Issue 3 Appendix IV Is SEC authorized to allocate specifically reserved desks (carrels) to users of its public reference room facilities? GAO Opinion Yes. The reserved desk privilege is a type of license for exclusive use of a reference room desk during business hours. GAO cases have determined that the head of a government department or agency is authorized, in appropriate circumstances, to grant to a private person a nonexclusive, nontransferable, revocable permit or license for the use of government property for nongovernment business, provided that the use does not injure the property in question and serves some purpose that is useful or beneficial to the government (B-191943, Oct. 16, 1978). As to SEC's method of granting certain users special access to reference desks over other users, we believe this matter is within the discretion of SEC's management of the reference room. Appendix V Major Contributors to This Report General Government D.C. Michael A. Burnett, Assistant Director, Financial Institutions and Fred Dziadek, Assistant Director Richard L. Wilson, Assignment Manager Phoebe A. Jones, Secretary-Typist |