43 U.S.C. § 1735 — Forfeitures and deposits

(a) Credit to separate account in Treasury; appropriation and availability Any money received by the United States as a result of the forfeiture of a bond or other security by a resource developer or purchaser or permittee who does not fulfill the requirements of his contract or permit or does not comply with the regulations of the Secretary; or as a result of a compromise or settlement of any claim whether sounding in tort or in contract involving present or potential damage to the public lands must be credited to a separate account in the Treasury and are authorized to be appropriated and made available, until expended as the Secretary may direct, to cover the cost to the United States of any improvement, protection, or rehabilitation work on those public lands which has been rendered necessary by the action which has led to the forfeiture, compromise, or settlement. (b) Expenditure of money collected administering Oregon and California Railroad and Coos Bay Wagon Road Grant lands Any money collected under this Act in connection with lands administered under the Act of August 28, 1937 ( 50 Stat. 874 ; 43 U.S.C. 1181a–118 1j), must be expended for the benefit of that land only. (c) Refunds If any portion of a deposit or amount forfeited under this Act is found by the Secretary to be in excess of the cost of doing the work authorized under this Act, the Secretary, upon application or otherwise, may cause a refund of the amount in excess to be made from applicable funds.