Title 33, Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-110

§2714 Designation of Source and Advertisement

Title 33 › CHAPTER 40 — OIL POLLUTION › SUBCHAPTER I — OIL POLLUTION LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION › § 2714

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

When the President learns about a discharge or a threat, the President must try to identify the source. If the source is a ship or a facility, the President must tell the responsible party and any known guarantor right away. If a notified responsible party or guarantor does not deny the designation within 5 days, they must run ads, under rules set by the President, that name the source and explain how people can file claims. Those ads must start no later than 15 days after the designation and run for at least 30 days. If they do not place the ads, the President will do so and charge their costs to the responsible party or guarantor. The ads must say people may seek interim, short-term partial payments and that taking such a payment does not stop them from later claiming more. If both the responsible party and guarantor deny within 5 days, the source was a public vessel, or the President cannot identify the source, the President must notify potential claimants about how to file claims to the Fund.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §2714

Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Designation of source and notification
When the President receives information of an incident, the President shall, where possible and appropriate, designate the source or sources of the discharge or threat. If a designated source is a vessel or a facility, the President shall immediately notify the responsible party and the guarantor, if known, of that designation.
(b)Advertisement by responsible party or guarantor (c) Advertisement by President
(1)If a responsible party or guarantor fails to inform the President, within 5 days after receiving notification of a designation under subsection (a), of the party’s or the guarantor’s denial of the designation, such party or guarantor shall advertise the designation and the procedures by which claims may be presented, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the President. Advertisement under the preceding sentence shall begin no later than 15 days after the date of the designation made under subsection (a). If advertisement is not otherwise made in accordance with this subsection, the President shall promptly and at the expense of the responsible party or the guarantor involved, advertise the designation and the procedures by which claims may be presented to the responsible party or guarantor. Advertisement under this subsection shall continue for a period of no less than 30 days.
(2)An advertisement under paragraph (1) shall state that a claimant may present a claim for interim, short-term damages representing less than the full amount of damages to which the claimant ultimately may be entitled and that payment of such a claim shall not preclude recovery for damages not reflected in the paid or settled partial claim.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–324 designated existing provisions as par. (1) and added par. (2).

Executive Documents

Delegation of Functions Functions of President under this section delegated to Secretary of Department in which Coast Guard is operating by section 7(d)(2) of Ex. Ord. No. 12777, Oct. 18, 1991, 56 F.R. 54768, set out as a note under section 1321 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 2714

Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110