(6a)_Attch_4_GCMRC_guidelines.pdf

U.S. Geological Survey Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center

Policy Consent Form for Activities on the Colorado River, Grand Canyon

June 4, 2018

The purpose of this document is to establish a set of rules to be followed by the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research

Center (GCMRC) personnel, contractors, cooperators, and volunteers during activities associated with GCMRC supported trips on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. Because these trips are highly visible on the river, it is very important to maintain good conduct and to promote a professional reputation. These rules and guidelines are consistent with and implement the SBSC Alcohol Policy dated April 2017. The rules and guidelines are intended to promote: (1) GCMRC credibility during scientific and Native Tribe support activities on the Colorado River, (2) adherence to NPS and USGS rules and regulations, (3) an environment free of harassment or abuse, and (4) a good working relationship with the river community and GCMRC staff.

All federal employees and contract personnel are expected to observe and respect the guidelines and policy described in this document. Failure to do so will make boat operators or contracted vendors financially responsible for any damage to

GCMRC equipment, including repair or replacement, and may affect future work agreements.

This Consent Form is required to be signed or renewed annually by all participants in a GCMRC sponsored river trip, including GCMRC personnel, contractors, cooperators, volunteers, and guests. It is the responsibility of the Trip Leader to ensure that all trip participants have a valid signed form prior to the launch of a trip. The forms will be maintained by the

GCMRC logistic coordinator.

GCMRC Guidelines and Policy

All persons engaged in field activities have a responsibility to ensure that they are not, through the consumption of alcohol or drugs, in a state that may endanger themselves or any other person. The consumption of these substances can turn an otherwise minor incident in the field into a life threatening event. Furthermore, off duty activities such as this are not covered by workers compensation and if you are injured while under the influence of an unprescribed substance, you will be responsible for the cost. Rescue and medical treatment from remote field locations is very expensive. The potential hazards of field locations make it very important that everyone behave responsibly in order to reduce the risk of accidents.

ALCOHOL USE AND TRANSPORT:

• In conformance with Department of the Interior and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) regulations, no alcoholic beverages will be consumed during working hours or when engaged in on-river operations or travel.

• Alcoholic beverages are prohibited on Tribal river trips that have been designated by the Tribe as alcohol free.

• Discretion will be further emphasized on trips in which minors are participating. On trips with participants who are under age 21, SBSC management, the trip leader, and trip sponsors determine if there is any alcohol on the trip. If alcohol is allowed, trip leaders and all other participants will be responsible for assuring that there is no under-age drinking.

• Alcohol may only be consumed during off-duty hours. Extreme discretion must be exercised in the presence of members of the public, including recreational river trips. All individuals are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and professional manner to promote an environment free of harassment or abuse.

• Operators and passengers in government vehicles must obey all applicable State laws, including ‘open container’ prohibitions.

• Storage or consumption of alcohol on the USGS facility/grounds is strictly prohibited, alcoholic beverages transported to the facilities for off-duty use while participating on river trips shall be loaded directly onto trucks upon arrival. Any remaining alcoholic beverages at the end of a trip must be removed from the facilities immediately following the trip.

• Alcohol may be transported in government vehicles but should be concealed inconspicuously in the load. All alcoholic beverages transported to Lee’s Ferry for river trips shall be loaded directly from the truck onto the boat(s), if it must remain on the boat ramp it shall be kept covered until loaded into the boat(s).

• Alcohol is a prohibited item for government credit card purchase. Alcohol taken on the river must be purchased with private funds.

United States Department of the Interior

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

SOUTHWEST BIOLOGICAL SCIENCE CENTER

2255 NORTH GEMINI DRIVE, MS-9394

FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA 86001

928 556-7094 Telephone

928 556-7092 Fax

Attachment 4 140G0319Q0039

1. Use of illegal drugs is strictly prohibited in the workplace, including when engaged in field/river operations or in camp.

Departmental Manual 370 DM 792.9 states “the use of illegal drugs by Federal employees, on or off duty, cannot be tolerated”.

2. GCMRC-owned or rented boats will be used only for official government business. Use of such boats (including sport boats) for any recreational purpose, or to travel upriver for any purposes other than those necessary for the scientific task at hand, will not be tolerated.

3. No passengers are permitted to ride in sport boats unless engaged in work assignments, specifically, riding as passenger through Lava

Falls or any major rapids is prohibited, NO EXCEPTIONS!

4. Whenever possible, sport boats will be rolled up and transported on the larger work boats after completion of the work for which the sport boats were required.

5. If no work is scheduled downriver, it is the responsibility of trips’ Principal Investigator(s) to arrange for excess personnel to hike out at Phantom Ranch, and for their transportation from the South Rim.

6. The purpose of GCMRC river trips in Grand Canyon is to conduct scientific research and to support Native Tribal needs. To minimize conflicts with private and commercial recreational river visitors, it is the responsibility of GCMRC Boat Operators, Trip

Leaders and Principal Investigators to communicate with and defer to visitors when selecting campsites, and to utilize smaller, less used and less popular campsites whenever possible. GCMRC trips are also expected to defer to recreational visitors at attraction sites

(e.g. Vasey’s, Redwall, LCR, Elf’s Chasm, Deer Creek, popular side canyon hikes, etc.).

7. GCMRC contracted personnel and volunteers are responsible for their actions after working hours while on the river. Public perception goes beyond the normal 8-hour workday.

8. After a trip, it is the responsibility of all trip participants, including GCMRC personnel, volunteers and contracted Boat Operators’ to clean all boating and camping equipment used on the trip, and return it to the proper place in the GCMRC warehouse. Boat Operators must also make the Logistics Coordinator and/or Warehouse Manager aware of any GCMRC equipment that malfunctioned, or was damaged or lost during the trip.

9. GCMRC is not responsible for personal boating, camping or scientific equipment left at the GCMRC warehouse before or after a trip.

Retrieval of such gear will be at the Warehouse Manager’s or Logistics Coordinator’s convenience. GCMRC river bags and cans will be returned the day the trip ends.

10. USGS policy on Zero Tolerance of Discrimination and Harassment must be adhered to. Each individual is responsible for supporting an environment free of harassment or abusive behavior. Although alcohol may be consumed during off-duty hours, please be mindful of others in the field setting who may feel less comfortable with this activity and thus be highly sensitized to the atmosphere associated with alcohol consumption. While it is not the intent of this policy to dictate prescribed behavior during off-duty hours, everyone associated with GCMRC field activities is expected to contribute to an environment that is respectful and professional at all times.

11. All trip participants are able to report incidents that fail to comply with this policy. These incidents may be reported through the

USGS supervisory chain or directly to the Administrative Officer, GCMRC Chief, Deputy Center Director, or Center Director. Such incidents will be reviewed and responded to in a timely manner. A review will be initiated within 24 hours of the report and immediate action taken as appropriate.

12. Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action for USGS employees or may affect current or future agreements with USGS cooperators who do not comply with the policy.

I have read and agree to fully adhere to these rules and guidelines; I fully understand that failure to comply with these guidelines may result in disciplinary actions affecting future employment/participation in GCMRC supported river trips and other USGS activities.

(Print name)

(Signature) Date