Department of the
Interior
Departmental
Manual
Effective Date: 8/2/04
Series:
Delegation
Part 205: General Delegations
Chapter 7: Claims by the
Originating Office: Office of Financial
Management
205 DM 7
7.1 Suspension or Termination of Collection
Action. Assistant Secretaries and
the Solicitor are delegated authority pursuant to the provisions of 31 U.S.C.
3711(a), 4 CFR Parts 103-104, and the procedures outlined in the Cash
Management Handbook to suspend or terminate collection action with respect to
claims of the United States for money or property arising out of activities
under their jurisdiction prior to the referral to the Department of Justice for
litigation. This authority can be redelegated
no lower than the Bureau Chief Financial Officer.
A. Bureaus
may terminate collection on a debt within their jurisdiction when the principal
balance of the debt is less than $100,000.
B. Bureaus
must refer a debt that is $100,000 or more (unless otherwise provided by law or
any higher amount authorized by the U.S. Attorney General), to the Office of
the Solicitor for referral to the Department of Justice. The authority to terminate debt that is $100,000
or more rests with the Department of Justice (31 CFR Part 902.). All
requests to the Solicitor for referral to the Department of Justice must
be accompanied by a Claims Collection Litigation Report prepared in accordance
with 4 CFR 105.2(b). This
requirement does not apply to termination of collection of amounts owed that
are determined or adjudicated through established administrative appeal
procedures. (For examples of certain MMS and OSM program plans, refer to the
Department’s Credit and Debt Management Handbook.)
7.2 Compromise
of Claims. Assistant Secretaries and
the Solicitor are delegated authority pursuant to the provisions of 31 U.S.C.
3711(a), 4 CFR Parts 103-104, and the procedures outlined in the Credit and
Cash Management Handbook to compromise collection action with respect to claims
of the United States for money or property arising out of activities under
their jurisdiction prior to the referral to the Department of Justice for
litigation. This authority can be
redelegated no lower than the Bureau Chief Financial Officer. Bureaus may compromise collection action when
the claim meets the provisions outlined in the Cash Management Handbook.
7.3 Amendment
Authority. This Chapter does not
limit the authority delegated to the Assistant Secretary - Policy, Management
and Budget and Departmental Chief Financial Officer by 209 DM 4. The Assistant Secretary - Policy, Management
and Budget is authorized to amend, limit, suspend, or revoke any authority
granted by or pursuant to the Chapter.
This authority may not be redelegated.