
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
[wais.access.gpo.gov]
[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 49USC15906]

 
                        TITLE 49--TRANSPORTATION
 
                 SUBTITLE IV--INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION
 
                        PART C--PIPELINE CARRIERS
 
     CHAPTER 159--ENFORCEMENT: INVESTIGATIONS, RIGHTS, AND REMEDIES
 
Sec. 15906. Liability of pipeline carriers under receipts and 
        bills of lading
        
    (a) General Liability.--A pipeline carrier providing transportation 
or service subject to this part shall issue a receipt or bill of lading 
for property it receives for transportation under this part. That 
carrier and any other carrier that delivers the property and is 
providing transportation or service subject to jurisdiction under this 
part are liable to the person entitled to recover under the receipt or 
bill of lading. The liability imposed under this subsection is for the 
actual loss or injury to the property caused by the carrier over whose 
line or route the property is transported in the United States or from a 
place in the United States to a place in an adjacent foreign country 
when transported under a through bill of lading. Failure to issue a 
receipt or bill of lading does not affect the liability of a carrier.
    (b) Apportionment.--The carrier issuing the receipt or bill of 
lading under subsection (a) or delivering the property for which the 
receipt or bill of lading was issued is entitled to recover from the 
carrier over whose line or route the loss or injury occurred the amount 
required to be paid to the owners of the property, as evidenced by a 
receipt, judgment, or transcript, and the amount of its expenses 
reasonably incurred in defending a civil action brought by that person.
    (c) Civil Actions.--A civil action under this section may be brought 
against a delivering carrier in a district court of the United States or 
in a State court. Trial, if the action is brought in a district court of 
the United States is in a judicial district, and if in a State court, is 
in a State, through which the defendant carrier operates a line or 
route.
    (d) Minimum Period for Filing Claims.--A pipeline carrier may not 
provide by rule, contract, or otherwise, a period of less than 9 months 
for filing a claim against it under this section and a period of less 
than 2 years for bringing a civil action against it under this section. 
The period for bringing a civil action is computed from the date the 
carrier gives a person written notice that the carrier has disallowed 
any part of the claim specified in the notice. For the purposes of this 
subsection--
        (1) an offer of compromise shall not constitute a disallowance 
    of any part of the claim unless the carrier, in writing, informs the 
    claimant that such part of the claim is disallowed and provides 
    reasons for such disallowance; and
        (2) communications received from a carrier's insurer shall not 
    constitute a disallowance of any part of the claim unless the 
    insurer, in writing, informs the claimant that such part of the 
    claim is disallowed, provides reasons for such disallowance, and 
    informs the claimant that the insurer is acting on behalf of the 
    carrier.

(Added Pub. L. 104-88, title I, Sec. 106(a), Dec. 29, 1995, 109 Stat. 
929.)


                            Prior Provisions

    Provisions similar to those in this section were contained in 
section 11707 of this title prior to the general amendment of this 
subtitle by Pub. L. 104-88, Sec. 102(a).
