Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73

§1717 Hearings and investigations

Title 30 › Chapter CHAPTER 29— - OIL AND GAS ROYALTY MANAGEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - FEDERAL ROYALTY MANAGEMENT AND ENFORCEMENT › § 1717

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary may investigate, hold hearings, and run audits needed to do his work under this chapter, and must give notice before hearings. When needed, he can require people to give written answers under oath, administer oaths, issue legal orders (subpoenas) for witnesses and documents, take testimony by deposition, and pay witnesses the same fees and travel pay used in U.S. courts. If someone refuses a subpoena, the Attorney General can ask a U.S. district court where that person is found, lives, or does business to order compliance after giving notice. Failing to obey the court’s order can lead to contempt and fines up to $10,000 a day.

Full Legal Text

Title 30, §1717

Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In carrying out his duties under this chapter the Secretary may conduct any investigation or other inquiry necessary and appropriate and may conduct, after notice, any hearing or audit, necessary and appropriate to carrying out his duties under this chapter. In connection with any such hearings, inquiry, investigation, or audit, the Secretary is also authorized where reasonably necessary—

(1)to require by special or general order, any person to submit in writing such affidavits and answers to questions as the Secretary may reasonably prescribe, which submission shall be made within such reasonable period and under oath or otherwise, as may be necessary;

(2)to administer oaths;

(3)to require by subpena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of all books, papers, production and financial records, documents, matter, and materials, as the Secretary may request;

(4)to order testimony to be taken by deposition before any person who is designated by the Secretary and who has the power to administer oaths, and to compel testimony and the production of evidence in the same manner as authorized under paragraph (3) of this subsection; and

(5)to pay witnesses the same fees and mileage as are paid in like circumstances in the courts of the United States.

(b)In case of refusal to obey a subpena served upon any person under this section, the district court of the United States for any district in which such person is found, resides, or transacts business, upon application by the Attorney General at the request of the Secretary and after notice to such person, shall have jurisdiction to issue an order requiring such person to appear and give testimony before the Secretary or to appear and produce documents before the Secretary. Any failure to obey such order of the court may be punished by such court as contempt thereof and subject to a penalty of up to $10,000 a day.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

30 U.S.C. § 1717

Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73