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FOREST SERVICE MANUAL
INTERMOUNTAIN REGION (REGION 4)
OGDEN, UT
FSM 1200 - ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 1230 – DELEGATIONS OF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Supplement No.: 1200-2009-1
Effective Date: February 19, 2009
Duration: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
Approved: HARV FORSGREN
Regional Forester
Date Approved: 02/05/2009
Posting Instructions: Supplements are numbered consecutively by Title and calendar year.
Post by document; remove entire document and replace it with this supplement. Retain this
transmittal as the first page(s) of this document. The last supplement to this title was 1200-20032 to FSM 1220.
New Document(s):
1230
6 Pages
Superseded Document(s) by
Issuance Number and
Effective Date
1230 (Supplement 1200-2003-1,
03/31/2003)
5 Pages
Digest:
1236 - Updates Regional delegations of authority and responsibility.
R4 SUPPLEMENT 1200-2009-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/19/2009
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 1200 - ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 1230 – DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
1236.11 – Regional Foresters
The following Acting Regional Forester assignments are made:
1. Primary. All Months – Deputy Regional Forester
2. Secondary. In the absence of the Deputy Regional Forester, the following Acting
Regional Forester assignments are made:
January – Director of Natural Resources
February – Director of Fire, Aviation, & Air
March – Director of Engineering
April – Director of Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources
May – Director of Information, Planning, and Appeals
June – Director of Lands & Minerals
July – Director of Natural Resources
August – Director of State & Private Forestry
September – Director of Engineering
October – Director of Recreation, Heritage, and Wilderness Resources
November – Director of Information, Planning, and Appeals
December – Director of Lands & Minerals
This rotation is limited to GS-15 Directors. In the absence of the Director assigned in a given
month, the assignment automatically reverts to the Director assigned in the previous month. In
the absence of the Deputy Regional Forester, in addition to serving as Acting Regional Forester,
the Directors (as outlined above) are also serving in the capacity of Acting Deputy Regional
Forester. The above rotation may be revised by letter from the Regional Forester (for example,
GS-15 Director positions that are shared with other Regions, upon coming vacant, may be
moved into or out of the above rotation based upon where the duty station is ultimately located).
1236.14 – Regional Signing Authorities
1. General Signing Practices. The Regional Forester or the designated Acting Regional
Forester (as outlined in FSM 1236.11) shall exercise their authorities by signing all
correspondence requiring line approval over the Regional Forester's name and title.
The Acting Regional Forester is delegated authority to perform all the duties that are currently
vested in the Regional Forester.
Directors are delegated authority by the Deputy Regional Forester to exercise their
responsibilities in the program or functional area they direct. Directors do not have line authority
(unless serving in the capacity of Acting Regional Forester); however, they do have authority to
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/19/2009
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 1200 - ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 1230 – DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
sign routine correspondence of a technical, procedural, or informational nature over their own
title, subject to the limitations specified in sections 3 through 6, below.
The person duly designated as Acting Regional Forester has all the authorities vested with the
Regional Forester, except those reserved for Regional Forester only (sec. 3) and shall sign over
the name and title of the Regional Forester and add the word "for" in front of the Regional
Forester's name.
Persons who are authorized to sign specialized documents for the Regional Forester on a
continuous basis shall sign over the Regional Forester's name and title and add the word "for" in
front of the Regional Forester's name.
2. Coordination. The Regional Forester shall rely on the Deputy Regional Forester and
Directors to assure needed coordination for all correspondence.
Present all correspondence to be signed by the Regional Forester, Deputy Regional Forester, or
Acting Regional Forester in final form. The primarily concerned Director is responsible to
assure that such correspondence is correct, complete, clear, concise, consistent with policy, and
coordinated with all interested Staffs before presentation to the official with signing authority.
Correspondence shall either be signed or returned to the concerned Staff with general
instructions for revision of substantive content or improvement of quality.
3. Signing Reserved to Regional Forester.
a. Issue regulations authorized by 36 CFR 261.70.
b. The Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
(CERCLA) Records of Decision, Decision Memorandums, or Action Memorandums
for responses greater than $10 million, settlements greater than $10 million, Natural
Resource Damage Assessment (NRDA) Action decisions greater than $10 million.
c. Records of Decision, Decision Memorandums, or Action Memorandums
authorizing road construction/reconstruction in Roadless Areas.
d. Correspondence to members of Congress and Governors. Except when not
available for an extended period.
e. Official letters and certificates to retiring employees and selected messages of
appreciation, congratulations, or condolence to Forest Service personnel and other
people. Except when not available for an extended period.
f. Letters of appreciation acknowledging donations (for example, money and land) to
the Forest Service.
R4 SUPPLEMENT 1200-2009-1
EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/19/2009
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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CHAPTER 1230 – DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
4. Signing Reserved to Regional Forester or Deputy Regional Forester. The officer
designated to "act" shall sign the following "for" Regional Forester. Use of this reserved signing
authority for purposes of providing emphasis to the subject matter should be minimal, and will
be based on the judgment of the Deputy Regional Forester or Director.
a. Regional master cooperative agreements and memorandums of understanding with
other Federal agencies and state authorities.
b. Cost sharing memorandums of understanding under PL 83-566.
c. Documents authorizing Forest Officers to carry weapons for law enforcement
purposes and self-defense.
d. Correspondence with the Chief, concerning policy, key relationships, or special
situations.
e. Correspondence with the Chief's Office requesting changes in assigned Regional
targets.
f. Financial Resources Office Regional supplements and interim directives as the
approving official.
g. Correspondence pertaining to adjustments in fund allowances within functions of
the Financial Resources Office.
h. Letter transmitting the Region's program direction and initial operating plan
(PDIOP) instructions.
i. Authorizations to change Regional Office essentially full-time workforce,
including detached units.
j. Documents concerning naming Ranger Districts.
k. Approval for the use of motorized equipment or mechanical transport in
Wilderness.
l. CERCLA Records of Decision or Action Memorandums for responses less than
$10 million, Settlements less than $10 million, NRDA Action decisions less than $10
million, and all formal discoveries of injury to natural resources.
m. Documents approving sensitive species list.
5. Signing Delegated to the Deputy Regional Forester or Acting DRF. The Deputy
Regional Forester and Acting DRF have line authority for functions assigned to them and, except
as specified in sections 3 and 4 above, are responsible for signing the correspondence needed to
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/19/2009
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 1200 - ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 1230 – DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
fulfill this obligation. Documents listed below shall be signed or approved by the Deputy
Regional Forester or Acting DRF over the Regional Forester's name and title.
a. Regional supplements, interim directives and amendments to the Forest Service
Manual and Handbooks, except as specified in paragraph 4.i. above.
b. Correspondence including transmitting final report and action plan, within
assigned area, to Forest Supervisors concerning National Forest program and activity
reviews, GMR reports, General Accounting Office audits, and Office of Inspector
General Internal Audits.
c. Letter transmitting action plan to State Foresters concerning State and Private
Forestry General Program Review reports.
d. Progress reports to the Chief on Regional reviews and audits of the Region.
e. Correspondence pertaining to adjustments in fund allowances and/or attainment
targets within assigned area of responsibility insofar as such adjustments do not alter
overall Regional fund allowances and attainment targets.
f. Supplemental cooperative agreements or memorandums of understanding within
own area of responsibility (after Acquisition Management review).
g. Administrative studies or joint administrative research studies.
h. Final Regional recommendation for personnel within area of responsibility to
attend training and national meetings. Approval to attend national meetings,
exceeding Regional authorization.
i. Correspondence to the Chief transmitting project information requested by
members of Congress and/or Congressional Appropriations Committees.
j. Letters transmitting Regional reviews on out-service environmental documents
where the project, if approved, affects National Forest System lands in the Region.
k. Nonscheduled report with mandatory reply due date.
l. Responsible for serving as Appeal Deciding Officer (ADO) for 215 and 251
decisions.*
m. Responsible for serving as Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) caseResolving Official.*
* When serving as an ADO or Resolving Official, completion of the case from
review to decision is required. Under special circumstances, such as perceived
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EFFECTIVE DATE: 02/19/2009
DURATION: This supplement is effective until superseded or removed.
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FSM 1200 - ORGANIZATION
CHAPTER 1230 – DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY
conflicts of interest, it may be necessary for a scheduled director to be excused
from serving as the ADO or Resolving Official.
n. Statewide closure orders.
o. Approval of time and attendance and travel vouchers.
p. Financial Resources Office nonscheduled reports.
6. Signing Delegated to Directors.
a. Directors are responsible for carrying out the functions assigned to them and,
except as specified in section 1, paragraph 4, and sections 3 through 5 above, for
signing the correspondence needed to fulfill this obligation. Before signing, the
Director shall assure that necessary coordination with other Staffs has been
accomplished. Directors shall use the following signing title: Director, (Staff name).
b. Directors may, for periods of their absence, authorize their designated "Acting" to
sign any correspondence over the Director's name and title, adding "for" in pen with
the exception of specified documents (sec. 1, item 4) which certain Directors are
authorized to sign for the Regional Forester. During the Director's absence, these
documents shall be sent to the Deputy Regional Forester, Regional Forester, or
designated Acting Regional Forester for signature.
c. Directors may authorize any subordinate to sign routine correspondence over their
own working title, when such a direct approach facilitates a specific segment of
approved work. "Routine correspondence" is defined as that which is not within the
field of material specifically reserved by section 1, paragraph 4, and section 3 through
5 above.
d. CERCLA and NRDA actions (cost recovery, notices and demand letters,
information requests—104(e) letters, MOUs and agreements, bills for collection,
property acquisition, land use approvals and administrative order on consent, under
the $10 million amount).
e. Directors have authority to approve volunteer agreements that pertain to work
occurring within their respective program areas.