Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families		Classification Programs Division
Release Date:  August 2001		Section Twenty-two of Sixty-six

    GS-1800 - INVESTIGATION GROUP   

This group includes all classes of positions the duties of which are to advise on, administer, supervise, or perform investigation, inspection, or enforcement work primarily concerned with alleged or suspected offenses against the laws of the United States, or such work primarily concerned with determining compliance with laws and regulations.

Throughout the following information, an asterisk (*) stands for series with a published standard and a double asterisk (**) stands for series with a published flysheet.

Series in this group are:

GS-1801 - General Inspection, Investigation, and Compliance Series**

This series includes positions the primary duties of which are to administer, coordinate, supervise or perform inspectional, investigative, analytical, or advisory work to assure understanding of and compliance with Federal laws, regulations, or other mandatory guidelines when such work is not more appropriately classifiable to another series either in the Investigation Group, GS-1800 or to another occupational series.

GS-1802 - Compliance Inspection and Support Series**

This series includes positions that perform or supervise inspectional or technical support work in assuring compliance with or enforcement of Federal laws, regulations, or other mandatory guidelines and that are not classifiable to another, more specific, occupational series. The work requires a knowledge of prescribed procedures, established techniques, directly applicable guidelines, and pertinent characteristics of regulated items or activities.

GS-1810 - General Investigating Series*

This series includes positions that involve planning and conducting investigations covering the character, practices, suitability, or qualifications of persons or organizations seeking, claiming, or receiving Federal benefits, permits, or employment when the results of the investigation are used to make or invoke administrative judgments, sanctions, or penalties. These positions require primarily a knowledge of investigative techniques; a knowledge of the laws, rules, regulations, and objectives of the employing agency; skill in interviewing, following leads, researching records, and preparing reports; and the ability to elicit information helpful to the investigation from persons in all walks of life.

GS-1811 - Criminal Investigating Series*

This series includes positions that involve planning and conducting investigations relating to alleged or suspected violations of criminal laws. These positions require primarily a knowledge of investigative techniques and a knowledge of the laws of evidence, the rules of criminal procedure, and precedent court decisions concerning admissibility of evidence, constitutional rights, search and seizure and related issues; the ability to recognize, develop and present evidence that reconstructs events, sequences, and time elements, and establishes relationships, responsibilities, legal liabilities, conflicts of interest, in a manner that meets requirements for presentation in various legal hearings and court proceedings; and skill in applying the techniques required in performing such duties as maintaining surveillance, performing undercover work, and advising and assisting the U.S. Attorney in and out of court.

GS-1812 - Game Law Enforcement Series

This series includes all classes of positions the duties of which are to administer, coordinate, supervise, or perform inspectional, investigative, or advisory work to assure public understanding of and compliance with Federal statutes and regulations for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources; in obtaining information on the general condition of such resources; and in the conduct of operations for the abatement of damage to agricultural crops caused by unusual concentrations of wildlife.

GS-1815 - Air Safety Investigating Series*

Positions included in this series have duties involving the investigation and prevention of accidents and incidents involving United States aircraft anywhere in the world, and in the establishment of programs and procedures to provide for the notification and reporting of accidents. The investigation includes a report of the facts, conditions, and circumstances relating to each accident and a determination of the probable cause of the accident along with recommendations for remedial action designed to prevent similar accidents in the future. Special studies and investigations on matters pertaining to safety in air navigation and the prevention of accidents are conducted to ascertain what will best tend to reduce or eliminate the possibility of, or recurrence of, accidents. These duties and responsibilities require the application of a broad technical knowledge in the field of aviation, and experience or training that provides a knowledge of investigative techniques and/or legal procedures and practices.

GS-1816 - Immigration Inspection Series*

This series includes inspection or examining work involving the enforcement and administration of laws relating to the right of persons to enter, reside in, or depart from the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. Inspection work requires knowledge of laws, regulations, procedures and policies concerning entry of persons to the United States and eligibility for various benefits under the immigration laws; ability to acquire information about citizenship and status through interviewing persons and examining documents; ability to make sound decisions to enter or exclude aliens from the United States and to determine eligibility for benefits under the immigration laws; and sound judgment in detaining or apprehending persons at the point of entry who are violating immigration or other laws.

GS-1822 - Mine Safety and Health Series*

This series includes positions the paramount duties of which are to perform or supervise work in enforcing, developing, advising on, or interpreting mine safety and health laws, regulations, standards, and practices. Coverage includes positions concerned with underground and surface mining and milling operations associated with coal, and other metal and nonmetal mines. Positions in this series require: (1) practical knowledge of mining and/or milling methods and processes; (2) knowledge of safety and health practices, principles, programs, and hazards applicable to the mining industry; and (3) knowledge of current laws, regulations, and standards for mine safety and health.

GS-1825 - Aviation Safety Series*

This series includes positions that involve primarily developing, administering, or enforcing regulations and standards concerning civil aviation safety, including: (1) the airworthiness of aircraft and aircraft systems; (2) the competence of pilots, mechanics, and other airmen; and (3) safety aspects of aviation facilities, equipment, and procedures. These positions require knowledge and skill in the operation, maintenance, or manufacture of aircraft and aircraft systems. (Note: This series does not include work involved in the repair and maintenance of aircraft and/or aircraft systems.)

GS-1831 - Securities Compliance Examining Series

This series includes positions the duties of which are to direct, supervise, advise on, or perform examinations of registered broker-dealers, investment advisers, and investment companies to determine compliance with statutory and regulatory requirements of securities acts. The work requires the exercise of discretion and independent judgment in the application of knowledge of the principles and practices of securities compliance examination and a knowledge of the laws and regulations relating to the control and operation of institutions engaged in the trading of securities and the operation of securities markets. The work includes such activities as: (1) analyzing financial reports, books, and records, to determine compliance with accounting and auditing requirements, adequacy and accuracy of net capital, overall financial responsibility, and compliance with recordkeeping and other requirements of the securities acts and rules; (2) examining and evaluating customer and broker accounts to determine the existence of improper activity in the accounts; (3) inspecting, reviewing, and evaluating the efficiency and adequacy of procedures for safeguarding funds and securities, and overall supervisory procedures; (4) conducting conferences and interviews with members of brokerage firms, security exchanges, investors, and members of the general public; (5) evaluating findings, making recommendations on further actions and preparing written reports on the compliance of the firm with statutory and regulatory requirements; and (6) conducting oversight examinations of self-regulatory organizations such as national securities exchanges.

GS-1850 - Agricultural Commodity Warehouse Examining Series*

This series includes the administration, supervision, or performance of work involved in: (1) examining storage facilities licensed or to be licensed under Federal law for storing agricultural commodities; or (2) in examining facilities approved or to be approved under government contract or agreement.

GS-1854 - Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms Inspection Series*

This series includes positions concerned with work involving the qualification and inspection of establishments engaged in the production or use of alcohol or tobacco products; the assurance of full collection of revenue on alcohol and tobacco products; the development and interpretation of regulations applicable to such establishments; and the development, analysis, and improvement of programs, procedures, and techniques for regulating establishments involved in producing and using alcohol and tobacco products. Positions in this series require specialized knowledge of: (1) the construction, equipment, and operations of facilities in the alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and related industries together with the laws and regulations that control them; (2) inspectional or examining techniques applicable to these industries; and (3) audit methods.

GS-1862 - Consumer Safety Inspection Series**

This series includes positions that involve primarily developing and conducting inspections, investigations, and related sampling and data collection activities in support of the laws and regulations protecting consumers from foods, drugs, therapeutic devices, cosmetics, fabrics, toys, and household products that are impure, unsanitary, unwholesome, ineffective, improperly labeled, or dangerous. These positions require a practical knowledge of the agency's regulations and programs; a practical knowledge of chemical and biological processes and analytical methods; the characteristics of regulated products; pertinent manufacturing, storage, and distribution methods; and techniques of inspection, sampling, and field testing.

GS-1863 - Food Inspection Series*

This series includes positions that involve the inspection of slaughter, processing, packaging, shipping, and storing of meat and meat products, poultry and poultry products, fish and fish products; meat products derived from equines, and food establishments engaged in these activities in order to determine compliance with law and regulations that establish standards for the protection of the consumer by assuring them that products distributed to them are wholesome, not adulterated, and properly marked, labeled and packaged. Performance of the work in this series requires the knowledge of normal conditions of live and slaughtered meat, poultry, and fish; of standards of wholesomeness and sanitation of meat, poultry and fish products; and of the processing and sanitation of the food production industry or industries inspected.

GS-1864 - Public Health Quarantine Inspection Series*

This series includes all positions the duties of which are to supervise or perform inspectional work in the enforcement of public health quarantine and sanitary regulations governing the entrance of persons and things into the United States or its possessions. The work involves: (1) the inspection of persons for the possible presence of quarantinable or communicable diseases; and (2) the inspection of carriers engaged in foreign transportation and their cargoes and of vehicles, personal effects, and other things for the presence of disease vectors, infestation, or conditions contrary to approved sanitary procedures and practices.

GS-1884 - Customs Patrol Officer Series*

This series includes positions involved in law enforcement concerned with: (1) detecting and preventing the smuggling into or out of the United States of contraband and controlled substances and materials; (2) detecting and preventing theft, pilferage, or diversion of merchandise, cargo, or other materials from areas under Customs jurisdiction or custody; and (3) detecting and apprehending suspected violators of the criminal provisions of the Customs Laws of the United States. Enforcement duties are carried out by patrol and surveillance at, around, and between international ports of entry of the United States. Such work requires knowledge and understanding of Customs and related laws, instructions, and precedent decisions; ability to evaluate information; ability to make timely decisions and apply judgment in taking prompt and appropriate actions in all situations and the ability to effectively use basic investigative and law enforcement procedures to enforce the Customs laws and other laws that the Customs Patrol Officer may be called upon to enforce or to assist in enforcing.

GS-1889 - Import Specialist Series*

This series includes positions supervising or performing work that involves primarily the acceptance; tariff classification; appraisement; allowance of specified types of drawback claims; and, in some circumstances, liquidation of formal entries of imported merchandise. The major objectives of the work are to assess customs duties and associated taxes to be paid on imported merchandise, and to assure compliance with related laws and regulations. The work requires: (1) knowledge of tariff and other import-related laws, regulations, policies, and procedures and of related administrative and judicial rulings; (2) knowledge of the technical or physical characteristics, commercial uses, and trade practices associated with imported merchandise; and (3) judgment in applying these knowledge in order to make decisions on import admissibility, classification, and valuation of merchandise, final settlement of duties and taxes due, and related matters.

GS-1890 - Customs Inspection Series*

This series includes positions that involve inspection work in the enforcement and administration of laws governing the importation or exportation of merchandise. The work requires knowledge of laws, regulations, policies, and procedures concerning the entry, examination, classification, and release of merchandise; ability to obtain data about the description, characteristics, value, and country of origin of merchandise by questioning people, examining merchandise, and reviewing documents; ability to search baggage, persons, cargo, and carriers for contraband; ability to make sound decisions to admit and to hold or release merchandise; and sound judgment in detaining and apprehending persons at the point of entry who are violating customs or other laws.

GS-1894 - Customs Entry and Liquidating Series*

This series includes all classes of positions the duties of which are to administer, supervise, or perform work involving the examination, acceptance, processing, or issuance of documents required for the entry of imported merchandise into the United States and the initial classification of merchandise covered by the entries; the determination of customs duties and applicable internal revenue taxes accruing on such merchandise; the ascertainment of drawback to be paid on exported articles manufactured with the use of duty-paid or tax-paid imported merchandise or substituted domestic merchandise; and the determination of the validity of protests against liquidation decisions on formal entries.

GS-1896 - Border Patrol Agent Series*

This series includes positions involved in enforcement work concerned with: (1) detecting and preventing the smuggling or illegal entry of aliens into the United States; (2) detecting and apprehending aliens in violation of the conditions under which they were admitted; (3) detecting and apprehending aliens at interior points in the United States who entered illegally; (4) detecting and apprehending aliens falsely claiming United States citizenship or legal status; (5) detecting and apprehending producers, vendors and users of counterfeit, altered and genuine documents used to circumvent the immigration and nationality laws of the United States; and (6) enforcing criminal provisions of the immigration and nationality laws and regulations of the United States. Such work requires knowledge and understanding of the statutes, regulations, instructions and precedent decisions pertaining to the enforcement of the immigration and nationality laws, ability to evaluate information rapidly, make timely decisions and take prompt and appropriate actions, and the ability to use effectively basic investigative and law enforcement procedures to enforce the immigration and nationality laws and other laws that the Border Patrol Agent may be called upon to enforce or assist in enforcing.

GS-1897 - Customs Aid Series

This series includes all classes of positions the duties of which are to supervise or perform work that is incidental or subordinate to entry, liquidating, appraising, examining, marine officer, or other technical customs work and that consists of: (1) clerical duties requiring the application of specialized knowledge of pertinent provisions of the Tariff Act, the Navigation Laws, or other similar customs laws; or (2) quasi-technical duties requiring some, but less than full, technical training in one or more kinds of technical customs work (except such duties when performed as training for the full technical level).

GS-1899 - Investigation Student Trainee Series

See the series definition for the General Student Trainee Series, GS-099.