national transportation safety board

national transportation safety board Sec. 303. (a) Establishment.—The National Transportation Safety Board (hereafter in this title referred to as the “Board”), previously established within the Department of Transportation, shall be an independent agency of the United States, in accordance with this section, on and after April 1, 1975. (b) Organization.—(1) The Board shall consist of five members, including a Chairman. Members of the Board shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. No more than three members of the Board shall be of the same political party. At any given time, no less than two members of the Board shall be individuals who have been appointed in the field of accident reconstruction, safety engineering, or transportation safety. (2) The terms of office of members of the Board shall be 5 years, except as otherwise provided in this paragraph. Any individual appointed to fill a vacancy occurring on the Board prior to the expiration of the term of office for which his predecessor was appointed shall be appointed for the remainder of that term. Upon the expiration of his term of office, a member shall continue to serve until his successor is appointed and shall have qualified. Individuals serving as members of the National Transportation Safety Board on the date of enactment of this title shall continue to serve as members of the Board until the expiration of their then current term of office. Any member of the Board may be removed by the President for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or malfeasance in office. (3) On or before January 1, 1976 (and thereafter as required), the President shall— (A) designate, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, an individual to serve as the Chairman of the Board (hereafter in this title referred to as the “Chairman”); and (B) an individual to serve as Vice Chairman. The Chairman and Vice Chairman each shall serve for a term of 2 years. The Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the Board and shall exercise the executive and administrative functions of the Board with respect to the appointment and supervision of personnel employed by the Board; the distribution of business among such personnel and among any administrative units of the Board; and the use and expenditure of funds. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairman or in case of a vacancy in the office of Chairman. The Chairman or Acting Chairman shall be governed by the general policies established by the Board, including any decisions, findings, determinations, rules, regulations, and formal resolutions. (4) Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any function of the Board. (5) The Board shall establish and maintain distinct and appropriately staffed bureaus, divisions, or offices to investigate and report on accidents involving each of the following modes of transportation: 88 Stat. 2168 (A) aviation; (B) highway and motor vehicle; (C) railroad and tracked vehicle; and (D) pipeline. The Board shall, in addition, establish and maintain any other such office as is needed, including an office to investigate and report on the safe transportation of hazardous materials. (c) General.—(1) The General Services Administration shall furnish the Board with such offices, equipment, supplies, and services as it is authorized to furnish to any other agency or instrumentality of the United States. (2) The Board shall have a seal which shall be judicially recognized. (3) Subject to the civil service and classification laws, the Board is authorized to select, appoint, employ, and fix the compensation of such officers and employees, including investigators, attorneys, and administrative law judges, as shall be necessary to carry out its powers and duties under this title.