[United States Government Manual] [June 01, 2008] [Pages 497-498] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]OFFICE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL 1730 M Street NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC 20036-4505 Phone, 202-254-3600 or 800-872-9855. Fax, 202-653-5151. Internet, www.osc.gov. Special Counsel Scott J. Bloch Deputy Special Counsel James Byrne Associate Special Counsel for Leonard Dribinsky Investigation and Prosecution Division Director of Field Operations William Reukauf Outreach Director James Mitchell Associate Special Counsel for Legal Erin M. McDonnell Counsel and Policy Division Director of Communications James Mitchell ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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 498]] 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 and the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. Sources of Information Field offices are located in Dallas, TX (525 Griffin Street, Room 824, Box 103, Dallas, TX 75202. Phone, 214-747-1519. Fax, 214-767-2764); Oakland, CA (1301 Clay Street, Suite 1220N, Oakland, CA 94612-5217. Phone, 510-637-3460. Fax, 510-637-3474); and Detroit, MI (477 Michigan Avenue, Suite 2340, Detroit, MI 48226. Phone, 313-226-4496. Fax, 313- 226-5606). For further information, contact the Office of Special Counsel, 1730 M Street NW., Suite 218, Washington, DC 20036-4505. Phone, 202-254-3600 or 800-872-9855. Fax, 202-653-5151. Internet, www.osc.gov. ------------------------------------------------------------------------