USC Subchapter IV

33 U.S.C. § 1981 Definitions

In this chapter: (1) Circular economyThe term “circular economy” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title. (2) Coastal shoreline communityThe term “coastal shoreline community” means a city or county directly adjacent to the open ocean, major estuaries, or the Great Lakes. (3) EPA AdministratorThe term “EPA Administrator” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title. (4) Indian TribeThe term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given that term in section 5304 of title 25. (5) Interagency CommitteeThe term “Interagency Committee” means the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee established under section 1954 of this title. (6) Marine debrisThe term “marine debris” means any persistent solid material that is manufactured or processed and directly or indirectly, intentionally or unintentionally, disposed of or abandoned into the marine environment or the Great Lakes. (7) MARPOL; Annex V; ConventionThe terms “MARPOL”, “Annex V”, and “Convention” have the meaning given those terms under section 1901(a) of this title. (8) Non-Federal fundsThe term “non-Federal funds” means funds provided by—(A) a State; (B) an Indian Tribe; (C) a territory of the United States; (D) one or more units of local governments or Tribal organizations; (E) a foreign government; (F) a private for-profit entity; (G) a nonprofit organization; or (H) a private individual. (9) Nonprofit organizationThe term “nonprofit organization” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title. (10) Post consumer materials managementThe term “post-consumer materials management” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title. (11) ProgramThe term “Program” means the Marine Debris Program established under section 1952 11 See References in Text note below. of this title. (12) Severe marine debris eventThe term “severe marine debris event” means atypically large amounts of marine debris caused by a natural disaster, including a tsunami, flood, landslide, or hurricane, or other source. (13) StateThe term “State” means—(A) any State of the United States that is impacted by marine debris within its seaward or Great Lakes boundaries; (B) Indian Tribe; (C) the District of Columbia; (D) American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; and (E) any other territory or possession of the United States, or separate sovereign in free association with the United States, that is impacted by marine debris within its seaward boundaries. (14) Tribal GovernmentThe term “Tribal Government” means the recognized governing body of any Indian or Alaska Native Tribe, band, nation, pueblo, village, community, component band, or component reservation, individually identified (including parenthetically) in the list published most recently as of December 26, 2025, pursuant to section 5131 of title 25. (15) Tribal organizationThe term “Tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25. (16) Under SecretaryThe term “Under Secretary” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title.

33 U.S.C. § 1982 Relationship to Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act

Nothing in this chapter supersedes, or limits the authority of the Secretary of the Interior under, the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act (43 U.S.C. 1331 et seq.).

33 U.S.C. § 1983 Authorization of appropriations

(a) In generalThere is authorized to be appropriated to the Under Secretary $15,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2029 for carrying out sections 1952, 1954, and 1955 of this title, of which not more than 7 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs. (b) Amounts authorized for Coast GuardOf the amounts authorized for each fiscal year under section 4902(1) of title 14, up to $2,000,000 is authorized for the Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating for use by the Commandant of the Coast Guard to carry out section 1953 of this title, of which not more than 5 percent is authorized for each fiscal year for administrative costs.

33 U.S.C. § 1984 Prioritization of marine debris in existing innovation and entrepreneurship programs

In carrying out any relevant innovation and entrepreneurship programs that improve the innovation, effectiveness, and efficiency of the Marine Debris Program established under section 1952 11 See References in Text note below. of this title without undermining the purpose for which such program was established, the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Energy, the EPA Administrator, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall prioritize efforts to combat marine debris, including by— (1) increasing innovation in methods and the effectiveness of efforts to identify, determine sources of, assess, prevent, reduce, and remove marine debris; and (2) addressing the impacts of marine debris on—(A) the economy of the United States; (B) the marine environment; and (C) navigation safety.