

observations over the Earth’s land mass, coastal boundaries, and coral reefs; and to ensure the data acquired are of 

maximum utility in supporting the scientific objectives of monitoring changes in the Earth’s land surface and associated 

environment.

On May 31, 2003, the Landsat 7 satellite suffered a component failure that affected the USGS’s ability to acquire and 

distribute data collected by the Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus instrument, resulting from a failure of the instrument’s 

scan line corrector (SLC). The non-functioning SLC causes individual scan lines to alternately overlap and leave large 

gaps at the edges of a normal Landsat image. 

USGS assembled an anomaly team comprised of a variety of experts and collaborated with NASA, the Aerospace 

Corporation, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell, Raytheon, SAIC, and others to develop a recovery plan which was approved 

by USGS leadership. Unfortunately, the full recovery attempt that took place on September 7, 2003, failed. 

Subsequent tests and the failed full recovery attempt confirmed that, while it is not possible to acquire 100 percent of 

the data in a post-failure image, approximately 75 percent of a pre-failure image is still captured. It is also possible, using 

basic interpolation algorithms, to “fill in” some of the missing pixels toward the center portion of a scene in order to 

generate a more complete image.

As of May 31, 2003, the net book value of Landsat 7 was $172 million. Based on an internal analysis taking into 

consideration the diminished capacity of the asset and the potential future marketability of the product sales generated 

by the asset, USGS management estimated that an economic impairment loss of $81.1 million should be recognized in 

the FY2003 Statement of Net Cost. Combined with normal depreciation of $16.8 million of the asset for the months 

of June through September, the remaining net book value of the Landsat 7 satellite was approximately $48.8 million and 

$74.1 million at September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. 

At the point of impairment, the normal depreciation rate estimate was changed to equal the net book value at May 

31, 2003, divided by the remaining useful life previously established. The following tables reflect the impact of the 

impairment loss on the financial statements as of and for the year ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively:

Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 71

2004 Net Costs Net Position P,P,&E, net

Reduction in normal depreciation expense $ (26,062) 26,062 26,062 

2003

Impairment loss 81,100 (81,100) (81,100)

Reduction in normal depreciation expense (8,400) 8,400 8,400 

Net financial impact $ 72,700 (72,700) (72,700) 
Note 9 Liabilities Not Covered by Budgetary Resources

Liabilities not covered by budgetary or other resources represent amounts owed in excess of available Congressional 

appropriated funds or other amounts. The liquidation of liabilities not covered by budgetary or other resources is 

dependent on future Congressional appropriations or other funding source.

Covered by 

Budgetary Resources

Not Covered by 

Budgetary Resources

Current

Noncurrent CurrentNoncurrent 2004

Intragovernmental

 Accounts payable $ 9,885 - - - $ 9,885

 Accrued payroll and benefits 4,414 - - - 4,414

 FECA workers compensation liability - - 3,176 4,765 7,941

 Deferred revenue 1,744 - - - 1,744

 Deposit fund liability - - 2,997 - 2,997

 GSA tenant improvement liability - - 4,379 16,837 21,216

 Other liabilities - - 231 - 231

Total intragovernmental 16,043 - 10,783 21,602 48,428

Public

 Accounts payable 82,711 - - - 82,711

 Accrued payroll and benefits 22,309 - - 2,297 24,606

 Annual leave liability - - 2,883 54,769 57,652 

 Deferred revenue 1,474 - - - 1,474

 Deferred credits - - 238 - 238

 Deposit fund liability - - 5,939 - 5,939

 Environmental cleanup liabilities - - - 1,097 1,097

 Contingent liabilities - - - 20,971 20,971

 FECA actuarial liability - - - 40,569 40,569

 Other liabilities - - - 1,038 1,038

Total public 106,494 - 9,060 120,741 236,295

Total liabilities $ 122,537 - 19,843 142,343 $ 284,723

72 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)
Note 10 FECA Liabilities

USGS has recorded an estimated, unfunded liability for the expected future cost for death, disability, and medical claims 

under the Federal Employees Compensation Act of approximately $40.6 million and $42.8 million as of September 

30, 2004 and 2003, respectively. This estimated liability is calculated by the Department of Labor using a method that 

considers historical benefit payment patterns, wage inflation factors, medical inflation factors, and other variables. These 

actuarially computed projected annual benefit payments are discounted to present value using the Office of Management 

and Budget’s economic assumptions for ten-year Treasury notes and bonds.

The Department of Labor calculated the estimated future benefit payments based on several assumptions. The interest 

rate assumptions utilized to discount the estimated future benefit payments to present value are 4.88 percent in year one 

and thereafter. The wage inflation factors (Cost of Living Adjustments) and medical inflation factors (Consumer Price 

Index Medical Adjustments) used in the calculation are presented in the following table.

Covered by 

Budgetary Resources

Not Covered by 

Budgetary Resources

Current

Noncurrent CurrentNoncurrent 2003

Intragovernmental

 Accounts payable $ 8,940 - - - $ 8,940

 Accrued payroll and benefits 3,206 - - 4,161 7,367

 FECA workers compensation liability - - 3,172 4,757 7,929

 Deferred revenue 2,835 - - - 2,835

 Deposit fund liability - - 7,262 - 7,262

 GSA tenant improvement liability - - 3,664 22,387 26,051

 Other liabilities - - 220 - 220

Total intragovernmental 14,981 - 14,318 31,305 60,604

Public

 Accounts payable 62,423 - - - 62,423

 Accrued payroll and benefits 16,975 - - - 16,975

 Annual leave liability - - 2,720 51,670 54,390

 Deferred revenue 1,141 - - - 1,141

 Deferred credits - - 135 - 135

 Deposit fund liability - - 4,378 - 4,378

 Environmental cleanup liabilities - - - 507 507

 Contingent liabilities - - - 20,638 20,638

 FECA actuarial liability - - - 42,816 42,816

 Other liabilities - - - 1,181 1,181

Total public 80,539 - 7,233 116,812 204,584

Total liabilities $ 95,520 - 21,551 148,117 $ 265,188

Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 73
USGS also recorded an estimated, unfunded liability for the expected future payments to the Department of Labor in 

payment of outstanding workers compensation claims of approximately $7.9 million as of September 30, 2004 and 2003.

Note 11 Leases and Occupancy Agreements

The USGS has many cancelable occupancy agreements with the General Services Administration (GSA), primarily for 

office space. Many of these agreements do not have a stated expiration. USGS also has many operating leases, primarily 

for storage and housing for employees working on location, with public entities. USGS has estimated its future minimum 

liability for GSA occupancy agreements by adding OMB approved inflationary rate increases per year to the FY2004 lease 

rental expense. Public operating leases were calculated based on lease agreement terms. Future estimated minimum lease 

payments as of September 30, 2004 are:

Rental expenses for occupancy agreements, operating leases, and exhibit hall space during FY2004 and FY2003 were 

approximately $75.4 and $85 million respectively (unaudited in 2003).

In some cases, USGS secures funds from GSA’s building fund to finance improvements made to space where USGS is the 

tenant. Because these improvements are made to convert the existing structures into workable space tailored to USGS 

needs, USGS is required to repay GSA the cost of the improvements over the term of the occupancy agreement, which 

is incorporated into the total rent payments billed to USGS by GSA. The principal loan balance of approximately $21.2

and $26 million at September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, is recorded as a liability and the corresponding leasehold 

improvements are recorded in Property, Plant & Equipment, which are amortized over the period of the occupancy 

agreements.

Real property Personal property

Fiscal Year Federal Non-Federal Federal Non-Federal Total

2005 $ 71,812 2,400 - 7 $ 74,219

2006 63,909 2,072 - 5 65,986

2007 58,397 1,935 - - 60,332

2008 52,646 1,881 - - 54,527

2009 35,371 1,661 - - 37,032

Thereafter 125,780 6,646 - - 132,426

Total $ 407,915 16,595 - 12 $ 424,522

74 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)

2004 2003

Fiscal Year

Cost of living 

adjustment

Consumer 

Price Index 

Medical 

adjustment

Cost of living 

adjustment

Consumer 

Price Index 

Medical 

adjustment

2005 2.03% 4.14% 2.00% 3.54%

2006 2.73% 3.96% 1.83% 3.64%

2007 2.40% 3.98% 1.97% 3.80%

2008 2.40% 3.99% 2.17% 3.92%

2009 2.40% 4.02% 2.17% 3.92%

Thereafter 2.40% 4.02% 2.17% 3.92%
Note 12 Environmental and Contingent Liabilities

The USGS is a party to various administrative proceedings, legal actions, environmental suits, and claims that may 

eventually result in the payment of substantial monetary claims to third parties, or in the unplanned reallocation of 

material budgetary resources to pay for the cleanup of environmentally damaged sites. 

The potential liability for legal claims deemed to be probable of loss cannot be reasonably estimated by Interior’s Office 

of the Solicitor as the claims are in a discovery stage or other factors are present that prevent such an estimation of loss. 

Accordingly, USGS has not accrued any legal liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet for such claims. However, the 

payment of any judgments against USGS would be made from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Judgment Fund. 

Additionally, USGS has several cases that the Solicitor believes are reasonably possible of loss, some of which cannot be 

estimated. The range of loss for reasonably possible cases that could be estimated by the Solicitor was approximately $3 

million to $9 million at September 30, 2004 and 2003. 

The USGS has accrued the probable and estimable liability represented by site cleanup, primarily of contaminated 

groundwater, and for the removal of equipment and land restoration for abandoned data collection stations, observation 

well sites, and river cableway sites. 

USGS changed its classification policy for environmental cleanup costs in FY2004 to include all projects that have 

estimated environmental remediation costs, and to exclude the non-remediation costs associated with the destruction 

of wells where the Bureau is liable to do so from the environmental cleanup costs estimate. As such, USGS reclassified 

the portion of the FY2003 environmental cleanup cost estimate associated with well destruction to contingent liabilities, 

providing a more comparative footnote analysis below. 

Changes in existing estimated environmental cleanup costs are based on progress made in, and revision of, the cleanup 

plans assuming current technology, laws, and regulations. There are no material changes in total estimated cleanup 

costs that are due to changes in technology, laws, and regulations. Estimated contingent and environmental liabilities at 

September 30, 2004 and 2003 are:

2004 2003

Estimated environmental cleanup costs $ 1,097 507

Contingent Liabilities: 

 Abandoned sites 20,971 20,638 

Total $ 22,068 21,145 

Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 75
Note 13 Imputed Financing Costs

Imputed financing sources are recorded in the financial statements for amounts paid or to be paid on behalf of the USGS 

by other Federal agencies. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) pays Federal employee pension and other future 

retirement benefits on behalf of Federal agencies. OPM provided rates for recording the estimated cost of pension and 

other future retirement benefits paid by OPM on behalf of Federal agencies. The costs of these benefits are reflected as 

imputed financing in the consolidated financial statements. Imputed financing costs for the years ended September 30, 

2004 and 2003 consisted of:

Note 14 Statements of Net Cost by Segment

Consistent with the FY2003 presentation, USGS’s four responsibility segments within the Statement of Net Cost 

represent the major operating segments by which achievement of USGS’s mission and goals are measured: Biology, 

Water, Geology, and Geography. 

As discussed in the Management Discussion and Analysis – Strategic Goals section, DOI changed its GPRA goals and 

created a unified strategic plan for the Department as a whole. In this process, the previous five DOI GPRA goals (one 

of which was primarily supported by USGS) were replaced with four GPRA mission areas, supported by seventeen 

Department-level end outcome goals. USGS activities in FY2004 correspond to all of the new DOI GPRA goals (except 

providing recreation) and six of the DOI’s seventeen end outcome goals, which are presented in the FY2004 Statement of 

Net Cost by responsiblity segment. The FY2003 Statement of Net Cost by responsiblity segment is presented reflecting 

the USGS’ two major GPRA program activities, Hazards, and Environmental and Natural Resources, that directly 

correlated to the Bureau’s old strategic plan, which has been replaced by the Department unified strategic plan. 

As discussed in Note 8, in FY2003, USGS experienced an unusual and infrequent event that resulted in the partial loss 

of value and operating capacity of our Landsat 7 satellite. This significant and unusual accounting event is shown on our 

Statement of Net Cost as a non-production asset impairment cost outside of normal operations.

The following tables reflect USGS net cost by responsibility segment for the years ended September 30, 2004, and 2003, 

respectively. 

76 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)

2004

(Unaudited) 

2003

OPM: 

 Pension expense $ 26,872 26,057 

 Federal employees health benefits 34,249 30,024

 Federal employees group life insurance program 90 84

Total OPM 61,213 56,165

Non-reimburseable claims paid by the Treasury 

Judgment Fund 29 72

Total $ 61,242 56,237 
Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 77

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Consolidating Schedule of Net Cost

For the Years Ended September 30, 2004

(in thousands)

Geology Water Geography Biology Eliminations Total

Advance Knowledge through Scientific Leadership

Intragovernmental Gross Cost $ 11,313 146,738 37,600 4,812 (36,465) $ 163,998

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue 10,877 140,591 36,348 4,633 (36,465) 155,984

Intragovernmental Net Cost 436 6,147 1,252 179 - 8,014

Gross Costs with the Public 123,293 469,943 187,311 45,091 825,638

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public 6,639 139,495 19,961 76 166,171

Net Costs with the Public 116,654 330,448 167,350 45,015 - 659,467

 Total Net Cost 117,090 336,595 168,602 45,194 - 667,481

Protect Lives, Resources, and Property

Intragovernmental Gross Cost 10,539 - - - (464) 10,075

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue 10,154 - - - (464) 9,690

Intragovernmental Net Cost 385 - - - - 385

Gross Costs with the Public 97,361 - - - 97,361

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public 1,440 - - - 1,440

Net Costs with the Public 95,921 - - - - 95,921

 Total Net Cost 96,306 - - - - 96,306

Sustain Biological Communities

Intragovernmental Gross Cost - - - 25,342 (631) 24,711

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue - - - 24,349 (631) 23,718

Intragovernmental Net Cost - - - 993 - 993

Gross Costs with the Public - - - 117,779 117,779

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public - - - 1,766 1,766

Net Costs with the Public - - - 116,013 - 116,013

 Total Net Cost - - - 117,006 - 117,006

Improve Health of Watersheds and Landscapes

Intragovernmental Gross Cost - - - 38,260 (587) 37,673

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue - - - 36,873 (587) 36,286

Intragovernmental Net Cost - - - 1,387 - 1,387

Gross Costs with the Public - - - 85,554 85,554

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public - - - 6,693 6,693

Net Costs with the Public - - - 78,861 - 78,861

 Total Net Cost - - - 80,248 - 80,248

Manage or Influence Resources - Energy

Intragovernmental Gross Cost 1,828 - - - (138) 1,690

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue 1,748 - - - (138) 1,610

Intragovernmental Net Cost 80 - - - 80

Gross Costs with the Public 26,954 - - - 26,954

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public 83 - - - 83

Net Costs with the Public 26,871 - - - 26,871

 Total Net Cost 26,951 - - - - 26,951

Manage or Influence Resources - Non-Energy

Intragovernmental Gross Cost 4,195 - - - (354) 3,841

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue 3,998 - - - (354) 3,644

Intragovernmental Net Cost 197 - - - 197

Gross Costs with the Public 61,944 - - - 61,944

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public 558 - - - 558

Net Costs with the Public 61,386 - - - 61,386

 Total Net Cost 61,583 - - - - 61,583

Total

Intragovernmental Gross Cost 27,875 146,738 37,600 68,414 (38,639) 241,988

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue 26,777 140,591 36,348 65,855 (38,639) 230,932

Intragovernmental Net Cost 1,098 6,147 1,252 2,559 - 11,056

Gross Costs with the Public 309,552 469,943 187,311 248,424 1,215,230

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public 8,720 139,495 19,961 8,535 176,711

Net Costs with the Public 300,832 330,448 167,350 239,889 - 1,038,519

 Total Net Cost of Operations $ 301,930 336,595 168,602 242,448 - $ 1,049,575
78 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Consolidating Schedule of Net Cost (Unaudited)

For the Years Ended September 30, 2003

(in thousands)

Geology Water Geography Biology Eliminations Total

Environmental and Natural Resources

Intragovernmental Gross Cost $ 21,687 104,580 29,448 71,099 $ 197,831 (28,983) 

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue 21,250 101,099 28,087 70,659 (28,983) 192,112

Intragovernmental Net Cost 437 3,481 1,361 440 - 5,719

Gross Costs with the Public 228,347 405,065 128,650 186,589 - 948,651

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public 8,641 95,267 24,865 3,326 - 132,099

Net Costs with the Public 219,706 309,798 103,785 183,263 - 816,552

 Total Net Cost 220,143 313,279 105,146 183,703 - 822,271

Hazards

Intragovernmental Gross Cost 5,980 30,007 - - (2,514) 33,473

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue 5,698 29,127 - - (2,514) 32,311

Intragovernmental Net Cost 282 880 - - - 1,162

Gross Costs with the Public 134,605 94,336 - - - 228,941

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public 5,151 28,923 - - - 34,074

Net Costs with the Public 129,454 65,413 - - - 194,867

 Total Net Cost 129,736 66,293 - - - 196,029

Costs not assigned to any program

Asset Impairment (Note 8) - - 81,100 - - 81,100

Total

Intragovernmental Gross Cost 27,667 134,587 29,448 71,099 (31,497) 231,304

Less: Intragovernmental Earned Revenue 26,948 130,226 28,087 70,659 (31,497) 224,423

Intragovernmental Net Cost 719 4,361 1,361 440 - 6,881

Gross Costs with the Public 362,952 499,401 128,650 186,589 1,177,592 - 

Less: Earned Revenues from the Public 13,792 124,190 24,865 3,326 - 166,173

Net Costs with the Public 349,160 375,211 103,785 183,263 1,011,419 - 

Asset Impairment (Note 8) - - 81,100 - - 81,100

 Total Net Cost of Operations $ 349,879 379,572 186,246 183,703 $ 1,099,400 - 

2003 (Unaudited)
Note 15 Budgetary Resources

The USGS receives budgetary resources from appropriations, offsetting receipts, and reimbursable activities. At 

September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, approximately $120.3 and $155.5 million of the budgetary resources were 

unobligated. These amounts include expired budget authority of $25.2 and $45.7 million at September 30, 2004 and 

2003, respectively. The expired funds remain available for up to five years to pay expenses against obligations incurred.

The Statement of Budgetary Resources has been prepared to coincide with the President’s Budget (the Budget of the 

United States Government). The FY2004 actual amounts as shown on the FY2006 President’s Budget were not available 

at the time the financial statements were prepared. The FY2006 President’s Budget is expected to be available in February 

2005 and will be located at http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb.

USGS had differences that existed between the FY2003 Statement of Budgetary Resources and the FY2003 actual 

amounts reported in the President’s FY2005 budget request. The differences relate to amounts posted to expired 

accounts per the President’s Budget that are not reported on the Statement of Budgetary Resources.

Recoveries of prior year obligations are comprised of canceled or downward adjustments of obligations incurred in prior 

years that were not subsequently disbursed. Resources permanently not available were adjusted pursuant to Public Law 

114 Stat 2763A-214, SEC 1403. Canceled authority is returned to the U.S. Treasury at the end of the fifth year of 

availability for annual and multi-year funds under Public Law 101-510. 

Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands) 79

Apportioned

2004 Category A Category B

Not Subject to 

Apportionment

Obligations Incurred: 

 Direct $ - 982,482 - 

 Reimburseable - 441,467 -

Total $ - 1,423,949 - 

Apportioned

2003 (Unaudited) Category A Category B

Not Subject to 

Apportionment

Obligations Incurred: 

 Direct $ - 908,078 - 

 Reimburseable - 434,661 -

Total $ - 1,342,739 - 

Budget and performance integration, highlighted by the President’s Management Agenda, lies at the heart of 

ensuring both the strategic allocation of funds and their efficient use. The USGS approach to this integration 

extends beyond the cyclic budget-formulation process to include establishing cost and performance information 

systems that allow employees, managers, and the public to better understand unit costs of performing specific 

activities, as well as the relationship of those activities to achieving measureable goals and opportunities for greater 

efficiency and effectiveness.
Note 16 Allocation Transfers

There is a relationship between certain line items reported on the Consolidated Statement of Financing under “Total 

components of net cost of operations that will require or generate resources in future periods” and the change in components of costs that are included in liabilities not covered by budgetary resources reported in note 9. 

The USGS is a recipient of allocation transfers of funds from the Bureau of Land Management, Department of State, and 

the DOI Office of the Secretary.

The total components of net cost of operations related to transfer accounts where budgetary activity is reported by parent 

Federal entities that occurred during the years ended September 30, 2004 and 2003, respectively, consist of:

Reconciling Amount

Appropriation

Trading Partner, 

Nature of Transfer 2004

(Unaudited) 

2003

14-19-4-1082.08 State Department: 

American Section - International 

Commissions $ 58 524

14x1121 DOI-Bureau of Land Management: 

Government Hill Central 

Hazardous Material Fund Site - 8

14x5198.008 DOI-Departmental Offices:

Natural Resource Damage 

Assessment & Restoration 1,089 925

14-14x1618.008 DOI-Departmental Offices:

Natural Resource Damage 

Assessment & Restoration 99 9

Total $ 1,246 1,466 

80 Notes to the Financial Statements - As of September 30, 2004 and 2003 (in thousands)

“The Internet has provided us with a powerful communication tool that has an incredible return on the 

investment that the public makes to support the USGS and its science. We are mindful that we are a public 

science agency, supported by the taxpayers of this country, and it is a privilege to lead this organization as it 

marks a significant milestone in its history. We are using our 125th anniversary year to celebrate the past, to 

showcase how we are meeting the challenges of the present, and how we are preparing for the future with the 

science that society needs to face the issues of tomorrow and beyond.” Chip Groat, USGS Director
Section III

Required Supplemental Information

USGS scientist studying acidic water levels in a local stream.

81

Contents

Combining Statements of Budgetary Resources by Major Budget Accounts ........ 82

Working Capital Fund ........................................................................................ 86

Deferred Maintenance ......................................................................................... 89
82 Required Supplemental Information - Combining Statements of Budgetary Resources by Major Budget Accounts

Combining Statements of Budgetary Resources by 

Major Budget Accounts

Surveys, Investigations, and Research (Treasury Symbol 

0804)

The USGS is primarily funded by the Surveys, 

Investigations, and Research (SIR) appropriation. The 

SIR appropriation is for expenses necessary for the USGS 

to perform surveys, investigations, and research covering 

geography, geology, hydrology, biology, and the mineral 

and water resources of the United States, its territories 

and possessions, and other areas authorized by law; 

classify lands as to their mineral and water resources; give 

engineering supervision to power permittees and Federal 

Energy Regulatory Commission licensees; administer 

the minerals exploration program, and publish and 

disseminate data relative to the foregoing activities; 

and to conduct inquires into the economic conditions 

affecting mining and materials processing industries and 

related purposes as authorized by law. [Department of 

the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 

2004]

The following activities are funded by the SIR 

appropriation: mapping, remote sensing, and geographic 

investigations; geologic hazards, resources, and processes; 

water resources investigations; biological research; science 

support; and facilities. Each activity is described below.

Geography

The mapping, remote sensing, and geographic 

investigations activity provides data essential to making 

informed decisions about complex natural resource, 

environmental, and hazards issues, as well as public 

health, land management, and emergency response issues. 

USGS efforts in this program are focused on improving 

geospatial data access, integration, and applications 

through implementation of the National Map and the 

National Spatial Data Infrastructure. Partnerships with 

other Federal, State, and local agencies, the private sector, 

and academia are the keystone for accomplishing this 

mission. USGS also provides scientific information to 

describe and interpret America’s landscape by mapping 

the terrain, monitoring changes over time, and analyzing 

how and why these changes have occurred. The 

knowledge gained through these activities is used to 

model the processes of change and to forecast future 

events. 

The mapping, remote sensing, and geographic 

investigations program is funded in three subactivities: 

cooperative topographic mapping, land remote sensing, 

and geographic analysis and monitoring. 

Geology

The geologic hazards, resources, and processes programs 

provide information used to evaluate resource potential, 

to define risks associated with natural hazards, and to 

characterize the potential impact of natural geologic 

processes on human activity, the economy, and the 

environment. 

The national program of onshore and offshore geologic 

research and investigations produces: (1) information on 

natural hazards of geologic origin such as earthquakes, 

volcanic eruptions, landslides, and coastal erosion; (2) 

geologic information for use in the management of 

public lands and in national policy determinations; (3) 

information on the chemistry and physics of the earth, 

its past climate, and the geologic processes by which 

it was formed and is being modified; (4) geologic, 

geophysical, and geochemical maps and analyses to 

address environmental, energy and mineral resource, 

and hazards concerns; (5) hazards, energy and mineral 

resource, and environmental assessments; and (6) 

improved methods and instrumentation for detecting and 

monitoring hazards, disseminating hazards information, 

and conducting assessments.

The geologic hazards, resources, and processes activity 

is funded into three subactivities: geologic hazard 

assessment, geologic landscape and coastal assessments, 

and geologic resource assessments. 

Water

The water resources investigation programs fund work on 

issues related to water availability, water quality and flood 

hazards. Over 4,000 scientist and support staff in offices 

located in every state support work for water resources 

investigations. 

USGS efforts in these water programs produce data, 

analyses, assessments, and methodologies to support 

Federal, State, tribal and local government decisions 

on water planning, water management, water quality, 

flood forecasting and warning, and enhancement of the 

quality of the environment. USGS programs also work 
Required Supplemental Information - Combining Statements of Budgetary Resources by Major Budget Accounts 83

operations and maintenance, and deferred maintenance 

and capital improvement. 

Working Capital Fund (Treasury Symbol 4556)

The Working Capital Fund was established by law to 

provide USGS with the ability to finance a continuing 

cycle of operations in two components: investments and 

fee-for-service. The investment component provides 

funding for telecommunications, equipment, facilities, 

and publications. The fee-for-service component 

provides continuing funding for the National Water 

Quality Laboratory, USGS Hydrologic Instrumentation 

Facility, publications, Eastern Region Research 

Laboratory, the National Training Center, drilling, and 

GSA delegated buildings. 

Other Aggregated Accounts

The USGS also receives a variety of other funding. Other 

appropriations include: donations and contributions; 

reimbursables; miscellaneous receipts; natural resource 

damage assessment; and operations and maintenance of 

quarters. 

cooperatively with other Federal agencies, States, and 

other entities to leverage Federal resources to meet their 

mutual water information needs.

The Water Resources activity is funded in four 

subactivities: hydrologic monitoring, assessments and 

research, cooperative water program, and the Water 

Resources Research Act Program. 

Biology

The biological research programs generate and distribute 

information needed in the conservation and management 

of the Nation’s biological resources. Biological research 

also contributes to improved management of the Nation’s 

water resources, availability of maps and map data, and 

improved decisionmaking regarding land and water use. 

The national program of biological research: (1) conducts 

biological resources inventory and monitoring; (2) 

provides scientific information for the management of 

biological resources; and (3) predicts the consequences 

of environmental change and the effects of alternative 

management actions on plants, animals, and their 

habitats. The program conducts the high priority 

biological research needed by DOI’s land management 

Bureaus and operates the cooperative research unit 

program that provides research and information 

to resource managers and trains natural resource 

professionals in partnership with university and State 

scientists. 

The biological resources activity is funded in three 

subactivities: biological research and monitoring, 

biological information and management delivery, and 

cooperative research units. 

Support Services

The science support activity provides resources for 

the executive and managerial direction of the Bureau 

and support services, including human resources and 

fiscal management, and systems support, to all USGS 

scientific programs. Science Support is funded in two 

major programs: bureau operations and payments to the 

National Business Center. 

The facilities support activity provides workspace and 

facilities for accomplishing the Bureau mission. Facilities 

is funded in three major programs: rental payments, 
84 Required Supplemental Information - Combining Statements of Budgetary Resources by Major Budget Accounts

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Combining Statement of Budgetary Resources

For the Year Ended September 30, 2004 

(in thousands)

Fund 0804 Fund 4556 Small Funds Total

Budgetary resources:

Budget authority:

Appropriations received $ 949,686 - 1,695 $ 951,381

Unobligated balance:

Beginning of fiscal year 78,629 74,704 2,148 155,481

Spending authority from offsetting collections:

Earned:

Collected 438,940 53,837 492,777 -

Receivable from Federal sources (31,514) - - (31,514)

Change in unfilled customer orders:

Advance received (1,165) - - (1,165)

Without advance from Federal sources (16,761) - - (16,761)

Recoveries of prior year obligations 10,744 384 63 11,191

Permanently not available (17,131) - - (17,131)

Total budgetary resources $ 1,411,428 128,925 3,906 $ 1,544,259

Status of budgetary resources:

Obligations incurred:

Direct $ 979,877 - 2,605 $ 982,482

Reimbursable 385,252 56,215 441,467 -

Subtotal 1,365,129 56,215 2,605 1,423,949

Unobligated balance available, apportioned 21,101 72,710 1,301 95,112

Unobligated balance not available 25,198 - - 25,198

Total status of budgetary resources $ 1,411,428 128,925 3,906 $ 1,544,259

Relationship of obligations to outlays:

Obligations incurred $ 1,365,130 56,215 2,604 $ 1,423,949

Obligated balance, net, beginning of fiscal year 26,311 9,325 1,592 37,228

Obligated balance, net, end of fiscal year:

Accounts receivable 142,793 - 142,793 -

Unfilled customer orders from Federal sources 42,714 - - 42,714

Undelivered orders (162,251) (7,383) (524) (170,158)

Accounts payable (113,727) (5,040) (334) (119,101)

Less: Spending authority adjustments 37,531 (384) (63) 37,084

Outlays:

Disbursements 1,338,501 52,733 3,275 1,394,509

Collections (437,777) (53,836) (491,613) -

Subtotal 900,724 (1,103) 3,275 902,896

Less: Offsetting receipts - - (1,695) (1,695)

Net outlays $ 900,724 (1,103) 1,580 $ 901,201

FY2004

See accompanying Independent Auditors’ Report in Section V of this Performance and Accountability Report.
Required Supplemental Information - Combining Statements of Budgetary Resources by Major Budget Accounts 85

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Combining Statement of Budgetary Resources

For the Year Ended September 30, 2003 

(in thousands)

Fund 0804 Fund 4556 Small Funds Total

Budgetary resources:

Budget authority:

Appropriations received $ 925,287 - 700 $ 925,987

Unobligated balance:

Beginning of fiscal year 53,724 69,213 4,400 127,337

Spending authority from offsetting collections:

Earned:

Collected 391,699 122,597 - 514,296

Receivable from Federal sources (2,103) (1,854) - (3,957)

Change in unfilled customer orders:

Advance received (27,781) (69,158) - (96,939)

Without advance from Federal sources 35,863 (3,712) - 32,151

Anticipated for rest of year, without advances - - - -

Recoveries of prior year obligations 10,765 - - 10,765

Permanently not available (11,420) - - (11,420)

Total budgetary resources $ 1,376,034 117,086 5,100 $ 1,498,220

Status of budgetary resources:

Obligations incurred:

Direct $ 905,128 - 2,950 $ 908,078

Reimbursable 392,279 42,382 - 434,661

Subtotal 1,297,407 42,382 2,950 1,342,739

Unobligated balance available, apportioned 32,925 74,704 2,150 109,779

Unobligated balance not available 45,702 - - 45,702

Total status of budgetary resources $ 1,376,034 117,086 5,100 $ 1,498,220

Relationship of obligations to outlays:

Obligations incurred $ 1,297,406 42,382 2,951 $ 1,342,739

Obligated balance, net, beginning of fiscal year 111,208 2,113 2,404 115,725

Obligated balance, net, end of fiscal year:

Accounts receivable 174,307 - - 174,307

Unfilled customer orders from Federal sources 59,475 - - 59,475

Undelivered orders (169,574) (8,430) (1,543) (179,547)

Accounts payable (90,519) (895) (49) (91,463)

Less: Spending authority adjustments (44,527) 5,567 - (38,960)

Outlays:

Disbursements 1,337,776 40,737 3,763 1,382,276

Collections (363,918) (53,439) - (417,357)

Subtotal 973,858 (12,702) 3,763 964,919

Less: Offsetting receipts - - - -

Net outlays $ 973,858 (12,702) 3,763 $ 964,919

FY2003 (Unaudited)

See accompanying Independent Auditors’ Report in Section V of this Performance and Accountability Report.
Working Capital Fund

The Working Capital Fund (WCF) was established by Public Law (P.L.) 101-512 (November 5, 1990), as codified 

in 43 U.S.C. 50a. The fund was originally established to support the Washington Administrative Service Center 

(currently the National Business Center) and to support the replacement of the USGS mainframe computer, 

telecommunications equipment, and related Automated Data Processing equipment. Congress later expanded the existing 

Telecommunications Amortization Fund to establish the USGS Working Capital Fund by P.L. 103-332, dated September 

30, 1994, which enabled USGS to use the WCF to fund laboratory modernization and equipment replacement; 

acquisition or development of software; facilities improvements; acquisition and replacement of computers, publications, 

scientific instrumentation, telecommunications, and other types of equipment replacement. 

The two operating components of the WCF are capital investments and fee-for-service operations.

Investments

A key purpose of the WCF is to plan for long-term capital investments and accumulate the required funds over 

several fiscal years. The USGS is authorized to use the WCF to invest funds from appropriations and/or reimbursable 

agreements, without fiscal year limitations, for materials, supplies, telecommunications, and other equipment and 

facilities renovations in support of USGS programs and other agencies of the Federal Government. Normal operating 

expenses may not be funded through the WCF. All investments and expenditures from a WCF investment component 

must be documented in an approved, multi-year Investment Plan (IP). Investments must occur, at a minimum, in two 

fiscal years before acquisition can occur and are expected to be evenly balanced over the time period defined in the IP. 

Prior year contributions may not be withdrawn from the WCF under any circumstances; they must be expended from 

the WCF for an approved capital investment. Current year contributions may be withdrawn, subject to appropriate 

approvals, in rare instances.

Investment component activities have been structured by use of four funds, based on type of investment activity: 

telecommunications, equipment, facilities, and publications.

Fee-for-Service

WCF fee-for-service components operate in a business-like manner, recovering fees for services performed based on a fee 

schedule established through a rate-setting process. WCF fee-for-service components must operate in compliance with 

OMB Circular A-25, User Charges, and recover the full cost of goods, services, and resources provided to customers. 

User charges should be based on market prices and create neither a shortage nor surplus of the goods or services. For 

each component fund, an annual budget and pricing schedule is required. User charges are required to be reviewed no 

less than biennially. 

Fee-for-service component activities have been structured by use of seven funds, based on type of servicing activity: 

National Water Quality Laboratory, Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility, publications, research laboratories, National 

Training Center, drilling, and GSA delegated buildings.

In FY2004, the USGS developed a database to track the investment plans in the investment component. This 

reduced manual tracking, strengthened internal controls, and provided an archive process for historical purposes.

86 Required Supplemental Information - Working Capital Fund
Required Supplemental Information - Working Capital Fund 87

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Working Capital Fund Balance Sheet

For the Years Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

(in thousands)

(Unaudited)

2004 2003

Assets

Intragovernmental:

Fund balance with Treasury $ 85,133 $ 84,029

Total intragovernmental 85,133 84,029

Accounts and interest receivable, net 5 -

Property, plant, and equipment, net 8,234 3,421

Total assets $ 93,372 $ 87,450

Liabilities

Intragovernmental:

Accounts payable $ 263 $ 105

Accrued payroll and benefits 98 70

Total intragovernmental 361 175

Accounts payable 4,225 390

Accrued payroll and benefits 454 329

Total liabilities 5,040 894

Net position

Cumulative results of operations 88,332 86,556

Total liabilities and net position $ 93,372 $ 87,450

See accompanying Independent Auditors’ Report in Section V of this Performance and Accountability Report.
88 Required Supplemental Information - Working Capital Fund

The Department of Interior

United States Geological Survey

Working Capital Fund Schedule of Net Costs

For the Years Ended September 30, 2004 and 2003

(in thousands)

Fee For 

Service Investments Total

Full cost of goods and services provided $ 38,316 13,854 $ 52,170

Related exchange revenues (38,451) (107) (38,558)

Excess of cost over revenues $ (135) 13,747 $ 13,612

Fee For 

Service Investments Total

Full cost of goods and services provided $ 27,286 9,514 $ 36,800

Related exchange revenues (29,433) (1,633) (31,066)

Excess of cost over revenues $ (2,147) 7,881 $ 5,734

2004

2003 (Unaudited)

See accompanying Independent Auditors’ Report in Section V of this Performance and Accountability Report.
Deferred Maintenance

The facilities function at USGS provides for safe, functional, and high-quality workspace for accomplishing the Bureau’s 

science mission and ensuring that workspaces are maintained in compliance with applicable safety and other standards set 

by GSA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The USGS has key science facilities that are mission 

critical, including those that are fundamental to providing timely warnings of geologic hazards, as well as scientific 

understanding and technologies needed to support the sound management and conservation of the Nation’s biological, 

energy, water, and mineral resources. The USGS is committed to improving the maintenance of existing facilities to 

ensure the health and safety of the public and employees, protection of cultural and natural resources, and compliance 

with building codes and standards. 

USGS developed a “Five-Year Deferred Maintenance and Capital Improvement Plan” to provide necessary up-keep on 

property and equipment and to provide facilities that will best fulfill our mission. Deferred maintenance is work that was 

not performed when it should have been or when it was scheduled, often because of funding or priority ranking of work, 

and was thus delayed to a future period. Capital improvements include the construction of new facilities or the alteration 

of an existing facility to accommodate a change of function or unmet programmatic need. All capital improvement 

components of projects were excluded from the deferred maintenance estimate in this report. 

The Five-Year Plan is re-evaluated annually pursuant to the budget process and is subject to adjustments at that time 

depending on funding levels and revised priorities. Estimations on deferred maintenance are based on condition 

assessment surveys that are conducted every five years at each USGS site to determine the current condition of facilities 

and the estimated cost to correct deficiencies. These surveys are conducted by an independent engineering firm and are 

supplemented by annual condition surveys performed by USGS personnel. 

The FY2006 budget formulation process was used to establish the base from which the FY2004 deferred maintenance 

priority listing was derived. The Office of Management Services (OMS), which formulates the Bureau’s deferred 

maintenance budget, collected project proposals for possible inclusion in the Bureau plan for FY2006 – FY2010. OMS 

collected proposed regional and headquarters facilities projects, which were then ranked to reflect the criticality of the 

health and safety deficiencies being addressed. A project that addressed a critical health and safety deferred maintenance 

need received a higher ranking than one addressing a critical mission deferred maintenance need. Teams of regional 

and headquarters facility and safety specialists reviewed the ranked proposals to confirm the accuracy of rankings and 

otherwise ensure the adequacy of the project proposals. Due to funding constraints, only the highest-priority projects 

received funding and were included in the FY2006 – FY2010 Plan. 

A summary of the USGS deferred maintenance estimate at September 30, 2004 is reflected below. The amount of the 

total estimated as of September 30, 2004 is presented as the low estimate range and the high estimate range is based on a 

the low estimate plus future funding requests of $1.5 million per year through 2028, including inflation.

(in thousands)

Low High

Buildings $ 32,884 41,943 

Other Structures 7,971 10,167

Total 40,855 52,110

In recent years, while the total USGS Facilities budget has remained relatively constant, USGS facilities costs 

have continued to increase, resulting in a shortfall. To control or reduce cost, the USGS has developed a Strategic 

Facilities Management plan to achieve its facilities program goal to provide quality space to further science 

programs while optimizing facilities location, distribution, and use. The plan includes a set of basic operation and 

maintenance principles, a set of planning and management principles, a set of management actions, and redefined 

business practices.

Required Supplemental Information - Deferred Maintenance 89
Section IV

Required Supplemental 

Stewardship Information

90

USGS scientists use a boxcore to collect sediment samples for marine pollution studies in Santa Monica Bay, 

California.

Contents

General Stewardship Information ........................................................................ 91

Heritage Assets — Museum Collections .............................................................. 92

Heritage Assets — Library Collections ................................................................ 94

Research and Development Investments .............................................................. 96
Making science fun is the first requirement when communicating science to youngsters. Science 

Camp, a partnership between the USGS and Reston Association, offers children from 8 to 12 

an opportunity to meet scientists, participate in science experiments, learn and practice new 

computer skills, create a newspaper, take field trips, and participate in swimming, boating, crafts, 

and sports. Science Camp demonstrates the many exciting scientific activities in which the USGS 

is involved. Meeting real scientists and specialists working at the USGS is a vital part of our camp 

program. It is our hope that Science Camp provides opportunities for children to think about 

pursuing a career in science.

Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - General Stewardship Information 91

General Stewardship Information

The USGS serves the citizens of the United States as 

steward for a large, varied, and scientifically important 

body of heritage assets, and in conducting research 

and development that is critical to the health of our 

country and in understanding the Earth. Each year the 

USGS makes a substantial investment while fulfilling its 

stewardship responsibilities for the benefit of the Nation.

Costs associated with stewardship initiatives are treated 

as expenses in the financial statements in the year the 

costs are incurred. However, these investments in 

stewardship are intended to provide long-term benefits 

to the public and are included as required supplementary 

stewardship information (RSSI) reporting to highlight 

their long-term-benefit nature and to demonstrate our 

accountability over them. Stewardship resources are 

not required to be included in the assets and liabilities 

reported in our financial statements; they are, however, 

important to understanding the operations and financial 

condition of USGS. 

Stewardship assets often have physical properties 

that resemble those of the general property, plant, 

and equipment that is traditionally capitalized in the 

financial statements of Federal entities. However, 

due to the nature of these assets, valuation would be 

difficult and matching costs with specific periods would 

not be meaningful. Heritage assets have one or more 

of the following characteristics: historical or natural 

significance; special cultural, educational, or aesthetic 

value; or significant architectural characteristics. We have 

heritage assets in two categories: museum collections and 

scientific library collections.

Investments in research and development are expenses 

incurred to support the search for new or refined 

knowledge and ideas, the application or use of such 

knowledge and ideas, and the development of new or 

improved products or processes with the expectation of 

maintaining or increasing national economic productive 

capacity or yielding other future benefits.

USGS research and development activities encompass a wide range of studies.
Museum Collections

The USGS manages a widespread collection of natural history specimens and cultural objects in many science and 

administrative centers throughout the United States. These unique collections serve to illustrate important achievements 

and challenges to the Earth Sciences, to document the history of the USGS, and to enlighten those who use the 

collections. The collections also provide the public with an interpretive demonstration 

of the history and enterprise of the 

USGS. The museum collections are 

divided into two major categories: 

historical (including art, history, 

ethnography, and documents), and 

zoology.

During the FY2004 management control reporting cycle, 

DOI required the Bureaus to perform targeted reviews of the 

museum property activities, which is designed to evaluate overall 

implementation of Part 411 of the Department Manual. The 

USGS successfully performed the targeted review in May 2004. 

Historical collection

Many historical objects, including the Apache basket (shown above) and oil paintings of many historical figures, are 

among exhibits in the USGS National Center in Reston, Virginia, hallways or lobbies in regional offices, and science 

centers around the country.

Our collection includes many special objects related to the cultural history of USGS, including a 1930 Model A 

Ford used to successfully map the geology of California deserts through the 1960s and the Lunar Rover used in the 

southwestern deserts to train astronauts in the lunar landing program through the 1970s. Recently the Lunar Rover, 

which we had previously loaned to NASA to conduct space suit ergonomic studies, fuelcell power system studies, and vehicle operational capability studies in advance of Mars 

exploration, was returned to USGS.

Other interesting objects in the collection include John Wesley Powell’s commission, one of 

the few documents signed by President James A. Garfield, appointing Powell as the second 

director of the USGS (see above); geologic field mapping equipment from Arnold Hague’s 

late Nineteenth Century expedition to map Yellowstone National Park (see Hague’s saddle 

below and chair used during his expedition at right); and Director Thomas Nolan’s field 

equipment and academic robe from St. Andrew’s 

University in Scotland.

Zoology Collection

Our zoology objects are located at the Biological Research Arid Lands Field 

Station of the Mid-continent Ecological Science Center that retains a collection 

of natural specimens. A USGS wildlife research biologist and USGS zoology 

museum specialist stationed at the University of New Mexico’s Museum of 

Southwestern Biology maintain this collection under a joint agreement between 

the USGS and the University of New Mexico.

Of primary importance in our collection is the unique natural history collection 

of vertebrates that dates as far back as the late 1920s and was used in support 

of food habit studies by researchers at the Department of Agriculture’s Food 

Habits Laboratory in Denver, Colorado. Transferred to Fort Collins in the 

92 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Museum Collections
mid-1970s and then to the University of New Mexico 

under the aegis of the Biological Resources Division in 

the 1990s, this collection includes over 8,000 fluidpreserved specimens of amphibians and reptiles, as well 

as mammal and avian skeletons and skins. Specimens 

have continued to be acquired as a result of the research 

emphasis to document mammal species from public 

lands in the West.

Museum Collections at a Glance

Our museum collections are housed in both Federal 

and non-Federal institutions in an effort to maximize 

accessibility to the public. 

Cataloging efforts have also been a priority within USGS: 100% of our museum collections have been catalogued. 

During the cataloging process, USGS evaluates the condition of each collection object. “Good” is considered to show 

little or no sign or aging or wear; “fair” applies to objects that are showing signs of deterioration such as faded color of 

fabric or wood, and “poor” objects that have missing parts or are extremely worn. Additions to the collection in the 

current year were donated. No deferred maintenance is necessary for our museum collections.

USGS also evaluates the condition of the locations 

housing the collections. This evaluation is based on a 

lengthy list of conditions. We have objects in four USGS 

facilities: two of them have been evaluated as “good,” 

while the other two of our USGS facilities have not been 

evaluated as they are largely storage areas. Environmental 

monitoring capabilities of these storage areas did expand 

in FY2004 as the museum program purchased and 

placed hydrothermographs in these facilities, which will 

help the museum staff to determine how the collection’s 

environmental conditions can be improved.

2003 Additions Deletions 2004

Objects in Bureau facilities: 

 Art 61 1 - 62

 History 390 1 - 391

 Ethnography 1 - - 1

 Documents 3 - - 3

Objects in non-Federal facilities:

 History 1 1 - 2

 Zoology 39,448 153 - 39,601

Total 39,904 156 - 40,060

Condition Assessments

Total collection Good Fair Poor 

40,060 39,942 104 14 

Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Museum Collections 93
Library Collections

USGS library holdings, collected during more than a century of providing library services, are an invaluable legacy to 

the Nation. While responding to the current and anticipated subject interests of USGS researchers, such as those in 

ecology, geology, hydrology, health, and biology, the library maintains its heritage collection of core science publications 

dating back to the 17th century, providing a unique historical record of the progress of natural science. Besides providing 

resources for scientific investigations, the library’s multi-disciplinary collection provides access to geographical, technical, 

and historical literature in paper and electronic formats for the general public and industry. Library users bring their 

questions to the library daily, 

in person or by phone or email, 

and expert librarians assist 

them in using the wealth of 

well-organized information 

to find answers. The library 

was originally located in 

Washington, D.C., however, 

the library collection is now 

housed in four libraries across 

the country.

In addition to the annual 

purchases of serials, maps and 

books, the library has used 

other means to build the collection. Since its beginning, the library has administered a major program of international 

and domestic exchange of earth science publications authorized by the legislation that established USGS. The exchange 

program, with national and foreign geological surveys and research organizations, has enabled the Library to collect 

materials published in small numbers, never widely distributed, 

and never reprinted. 

During a century of collecting, the library has acquired many 

treasures such as the George F. Kunz collection. George F. Kunz 

was a former employee of the USGS, a vice-president of Tiffany 

& Co., and one of the world’s preeminent gem experts at the 

time of his death in 1932. The Kunz collection includes rare 

books on gemology, the lapidary arts, the folklore of gemstones 

through history, and archival gem trade records, including the 

original provenance of the Hope diamond. 

Another unusual acquisition was the group of books and maps 

known as the Heringen collection. These military geology texts 

and maps were looted by the Nazis from European libraries, 

including Russia, and hidden in a potash mine in Heringen, Heese, Germany. At 

the end of World War II they were transported by the U.S. military to the United 

States and are now part of the USGS library.

The map collections include an archival and working collection of USGS 

topographical maps, plus thematic and topographical maps of the United States and 

the World. These maps have provided invaluable aid to authorities and scientists 

in times of disasters and military interventions. Maps, photographs, and literature 

in the USGS library have provided evidence to solve boundary disputes and water 

rights litigation, to trace geographic names, and to research natural and man-made 

changes in an area over time.

Erin Donnelly of the USGS Library holds an extremely 

rare 19th century book on gems and precious stones.

94 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Library Collections
Our Field Records collection in Denver includes items such as field 

notes, field maps and sketches, and project-related correspondence 

created or collected by USGS scientists during official project work. 

The Photographic Archive provides the public with access to over 

19,000 photographs and original sketches dating from 1868 to the 

present. Additionally, USGS maintains a collection of over 500,000 

photographs taken during geologic studies of the U.S. and its 

territories dating from 1868 to present. Some photographs have been 

used to illustrate publications, but most have never been published.

The Library supports the research of the DOI and other government 

agencies, universities, and professional communities. Libraries throughout the world, including the largest and most 

renowned, borrow from our library’s unique collection. The USGS library has loaned scientific publications and objects 

to thousands of libraries in every State and in over 37 foreign countries that were public, State, Federal, nonprofit, 

company, and academic libraries. Although not defined by Congress as a national library, the library is recognized as the 

premier national collection of geologic and hydrologic publications, supplementing the Nation’s large library collections 

in major universities and government agencies. 

Library Collections at a Glance

The USGS library system (4 libraries) contains over 1.2 million books and periodicals and over 1.8 million non-book 

items, including maps, photographs, pamphlets, field record notebooks, digital media, and other collectible items, for a 

total of over 3 million items.

Materials are acquired from extensive exchange agreements with institutions and agencies worldwide, from research 

projects and purchases from a wide variety of publishers and institutions. Items are withdrawn only after the professional 

library staff has made a critical analysis of the collection. 

Careful consideration is given to assessing the condition of each item in the library collections. A category of “good” is 

defined as materials protected for reasonable use which includes publications bound or with sturdy covers, maps loosely 

shelved in drawers without crowding or in archival grade envelopes with minimal folds, photographs mounted in archival 

quality albums, or materials protected by archival quality paper or plastic sleeves or boxes. Materials evaluated as “fair” 

are those which can be circulated, but require 

binding or further treatment to ensure long-term 

protection. “Poor” materials are those that cannot 

be circulated or used without special attention 

until preservation repairs are made. This includes 

publications with old brittle or mottled paper, loose 

pages, loose or thin covers, tears, water-damage or 

other damage, improper binding with tight covers, 

flaking binding covers, loose photographs, nitrate 

or glass photograph negatives, and multimedia 

and digital disks without containers. No deferred 

maintenance is necessary for our library collections.

(in thousands)

USGS Library Items 2003 Additions Deletions 2004

National Center Library 1,701 23 1 1,723

Denver Branch Library 954 5 - 959

Flagstaff Branch Library 117 4 - 121

Menlo Park Library 289 1 3 287

Total 3,061 33 4 3,090

(in thousands)

Condition Assessments

USGS Library Items Good Fair Poor 

National Center Library 1,378 259 86

Denver Branch Library 623 192 144

Flagstaff Branch Library 97 18 6

Menlo Park Branch Library 201 57 29

Total 2,299 526 265 

Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Library Collections 95
96 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments

Research and Development Investments

Research and development investments at USGS are 

a core part of fulfilling our mission and are integral to 

the work performed in all of our internal operating 

disciplines (Biology, Geography, Geology, and Water). 

The scope of our research and development activities 

spans basic, applied, and developmental research and 

produces direct outputs and outcomes associated with 

each activity that are a valuable part of the scientific 

research performed throughout the Nation. 

Total research and development investments were 

$882.9 and $858.8 million during FY2004 and FY2003, 

respectively.

Basic Research

In accordance with OMB Circular No. A-11, USGS 

defines basic research activities as systematic studies 

directed toward fuller knowledge or understanding of the 

fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable 

facts without specific applications toward processes or 

products in mind. The table below provides a summary 

of our basic research and development investments over 

the past five years and descriptions of selected major 

programs and selected outcomes and/or accomplishments 

in these areas for FY2004.

Biology Accomplishments

Program Description

The Cooperative Research Unit Program is a unique 

cooperative partnership among Federal and State 

governments and academia and provides one of the 

strongest partnership links between USGS and Federal 

and State management agencies. Federal scientists 

stationed at universities: (1) help identify and respond 

to natural resource information needs through the 

pooling of resources among agencies; (2) provide access 

to scientific expertise among unit scientists, university 

faculty, and other unit cooperators, especially where the 

required expertise is not readily available within Federal 

resource agencies; and (3) provide Federal and other 

natural resource managers access to a geographically 

dispersed science organization of units to meet 

information needs that transcend State and regional 

boundaries.

Significant Output/Accomplishment

Oregon Cooperative Research Unit 

Conducted toxicological and physiological research on 

Columbia River white sturgeon to determine if body 

burdens of environmental toxicants are contributing 

to reduced growth and reproductive fitness in 

impounded areas of the river. 

FY2004 FY2003

Basic research 71 77

Applied research 740 681

Developmental research 72 101

Total R&D 883 859

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Biology

 Cooperative Research Unit $

Data not 

available

by major

program.

12 3

 Other Biology programs 13 16

Geography

 Geographic Analysis and Monitoring 3 1

 Other Geography programs 5 6

Geology 

 National Cooperative Geological Mapping 7 6

 Mineral Resources 16 15

 Other Geology programs 21 24

Totals (in millions) $ 63 63 82 77 71
Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments 97

USGS studies focus on understanding the effects of 

environmental contaminants on wildlife including 

threatened and endangered species. Environmental 

toxicants, such as pesticides, PCBs, and heavy metals, 

are persistent, fat-soluble, and tend to bioaccumulate 

in organisms over time. Many of these compounds can 

affect behavior, biochemistry, growth, reproduction, 

development, and survival in a wide variety of species. 

The lower Columbia River supports one of the most 

productive white sturgeon fisheries in North America. 

Fish trapped behind the dams of the hydroelectric 

system, however, have reduced growth and reproductive 

success when compared to animals in the free-flowing 

portion of the river. An understanding of whether 

contaminants are contributing to this problem is critical 

for management of this and other species as well as for 

ecological management of the Columbia River Basin.

These studies have been completed and results have been 

submitted for publication in peer-reviewed journals. 

Results have also been made available to the Oregon 

Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). Findings 

reveal that there are strong negative correlations between 

a variety of physiological parameters that are indicative 

of growth and reproductive fitness and body burdens 

of PCBs, pesticides, and mercury. This suggests that 

environmental contaminants could be playing a role in 

the reduced growth and reproductive fitness of sturgeon 

in impounded areas of the river. Results from this 

research could easily be applied to other major river 

systems in North America.

Results from this research would be used to develop 

management measures designed to protect and restore 

white sturgeon populations. This may be particularly 

important in areas of the Columbia Basin where sturgeon 

are now endangered. Findings from this USGS research 

would be used to identify the types of compounds that 

need to be regulated by DEQ or EPA as well as for health 

alerts for people who consume fish from certain areas 

of the river. Results would also be used to determine 

point sources of pollution for cleanup and could lead to 

more efficient operation of the hydroelectric system to 

minimize toxicant effects on fish.

Geography Accomplishments

Program Description

Geographic Analysis and Monitoring Program (GAM)

The GAM program encompasses three fundamental 

science issues concerning changes to the Earth’s surface: 

(1) understanding changes that are occurring on the 

land surface and why; (2) understanding the impacts 

of these land-surface changes on ecosystem health, 

climate variability, biogeochemical cycles, hydrology, and 

human health; and (3) using the best methods available 

to incorporate scientific findings in the decisionmaking 

process of natural resource managers and provide the 

information to the public. This program addresses DOI’s 

strategic goal of advancing knowledge through scientific 

leadership and inform decisions through the applications 

of science by assessing the Nation’s land resources at 

spatial and temporal scales to understand rates, causes, 

and consequences of landscape change over time. 

Significant Output/Accomplishment

Real-Time Mapping of Diseases 

Many chronic health issues may relate directly to 

Earth processes and the environment. By knowing the 

geographic conditions (such as hydrology, soils, and 

vegetation) necessary for the maintenance of specific 

pathogens in nature, scientists can use the landscape to 

identify the spatial and temporal distribution of disease 

risks using land characteristics and bioclimatic thresholds 

to map habitats of toxin agents and animal hosts. In 

2004, USGS developed the capability to perform near 

real-time mapping on the Web of disease information 

related to West Nile Virus. Now an entire set of over 

250 maps showing West Nile Virus can be updated in 

less than two hours from receipt of data. The ability to 

map risk and disaster formation over the Web in a rapid 

fashion is a powerful use of The National Map. 

Geology Accomplishments

Program Description

The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program 

(NCGMP)

The NCGMP s the primary source of funds for the 

production of multiple-purpose geologic maps that 

depict the distribution of the Nation’s sediment and 

rocks and the resources they provide. The NCGMP 

represents over a decade of successful cooperation among 

Federal (FEDMAP), State (STATEMAP), and university 

(EDMAP) partners to deliver modern digital geologic 

maps to the customers/clients that need them. Each 

of these three partners has a unique role, yet all work 

cooperatively to select and map high-priority areas for 

new geologic maps. Since 1992, the NCGMP has 

awarded over $50 million dollars toward the production 
98 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments

of geologic maps by 48 State geological surveys. These 

Federal dollars successfully and efficiently leveraged an 

equal amount of State dollars. EDMAP works to train 

the geologic mappers needed for the future and, since 

1995, has funded over 110 colleges and universities 

through its matching grant program. The NCGMP also 

maintains on its Web site an ongoing effort to present 

geologic mapping data from all of North America (the 

National Geologic Map Database) and to develop a 

common set of geologic map standards. 

Significant Outputs/Accomplishments

Geologic Mapping of Karst Terrain in the Shenandoah 

Valley of Northern Virginia

In FY2004, the Geologic Map of the Winchester 7.5-

minute Quadrangle, Frederick County, Virginia, was 

released as USGS Open-file Report 03-461 funded 

by NCGMP. This geologic map is part of a series of 

geologic maps, in digital format, and related databases 

being used by the Frederick County Sanitation Authority 

for water resource planning. Rapid residential and 

industrial growth in the region is taxing water availability, 

and a drought from 2000-2002 made for critical 

decisions on water use. By developing a hydrogeologic 

framework, geologic information included on the maps 

is used with water data collected by the Virginia district 

of the Water discipline to better understand groundwater flow through, and storage in, the Karst Aquifer. 

A Water-Resources Investigations Report (WRIR) 

entitled “Hydrogeology and Ground-Water Availability 

in the Carbonate Aquifer System of Frederick County, 

Virginia” will be released by fall 2004 that describes 

the hydrogeology and ground-water availability. The 

digital map layers are also being used with the County 

geographic information system to delineate Karst areas 

prone to water contamination. Other 7.5-minute 

geologic maps are being released in the fall of 2004 and 

spring of 2005. Information from the geologic maps 

and the WRIR will be used to evaluate zones of influence 

around municipal wells and abandoned quarries that 

are used for emergency water supply. An understanding 

of the hydrogeologic system around the abandoned 

quarries may lead to a decision by the County and local 

authorities to use them as everyday water supplies in this 

region of rapid growth.

Geology Influences Water Availability Near Santa Fe, 

New Mexico

USGS high-resolution aeromagnetic data and onthe-ground geologic mapping in the Espanola Basin, 

New Mexico, are providing 

an understanding of how 

the local geology controls 

ground-water availability. 

Subsurface features, such as 

shallow faults and buried 

igneous bodies, significantly 

influence the size and yield 

of aquifers in this region of 

limited water resources but 

increasing population (Santa 

Fe, Espanola, Los Alamos 

National Laboratory). These 

features, which were identified 

in USGS Open-File Report 

03-124, are currently being 

used by the New Mexico Office 

of State Engineers and the 

Santa Fe County Hydrologist 

Water fills an inactive quarry in a karst area of the Shenandoah Valley near Strasburg, Virginia, 

an area where exploitation of aggregate resources is being balanced with water quantity and 

sinkhole hazards issues. Water from these inactive quarries is being used as emergency water 

supply in times of drought.

Small planes and helicopters are used successfully and economically by the Geologic Framework of Rio Grande Basins Project 

to gather aeromagnetic information that is being used to locate 

shallow subsurface faults.
Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments 99

to locate new water wells in the Espanola Basin. The 

New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, 

while conducting a study of individual water wells in the 

region, is working closely with USGS geologists to relate 

well data to the subsurface geologic features. In fact, a 

2004 New Mexico State report incorporates the entire 

USGS report due to the importance of its information.

Program Description

The Mineral Resources Program

This program provides scientific information, objective 

resources assessments, and unbiased research results 

on mineral potential, production, consumption, and 

environmental effects. 

The program supports DOI’s strategic goal to manage or 

influence resource use to enhance public benefit, promote 

responsible use, and ensure optimal-value of non-energy 

minerals by ensuring that data are available for managers 

to make informed decisions about use of resources.

Significant Outputs/Accomplishments

Mineral and Energy Resource Implications of the ‘Slab 

Window’ in Alaska

The tectonic plates that make up Alaska overrode an 

oceanic spreading center (two oceanic plates that pull 

apart) between 50 and 60 million years ago. In a process 

known as ridge subduction, the two oceanic plates were 

forced under the continent of Alaska. The gap created 

between the plates is known as a slab window. The slab 

window, likened to a blowtorch that heated Alaska below 

the surface of the earth, had a huge impact on mineral 

and energy resources. The geologic effects of the slab 

window were diverse and widespread, stretching 500 

to 1000 km inland from the continental margin; these 

effects were recently studied by USGS scientists. The 

most profound effect of the slab window was a complete 

reorganization of the type and location of igneous rock 

(formed from molten rock) activity throughout Alaska. 

Among other findings, results of the study indicate that 

seven kinds of ore deposits in Alaska (which are sources 

of gold, tin, nickel, molydenum, and uranium) are 
100 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments

linked to the slab window. The tin granite composing 

Mount McKinley was also found to have formed as a 

result of the slab window. For energy resources, the most 

important slab-window effects involved sedimentary 

basins. Basins along Alaska’s Pacific margin, within the 

interior of Alaska, and as far away as the North Slope 

subsided rapidly during slab-window time, leading to 

development of the major coal beds of the Cook Inlet 

Basin and the Yukon Flats Basin. 

There are six slab windows on the present-day earth, and 

hundreds of others likely existed in the deep past. The 

new understanding of slab windows resulting from this 

project has improved our ability to assess undiscovered 

energy and mineral resource potential worldwide. This 

information is extremely useful in USGS global mineral 

and energy assessment projects and of great interest to 

exploration research. 

Geoscience Data for Land Planning in the Headwaters 

Province, Idaho and Montana

In a project designed to meet USFS goals of integrating 

geoscience information into the land-planning 

process, USGS scientists have provided geologic maps, 

topical studies, databases (minerals, geochemical, 

and geophysical) and assessments for the Headwaters 

Province in northern Idaho and Montana. The province, 

known for its world-class deposits of gold, copper, silver, 

platinum, garnet, and talc, also provides critical habitat 

for grizzly bears, salmon, and bull trout. USGS scientists 

developed regionally consistent digital datasets to model 

and provide a range of solutions to questions regarding 

land-use, forest health, landslide and wildfire hazard, and 

the potential for future mineral exploration and mining. 

Among other accomplishments, a regionally consistent 

and integrated spatial geologic database was compiled for 

the Northern Rockies. In addition, the locations of active 

mines and significant minerals deposits were compiled, 

along with datasets that describe regional variation 

in magnetic and gravity fields. New geologic maps 

were prepared for parts of Central Idaho and Western 

Montana. An in-depth study of the regional stratigraphy, 

lithologic characteristics, and alteration patterns of a 

geologic formation hosting world-class copper-silver 

deposits was conducted; six spatial databases containing 

geoscience information covering 4,280 square miles

of the Western Montana copper belt were developed 

as a part of this work. This project was conducted in 

collaboration with the University of Idaho, University of 

Montana, Idaho Geological Survey, and Montana Bureau 

of Mines and Geology.

Key

unconsolidated sediments

300 km

carbonate-rich sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

siliciclastic-rich sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

volcaniclastic-rich sedimentary and metamorphic rocks

siliceous rocks, phosphorites, and iron formation

mafic igneous rocks and metamorphosed equivalents

ultramafic igneous rocks and metamorphosed equivalents

intermediate to felsic igneous rocks and metamorphosed equivalents

metamporphic rocks and tectonites

Headwater Providence in Northern Idaho and Montana
Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments 101

Applied Research

In accordance with OMB Circular No. A-11, USGS 

defines applied research activities as systematic studies 

to gain knowledge or understanding necessary for 

determining the means by which a recognized and 

specific need may be met. The table below provides 

a summary of our applied research and development 

investments over the past five years with descriptions of 

selected major programs and selected outcomes and/or 

accomplishments in these areas for FY2004.

Biology Accomplishments

Program Description

Biological Information Management and Delivery

The USGS develops and applies innovative information 

technologies and practices to the management of 

biological data, information, and knowledge resulting 

from worldwide research to increase the value of our 

researchers and other customer groups. This program 

addresses all facets of the biological information life-cycle 

including collection, organization, description, discovery, 

retrieval, analysis and application, dissemination, and 

disposition. 

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Biology

 Biological Information $

Data not 

available

by major

program.

17 36

 Contaminants Biology 9 14

 Other Biology programs 190 225

Geology

 Geologic Hazard Assessments 47 52

 Geologic Resource Assessments 85 84

 Other Geology programs 62 94

Geography

 Geographic Analysis and Monitoring 9 15

 Cooperative Topographic Mapping 3 5

 Other Geography programs 36 6

Water

 Ground-Water Resources 23 12

 National Water-Quality Assessments 55 57

 Toxic Substances Hydrology 6 8

 Hydrologic Research 20 11

 Cooperative Water Research 51 45

 State Water Resources Research Institutes 33 25

 Other Water programs 35 51

Totals (in millions) $ 656 567 799 681 740
102 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments

Program objectives are advanced through establishing 

partnerships with other government and non-government 

organizations; developing standards and methodologies 

for biological data collection and documentation; 

developing information products targeted to specific 

user populations; and introducing technical applications 

for analyzing and integrating biological data and 

information.

Significant Output/Accomplishment

Amphibian Deformities and Declines Reporting System

Developed an Internet based mapping and reporting 

system to allow interested citizens, researchers, and 

educators to report amphibian deformities and 

malformations. The system will then enable the review 

and verification of these incidents by qualified scientists 

via the various tools and protocols developed.

Amphibians have long been thought of as an indicator 

species. The ability to accurately report and verify 

amphibian deformities and malformations is important 

to identifying and resolving biodiversity issues 

throughout North America. The Amphibian Deformities 

and Declines Reporting System provides valuable 

information to support ongoing research studies. The 

tools also aid in the distributed review of these reports by 

training amphibian specialists throughout the country. 

The tools were available in May 2004. The system can be 

found at http://frogweb.nbii.gov.

The tools developed support research managers in 

addressing amphibian declines and deformities on 

public and private lands. The tools support local and 

regional conservation planning and management efforts. 

Furthermore, this supports trend analysis research and 

studies by making available previous year data and 

information related to declines and deformities. 

Program Description

The Contaminant Biology Program

This program conducts research and communicates 

information on the exposure and effects of environmental 

contaminants on the health and viability of natural 

resources, specifically those held in trust by the 

Department of the Interior. Contaminant biology 

information, monitoring tools, and models establish 

a scientific foundation for restoring departmental 

hazardous waste sites and informing departmental 

participation in regulatory processes. Resource managers 

in the FWS, NPS, BOR, OSM, and other Federal, State, 

and local agencies use this information to determine, 

retrospectively, the role of contaminants in species 

declines and fish and wildlife mortality, or prospectively, 

what concentrations have no effect on the environment.

Significant Output/Accomplishment

Fire Science: Ecological Impacts of Fire Retardants

Understanding gained in this project is shared with 

DOI employees with responsibilities for planning 

and responding to wildland fires, with a focus on 

environmental considerations for fighting fires with 

chemical products.

The investigation provides information that enables 

the Federal government to minimize the unintended, 

adverse impacts of fire retardants. Several training 

sessions were provided to the FWS in FY2004. 

Additional publications are expected in future years. This 

investigation enables the FWS to provide guidance to fire 

managers on the ecological effects of the chemicals they 

use to minimize the unintended, adverse impacts of fire 

retardants.

Geology Accomplishments

Program Description

Geologic Hazard Programs

This program provide the Earth science data and 

information, analyses, and research needed to reduce the 

loss of life, property, and economic impact of geohazards. 

The programs conduct hazards assessments, monitoring 

activities, notification and outreach, and research on the 

causes and effects of geohazards. These programs support 

DOI’s Serving Communities Strategic Goal of Protecting 

Lives, Resources, and Property by making information 

available to communities to use in developing hazard 

mitigation, preparedness, and avoidance plans. The 

information is used by DOI, other Federal agencies, 

States, local governments, and the private sector to make 

informed decisions pertaining to geologic hazard loss 

reduction or mitigation.

Significant Outputs/Accomplishments

Web-Accessible Database Shows Active Faults in US

In March, USGS unveiled an up-to-date and 

comprehensive nationwide compilation of information 

on known or suspected active faults. Accessible via a userfriendly Web interface at http://Qfaults.cr.usgs.gov/. 
Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments 103

The database summarizes geologic, geomorphic, and 

geographic data for about 2,000 faults in the United 

States that are believed to be sources of earthquakes 

greater than magnitude 6 and having documented 

activity during the past 1.6 million years. Much of 

the information is based on paleoseismology, which 

is the geologic study of prehistoric earthquakes. 

Paleoseismology combines geologic tools such as 

trenching with archeological-style analysis to determine 

the times and sizes of ancient earthquakes in the 

Quaternary Period. The database is designed to fulfill 

the needs of a broad group of users, ranging from the 

science community to the general public. The seismichazard-assessment community will benefit from public 

access to all data available on potential earthquake 

sources in one location. The database will allow these 

users to identify faults that have likely produced strong 

ground motion in the geologically recent past and that 

may contribute to future seismic hazards. Other potential 

users include the earthquake-engineering community, 

the insurance industry, and companies managing large 

infrastructures, such as pipelines or power-transmission 

networks. In addition, State and local planners can use 

the database to locate potential earthquake sources on 

maps. Similarly, emergency-response officials can use the 

database to plan earthquake drills and to identify and 

fortify critical infrastructure near active faults. Finally, the 

general public is becoming increasingly aware of potential 

hazards in their environment. The USGS as well as State 

Geological Surveys are frequently called upon to respond 

to questions regarding the location of hazardous faults 

that may impact the lives of the population at large. 

Monitoring Systems Expanded

Upgraded in FY2004, the USGS Alaska Volcano 

Observatory (AVO) installed new seismic networks on 

Korovin Volcano and at Mt. Peulik. AVO scientists 

have successfully developed a system to receive data from 

modern broadband seismometers and GPS instruments 

from remote Aleutian volcanoes, and broadband 

instruments have been installed at four volcanoes. These 

new instruments enhance both AVO’s monitoring and 

scientific work. New Web-based data analysis tools, 

which will also enhance AVO’s monitoring and scientific 

efforts, are being tested. The input includes a database of 

historic activity and bibliography of Alaskan Volcanoes 

and a database containing all major time-series data 

from AVO’s monitoring networks. Modeling of tsunami 

hazards resulting from debris avalanches at volcanoes was 

undertaken at two volcanoes. The risk to communities in 

lower Cook Inlet to a tsunami from Augustine Volcano 

continues to be subject to scientific debate and public 

concern.

During the past year, scientists at the USGS Hawaiian 

Volcano Observatory (HVO) have installed seven new 

continuous GPS stations on Mauna Loa Volcano. In 

addition, seven seismic stations in the HVO network 

have been rebuilt. Borehole strain and tilt data are being 

received at HVO from three stations on Mauna Loa, and 

co-located seismometers have been installed. 

Recent aerial photographs of the summit of Mt. Spurr. The 

upper photo taken on June 20 by Bruce Hopper, shows an 

elliptical crack in the smooth surface facing the camera. The 

lower photo taken on August 2 by AVO personnel, shows the 

same area. The elliptical crack is now very prominent, and the 

area within it has sagged. The center of the area is marked by a 

collapse pit.
USGS intern David Fee completes 

the installation of a seismic station 

in Wyoming, part of the new ANSS 

Teton Regional Seismic Network in the 

Jackson-Hole -Teton area.

104 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments

Unrest at Active Volcanoes

Mauna Loa Volcano, which last erupted 

in 1984, continues to swell, as determined 

by continuous GPS measurements 

across the summit caldera, yearly dry-tilt 

reoccupations, and InSAR results. The rate 

of extension across the summit caldera is 

about 1.5 cm/yr. More recently, HVO has 

detected a swarm of small, deep (> 40 km) 

long-period earthquakes below the south 

and southeast parts of the caldera, with 

about 40 quakes occurring from late July 

to early August 2004. Both deformation 

and seismicity suggest that Mauna Loa’s 

magma chamber is being refilled and that 

an eruption can be expected within the 

next few years. 

AVO scientists have responded to 

extended volcanic unrest at Mount Spurr, 

Mount Veniaminof, and Shishaldin 

Volcano by more frequent overflights (at 

Spurr), continuous Webcam monitoring 

from a nearby village (at Veniaminof) and 

more frequent examination of seismic data for all three 

volcanoes. AVO remains on heightened alert, as all three 

volcanoes continue to show above-background activity 

and could quickly move into full eruption.

Global Seismographic Network Surpasses Design Goal

In 2004, the Global Seismographic Network (GSN) 

surpassed its 128-station design goal for uniform 

worldwide coverage of the Earth. A permanent network 

of 136 stations with state-of-the-art seismological and 

geophysical sensors is now sited around the Globe, 

connected by available telecommunications. GSN is a 

partnership between USGS, NSF, and over 100 host 

organizations and seismic networks in 59 countries 

worldwide. The USGS Albuquerque Seismological 

Laboratory is one of the two principal network 

operations centers for GSN, which serves an essential 

function for nuclear treaty monitoring, tsunami warning, 

response to earthquakes and volcanoes, and as a resource 

in mitigating earthquake hazards. 

Focused Seismic Monitoring in Wyoming under ANSS

In the FY2004 appropriation process, Congress directed 

USGS to incorporate the Teton County, Wyoming, area 

into the ANSS, replacing an earlier seismic network 

discontinued by the BOR. The network installation 

was completed in August, three 

months ahead of schedule. 

Data from the network will be 

integrated into real-time seismic 

monitoring operation at the USGS 

National Earthquake Information 

Center in Golden, Colorado, and 

will be distributed in real-time 

to support seismic monitoring 

operations in Yellowstone National 

Park, Idaho, Montana, and Utah. 

The new network was developed 

and implemented in cooperation 

with Teton County, Wyoming, the 

Wyoming Geological Survey, and 

NPS. The BOR will continue its 

monitoring of Jackson Lake Dam 

for strong ground motion and 

other performance parameters to 

ensure the safety of the structure. 

Cost efficiencies were achieved 

by re-use of previous seismic 

station sites and deployment of 

communications equipment.

Program Description

Geologic Resource Assessments programs assess the 

availability and quality of the Nation’s mineral and 

energy resources, including studying the economic 

and environmental effects of resource extraction and 

use. These programs support the DOI Strategic Plan to 

enhance public benefit, promote responsible use, and 

ensure optimal-value by ensuring that data are available 

for managers to make informed decisions about use of 

resources. 

Significant Output/Accomplishment

Simple, Real-Time Field-Assessment for Prioritizing Oil 

and Gas Production Sites

The USGS ERP has developed simple, real-time, 

field-assessment techniques for prioritizing oil and gas 

production sites on public lands. Public land managers 

have increasing responsibilities to assess the nature and 

extent of environmental impacts and to determine 

the associated risks to human and ecosystem health. 

Frequently, there are large numbers of sites to evaluate 

and limited guidance on how to evaluate and prioritize 

these sites for more detailed assessments and possible 

remediation. The techniques developed by the ERP 

focus on the primary sources of human health and 
Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments 105

ecosystem risk hydrocarbon releases (evaluated with a 

photoionization detector and a soil auger), produced 

water releases (evaluated with conductivity meters 

and chloride titration strips), and naturally occurring 

radioactive materials (evaluated with a microRmeters). 

These three techniques were developed and tested at two 

NPS units: Big South Fork National Recreation Area 

and Padre Island National Seashore. NPS personnel 

plan to adopt the techniques consistently throughout the 

entire recreation and seashore areas once funds permit. 

These techniques now will be tested in arid environments 

to determine the effectiveness in those producing areas.

Geography Accomplishments

Program Description

Geographic Analysis and Monitoring Program

 The GAM program encompasses three fundamental 

science issues concerning changes to the Earth’s surface: 

(1) understanding changes that are occurring on the 

land surface and why; (2) understanding the impacts 

of these land-surface changes on ecosystem health, 

climate variability, biogeochemical cycles, hydrology, and 

human health; and (3) using the best methods available 

to incorporate scientific findings in the decisionmaking 

process of natural resource managers and provide the 

information to the public. This program addresses 

DOI’s strategic goal of advancing knowledge through 

scientific leadership and informing decisions through 

the applications of science by accessing the Nation’s land 

resources at spatial and temporal scales to understand 

rates, causes, and consequences of landscape change over 

time.

Significant Output/Accomplishment

National-scale Assessment and Forecast of Wildfire 

Ignition Potential

Long-term forecasts of fire hazards and fire-related 

vegetation conditions are important tools for resource 

managers responsible for planning for wildland fire 

fighting and mitigation. These forecasts depend 

on having scientifically sound understanding of the 

interaction between climate and fire regimes, especially 

under changing climates. Fire hazard is assessed from 

conditions of vegetation, weather, and topography. 

Accurate forecasting of the potential of fire ignition is 

possible if scientists know the proportion of live and dead 

vegetation and its moisture content. This project refined 

the Fire Potential Index model by adding the capability 

to ingest weather variables over the conterminous U.S. 

and calculating the correlation of the Fire Potential 

Index values with the actual fire occurrences during 

2001. It also hind-casted for the 2001 fire season the 

Fire Potential Index for temporal and spatial patterns of 

change that contributed to daily and seasonal outbreaks 

of fire in two wildland fire-prone regions in the western 

U.S.

Program Description

Cooperative Topographic Mapping Program

The CTM program works with partners in other Federal 

agencies; in State, county, and local governments; and 

in the private sector to ensure that accurate, current, 

and complete data that locate and describe the Earth’s 

features are available and that products such as the 

USGS topographic series maps are kept up to date. This 

program addresses DOI’s strategic goal of advancing 

knowledge through scientific leadership and inform 

decisions through the application of science by ensuring 

the development, maintenance, and availability of base 

geographic data for the Nation. 

Significant Output/Accomplishment

Detection and Analysis of Significant Topographic 

Surface Change – A Nationwide Assessment

Studies of landscape change have traditionally focused 

on change in two dimensions, the change in land use 

and land cover. This project maps and describes the 

vertical component of landscape change, changes to the 

physical shape of the land surface. It uses the National 

Elevation Dataset (NED) (the elevation layer of The 

National Map) as the historical base map, more detailed 

elevation data from the 2001 Shuttle Radar Topographic 

Mission (SRTM) dataset for the current elevation setting, 

and derives surface changes from a differencing equation 

between SRTM and NED. One of the significant 

impacts of topographic surface change is caused by 

changes to surface hydrology features (sub-watersheds 

and stream courses). Results to date show that activities 

that modify the local topography, such as mountaintop 

mining in Appalachia, alter the surface parameters (slope 

and aspect) that control local drainage patterns. 

Water Accomplishments

Program Descriptions

Since its inception in 1879, the USGS has been involved 

in issues related to water availability, water quality, and 

flood hazards. This work is conducted by more than 

4,000 hydrologists, technicians, and support staff located 
106 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments

in offices in every State. USGS efforts include: (1) 

collection, management, and dissemination of hydrologic 

data; (2) analysis of hydrologic systems through modeling 

or statistical methods; and (3) research and development 

leading to new methods and new understanding. The 

following is a basic summary of the USGS Water 

Resources Investigations programs that are classified 

primarily as applied research:

The Ground Water Resources Program evaluates ground 

water in the Nation’s major aquifer systems, assesses the 

interactions of ground water with surface water, and 

evaluates the various factors that govern the response of 

aquifer systems to pumping, droughts, and other stresses.

The National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) 

Program provides nationally consistent data and 

information on the quality of the Nation’s most 

important water resources, identifying status and trends, 

determining cause and effect, and eventually providing 

forecasts or prediction. The program is now in its second 

decade of investigation. NAWQA plans for the second 

decade (recently reviewed by the NRC) focus on waterquality trends over time and on environmental conditions 

that influence contaminant distribution.

The Toxic Substances Hydrology Program provides 

scientific information and tools that explain the 

occurrence, behavior, and effects of toxic substances 

in the Nation’s surface water and ground water. Data 

and information from the program support sound 

decisionmaking by resource managers, regulators, 

industry, and the public to improve characterization and 

management of contaminated sites, to protect human 

and environmental health, and to reduce potential future 

contamination problems.

The Hydrologic Research and Development Program

focuses on long-term investigations that integrate 

hydrologic, geologic, chemical, climatic, and biological 

information related to water-resources issues. This 

program provides the core research capability of the 

USGS water programs and supports many of the Bureau’s 

foremost water research scientists. 

The mission of the Cooperative Water Program is to 

provide reliable, impartial, and timely information 

needed to understand the Nation’s water resources 

through a program of shared efforts and funding with 

State, Tribal, and local partners to enable decisionmakers 

to wisely manage the Nation’s water resources. This 

program is a 50:50 matching program in which State, 

Tribal, and local government agencies provide at least 

half the funds and the USGS performs most of the work. 

About 40 percent of the Cooperative Water Program 

comprises focused water resources investigations, with 

the goal of seeking solutions to water-resources issues of 

national concern.

The USGS administers grants for 54 State Water 

Resources Research Institutes designated by the Water 

Resources Research Act. The program supports academic 

research to aid in the resolution of State and regional 

water problems and related land problems, promotes 

technology transfer, and provides for the training of 

scientists and engineers.

Significant Outputs/Accomplishments

Methow River Basin, Washington

Increased use of ground-water and surface-water supplies 

in the Methow River Basin has created concern that 

insufficient streamflow will remain to sustain a healthy 

fish population. Three fish species in the river are listed 

as endangered or threatened. In addition, management 

of the water resources of the Methow River Basin is 

changing in response to State-legislated watershed 

planning. Management officials are considering options 

that should minimize adverse effects on human use of 

water while meeting instream-flow requirements for 

irrigation and other needs. 

In collaboration with Okanogan County, WA, the 

Ground-Water Resources Program and the Cooperative 

Water Program supported a USGS study of ground 

water and surface water in the Methow River Basin 

to provide information for water-resources managers 

to make choices about how to allocate water for fish 

habitat, irrigation, and other uses. Two USGS reports 

describe the results of the study. The first is entitled, 

“Hydrogeology of the Unconsolidated Sediments, 

Water Quality, and Ground-Water/Surface-Water 

Exchanges in the Methow River Basin, Okanogan 

County, Washington” and is available on the Internet at 

http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/wri034244/. The second is 

entitled, “Precipitation-Runoff Simulations of Current 

and Natural Streamflow Conditions in the Methow River 

Basin, Washington” and is available on the Internet at 

http://pubs.water.usgs.gov/wri034246/. One conclusion 

of the reports is that seepage from unlined irrigation 

canals recharges the aquifer in late spring and summer 

and contributes to streamflow throughout the year. This 

result illustrates the importance of understanding the 
Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments 107

interaction of ground water with surface water.

Contaminant Plumes with Complex Chemical Mixtures

Some research in the Toxic Substances Hydrology 

Program in FY 2004 focused on identifying processes 

that control contaminant transport in representative 

contaminant plumes with complex chemical mixtures, 

and developing tools to predict contaminant movement 

as it is affected by natural processes. Results from 

previous long-term observations of restoration efforts at 

a wastewater effluent plume in Cape Cod, MA, guided 

laboratory and field studies of the geochemical processes 

controlling the natural restorative processes in aquifers 

contaminated with wastewater effluent. In addition, 

the USGS tested newly developed field instrumentation 

at the landfill research site in Norman, OK. This 

new instrumentation enables scientists to measure the 

products of reduction and oxidation reactions in the 

field, thereby providing indications of some natural 

biodegradation processes that occur in landfill leachate 

plumes.

Developmental Research

In accordance with OMB Circular No. A-11, USGS 

defines developmental research activities as systematic 

application of knowledge or understanding, directed 

toward the production of useful materials, devices, and 

systems or methods, including design, development, 

and improvement of prototypes and new processes 

to meet specific requirements. The table below 

provides a summary of our developmental research and 

development investments over the past five years and 

descriptions of selected programs and selected outcomes 

and/or accomplishments in these areas for FY2004.

Biology Accomplishments

Program Description

The Cooperative Research Unit Program

This program is a unique cooperative partnership among 

Federal and State governments and academia. Federal 

scientists stationed at universities: (1) help identify and 

respond to natural resource information needs through 

the pooling of resources among agencies; (2) provide 

access to scientific expertise among Unit scientists, 

university faculty, and other Unit cooperators, especially 

where the required expertise is not readily available 

within Federal resource agencies; and (3) provide 

Federal and other natural resource managers access to a 

geographically dispersed science organization of Units to 

meet information needs that transcend State and regional 

boundaries.

Significant Output/accomplishment

Landscape Ecology and Resource Management: Linking 

Theory with Practice

The product of this effort is to develop an edited book 

(Landscape Ecology and Resource Management: Linking 

Theory with Practice) that develops linkages between 

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Biology

 Cooperative Research Unit

Data not 

available

by major

program.

1 2

 Invasive Species 2 1

 Other Biology programs 29 8

Geology

 Volcano Hazards 3 4

 Other Geology programs 24 27

Geography

 Land Remote Sensing 14 13

 Other Geography programs 28 17

Totals (in millions) $ 53 53 83 101 72
108 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments

landscape theory and environmental management and 

practice. Agencies and organizations worldwide have 

embraced ecosystem management, gap analysis, and 

metapopulation conservation and have tried to put some 

of these concepts and ideas into practice. As is the case in 

many developing disciplines, theory has been borrowed 

and cobbled together from related fields and provides an 

incomplete framework for application. Increasingly, the 

conceptual basis appears to be inadequately confirmed by 

the data. Use of the cobbled framework in management 

further exposes the problem of inadequate theory as well 

as the linkage between theory and practice. This drove 

the need for developing a more realistic and relevant 

conceptual basis for guiding management. 

A cohesive theory of landscape ecology has not been 

possible even though much effort has been placed on 

its development. Additionally little attention has been 

placed on its application, at least in North America. 

At the same time, the field of landscape ecology has 

expanded so rapidly that it is difficult to keep up with 

new developments and synthesis of ideas into a workable 

framework. 

The USGS explored this concern at the Second 

International Wildlife Management Congress in 1999 by 

organizing a session on “Scaling in Conservation Biology:

Is There a Mismatch between Theory and Practice?” 

The USGS asked, “How can the manager or 

biologist working for a resource agency or 

conservation organization put the powerful ideas and 

concepts that stem from landscape ecology into practice?” 

In the resulting book, the USGS provided a readable and 

coherent synthesis from which resource managers can 

start putting theory into practice. 

Program Description

Invasive Species Program

The USGS plays an important role in Federal efforts 

to combat invasive species in natural and semi-natural 

areas through early detection and assessment of newly 

established invaders, monitoring of invading populations, 

improving understanding of the ecology of invaders 

and factors in the resistance of habitats to invasion, 

and developing and testing preventative and alternative 

management and control approaches. USGS research on 

invasive species includes all significant groups of invasive 

organisms in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Significant Output/accomplishment

Biological Invasions in the United States

The research focuses on developing improved 

methodologies for documenting, mapping, monitoring, 

and predicting invasive species, including the 

development of ecological forecasting models and 

applications of high performance computing in 

cooperation with NASA and other partners in the USGS 

National Institute of Invasive Species Science.

The project provides capabilities for accurate, online, 

near real-time mapping of invasive species infestations 

and forecasting the probability of invasions in vulnerable 

habitats using models that integrate numerous databases 

on invasive species occurrences and other available 

datasets. The project supports the ongoing development 

of an online Invasive Species Forecasting Service that 

will enable users to obtain rapid multi-scale assessment 

of the probable spread and threats from invasive species. 

The project provides essential information and tools for 

planning and implementing strategies for detection, 

monitoring, and control of invasive species in U.S. 

ecosystems. 

In FY2004, the USGS delivered (a) a cluster computing 

infrastructure and suite of predictive geostatistical 

models that facilitate the integration of multiple 

datasets to document, map, and predict the locations 

of invasive plants, and (b) a sophisticated Internet 

mapping application (“T-Map,” using Tamarisk as the 

initial target species) that facilitates online data entry of 

invasive species infestations and enables users to view 

current distributions, map point locations, and upload 

and download data. The USGS will continue to expand 

the T-map initiative and to apply these mapping and 

forecasting capabilities to additional species. 

Detailed high-resolution maps of invasive species are used 

to strategically plan control and restoration efforts to 

systematically monitor the success of those efforts. Maps 

of the probability of invasions in vulnerable habitats 

enable managers to design strategies for early detection of 

new outbreaks of invasive species and make decisions on 

the priority, locations, and timing of control actions. 

Geology Accomplishments

Program Description

The Volcano Hazards Program’s mission is to enhance 

public safety and reduce losses from volcanic events 
Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments 109

through effective forecasts and warnings of volcanic 

hazards, thereby preventing volcano hazards from 

becoming volcano disasters. To this end, the Volcano 

Hazards Program provides earth-science data and 

information, hazard analyses, and basic and applied 

research to reduce the loss of life, property, and economic 

impact of geohazards related to volcanoes. This mission 

supports DOI’s strategic goal of protecting lives, 

resources, and property by making information available 

to communities to use in developing hazard mitigation, 

preparedness, and avoidance plans.

Significant Output/accomplishment

Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR)

 USGS researchers from the VHP and the USGS-EROS 

Data Center are using a recently developed satellite 

remote-sensing technique called InSAR to study ground 

deformation at volcanoes in the United States and around 

the World. This technique can detect small (centimeter 

scale) changes in elevation in the Earth’s surface by 

comparing small changes in radar images of the same area 

collected by satellites at different times. With InSAR, 

scientists are able to map the area’s extent of ground 

deformation caused by magma accumulation in the crust, 

strain along earthquake faults, groundwater changes, and 

other processes that are common near active volcanoes. 

InSAR is providing insight into rates at which subsurface 

volcanic reservoirs are supplied with magma and on how 

volcanic centers swell and deform prior to eruption. 

InSAR has already detected surface deformation at a 

number of U.S. volcanoes, possibly providing an earlier 

indicator of volcanic unrest than we have had previously. 

For example, InSAR has detected more than six years of 

continuous uplift, expressed as a bullseye of interference 

colors, at the Three Sisters Volcanic Center in Central 

Oregon. The uplift is best modeled by the intrusion of 

40000 m3 of magma at a depth of 5 to 7 km beneath 

the surface. Recently, an unprecedented swarm of more 

than 300 earthquakes occurred during the period of 

March 23-25, 2004, indicating that the stresses in the 

crust induced by the inflating magma chamber had 

finally reached the fracture strength of the rocks and were 

producing small earthquakes (yellow circles). Although 

it is impossible to predict at this time if the unrest will 

proceed to an eruption, the VHP has increased its 

monitoring activity at Three Sisters as a result of these 

events.

Geography Accomplishments

Program Description

Land Remote Sensing (LRS)

The LRS program acquires, archives, disseminates, and 

uses remotely-sensed data of the Earth’s land surface. 

The program operates the Nation’s land remotesensing satellites (Landsat 5 and Landsat 7), providing 

moderate resolution imagery of the Earth’s surface use 

in agriculture, geology, forestry, regional planning, 

education, mapping, and global change research. The 

program also maintains the National Satellite Land 

Remote Sensing Data Archive (NSLRSDA), which 

preserves and distributes remotely-sensed data to the 

worldwide community. 

Significant Output/accomplishment

Expanding AmericaView

The USGS AmericaView Program is dedicated to 

expanding the understanding and applications of the 

science of remote sensing. In FY 2004, the Consortium’s 

membership has increased, adding six additional new 

States as affiliate members (Montana, California, Hawaii, 

Kentucky, Louisiana, and North Dakota). Additionally, 

four States have been promoted to associate members 

(Alabama, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Indiana). The 

growing State membership in the Consortium has 

increased participation in universities, colleges, and Ground Deformation - Three Sisters Volcanic Center
110 Required Supplemental Stewardship Information - Research and Development Investments

State government agencies. Also, USGS has proactively 

encouraged the establishment of in-State libraries to 

archive State imagery and expanded the awareness of 

these data to users and potential users throughout the 

State.

Program Description

The National Map is a resource that stimulates the 

economic and environmental health of the Nation by 

enabling and communicating geographic science. It is 

composed of integrated, high-quality geospatial data and 

applications for the Nation that allows land managers, 

policymakers, decisionmakers, and researchers at all 

levels of government and within academia to describe the 

Earth’s land surface and its dynamic nature. The National 

Map will ensure the development, availability, and 

integration of continuously-maintained and nationallyconsistent basic geospatial data and correlative research 

and applications for a greater scientific understanding of 

how the Nation’s land surface is changing. This program 

supports DOI’s strategic goal of scientific leadership and 

informing decisions through the applications of science, 

which is aimed at expanding the scientific knowledge 

base and enhancing the quality and objectivity of DOI 

science.

Significant Output/accomplishment

The National Map Viewer 

The USGS is committed to making The National Map

easily accessible to customers and partners through 

increased use of advanced computing, archiving, 

and communication tools and through innovative 

collaboration with public and private organizations. 

This ability greatly improves communication tools 

for responding to public inquiries and expanding 

cooperation with private industry in product 

development and dissemination. The National Map

Web application allows users to access the datasets of The 

National Map through an interactive map viewer, using 

only their Web browser. This means that users do not 

have to have special software on their own computers. 

The viewer allows anyone to interactively view The 

National Map data as a map, customize the view, and 

print a map. Map tools allow users to move around the 

map, zoom in and out, identify features, and perform 

other functions. See http://nationalmap.usgs.gov/.
Section V

Independent Auditors’ Report

USGS scientist retreiving portable seismic recorders, which had recorded seismicity of explosive charges as well as 

earthquakes, following an eruption of the Redoubt Volcano in Alaska.

111

Contents

Inspector General Transmittal Letter ................................................................. 112

Independent Auditors’ Report ........................................................................... 114

USGS Response ................................................................................................ 125
112 Independent Auditors’ Report 
Independent Auditors’ Report 113
114 Independent Auditors’ Report 
Independent Auditors’ Report 115
116 Independent Auditors’ Report 
Independent Auditors’ Report 117
118 Independent Auditors’ Report 
Independent Auditors’ Report 119
120 Independent Auditors’ Report 
Independent Auditors’ Report 121
122 Independent Auditors’ Report 
Independent Auditors’ Report 123
124 Independent Auditors’ Report 
Independent Auditors’ Report 125
Section VI

Appendices

126

USGS geologists collecting rock samples in a remote location.

Contents

A. Glossary of Acronyms .................................................................................. 127

B. Validation and Verification of Performance Measures ................................... 130

C. Program Evaluation Data ............................................................................ 132

D. Significant FY2004 Accomplishments by USGS Employees ........................ 134
Appendix A - Glossary of Acronyms 127

Glossary of Acronyms

ABC/M Activity-Based Costing/Management

ACWI Advisory Committee for Water Information

ANSS Advanced National Seismic System

APS Administration and Policy Services

AR Accounts Receivable

ARMI Amphibian Research and Monitoring Initiative

ASC Alaska Science Center

AVO Alaska Volcano Observatory 

BASIS+ Budget and Science Information System

BIS Commerce - Bureau of Industry and Security

BOR U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

BLM U.S. Bureau of Land Management

BLT Business Leaders Team

BRD Biological Resources Division

CA Condition Assessment

CAP Cooperative Agreements Program

CBM Coalbed Methane

CERC Columbia Environmental Research Center

CERP Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan

CINDI Center for Integration of Natural Disaster 

Information

CISN California Integrated Seismic Network

CMGP Coastal and Marine Geology Program

CNMI Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana 

Islands

CRWA Charles River Watershed Association

CSRS Civil Service Retirement System

CTBT Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty

CTM Cooperative Topographic Mapping

DCIA Debt Collection Improvement Act

DEQ Oregon Department of Environmental Quality

DiGIR Distributed Generic Information Retrieval

DOI U.S. Department of the Interior

DSS Decision Support System

EFT Electronic Funds Transfer

EHP Earthquake Hazards Program

EPA U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

EPCA Energy Policy and Conservation Act

ERP Energy Resources Program

ETM+ Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus

FASAB Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board

FBMS Financial Business Management System

FBWT Fund Balance with Treasury

FCI Facilities Condition Index

FECA Federal Employee Compensation Act

FEGLI Federal Employees Group Life Insurance

FEHB Federal Employees Health Benefit

FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency

FERS Federal Employees Retirement System

FFMIA Federal Financial Management Improvement 

Act of 1996

FGDC Federal Geographic Data Committee

FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act

FISC Florida Integrated Science Center

FISMA Federal Information Security Management Act

FMT Field Managers Team

FMFIA Federal Managers’ Financial Integrity Act of 

1982

FMMS Facilities Maintenance Management System

FTEs Full-Time Equivalents

FWS U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

GAAP Generally Accepted Accounting Principles

GAM Geographic Analysis and Monitoring Program

GAO Government Accountability Office

GBIP Great Basin Information Project

GCMRC Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research 

Center

GCP Global Change Program

GIS Geographic Information System

GLSC Great Lakes Science Center
NWIS National Water Information System

NWQL National Water Quality Laboratory

OAFM USGS Office of Accounting and Financial 

Management

OB USGS Office of Budget

OIG Office of the Inspector General

OGDB Organic Geochemistry Database

OMB Office of Management and Budget

OMS Office of Management Services

OPM Office of Personnel Management

PART Program Assessment Rating Tool

PP&E Property, Plant, and Equipment

PI Principal Investigator

PSNER Puget Sound Near Shore Ecosystem Restoration

RSSI Required Supplementary Stewardship Information

RTS Reports Tracking System (Water Resources)

SAFOD San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth

SAIN Southern Appalachian Information Node

SETAC Society of Environmental Toxicology and 

Chemistry

SFWMD South Florida Water Management District

SLC Scan Line Corrector

SGL Standard General Ledger

SIR Surveys, Investigations, and Research

SPRESO South Pole Remote Earth Science Observatory

SRTM Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission

TCOM Tahoe Constrained Optimization Model

TSP Thrift Savings Plan

TROR Treasury Report on Receivables

TRPA Tahoe Regional Planning Agency

USCOE U.S. Army Corp. of Engineers

USDA U.S. Department of Agriculture

USFS U.S. Forest Service

USGCRP U.S. Global Change Research Program

USGS U.S. Geological Survey 

VHP Volcano Hazards Program

128 Appendix A - Glossary of Acronyms

GPRA Government Performance and Results Act

GSA General Services Administration

GSN Global Seismographic Network

HDOA Hawaii Department of Agriculture

HHS Health and Human Services

HVO Hawaii Volcano Observatory

HWATT Hemlock Woolly Adelgid Action Team

ICL International Consortium on Landslides

IEAM Integrated Environmental Assessment and 

Management

IP Investment Plan

IRIS Incorporated Research Institutions for 

Seismology

InSAR Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar

IT Information Technology

LHP Landslide Hazard Program

LMV Lower Mississippi Valley

LRS Land Remote Sensing

LTRMP Long-Term Resource Monitoring Program 

MRERP Mineral Resources External Research Program

MRP Mineral Resources Program

NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NAWQA National Water Quality Assessment

NBC Dept. of Interior - National Business Center

NBII National Biological Information Infrastructure

NCRA National Coal Resource Assessment

NCGMP National Cooperative Geologic Mapping 

Program

NED National Elevation Dataset

NEHP National Earthquake Hazards Program

NGIC National Geomagnetic Information Center

NHD National Hydrology Dataset

NPS U.S. National Park Service

NRC National Research Council

NSDI National Spatial Data Infrastructure

NSF National Science Foundation

NSIP National Streamgage Information Program
Appendix A - Glossary of Acronyms 129

V&V Validation and Verification

WAN Wide Area Network

WCF Working Capital Fund

WNV West Nile Virus

WPA World Petroleum Assessment 2000

WRIR Water Resources Investigation Report

YVO Yellowstone Volcano Observatory
Data Validation and Verification Element Explanation

Status of Data V&V implementation in 

bureau activity area

Responses to GPRA requirements and DOI AS-PMB Data V&V 

directive January 16, 2003.

1. Extent to which data V&V criteria have 

been disseminated throughout the Bureau 

activity area units

Data V&V criteria have been disseminated and reviewed by all USGS 

GPRA coordinators for each Budget Activity/scientific discipline.

2. Extent to which protocols have been 

implemented in units providing performance 

data:

 a) Are collection standards followed Performance measure names, terminology, and DOI’s performance 

definition templates are understood and being followed. There is 

no common data entry system or data entry point for collection of 

performance data, but standard protocols for database queries and 

retrieval are used. For example: 

• Facilities Condition Index is defined by DOI guidance as deferred 

maintenance costs divided by replacement value. Both of these 

components of FCI are based on common industry standards and 

used by USGS Facilities to capture and calculate performance data. 

• For Biology, consistent collection of data is ensured through uniform 

use of Web site for reporting quarterly accomplishments. Reporting 

stations are notified at the same time of a reporting requirement and 

all use the same procedure for reports. 

• For Geography, consistent collection of data is ensured through 

uniform use of Web site for reporting GPRA accomplishments. All 

field stations are notified at the same time of a reporting requirement 

and all use the same procedure for reports.

130 Appendix B - Validation and Verification of Performance Measures

Validation and Verification of Performance 

Measures

In keeping with Departmental and OMB policy for 

performance data verification and validation (V&V), 

USGS has complied with requirements for performance 

data credibility.

During FY2004, USGS GPRA coordinators for each 

Budget Activity/scientific discipline completed and 

certified a validation checklist comprised of criteria 

in the DOI V&V Assessment Matrix for the key and 

non-key performance measures of the DOI Strategic 

Plan, bureau specific, PART measures, and outputs 

to which USGS contributes. USGS will demonstrate 

accountability by establishing a clear connection between 

mission, work, and what work accomplishes for the 

funds that have been authorized and appropriated. 

Criteria include scrutiny to determine that goals are 

realistic and measurable, understandable to users, and 

ultimately used in decisionmaking. In addition, several of 

the Strategic Plan measures will be assessed by the PART 

during FY2004, for select Water Resources programs. 

This will add additional documentation and assurance of 

credibility and usability of USGS performance measures 

for management decisionmaking.

Also during FY2004, USGS GPRA coordinators for 

each Budget Activity/scientific discipline completed and 

certified a verification checklist comprised of criteria in 

the DOI V&V Assessment Matrix for all performance 

measures— key, non-key, and bureau-specific measures, 

PART measures and outputs. This included assessing 

data accuracy, completeness, consistency, availability, and 

inter-control practices that serve to determine the overall 

reliability of the data collected. GPRA coordinators will 

document any inconsistencies, inaccuracies or anomalies 

in performance data to ensure that problems are addressed 

so that integrity of the performance data are ensured.
Data Validation and Verification Element Explanation

 b) Are data entry and transfer rules used Systems used to track performance data do not have extensive editing 

capabilities, but standard processes are used to capture performance 

data. Program office understands how to obtain information about 

performance data and maintain data currency. For example, Water 

Procedures for data entry, data sources and assumptions, and methods 

are documented by the USGS Office of Budget (OB) discipline 

coordinator and are available to other OB staff. Facilities procedures 

for data collection for the Condition Assessment (CA) program are 

documented in the Departmental Architectural and Engineering 

contract. 

 c) Are data security measures implemented 1) Firewalls/password protection, etc. are established according to 

bureau information system requirements.

2) Access to the Databases and/or Excel spreadsheets are only available 

to register logged-on USGS users. 

3. Does the bureau conduct oversight and 

certification of data

USGS GPRA coordinators for each Budget Activity/scientific discipline 

provide oversight, standards to be followed, verify performance data 

accuracy, ensure documentation is maintained and certify performance 

data reported. OB provides a second level of oversight.

4. Other relevant actions taken to insure 

credibility of performance data

Yes, for example, the Facilities CA report is generated by a third party 

contractor and reviewed by Government personnel. Also, OB makes 

comments in the DOI database, if for any reason, the data is changed 

after it has already been entered.

Data Source(s) Data Sources, such as large databases, local files, excel spreadsheets, 

reference files and hardcopy files, are documented. For example, Water 

uses a software query to extract the performance data from the National 

Water Information System (NWIS), a database and user interface 

through which the streamgages, ground-water sites, and water-quality 

sites report their hydrologic data on the Internet. 

For Facilities, the CA data is kept in hard copy form and on a USGS 

facilities database. 

Data Limitations Any data limitations are documented.

Corrective/Improvement Actions (Needed, 

In Progress, or Recently Completed)

No corrective/improvement actions needed at present.

Appendix B - Validation and Verification of Performance Measures 131
132 Appendix C - Program Evaluation Data

Program Scope and Methodology Status

Geographic 

Analysis 

& Monitoring 

Program

Geographic Science Steering 

Committee Review

Preliminary feedback from the steering committee has 

refocused GAM program activities into 4 science themes, 

which form the basis of the GAM FY05 Science Program 

Plan. Final report due Fall 2004 from Science Planning 

Team. The report is expected to impact direction and 

priorities of GAM science activities.

Water Resources 

Research Act 

Program

NRC Review “Confronting the 

Nation’s Water Problems: The Role 

of Research”

The pre-publication copy of the report was released. 

Awaiting final report to complete action plan.

Cooperative Water 

Program

External Review from ACWI Under the Advisory Committee for Water Information, 

the USGS convened an external review task force to follow 

up on the 1999 external review of the Cooperative Water 

Program, to evaluate USGS’s progress in addressing the 

recommendations from that review. The task force will give 

a status report at the annual meeting in September 2004 

of the Federal/Non-Federal Advisory Committee on Water 

Information.

Program Evaluation Data

Program evaluations are an important tool in analyzing 

the effectiveness and efficiency of our programs and 

evaluating whether they are meeting their intended 

objectives. These evaluations are the foundation 

on which USGS gauges performance relative to 

the DOI End Outcome measure for soundness of 

methodology, accuracy, and reliability of science. Our 

programs are evaluated through a variety of means, 

including performance audits, PART, financial audits, 

management control reviews, and external reviews from 

Congress, OMB, OIG, and other organizations, such 

as the National Academy of Public Administration 

and the National Academy of Science. These reviews, 

which may take several years to complete, are critical 

to maintaining the USGS’s reputation for scientific 

excellence and credibility as well as providing guidance 

for future research needs. The evaluations improve the 

accountability and quality of programs, but also identify 

and address gaps in programs; redirect or reaffirm 

program directions; identify and provide guidance 

for development of new programs; and review and/or 

motivate managers and scientists. For example, based on 

a number of factors, including the recommendations of 

the External Scientific Advisory Committee on Scientific 

Services (as contained in the March 2004 report, The 

Future of Regional and National Scientific Services of 

the Water Resources Programs), the USGS has decided 

to close the water-quality laboratory in Ocala, Florida, 

and transfer most of its functions to the National Water 

Quality Laboratory in Denver. Given the recent budget 

shortfalls at the Ocala Lab and projected continuing 

shortfalls, the USGS has determined that consolidation of 

this function is more cost effective than maintaining two 

separate laboratories.

Evaluations are critical to maintaining the USGS’ 

reputation for scientific excellence and credibility as well 

as providing guidance for future research needs. We 

conduct both internal and external peer and management 

reviews to improve the accountability and quality of 

programs; identify and address gaps in programs; redirect 

or reaffirm program directions; identify and provide 

guidance for the development of new programs; and 

review and/or motivate managers and scientists. Reviews 

are both internal and external, conducted by USGS and 

non-USGS scientists, technicians, or specialists who are 

not involved in the specific proposal, project, program, 

or product under review. Our goal is to conduct an 

independent external peer review of ongoing programs 

about every 5 years, combined with more frequent 

independent internal management reviews.
Appendix C - Program Evaluation Data 133

Program Scope and Methodology Status

Landslide Hazard 

Program

External Review by NRC on 

National Landslide Hazards 

Mitigation Strategy for the 

Landslide Hazards Program

USGS has taken initial steps within base funding to 

implement the NRC’s suggestions including 1) strengthen 

partnerships between the USGS and other Federal agencies 

and States in order to produce an effective national strategy 

that can be applied at the local level, 2) incorporating the 

development and dissemination of state-of-the-art risk 

analysis methods into its 5-yr plans (the LHP has explored 

the implementation of a “learning from landslide disasters” 

effort similar to the one funded by the National Science 

Foundation for earthquakes), and 3) improving education 

and awareness of landslide hazards and mitigation options 

through a new fact sheet, participation in Earth Science week 

activities, and support for a handbook for land-use planners 

on landslide hazards.

National 

Cooperative 

Geologic Mapping 

Program

Internal/External Panel Federal 

Advisory 

Committee/State 

Mapping Committee

Ongoing. Three panels are involved in prioritizing the 

Nation’s geologic mapping needs.

Coastal and 

Marine Geology 

Program; Coastal 

Charting 

and Mapping 

Needs

External review by NRC, review 

of most important data collection 

efforts of the CMGP.

Report entitled, “A Geospatial Framework for the Coastal 

Zone: National Needs for Coastal Mapping and Charting,” 

addressed the breadth of Federal activities related to coastal 

mapping and charting. USGS programs were part of a larger 

effort. Recommendations speak to the need for developing 

consistent standards and protocols, improved agency 

coordination in setting priorities and developing programs, 

and improved access to data and tools for data application. 

Recommendations required multi-agency response; USGS 

is working with other Federal mapping agencies to develop 

responses.

Earthquake 

Hazards Program

External review by Scientific 

Earthquake Studies Advisory 

Committee

The EHP 5-yr plan for 2004-08 was reviewed and approved 

by the Scientific Earthquake Studies Advisory Committee, 

and USGS. The plan is now being reviewed by the Bureau’s 

OMB examiner and will be published as a USGS circular 

early FY2005.

Astrogeology 

Program

Internal Review Two reviews were conducted in FY2004 to benefit the 

NASA Planetary Geology and Geophysics Cartographic and 

Geologic Mapping Working Group. The reviews received 

positive feedback. Currently awaiting final confirmation of 

funding award and budget.

Water Resources 

Research Act 

Program

State Water Resource Institutes The Water Resources Research Act, as amended, requires that 

each Institute be evaluated at least every 5 years. Detailed 

evaluations of all 54 Institutes are being conducted in 2004 

to determine their eligibility to receive grants. Results of the 

evaluations are being compiled.
Significant FY2004 Accomplishments by USGS 

Employees

USGS scientist receives water research award: USGS 

hydrologist Dr. Michael Meyer was a co-author for a 

paper that received the 2003 Rudolf Herring Medal from 

the American Society of Civil Engineers for research into 

the removal of antibiotics in drinking water. Meyer, 

along with Dr. Craig Adams and students Yong Wang 

and Keither Loftin of the University of Missouri, Rolla, 

published a paper titled “Removal of Antiobiotics from 

Surface and Distilled Water in Conventional Water 

Treatment Process” in the March 2002 issue of the 

Journal of Environmental Engineering.

Government service award goes to USGS 

scientist: The Society of Environmental 

Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) of 

North America awarded USGS scientist 

Chris Ingersoll the 2003 Government 

Service Award in recognition of his 

service in promoting contaminant risk 

assessment. SETAC is a global science 

society with primary interests in the fields of 

environmental chemistry and toxicology.

USGS scientist appointed to editorial board of new journal: 

SETAC is launching a new publication, the Integrated 

Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM) Journal, 

with the inaugural issue due in January 2005. USGS scientist

Terry Boyle (pictured far right in the upper row - photo right), 

whose research encompasses aquatic ecology and risk assessment 

strategies for large, complex development projects in the U.S., 

Russia, the Phillipines, and throughout Latin America, has 

been appointed to the IEAM Founding Editorial Board. The 

journal is being developed to bring together scientific research in environmental risk assessment, evaluation of complex 

environmental issues, and application of science in decision making.

University of Texas honors USGS geographer: Jean Parcher, a

USGS scientist, was awarded one of the coveted University of Texas 

Graduate School Outstanding Thesis awards for her work in the 

Brownsville/Matamoros Urban area. The thesis, Remote Sensing 

Methods for Estimating Impervious Cover for Hydrologic Modeling 

Applications: A Case Study of the Brownsville/Matamoros Urban 

Area, presents geographic models for the flood-prone area and 

represents a mutually beneficial collaboration between the USGS 

and the University of Texas. Ms. Parcher (photo far left) was 

presented the award by Ms. Victoria Rodriquez, Dean of Graduate 

Studies at the University of Texas.

134 Appendix D - Significant Accomplishments by USGS Employees
Appendix D - Significant Accomplishments by USGS Employees 135

Denver scientist wins “Superbowl” of public service: USGS scientist Dr. David 

Wald earned the prestigious Legacy Award for his work in developing ShakeMap, a 

rapidly generated computer map that shows the location, severity, and extent of strong 

ground shaking within minutes of an earthquake. Over 40,000 Federal, State, and 

local government employees were eligible to compete during Public Service Recognition 

Week, and the winners then qualified to win the 42nd annual Legacy Award. Dr. Wald 

was also awarded other honors this year, including being named the 2004 Seismological 

Society of America and Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology Distinguished 

Lecturer. 

Geologist received Fulbright Award: USGS geologist Richard 

Harrison received a Fulbright Award to work in Cyprus with the 

Geological Survey Department of Cyprus and the Turkish Cypriot 

Community to research potential seismic hazards in the northern and 

eastern parts of Cyprus in January through April 2005. The purpose 

of the Fulbright Program is to increase mutual understanding between 

the people of the U.S. and foreign countries through the exchange 

of students, teachers, lecturers, and research scholars. The USGS 

will benefit through increased cooperation and interaction with the 

Geological Survey Department of Cyprus and geologists with the Turkish Cypriot Community. 

Hydrologist received Fulbright Award: USGS supervisory hydrologist Sam Luoma received a Fulbright Award to work 

with Philip Rainbow, director of Zoology at the British Natural History Museum. Luoma and Rainbow will work on a 

book on environmental toxicology, which will be directed at managers, policymakers, and students who need to know 

more about effectively linking science and policy. The book will develop from their combined years of field work in 

environmental toxicology and will use case studies of how science was used in several contentious pollution episodes 

throughout the world to illustrate how those lessons might be applied. They also plan to develop an international and 

multi-institutional field study to test some of the more difficult questions in environmental toxicology in field studies in 

Southwest England.

USGS Hydrologist receives Charles River award: In recognition of his role in advancing the restoration of the Charles 

River, the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) presented its “2005 Award” 

to Dr. Peter K. Weiskel of the USGS on November 19, 2003. Dr. Weiskel accepted 

the award on behalf of the team of USGS scientists who collaborated on the studies, 

including David Armstrong, Lora Barlow, Robert Breault, Leslie DeSimone, Jack 

Eggleston, Mark Nimiroski, Gene Parker, Jason Sorenson, and Phillip Zarriello.

The CRWA, founded in 1965, is one of the oldest watershed associations in the 

Nation. Awarded annually since 1999, the award is named for the Clean Charles 

2005 Initiative, a partnership of government, private-sector, and non-profit 

organizations jointly committed to achieving swimmable and fishable conditions in 

the entire Charles River by the year 2005.

USGS scientist receives hydrology award: USGS 

scientist Steve Ingebritsen received the 2003 O.E. Meinzer award from the Geological Society 

of America on November 3, 2003. This prestigious award was established to recognize 

significant contributions in the field of hydrogeology during the previous five years. The 

2003 Meinzer Award cites six of Dr. Ingebritsen’s recent publications which have significantly 

improved understanding of the interactions between geothermal heat and ground-water 

flow, as well as understanding of the amount of ground-water flow in the deep crust, and 

additionally, have provided significant contributions documenting the effect of ground-water 

pumping on land subsidence. 
Schuster wins by a landslide: On October 31, Robert L. Schuster was awarded the 

first Varnes Medal at the International Consortium on Landslides (ICL) Board of 

Representatives meeting in Vancouver, Canada. The prestigious award, named after 

David Varnes, the internationally renowned USGS landslide expert, is given by ICL 

to recognize professional excellence in landslide research and applications, significant 

contributions to public education, and mentoring of students. Dr. Shuster has worked on 

significant landslide issues including dam safety and economic impact of landslides and 

has greatly influenced the understanding of landslides and geotechnical practice through 

his interactions with students, his numerous reports and journal articles, and his lectures 

worldwide. He advises foreign and state governments on landslide disasters and serves on 

international and national advisory committees concerned with ground-failure hazards. 

USGS scientist awarded: USGS scientist Suzanna Ward was awarded the “2004 Conservation Professional of the 

Year” by the Schuylkill County Conservation District on August 2. The honor is for Ward’s work in acid mine drainage 

remediation, which has contributed greatly to the restoration process of the watersheds in Schuylkill County, PA.

USGS biologists honored by State Department: Featured from 

left to right, Michael Ruggiero, Annie Simpson, and T. Douglas 

Beard were recipients of a Group Meritorious Honor Award for 

their contributions as part of a U.S. Delegation to the Seventh 

Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. 

Assistant Secretary of State John F. Turner presented the award at a 

ceremony on July 20 at the State Department in Washington, DC. 

USGS scientist receives merit award: On July 19, USGS scientist 

Beth Middleton received the Society of Wetland Scientists’ Merid 

Award at the Society of Wetland Scientist’s annual meeting in 

Seattle. Middleton was recognized for her two books, Wetland 

Restoration, Flood Pulsing and Disturbance Dynamics and Flood Pulsing in Wetlands: Restoring the Natural Hydrological 

Balance.

USGS scientist receives Professional Conservationist of the Year award: Robert 

E. Stewart, Jr., director of the USGS National Wetlands Research Center in 

Lafayette, LA., (photo right) has been named Professional Conservationist of the 

Year by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation and commended by U.S. Senator Mary 

Landrieu and Representative Chris John. Stewart was recognized for developing 

and guiding the Nation’s premier wetlands research facility and lending its expertise 

to better understand and preserve wetland resources. The award cites Stewart for his 

involvement in inventorying wetlands across the United States and documenting their 

extent, values, and rates of loss. The honor notes his use of computer technology, 

remote sensing, and geographic information systems to guide that work. 

USGS scientist receives Mojave Desert research awards: USGS scientist Matt Brooks recently received honors from 

two nonprofit organizations in recognition of extensive research conducted on disturbance effects in the Mojave Desert. 

Brooks was recognized specifically for how his studies have helped to better manage habitat for the desert tortoise, a 

Federally threatened species. On January 24, Brooks received the Golden Tortoise Award from the Desert Tortoise 

Preserve Committee, and on February 21, the Desert Tortoise Council presented Brooks with their Annual Award 

recognizing his accomplishments during the past 15 years of research.

136 Appendix D - Significant Accomplishments by USGS Employees
Appendix D - Significant Accomplishments by USGS Employees 137

USGS executives win Presidential Rank Awards: 

Every year, the President of the United States 

confers ranks on a select group of career employees 

for long-term accomplishment. These Presidential 

Rank Awards are given in reward, not of one-time 

professional accomplishments, but of sustained 

public service and consistent achievement. Award 

winners are chosen through a rigorous selection

process. They are nominated by their agency 

heads, evaluated by boards of private citizens, and 

approved by the President. The evaluation criteria 

focus on leadership and results.

The recognition ceremony took place March 25 in 

the South Penthouse of the Main Interior Building 

in conjunction with the presentation of Secretary 

Gale Norton’s Executive Leadership Awards. 

In 2004, the USGS is proud to have three 

Presidential Rank Award winners within its ranks: 

Senior Advisor for Science Applications James 

F. Devine (photo at top right), Deputy Director 

Robert E. Doyle (photo at middle right), and 

Associate Director for Water Robert M. Hirsch

(photo at bottom right). 

Doyle and Hirsch were honored with the 

Meritorious Executive Award, given to career 

members of the Senior Executive Service 

recognized as “outstanding leaders, who 

consistently demonstrate strength, integrity, 

industry, and a relentless commitment to public 

service.” 

Devine was presented with the Meritorious 

Senior Professional Award, recognizing senior 

career professionals who “have a sustained record 

of exceptional professional, technical, and/or 

scientific achievement that is recognized on a 

national or international level.” 
We Welcome Your Comments!

Thank you for your interest in the U.S. Geological Survey’s FY2004 Performance and Accountability 

Report. We welcome your comments on how we can make this report a more informative document for 

our readers. We are particularly interested in your comments on the usefulness of the information and the 

manner in which it is presented. Please send your comments to: 

 U.S. Geological Survey

 Office of Accounting and Financial Management

 Mail Stop 270

 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive 

 Reston, VA 20192 

 

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