APPLICATION OF THE
Appearances: Richard A. Wells, Administrator, for the Nisqually Indian Tribe
Daphna Crotty Esq. and Mark Smith, Esq. for the Office of the General
Counsel, United States Department of Education
Before: Allan C. Lewis, Chief Administrative Law Judge
The Nisqually Indian Tribe (Nisqually) seeks a review of a decision by the Secretary not to
include Nisqually among the 25 applicants selected in a competitive grant process for the award
of a grant under the Indian Vocational Education Program. 34 C.F.R. § 401.23 (1996).
Nisqually's application was one of 80 applications reviewed, evaluated, and rated. In the letter
conveying College's request for a hearing to the Office of Administrative Law Judges, the Office
of the Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education (ED) raised the issue that
Nisqually had not submitted its request for a hearing within the 30-day period required under 34
C.F.R. § 401.23(a). As a result, the parties were requested to present their views on this matter
and did so.
Regulations Section 401.23(a) (1996) provides for a 30-day period within which an Indian tribal
organization may request a hearing to contest its failure to receive an award of a competitive
grant--
In the instant case, Nisqually received the notice of non-funding of its application on Friday,
December 27, 1996. As a result, the 30-day period ended January 26, 1997, which is a Sunday.
Nisqually's letter requesting a hearing was mailed on January 30, 1997. Thus, Nisqually's
request for a hearing was not made within the period prescribed by the regulations.
Nisqually maintains that it should be excused from the limitation period. While the non-funding
notice was received on Friday, December 27, 1996, it was not date stamped and logged into the
tribal's mail or correspondence system until Monday, December 30, 1996. The tribal staff, who
needed to be aware of the limitation period, relied upon the erroneous date stamp as the
beginning of the 30-day period for the appeal. Thus, Nisqually urges that its request for a
hearing was timely if the date stamp date is used. In addition, Nisqually mentions that, during
the week of December 26-December 31, there was an ice storm throughout the Pacific Northwest
that caused extensive power outages and that its tribal center was without power for much of this
time and was closed during most of this period although some employees were apparently
working while the center was closed.
Initially, it is clear that jurisdictional statutes are strictly construed. In re Maine Dep't of
Education, Dkt. No. 90-74-R (Intial Decison Nov. 27, 1990; Final Decision Jan 30, 1991) (citing
Danko v. United States Dep't of Labor, 864 F.2d 366, 369 (6th Cir. 1988); King v. Dole, 782
F.2d 274 (D.C. Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 479 U.S. 856 (1986)). It is also precedent within the
Department that receipt of the notice by the applicant's mail room rather than a higher official in
the organization begins the running of the particular time limit. In re Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico Dep't of Education, Dkt. No. 89-2-R, U.S. Dep.'t of Education, at 8 (Sep. 1, 1989). In
addition, excusable neglect, such as a good faith error by counsel for the litigant in calculating
the due date for filing an appeal, does not validate an otherwise untimely petition for review.
Midway Industrial Contractors v. OSHRC, 616 F.2d 346 (7th Cir. 1980).
Given this precedent, the only outcome in this case is adverse to Nisqually. The period begins
with the receipt of the non-funding notice in its mail room. As such, the 30-day calendar period
begins on Saturday, December 28th and ends on Sunday, January 26, 1997 -- several days before
Nisqually mailed its request for a hearing. Even if, however, the erroneous date stamp date of
Monday, December 30th was employed, Nisqually is still out of time by one day. Under this
scenario, the period begins on Tuesday, December 31st and the 30th or last day of this period is
Wednesday, January 29, 1997. Nisqually mailed its request for a hearing on Thursday, January
30, 1997 -- one day late.
The tribunal understands Nisqually's disappointment. A jurisdictional period is employed, however, to establish a known parameter within which a party must take an appropriate action to assert a right or privilege and, as a natural consequence, it also serves to extinguish a right if it is not asserted within the period. If the parameter is not observed, then its function becomes meaningless.
Based upon the foregoing, it is concluded that the request for a hearing by the Nisqually Tribe
was not submitted within the period prescribed by the regulations and, therefore, it is HEREBY
ORDERED that its request for a hearing is dismissed with prejudice.
Issued: February 28, 1997
Washington, D.C.
Daphna Crotty, Esq.
Office of the General Counsel
United States Department of Education
600 Independence Avenue, S.W.
FOB-10B, Room 5442
Washington, D.C. 20202-2110