33 U.S.C. § 1401 - Congressional finding, policy, and declaration of purpose

• Cite as: 33 U.S.C. § 1401

(a) Dangers of unregulated dumping

Unregulated dumping of material into ocean waters endangers human health, welfare, and amenities, and the marine environment, ecological systems, and economic potentialities.

(b) Policy of regulation and prevention or limitation

The Congress declares that it is the policy of the United States to regulate the dumping of all types of materials into ocean waters and to prevent or strictly limit the dumping into ocean waters of any material which would adversely affect human health, welfare, or amenities, or the marine environment, ecological systems, or economic potentialities.

(c) Regulation of dumping and transportation for dumping purposes

It is the purpose of this Act to regulate (1) the transportation by any person of material from the United States and, in the case of United States vessels, aircraft, or agencies, the transportation of material from a location outside the United States, when in either case the transportation is for the purpose of dumping the material into ocean waters, and (2) the dumping of material transported by any person from a location outside the United States, if the dumping occurs in the territorial sea or the contiguous zone of the United States.

Cite as 33 U.S.C. § 1401

Source: Pub. L. 92-532 §2, Oct. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 1052; Pub. L. 93-254, §1(1), Mar. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 50.

Notes from the Office of Law Revision Counsel

current through 5/22/2023

EDITORIAL NOTES

REFERENCES IN TEXT

This Act, referred to in subsec. (c), means Pub. L. 92-532, which is classified generally to this chapter, chapter 41 (§2801 et seq.) of this title, and chapters 32 (§1431 et seq.) and 32A (§1447 et seq.) of Title 16, Conservation.

AMENDMENTS

1974-Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 93-254 struck out statement of the purpose of this Act as being the regulation of transportation of material from the United States for dumping into ocean waters, and the dumping of material, transported from outside the United States, if the dumping occurs in ocean waters over which the United States has jurisdiction or over which it may exercise control, under accepted principles of international law, in order to protect its territory or territorial sea, now covered by subsec. (c) of this section.