
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 2, 2001]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 2, 2001 and January 28, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC825q-1]

 
                         TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
 
         CHAPTER 12--FEDERAL REGULATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF POWER
 
     SUBCHAPTER III--LICENSEES AND PUBLIC UTILITIES; PROCEDURAL AND 
                        ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
 
Sec. 825q-1. Office of Public Participation

    (a)(1) There shall be an office in the Commission to be known as the 
Office of Public Participation (hereinafter in this section referred to 
as the ``Office'').
    (2)(A) The Office shall be administered by a Director. The Director 
shall be appointed by the Chairman with the approval of the Commission. 
The Director may be removed during his term of office by the Chairman, 
with the approval of the Commission, only for inefficiency, neglect of 
duty, or malfeasance in office.
    (B) The term of office of the Director shall be 4 years. The 
Director shall be responsible for the discharge of the functions and 
duties of the Office. He shall be appointed and compensated at a rate 
not in excess of the maximum rate prescribed for GS-18 of the General 
Schedule under section 5332 of title 5.
    (3) The Director may appoint, and assign the duties of, employees of 
such Office, and with the concurrence of the Commission he may fix the 
compensation of such employees and procure temporary and intermittent 
services to the same extent as is authorized under section 3109 of title 
5.
    (b)(1) The Director shall coordinate assistance to the public with 
respect to authorities exercised by the Commission. The Director shall 
also coordinate assistance available to persons intervening or 
participating or proposing to intervene or participate in proceedings 
before the Commission.
    (2) The Commission may, under rules promulgated by it, provide 
compensation for reasonable attorney's fees, expert witness fees, and 
other costs of intervening or participating in any proceeding before the 
Commission to any person whose intervention or participation 
substantially contributed to the approval, in whole or in part, of a 
position advocated by such person. Such compensation may be paid only if 
the Commission has determined that--
        (A) the proceeding is significant, and
        (B) such person's intervention or participation in such 
    proceeding without receipt of compensation constitutes a significant 
    financial hardship to him.

    (3) Nothing in this subsection affects or restricts any rights of 
any intervenor or participant under any other applicable law or rule of 
law.
    (4) There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of 
Energy to be used by the Office for purposes of compensation of persons 
under the provisions of this subsection not to exceed $500,000 for the 
fiscal year 1978, not to exceed $2,000,000 for the fiscal year 1979, not 
to exceed $2,200,000 for the fiscal year 1980, and not to exceed 
$2,400,000 for the fiscal year 1981.

(June 10, 1920, ch. 285, pt. III, Sec. 319, as added Pub. L. 95-617, 
title II, Sec. 212, Nov. 9, 1978, 92 Stat. 3148.)

                          Transfer of Functions

    The Federal Power Commission was terminated and its functions, 
personnel, property, funds, etc., were transferred to the Secretary of 
Energy (except for certain functions which were transferred to the 
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) by sections 7151(b), 7171(a), 
7172(a), 7291, and 7293 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.


         References in Other Laws to GS-16, 17, or 18 Pay Rates

    References in laws to the rates of pay for GS-16, 17, or 18, or to 
maximum rates of pay under the General Schedule, to be considered 
references to rates payable under specified sections of Title 5, 
Government Organization and Employees, see section 529 [title I, 
Sec. 101(c)(1)] of Pub. L. 101-509, set out in a note under section 5376 
of Title 5.
