16 USC § 1421e - Liability

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t16/s1421e"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "16 USC § 1421e - Liability"
title_number: 16
title_name: "CONSERVATION"
section_number: "1421e"
section_name: "Liability"
chapter_number: 31
chapter_name: "MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION"
subchapter_number: "V"
subchapter_name: "MARINE MAMMAL HEALTH AND STRANDING RESPONSE"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Pub. L. 92–522, title IV, § 406, formerly title III, § 306, as added Pub. L. 102–587, title III, § 3003(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5064; renumbered title IV, § 406, and amended Pub. L. 103–238, § 24(b), (c)(3), (4), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 565, 566; Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title CIV, § 10404, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3984.)"
---


# § 1421e. Liability

**(a)** **In general** A person who is authorized to respond to a stranding or entanglement pursuant to an agreement entered into under section 1382(c) of this title is deemed to be an employee of the Government for purposes of chapter 171 of title 28, with respect to actions of the person that are—

**(1)** in accordance with the agreement; and

**(2)** in the case of an unusual mortality event, in accordance with—

**(A)** the contingency plan issued under section 1421c(b) of this title;

**(B)** the instructions of an Onsite Coordinator designated under section 1421c(c) of this title; or

**(C)** the best professional judgment of an Onsite Coordinator, in the case of any matter that is not covered by the contingency plan.

**(b)** **Limitation** Subsection (a) does not apply to actions of a person described in that subsection that are grossly negligent or that constitute willful misconduct.

---

**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 92–522, title IV, § 406, formerly title III, § 306, as added Pub. L. 102–587, title III, § 3003(a), Nov. 4, 1992, 106 Stat. 5064; renumbered title IV, § 406, and amended Pub. L. 103–238, § 24(b), (c)(3), (4), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 565, 566; Pub. L. 117–263, div. J, title CIV, § 10404, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3984.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2022—Subsec. (a). , in introductory provisions, inserted “or entanglement” after “to a stranding” and substituted “Government” for “government”.

1994—Subsec. (a)(2)(A), (B). , (4), made technical amendment to references to  to reflect renumbering of corresponding section of original act.