14 U.S.C. § 647 : US Code - Section 647: Claims for damage to property of the United States

Search 14 U.S.C. § 647 : US Code - Section 647: Claims for damage to property of the United States

The Secretary may consider, ascertain, adjust, determine,
compromise, or settle claims for damage cognizable in admiralty in
a district court of the United States and all claims for damage
caused by a vessel or floating object, to property of the United
States under the jurisdiction of the Coast Guard or property for
which the Coast Guard may have assumed, by contract or otherwise,
any obligation to respond for damage thereto. The Secretary is
further authorized to receive in payment of any such claim the
amount due the United States pursuant to determination, compromise,
or settlement as herein authorized and, upon acceptance of such
payment but not until then, such determination, settlement, or
compromise of such claim shall be final and conclusive for all
purposes, any law to the contrary notwithstanding. All such
payments shall be deposited in the Treasury of the United States as
miscellaneous receipts. The Secretary is further authorized to
execute on behalf of the United States and to deliver in exchange
for such payment a full release of such claim. This section, as
respects the determination, compromise, settlement, and payment of
claims, shall be supplementary to, and not in lieu of, all other
provisions of law authorizing the determination, compromise, or
settlement of claims for damage to property hereinabove described.
No settlement or compromise where there is involved a payment in
the net amount of over $100,000 is authorized by this section.