Claimant’s Guide

A Compliance Guide for Submitting Claims

Under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990

CG National Pollution Funds Center Claims

US Coast Guard Stop 7605

2703 Martin Luther King JR Ave SE

Washington DC 20593-7605

April 2003

Updated January 2018
Record of Changes

Change # Description Effective Date

CH-1 Updated information on claims for loss of subsistence use of 

natural resources

11/30/2009

CH-2 All Addresses changed to HQ after consolidation 11/09/2015

CH-3 Updated information on claims for removal costs 01/23/2018
i

Table of Contents

PART I - INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................1

How to Use This Guide............................................................................................................1

PART II - GENERAL INFORMATION ....................................................................................2

Background ..............................................................................................................................2

What Claims may be Submitted? .............................................................................................2

Who is Eligible to Submit a Claim?.........................................................................................3

Lawsuits ...................................................................................................................................3

Insurance ..................................................................................................................................3

Double Payments......................................................................................................................3

Mitigation.................................................................................................................................3

False Claims.............................................................................................................................3

PART III - GENERAL CLAIM REQUIREMENTS.................................................................4

Do You Qualify? ......................................................................................................................4

Where Do I Submit a Claim? ...................................................................................................4

What You Need to Submit to the NPFC ..................................................................................4

Claim Format............................................................................................................................5

Time Limits..............................................................................................................................6

The Adjudication Process.........................................................................................................6

PART IV - SPECIFIC CLAIM REQUIREMENTS ..................................................................7

A. Removal Costs....................................................................................................................8

B. Real or Personal Property Damages...................................................................................9

C. Loss of Profits and Earning Capacity...............................................................................10

D. Loss of Government Revenue ..........................................................................................12

E. Cost of Increased Public Services.....................................................................................13

F. Loss of Subsistence Use of Natural Resources.................................................................14

G. Natural Resource Damages..............................................................................................16

H. Claims by a Responsible Party (RP) ................................................................................17

KEY DEFINITIONS...................................................................................................................18

ACRONYM LIST........................................................................................................................19

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT.................................................................................................20

OPTIONAL OSLTF CLAIM FORM — INSTRUCTIONS ...................................................20
PART I - INTRODUCTION

1

How to Use This Guide

If you believe you have uncompensated removal costs or damages resulting from an oil spill to the 

navigable waters or the threat of an oil spill to the navigable waters, you may be entitled to 

compensation from the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF). The National Pollution Funds 

Center (NPFC) created this guide to assist you in determining whether you have damages that may 

be covered and, if so, how to properly submit a claim.

This guide is intended to assist individuals and small entities (e.g., small businesses, not-for-profit 

organizations, and small governmental jurisdictions) with submitting a claim or claims to the 

NPFC. This guide also provides assistance to states and larger entities. This guide is divided into 

four parts: “Introduction,” “General Information,” “General Claim Requirements,” and “Specific 

Claim Requirements.”

To help determine whether you are eligible, Part II (pages 2-3) provides background information 

on the NPFC, OSLTF, the Oil Pollution Act (OPA), the types of claims that can be submitted, and 

who is eligible to submit claims.

To help you learn about the submission process, deadlines, etc., Part III (pages 4-6) addresses 

information that is applicable to submission of all claims, regardless of claim type. Format, time 

limits, and the adjudication process are discussed in this section.

To learn about specific proof and supporting information for different claim types, Part IV (pages

7-16) addresses the specific requirements for each claim type and lists additional information that 

may be required to process your claim. General Claim Requirements also apply.

Key Definitions and an Acronym List can be found on pages 17 and 18, respectively. A Privacy 

Act Statement and instructions for the optional claim form can be found on page 19. A copy of 

the Optional OSLTF Claim Form is inserted with the guide.

Additional information may be obtained from the NPFC Web site: www.uscg.mil/npfc

This guide is intended to help claimants submit a claim against the OSLTF. IT IS NOT A 

LEGAL REFERENCE. The Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA) (33 U.S.C. 2701 et. seq.) is the 

law that established the OSLTF and covers incidents involving oil spills. Claimants should 

consult the claims regulations in 33 CFR Part 136 to address legal and regulatory issues. If there 

is a conflict between this guide and OPA or the regulations at 33 CFR Part 136 the statute and 

regulations prevail.

If any claims-related questions are not answered by this guide or if you do not have internet 

access, you may contact the NPFC in writing, by phone, fax, or email:

CG National Pollution Funds Center: Claims

US Coast Guard Stop 7605

2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE

Washington DC 20593-7605

Telephone:(800) 280-7118

Fax: (202) 372-8397

Claims-related email questions can be sent to the NPFC: arl-pf-npfcclaimsinfo@uscg.mil

Normal business hours are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. eastern time.
2

PART II - GENERAL INFORMATION

Background

OPA dictates that the spiller (responsible party or RP) pay compensation for certain removal costs 

or damages suffered as a result of an oil spill. The types of costs or damages covered under OPA 

are listed on page 2, under "What Claims may be submitted?"

The OSLTF was established to provide—

• Funds for Federal cleanup

• Funds to assess and restore damaged natural resources

• Compensation to claimants for certain removal costs and damages resulting from an oil 

spill incident

• Cost recovery from responsible parties for costs and damages paid from the OSLTF 

The USCG, through the NPFC, manages the OSLTF by—

• Disbursing funds for Federal cleanup

• Monitoring the sources and uses of funds

• Adjudicating claims submitted to the OSLTF for payment

• Pursuing reimbursement from the RP for costs and damages paid by the OSLTF

After the NPFC evaluates your claim, a determination is made to accept or deny all or part of your 

claim. You will have 60 days to accept or reject the claim determination. If you accept the claim 

determination, then the NPFC will process the payment of the amount offered. If you reject the 

claim determination, you can request reconsideration of your claim and provide additional 

information. On reconsideration, the NPFC may re-evaluate your entire claim, based on the new 

information/documentation that you provide.

What Claims may be submitted?

OPA incidents involve a discharge or substantial threat of a discharge of oil from a vessel or 

facility into or on the navigable waters of the U.S., adjoining shoreline, or the exclusive economic 

zone. Claim types allowed under OPA include—

• Removal Costs (see page 8)

• Real or Personal Property Damage (see page 9)

• Loss of Profits and Earning Capacity (see page 10)

• Loss of Government Revenue (see page 12)

• Cost of Increased Public Services (see page 13)

• Subsistence Loss (see page 14)

• Natural Resource Damage (see page 15)

Under certain conditions, OPA also allows an RP to submit a claim to the NPFC for removal costs 

and damages paid by the RP (see page 16).
3

Who is Eligible to Submit a Claim?

A claimant can be—

• An individual

• A corporation, partnership, or association

• The United States government

• Federal, state, foreign or Indian tribe trustee

• States, the District of Columbia, municipalities, and political subdivisions of States

• The Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands, 

the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States

• Certain foreign claimants, in accordance with Section 1007 of OPA (33 U.S.C. 2707)

• An RP who establishes entitlement to a defense to liability or limitation of liability in 

accordance with Section 1008 of OPA (33 U.S.C. 2708)

Lawsuits

The NPFC cannot evaluate, decide, or pay any claim that is part of a court case, including a class 

action suit, to recover the costs or damages in your claim.

Insurance

Claimants are not required to have insurance for OPA removal costs or damages. If you do have 

insurance that may cover the removal cost or damage, you are not required to use it, but you must 

report that you have it.

Double Payments

If a removal cost or damage claim has already been paid, no other claim for the same removal 

costs or damages can be paid from the OSLTF. For example, if a removal contractor accepts 

payment from the OSLTF for his removal costs, but then fails to pay his subcontractor, the 

subcontractor cannot be paid from the OSLTF for the same removal activity.

Mitigation

The Coast Guard considers that each claimant has a responsibility to make reasonable efforts to 

mitigate—that is, to avoid or minimize—the losses from an oil spill incident. Additional expenses 

related to avoiding or minimizing losses by a claimant can be included in the claim as additional 

expenses. The claimed amount of a direct loss will be adjusted for extra expenses and/or income 

related to avoidance/minimization efforts.

False Claims

If you submit a false claim you can be subject to civil and criminal prosecution under Federal law

(18 U.S.C. 287 and 1001; 31 U.S.C. 3729).
4

PART III - GENERAL CLAIM REQUIREMENTS

Do You Qualify?

To qualify as an OPA claim, the following must be true:

• The incident (events surrounding the spill or threat of a spill) must have occurred on or 

after August 18, 1990.

• The incident involved the discharge, or substantial threat of discharge, of oil. (OPA expressly exempts discharges from public vessels, such as a U.S. Naval vessel; from an 

onshore facility subject to the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act; and from discharges permitted by Federal, state or local permit.)

• The discharge or substantial threat of a discharge was into or upon the navigable waters 

of the U.S., their adjoining shorelines, or the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United 

States. A spill that impacts or potentially impacts ground water but not the navigable 

waters of the U.S. is not an OPA spill.

• The cost or damage is a type covered by OPA (see listing of claim types on page 2).

Where Do I Submit a Claim?

You must first submit the claim to the RP—

• Unless you fall under one of the exceptions noted in the following text, you must always 

first submit your claim to the RP or its insurer. (This guide does not address procedures 

for submitting claims to the RP. The RP must establish and advertise those procedures.)

• Your submission to the RP should state that you are filing a claim under Section 2713(a) 

of the Oil Pollution Act. Simply submitting an invoice or a bill to the RP is not sufficient unless the bill or invoice clearly states that it is a claim under OPA.

The exceptions for sending your claim directly to the NPFC rather than submitting it first to the

RP are—

• The NPFC advertises or notifies claimants to submit claims directly to the NPFC.

• An RP asserting a claim under Section 1008 of OPA (33 U.S.C. 2708).

• A Governor of a State submitting for removal costs incurred by the State.

• A U.S. claimant suffers removal costs or damages from oil pollution from a foreign offshore unit.

After submitting your claim to the RP can you submit the claim to the NPFC?

• Yes. If the RP or its insurer denies your claim or does not pay within 90 days of the date 

you presented your claim to them or the RP’s advertising began (whichever is later), you 

can submit your claim to the NPFC.

What You Need to Submit to the NPFC

• You must provide the NPFC with the information, documentation, and evidence needed 

to support your claim. If more information is needed, the NPFC will ask you for it. To 

make the process as quick as possible on your behalf, submit complete and detailed supporting information with your claim. Receipt of incomplete information is the most 

common cause for delay in processing claims!
5

• You will be reimbursed for reasonable removal costs and damages covered under OPA, 

including the reasonable cost of assessing you damage. For example, you can be reimbursed the costs of an accountant's assessing your business losses, but you will not be 

reimbursed for the accountant’s costs of assisting you in preparing the claim.

• Businesses should identify, when appropriate, any "Confidential Business Information" 

included with your claim and provide the reason(s) you consider the information to be 

confidential. Under Federal law the government may be required to release documents 

to the general public.

(NOTE: Detailed information needed for each claim category is included in Part IV.)

Claim Format

There is no required format for OSLTF claims. You must, however, support your claim with 

evidence, information, and documentation; an optional claim form and instructions are included 

with this guide and may be used as an aid.

You do not need a lawyer to file a claim. You will not be compensated for any attorney's fees if 

you use a lawyer to assist in preparing or filing a claim.

Claims must be made in writing; we cannot accept verbal claims. Claims must follow the 

requirements for a claim (33 CFR 136.105), including the following information:

• Type and amount of damages for each type of claim

• Total amount claimed

• Your full name, street and mailing address(es), and telephone numbers for your home 

and business

• Time, date, and geographic location of the oil spill; identification of the navigable water 

impacted; and an explanation of how the oil impacted the water

• Identify the vessel, facility, or person causing or suspected of causing the spill, if possible, and include an explanation of why you suspect the vessel, facility, or person to have 

caused the spill

• A general description of the impact of the spill, including the removal costs or damages 

claimed by category

• Explanation of how the damage happened, the location, and the date and time (this 

may/may not be the same as the location, date, or time of the spill)

• Descriptions of actions taken to minimize or avoid damages

• Costs of assessing the damage (do not include attorney's fees or other costs for claim 

preparation or filing)

• Name, street and mailing address(es), and telephone numbers of any witnesses and a 

brief description of what the witness knows

• Copies of any written communications and content of any verbal communications with 

the RP, including any claims submitted to the RP

• Information on any attempts to submit claims to the person or company responsible for 

the oil pollution

• Information on any insurance claim made for removal costs or damages

• Any compensation you have received for removal costs or damages from the spill
6

• Statement that no action has been taken in court or, if action has been taken, the status of 

the pending court case

• Certification statement of the accuracy of the claim to the best of your knowledge and 

belief

• Your signature and, if applicable, your legal representative's signature

If necessary, the NPFC may ask you for additional information.

Time Limits

Claims for Damages: Damage claims must be made within three (3) years after the date on which 

the damage and its connection with the spill was reasonably discoverable with the exercise of due 

care. The only exception is for natural resource damage claims – see the Natural Resource 

Damage Funding Guidelines link in Section G of Part IV.

Claims for Removal Costs: A removal cost claim must be made within six (6) years after the date 

of completion of all removal actions for the incident.

NPFC considers the claim as "presented" on the day it is received.

The Adjudication Process

The NPFC processes claims in the order received.

The NPFC reviews the claim to see if all the information is included. If additional information is 

needed, the NPFC will request that you forward the information. If the information requested is 

not received within 90 days, NPFC will complete adjudication of the claim with the information it 

has. This may result in a reduction of possible compensation or denial of the claim.

Once the NPFC sends you a claim determination, you must accept or reject the offer within 60 

days—

• If you accept, you must sign a release.

• If you take no action within 60 days, the offer to pay will be voided and the claim 

closed.

• If you reject the offer, you may provide additional information and ask NPFC to reconsider your claim. This may start an entirely new review process. Another claim determination will be made as a result of reconsideration and this determination on reconsideration becomes final agency action. “Reconsideration” is not “negotiation.”

Claims are paid in the order that they are approved. Payment normally takes 30 days after the

NPFC receives your signed release.
7

PART IV - SPECIFIC CLAIM REQUIREMENTS

Sections A through H address the specific requirements for each category of claim and lists 

additional information above that listed in the General Claims Requirements that may be required 

to process your claim.

If any claims-related questions are not answered by this guide or if you do not have internet 

access, you may contact the NPFC in writing, by phone, fax, or e-mail:

CG National Pollution Funds Center: Claims

US Coast Guard Stop 7605

2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE

Washington DC 20593-7605

Telephone: (800) 280-7118

Fax: (202) 372-8397

Claims-related email questions can be sent to the NPFC: arl-pf-npfcclaimsinfo@uscg.mil

Normal business hours are weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. eastern time.
8

A. Removal Costs

Removal Costs: “Removal Costs” means the costs of removal that are incurred after a discharge of 

oil has occurred or, in any case in which there is a substantial threat of a discharge of oil, the costs 

to prevent, minimize, or mitigate oil pollution from such an incident.

Example of a Typical Claim: You own waterfront property where a boat and dock were oiled 

from an OPA incident. You notified the National Response Center of the incident, discussed it 

with the FOSC, and hired a local contractor to remove the oil. You may have a claim for the cost 

of the contractor used to remove the oil from your property.

Eligible Claimant: Anyone incurring removal costs.

What you Must Prove: In addition to the information required in Part III, you must provide 

information that is specific to removal cost claims to prove that—

• Necessary actions were taken to prevent or reduce the effects of the spill.

• Removal costs resulted from these actions.

• Actions taken were reasonable and consistent with the National Contingency Plan.

Examples of Supporting Information: 

Evidence of Spill:

• FOSC report

• Information on EPA or USCG notification

• Newspaper reports describing the spill

• Witness(es) statement(s) 

General Information:

• Detailed description of actions

• Dates on which work was performed

• Analysis of spill substance

• Map of area

• Pictures of area, damage, and spill

Costs:

• Receipts, invoices, or similar records with description of work

• How rates were determined and any comparison of rates

• Daily records of personnel costs including details on labor rates, hours, travel, and transportation

• Daily records of equipment costs including description and use

• Signed disposal manifests and proof of payment for disposal

• Payroll verification of hourly rate at the time of spill

• Verification of standard equipment rates for equipment used

• Proof of payment for all third-party vendor and subcontractor costs and/or services you 

are claiming
9

B. Real or Personal Property Damages

Real or Personal Property Damages: “Real or Personal Property Damages” means damages for 

injury to, or economic losses resulting from destruction of, real or personal property.

(NOTE: Injury to real or personal property does not include personal injury!)

Example of a Typical Claim: You own a recreational boat or waterfront property that was oiled by 

an OPA incident. You may have a claim for the cost of restoring your property to its pre-spill 

condition.

Eligible Claimant: Person or entity who owns or leases the property.

You Must Provide Information Showing:

• Your ownership or leasehold interest in the property

• That property was injured or destroyed

• Value of property both before and after injury

• Cost of repair or replacement of the property

If you lost money, show:

• The property was not usable because of the oil spill

• The value of your property before and after the spill

• Whether or not substitute property was available, and, if you did use substitute property, 

what the costs were

• How you lost money from the damage to the property

Examples of Documentation to Support Claim: 

Evidence of Spill:

• FOSC report

• Information on EPA or USCG notification

• Newspaper reports describing the spill

• Witness(es) statement(s) 

General Information:

• Copy of title, deed, lease, or license to property in your name

• Pictures or videotape of property and/or damage

• Maps or legal documents showing the location of the property within the spill area

• If you sold the property, professional property appraisals for the value of the property 

prior to and after the spill, actual selling price of the property, and evidence connecting 

the depressed selling price to the oil spill rather than to other economic or real property 

factors

• Copies of bills paid for repair of damage or two estimates showing activities and costs to 

repair the damage

• Any expenses or money lost while the property was unavailable because of spill damage

• Lease or rental agreement of any substitute property used
1

C. Loss of Profits and Earning Capacity

Loss of Profits and Earning Capacity: “Loss of profits and earning capacity” means damages 

equal to the loss of profits or impairment of earning capacity due to the injury, destruction, or loss 

of real property, personal property, or natural resources.

You do not have to own the damaged property or resources to submit a claim under this category.

Example of a Typical Claim: You lease a commercial charter boat that was trapped in port when 

the Coast Guard closed the river to remove oil. You may have a claim for lost profits or earnings 

during the time the river was officially closed. The recreational fishermen whose trip was 

cancelled would not have a loss of profits or earnings.

Eligible Claimant: Anyone with loss of profits or income.

You Must Provide Information Showing:

• Property or natural resources that were damaged, destroyed or lost, resulting in your loss

• Your income was reduced due to the damage or loss of the property or natural resources 

and how much it was reduced

• Amount of profits and earnings in similar time periods

• If alternative employment or business was available, what, if any, income was received 

from it

• Savings to overhead and other normal expenses not paid as a result of the spill (e.g., 

commuting costs, utility fees)

Examples of Documentation to Support Claim: 

Evidence of Spill:

• FOSC report

• Information on EPA or USCG notification

• Newspaper reports describing the spill

• Photos of damaged property (before and after the spill) 

General Information for Employee Claims:

• Statement on how the spill caused a loss in income

• Affidavit from your employer on the impact on your work or income due to the spill and 

if the company will be filing a claim for lost profits

• Copies of pay stubs, receipts, etc., from before, during, and after the spill

• Personnel records from your employer before, during, and after the spill, showing employment

• Description of efforts to reduce your loss, including job search

• Copies of any job-hunting expenses (e.g., travel costs)

• Signed copies of income tax returns and schedules for at least two years prior to spill

• Details of employment expenses not paid during period being claimed (e.g., commuting 

costs)

• Copies of pay stubs, etc., from alternative employment during time of spill
1

General Information for Claims by Businesses:

• Description and documentation of business losses due to spill

• Copies of letters of business cancellations caused by the spill damage

• Maps or descriptions of the area showing the business location and the spill impact area

• Financial statements for at least two years prior to spill and from the year of the spill

• Signed copies of income tax returns and schedules for at least three years prior to spill

• Details on efforts to mitigate losses or why no efforts were taken

• Statement from you or witnesses on how the spill led to loss of income or earning capacity; explain any earnings anomalies

• For hotels, daily and monthly occupancy information for two years prior to spill and the 

year of the spill

General Information on Claims by Fishing or Marine Charters:

• Description of business losses caused by the spill

• Evidence that vessel(s) were in the area impacted by the spill and were unable to carry 

on their business due to the spill

• Maps or descriptions of the area showing business location within spill area

• Statement from you or witnesses on how the spill caused the loss of income; explain any 

earnings anomalies

• Signed copies of income tax returns and schedules for at least three years prior to spill

• Details on expenses not paid out during period being claimed (e.g., wages)

• Booking records for three years prior to spill and year of spill

• List of charter rates, including any services the business specializes in (e.g., sport fishing)

• Copies of any logs relating to boating activities for the year prior to and the year of the 

spill

• Registration documents for the vessel(s), copies of business license, vessel license, fishing license, captain's license
1

D. Loss of Government Revenue

Loss of Government Revenue: Damages equal to the net loss of taxes, royalties, rents, fees, or net 

profit shares due to the injury, destruction, or loss of real property, personal property, or natural 

resources.

Example of a Typical Claim: A city charges fees for parking at a lot near a public beach. The 

beach is closed while an oil spill is being cleaned. The city may have a claim for loss of revenue 

during the beach closure.

Eligible Claimant: Federal government, a State, or a political subdivision of a State.

You Must Provide Information Showing:

• That the loss of revenue was caused by the injury to, destruction of, or loss of real or 

personal property or natural resources caused by the discharge

• The amount, identity, and description of the revenue loss for which compensation is 

claimed, including the applicable authority for collecting the revenue, method of assessment, applicable rate, and dates of collection or periods of loss

• Expenditures saved because revenue was not collected

• The total assessment or revenue collected and related expenditures for comparable revenue periods, typically covering two years

Examples of Documentation to Support Claim: 

Evidence of Spill:

• FOSC report

• Information on EPA or USCG notification

• Newspaper reports describing the spill

• Witness(es) statement(s) 

General Information:

• Description of what revenues were impacted and how the spill caused a loss of revenues

• Copies of statutes, regulations, ordinances, etc., outlining applicable authority to raise 

such revenues, property affected, method of assessment, rate of assessment, and method 

and dates of collection of assessment

• Government financial reports showing total assessment or revenue collected for comparable periods, typically covering two years

• Details of any expenses not paid out by government during the period being claimed

• Details and explanation of net loss of revenue
13

E. Cost of Increased Public Services

Cost of Increased Public Services: “Cost of Increased Public Services” are damages for net costs 

of providing increased or additional public services during or after removal activities, including 

protection from fire, safety, or health hazards, caused by a discharge of oil or directly attributable 

to response to the oil spill incident.

Example of a Typical Claim: You are the manager of a coastal town that must provide emergency 

traffic control in the vicinity of an OPA incident. The town may have a claim for the costs of 

providing those emergency services.

Eligible Claimant: State or political subdivision of a State.

You Must Provide Information Showing:

• Justification for the public services provided, including documentation of what specific 

services were provided and showing their relationship to the spill

• When services were provided (during or after the removal activities)

• Services were in addition to services normally provided

• Net cost for the services and the methods used to compute those costs

Examples of Documentation to Support Claim: 

Evidence of Spill:

• FOSC report

• Information on EPA or USCG notification

• Newspaper reports describing the spill

• Witness(es) statement(s) 

General Information:

• Reports showing the increased public services were required and if the services were due

to fire, health, or safety hazards

• Detailed description of what increased services were necessary and why, including a distinction between removal activities, safety acts, and law enforcement acts, and if the increase was actually incurred or if normal resources were diverted for use

• Daily reports on the activities of the government personnel and equipment involved

Government Labor and Equipment Rates:

• Payroll verification of the government hourly rate at the time

• Verification of the standard government equipment rates for any equipment claimed

• Signed and dated records of the spill including hourly rates for labor and equipment

• Explanation as to whether rates are fully loaded or not and formulas used; states should 

provide rates under OMB Circular A-87

• Certification that rates used reflected actual costs incurred and did not include punitive 

damages or fees
14

F. Loss of Subsistence Use of Natural Resources

Damages for Loss of Subsistence Use of Natural Resources: As determined by NPFC in claims 

adjudications, damages for loss of subsistence use of natural resources means damages resulting 

from the injury, destruction, or loss of natural resources used by the claimant to obtain food, 

shelter, clothing, medicine, or other minimum necessities of life.

Example of a Typical Claim: Federal and/or state natural resource managers close fishing areas 

following an OPA oil spill, restricting your ability to harvest fish that you depend upon for food. 

You may have an OPA claim for the cost to you of replacing the fish that you were unable to 

harvest because of the closures if, during the period of time for which the loss of subsistence use is 

claimed, there were no alternative sources or means of subsistence available to you.

The compensation allowable will be based on the reasonable replacement cost to you of the fish 

you needed during the loss period for your subsistence, less all compensation made available to 

you for your subsistence loss, all income you received by using the time you otherwise would 

have spent harvesting the fish for your subsistence, and all overhead or other normal expenses of 

your subsistence use that you avoided as a result of the incident. (See, 33 CFR 136.223.).

Eligible Claimant: Anyone who uses natural resources which have been injured, destroyed or lost 

as a result of an OPA oil spill incident, for their survival (e.g, for water, food, shelter, clothing, 

medicine, transportation or other subsistence purposes). It does not matter who owns or manages 

the affected natural resources. (See, 33 U.S.C. 2702(b)(2.)(C) and 33 CFR 136.219).

You Must Provide Information Showing: In addition to the proof required by subparts A and B of 

the regulations at 33 CFR part 136, you will need to provide the information described in 33 CFR

136.221 to support your claim. This requires that you:

• Identify each specific natural resource for which compensation for loss of subsistence use is 

being claimed;

• Describe the actual subsistence use you make of each specific natural resource you identify;

• Describe how and to what extent your subsistence use of the natural resource was affected 

by the injury to, destruction of, or loss of, each specific natural resource;

• Describe each effort you made to mitigate your subsistence use loss; and

• Describe each alternative source or means of subsistence available to you during the period 

of time for which you claim a loss of subsistence; and

• Describe any compensation available to you for the subsistence loss you suffered.

(NOTE: If you also want to claim for loss of profits or impairment of earning capacity due to loss of 

subsistence use of natural resources, you must include the proof required under 33 CFR 136.233.)

Examples of Documentation to Support Claim: Examples of documentation that may support 

your claim include, but are not limited to, the following:

Evidence of spill and reason to change subsistence use behavior -

• FOSC, natural resource trustee and newspaper reports describing the oil spill and response, 

and the resulting injury, destruction or loss of natural resources;

• Information in EPA or USCG notifications, and claims advertising;

• Witness(es) statement(s);
15

• Beach closures or fishing advisories;

Supporting information to demonstrate your subsistence use and damages -

• Photographs and videos;

• Published accounts, witness statements and other written records documenting your use of 

natural resources for subsistence purposes before, during, and after the spill and oil spill response;

• Maps;

• Store and barter receipts showing the replacement costs you claim;

• Copies of pay stubs and other documentation showing income you received before, during, 

and after the spill and oil spill response;

• Witness statements and documents showing the alternative sources of subsistence available 

to you, and your efforts to reduce the damages resulting from your loss of subsistence use, 

including receipts from job-hunting expenses (e.g., travel costs);

• Records showing the expenses you avoided during the time you were not able to carry out 

your subsistence use of the affected natural resource; and

• Records showing compensation you received for your loss.
16

G. Natural Resource Damages

Natural Resource Damages: Damages for injury to, destruction of, or loss of natural resources, 

including the reasonable costs of assessing the damage.

Example of a Typical Claim: You are the designated trustee agency for a state wildlife refuge that 

is oiled from an OPA incident. As trustee, you may have a claim for natural resource damages to 

cover the costs of assessing injuries and restoring the refuge to its pre-spill condition.

Eligible Claimant: Federal, state, foreign and Indian tribal trustees.

NRD Guidelines: Natural Resource Damage claims are often unique. A separate Natural

Resource Damage Funding Guidelines publication is available on the NPFC Web page:

www.uscg.mil/npfc/NRD/

You may also call the NPFC’s toll-free number with claims questions: (800) 280-7118
17

H. Claims by a Responsible Party (RP)

Claims by a Responsible Party: OPA Section 1008 (33 U.S.C. 2708) provides that an RP may 

assert a claim for removal costs and damages only if the RP demonstrates that the RP is entitled to 

a defense to liability under Section 1003 or to a limitation of liability under Section 1004.

Example of a Typical Claim: You are the owner of a recreational boat that sank after being hit by 

another vessel. Your vessel caused a gasoline and motor oil spill. If you can prove that the 

incident was caused solely by the other vessel, you may have a claim for amounts you paid for oil 

removal costs and damages.

RP Claims Must Show the Following:

• Documentation addressing each element of the complete defense to liability (33 U.S.C.

2703) or limitation of liability (33 U.S.C. 2704), as applicable

• That other claimants paid by the RP had presented their claims within OPA's time limits

• That the RP presented its claim to the NPFC within three years of the date the paid 

claims were presented to the RP

• Removal costs and damages for which compensation is requested are included under

OPA (33 U.S.C. 2708)

• That individual claims paid meet the applicable regulatory requirements for claims 

against the OSLTF

• If the claim is for costs in excess of your limit of liability you must disclose—

> All costs and paid claims (not just those exceeding the limit of liability) and

> How those costs and paid claims meet OPA requirements

The NPFC will first evaluate your entitlement to the defense to liability or limitation of liability 

claimed before taking further action. You will be notified of this determination.

If your entitlement to the limitation of liability or complete defense to liability is upheld, the 

NPFC will measure the uncompensated removal costs and damages in accordance with the claims 

regulations for each claim type.

If the claim is for costs in excess of your limit of liability, the NPFC will measure the total 

acceptable costs for the incident and will deduct the limit of liability amount from the measurement.
18

KEY DEFINITIONS

Damages. OPA damages means damages to natural resources, to real or personal property, for loss of 

subsistence use of natural resources, for loss of governmental revenues, for loss of profits or earning 

capacity, and for increased or additional public services. These damages are specified in Section 1002(b) 

of OPA and are amplified in Section IV of this guide.

Discharge. Any emission (other than natural seepage), intentional or unintentional, and includes, but is 

not limited to spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, or dumping.

Guarantor. Any person who provides evidence of financial responsibility for an RP under OPA.

Natural Resources. Land, fish, wildlife, biota, air, water, ground water, drinking water supplies, and 

other such resources belonging to, managed by, held in trust by, appertaining to, or otherwise controlled by 

the United States (including the resources of the exclusive economic zone), any State or local government or

Indian tribe, or any foreign government.

Oil. Oil of any kind or in any form, including petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with 

wastes other than dredged spoil, but does not include any substance which is specifically listed or designated as a hazardous substance under subparagraphs(A) through (F) of Section 101(14) of the Comprehensive 

Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (42 U.S.C. 9601) and which is subject to the

provisions of that Act [42 U.S.C. §9601 et seq.].

Oil Spill. An occurrence or series of occurrences having the same origin, involving one or more vessels, 

facilities, or any combination thereof, resulting in the discharge or substantial threat of discharge of oil into 

or upon navigable waters of the United States, adjoining shorelines, or the exclusive economic zone (e.g., oil

spill in coastal waters from a tanker). A spill that impacts ground water, but not the navigable waters of the

U.S., is not an OPA spill.

Removal Costs. The costs of removal that are incurred after a discharge of oil has occurred or, in any 

case in which there is a substantial threat of a discharge of oil, the costs to prevent, minimize, or mitigate 

oil pollution from such an incident.

Responsible Party.

In the case of a vessel, any person owning, operating, or demise chartering the vessel;

In the case of an onshore facility (other than a pipeline), any person owning or operating the facility, except 

a Federal agency, State, municipality, commission, or political subdivision of a State, or any interstate

body, that as the owner transfers possession and right to use the property to another person by lease, 

assignment, or permit;

In the case of an offshore facility (other than a pipeline or a deepwater port licensed under the Deepwater 

Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.)), the lessee or permittee of the area in which the facility is 

located or the holder of a right of use and easement granted under applicable State law or the Outer 

Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1301-1356) for the area in which the facility is located (if the 

holder is a different person than the lessee or permittee), except a Federal agency, State, municipality, 

commission, or political subdivision of a State, or any interstate body, that as owner transfers possession 

and right to use the property to another person by lease, assignment, or permit;

In the case of a deepwater port licensed under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501-1524), the 

licensee;

In the case of a pipeline, any person owning or operating the pipeline; and,

In the case of an abandoned vessel, onshore facility, deepwater port, pipeline, or offshore facility, the 

persons who would have been responsible parties immediately prior to the abandonment of the vessel or 

facility.
19

ACRONYM LIST

CFR Code of Federal Regulations

EPA Environmental Protection Agency

FOSC Federal On-Scene Coordinator (either U.S. Coast Guard or EPA)

NPFC National Pollution Funds Center

OPA Oil Pollution Act of 1990

(also known as 33 U.S.C. 2701 et. seq.)

OSLTF Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund

RP Responsible Party

U.S.C. United States Code

USCG United States Coast Guard
20

PRIVACY ACT STATEMENT

AUTHORITY: 33 U.S.C. 2713. PRINCIPAL PURPOSE: To aid the Coast Guard in adjudicating claims for 

reimbursement of removal costs and damages from oil spills when the Responsible Party has not paid. 

ROUTINE USES: Information on reimbursements may be provided to the Internal Revenue Service for tax 

purposes and may be provided to the Department of Justice for litigation against the Responsible Party. 

DISCLOSURE: Decision to submit a claim is voluntary; but, if proper information is not furnished by the 

claimant, the Government may be unable to evaluate or pay a claim.

This information applies to all claims against the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund, whether or not the Optional

OSLTF Claim Form is used.

OPTIONAL OSLTF CLAIM FORM — INSTRUCTIONS

Please provide all information, evidence, and documentation that supports the removal costs

and/or damage(s) claimed. Use additional sheets or pages, as necessary, to provide information, 

evidence, and documentation. The following numbered paragraphs correspond to the numbers on 

the optional claim form:

1. Complete name, street, city, state, ZIP and phone number of the claimant (party that 

incurred damage and is seeking reimbursement).

2. If known, provide the following incident information on the oil spill or threat of oil spill 

causing or suspected of causing the removal costs and/or damage(s) claimed:

• The identity of the vessel, facility or entity causing or suspected of causing the incident.

• Describe the geographic area and waterway directly affected by the oil spill or threat of 

oil spill.

• Briefly describe any known information regarding the occurrence of the oil spill or 

threat of oil spill.

3. Indicate the amounts by the type of claim(s) being submitted. Provide the total amount 

claimed.

4. Indicate if claimant has had any communication (written or verbal) with the entity causing 

or suspected of causing the damage(s) claimed.

5. Has the claimant or the claimant’s legal representative submitted the claim(s) to the entity 

causing or suspected of causing the damage claimed? If yes, include the date submitted.

6. If claim was submitted to the responsible party, indicate any response (written or verbal) or 

any payment you have received. Provide the date the claim was submitted.

7. Indicate if the claimant is pursing a claim(s) against the responsible party by legal representation in a court of law. If yes, provide all information that will enable us to contact 

your legal representative and identify your case.

* * At the bottom of the first page of the form, please initial and date the page. * *
21

8. Indicate if claimant is pursuing payment from an insurance carrier for costs that are 

included in the claim. If yes, provide all information that will enable us to contact the insurer and identify the claimant’s policy.

9. Provide detailed information, evidence, and documentation that describes the extent of the 

damage(s) claimed. Attach copies, if necessary, of all pertinent information.

10. Provide any information, evidence, and documentation that will help describe how the oil 

spill, or threat of oil spill, caused the removal costs and/or damage(s) claimed.

11. Provide any information, evidence, and documentation that describe the actions of the 

claimant or any other person on the claimant’s behalf to reduce or avoid the damage(s) 

claimed.

12. Provide the name, address and telephone number (if known) of any witness to the damage(s) claimed. On a separate page provide a summary of each witness's knowledge of the 

damage(s) claimed or the incident causing or suspected of causing the damage(s) claimed.

13. If you provide additional documents, please list them here or on a separate piece of paper.

14. If the claimant is an individual, that person must sign the claim. If the claimant is a 

corporation, an officer of the company must sign the claim. All signatures must be in ink 

to be valid.

15. If the claim is presented by a legal representative, that legal representative must also sign 

the claim. Provide the complete address and phone number of that legal representative.

Submit your claim, with any necessary information, evidence, and documentation to: 

CG National Pollution Funds Center: Claims

US Coast Guard Stop 7605

2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE

Washington DC 20593-7605

Claims for Natural Resource Damages or for Loss of Subsistence Use of Natural Resources may use the same address.

We recommend that you keep the Privacy Act Statement and a copy of the claim for your files.