USC Subpart II

22 U.S.C. § 3721 Accounting policies

(a) Establishment and maintenance of accounts; specificationsThe Commission shall establish and maintain its accounts pursuant to chapter 91 of title 31 and the provisions of this part. Such accounts shall specify all revenues received by the Commission, including tolls for the use of the Panama Canal, expenditures for capital replacement, expansion, and improvement, and all costs of maintenance and operation of the Panama Canal and of its complementary works, installations, and equipment, including depreciation, payments to the Republic of Panama under the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977, and interest on the investment of the United States calculated in accordance with section 3793 of this title. (b) Regulations establishing the basis of accounting for assetsThe Commission may issue regulations establishing the basis of accounting for the assets which are made available for the use of the Commission. Such regulations may provide for depreciation of the net replacement value of the assets which will ultimately require replacement to maintain the service capacity of the Panama Canal. Such regulations may also provide that depreciation of such assets be recorded ratably over their service lives.

22 U.S.C. § 3723 Audits

(a) Financial transactions of Commission; access to books, accounts, etc.Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and subject to subsection (c), financial transactions of the Commission shall be audited by the Comptroller General of the United States (hereinafter in this chapter referred to as the “Comptroller General”). In conducting any such audit, the appropriate representatives of the Comptroller General shall have access to all books, accounts, financial records, reports, files, and other papers, items, or property in use by the Commission and necessary to facilitate such audit, and such representatives shall be afforded full facilities for verifying transactions with the balances or securities held by depositories, fiscal agents, and custodians. Any such audit shall first be conducted with respect to the fiscal year in which this chapter becomes effective. An audit performed under this section is subject to the requirements of paragraphs (2), (3), and (5) of section 9105(a) of title 31. (b) Omitted (c) Independent auditorsAt the discretion of the Board provided for in section 3612 of this title, the Commission may hire independent auditors to perform, in lieu of the Comptroller General, the audit and reporting functions prescribed in subsections (a) and (b). (d) Examination and report on Commission’s financial forecastIn addition to auditing the financial statements of the Commission, the Comptroller General (or the independent auditor if one is employed pursuant to subsection (c)) shall, in accordance with standards for an examination of a financial forecast established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, examine and report on the Commission’s financial forecast that it will be in a position to meet its financial liabilities on December 31, 1999.