Commission Action and Authority

10 C.F.R. Part ..., Subpart C
in effectEffective: 2024-07-01

10 C.F.R. § 14.31 Investigation.

The NRC may: (a) Require the claimant to furnish any evidence or information which is relevant to its consideration of the claim; (b) Examine the claimant; or (c) Investigate, or request any other Federal agency to investigate, a claim filed under this part.

10 C.F.R. § 14.33 Officials authorized to act.

The General Counsel or the General Counsel's designee shall exercise the authority to adjust, determine, compromise and settle a claim under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 2672.

10 C.F.R. § 14.35 Limitation on NRC's authority.

(a) The NRC shall effect an award, compromise, or settlement of a claim hereunder in excess of $25,000 only with the prior written approval of the Attorney General or his designee. For the purposes of this paragraph, a principal claim and any derivative or subrogated claim are treated as a single claim. (b) The NRC may adjust, determine, compromise, or settle a claim under this part only after consultation with the Department of Justice if, in the opinion of the Office of the General Counsel: (1) A new precedent or a new point of law is involved; (2) A question of policy is or may be involved; (3) The United States is or may be entitled to indemnity or contribution from a third party and the NRC is unable to adjust the third party claim; or (4) The compromise of a particular claim, as a practical matter, will or may control the disposition of a related claim in which the amount to be paid may exceed $25,000. (c) The NRC may adjust, determine, compromise, or settle a claim under this part only after consultation with the Department of Justice if the NRC is informed or is otherwise aware that the United States, or an employee, agent, or cost-plus contractor of the United States, is involved in litigation based on a claim arising out of the same incident or transaction. (d) When Department of Justice approval or consultation is required under this section or the advice of the Department of Justice is otherwise requested, the NRC shall direct the referral or request to the Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, Department of Justice, in writing. The NRC shall ensure that the referral or request contains: (1) A short and concise statement of the facts and the reasons for the referral or request; (2) Copies of relevant portions of NRC's claim file; and (3) A statement of the recommendations or views of the NRC.

10 C.F.R. § 14.37 Final denial of claim.

The NRC shall send notice of a final denial of a claim in writing to the claimant, his or her attorney or legal representative, by certified or registered mail. The notification of final denial may include a statement of the reasons for the denial. The NRC shall include a statement in the notification of final denial that, if the claimant is dissatisfied with NRC's action, he or she may file suit in an appropriate U.S. District Court not later than 6 months after the date of mailing of the notification.

10 C.F.R. § 14.39 Reconsideration of a claim.

Prior to the commencement of suit and prior to the expiration of the 6-month period provided in 28 U.S.C. 2401(b), a claimant, or his or her duly authorized agent, or legal representative, may file a written request with the NRC for reconsideration of a final denial of a claim. Upon the timely filing of a request for reconsideration, the NRC shall have 6 months from the date of filing in which to make a final disposition of the claim, and the claimant's option under 28 U.S.C. 2675(a) does not accrue until 6 months after the filing of a request for reconsideration. Final NRC action on a request for reconsideration shall be effected in accordance with the provisions of 10 CFR 14.37.

10 C.F.R. § 14.41 Payment of approved claims.

(a) The NRC shall pay any award, compromise, or settlement in an amount of $2,500 or less made under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 2672 out of the appropriations available to it. The NRC shall obtain payment of any award, compromise, or settlement in excess of $2,500 from the Department of the Treasury by forwarding Standard Form 1145 to the Payment Branch, Claims Group, General Accounting Office. If an award, compromise, or settlement is in excess of $25,000, Standard Form 1145 must be accompanied by evidence that the award, compromise, or settlement has been approved by the Attorney General or the Attorney General's designee. When the use of Standard Form 1145 is required, it must be executed by the claimant or it must be accompanied by either a claims settlement agreement or a Standard Form 95 executed by the claimant. (b) If a claimant is represented by an attorney, the voucher for payment must designate both the claimant and his or her attorney as payees, and the check must be delivered to the attorney whose address appears on the voucher.

10 C.F.R. § 14.43 Acceptance of payment constitutes release.

Acceptance by the claimant, his agent, or legal representative, of any award, compromise, or settlement made under the provisions of 28 U.S.C. 2672 or 2677, is final and conclusive on the claimant, his or her agent or legal representative and any other person on whose behalf or for whose benefit the claim has been presented. Acceptance constitutes a complete release of any claim against the United States and against any employee of the Government whose act or omission gave rise to the claim.

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