43 U.S.C. § 14

Returns relative to lands

All returns relative to the public lands shall be made to the Secretary of the Interior or such officer as he may designate.

(R.S. § 456; July 31, 1894, ch. 174, § 7 , 28 Stat. 207 ; 1946 Reorg. Plan No. 3, § 403, eff. July 16, 1946 , 11 F.R. 7876, 60 Stat. 1100 .)