§17.9. Decisions and notices. — Inbound Citations

The provisions of § 17.9 of this title govern the making of decisions by administrative law judges, the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, and the Secretary. An administrative law judge will, in any initial decision, specifically inform the applicant or recipient of the right under § 17.9 of this title to file exceptions with the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals. In instances in which the record is certified to the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, or the Director reviews the decision of an administrative law judge, the Director will give the applicant or recipient a notice of certification or notice of review that specifically informs the applicant or recipient that, within a stated period, which will not be less than 30 days after service of the notice, the applicant or recipient may file briefs or other written statements of contentions.

(c) The Secretary may from time to time assign to such officials of the Department as he deems appropriate, or to officials of other departments or agencies of the Government with the consent of such departments or agencies, responsibilities in connection with the effectuation of the purposes of title VI of the act and this part (other than responsibility for final decision as provided in § 17.9), including the achievement of effective coordination and maximum uniformity within the Department and within the Executive Branch of the Government in the application of title VI of the act and this part to similar programs and in similar situations. Any action taken, determination made or requirement imposed by an official of another department or agency acting pursuant to an assignment of responsibility under this paragraph shall have the same effect as though such action had been taken by the Secretary of the Interior.

Certain DOI procedural provisions applicable to title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 apply to DOI's enforcement of these regulations. The procedural provisions of DOI's Title VI regulations can be found at 43 CFR 17.8 through 17.10 and 43 CFR part 4, subpart I.

(e) In cases in which the same or related facts are asserted to constitute noncompliance with this part with respect to two or more Federal statutes, authorities, or other means by which Federal financial assistance is extended and to which this part applies or noncompliance with this part and the regulations of one or more other Federal departments or agencies issued under title VI of the act, the Secretary may, by agreement with such other departments or agencies, where applicable, provide for the conduct of consolidated or joint hearings, and for the application to such hearings of rules of procedure not inconsistent with this part. Final decisions in such cases, insofar as this part is concerned, shall be made in accordance with § 17.9.

(c) No order suspending, terminating, or refusing to grant or continue Federal financial assistance shall become effective until (1) the Secretary or his designee has advised the applicant or recipient of his failure to comply and has determined that compliance cannot be secured by voluntary means, (2) there has been an express finding on the record, after opportunity for hearing, of a failure by the applicant or recipient to comply with a requirement imposed by or pursuant to this part, (3) the action has been approved by the Secretary pursuant to § 17.9(e), and (4) the expiration of 30 days after the Secretary has filed with the committee of the House and the committee of the Senate having legislative jurisdiction over the program involved, a full written report of the circumstances and the grounds for such action. Any action to suspend or terminate or to refuse to grant or to continue Federal financial assistance shall be limited to the particular political entity, or part thereof, or other applicant or recipient as to whom such finding has been made and shall be limited in its effect to the particular program, or part thereof, in which such noncompliance has been so found.

(c) No order suspending, terminating, or refusing to grant or continue Federal financial assistance shall become effective until (1) the Secretary or his designee has advised the applicant or recipient of his failure to comply and has determined that compliance cannot be secured by voluntary means, (2) there has been an express finding on the record, after opportunity for hearing, of a failure by the applicant or recipient to comply with a requirement imposed by or pursuant to this part, (3) the action has been approved by the Secretary pursuant to § 17.9(e), and (4) the expiration of 30 days after the Secretary has filed with the committee of the House and the committee of the Senate having legislative jurisdiction over the program involved, a full written report of the circumstances and the grounds for such action. Any action to suspend or terminate or to refuse to grant or to continue Federal financial assistance shall be limited to the particular political entity, or part thereof, or other applicant or recipient as to whom such finding has been made and shall be limited in its effect to the particular program, or part thereof, in which such noncompliance has been so found.

Paragraph (f) of § 17.9 of this title requires that any final decision of an administrative law judge or of the Director, Office of Hearings and Appeals, which provides for the suspension or termination of, or the refusal to grant or continue Federal financial assistance, or the imposition of any other sanction available under part 17 of this title or the Act, shall be transmitted to the Secretary. The applicant or recipient shall have 20 days following service of such notice to submit to the Secretary exceptions to the decision and supporting briefs or memoranda suggesting remission or mitigation of the sanctions proposed. The Director shall have 10 days after the filing of the exceptions and briefs in which to reply.

(c) The term Secretary means the Secretary of the Interior or, except in § 17.9(f), any person to whom he has delegated his authority in the matter concerned.