Authority of the Inspector General

49 U.S.C. § 1326

• Title: 49 — Transportation
• Chapter: SUBCHAPTER II—ADMINISTRATIVE

Text

(a) In General.—The Inspector General of the Department of Transportation, in accordance with the mission of the Inspector General to prevent and detect fraud and abuse, shall have authority to review only the financial management, property management, and business operations of the Surface Transportation Board, including internal accounting and administrative control systems, to determine the Board's compliance with applicable Federal laws, rules, and regulations.
(b) Duties.—In carrying out this section, the Inspector General shall—
(1) keep the Chairman of the Board, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives fully and currently informed about problems relating to administration of the internal accounting and administrative control systems of the Board;
(2) issue findings and recommendations for actions to address the problems referred to in paragraph (1); and
(3) submit periodic reports to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives that describe any progress made in implementing actions to address the problems referred to in paragraph (1).
(c) Access to Information.—In carrying out this section, the Inspector General may exercise authorities granted to the Inspector General under subsections (a) and (c) of section 406 of title 5.
(d) Authorization of Appropriations.—
(1) Funding.—There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Transportation for use by the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation such sums as may be necessary to cover expenses associated with activities pursuant to the authority exercised under this section.
(2) Reimbursable agreement.—In the absence of an appropriation under this subsection for an expense referred to in paragraph (1), the Inspector General and the Board shall have a reimbursement agreement to cover such expense.

History

(Added Pub. L. 114–110, §9, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2232; amended Pub. L. 117–286, §4(b)(97), Dec. 27, 2022, 136 Stat. 4353.)

Editorial Notes

Editorial Notes

Amendments
2022—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–286 substituted "subsections (a) and (c) of section 406 of title 5." for "subsections (a) and (b) of section 6 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.)."

Editorial Notes

Amendments
2021—Pub. L. 117–58, div. B, title I, §21202(c), Nov. 15, 2021, 135 Stat. 676, added item for chapter 67. Item was conformed to the style of this analysis and starting section number was supplied editorially.
2015—Pub. L. 114–94, div. A, title VI, §6019(c), Dec. 4, 2015, 129 Stat. 1581, added second item for chapter 63 and item for chapter 65.
2012—Pub. L. 112–141, div. E, title II, §52011(c)(2), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 895, added first item for chapter 63.
2005—Pub. L. 109–59, title III, §3002(c), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1545, substituted "Public" for "Mass" in item for chapter 53.
1998—Pub. L. 105–178, title VII, §7302(b), June 9, 1998, 112 Stat. 482, added item for chapter 61.

Editorial Notes

Amendments
2012—Pub. L. 112–141, div. C, title III, §33007(b), July 6, 2012, 126 Stat. 836, added item 5118.
2005—Pub. L. 109–59, title VII, §§7111, 7115(a)(2), (h), 7123(c), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1899, 1901, 1908, struck out item 5111 "Rail tank cars", substituted "Special permits and exclusions" for "Exemptions and exclusions" in item 5117, struck out item 5118 "Inspectors", added items 5127 and 5128, and struck out former item 5127 "Authorization of appropriations".
2001—Pub. L. 107–56, title X, §1012(a)(2), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 397, added item 5103a.