2018 US Code
Title 43 - Public Lands
Chapter 36 - Outer Continental Shelf Resource Management
Subchapter II - Fishermen's Contingency Fund
Sec. 1844 - Burden of proof

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Citation 43 U.S.C. § 1844 (2018)
Section Name §1844. Burden of proof
Section Text

With respect to any claim for damages filed under this subchapter, there shall be a presumption that such damages were due to activities related to oil and gas exploration, development, or production if the claimant establishes that—

(1) the commercial fishing vessel was being used for fishing and was located in an area affected by Outer Continental Shelf activities;

(2) a report on the location of the material, equipment, tool, container, or other item which caused such damages and the nature of such damages was made within fifteen days after the date on which the vessel first returns to a port after discovering such damages;

(3) there was no record on the latest nautical charts or Notice to Mariners in effect at least 15 days prior to the date such damages were sustained that such material, equipment, tool, container, or other item existed where such damages occurred, except that in the case of damages caused by a pipeline, the presumption established by this section shall obtain whether or not there was any such record of the pipeline on the damage date; and

(4) there was no proper surface marker or lighted buoy which was attached or closely anchored to such material, equipment, tool, container, or other item.

Source Credit

(Pub. L. 95–372, title IV, §404, Sept. 18, 1978, 92 Stat. 688; Pub. L. 97–212, §4, June 30, 1982, 96 Stat. 145.)

Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS

1982—Pub. L. 97–212, §4(1), substituted "under this subchapter" for "pursuant to this subchapter" and "damages were due to activities related to oil and gas exploration, development, or production" for "claim is valid" in provisions preceding par. (1).

Par. (2). Pub. L. 97–212, §4(2), substituted "fifteen days after the date on which the vessel first returns to a port after discovering such damages" for "five days after the date on which such damages were discovered".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 97–212, §4(3), inserted "the latest" after "no record on", struck out "the" before "Notice to Mariners", and substituted "in effect at least 15 days prior to the date" for "on the date" and "where such damages occurred, except that in the case of damages caused by a pipeline, the presumption established by this section shall obtain whether or not there was any such record of the pipeline on the damage date" for "in such area".

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1982 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 97–212 applicable with respect to claims for damages filed on or after June 30, 1982, with the Secretary of Commerce under section 1845(a) of this title, with provision for the refiling of previously filed claims under certain circumstances, see section 9 of Pub. L. 97–212, set out as a note under section 1841 of this title.

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Title 43 - PUBLIC LANDS
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 43 - PUBLIC LANDS
CHAPTER 36 - OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
SUBCHAPTER II - FISHERMEN'S CONTINGENCY FUND
Sec. 1844 - Burden of proof
Contains section 1844
Date 2018
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 14, 2019
Positive Law No
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 92 Stat. 688
96 Stat. 145
Public Law References Public Law 95-372, Public Law 97-212
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