    [United States Government Manual]
    [June 15, 2003]
    [Pages 493-495]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL

    Suite 300, 1730 M Street NW., Washington, DC 20036-4505

    Phone, 800-872-9855. Fax, 202-653-5151. Internet, www.osc.gov.
    Special Counsel                                   Elaine Kaplan
    Deputy Special Counsel                            Timothy Hannapel
        Associate Special Counsel for                 William E. Reukauf
                Investigations and
                Prosecution Division I
        Associate Special Counsel for                 (vacancy)
                Investigations and
                Prosecution Division II
        Associate Special Counsel for                 Cary P. Sklar
                Investigations and
                Prosecution Division III
        Associate Special Counsel for                 Leonard M. Dribinsky
                Complaints and Disclosure
                Analysis
        Associate Special Counsel for Legal           Erin M. McDonnell
                Counsel and Policy Division
    Director, Congressional and Public Affairs        Jane McFarland

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    The Office of Special Counsel investigates allegations of certain
    activities prohibited by civil service laws, rules, or regulations and
    litigates before the Merit Systems Protection Board.

    Activities

    The Office of Special Counsel (OSC) was established on January 1, 1979,
    by Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1978 (5 U.S.C. app.). The Civil Service
    Reform Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. 1101 note), which became effective on
    January 11, 1979, enlarged its functions and powers. Pursuant to
    provisions of the Whistleblower Protection Act of 1989 (5

    [[Page 494]]

    T193760.055

    [[Page 495]]

    U.S.C. 1211 et seq.), OSC functions as an independent investigative and
    prosecutorial agency within the executive branch which litigates before
    the Merit Systems Protection Board.
        The primary role of OSC is to protect employees, former employees,
    and applicants for employment from prohibited personnel practices,
    especially reprisal for whistleblowing.Its basic areas of statutory
    responsibility are to do the following:
        --receive and investigate allegations of prohibited personnel
    practices and other activities prohibited by civil service law, rule, or
    regulation and, if warranted, initiating corrective or disciplinary
    action;
        --provide a secure channel through which information evidencing a
    violation of any law, rule, or regulation, gross mismanagement, gross
    waste of funds, abuse of authority, or substantial and specific danger
    to public health or safety may be disclosed without fear of retaliation
    and without disclosure of identity, except with the employee's consent;
    and
        --enforce the provisions of the Hatch Act.

     Sources of Information

    Field offices are located in Dallas, TX (525 Griffin Street, Rm 824, Box
    103, Dallas, TX, 75202; phone, 214-767-8871; fax, 214-767-2764) and
    Oakland, CA (Suite 365S, 1301 Clay Street, 94612-5217; phone, 510-637-
    3460; fax, 510-637-3474).

    For further information, contact the Office of Special Counsel, Suite
    300, 1730 M Street NW., Washington, DC 20036-4505. Phone, 202-653-7188
    or 800-872-9855 (toll free). Fax, 202-653-5151. Internet, www.osc.gov.

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