# Decisions on Routine Appeal Cases > Briefs, arguments, decisions, and more. URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-6057 ## Record - **Collection:** Federal Register - **Document type:** Uncategorized Document - **Published:** March 16, 1994 ## Text DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Minerals Management Service Decisions on Routine Appeal Cases AGENCY: Minerals Management Service, Interior. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Royalty Management Program (RMP) of the Minerals Management Service (MMS) has been delegated authority to render decisions on routine appeals from orders and decisions issued by RMP regarding Federal leases. The authority was transferred from the Appeals and Litigation Support Division (ALSD) at MMS. EFFECTIVE DATE: The effective date of this delegation is March 15, 1994, based on direction from the Deputy Director for MMS to realize the benefits of more timely agency decisions for the appellant. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Platte Clark, Chief, Appeals and Litigation Support Division, Minerals Management Service (Mail Stop 9110), Parkway Atrium Building, 381 Elden Street, Herndon, Virginia 22070-4817. Telephone (703) 787-1275. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The MMS regulations at 30 CFR 290, Appeals Procedures, provides rules and procedures on appeals to the Director, MMS (and the Bureau of Indian Affairs when Indian lands are involved) from final orders or decisions of officers of the MMS, issued under authority of the regulations. On routine appeals to the Director, the final agency decision was delegated to the Chief, ALSD, MMS, in June 1993. To further streamline the appeals process and reduce the time for a final agency decision, routine appeals on orders or decisions issued by RMP have been re-delegated through the Associate Director for Royalty Management to the Chief of the applicable RMP Office from the Deputy Director of MMS. Routine appeals are defined by the delegation as follows: (a) Appeals not timely filed as required by 30 CFR 290. (b) Appeals from an assessment for a required report filed late (30 CFR 216.40 and 218.40). (c) Appeals from an assessment for failure to file a required report (30 CFR 216.40 and 218.40). (d) Appeals from an assessment for an incorrectly completed report (30 CFR 216.40 and 218.40). (e) Appeals from an assessment of interest for unpaid and underpaid amounts due (30 CFR 218.54, 218.102, 218.150, 218.202 and 218.302). This category is limited to factual issues involving the time value of money and non-precedent-setting appeals. Appeals with complex issues will be referred to the Director of MMS for a decision. (f) Appeals in which the appellant neglects to file a statement of reasons to justify modification of the RMP order or decision. (g) Appeals in which the order or decision is being rescinded. The decision process to be used by RMP involves a procedure whereby: (1) The RMP office responsible for the original order or decision will examine the appeal and any statement of reasons provided by the appellant to modify the RMP directive; (2) the RMP office will issue a report to the appellant for comment back to RMP within 21 days of receipt; and (3) following the comment period, the Chief of the RMP office will render the final agency decision. MMS believes that routine appeal cases have similar issues that have been decided in prior cases by either the Director or the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA). The fact that the final agency decision is at the RMP level should greatly enhance the timeliness of the decision for the appellant and reduce the workload at ALSD to focus on complex cases. The benefits for the appellant and MMS are significant. The authority to render decisions on routine appeals that pertain to royalty issues for mineral leases on Indian lands is carried out by the Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs or designee. This authority has not been delegated. This delegation does not affect the right of a party to further appeal a final MMS decision to the IBLA after the RMP has rendered a final MMS decision. Dated: March 10, 1994. Lucy R. Querques, Associate Director for Policy and Management Improvement. [FR Doc. 94-6000 Filed 3-15-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-MR-M ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR National Park Service Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee: Meeting AGENCY: National Park Service, Department of the Interior. ACTION: Notice of meeting of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Review Committee, Correction. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- This Notice corrects the Notice published in the Federal Register on March 7, 1994. The place of the May 12th, 13th and 14th, 1994 Meeting of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act Review Committee will be the Rushmore Civic Center, 444 Mount Rushmore Road, Rapid City, SD 57701, in meeting room Rushmore E, not the Rapid City Hilton Inn as previously stated. The meeting will be open to the public. However, facilities and space for accommodating members of the public are limited. Persons will be accommodated on a first-come, first-served basis. Any member of the public may file a written statement concerning the matters to be discussed with Dr. Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archeologist. Persons wishing further information concerning this meeting, or who wish to submit written statements may contact Dr. Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archeologist, Archeological Assistance Division, National Park Service, P.O. Box 37127-suite 210, Washington, D.C. 20013-7127, telephone (202) 343-4101. Draft summary minutes of the meeting will be available for public inspection about eight weeks after the meeting at the office of the Departmental Consulting Archeologist, room 210, 800 North Capital Street, Washington, D.C. Dated: March 9, 1994. Francis P. McManamon, Departmental Consulting Archeologist and Chief, Archeological Assistance Division. [FR Doc. 94-6057; Filed 3-15-94; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4310-70-F --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/fr%3A94-6057. Public record. Not legal advice.