Title 33 › CHAPTER 40 — OIL POLLUTION › SUBCHAPTER I — OIL POLLUTION LIABILITY AND COMPENSATION › § 2714
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
Navigation and Navigable Waters, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Legislative History
Reference
Citation
33 U.S.C. § 2714
Title 33, Navigation and Navigable Waters
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110