2018 US Code
Title 33 - Navigation and Navigable Waters
Chapter 27 - Ocean Dumping
Sec. 1401 - Congressional finding, policy, and declaration of purpose

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 93–254 added subsec. (c).

Pub. L. 93–254, §2, Mar. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 51, provided in part that amendment of subsecs. (b) and (c) of this section and sections 1402, 1411, and 1412(a), other than last sentence of subsec. (a), of this title, by Pub. L. 93–254 shall become effective Mar. 22, 1974.

Pub. L. 100–688, title I, §1001, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4139, provided that: "This title [enacting sections 1414b and 1414c of this title, amending sections 1268, 1412a, and 1414a of this title, and amending provisions set out as a note under section 2267 of this title] may be cited as the 'Ocean Dumping Ban Act of 1988'."

Pub. L. 92–532, §1, Oct. 23, 1972, 86 Stat. 1052, provided: "That this Act [enacting 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] may be cited as the 'Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972'."

For extension of territorial sea and contiguous zone of United States, see Proc. No. 5928 and Proc. No. 7219, respectively, set out as notes under section 1331 of Title 43, Public Lands.

For provisions relating to environmental effects abroad of major federal actions, see Ex. Ord. No. 12114, Jan. 4, 1979, 44 F.R. 1957, set out as a note under section 4321 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.

For provisions relating to the responsibility of the head of each Executive agency for compliance with applicable pollution control standards, see Ex. Ord. No. 12088, Oct. 13, 1978, 43 F.R. 47707, set out as a note under section 4321 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.