Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 86.djvu/696

 654

PUBLIC LAW 92-417-AUG. 29, 1972

[86 STAT.

Public Law 92-417 August 29, 1972 [H. R. 8549]

Armed Forces. Admiralty claims against U.S., settlement. 70A Stat. 271.

AN ACT To amend title 10, United' States Code, to broaden the authority of the Secretaries of the military departments to settle certain admiralty claims administratively, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of United States of America in Congress assembled, That title 10, United States Code, is amended as follows: (1) The section heading for section 4802 and section 4802(a) are amended to read as follows: '*§ 4802. Admiralty claims against the United States "(a) The Secretary of the Army may settle or compromise an admiralty claim against the United States for— "(1) damage caused by a vessel of, or in the service of, the Department of the Army or by other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army; "(2) compensation for towage and salvage service, including contract salvage, rendered to a vessel of, or in the service of, the Department of the Army or to other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army; or "(3) damage caused by a maritime tort committed by any agent or employee of the Department of the Army or by property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Army." (2) Chapter 451 is amended by striking out the following item in the analysis: "4802. Damage by United States vessels; towage and salvage of United States vessels."

and inserting the following item in place thereof: •'4802. Admiralty claims against the United States." Salvage claims.

70A Stat. 456.

(3) The text of section 4804 is amended to read as follows: "(a) The Secretary of the Army may settle, or compromise, and receive payment of a claim by the United States for salvage services performed by the Department of the Army. Amounts received under this section shall be covered into the Treasury. "(b) In any case where the amount to be received by the United States is not more than $10,000, the Secretary of the Army may delegate his authority under subsection (a) to any person designated by him." (4) The text of section 7365 is amended to read as follows: "The Secretary of the Navy, or his designee, may consider, ascertain, adjust,, determine, compromise, or settle and receive payment of any claim by the United States for salvage services rendered by the Department of the Navy." (5) Section 7622(a) is amended to read as follows: "(a) The Secretary of the Navy may settle, or compromise, and pay in an amount not more than $1,000,000 an admiralty claim against the United States for— " (1) damage caused by a vessel in the naval service or by other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navy; "(2) compensation for towage and salvage service, including contract salvage, rendered to a vessel in the naval service or to other property under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Navv; or

�