Agency: 
Department of the Interior
Scheme Nickname: 
Departmental Cases Hearings Divison

The Departmental Cases Hearings Division serves as the Department's administrative trial court for cases involving lands and resources under the Department's jurisdiction. Through formal hearings conducted by administrative law judges under the Administrative Procedure Act, the Division decides grazing appeals, surface coal mining cases, civil penalty assessments under various wildlife and resource protection laws, certain cases involving the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDA), disputed issues of material fact with respect to conditions and prescriptions in hydropower licenses, and contests of mining claims, Alaska Native allotment applications, and other asserted interests in Federal land.

The Division also conducts hearings on other matters upon request from a bureau or office, an OHA appeals board, or the Director. Examples include adjudications pertaining to oil and gas leases, rights-of-way, and alleged trespasses on Federal lands.

Special procedures may apply to certain types of cases.

Comments/Notes on Adjudication Structure: 
Some hearings must be held before the Departmental Cases Hearings Division. There may be other cases where a hearing is not mandatory but is requested by an agency component or by one of the appellate bodies with the Office of Hearings and Appeals.
Types of Adjudication: 
Type A
Type B
Comments/Notes on Related Schemes: 
Some appeals may be heard by the Interior Board of Indian Appeals or by the Director or an Ad Hoc Appeals Board. Because the majority of identified case types go to the Interior Board of Land Appeals, this is identified as the primary scheme. The appeals body is noted on each case type form.
Resources & Articles: 
http://www.oha.doi.gov:8080/index.html
Other Comments: 
The list of case types may not be complete since some are discretionary requests for hearings by other agency components or appellate bodies within the Office of Hearings and Appeals.
Verified by Agency: 
Not verified
Is this a Major Adjudication: 
Yes