[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 243 (Tuesday, December 17, 1996)] [Rules and Regulations] [Page 66220] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 96-31923] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE 28 CFR Part 14 Administrative Claims Under the Federal Tort Claims Act; Delegation of Authority AGENCY: Department of Justice. ACTION: Final rule. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: This Directive delegates authority to the Postmaster General to settle administrative claims presented pursuant to the Federal Tort Claims Act where the amount of the settlement does not exceed $200,000. The Directive implements the Administrative Dispute Resolution Act. This Directive will alert the general public to the new authority and is being published in the CFR to provide a permanent record of this delegation. EFFECTIVE DATE: December 17, 1996. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Axelrad, Director, Torts Branch, Civil Division, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. 20530, (202) 616-4400. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This Directive has been issued to delegate settlement authority and is a matter solely related to division of responsibility between the Department of Justice and the Postal Service. It does not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 5 U.S.C. 605(b). It is not a significant regulation action within the meaning of Executive Order No. 12866. List of Subjects in 28 CFR Part 14 Authority delegations (Government agencies), Claims. By virtue of the authority vested in me by part 0 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations, including Secs. 0.45, 0.160, 0.162, 0.164, and 0.168, 28 CFR part 14 is amended as follows: PART 14--ADMINISTRATIVE CLAIMS UNDER FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT 1. The authority citation for Part 14 continues to read as follows: Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 28 U.S.C. 509, 510, 2672; 38 U.S.C. 224(a). 2. The Appendix to Part 14 is amended by revising the heading and text for the ``Delegation of Authority to the Postmaster General'' to read as follows: Appendix to Part 14--Delegations of Settlement Authority * * * * * Delegation of Authority to the Postmaster General Section 1. Authority to compromise tort claims. (a) The Postmaster General shall have the authority to adjust, determine, compromise and settle a claim involving the Postal Service under Section 2672 of Title 28, United States Code, relating to the administrative settlement of federal tort claims, if the amount of the proposed adjustment, compromise, or award does not exceed $200,000. When the Postmaster General believes a claim pending before him presents a novel question of law or of policy, he shall obtain the advice of the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Division. (b) The Postmaster General may redelegate in writing the settlement authority delegated to him under this section. Section 2. Memorandum. Whenever the Postmaster General settles any administrative claim pursuant to the authority granted by section 1 for an amount in excess of $100,000 and within the amount delegated to him under section 1, a memorandum fully explaining the basis for the action taken shall be executed. A copy of this memorandum shall be sent to the Director, FTCA Staff, Torts Branch of the Civil Division. * * * * * Frank W. Hunger, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division. [FR Doc. 96-31923 Filed 12-16-96; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4410-12-M