Resource Conservation and Development Program 873 29,212 29,678 58,890 Passenger Motor Vehicles The 1982 estimate for passenger motor vehicles proposes the purchase of 50 additional and 390 replacement vehicles. Passenger motor vehicles of the Soil Conservation Service are distributed among 50 State Offices and Puerto Rico, 230 area offices, and various technical specialists located at field headquarters. None of these vehicles are used in Washington, D.C. Vehicles are used in rural and other areas where common carrier facilities are either non-existent, uneconomical, or inadequate. The nature of the travel requires a high degree of mobility with frequent stops at field offices, job sites, and other places not serviced by common carrier. Resident technicians servicing farmers and ranchers in conservation districts use pickup trucks rather than passenger vehicles. Passenger motor vehicles are generally assigned to an office location and not exclusively to one individual. This allows several employees to rely on the use of a single vehicle, thus maximizing utilization, and minimizing the number of vehicles needed. On September 30, 1980, the Soil Conservation Service had 2,373 passenger cars in a total fleet of 10,778 vehicles. The fleet includes pickup trucks, sedan deliveries (light trucks), and jeeps. The Service also had 11 heavy trucks and 88 special purpose vehicles at selected locations. Purchase of Additional Passenger Motor Vehicles. SCS proposes to purchase 50 passenger motor vehicles in fiscal year 1982 to replace a like number of light duty, 4X2, pickup trucks. This continues a planned gradual reduction in the number of light truck type vehicles that have reached age and mileage requirements for disposal Sedans in the SCS fleet are more fuel efficient than trucks and, therefore, reduce the amount of petroleum energy needed. Personnel working in urban areas with planning commissions, city, county and State governmental units, and other local groups often need passenger vehicles which can carry additional passengers. Some travel is performed on parkways and other limited highways which prohibit trucks. The Replacement of Passenger Motor Vehicles. The fiscal year 1982 estimates provide for the replacement of 390 passenger motor vehicles during the fiscal year. vehicles proposed for replacement have been driven more than 60,000 miles or are more than 6 years of age or will be beyond economic repair due to accident or other causes. SCS is continuing a sound and effective replacement program. During fiscal year 1980, 238 replacements were purchased. Economy of operation and expected use factors will be taken into consideration as well as prescribed age and mileage standards in planning replacements in 1982. Age and mileage data for Soil Conservation Service passenger motor vehicles estimated on hand September 30, 1980, are as follows: |