DINTSECY0009

The Secretary may take jurisdiction at any stage of any case before any employee or employees of the Department, including any administrative law judge or board of the Office, except a case before the Board of Contract Appeals which is subject to the Contract Disputes Act of 1978, and render the final decision in the matter after holding such hearing as may be required by law. 43 C.F.R. 4.5. Principles related to equitable adjudication in BLM regulations at: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/43/part-1870/subpart-1871 43 CFR 1871.0-3 describes The Act of September 20, 1922, authorizing the Secretary to adjudicate and decide on principles of equity and justice all cases of suspended entries of public lands and of suspended preemption claims, and to adjudge in what cases patens shall issue upon the same.