[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 39, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2007]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 39CFR221.3]

[Page 30-31]
 
                        TITLE 39--POSTAL SERVICE
 
                 CHAPTER I--UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
 
PART 221_GENERAL ORGANIZATION--Table of Contents
 
Sec.  221.3  Office of Inspector General.

    (a) Establishment. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) was 
established as an independent law enforcement and oversight agency for 
the United States Postal Service under the Inspector General Act of 1978 
(5 U.S.C. App. 3), as amended in 1988 (Pub. L. 100-504, 102 Stat. 2515) 
and 1996 (Pub. L. 104-208, 110 Stat. 3009).
    (b) Responsibilities. The OIG was established to:
    (1) Provide an independent and objective unit to conduct and 
supervise audits and investigations relating to programs and operations 
of the Postal Service.
    (2) Provide leadership and coordination and recommend policies for 
activities designed to:
    (i) Promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness in the 
administration of postal programs and operations.
    (ii) Prevent and detect fraud and abuse in postal programs and 
operations.
    (3) Provide a means of keeping the governors and Congress fully and 
currently informed about:
    (i) Problems and deficiencies relating to the administration of 
postal programs and operations.
    (ii) The necessity for corrective action.
    (iii) The progress of corrective action.
    (4) Provide oversight of all activities of the Postal Inspection 
Service.
    (c) Inspector General--(1) Appointment. The inspector general is 
appointed for a 7-year term by the nine governors.
    (2) Responsibilities. The inspector general is responsible for the 
operations of the OIG: ensuring independent and objective audits and 
investigations of postal operations and programs; overseeing the Postal 
Inspection Service; and apprising the governors and Congress of 
significant observations. The inspector general has no direct 
responsibility for designing, installing, and/or operating postal 
operations or programs.
    (3) Extent of powers. In addition to the authority otherwise 
provided by the Inspector General Act of 1978, as amended, the inspector 
general is authorized to:
    (i) Have unrestricted access to all Postal Service operations, 
programs, records, and documents, whether in custody of the Postal 
Service or available by law, contract, or regulation.
    (ii) Have direct and prompt access to the governors when necessary 
for any purpose pertaining to the performance of the functions and 
responsibilities of the OIG.
    (iii) Administer oaths when necessary in performance of the 
functions assigned to the OIG.

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    (iv) Require by subpoena the production of all information, 
documents, reports, answers, records, accounts, papers, and other data 
and documentary evidence necessary in the performance of the functions 
of the OIG.
    (v) Select, appoint, and employ such officers and employees as may 
be necessary for carrying out the functions, powers, and duties of the 
OIG.
    (vi) Obtain the temporary or intermittent services of experts or 
consultants in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.