40 U.S.C. § 17304 — Claim for replacement

(a) Presenting a claim. When regulated shipments are lost, destroyed, or damaged, the claimant must make a written claim for replacement^* to the Secretary of the Treasury. (b) Secretary’s decision. (1) Fund replacement. If the Secretary is satisfied that the loss, destruction, or damage occurred and that the shipment^* substantially followed the regulations, the Secretary must have a designated officer replace it from the fund in section 17303. (2) Accounting credit. If some replacement can be made by crediting the claimant’s accounts without actual or eventual harm to the Federal Government, the Secretary must (A) certify that decision to the Comptroller General, who must make the credit when settling the accounts in the Government Accountability Office, and (B) use the fund only for the part that cannot be replaced by the credit. (c) Final decision. The Secretary’s decision that a loss, destruction, or damage occurred, or that the shipment substantially followed the regulations, is final and cannot be reviewed by another government officer.