§ 70112. Liability Insurance and Financial Responsibility Requirements
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(a) |
General requirements.— |
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(1) |
When a license is issued or transferred under this chapter, the licensee
or transferee shall obtain liability insurance or demonstrate financial
responsibility in amounts to compensate for the maximum probable loss from
claims by—
(A)
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a third
party for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from an
activity carried out under the license; and
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(B)
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the United
States Government against a person for damage or loss to Government property
resulting from an activity carried out under the license.
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(2) |
The Secretary of Transportation
shall determine the amounts required under paragraph (1)(A) and (B) of this
subsection, after consulting with the Administrator of the National Aeronautics
and Space Administration, the Secretary of the Air Force, and the heads of
other appropriate executive agencies.
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(3) |
For the total claims related to one launch, a
licensee or transferee is not required to obtain insurance or demonstrate
financial responsibility of more than—
(A)(i)
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$500,000,000
under paragraph (1)(A) of this subsection; or
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(ii)
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$100,000,000
under paragraph (1)(B) of this subsection; or
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(B)
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the maximum
liability insurance available on the world market at reasonable cost if the
amount is less than the applicable amount in clause (A) of this paragraph.
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(4) |
An insurance policy or demonstration
of financial responsibility under this subsection shall protect the following,
to the extent of their potential liability for involvement in launch services,
at no cost to the Government:
(A)
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the
Government.
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(B)
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executive
agencies and personnel, contractors, and subcontractors of the Government.
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(C)
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contractors,
subcontractors, and customers of the licensee or transferee.
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(D)
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contractors
and subcontractors of the customer.
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(b) |
Reciprocal waiver of claims.— |
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(1) |
A license issued or transferred
under this chapter shall contain a provision requiring the licensee or
transferee to make a reciprocal waiver of claims with its contractors,
subcontractors, and customers, and contractors and subcontractors of the
customers, involved in launch services under which each party to the waiver
agrees to be responsible for property damage or loss it sustains, or for
personal injury to, death of, or property damage or loss sustained by its own
employees resulting from an activity carried out under the license.
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(2) |
The Secretary of Transportation shall make, for
the Government, executive agencies of the Government involved in launch
services, and contractors and subcontractors involved in launch services, a
reciprocal waiver of claims with the licensee or transferee, contractors,
subcontractors, and customers of the licensee or transferee, and contractors
and subcontractors of the customers, involved in launch services under which
each party to the waiver agrees to be responsible for property damage or loss
it sustains, or for personal injury to, death of, or property damage or loss
sustained by its own employees resulting from an activity carried out under the
license. The waiver applies only to the extent that claims are more than the
amount of insurance or demonstration of financial responsibility required under
subsection (a)(1)(B) of this section. After consulting with the Administrator
and the Secretary of the Air Force, the Secretary of Transportation may waive,
for the Government and a department, agency, and instrumentality of the
Government, the right to recover damages for damage or loss to Government
property to the extent insurance is not available because of a policy exclusion
the Secretary of Transportation decides is usual for the type of insurance
involved.
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(c) |
Determination of maximum probable losses.—The Secretary of Transportation
shall determine the maximum probable losses under subsection (a)(1)(A) and (B)
of this section associated with an activity under a license not later than 90
days after a licensee or transferee requires a determination and submits all
information the Secretary requires. The Secretary shall amend the determination
as warranted by new information.
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(d) |
Annual report.— |
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(1) |
Not later than November 15 of each
year, the Secretary of Transportation shall submit to the Committee on
Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the Committee on
Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives a report on
current determinations made under subsection (c) of this section related to all
issued licenses and the reasons for the determinations.
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(2) |
Not later than May 15 of each year, the
Secretary of Transportation shall review the amounts specified in subsection
(a)(3)(A) of this section and submit a report to Congress that contains
proposed adjustments in the amounts to conform with changed liability
expectations and availability of insurance on the world market. The proposed
adjustment takes effect 30 days after a report is submitted.
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(e) |
Launches involving Government facilities
and personnel.—The
Secretary of Transportation shall establish requirements consistent with this
chapter for proof of financial responsibility and other assurances necessary to
protect the Government and its executive agencies and personnel from liability,
death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss as a result of a launch or
operation of a launch site involving a facility or personnel of the Government.
The Secretary may not relieve the Government of liability under this subsection
for death, bodily injury, or property damage or loss resulting from the willful
misconduct of the Government or its agents.
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(f) |
Collection and crediting payments.—The head of a department, agency,
or instrumentality of the Government shall collect a payment owed for damage or
loss to Government property under its jurisdiction or control resulting from an
activity carried out under a license issued or transferred under this chapter.
The payment shall be credited to the current applicable appropriation, fund, or
account of the department, agency, or instrumentality.
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