US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

43 U.S.C. § 1843

Duties and powers of Secretary

(a)

Prescription and amendment of regulations respecting settlement of claims; identification classification of potential hazards to commercial fishing

In carrying out the provisions of this subchapter, the Secretary shall—
(1)
prescribe, and from time to time amend, regulations for the filing, processing, and fair and expeditious settlement of claims pursuant to this subchapter, including a time limitation of not less than 90 days on the filing of such claims (except that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, final regulations implementing the 1981 amendments to this subchapter shall be published in the Federal Register within 120 days after the date of the enactment of such amendments); and
(2)
identify and classify all potential hazards to commercial fishing caused by Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas exploration, development, and production activities, including all obstructions on the bottom, throughout the water column, and on the surface.
(b)

Establishment of regulations respecting color coding, stamping, or labeling of equipment, tools, etc., used on Outer Continental Shelf

The Secretary of the Interior shall establish regulations requiring all materials, equipment, tools, containers, and all other items used on the Outer Continental Shelf to be properly color coded, stamped, or labeled, wherever practicable, with the owner’s identification prior to actual use.

(c)

Disbursement of payments to compensate commercial fishermen; restrictions

(1)
Payments shall be disbursed by the Secretary from the Fund to compensate commercial fishermen for actual and consequential damages, including resulting economic loss, due to damages to, or loss of, fishing gear by materials, equipment, tools, containers, or other items associated with Outer Continental Shelf oil and gas exploration, development, or production activities. The compensation payable under this section for resulting economic loss shall be an amount equal to 50 per centum of such loss. For purposes of this subsection, the term “resulting economic loss” means the gross income, as estimated by the Secretary, that a commercial fisherman who is eligible for compensation under this section will lose by reason of not being able to engage in fishing, or having to reduce his fishing effort, during the period before the damaged or lost fishing gear concerned is repaired or replaced and available for use.
(2)
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, no payment may be made by the Secretary from the Fund—
(A)
to the extent that damages were caused by the negligence or fault of the commercial fisherman making the claim;
(B)
if the damage set forth in the claim was sustained prior to ;
(C)
in the case of a claim for damage to, or loss of, fishing gear, in an amount in excess of the replacement value of the fishing gear with respect to which the claim is filed; and
(D)
for any portion of the damages claimed with respect to which the claimant has received, or will receive, compensation from insurance.

Pub. L. 95–372, title IV, § 40392 Stat. 687Pub. L. 96–561, title II, § 240(b)(2)94 Stat. 3301Pub. L. 97–21296 Stat. 144Pub. L. 98–498, title IV, § 420(1)98 Stat. 2309(, , ; , , ; , §§ 3, 7, , , 147; , (2), , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Pub. L. 97–212section 1847 of this titlesection 1841 of this titlePub. L. 97–212section 1823 of Title 16section 1823 of Title 16The 1981 amendments to this subchapter, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), probably means the amendments made to this subchapter in 1982 by , which amended sections 1841 to 1845 of this title, repealed , and enacted a provision set out as a note under . also enacted a provision set out as a note under , Conservation, and amended a provision set out as a note under .

Pub. L. 97–212The date of enactment of such amendments, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), probably means the date of enactment of , which was approved .

Amendments

Pub. L. 98–4981984—Subsec. (a)(1). substituted “limitation of not less than 90 days on” for “limitation on”.

Pub. L. 98–498Subsec. (c)(1). substituted “50 percent” for “25 per centum”.

Pub. L. 97–212, § 71982—Subsec. (a)(1). , substituted “claims (except that, notwithstanding any other provision of law, final regulations implementing the 1981 amendments to this subchapter shall be published in the Federal Register within 120 days after the date of the enactment of such amendments); and” for “claims; and”.

Pub. L. 97–212, § 3(1)Subsec. (c)(1). , substituted “Fund” for “appropriate area account” and “resulting economic loss” for “loss of profits”, inserted “Outer Continental Shelf” after “items associated with”, struck out “in such area, whether or not such damage occurred in such area” after “production activities”, and inserted provisions that compensation payable under this section for resulting economic loss be an amount equal to 25 per centum of such loss and provision defining “resulting economic loss” for purposes of subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 97–212, § 3(2)Subsec. (c)(2). , substituted “the Fund” for “any area account established under this subchapter” in provisions preceding subpar. (A), struck out subpars. (A) and (E) which related, respectively, to damage caused by materials, equipment, tools, containers, or other items attributable to a financially responsible party and the party admitted responsibility and to loss of profits for any period in excess of 6 months unless such claim was supported by records with respect to the claimant’s profits during the previous 12-month period, redesignated subpars. (B), (C), and (D) as (A), (B), and (C) respectively, redesignated subpar. (F) as (D), and in subpar. (D) as so redesignated, substituted “received, or will receive,” for “or will receive”.

Pub. L. 96–5611980—Subsec. (c)(2)(A). inserted reference to party admitting responsibility.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1982 Amendment

Pub. L. 97–212section 1845(a) of this titlesection 9 of Pub. L. 97–212section 1841 of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to claims for damages filed on or after , with the Secretary of Commerce under , with provision for the refiling of previously filed claims under certain circumstances, see , set out as a note under .