43 USC 1845 - Claims procedure

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 05, 2024

§ 1845.

Claims procedure

(a)

Filing requirement; time to file

(b)

Transmittal of copy of claim to Secretary of the Interior; reference to Secretary

(c)

Notification to persons engaged in activities associated with Outer Continental Shelf energy activities; response of persons notified; submittal of evidence

(d)

Acceptance of claim by Secretary; time to render decision; review of initial determination

(1)

The Secretary shall, under regulations prescribed pursuant to section 1843(a) of this title, specify the time, form and manner in which claims must be filed.

(2)

The Secretary may not accept any claim that does not meet the filing requirements specified under paragraph (1), and shall give a claimant whose claim is not accepted written notice of the reasons for nonacceptance. Such written notice must be given to the claimant within 30 days after the date on which the claim was filed and if the claimant does not refile an acceptable claim within 30 days after the date of such written notice, the claimant is not eligible for compensation under this subchapter for the damages concerned; except that the Secretary—

(A)

shall in any case involving a good faith effort by the claimant to meet such filing requirements, or

(B)

may in any case involving extenuating circumstances, accept a claim that does not meet the 30-day refiling requirement.

(3)

(A)

The Secretary shall make an initial determination with respect to the claim within 60 days after the day on which the claim is accepted for filing. Within 30 days after the day on which the Secretary issues an initial determination on a claim, the claimant, or any other interested person who submitted evidence relating to the initial determination, may petition the Secretary for a review of that determination.

(B)

If a petition for the review of an initial determination is not filed with the Secretary within the 30-day period provided under subparagraph (A), the initial determination shall thereafter be treated as a final determination by the Secretary on the claim involved.

(C)

If a petition for review of an initial determination is timely filed under subparagraph (A), the Secretary shall allow the petitioner 30 days after the day on which the petition is received to submit written or oral evidence relating to the initial determination. The Secretary shall then undertake such review and, on the basis of such review, issue a final determination no later than the 60th day after the day on which the Secretary received the petition for review of an initial determination.

(e)

Claim preparation fees; attorney’s fees

(f)

Powers of Secretary

(1)

For purposes of any proceeding conducted pursuant to this section, the Secretary shall have the power to administer oaths and subpena the attendance or testimony of witnesses and the production of books, records, and other evidence relative or pertinent to the issues being presented for determination.

(2)

In any proceeding conducted pursuant to this section with respect to a claim for damages resulting from activities on any area of the Outer Continental Shelf, the Secretary shall consider evidence of obstructions in such area which have been identified pursuant to the survey conducted under section 1847 1

 See References in Text note below.

of this title.

(g)

Place of proceeding

(h)

Certification and disbursement of award; subrogation of rights; payment of costs of proceedings

(1)

The amount awarded in an initial determination by the Secretary under subsection (d) shall be immediately disbursed, subject to the limitations of this section, by the Secretary if the claimant—

(A)

states in writing that he will not petition for review of the initial determination; and

(B)

enters into an agreement with the Secretary to repay to the Secretary all or any part of the amount of the award if, after review under subsection (d)(3)(C) or, if applicable, after judicial review, the amount of the award, or any part thereof, is not sustained.

(2)

Upon payment of a claim by the Secretary pursuant to this subsection, the Secretary shall acquire by subrogation all rights of the claimant against any person found to be responsible for the damages with respect to which such claim was made. Any moneys recovered by the Secretary through subrogation shall be deposited into the Fund.

(3)

Any person who denies responsibility for damages with respect to which a claim is made and who is subquently 2

 So in original. Probably should be “subsequently”.

found to be responsible for such damages, and any commercial fisherman who files a claim for damages and who is subsequently found to be responsible for such damages, shall pay the costs of the proceedings under this section with respect to such claim.

(i)

Judicial review

(Pub. L. 95–372, title IV, § 405, Sept. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 688; Pub. L. 97–212, § 5, June 30, 1982, 96 Stat. 145; Pub. L. 98–498, title IV, § 420(3), (4), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2309, 2310.)

cite as: 43 USC 1845