Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73
§1716 Liabilities and bonding
Title 30 › Chapter CHAPTER 29— - OIL AND GAS ROYALTY MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - FEDERAL ROYALTY MANAGEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT › § 1716
Summary
People (including U.S. agents, employees, and contractors) who handle money the Department of the Interior gets from oil or gas sales or leases must pay the government back for losses caused by intentional or reckless acts or failures. Independent contractors must, if the Secretary of the Interior requires, carry a bond that matches the amount they could be responsible for.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §1716
Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
A person (including any agent or employee of the United States and any independent contractor) authorized to collect, receive, account for, or otherwise handle any moneys payable to, or received by, the Department of the Interior which are derived from the sale, lease, or other disposal of any oil or gas shall be—
(1)liable to the United States for any losses caused by any intentional or reckless action or inaction of such individual with respect to such moneys; and
(2)in the case of an independent contractor, required as the Secretary deems necessary to maintain a bond commensurate with the amount of money for which such individual could be liable to the United States.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 1716
Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73