It sets forth the procedure for administrative settlement of admiralty and maritime claims in favor of and against the United States.

(a) Admiralty contracts. A contract covering maritime services or a maritime transaction such as vessel procurement and space for commercial ocean transportation of DOD cargo, mail, and personnel is an admiralty contract.

(b) General average. General average is the admiralty rule that when someone's property is thrown overbaord to save a ship, the ship owner and all owners of the cargo must share the loss.

(c) Maritime torts. A maritime tort is one committed in navigable waters or on land or in the air where a substantial element of the damage, personal injury, or death occurred in navigable waters. The activity causing the tortious act must bear some significant relationship to traditional maritime activity.

(d) Vessel. Every description of watercraft used or usable as a means of transportation on water is a vessel. (1 U.S.C. 3)

(a) The following officials have the authority to settle a claim against the Air Force in the amounts provided:

(1) The Secretary of the Air Force has the authority to:

(i) Settle or deny a claim in any amount. Settlements for payment of more than $500,000 are certified to Congress for payment.

(ii) [Reserved]

(2) The following individuals have delegated authority to settle claims for $100,000 or less:

(i) The Judge Advocate General.

(ii) The Deputy Judge Advocate General.

(iii) The Director of Civil Law.

(iv) The Chief and Deputy Chief, Claims and Tort Litigation staff.

(b) Delegation of settlement authority on claims in favor of the United States.

(1) The Secretary of the Air Force has the authority to settle claims for damage to property under the jurisdiction of the Air Force in an amount not to exceed $500,000, and to settle claims for salvage services performed by the Air Force in any amount.

(2) AFLOA/JACC refers all claims for damage to property under the jurisdiction of the Air Force for more than $500,000 to the Department of Justice.

(3) The following individuals have delegated authority to settle claims for $100,000 or less and deny them in any amount:

(i) The Judge Advocate General.

(ii) The Deputy Judge Advocate General.

(iii) The Director of Civil Law.

(iv) The Chief and Deputy Chief, Claims and Tort Litigation Division.

This section provides the policy and procedures to reconsider any maritime claim made against the United States.

(a) The settlement authority may reconsider any claim previously disapproved in whole or in part when either:

(1) The claimant submits new evidence in support of the claim.

(2) There were errors or irregularities in the submission or settlement of the claim.

(b) There is no right of appeal to higher authority under this subpart.

(c) There is no time limit for submitting a request for reconsideration, but it is within the discretion of the settlement authority to decline to reconsider a claim based on the amount of time passed since the claim was originally denied.