the following list will do so as acting Postmaster General:

(1) Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group;

(2) Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Mail Processing Group;

(3) Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Customer Services Group;

(4) Senior Assistant Postmaster General and General Counsel.

(d) The Postmaster General has been authorized by the Board of Governors to exercise the powers of the Postal Service to the full extent that such exercise is lawful. See §§ 3.9 and 5.3 of this chapter.

(e) The Senior Assistant Postmasters General (including the General Counsel), the Assistant Postmaster General, Research, the Assistant Postmaster General, Planning, the Assistant Postmaster General, Communications and Public Affairs, the Executive Assistant, Government Relations, the Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service, the Consumer Advocate, the Judicial Officer and the Executive Assistant to the Postmaster General (see § 211.5 of this chapter), act for the Postmaster General on assigned matters. Each of these officers is authorized to exercise the powers and functions of the Postal Service under the Postal Reorganization Act, in respect to matters within the area of his responsibility, except as limited by law or by the specific terms of his assignment.

(f) Each head of a department or office who reports to a Senior Assistant Postmaster General is authorized to exercise the powers and functions of that Senior Assistant Postmaster General within the area of responsibility of his department or office, except as such authority may be reserved or rescinded by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General or is limited by law or the terms of his specific assignment.

(g) In the absence of any head of a group, department, or office, an officer designated by him shall act in his place. The acting head of a group, department, or office is authorized to sign documents in his own name as Acting Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Acting Assistant Postmaster General, etc.

(h) Each Regional Postmaster General is authorized to exercise the powers and functions of the Postal Service under the Postal Reorganization Act with respect to operational activities within his Region, except as such authority is lim

ited by law, regulation or the terms of his specific assignment.

(i) Each head of a regional department, division, or branch is authorized to exercise the powers and functions of the Postal Service under the Postal Reorganization Act with respect to matters in his area of responsibility, except as such authority is reserved or rescinded by the Regional Postmaster General, or is limited by law, regulation or the terms of his specific assignment.

(j) In the absence of the head of any regional department, division, or branch, an officer designated by him shall act in his place. The acting head of a regional department, division, or branch is authorized to sign documents in his own name as such acting head.

(k) In the event of a vacancy in the position of Assistant Regional Postmaster General, Division Director, or Branch Manager, the position shall be filled on an acting basis by an officer designated by the next higher superior. § 212.2 Media of delegation.

(a) All delegations of authority shall be issued through official directives.

(b) Headquarters or regional officials shall not orally authorize postmasters to deviate from published instructions, except in emergencies. An oral authorization shall be confirmed by a memorandum or order dated subsequent to the issuance date of the most recently published instructions on the subject. Postal inspectors shall charge as irregularities any improperly authorized deviations observed in the course of office inspections. § 212.3 Contents of delegations.

(a) Delegations of authority shall ordinarily be made by position title rather than by name of the individual involved. An officer or executive acting in the absence of a principal has his principal's full authority.

(b) When authority is delegated to an officer, the officers above him shall have the same authority. Delegated authority shall not extend to aides, except when an aide serves on an acting basis (see paragraph (a) of this section) or unless the aide is specifically authorized by his superior to exercise such authority,

(c) A delegation must accord with the law and regulations under which it is made and contain such specific limiting conditions as may be appropriate.

§ 212.4 Redelegation.

(a) Except as otherwise prohibited by law, or by a regulation that expressly prohibits redelegation, or by the terms of the delegation:

(1) The head of a group, department, or office at Headquarters is authorized to redelegate any authority vested in him.

(2) A Regional Postmaster General or head of a regional department, division, or branch is authorized to redelegate any authority vested in him subject to the condition that redelegation to members of a regional staff must be consistent with the then current regional organizational structure.

(3) A Metropolitan Area Manager, a District Manager, or a Metropolitan Center Manager is authorized to redelegate, subject to or within guidelines issued by the Regional Postmaster General, any authority vested in him provided that the redelegation is consistent with the current metropolitan area, district, or metropolitan center organizational structure.

(4) A Director, Postal Data Center, is authorized to redelegate any authority vested in him.

(5) Heads of Sectional Center facilities and other field installations are authorized to redelegate to members of their respective staffs any authority vested in them.

§ 212.5

Authority to approve personnel actions and administer oaths of office for employment.

(a) Delegation. The following are authorized to effect appointments, administer oaths, and take other personnel actions:

(1) Assistant Postmaster General, Employee Relations Department;

(2) Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service;

(3) Regional Chief Inspectors;
(4) Inspectors-in-Charge;

(5) Regional Postmasters General; (6) Heads of postal field installations including those reporting directly to specified departments in Headquarters or to Regional Postmasters General;

(7) Officials occupying personnel services positions PMS/PS-9/PES and above when their positions include responsibility for functions such as recruitment, appointments, placement, position changes and separations, and related personnel processing.

(b) Personnel actions for employees of "other installations." As specifically au

thorized by either the Assistant Postmaster General, Employee Relations Department, or a Regional Postmaster General, officers and employees listed in paragraph (a) of this section may approve personnel actions for employees in offices or installations other than their own as a cross-service, as a central personnel office, or on a special need basis. § 212.6 Authority to administer oaths other than for employment.

The following are authorized to administer oaths concerning matters other than employment:

(a) Postal inspectors with regard to any matter coming before them in the performance of their official duties;

(b) Any member of a board who is assigned to conduct hearings or investigations in which sworn testimony, affidavits, or depositions are required and each officer or employee assigned to conduct such hearings or investigations.

(c) Postmasters. See § 244.2 of this chapter.

§ 212.7 Authority to designate certify. ing officers-Headquarters.

(a) Delegation. The following are authorized to designate certifying officers at Headquarters for the items specified:

(1) The Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service, for: (i) Payment from his special deposit account; (ii) disbursements for rewards based on Postmaster General Notices of Reward; (iii) payments from confidential funds; (iv) salary payments for Special Investigations Division; (v) advances of funds for confidential purposes; (vi) inspection service, travel advances, transportation of things; and (vii) payments for special analyses and services.

(2) The General Counsel certifies payments relating to tort claims and claims under 39 U.S.C. 2603.

(3) The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group, certifies all payments not covered by subparagraphs (1) and (2) of this paragraph.

(b) Redelegation. The officials named in paragraph (a) of this section are authorized to redelegate their authority to designate certifying officers. The redelegation shall be made by letter to the appropriate Postal Data Center disbursing officer and must bear the specimen signature of the person to whom the authority is redelegated.

(c) Designating certifying officers— (1) Inspection Service and Law Department. Officials authorized to designate

certifying officers (see paragraph (a) of this section) will complete SF 210, Signature Card for Certifying Officer, in duplicate for each Postal Data Center disbursing officer affected to show:

(i) Name of department for which vouchers will be certified.

(ii) Signature of certifying officer written exactly as he will sign vouchers. (iii) Class of vouchers to be certified. (iv) His signature and effective date. (2) Other departments and offices. Other departments and offices requiring certifying officers will complete SF 210 in duplicate as prescribed in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, except for signature and date. Both copies will be sent to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group.

(3) Submitting SF 210 to Postal Data Center disbursing officers. The Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service, the General Counsel, and the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group, or their designees shall send signed originals of SF 210 to each of the disbursing officers affected and retain duplicates. These documents will be the official designations of the employees named on the SF 210 as certifying officers.

(d) Maintaining designations. Each group, department and office must keep current its designation of authorized certifying officers. When new or additional designations are made, the procedures for designating certifying officers contained in this § 212.7 shall be followed. § 212.8 Authority to designate certifying officers--Field.

(a) Delegation. The following are authorized to designate certifying officers in Postal Data Centers and Inspection Service regions and divisions:

(1) The Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service, for obligations of the Inspection Service.

(2) Postal Data Center Directors for obligations of all other regional functions.

(3) The New York Postal Data Center Director for obligations for Headquarters functions except those under § 212.7(a) (1) and (2) and those certified by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group, or his designee.

(b) Redelegation. The officials named in paragraph (a) of this section are authorized to redelegate their authority to designate certifying officers. Redelegations shall be by letter to each disbursing

officer affected, with the specimen signature of the person to whom authority is redelegated.

(c) Designating certifying officers(1) Regional Chief Inspectors and Inspectors-in-Charge. Regional Chief Inspectors and Inspectors-in-Charge are designated certifying officers, as limited by the Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service. They are authorized to designate certifying officers for obligations incurred by the Inspection Service. They will complete SF 210, Signature Card for Certifying Officer, in duplicate to show:

(i) Inspection Service region or division for which vouchers will be certified.

(ii) Signature of certifying officer written in the same manner that he will sign vouchers.

(iii) Class of vouchers to be certified. (iv) Signature of the designating official and effective date. Regional Chief Inspectors and Inspectors-in-Charge are not authorized to redelegate their authority to designate authorized certifying officers.

(2) Postal Data Center Directors. Offcers under direction of Postal Data Center Directors will complete SF 210 in duplicate as in paragraph (c) (1) of this section except for signature and date. Both copies will be sent to the appropriate Postal Data Center Director for completion.

(3) Submitting SF 210 to disbursing officer. The Regional Chief Inspector, Inspector-in-Charge, and Postal Data Center Director (or his designees) will send the originals of SF 210 to each disbursing officer affected and keep the duplicates. These will be the official designations of the employees named on the SF 210 as certifying officers.

(d) Maintaining designations. Each office under jurisdiction of the officials named in § 212.8 must keep current its designation of authorized certifying officers. When new additional designations are made, this § 212.8 shall be followed. § 212.9 Delegation of authority to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group.

(a) Delegation. The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group, may take final action in his own name on:

(1) Claims for overpayment of pay. (2) Relief of accountable officers of liability for loss.

(3) Relief of accountable officers of

liability for illegal, improper, or incorrect payments.

(4) Certifying officers' accountability. (5) Deposit to and withdrawal from Postal Service fund.

(6) Collection of debts due the Postal Service with the exception of those falling under the jurisdiction of the Assistant Postmaster General, Inspection Service.

(7) Adjustment of claims of postmasters and Armed Forces postal clerks, including the loss of funds or valuable papers from their official custody resulting from burglary, fire, or unavoidable casualty, with concurrence by the General Counsel is cases involving doubtful questions of law or fact.

(d) Redelegation. The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support Group, is authorized to redelegate all or part of the authority vested in him by paragraph (a) of this section to such other officers or executives as he may deem appropriate.

(a) Between Headquarters groups, departments, and offices. Headquarters groups, departments, and offices serve in a staff relationship to the Postmaster General and the Deputy Postmaster General in assigned functional areas.

(b) Between Headquarters, Postal Regions, and Postal Data Centers. Each Headquarters group, department, and office shall provide guidance and policy interpretation to regional officials in its area of responsibility. The Support Group shall provide guidance and policy interpretation to Postal Data Centers.

(c) Between Postal Region Offices and Metropolitan Center, Metropolitan Area and District Offices. The Regional Postmaster General shall provide guidance and direction to the respective Metropolitan Center, Metropolitan Area and District Managers within his region with the assistance of Assistant Regional Postmasters General and their staffs in their areas of specialization.

(d) Between Metropolitan Center, Metropolitan Area, District Offices and Sectional Centers. The respective Metropolitan Center, Metropolitan Area and District Managers and staffs shall provide guidance and direction to their respective Sectional Center Managers for the guidance of Postmasters under their respective jurisdictions. The Sectional Center Managers will provide guidance and direction to their respective associate Postmasters.

[36 F.R. 19475, Oct. 6, 1971]

§ 213.2

Channels of communication.

(a) Headquarters and Postal Region Offices. (1) The heads of groups, departments, and offices formulate the necessary directives to provide guidance to Regional officials.

(2) Policy directives shall be issued over the signatures of the heads of the groups, departments, and offices covering matters within their responsibility, except when the Postmaster General or Deputy Postmaster General may wish to issue such directives personally. Policy directives shall be coordinated with other appropriate groups, departments and offices before issuance and reviewed and disseminated by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Support, and, if within the authority of the issuer, shall have the same effect as though sent by the Postmaster General or the Deputy

Postmaster General.

(3) Guidelines and program implementation instructions and procedures not involving policy shall ordinarily be issued over the signature of the group, department, or office head having jurisdiction.

(4) Regional staff officials may communicate directly with the corresponding functional group, department, or office in Headquarters on matters within their area of jurisdiction. In addition, where authorized, they may also directly contact supporting Headquarters departments such as Law Department, Inspection Service, and Department of Communications and Public Affairs on technical matters not requiring administrative judgment of the Regional Postmaster General.

(b) Postal Region Offices and Postal Installations. The regular channels of communication are:

(1) Associate Office Postmasters, to and from Sectional Center Postmasters;

(2) Sectional Center Postmasters, to and from Metropolitan Center Managers,

Metropolitan Area Managers, or District Managers as appropriate;

(3) Metropolitan Center Managers, Metropolitan Area Managers, and District Managers to and from their Regional Postmasters General;

(4) Heads of other Postal Installations, to and from their designated superiors as appropriate.

(c) Headquarters, Postal Region Offices, and other Postal Installations with Postal Data Centers. (1) The Support Group provides the necessary directives to the Postal Data Centers. All other Headquarters communications to and from the Postal Data Centers shall be coordinated with the Support Group. The Law Department and the Postal Data Centers shall maintain direct contact on matters relating to professional and policy guidance on claims.

(2) Postal Region Offices and Postal Data Centers may communicate directly with each other.

(3) Other Postal Installations and Postal Data Centers may communicate directly on routine accounting matters. All other communications shall be coordinated with the regional staff.

[36 F.R. 19476, Oct. 6, 1971]

AUTHORITY: The provisions of this Part 222 issued under 39 U.S.C. 203, 204, 401(2), 402, 403, 404, 409, as enacted by Public Law 91375, 84 Stat. 719.

SOURCE: The provisions of this Part 222 appear at 36 F.R. 19476, Oct. 6, 1971.

§ 222.1 Mail Processing Group.

(a) The Mail Processing Group is headed by the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Mail Processing, who reports to the Dputy Postmaster General. It has overall responsibility for all aspects of mail processing within the Postal Service. This responsibility includes the distribution and processing functions, the construction and mechanization of the processing facilities, and

the transportation of mail throughout the Postal Service. It establishes and evaluates mail processing policies. It has responsibility for the operation of the bulk mail program and network and transportation between the bulk mail facilities. Also, it has responsibility for real estate transactions and for coordination of the use of the Corps of Engineers in constructing all major postal facilities. This includes internal capability for design and construction of major modifications or additions to existing facilities. It has responsibility for acquisition of land or interests in land by condemnation or otherwise.

(b) The Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Mail Processing, participates in the planning and budget process and reviews and evaluates the mail processing, transportation, and construction portions of the plans and budget requests of each Region. He monitors for the Deputy Postmaster General the performance of the Mail Processing Department of each Region.

(c) The Mail Processing Group is divided into three departments whose heads report to the Senior Assistant Postmaster General, Mail Processing Group:

(1) Preferential Mail Processing Department. The Preferential Mail Processing Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Preferential Mail Processing. It is concerned with processing of preferential mail and has overall responsibility for the development of the preferential mail network. It is responsible for the systems and equipment development work required to develop and implement the preferential mail network. It is also responsible for the development of methods and standards, and distribution systems to be used in the system. It is responsible for review and evaluation of the preferential mail processing budget.

(2) Bulk Mail Processing Department. The Bulk Mail Processing Department is headed by the Assistant Postmaster General, Bulk Mail Processing. It is concerned with the processing of bulk mail. It has overall responsibility for the management of bulk mail processing operations throughout the Postal Service. It provides central staff support to Regional Postmasters General for bulk mail operations and has staff capability in the areas of systems, equipment and facility engineering; distribution procedures and mail handling; industrial engineering,