1.Short title; table of contents
(a)This Act may be cited as the
Acceptance of Liability and Expedited
Claims at Mississippi Canyon 252 Act
.
(b)The table of contents of this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title;
table of contents.
TITLE I—Deepwater Horizon claims resolution
Sec. 101. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 102. Definitions.
Subtitle A—Office of Deepwater Horizon Claims
Compensation
Sec. 111. Establishment of Office of Deepwater Horizon Claims
Compensation.
Sec. 112. Claimant assistance.
Sec. 113. Compensation program startup.
Sec. 114. Authority of Administrator.
Sec. 115. Advisory Committee on Deepwater Horizon
Compensation.
Subtitle B—Deepwater Horizon compensation
procedures
Sec. 121. Essential elements of eligible claim.
Sec. 122. General rule concerning no-fault
compensation.
Sec. 123. Filing of claims.
Sec. 124. Eligibility determinations and claim
awards.
Subtitle C—Awards
Sec. 131. Amount.
Sec. 132. Payment.
Sec. 133. Setoffs for collateral source compensation and prior
awards.
Sec. 134. Subrogation.
Subtitle D—Judicial review
Sec. 141. Judicial review of rules and regulations.
Sec. 142. Judicial review of award decisions.
Sec. 143. Other judicial challenges.
Subtitle E—Effect on other laws
Sec. 151. Effect on other laws.
TITLE II—Liability
Sec. 201. Liability for Deepwater Horizon oil
spill.
<enum>I</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deepwater Horizon claims
resolution</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID055903d68f6a48ff95a05996ee43e43c" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>101.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Findings and purpose</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4eae581a77624280ae901c8157d75317"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Findings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress finds that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3f825eeb0be149a689072b9276e22e14"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the oil spill resulting from the Deepwater
Horizon incident has caused major economic damage to the residents of the
States bordering the Gulf of Mexico;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID429e239736a94f2bb0190603006505bc"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the limits on strict liability imposed by
the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) will be exceeded by the
claims resulting from the Deepwater Horizon incident; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa55deb58d06b4094ad77880eb4860800"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">while the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33
U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) places no restrictions on liability for damages from the
accident under State law, litigation of such cases may take decades, and
consume in litigation expenses funds that could otherwise be used to quickly
and efficiently compensate the citizens of the Gulf States for damages
resulting from the Deepwater Horizon incident.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDdeef535aae574123a03d64fd1fc306cb"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The purpose of this title is to create a
fair and efficient system for the payment of legitimate present and future
claims for damages resulting from the Deepwater Horizon incident.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1fe2931c080a4d078b5ce02a6ba1d362" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>102.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Definitions</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">In this title:</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd3a45efc3bd4406086046240bdc47528"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administrator</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Administrator</term> means
the Administrator of the Office.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1D29DF6DF2014210930338C9D74355C8"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advisory Committee</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Advisory Committee</term>
means the Advisory Committee on Deepwater Horizon Compensation established
under section 115(a).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd3e43128ca3e4a36bb6a113e2d0ea128"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Claim</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>claim</term> means any
claim, based on any theory, allegation, or cause of action, for damages
presented in a civil action or bankruptcy proceeding, directly, indirectly, or
derivatively arising out of, based on, or related to, in whole or in part, the
effects of the Deepwater Horizon incident.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7dd75b091ab546cd8348964f34443577"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Claimant</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>claimant</term> means a
person or State who files a claim under section 123.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf8026ae20bb44228b7384870aef22da9"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Civil action</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9688B588044948C1BA8082264FA8F435"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>civil action</term> means a
civil action filed in Federal or State court, whether cognizable as a case at
law, in equity, or in admiralty.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9936DF584E454E8CA73BCB0EAA1C70C2"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusion</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>civil action</term> does not
include an action relating to any workers’ compensation law.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa0f87a53e00649c0874806a3dfeedb0f"><enum>(6)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Collateral source
compensation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term
<term>collateral source compensation</term> means the compensation that a
claimant received, or is entitled to receive, from a responsible party as a
result of a final judgment, settlement, or other payment for damages that are
the source of a claim under section 123, including payments made under the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id96D40D96A04E42BCBDAC46ADE719A1E0"><enum>(7)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Compensation program</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>compensation program</term>
means the compensation program established under this title.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6dfb3eaa1b8d4e0ba4c6f4bed3965c12"><enum>(8)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>damages</term> means damages
specified in section 131(b), including the cost of assessing those
damages.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb8fedf62419d4938b593f5f4e27acc60"><enum>(9)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deepwater Horizon incident</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Deepwater Horizon
incident</term> means the blowout and explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil
rig that occurred on April 20, 2010, and resulting hydrocarbon releases into
the environment.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id787A6B64CE4C451A90FC9C19FAD4E1CC"><enum>(10)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Department</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Department</term> means the
Department of the Interior.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0FDF8FCCE6B34F9C808E6856807DC813"><enum>(11)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fund</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Fund</term> means the Oil
Spill Liability Trust Fund established by section 9509 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb290306fc1ff4caf8892fd7569e37dec"><enum>(12)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Law</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>law</term> includes all law,
judicial or administrative decisions, rules, regulations, or any other
principle or action having the effect of law.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id814FED6473D04C6FB355CAA68471B2B7"><enum>(13)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Office</term> means the
Office of Deepwater Horizon Claims Compensation established under section
111.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb8e98b30aa7849e28a54fa85fb2ef052"><enum>(14)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Parties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>parties</term> means, with
respect to an individual claim, the claimant and the responsible party.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd9aa4f3b6d524943b0dd5303c267da90"><enum>(15)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Person</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2CD688F673EB4822B4ABD617C8191832"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>person</term> means an
individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, partnership, association,
insurance company, reinsurance company, or corporation.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5fd4e58b75e7426493947b97301fd3b7"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>person</term> does not
include—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC1AB76DE25404145A55EA8C08D0F3A9E"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the United States;</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idCC737E35EFEA4C14BA4BDB5C646AC8F1"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a State; or</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7699855D92B84492B0B77E1BB7571B40"><enum>(iii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a political subdivision of a State.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7cf527654a354e36acc88fb6e840ed95"><enum>(16)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Responsible party</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>responsible party</term>
means a responsible party (as defined in section 1001 of the Oil Pollution Act
of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701)) for the Deepwater Horizon incident.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBE99AACEE0424170AC7C3494E0649933"><enum>(17)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Secretary</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>Secretary</term> means the
Secretary of the Interior.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID921a1696e6214f61a7b463404052cdc1"><enum>(18)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">State</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>State</term> means</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFF879DE85E0E4FEC9C688D61E9026CDD"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">each of the several States of the United
States;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID32C27061274442F382CB1733506BBDE3"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the District of Columbia;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3101047A4BF14895A4996D0E3B56607E"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7162086E82BE4862A921D0568448B976"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Guam;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDC397CB348D70414D852ED0B69C50A495"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">American Samoa;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDEC09872E97EB435AA63029F6A624BB53"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDA047B181B08F4BBB82D242D53C80EF1F"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Federated States of Micronesia;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6A5ECA5967DA43868BF48973945D5E95"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Republic of the Marshall
Islands;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDFEE3C0A255D341F193E516DB29CE0938"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the Republic of Palau; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC4A3C144F18045C0A7AB89919A6D3CAB"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the United States Virgin Islands..</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID53b6d1df180a4ebdbaf52aea0ef11751"><enum>(19)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Successor in interest</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term <term>successor in interest</term>
means any person that acquires assets, and substantially continues the business
operations, of a responsible party, considering factors that include—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDdcf13e4a43f94369bf17c23a22ef6079"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">retention of the same facilities or
location;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa333062b062549caa6d7c81d774f249d"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">retention of the same employees;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID783d6d3fa085471fb217ca39b5da8033"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maintaining the same job under the same
working conditions;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDab3c5bf620ce411b84cc0e34f2852961"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">retention of the same supervisory
personnel;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDbea995a495dc495f9f9ea4fcf8b148ca"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">continuity of assets;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1ac534a0c4554ba7b2967a7ff21a65e2"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">production of the same product or offer of
the same service;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3ddd80dd1df44cc29ad3be8f50c5e143"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">retention of the same name;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1fe453ce4c954540b7e22ee8fe08e234"><enum>(H)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">maintenance of the same customer
base;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7036e8fa6cb94523a09f34b377cf14ec"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">identity of stocks, stockholders, and
directors between the asset seller and the purchaser; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9a761f015dfb4eaebf144807a6191066"><enum>(J)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">whether the successor holds itself out as
continuation of previous enterprise, but expressly does not include whether the
person actually knew of the liability of the responsible party under this
title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></section><subtitle commented="no" id="idDE56EA04363C44328CB27A860B956235" level-type="subsequent"><enum>A</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Office of Deepwater Horizon Claims
Compensation</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7c2c611be85e42bea925fc662420f590" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>111.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment of Office of Deepwater
Horizon Claims Compensation</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9ed9060ce0ab49488e000579d8a88526"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3ca409b11b02412398d8d5328facd4df"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">There is established within the Department
the Office of Deepwater Horizon Claims Compensation, which shall be headed by
the Administrator.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID808b7f5b4dce41908f674ae643840dd2"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Purpose</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The purpose of the Office shall be to
provide timely, fair compensation, under the terms specified in this title, on
a no-fault basis and in a nonadversarial manner, to persons and State or local
governments that have incurred damages as a result of the Deepwater Horizon
incident.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd39d9eb8ae7f4f36b24435d65a342908"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Termination of the Office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Office shall terminate effective not
later than 1 year following the date of certification by the Administrator that
the Fund has neither paid a claim in the previous 1-year period nor has debt
obligations remaining to pay.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe5df68174b2240908baca0b995f33430"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Fund shall be available to the
Secretary for expenditure, without further appropriation and without fiscal
year limitation, as necessary for any and all expenses associated with the
Office, including—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd6abb9e1ea2f41019b4ad40268c2ea05"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">personnel salaries and expenses, including
retirement and similar benefits; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2babdee9e1d54151a0c184eaef641419"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all administrative and legal
expenses.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID60e8e69910dd46bdb38548de0d220526"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointment of Administrator</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9c56c955b42644688332d40f8892aef7"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator of the Office shall be
appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the
Senate.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id3F7E7F9196B54E9F8124A39A87677FBA"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Term</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term of the Administrator shall be 5
years.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1190ca2438d94998bf988d0855154f29"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reporting</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall report directly to
the Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management, and Budget of the
Department.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDc66585bc09614dd0a63e66597a2b2992"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duties of Administrator</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID522c7feba3764638a772717abbe93107"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall be responsible
for—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa5c8e6ad544b46e3ac2bc09d4f3ac47f"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">processing claims for compensation for
damages to eligible claimants in accordance with the criteria and procedures
established under subtitle B;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0605464073a24dd2b8fe0edf938417b6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">appointing or contracting for the services
of such personnel, making such expenditures, and taking any other actions as
may be necessary to carry out the responsibilities of the Office, including
entering into cooperative agreements with other Federal or State agencies and
entering into contracts with nongovernmental entities;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDfd5197da50a0440ab5308a78cf16132f"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">conducting such audits and additional
oversight as necessary to assure the integrity of the compensation
program;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4ad1685b4fce4bc0bfc28e4b7127e851"><enum>(D)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">promulgating such rules, regulations, and
procedures as may be necessary to carry out this title;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb7df15d04a1644749c9be6c4aae7a3bc"><enum>(E)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">making such expenditures as may be
necessary in carrying out this title;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9150d4adf99349a79dc8cc0d29671731"><enum>(F)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">excluding evidence and disqualifying or
debarring any attorney or other individual or entity who provide evidence in
support of the application of the claimant for compensation if the
Administrator determines that materially false, fraudulent, or fictitious
statements or practices have been submitted or engaged in by the individual or
entity; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7c38147d60754a88996abd28de101f84"><enum>(G)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">having all other powers incidental,
necessary, or appropriate to carrying out the functions of the Office.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2ae7b9c3e48f414a954615024c0a2d8e"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Certain enforcement</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2CC6C28CC803429785885AD80A0D586C"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">False statements</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For each infraction described in paragraph
(1)(F), the Administrator may impose a civil penalty not to exceed $10,000 on
any individual or entity found to have submitted or engaged in a materially
false, fraudulent, or fictitious statement or practice under this title.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2B51474389DA426DA6036D55FD7C8140"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other powers</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall issue appropriate
regulations to carry out paragraph (1)(G).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID475a1b15d6ce43b3ab5d5748d4d748cc"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Audit and personnel review
procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator
shall establish audit and personnel review procedures for evaluating the
accuracy of eligibility recommendations of agency and contract
personnel.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID47292169d6874faa956a1074dbb32bf3" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>112.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Claimant assistance</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1c8c39ffb4b1431e8dd59cdb1c04ecec"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish a comprehensive
claimant assistance program—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDcf249e3f5b634ff1831f249b22f4f1bf"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to publicize and provide information to
potential claimants about—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4BAE2B4B68DB4A668B2FBCB980C786A4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the availability of benefits for eligible
claimants under this title; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9DA14F61DBB84F38956B227020C8BE61"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the procedures for filing claims and for
obtaining assistance in filing claims;</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDfd7778a2159c43539340e6626d0d4329"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to provide assistance to potential
claimants in preparing and submitting claims, including assistance in obtaining
the documentation necessary to support a claim;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd39d1fae0c2e46088cc188654e08d151"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to respond to inquiries from claimants and
potential claimants;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0f064f91955141ce82992aa84e66f52c"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to provide training with respect to the
applicable procedures for the preparation and filing of claims to persons who
provide assistance or representation to claimants, including nonprofit
organizations and State and local government entities; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4a48be2ce1c04a3eb3ca8e53e3df4dae"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">to provide for the establishment of a
website on which claimants may access all relevant forms and
information.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7b54378bfbf04f088b8bf81a1c4ab0d5"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Resource centers</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id041B2C1E60F74A11A56738CFEA4B7063"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The claimant assistance program shall
provide for the establishment of resource centers in areas in which there are
determined to be large concentrations of potential claimants.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id92D49C045F6845C08C0CF3DAD137F51F"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Location</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The centers shall be located, to the
maximum extent practicable, in facilities of the Department or other Federal
agencies.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID78cd180ba48747c7a223f3cd1de09f15"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Attorney’s fees</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID35720f1c3e8848d7bfb073e05aed7d12"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the representative of an individual may not receive, for services rendered in
connection with the claim of an individual under this title, more than 5
percent of a final award made (whether by the Administrator initially or as a
result of administrative review) on the claim.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5ee070bda59c40a1b03df8133f8526d7"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Penalty</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any representative of a claimant who
violates this subsection shall be fined not more than the greater of—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDefed1c84b1af41dd90da8a32f46eac3f"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">$5,000; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf03719fc83cf4348b2970a0313c8ba78"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">twice the amount received by the
representative for services rendered in connection with each violation.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID20a5260f12f144ec802d630e87382c2b" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>113.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Compensation program startup</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID48b8bae293ea4c02a3f3c56b9daf42cf"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interim regulations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall issue interim regulations and
procedures for the processing of claims under this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDfa2b4fe6b46444abba0b5ce2680c1af0"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interim personnel</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8CE1AFA24FDD496080DCCE35EF99E1C8"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Secretary and the Assistant Secretary
for Policy, Management, and Budget of the Department may make available to the
Administrator on a temporary basis such personnel and other resources as may be
necessary to facilitate the expeditious startup of the compensation
program.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE436C857CBCE40FD9710443ACED88C66"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Contracts</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may contract with
individuals or entities having relevant experience to assist in the expeditious
startup of the compensation program.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDdcbf8fe024b3443c8b88ef2e1c9fd00e"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Extreme financial hardship
claims</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In the final
regulations promulgated under section 111(c), the Administrator shall designate
categories of claims to be handled on an expedited basis as a result of extreme
financial hardship.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe3e8e4aeabcf4d8b859b76be12665676"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Interim Administrator</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Until an Administrator is appointed and
confirmed under section 111(b), the responsibilities of the Administrator under
this title shall be performed by the Assistant Secretary for Policy,
Management, and Budget of the Department, who shall have all the authority
conferred by this title on the Administrator and who shall be considered to be
the Administrator for purposes of this title.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4d94d984710e41ac9af6ed53a65c89c2"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Stay of claims; return to tort
system</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9061649b5aba4627bd0e955dc9794484"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Stay of claims</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb2ca2172823f46b19e9b16193d0d3298"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Pending actions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this
title, any claim for damages pending in any Federal or State court for monetary
damages related to the Deepwater Horizon incident as of the date of enactment
of this Act shall be subject to a stay.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDeee699c084a541fd9cb2dfe8a522fd46"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Future
actions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any
other provision of this title, any claim for damages filed in any Federal or
State court for monetary damages related to the Deepwater Horizon incident
after the date of enactment of this Act shall be subject to a stay 60 days
after the date of the filing of the claim, unless the claimant has filed an
election to pursue the claim for damages in the Federal or State court under
paragraph (2).</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID68be246bfdb749b582a593fbbafb4c5f"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Claims</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To be eligible for a claim, any person or
State that has filed a timely claim seeking a judgment or order for monetary
damages related to the Deepwater Horizon incident in any Federal or State court
before, on, or after the date of enactment of this Act, shall file with the
Administrator and serve on all defendants in the pending court action an
election to pursue the claim for damages under this title or continue to pursue
the claim in the Federal or State court—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3f051572044d469191cfaa991129eaad"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, if the claim was filed in a Federal or State court
before the date of enactment of this Act; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDbef63cb6d4524be28a369b1487f929d1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">not later than 60 days after the date of
the filing of the claim, if the claim is filed in a Federal or State court on
or after the date of enactment of this Act.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4b620845868b499d95a5819583bbd74e"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Stay</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Until the claimant files an election under
paragraph (2) to continue to pursue the claim in the Federal or State court,
the stay under paragraph (1) shall remain in effect.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa30bb08f18f44c67b52b20fc4dd06706"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effect of election</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24C63331E9BD4C879E828F1C5DE0E7F0"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any claimant that has elected to pursue a
claim for damages in Federal or State court under paragraph (2) shall not be
eligible for an award for those damages under section 131.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6C558EE399DF4D1F9368BCEE142375F4"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Stay of claim</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any claim seeking a judgment or order for
monetary damages relating to the Deepwater Horizon incident in any Federal or
State court filed by a claimant that has received a judgment for damages under
this title for that claim shall be permanently stayed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6438df7f672440bfad72ec03b120de15"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effect of operational or nonoperational
fund</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2e69e81f160547c0b2f2356673c9d2b5"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Reinstatement of claims</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If, after 270 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator cannot certify to Congress that the
Office is operational and paying claims at a reasonable rate, each person or
State that has filed a claim stayed under this subsection may continue the
claims of the person or State in the court in which the case was pending prior
to the stay.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9135b928e08e4985a869555fe306c246"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Operational office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Administrator subsequently certifies
to Congress that the Office has become operational and paying all valid claims
at a reasonable rate, any claim in a civil action in Federal or State court
that is not actually on trial before a jury that has been impaneled and
presentation of evidence has commenced, but before deliberation, or before a
judge and is at the presentation of evidence, may, at the option of the
claimant, be considered a reinstated claim before the Administrator and the
civil action before the Federal or State court shall be null and void.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2ecf807bf3d04212b6d671f3cacf624a"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Nonoperational office</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of this
title, if the Administrator certifies to Congress that the Office cannot become
operational and paying all valid claims at a reasonable rate, all claims that
have a stay may be filed or reinstated.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3d9bfcb810cf46daa282acf756beff60" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>114.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Authority of Administrator</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">On any matter within the jurisdiction of the
Administrator under this title, the Administrator may—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe6942661cc1645d1a82938d035592212"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">issue subpoenas for and compel the
attendance of witnesses within a radius of 200 miles;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID78300c099dca4cf283d72729a7bfd7a4"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">administer oaths;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7bad657f6ae444f68f824de1408cc729"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">examine witnesses;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID73bc2cfc81524fe2ad2d9f296abd28b7"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">require the production of books, papers,
documents, and other potential evidence; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID604957ca0ea24c489519c7cdcf96cf1a"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">request assistance from other Federal
agencies with the performance of the duties of the Administrator under this
title.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd88f6a4e65b44b328bdd3b5cd50e0553" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>115.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Advisory Committee on Deepwater Horizon
Compensation</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID13013ad017a146cd97171946b12c2cc7"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Establishment</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6bd7c30641de4b8f9ffeb7cb9f505c7c"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 120 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Administrator shall establish an Advisory Committee
on Deepwater Horizon Compensation.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8a1fd58a764e43f29b6e54c82a9094bd"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Composition and appointment</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idBBC52798E8574FFEAC856B1213FBED3D"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Advisory Committee shall be composed of
24 members, appointed in accordance with this paragraph.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID988d1c9f23cb46a592ef52066ba6f6b9"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Legislative appointments</header>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id811D5E13701D41D688638E749F55BFEB"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Majority Leader of the Senate, the
Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and
the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives shall each appoint 4
members to the Advisory Committee.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1FB38C58DF8C476FBCA621FBC9E833F1"><enum>(ii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Representation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Of the 4 members appointed by each Member
under clause (i)—</text>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6d02e99309514396b477f94de9b67e14"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">2 members shall represent the interests of
claimants; and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID355021bc1c9e43219988e9f8d389d768"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">2 members shall represent the interests of
responsible parties.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDbef6513c4de84786b8cf7740d6d6f5e2"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Appointments by Administrator</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall appoint 8 members
to the Advisory Committee, who shall be individuals with qualifications and
expertise relevant to the compensation program, including experience or
expertise in marine or coastal ecology, oil spill remediation, fisheries
management, administering compensation programs, or audits.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4c6be5430c0d47ef9e7e44cbee2e826d"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Duties</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Advisory Committee shall advise the
Administrator on—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDc9647a2b68ba4a088ac807938e4a0e18"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">claims filing and claims processing
procedures;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID75ec1be9ae744ffbb783e307b43fc255"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">claimant assistance programs;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID1f123a3476e949ffbec9567cc93f32f5"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">audit procedures and programs to ensure the
quality and integrity of the compensation program;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0faac106838f4b7fa1c3eec579b44383"><enum>(4)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">analyses or research that should be
conducted to evaluate past claims and to project future claims under the
compensation program; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID40010cd5e85843d7a917c3e6ae4130d0"><enum>(5)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">such other matters related to the
implementation of this title as the Administrator considers appropriate.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID52a92d4575674bcb9c3a4980e5d55d94"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Operation of Committee</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDbf95e798ac7b44a88fe568ea326f2619"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Term</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The term of a member of the Advisory
Committee shall be 3 years.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7b15dd037dc6422592e9a28c2ef3ac80"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Chairperson and Vice
Chairperson</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator
shall designate a Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Advisory Committee
from among the members appointed under subsection (a)(2)(C).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa57a84edaf144e3d8b50145db9302307"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Meetings</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Advisory Committee shall meet—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8EE90BC75B864B24801FA5343BDBB240"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at the call of the Chairperson or a
majority of the members of the Advisory Committee; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4274C3E8897746278DFE123A145F83D1"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">at least—</text>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9B7C35EF3E6D4D00A36BD739DD0EA5C7"><enum>(i)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">4 times per year during the first 3 years
of the compensation program; and</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4A5E94F076154CFDA4F5F5813E6180DF"><enum>(ii)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">2 times per year thereafter.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7c3cb51b9b0244c5a2f68801d2cf601a"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Information</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id68657F06B3454000880B7F4DCAE9DF0A"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall provide to the
Advisory Committee such information as is necessary and appropriate for the
Advisory Committee to carry out this section.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id74EAA5FBCDA4490181B17616913FC43A"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other agencies</header>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDE10C4E047CE45D1B81DFBA01ED05A62"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On request of the Advisory Committee, the
Administrator may secure directly from any Federal, State, or local department
or agency such information as may be necessary to enable the Advisory Committee
to carry out this section.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id21EDE12281AB411B8B8A3824BA75A2C8"><enum>(ii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Provision of information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">On request of the Administrator, the head
of the department or agency described in clause (i) shall furnish such
information to the Advisory Committee.</text>
</clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID315fb8ca1e2346a4adf8d8046adb5650"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administrative support</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall provide the
Advisory Committee with such administrative support as is reasonably necessary
to enable the Advisory Committee to carry out this section.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDcb51fc7a1fbc48b787d758fa5985d1b1"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expenses</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A member of the Advisory Committee, other
than a full-time Federal employee, while attending a meeting of the Advisory
Committee or while otherwise serving at the request of the Administrator, and
while serving away from the home or regular place of business of the member,
shall be allowed travel and meal expenses, including per diem in lieu of
subsistence, as authorized by section 5703 of title 5, United States Code, for
individuals in the Federal Government serving without pay.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle commented="no" id="idFC512D13FE074053883382622013C44B" level-type="subsequent"><enum>B</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deepwater Horizon compensation
procedures</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1E5C5C438E344970903CCA78BBDB1DC5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>121.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Essential elements of eligible
claim</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To be eligible for an
award under this title for damages, a claimant shall—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDccfa00d8b3164ccca6916465b26f921a"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">file a claim in a timely manner in
accordance with section 123; and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3a2885128ea348f196ef0ae8d60b1170"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">prove, by a preponderance of the evidence,
that the claimant has suffered damages as a result of the Deepwater Horizon
incident.</text>
</paragraph></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5638f3844c0f4caf9bc59fdf0edd9c6d" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>122.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">General rule concerning no-fault
compensation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">To be eligible
for an award under this title for damages, a claimant shall not be required to
demonstrate that the damages for which the claim is being made resulted from
the negligence or other fault of any other person.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3e401adac1de429597c50dc6e88799cc" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>123.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Filing of claims</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID19737d28dba44094b4b1a3aee8db309b"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Eligible claimants</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID86b0c93018a14569bbf10e1371c9a3e9"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any person or State that has suffered
damage as a result of the Deepwater Horizon incident may file a claim with the
Office for an award with respect to the damage.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5af9f3aafebb43baad80ef30714d1f80"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A claim may not be filed by any person or
State under this title for contribution or indemnity.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4be60b56e37f4578a364ca2e90e07f77"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Statute of limitations</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as otherwise provided in this
subsection, if a person or State fails to file a claim with the Office under
this section during the 5-year period beginning on the date on which the person
or State first discovered facts that would have led a reasonable person to
conclude that damage had occurred, any claim relating to the damage, and any
other claim related to that damage, shall be extinguished, and any recovery on
the damage shall be prohibited.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID090f92fc884b41fda59a93fe52e8c5a8"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Future claims not precluded</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Filing of a claim under subsection (a)
shall not preclude the filing of additional claims for damages arising from the
Deepwater Horizon incident that are manifest at a later date.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDbdb24f6bb7e94a12a5406e9e917824e5"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Required information</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A claim filed under subsection (a) shall be
in such form, and contain such information in such detail, as the Administrator
shall by regulation prescribe.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4a200345e68e40038485f8a8862dddbf"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Date
of filing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A claim shall be
considered to be filed on the date that the claimant mails the claim to the
Office, as determined by postmark, or on the date that the claim is received by
the Office, whichever is the earliest determinable date.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa58837efe7324d1ba3738b3f2832cd7d"><enum>(f)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Incomplete claims</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9DC63195981345CE9863861593AD2962"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a claim filed under subsection (a) is
incomplete, the Administrator shall notify the claimant of the information
necessary to complete the claim and inform the claimant of such services as may
be available through the claimant assistance program established under section
112 to assist the claimant in completing the claim.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id471B915D0B2C4FBDB6DD3940377AAB29"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Time periods</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id8BB84F4EA81F41E5B965D815F3886EB2"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as provided in subparagraph (B), any
time period for the processing of the claim shall be suspended until such time
as the claimant submits the information necessary to complete the claim.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id472A0BBEB5B441D7B7299D393451C44B"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Deadline</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the information described in
subparagraph (A) is not received during the 1-year period beginning on the date
of the notification, the claim shall be dismissed.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID847711e3073243a7998c6c5cdc81ccf1" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>124.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Eligibility determinations and claim
awards</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID323db5212ac14608aeedd6153f924d88"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa7cc0e92260e40a19336d2d7a3c5ed2c"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review of claims</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator shall, in accordance with
this section, determine whether each claim filed satisfies the requirements for
eligibility for an award under this title and, if so, the value of the
award.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5F26F972D4DF427892644DB9C45143E6"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Factors</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">In making a determination under paragraph
(1), the Administrator shall consider—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7449D3D4FC054F1F8F6CC44955D989EF"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the claim presented by the claimant;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id7ED5237AA48C4CAA8EF2815DCD1A2A6B"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the factual evidence submitted by the
claimant in support of the claim; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idAB39BB33148C4FA3BFF3B1FDB8352963"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the results of such investigation as the
Administrator may consider necessary to determine whether the claim satisfies
the criteria for eligibility established by this title.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa4d933df4b16412ca5900984b7c2596d"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Additional evidence</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA0FCB726F00C44AF8ECEE39C636EFFC8"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The Administrator may request the
submission of evidence in addition to the minimum requirements of section 123
if necessary to make a determination of eligibility for an award.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD7C68D3764ED47459CB16F2551C88EE8"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Cost</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the Administrator requests additional
evidence under subparagraph (A), the cost of obtaining the additional evidence
shall be borne by the Office.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID297111a923ca416dbc2e218b2156b6fd"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Proposed decisions</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC1DF97292A414EBA87E63A09A359D29A"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 90 days after the date of
the filing of a claim, the Administrator shall provide to the parties a
proposed decision—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id23F77DEDBF36401BBA093CEDE22FE0F4"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">accepting or rejecting the claim in whole
or in part; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idDA198932756347799720FB7F6DC0D9E9"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">specifying the amount of any proposed
award.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id970F675F76354D47AC99CD04AB05BCCF"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Form</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The proposed decision shall—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6D4E08E33E3F4B069B0214FE23592BCF"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">be in writing;</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id87FB61F0C9024533899FEF4DAF5365F8"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">contain findings of fact and conclusions of
law; and</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id24936235C7CC41C5A9447489C19437DA"><enum>(C)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">contain an explanation of the procedure for
obtaining review of the proposed decision.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID864e2cd38c95434490d99f8dbfeac008"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review of proposed decisions</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID56d35d5399624c5294366d1a81f4ed87"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Right to hearing</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe6e6bf78f4404a44992c1e7a6d92f95c"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any party not satisfied with a proposed
decision of the Administrator under subsection (b) shall be entitled, on
written request made not later than 90 days after the date of the issuance of
the decision, to a hearing on the claim of the claimant before a representative
of the Administrator.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD6D725239CDF468EBC9F0235A2E303B3"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Testimony</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">At the hearing, the party shall be entitled
to present oral evidence and written testimony in further support of the
claim.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5ef6b81e82cc40138cc126c3aa1dbf97"><enum>(C)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Conduct of hearing</header>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idD3221755428A4A01B45B93F72B847BD6"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The hearing shall, to the maximum extent
practicable, be conducted at a time and place convenient for the
claimant.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFA21C21C11E34A119947C41E72DF18AF"><enum>(ii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Except as otherwise provided in this title,
in conducting the hearing, the representative of the Administrator shall
conduct the hearing in a manner that best determines the rights of the parties
and shall not be bound by—</text>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idC65F652837DB4E2BAEFEC3EC1FB7D6D4"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">common law or statutory rules of
evidence;</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB4D11AC2E185472F8820DB5FB0F901FB"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">technical or formal rules of procedure;
or</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idA818270734984503A7FF5E952A8752FC"><enum>(III)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">section 554 of title 5, United States
Code.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9CF8C46CB3AB4E2A95768B08D5B735B9"><enum>(iii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Evidence</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of clause (ii), the
representative of the Administrator shall receive such relevant evidence as the
claimant adduces and such other evidence as the representative determines
necessary or useful in evaluating the claim.</text>
</clause></subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID5106edafbb0645b6ba55f21e60c81491"><enum>(D)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Request for subpoenas</header>
<clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID801242138c4f45a6a76ca51c7175c07a"><enum>(i)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to clause (iv), a party may request
a representative of the Administrator to issue a subpoena but the decision to
grant or deny the request is within the discretion of the
representative.</text>
</clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2F7832B092F246E2848B97C1EAC9ADBC"><enum>(ii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subpoenas</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subject to clause (iii), the representative
may issue subpoenas for—</text>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id23759945F81F4DBF8A0E9059B98FD116"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the attendance and testimony of witnesses;
and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id1B671FD9D2FA4904B42DA004F2A48856"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the production of books, records,
correspondence, papers, or other relevant documents.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idB565610A7C684E708B4D95AD4F5B3F6D"><enum>(iii)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Prerequisites</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subpoenas may be issued for documents under
this subparagraph only if —</text>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id65C74D26975E4D05B8932FADFB8769A5"><enum>(I)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of documents, the documents are
relevant and cannot be obtained by other means; and</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFFE2743F1E52423A9B479314F873F76A"><enum>(II)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">in the case of witnesses, oral testimony is
the best way to ascertain the facts.</text>
</subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2abc2102d0d64f398508367fafc7da38"><enum>(iv)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Request</header>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id5F531BC1A3FF4B01AB765763D2158E85"><enum>(I)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Hearing process</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A party may request a subpoena under this
subparagraph only as part of the hearing process.</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id08778A7CDE5246FDAC79AF549F3EF45B"><enum>(II)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Form</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">To request a subpoena, the requester
shall—</text>
<item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDde7e92b0d2fb4d1a985a16cf144383c3"><enum>(aa)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">submit the request in writing and send the
to the representative as early as practicable, but not later than 30 days,
after the date of the original hearing request; and</text>
</item><item commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa19348c4f361432d8313705c427f03d8"><enum>(bb)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">explain why the testimony or evidence is
directly relevant to the issues at hand, and a subpoena is the best method or
opportunity to obtain the evidence because there are no other means by which
the documents or testimony could have been obtained.</text>
</item></subclause></clause><clause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID9a34fbdc6cac46ba83a2a61b8d836306"><enum>(v)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fees and mileage</header>
<subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id54F4AD81776F4A7DA9719F38D0850DE2"><enum>(I)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any person required by a subpoena to attend
as a witness shall be allowed and paid the same fees and mileage as are paid
witnesses in the district courts of the United States.</text>
</subclause><subclause commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id886B75BCD6064175BE4B8890CB2851FF"><enum>(II)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Fund</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The fees and mileage shall be paid from the
Fund.</text>
</subclause></clause></subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID8b583f10fae44fc99f30462fc2abf731"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Review of written record</header>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0EA6B3AEAFB447328837829C3A0B7519"><enum>(A)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Instead of a hearing under paragraph (1),
any party not satisfied with a proposed decision of the Administrator shall
have the option, on written request made not later than 90 days after the date
of the issuance of the decision, of obtaining a review of the written record by
a representative of the Administrator.</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0CF02786950B46A6B95C9D87230733F5"><enum>(B)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Opportunity to be heard</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If a review is requested under subparagraph
(A), the parties shall be afforded an opportunity to submit any written
evidence or argument that the claimant believes relevant.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb590ab663a784c14a17ed3d38beca898"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Final decisions</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID47464cee85bf41eeb27409cf8f7ce036"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the period of time for requesting review
of the proposed decision expires and no request has been filed, or if the
parties waive any objections to the proposed decision, the Administrator shall
issue a final decision.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id76D82D80DF614D729CC07D321B850E2A"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Variance from proposed
decision</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the decision
materially differs from the proposed decision, the parties shall be entitled to
review of the decision under subsection (c).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDfcade16c240442bdb25c9f80acc71fca"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Timing</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">If the parties request review of all or
part of the proposed decision the Administrator shall issue a final decision on
the claim not later than—</text>
<subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id90EF72BBB3D34259986EE807628F8C2E"><enum>(A)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">180 days after the date the request for
review is received, if a party requests a hearing; or</text>
</subparagraph><subparagraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id713D36364E9E4819867A07B6761FD7C6"><enum>(B)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">90 days after the date the request for
review is received, if the claimant requests review of the written
record.</text>
</subparagraph></paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id0671522FFE3547498A899C4E1CB2049D"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Content</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The decision shall be in writing and
contain findings of fact and conclusions of law.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID77fca57acad1477ea171cf1c3f18ced7"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Representation</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A party may authorize an attorney or other
individual to represent the party in any proceeding under this title.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle commented="no" id="id87399AE660B544769CD9BE1B88C3687B" level-type="subsequent"><enum>C</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Awards</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0447a893111443239e1988581be36ea5" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>131.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Amount</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDcb3ee26987d94ec6acd2ed4158f75e01"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A claimant that meets the requirements of
section 121 shall be entitled to an award in an amount equal to the damages
specified in subsection (b) sustained as a result of Deepwater Horizon
incident.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6b41d9d074db44da9d22526e94e28c05"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Covered damages</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">For purposes of subsection (a), covered
damages shall be 1 or more of the following types of damages (if
applicable):</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDf897204e86074359b9b505e76967cd08"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Real or personal property</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages for injury to, or economic losses
resulting from destruction of, real or personal property, which shall be
recoverable by a claimant who owns or leases that property.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID03293998e5794e5691040d3e7b0a7349"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subsistence use</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages for loss of subsistence use of
natural resources, which shall be recoverable by any claimant who so uses
natural resources that have been injured, destroyed, or lost, without regard to
the ownership or management of the resources.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDae0e0fa183a04e6ebc6750598224d32d"><enum>(3)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Revenues</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages equal to the net loss of taxes,
royalties, rents, fees, or net profit shares due to the injury, destruction, or
loss of real property, personal property, or natural resources, which shall be
recoverable by a State or a political subdivision of a State.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDb86f84aa425045eeb9fac1a65ba5ad08"><enum>(4)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Profits and earning capacity</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages equal to the loss of profits or
impairment of earning capacity due to the injury, destruction, or loss of real
property, personal property, or natural resources, which shall be recoverable
by any claimant.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID98df8f1d821c4d1e8b11975e64710ba5"><enum>(5)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Public services</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Damages for net costs of providing
increased or additional public services during or after removal activities,
including protection from fire, safety, or health hazards, caused by a
discharge of oil, which shall be recoverable by a State or a political
subdivision of a State.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID111090f90ea8497c81e296088701cb24" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>132.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Payment</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID3c3e617ab9584fc999bf804f6d77920a"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Payments</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Not later than 30 days after a final
determination of an award under this title, a claimant that is entitled to an
award under this title shall receive the amount of the award through payments
from the responsible parties.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDa48d613888954b91b36b1a183c33fe5e"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Limitation on transferability</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A claim filed under this title shall not be
assignable or otherwise transferable under this title.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID89d6817eb1294edda30dcd2e81a8ce28" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>133.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Setoffs for collateral source compensation
and prior awards</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">The amount of
an award otherwise available to a claimant under this title shall be reduced by
the amount of collateral source compensation.</text>
</section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID6166f70d4ccd4c4fb46d7869ce00c32b" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>134.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Subrogation</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">Any person that pays compensation pursuant
to this title to any claimant for damages shall be subrogated to all rights,
claims, and causes of action the claimant has under any other law.</text>
</section></subtitle><subtitle commented="no" id="id977160C601504A7FAA47736DE738E122" level-type="subsequent"><enum>D</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Judicial review</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDfee0a10723fb4311b473ea0341e51c1f" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>141.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Judicial review of rules and
regulations</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID7c42c0c0ef62431d9f0357756f34e275"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusive jurisdiction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia Circuit shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any action
to review rules or regulations promulgated by the Administrator under this
title.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDc0db75f5514a4db38985c278803d762a"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Period for filing petition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A petition for review under this section
shall be filed not later than 60 days after the date notice of the promulgation
of the rules or regulations appears in the Federal Register.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID10f0f23583a8471db0ea79ebb7e00820"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States Court of Appeals for the
District of Columbia shall provide for expedited procedures for reviews under
this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd5c0276109c94ac9b7f3a48546510945" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>142.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Judicial review of award decisions</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID2941cac97e354a1baa1444cb4fa948cc"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any claimant or responsible party adversely
affected or aggrieved by a final decision of the Administrator awarding or
denying compensation under this title may petition for judicial review of the
decision.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFF91963F3124441DB2F82B9906EA99FC"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Period for filing petition</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Any petition for review under this section
shall be filed not later than 90 days after the date of issuance of a final
decision of the Administrator.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID4d5d02be77f446e78a8f298933f47aea"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusive jurisdiction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A petition for review may only be filed in
the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the claimant
resides at the time of the issuance of the final order.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDc582c14bc9054256b2bcd6a6049680f0"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Standard of review</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The court shall uphold the decision of the
Administrator unless the court determines, on review of the record as a whole,
that the decision is not supported by substantial evidence, is contrary to law,
or is not in accordance with procedure required by law.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID509c561c7a3844078790bb1086f61a90"><enum>(e)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States Court of Appeals shall
provide for expedited procedures for reviews under this section.</text>
</subsection></section><section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDe5ef3ba2cb584523bec601317c5ab5cc" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>143.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Other judicial challenges</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID0e694a00b0934b98bbb9d4d72b4f6216"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Exclusive jurisdiction</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The United States District Court for the
District of Columbia shall have exclusive jurisdiction over any action for
declaratory or injunctive relief challenging any provision of this
title.</text>
</subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id568058F6D8EC42129C64A0BAF0963AF8"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Period for filing petitions</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">An action under this section shall be filed
not later than the later of—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6476B97C13354282856D7571186F25BE"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date that is 60 days after the date of
enactment of this Act; or</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id4D16E550EF9249BB8AEA469D85566133"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">the date that is 60 days after the final
action by the Administrator or the Office giving rise to the action.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDbbf1864770cb4139a8177794ef8536e9"><enum>(c)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Direct appeal</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id11DB6CAD923A4D609193562F361942CA"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">A final decision in the action shall be
reviewable on appeal directly to the Supreme Court.</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id2311A2BFA1C7449DAAFF58405BA547FA"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Administration</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">The appeal shall be taken by the filing of
a notice of appeal not later than 30 days, and the filing of a jurisdictional
statement not later than 60 days, after the date of the entry of the final
decision.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID87d9dc70da064661b11575b3eef9c619"><enum>(d)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Expedited procedures</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">It is the sense of Congress that the
Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the District of Columbia
are urged to advance on the docket and otherwise expedite, to the maximum
extent practicable, the disposition of an action covered by this
section.</text>
</subsection></section></subtitle><subtitle commented="no" id="id59DC03DEF6D44F708AAFDAFBAA5ECC1E" level-type="subsequent"><enum>E</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effect on other laws</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDd59a0fadceee4279a411d3b97c218fcd" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>151.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Effect on other laws</header><text display-inline="no-display-inline">This title shall supersede any Federal or
State law to the extent that the law relates to any claim for damages
compensated under this title.</text>
</section></subtitle><enum>II</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Liability</header>
<section commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idFE84E2C89D91456091C5AA090F52F700" section-type="subsequent-section"><enum>201.</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Liability for Deepwater Horizon oil
spill</header>
<subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id6902545C8D084C89B1E1988F2622ED48"><enum>(a)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Congress finds that—</text>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="idE8037DB5FFAC41CE8F4D1985EE06A294"><enum>(1)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">executives of British Petroleum Exploration
& Production, Incorporated (referred to in this section as <term>BP</term>)
testified before Congress in May 2010 that BP would pay all legitimate claims
relating to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill that exceed existing
applicable economic liability limitations;</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="ID088941e105fb403ebe863d56ff3341f0"><enum>(2)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">a letter from the Group Chief Executive of
BP to the Secretaries of Homeland Security and the Interior dated May 16, 2010,
states in part that BP is <quote>prepared to pay above $75 million</quote> on
<quote>all legitimate claims</quote> relating to that explosion and oil spill;
and</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id259B30C2BC9E4F10A1F5AF2D7DCC7C59"><enum>(3)</enum><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">all documented legitimate claims pursuant
to the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (33 U.S.C. 2701 et seq.) for economic damages
relating to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and oil spill should be paid by BP
without limit on liability.</text>
</paragraph></subsection><subsection commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDcf6615e25b3940bc8168f610f562ae1a"><enum>(b)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Directive to Secretary of the
Interior</header>
<paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="id9C324A25D15F4F3FBB4F801EDC6882B7"><enum>(1)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">In general</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
the Secretary of the Interior (referred to in this section as the
<quote>Secretary</quote>) shall renegotiate the terms of the lease known as
<quote>Mississippi Canyon 252</quote> to reflect statements made by BP in the
letter described in subsection (a)(2).</text>
</paragraph><paragraph commented="no" display-inline="no-display-inline" id="IDc156f3d19e8f4a1096802459ff21e83f"><enum>(2)</enum><header display-inline="yes-display-inline">Payment of claims</header><text display-inline="yes-display-inline">As a condition of the renegotiated lease
described in paragraph (1), BP shall pay all damages awarded pursuant to title
I.</text>
</paragraph></subsection></section>
May 26, 2010
Read the second time and placed on the
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