Liability — Us Code Code § 100722

Us Code Code § 100722 — Liability. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 100722. Liability

(a) In General.—Subject to subsection (c), any person that destroys, causes the loss of, or injures any System unit resource is liable to the United States for response costs and damages resulting from the destruction, loss, or injury.

(b) Liability In Rem.—Any instrumentality, including a vessel, vehicle, aircraft, or other equipment, that destroys, causes the loss of, or injures any System unit resource shall be liable in rem to the United States for response costs and damages resulting from the destruction, loss, or injury to the same extent as a person is liable under subsection (a).

(c) Defenses.—A person is not liable under this section if the person establishes that—

(1) the destruction, loss of, or injury to the System unit resource was caused solely by an act of God or an act of war;

(2) the person acted with due care, and the destruction, loss of, or injury to the System unit resource was caused solely by an act or omission of a 3d party, other than an employee or agent of the person; or

(3) the destruction, loss, or injury to the System unit resource was caused by an activity authorized by Federal or State law.


(d) Scope.—Liability under this section is in addition to any other liability that may arise under Federal or State law.

(Pub. L. 113–287, §3, Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 3107.)

Historical and Revision Notes
Revised

Section

Source (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large)
100722 16 U.S.C. 19jj–1. Pub. L. 101–337, §2, July 27, 1990, 104 Stat. 379; Pub. L. 104–333, div. I, title VIII, §814(h)(3), Nov. 12, 1996, 110 Stat. 4199; Pub. L. 106–176, title I, §120(c), Mar. 10, 2000, 114 Stat. 29.

About This Section

54 U.S.C. § 100722 is part of Title 54 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 54 U.S.C. § 100722. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

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Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

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It addresses "Liability". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

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