§ 1653. — Liability for damages.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 43USC1653]
TITLE 43--PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 34--TRANS-ALASKA PIPELINE
Sec. 1653. Liability for damages
(a) Activities along or in vicinity of pipeline right-of-way; strict
liability; limitation on liability; subrogation; emergency
subsistence and other aid; exemption for State of Alaska
(1) Except when the holder of the pipeline right-of-way granted
pursuant to this chapter can prove that damages in connection with or
resulting from activities along or in the vicinity of the proposed
trans-Alaskan pipeline right-of-way were caused solely by an act of war
or negligence of the United States, other government entity, or the
damaged party, such holder shall be strictly liable to all damaged
parties, public or private, without regard to fault for such damages,
and without regard to ownership of any affected lands, structures, fish,
wildlife, or biotic or other natural resources relied upon by Alaska
Natives, Native organizations, or others for subsistence or economic
purposes. Claims for such injury or damages may be determined by
arbitration or judicial proceedings.
(2) Liability under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be
limited to $350,000,000 for any one incident, and the holders of the
right-of-way or permit shall be liable for any claim allowed in
proportion to their ownership interest in the right-of-way or permit.
Liability of such holders for damages in excess of $350,000,000 shall be
in accord with ordinary rules of negligence.
(3) In any case where liability without fault is imposed pursuant to
this subsection and the damages involved were caused by the negligence
of a third party, the rules of subrogation shall apply in accordance
with the law of the jurisdiction where the damage occurred.
(4) Upon order of the Secretary, the holder of a right-of-way or
permit shall provide emergency subsistence and other aid to an affected
Alaska Native, Native organization, or other person pending expeditious
filing of, and determination of, a claim under this subsection.
(5) Where the State of Alaska is the holder of a right-of-way or
permit under this chapter, the State shall not be subject to the
provisions of this subsection, but the holder of the permit or right-of-
way for the trans-Alaska pipeline shall be subject to this subsection
with respect to facilities constructed or activities conducted under
rights-of-way or permits issued to the State to the extent that such
holder engages in the construction, operation, maintenance, and
termination of facilities, or in other activities under rights-of-way or
permits issued to the State.
(b) Control and removal of pollutants at expense of right-of-way holder
If any area in the State of Alaska within or without the right-of-
way or permit area granted under this chapter is polluted by any
activities related to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, including
operation of the terminal, conducted by or on behalf of the holder to
whom such right-of-way or permit was granted, and such pollution damages
or threatens to damage aquatic life, wildlife, or public or private
property, the control and total removal of the pollutant shall be at the
expense of such holder, including any administrative and other costs
incurred by the Secretary or any other Federal or State officer or
agency. Upon failure of such holder to adequately control and remove
such pollutant, the Secretary, in cooperation with other Federal, State,
or local agencies, or in cooperation with such holder, or both, shall
have the right to accomplish the control and removal at the expense of
such holder.
(Pub. L. 93-153, title II, Sec. 204, Nov. 16, 1973, 87 Stat. 586; Pub.
L. 101-380, title VIII, Secs. 8101, 8102(a)(1), (4), (b)-(e), Aug. 18,
1990, 104 Stat. 565-567.)
Amendments
1990--Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8101(a), substituted
``caused solely by'' for ``caused by''.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8101(b), substituted
``$350,000,000'' for ``$50,000,000'' in two places.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8101(c), inserted ``in the State
of Alaska'' after ``any area'', ``related to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
System, including operation of the terminal,'' after ``any activities'',
and ``or State'' after ``any other Federal''.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8102(a)(1), struck out subsec.
(c) which related to liability for discharges of oil loaded at terminal
facilities and to establishment of Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability Fund.
Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8102(b), substituted ``caused
solely by'' for ``caused by''.
Subsec. (c)(3). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8102(d), inserted at end ``The
Fund shall expeditiously pay claims under this subsection, including
such $14,000,000, if the owner or operator of a vessel has not paid any
such claim within 90 days after such claim has been submitted to such
owner or operator. Upon payment of any such claim, the Fund shall be
subrogated under applicable State and Federal laws to all rights of any
person entitled to recover under this subsection. In any action brought
by the Fund against an owner or operator or an affiliate thereof to
recover amounts under this paragraph, the Fund shall be entitled to
recover prejudgment interest, costs, reasonable attorney's fees, and, in
the discretion of the court, penalties.''
Subsec. (c)(4). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8102(e), designated existing
provisions as par. (A) and added pars. (B) and (C).
Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8102(a)(4), inserted before
period at end of second sentence ``, except that after August 18, 1990,
the amount to be accumulated shall be $100,000,000 or the amount
determined by the trustees and certified to the Congress by the
Comptroller General as necessary to pay claims arising from incidents
occurring prior to August 18, 1990, and administrative costs, whichever
is less''.
Subsec. (c)(13), (14). Pub. L. 101-380, Sec. 8102(c), added pars.
(13) and (14).
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 101-380 applicable to incidents occurring after
Aug. 18, 1990, see section 1020 of Pub. L. 101-380, set out as an
Effective Date note under section 2701 of Title 33, Navigation and
Navigable Waters.
Section 8102(a)(5)(A) of Pub. L. 101-380 provided that: ``The repeal
by paragraph (1) [repealing subsec. (c) of this section] shall be
effective 60 days after the date on which the Comptroller General of the
United States certifies to the Congress [certified July 5, 2000] that--
``(i) all claims arising under section 204(c) of the Trans-
Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act (43 U.S.C. 1653(c)) have been
resolved,
``(ii) all actions for the recovery of amounts subject to
section 204(c) of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act have
been resolved, and
``(iii) all administrative expenses reasonably necessary for and
incidental to the implementation of section 204(c) of the Trans-
Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act have been paid.''
Savings Provision
Section 8102(a)(3) of Pub. L. 101-380 provided that: ``The repeal
made by paragraph (1) [repealing subsec. (c) of this section] shall have
no effect on any right to recover or responsibility that arises from
incidents subject to section 204(c) of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline
Authorization Act (43 U.S.C. 1653(c)) occurring prior to the date of
enactment of this Act [Aug. 18, 1990].''
Bulk Fuel Storage Tanks
Pub. L. 105-277, div. A, Sec. 101(g) [title III, Sec. 329(a), (b)],
Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681-439, 2681-470, provided that:
``(a) Transfer of Funds.--Notwithstanding any other provision of
law, the remainder of the balance in the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability
Fund that is transferred and deposited into the Oil Spill Liability
Trust Fund under section 8102(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Oil Pollution Act of
1990 (43 U.S.C. 1653 note) after June 16, 1998 shall be used in
accordance with this section.
``(b) Use of Interest Only.--The interest produced from the
investment of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Liability Fund balance that is
transferred and deposited into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund under
section 8102(a)(2)(B)(ii) of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 [Pub. L. 101-
380] (43 U.S.C. 1653 note) after June 16, 1998 shall be transferred
annually by the National Pollution Funds Center to the Denali Commission
for a program, to be developed in consultation with the Coast Guard, to
repair or replace bulk fuel storage tanks in Alaska which are not in
compliance with federal law, including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 [33
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.], or State law.''
[For transfer of authorities, functions, personnel, and assets of
the Coast Guard, including the authorities and functions of the
Secretary of Transportation relating thereto, to the Department of
Homeland Security, and for treatment of related references, see sections
468(b), 551(d), 552(d), and 557 of Title 6, Domestic Security, and the
Department of Homeland Security Reorganization Plan of November 25,
2002, as modified, set out as a note under section 542 of Title 6.]
Disposition of Fund Balance
Section 8102(a)(2) of Pub. L. 101-380, as amended by Pub. L. 105-
277, div. A, Sec. 101(g) [title III, Sec. 329(c)], Oct. 21, 1998, 112
Stat. 2681-439, 2681-471, provided that:
``(A) Reservation of amounts.--The trustees of the Trans-Alaska
Pipeline Liability Fund (hereafter in this subsection referred to as the
`TAPS Fund') shall reserve the following amounts in the TAPS Fund--
``(i) necessary to pay claims arising under section 204(c) of
the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act (43 U.S.C. 1653(c)); and
``(ii) administrative expenses reasonably necessary for and
incidental to the implementation of section 204(c) of that Act.
``(B) Disposition of the balance.--After the Comptroller General of
the United States certifies that the requirements of subparagraph (A)
have been met, the trustees of the TAPS Fund shall dispose of the
balance in the TAPS Fund after the reservation of amounts are made under
subparagraph (A) by--
``(i) rebating the pro rata share of the balance to the State of
Alaska for its contributions as an owner of oil, which, except as
otherwise provided under article IX, section 15, of the Alaska
Constitution, shall be used for the remediation of above-ground
storage tanks; and then
``(ii) transferring and depositing the remainder of the balance
into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund established under section
9509 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 9509).
``(C) Disposition of the reserved amounts.--After payment of all
claims arising from an incident for which funds are reserved under
subparagraph (A) and certification by the Comptroller General of the
United States that the claims arising from that incident have been paid,
the excess amounts, if any, for that incident shall be disposed of as
set forth under subparagraphs (A) and (B).
``(D) Authorization.--The amounts transferred and deposited in the
Fund shall be available for the purposes of section 1012 of the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 [33 U.S.C. 2712] after funding sections 5001 [33
U.S.C. 2731] and 8103 [43 U.S.C. 1651 note] to the extent that funds
have not otherwise been provided for the purposes of such sections.''
Liabilities of Trustees of TAPS Fund
Section 8102(a)(5)(B) of Pub. L. 101-380 provided that: ``Upon the
effective date of the repeal pursuant to subparagraph (A) [see Effective
Date of 1990 Amendment note above], the trustees of the TAPS Fund shall
be relieved of all responsibilities under section 204(c) of the Trans-
Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act [43 U.S.C. 1653(c)], but not any
existing legal liability.''
Preservation of Rights and Remedies of Contributors to TAPS Fund
Section 8102(a)(6) provided that: ``This subsection [amending this
section and enacting provisions set out as notes above] is intended
expressly to preserve any and all rights and remedies of contributors to
the TAPS Fund under section 1491 of title 28, United States Code
(commonly referred to as the `Tucker Act').''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in title 26 section 9509.
