U.S. Geological Survey

Required Supplement Stewardship Information

Research and Development
Annual Stewardship Information
For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 1998

Federal investment in research and development comprises those expenses for basic research, applied research, and development that are intended to increase or maintain national economic productive capacity or yield other benefits. Expense data are expressed in nominal dollars for the fiscal year 1998.

Following is a summary of stewardship data for the U. S. Geological Survey for fiscal year ending September 30, 1998.

Program: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)
Program Expenses
($millions)a 		1998b
Basic Research 57
Applied Research 461
Development 28
Allocation of Indirect Costsc 54
Total 601

Narrative Discussion:

The USGS Research and Development program was authorized by the Organic Act of March 3, 1897 (43 U.S.C. 31 et seq.) to provide for the examination of geological structures, mineral resources, and products within and outside the national domain, that is Earth science. Earth science research, development and information is responsible for saving lives and property, safeguarding human health, enhancing the economic vitality of the Nation and its people, assessing resources, characterizing environments, and predicting the impact of contamination.

USGS provides credible, objective and unbiased information needed by managers of the Nationšs natural resources and resources managers in DOI. This information aids in the solutions of critical societal problems through research, investigation, application of state-of-the-art geographic and cartographic methods. USGS research assesses and predicts biological consequences of various policies and management practices.

Heritage Assets
Annual Stewardship Information

Heritage assets are PP&E that possess one or more of the following characteristics: historical or natural significance; cultural, educational or aesthetic value; or significant architectural characteristics. The cost of heritage assets is not often relevant or determinable. In addition, the useful life of heritage assets is generally not reasonably estimable for depreciation purposes. The most relevant information about heritage assets is their existence and condition. Therefore, heritage assets are reported in terms of physical units.d

Number of Bureau Units Holding Museum Property: 5
Number of Other Institutions Holding Museum Property for Bureau: 2
Objects in Bureau Facilities: Art: 61
History: 10
Documents: 3
Biology: 31
Objects in Other Institutions: History: 1
Biology: 36,000
Total Number of Bureau Objects: 36,106

Description of the methods of acquisition and withdrawal of heritage assets:
No museum items have been acquired or withdrawn since the USGS museum program began. The Biology collection transferred from Fish and Wildlife when National Biological Resources was integrated with USGS in FY 1996. No additional items have been added since the transfer.

Condition of the assets and an estimate of any deferred maintenance related to the assets:
Good; no deferred maintenance related to any of the collection.

Heritage Asset - Scientific Library Collection

A. Description of heritage asset category: The U.S. Geological Survey Library collections cover all aspects of the earth sciences and related interdisciplinary subjects. The collections are intended to be as comprehensive as possible in its coverage of worldwide literature. Holdings include extensive sets of State and foreign geological survey publications, as well as publications from geological and other scientific societies, from universities and institutions, and from other government agencies throughout the world. Special collections include the George F. Kurt collection of books on gems and minerals, the Alvison collection on Russian geology, minerals and mining, extensive photographs taken during USGS field work, and field notebooks and additional material relating to USGS projects.

B. The number of collection or physical units at year end: The U.S. Geological Survey Library contains 1.6 million books and periodicals and 1.3 million non-book items for a total of 2.9 million items.

Units added during the year: 10,000
Units withdrawn during the year: 8,000

C. Method of acquisition and withdrawal: 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 critical analysis of the collection is made by the professional library staff.

D. Condition of the assets and estimated deferred maintenance: Approximately 35 percent of the collection is in good condition, 40 percent is in fair condition, and 25 percent in poor condition. No deferred maintenance related to the library collection.

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