USC Subchapter I

USC Subchapter I
in effect

33 U.S.C. § 2601 Definitions

In this chapter— (1) “Administrator” means the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. (2) “coastal waters” means—(A) the territorial sea of the United States; (B) the Great Lakes and their connecting waters; (C) the marine and estuarine waters of the United States up to the head of tidal influence; and (D) the Exclusive Economic Zone as established by Presidential Proclamation Number 5030, dated March 10, 1983. (3) “municipal or commercial waste” means solid waste (as defined in section 6903 of title 42) except—(A) solid waste identified and listed under section 6921 of title 42; (B) waste generated by the vessel during normal operations; (C) debris solely from construction activities; (D) sewage sludge subject to regulation under title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 [33 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.]; and (E) dredged or fill material subject to regulation under title I of the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 [33 U.S.C. 1411 et seq.], the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.), or the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401 et seq.). (4) “person” means an individual, trust, firm, joint stock company, corporation (including a government corporation), partnership, association, State, municipality, commission, political subdivision of a State, or any interstate body. (5) “receiving facility” means a facility or operation where municipal or commercial waste is unloaded from a vessel. (6) “United States”, when used in a geographic sense, means the States of the United States, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and any other territory or possession of the United States. (7) “waste source” means a facility or vessel from which municipal or commercial waste is loaded onto a vessel, including any rolling stock or motor vehicles from which that waste is directly loaded.

33 U.S.C. § 2602 Vessel permits and numbers

(a) In generalA vessel (except a public vessel as defined in section 2101 of title 46) may not transport municipal or commercial waste in coastal waters without—(1) a permit for that vessel from the Secretary of Transportation; and (2) displaying a number or other marking on the vessel as prescribed by the Secretary under chapter 123 or section 12502(b) of title 46. (b) Permit applicationsApplication for a permit required by subsection (a) of this section shall be made by the vessel owner or operator and include—(1) the name, address, and telephone number of the vessel owner and operator; (2) the vessel’s name and identification number; (3) the vessel’s area of operation; (4) the vessel’s transport capacity; (5) a history of the types of cargo transported by that vessel during the previous year, including identifying the type of municipal or commercial waste transported as—(A) municipal waste; (B) commercial waste; (C) medical waste; or (D) waste of another character. (6) any other information the Secretary may require; and (7) an acknowledgment. (c) Effective date of permitsA permit issued under this section—(1) is effective 30 days after the date on which it was issued; (2) may be issued only for a period of not more than 5 years after the effective date of the permit; (3) may be renewed for periods of not more than 5 years only by the vessel owner or operator that applied for the original permit; and (4) is terminated when the vessel is sold. (d) Denial of permitsThe Secretary may, or at the request of the Administrator shall, deny the issuance of a permit for any vessel if the owner or operator of the vessel has a record of a pattern of serious violations of—(1) this subchapter; (2) the Solid Waste Disposal Act (42 U.S.C. 6901 et seq.); (3) the Marine Protection, Research, and Sanctuaries Act of 1972 [16 U.S.C. 1431 et seq., 1447 et seq.; 33 U.S.C. 1401 et seq., 2801 et seq.]; (4) the Rivers and Harbors Appropriation Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 401 et seq.); or (5) the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (33 U.S.C. 1251 et seq.). (e) Permit decisionThe Secretary, after consultation with the Administrator, shall issue or deny a vessel permit under this section within 30 days after receiving a complete application. On denying the issuance of the permit for a vessel the Secretary shall—(1) notify the applicant of the denial and the reasons for the denial; and (2) provide an opportunity for a hearing on the denial. (f) Maintaining permit(1) In generalThe permit issued for a vessel under this chapter shall be maintained in a manner prescribed by the Secretary. (2) EndorsementsIf a vessel is a documented vessel, the Secretary may endorse a permit on the vessel’s certificate of documentation. (g) Vessel information systemThe Secretary may include information in a permit in the vessel information system maintained under chapter 125 of title 46.

33 U.S.C. § 2603 Waste handling practices

(a) In general(1) LoadingThe owner or operator of the waste source shall take all reasonable steps to assure that all municipal or commercial waste is loaded onto a vessel in a manner that assures that waste deposited in coastal waters is minimized. (2) SecuringThe owner or operator of a vessel shall assure that all municipal or commercial waste loaded onto the vessel is secured by netting or other means to assure that waste will not be deposited into coastal waters during transport. (3) OffloadingThe owner or operator of the receiving facility shall take all reasonable steps to assure that any municipal or commercial waste is offloaded from a vessel in a manner that assures that waste deposited into coastal waters is minimized. (4) Cleaning upThe owner or operator of any waste source or receiving facility shall provide adequate control measures to clean up any municipal or commercial waste which is deposited into coastal waters. (b) RegulationsThe Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Transportation, shall prescribe regulations—(1) requiring that waste sources, receiving facilities, and vessels provide the means and facilities to assure that the waste will not be deposited into coastal waters during loading, offloading, and transport; (2) requiring, as appropriate, the submission and adoption by each responsible party of an operation and maintenance manual identifying procedures to be used to prevent, report, and clean up any deposit of municipal or commercial waste into coastal waters, including record keeping requirements; and (3) if the Administrator determines that tracking systems are required to assure adequate enforcement of laws preventing the deposit of municipal or commercial waste into coastal waters, requiring installation of the appropriate systems within 18 months after the Administrator makes that determination.

33 U.S.C. § 2604 Suspension, revocation, and injunctions

(a) Suspension and revocationAfter notice and opportunity for a hearing, the Secretary of Transportation may, and at the request of the Administrator shall, suspend or revoke a permit issued to a vessel under this chapter for a violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter. (b) InjunctionsThe Secretary or the Administrator may bring a civil action to enjoin any operation in violation of this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter in the district court of the United States for the district in which the violation occurred.

33 U.S.C. § 2605 Enforcement

(a) General authorityThe Secretary of Transportation shall enforce this chapter under section 89 11 See References in Text note below. of title 14. The Secretary may authorize other officers or employees of the United States Government to enforce this chapter under that section. (b) Periodic examinationsThe Secretary shall conduct periodic examinations of vessels operating under this chapter transporting municipal or commercial waste to determine that each of these vessels has a permit issued under section 2602 of this title. (c) Refusal of clearanceThe Secretary of the Treasury may refuse the clearance required by section 60105 of title 46, to any vessel subject to this chapter which does not have a permit required under section 2602 of this title. (d) Denial of entry and detentionIf a vessel does not comply with this chapter, the Secretary of Transportation may—(1) deny entry to any place in the United States; and (2) detain at the place in the United States from which it is about to depart. (e) Persistent violatorsThe Administrator shall conduct an investigation of the owner or operator of a vessel or facility if the owner has 5 or more separate violations during a 6-month period.

33 U.S.C. § 2606 Subpena authority

(a) General authorityIn an investigation under this chapter, the attendance and testimony of witnesses, including parties in interest, and the production of any evidence may be compelled by subpena. The subpena authority granted by this section is coextensive with that of a district court of the United States, in civil matters, for the district in which the investigation is conducted. (b) Subpena authorityAn official designated by the Secretary of Transportation or Administrator to conduct an investigation under this chapter may issue subpenas as provided in this section and administer oaths to witnesses. (c) Failure to complyWhen a person fails to obey a subpena issued under this section, the district court of the United States for the district in which the investigation is conducted or in which the person failing to obey is found, shall on proper application issue an order directing that person to comply with the subpena. The court may punish as contempt any disobedience of its order. (d) Witness feesA witness complying with a subpena issued under this section may be paid for actual travel and attendance at the rate provided for witnesses in the district courts of the United States.

33 U.S.C. § 2607 Fees

The Secretary of Transportation may collect a fee under section 9701 of title 31 of not more than $1,000, from each person to whom a permit is issued under this subchapter for a permitting system and to maintain information.

33 U.S.C. § 2608 Civil penalty procedures

(a) General proceduresAfter notice and an opportunity for a hearing, a person found by the Secretary of Transportation to have violated this chapter or a regulation prescribed under this chapter for which a civil penalty is provided, is liable to the United States Government for the civil penalty provided. The amount of the civil penalty shall be assessed by the Secretary by written notice. In determining the amount of the penalty, the Secretary shall consider the nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the prohibited acts committed and, with respect to the violator, the degree of culpability, any history of prior offenses, ability to pay, and other matters that justice requires. (b) Compromising penaltiesThe Secretary may compromise, modify, or remit, with or without consideration, a civil penalty under this chapter until the assessment is referred to the Attorney General. (c) Referral to Attorney GeneralIf a person fails to pay an assessment of a civil penalty after it has become final, the Secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney General for collection in an appropriate district court of the United States. (d) Refund of penaltyThe Secretary may refund or remit a civil penalty collected under this chapter if—(1) application has been made for refund or remission of the penalty within one year from the date of payment; and (2) the Secretary finds that the penalty was unlawfully, improperly, or excessively imposed.

33 U.S.C. § 2609 Penalties

(a) General penaltyExcept as provided in subsection (b) of this section, a person violating this chapter is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $25,000. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation. A vessel involved in the violation also is liable in rem for the penalty. (b) Operating without a permitA person violating section 2602 of this title is liable to the United States Government for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000. Each day of a continuing violation is a separate violation. A vessel involved in the violation also is liable in rem for the penalty. (c) Criminal penaltyAny person that knowingly violates, or that knowingly aids, abets, authorizes, or instigates a violation of this chapter, shall be fined under title 18, imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both. (d) Payments for informationThe court, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Administrator, as the case may be, may pay up to one-half of a fine or penalty to any person giving information leading to the assessment of the fine or penalty.