85 STAT. J
PUBLIC LAW 92-75-AUG. 10, 1971
219
NOTIFICATION OF D E F E C T S; REPAIR OR R E P L A C E M E N T
SEC. 15. (a) Every manufacturer who discovers or acquires information which he determines, in the exercise of reasonable and prudent judgment, indicates that a boat or associated equipment subject to an applicable standard or regulation prescribed pursuant to section 5 of this Act either fails to comply with such standard or regulation, or contains a defect which creates a substantial risk of personal injury to the public, shall, if such boat or associated equipment has left the place of manufacture, furnish notification of such defect or failure of compliance as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section, within a reasonable time after the manufacturer has discovered the defect. (b) The notification required by subsection (a) of this section shall be given to the following persons in the following manner— (1) by certified mail to the first purchaser for purposes other than resale: Provided, That the requirement for notification of such first purchaser shall be satisfied if the manufacturer exercises reasonable diligence in creating and maintaining a list of such purchasers and their current addresses and sends the required notice to each person on said list at the address appearing thereon; (2) by certified mail to subsequent purchasers, if known to the manufacturer; (3) by certified mail or other more expeditious means to the dealers or distributors of such manufacturer to whom such boat or associated equipment was delivered. (c) The notification required by subsection (a) of this section shall contain a clear description of such defect or failure to comply, an evaluation of the hazard reasonably related thereto, a statement of the measures to be taken to correct such defect or failure to comply, and an undertaking by the manufacturer to take such measures at his sole cost and expense. (d) Every manufacturer shall furnish to the Secretary a true or representative copy of all notices, bulletins, and other communications to dealers or distributors of such manufacturer or to purchasers, or subsequent purchasers, of boats or associated equipment of such manufacturer, regarding any defect relating to safety in such boats or associated equipment or any failure to comply with a standard, regulation, or order applicable to such boat or associated equipment. The Secretary may publish or otherwise disclose to the public so much of the information contained in such notices or other information in his possession as he deems will assist in carrying out the purposes of this Act, but shall not disclose any information which contain or relates to a trade secret unless he determines that it is necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act. (e) If through testing, inspection, investigation, research, or examination of reports carried out pursuant to this Act the Secretary determines that any boat or associated equipment subject to this Act— (1) fails to comply with an applicable standard or regulation prescribed pursuant to section 5; or (2) contains a defect which relates to safety, and if the Secretary determines that notification provided under this section is appropriate, he shall notify the manufacturer of the boat or associated equipment of such defect or failure to comply. The notice shall contain the findings of the Secretary and shall include a synopsis of the information upon which the findings are based. Upon receipt of such notice, the manufacturer shall furnish the notification described in subsection (c) to the persons designated in subsection (b), unless the manufacturer disputes the Secretary's determination, in
Notification, recipients.
Public d i s c l o ' sure.
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