§ 853. — Power to settle claims.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC853]
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER 17--NATIONAL OCEAN SURVEY
SUBCHAPTER I--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 853. Power to settle claims
The Secretary of Commerce is authorized to consider, ascertain,
adjust, and determine all claims for damages, where the amount of the
claim does not exceed $2,500, occasioned, subsequent to June 5, 1920, by
acts for which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is
responsible.
(June 5, 1920, ch. 256, 41 Stat. 1054; Pub. L. 93-608, Sec. 1(4), Jan.
2, 1975, 88 Stat. 1967; Pub. L. 98-176, Nov. 29, 1983, 97 Stat. 1124.)
Amendments
1983--Pub. L. 98-176 amended section generally, substituting ``The
Secretary of Commerce is'' for ``The Superintendent of the Coast and
Geodetic Survey, subject to the approval of the Secretary of Commerce,
is hereby'', ``$2,500'' for ``$500'', and ``the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration is responsible'' for ``the Coast and Geodetic
Survey shall be found to be responsible''.
1975--Pub. L. 93-608 struck out reporting requirement to Congress of
amounts ascertained and determined due for payment as legal claims out
of Congressional appropriations.
Repeals
Act Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, title IV, Sec. 424(a), 60 Stat. 846,
repealed this section insofar as it concerned claims cognizable under
sections 921 and 922 of former Title 28, Judicial Code and Judiciary
(see sections 2672 and 2673 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial
Procedure) which are caused by the negligent or wrongful act or omission
of any Government employee acting within the scope of his employment,
but by section 424(b) of that act, section 946 of former Title 28 (see
note set out under section 2680 of Title 28), this section is
specifically saved with reference to any claim which is not caused by
the negligent or wrongful act or omission of any Government employee
acting within the scope of his employment.
