There shall be at the seat of government an executive department to be known as the Department of the Interior, and a Secretary of the Interior, who shall be the head thereof.

The position of Deputy Secretary is established in the Department of the Interior with appointment thereto by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

There shall be in the Department of the Interior two Assistant Secretaries of the Interior who shall be without numerical distinction of rank and who shall be appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.

There shall be hereafter in the Department of the Interior, in addition to the Assistant Secretaries now provided by law, an additional Assistant Secretary of the Interior who shall be appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall be responsible for such duties as the Secretary of the Interior shall prescribe, and shall receive compensation at the rate now or hereafter prescribed by law for Assistant Secretaries

The Assistant Secretary of the Interior shall perform such duties in the Department of the Interior as shall be prescribed by the Secretary, or may be required by law. The assistant to the Secretary of the Interior is authorized to sign such official papers and documents as the Secretary may direct.

On and after June 26, 1946 the legal work of the Department of the Interior shall be performed under the supervision and direction of the Solicitor of the Department of the Interior, who shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate.

The chief clerk of the Department of the Interior on and after July 3, 1926, shall be the chief executive officer of the department and may be designated by the Secretary to sign official papers and documents, including the authorization of expenditures from the contingent and other appropriations for the department, its bureaus and offices, section 3683 1

The Secretary of the Interior is charged with the supervision of public business relating to the following subjects and agencies:

1. Alaska Railroad.

2. Alaska Road Commission.

3. Bounty-lands.

4. Bureau of Land Management.

5. United States Bureau of Mines.

6. Bureau of Reclamation.

7. Division of Territories and Island Possessions.

8. Fish and Wildlife Service.

9. United States Geological Survey.

10. Indians.

11. National Park Service.

12. Petroleum conservation.

13. Public lands, including mines.

For fiscal year 2010, and each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary of the Interior may enter into cooperative agreements with a State or political subdivision (including any agency thereof), or any not-for-profit organization if the agreement will: (1) serve a mutual interest of the parties to the agreement in carrying out the programs administered by the Department of the Interior; and (2) all parties will contribute resources to the accomplishment of these objectives. At the discretion of the Secretary, such agreements shall not be subject to a competitive process.

The Secretary of the Interior, or such officer as he may designate, is authorized to enforce and carry into execution, by appropriate regulations, every part of the provisions of title 32 of the Revised Statutes not otherwise specially provided for.

The Secretary of the Interior shall exercise all the powers and perform all the duties in relation to the Territories of the United States that were, prior to March 1, 1873, by law or by custom exercised and performed by the Secretary of State.

The Secretary of the Interior shall sign all requisitions for the advance or payment of money, out of the Treasury, upon estimates or accounts for expenditures upon business assigned by law to his department; subject, however, to adjustment and control by the Government Accountability Office.

The Secretary of the Interior, or any of the officers of that Department may, when not prejudicial to the interests of the Government, furnish authenticated or unauthenticated copies of any official books, records, papers, documents, maps, plats, or diagrams within his custody and may charge therefore a sum equal to the cost of production thereof, plus the cost of administrative services involved in handling the records for such purpose, as these costs may be determined by the Secretary of the Interior or such subordinate officials or employees as he may designate, and in addition the sum of 25 cents for each certificate of verification and the seal attached to authenticated copies. There shall be no charge for the making or verification of copies required for official use by the officers of any branch of the Government. Only a charge of 25 cents shall be made for furnishing authenticated copies of any rules, regulations, or instructions printed by the government for gratuitous distribution. The money received for copies under this section shall be deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the appropriations then current and chargeable for the cost of furnishing copies as herein authorized.

Nothing in sections 1460 to 1463 of this title shall be construed to limit or restrict in any manner the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to prescribe such rules and regulations as he may deem proper governing the inspection of the records of said department and its various bureaus by the general public, and any person having any particular interest in any of such records may be permitted to take copies of such records under such rules and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Interior.

All officers who furnish authenticated copies under section 1460 of this title shall attest their authentication by the use of an official seal, which is authorized for that purpose.

All sums received under the provisions of section 1460 of this title

The Secretary of the Interior may prescribe rules and regulations governing the recognition of agents, attorneys, or other persons representing claimants before his department, and may require of such persons, agents, and attorneys, before being recognized as representatives of claimants, that they shall show that they are of good moral character and in good repute, possessed of the necessary qualifications to enable them to render such claimants valuable service, and otherwise competent to advise and assist such claimants in the presentation of their claims and such Secretary may, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, suspend or exclude from further practice before his department any such person, agent, or attorney shown to be incompetent, disreputable, or who refuses to comply with the said rules and regulations, or who shall with intent to defraud in any manner, deceive, mislead, or threaten any claimant, or prospective claimant, by word, circular, letter, or by advertisement.

The annual reports of the department and of all its bureaus and establishments, including the Bureau of Reclamation, shall not exceed a total of one thousand two hundred and fifty pages.

Special agents and such other employees of the Division of Investigations, Department of the Interior of the United States, as are designated by the Secretary of the Interior for that purpose, are authorized and empowered to administer to or take from any person an oath, affirmation, affidavit, or deposition whenever necessary in the performance of their official duties. Any such oath, affirmation, affidavit, or deposition administered or taken by or before a special agent or such other employee of the Division of Investigations, Department of the Interior, designated by the Secretary of the Interior, when certified under his hand, shall have like force and effect as if administered or taken before an officer having a seal.

There is established a working capital fund of $300,000, to be available without fiscal year limitation, for expenses necessary for the maintenance and operation of (1) a central reproduction service; (2) communication services; (3) a central supply service for stationery, supplies, equipment, blank forms, and miscellaneous materials, for which adequate stocks may be maintained to meet in whole or in part requirements of the bureaus and offices of the Department in the city of Washington and elsewhere; (4) a central library service; (5) health services; and (6) such other similar service functions as the Secretary determines may be performed more advantageously on a reimbursable basis. Said fund shall be reimbursed from available funds of bureaus, offices, and agencies for which services are performed at rates which will return in full all expenses of operation, including reserves for accrued annual leave and depreciation of equipment.

Refunds or rebates received on an on-going basis from a credit card services provider under the Department of the Interior’s charge card programs, on and after October 11, 2000, may be deposited to and retained without fiscal year limitation in the Departmental Working Capital Fund established under 43 U.S.C. 1467 and used to fund management initiatives of general benefit to the Department of the Interior’s bureaus and offices as determined by the Secretary or his designee.

The working capital fund, established by section 1467 of this title, shall on and after June 13, 1956 be available for uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by section 5901 of title 5.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, persons may be employed or otherwise contracted with by the Secretary of the Interior to perform work occasioned by emergencies such as fire, flood, storm, or any other unavoidable cause and may be compensated at regular rates of pay without regard to Sundays, Federal holidays, and the regular workweek.

Appropriations for field work of the Department of the Interior shall be available for the hire, with or without personal services, of boats, work animals, and animal-drawn and motor-propelled vehicles and equipment.

Appropriations for contingent expenses of the Department of the Interior shall be available, to the extent specified therein, for the payment of damages to private property (not to exceed $500 in any one case) caused by the negligent operation of motor vehicles under such appropriations.

Appropriations in this title 1

On and after October 2, 1992, the Secretary may authorize the expenditure or transfer (within each bureau or office) of any appropriation in this title 1

Appropriations in this title 1

Appropriations made to the Department of the Interior shall on and after December 8, 2004, be available for operation of warehouses, garages, shops, and similar facilities, wherever consolidation of activities will contribute to efficiency or economy, and said appropriations shall be reimbursed for services rendered to any other activity in the same manner as authorized by sections 1535 and 1536 of title 31: Provided, That reimbursements for costs and supplies, materials, equipment, and for services rendered may be credited to the appropriation current at the time such reimbursements are received.

Appropriations in this title 1

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 1993 and thereafter, appropriations or funds available to the Department of the Interior or the Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, may be used to reimburse employees for the cost of State licenses and certification fees pursuant to their employment and that are necessary to comply with State or Federal laws, regulations, or requirements.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 1995 and thereafter, appropriations made to the Department of the Interior in this title 1

During the current fiscal year and on and after September 30, 1996, funds appropriated under this paragraph may be made available to the Department of the Interior to support the Memorial Day and Fourth of July ceremonies and activities in the National Capital Region.

Appropriations available to the Department of the Interior for salaries and expenses shall on and after December 8, 2004, be available for uniforms or allowances therefor, as authorized by law (5 U.S.C. 5901–5902 and D.C. Code 4–204).

Annual appropriations made to the Department of the Interior shall on and after December 8, 2004, be available for obligation in connection with contracts issued for services or rentals for periods not in excess of 12 months beginning at any time during the fiscal year.

In fiscal year 1987 and thereafter, the Minerals Management Service is authorized to accept land, buildings, equipment and other contributions, from public and private sources, which shall be available for the purposes provided for in this account, including, in fiscal years 2010 through 2013, contributions of money and services to conduct work in support of the orderly exploration and development of Outer Continental Shelf resources, including but not limited to, preparation of environmental documents such as impact statements and assessments, studies, and related research.

The Secretary is authorized to accept lands, buildings, equipment, other contributions and, before, on, and after November 13, 1991, fees to be deposited in the contributed funds account from public and private sources, and to prosecute projects using such contributions and fees in cooperation with other Federal, State or private agencies.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 1992 and thereafter, any appropriations or funds available to the Department of the Interior in this Act may be used to provide nonmonetary awards of nominal value to private individuals and organizations that make contributions to Department of the Interior programs.

Appropriations under this title 1

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, in fiscal year 1992 and thereafter, appropriations in this title 1

In fiscal year 1999 and thereafter, the Secretary may accept donations and bequests of money, services, or other personal property for the management and enhancement of the Department’s Natural Resources Library. The Secretary may hold, use, and administer such donations until expended and without further appropriation.

In fiscal year 1989 all but $742,000 of receipts, and thereafter all receipts from fees established by the Secretary of the Interior for processing of actions relating to the administration of the General Mining Laws shall be available for program operations in Mining Law Administration by the Bureau of Land Management to supplement funds otherwise available, to remain available until expended.

On and after November 13, 1991, beginning in fiscal year 1993, and in each year thereafter, only amounts for emergency rehabilitation and wildfire suppression activities that are in excess of the average of such costs for the previous ten years shall be considered “emergency requirements” pursuant to section 901(b)(2)(D) 1

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in fiscal year 1991 and thereafter, sums provided by any party, including sums provided in advance or as a reimbursement for natural resource damage assessments, may be credited to this appropriation and shall remain available until expended.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any amounts appropriated or credited in fiscal year 1992 and thereafter, may be transferred to any account, including transfers to Federal trustees and payments to non-Federal trustees, to carry out the provisions of negotiated legal settlements or other legal actions for restoration activities and to carry out the provisions of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. 9601, et seq.), Federal Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.), the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (Public Law 101–380) [33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.], and subchapter II of chapter 1007 of title 54 for damage assessment activities: Provided further, That sums provided by any party heretofore and hereafter are not limited to monetary payments and may include stocks, bonds or other personal or real property, which may be retained, liquidated or otherwise disposed of by the Secretary and such sums, to remain available until expended, or properties shall be utilized for the restoration of injured resources, and to conduct new damage assessment activities.

In fiscal year 1992 and thereafter, amounts received during the immediately preceding fiscal year under section 707 of title 16 as penalties or fines or from forfeitures of property or collateral, to remain available until expended.

Notwithstanding section 3302(b) of title 31, sums received by the Bureau of Land Management for the sale of seeds or seedlings, may on and after December 8, 2004, be credited to the appropriation from which funds were expended to acquire or grow the seeds or seedlings and are available without fiscal year limitation.

Sums not to exceed 1 percent of the total value of procurements received by the Bureau of Land Management from vendors under enterprise information technology-procurements that the Department of the Interior and other Federal Government agencies may use to order information technology on and after March 11, 2009, may be deposited into the Management of Lands and Resources account to offset costs incurred in conducting the procurement.

There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the “Department of the Interior Nonrecurring Expenses Fund” (the Fund): Provided, That unobligated balances of expired discretionary funds appropriated for this or any succeeding fiscal year from the General Fund of the Treasury to the Department of the Interior by this or any other Act may be transferred (not later than the end of the fifth fiscal year after the last fiscal year for which such funds are available for the purposes for which appropriated) into the Fund: Provided further, That amounts deposited in the Fund shall be available until expended, and in addition to such other funds as may be available for such purposes, for information and business technology system modernization and facilities infrastructure improvements and associated administrative expenses, including nonrecurring maintenance, necessary for the operation of the Department or its bureaus, subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget: Provided further, That amounts in the Fund may not be obligated without written notification to and the prior approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate in conformance with the reprogramming guidelines described in this Act.

The Bureau of Reclamation may on and after September 29, 1989, accept the services of volunteers and, from any funds available to it, provide for their incidental expenses to carry out any activity of the Bureau of Reclamation except policymaking or law or regulatory enforcement. Such volunteers shall not be deemed employees of the United States Government, except for the purposes of chapter 81 of title 5 relating to compensation for work injuries, and shall not be deemed employees of the Bureau of Reclamation except for the purposes of tort claims to the same extent as a regular employee of the Bureau of Reclamation would be under identical circumstances.

On and after October 2, 1992, the Bureau of Reclamation may invite non-Federal entities involved in cost sharing arrangements for the development of water projects to participate in contract negotiation and source selection proceedings without invoking provisions of chapter 10 of title 5: Provided, That such non-Federal participants shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 21 of title 41 and to the conflict of interest provisions appearing at 18 U.S.C. 201 et seq. (1988).

Written statement in public land matters within the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior, heretofore required by law to be made under oath, need no longer be made under oath unless the Secretary of the Interior shall, in his discretion, so require.

Unsworn written statements made in public land matters within the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior shall remain subject to section 1001 of title 18.