Reading Room Document

Application of the Appointments Clause to a Statutory Provision Concerning the Inspector General Position at the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board

A statutory provision declaring that the Inspector General of the Environmental Protection Agency "shall, by virtue of such appointment, also hold the position of Inspector General" of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board does not violate the Appointments Clause of the Constitution, because it constitutes the permissible addition of germane duties to an office, rather than appointment to a new office. The OLC does not provide release dates for its opinions, so the release date listed is the date on which the opinion was authored. The original opinion is available at www.justice.gov/opinion/file/786191/download.

July 27, 2006