**B-289367**                      Mar 18, 2002                  

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## Highlights

Pursuant to section 3349(b) of title 5 of the United States Code, we are reporting a violation of the Federal Vacancies Reform Act of 1998 (Vacancies Reform Act). We have found that the senior associate General Counsel of the Department of Agriculture has been serving and continues to serve as acting General Counsel for a period longer than allowed for such acting service under the Act. In addition, information we have received from the senior Associate General Counsel indicates that he was not entitled to serve as acting General Counsel under the provisions of the Vacancies Reform Act.

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