Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Chapter 29 — Deepwater Ports
§ 1501. Congressional declaration of policy
Statutory text
Purposes.—
The purposes of this chapter are—
to authorize and regulate the location, ownership, construction, and operation of deepwater ports in waters beyond the territorial limits of the United States;
to provide for the protection of the marine and coastal environment to prevent or minimize any adverse impact which might occur as a consequence of the development of deepwater ports;
to protect the interests of the United States and those of adjacent coastal States in the location, construction, and operation of deepwater ports;
to protect the rights and responsibilities of States and communities to regulate growth, determine land use, and otherwise protect the environment in accordance with law;
to promote the construction and operation of deepwater ports as a safe and effective means of importing oil or natural gas into the United States and transporting oil or natural gas from the outer Continental Shelf while minimizing tanker traffic and the risks associated with that traffic; and
to promote oil or natural gas production on the outer Continental Shelf by affording an economic and safe means of transportation of outer Continental Shelf oil or natural gas to the United States mainland.
Effect of chapter.—
Nothing in this chapter affects the legal status of the high seas, the superjacent airspace, or the seabed and subsoil, including the Continental Shelf.
Legislative history
Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.
Deepwater Port Act of 1974
Pub. L. 93–627 § 2 · 88 Stat. 2127
Enacted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501
Pub. L. 93–627, § 2, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2126
Source evidence
Code source credit
Pub. L. 93–627, § 2, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2126Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 2. declaration of policy (a) It is declared to be the purposes of the Congress in this 33 USC 1501. Act to— (1) authorize and regulate the location, ownership, construction, and operation of deepwater ports in waters beyond the territorial limits of the United States; (2) provide for the protection of the marine and coastal environment to prevent or minimize any adverse impact which might occur as a consequence of the development of such ports; (3) protect the interests of the United States and those of adjacent coastal States in the location, construction, and operation of deepwater ports; and (4) protect the rights and responsibilities of States and communities to regulate growth, determine land use, and otherwise protect the environment in accordance with law. (b) The Congress declares that nothing in this Act shall be construed to affect the legal status of the high seas, the superjacent airspace, or the seabed and subsoil, including the Continental Shelf.Deepwater Port Modernization Act
Pub. L. 104–324 title V § 502(b) · 110 Stat. 3901
Added · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(5); 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(6)
Pub. L. 104–324 added pars. (5) and (6)
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 104–324 added pars. (5) and (6).Enacted provision · exact public law section
(b) Policy.— Section 2(a) of the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (33 U.S.C. 1501(a)) is amended— (1) by striking “and” at the end of paragraph (3); (2) by striking the period at the end of paragraph (4) and inserting a semicolon; and (3) by inserting at the end the following: “(5) promote the construction and operation of deepwater ports as a safe and effective means of importing oil into the United States and transporting oil from the outer continental shelf while minimizing tanker traffic and the risks attendant thereto; and “(6) promote oil production on the outer continental shelf by affording an economic and safe means of transportation of outer continental shelf oil to the United States mainland.”.Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002
Pub. L. 107–295 title I § 106(a)(1) · 116 Stat. 2064
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(5); 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(6)
Pub. L. 107–295 inserted “or natural gas” after “oil” wherever appearing
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 107–295 inserted “or natural gas” after “oil” wherever appearing.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(1) Section 2(a) (33 U.S.C. 1501(a)).National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Pub. L. 118–31 § 3514(k)(1)(A)(i) · 137 Stat. 136
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(i), inserted heading
Substituted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(i), substituted “The purposes of this chapter are—” for “It is declared to be the purposes of the Congress in this chapter to—” in introductory provisions
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(i), inserted heading and substituted “The purposes of this chapter are—” for “It is declared to be the purposes of the Congress in this chapter to—” in introductory provisions.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(i) in the matter preceding paragraph (1), by striking “(a) It” and all that follows through “to—” and inserting the following: “(a) Purposes.— The purposes of this Act are—” ;National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Pub. L. 118–31 § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii) · 137 Stat. 136
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(1)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), inserted “to” after par. designation and realigned margins
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), inserted “to” after par. designation and realigned margins.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(ii) in each of paragraphs (1) through (6)— (I) by inserting “to” after the paragraph designation; and (II) by indenting the paragraphs appropriately;National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Pub. L. 118–31 § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii) · 137 Stat. 136
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(2)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iii), inserted “to” after par. designation
Substituted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(2)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iii), substituted “deepwater ports” for “such ports”, and realigned margins
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iii), inserted “to” after par. designation, substituted “deepwater ports” for “such ports”, and realigned margins.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(ii) in each of paragraphs (1) through (6)— (I) by inserting “to” after the paragraph designation; and (II) by indenting the paragraphs appropriately;National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Pub. L. 118–31 § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii) · 137 Stat. 136
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(3); 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(4)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), inserted “to” after par. designation and realigned margins
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), inserted “to” after par. designation and realigned margins.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(ii) in each of paragraphs (1) through (6)— (I) by inserting “to” after the paragraph designation; and (II) by indenting the paragraphs appropriately;National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Pub. L. 118–31 § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii) · 137 Stat. 136
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(5)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iv), inserted “to” after par. designation
Substituted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(5)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iv), substituted “Continental Shelf” for “continental shelf” realigned margins
Substituted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(5)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iv), substituted “associated with that traffic” for “attendant thereto” realigned margins
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iv), inserted “to” after par. designation, substituted “Continental Shelf” for “continental shelf” and “associated with that traffic” for “attendant thereto”, and realigned margins.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(ii) in each of paragraphs (1) through (6)— (I) by inserting “to” after the paragraph designation; and (II) by indenting the paragraphs appropriately;National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Pub. L. 118–31 § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii) · 137 Stat. 136
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(6)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (v), inserted “to” after par. designation
Substituted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(a)(6)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (v), substituted “Continental Shelf” for “continental shelf” in two places, and realigned margins
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (v), inserted “to” after par. designation, substituted “Continental Shelf” for “continental shelf” in two places, and realigned margins.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(ii) in each of paragraphs (1) through (6)— (I) by inserting “to” after the paragraph designation; and (II) by indenting the paragraphs appropriately;National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024
Pub. L. 118–31 § 3514(k)(1)(B) · 137 Stat. 136
Inserted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(b)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(B), inserted heading
Substituted · 33 U.S.C. § 1501(b)
Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(B), substituted “Nothing in this chapter affects” for “The Congress declares that nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect” in text
Source evidence
Code amendment note
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(B), inserted heading and substituted “Nothing in this chapter affects” for “The Congress declares that nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect” in text.Enacted provision · exact public law section
(B) in subsection (b), by striking the subsection designation and all that follows through “to affect” and inserting the following: “(b) Effect of Act.— Nothing in this Act affects” .
16 of 16 references resolved to an enrolled provision
Editorial Notes
Amendments1996–2023 · 3 rounds
2023
Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(i), inserted heading and substituted “The purposes of this chapter are—” for “It is declared to be the purposes of the Congress in this chapter to—” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), inserted “to” after par. designation and realigned margins.
Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iii), inserted “to” after par. designation, substituted “deepwater ports” for “such ports”, and realigned margins.
Subsec. (a)(3), (4). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), inserted “to” after par. designation and realigned margins.
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (iv), inserted “to” after par. designation, substituted “Continental Shelf” for “continental shelf” and “associated with that traffic” for “attendant thereto”, and realigned margins.
Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(A)(ii), (v), inserted “to” after par. designation, substituted “Continental Shelf” for “continental shelf” in two places, and realigned margins.
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 118–31, § 3514(k)(1)(B), inserted heading and substituted “Nothing in this chapter affects” for “The Congress declares that nothing in this chapter shall be construed to affect” in text.
2002
Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 107–295 inserted “or natural gas” after “oil” wherever appearing.
1996
Subsec. (a)(5), (6). Pub. L. 104–324 added pars. (5) and (6).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Short Title of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–324, title V, § 501, , 110 Stat. 3925, provided that: “This title [amending this section and sections 1502 to 1504, 1507, and 1509 of this title, repealing section 1506 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as a note under this section] may be cited as the ‘Deepwater Port Modernization Act’.”
Short Title of 1984 Amendment
Pub. L. 98–419, § 1, , 98 Stat. 1607, provided: “That this Act [amending sections 1502, 1503, 1504, 1506, 1507, 1517, and 1518 of this title and enacting provisions set out as a note under section 1518 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Deepwater Port Act Amendments of 1984’.”
Short Title
Pub. L. 93–627, § 1, , 88 Stat. 2126, provided: “That this Act [enacting this chapter and amending section 1333 of Title 43, Public Lands] may be cited as the ‘Deepwater Port Act of 1974’.”
Congressional Purposes for 1996 Amendments
Pub. L. 104–324, title V, § 502(a), , 110 Stat. 3925, provided that:
“The purposes of this title [see Short Title of 1996 Amendment note above] are to—
“(1) update and improve the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 [33 U.S.C. 1501 et seq.];
“(2) assure that the regulation of deepwater ports is not more burdensome or stringent than necessary in comparison to the regulation of other modes of importing or transporting oil;
“(3) recognize that deepwater ports are generally subject to effective competition from alternative transportation modes and eliminate, for as long as a port remains subject to effective competition, unnecessary Federal regulatory oversight or involvement in the ports’ business and economic decisions; and
“(4) promote innovation, flexibility, and efficiency in the management and operation of deepwater ports by removing or reducing any duplicative, unnecessary, or overly burdensome Federal regulations or license provisions.”
Deposit of Certain Penalties Into Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund
Penalties paid pursuant to this chapter and sections 1319(c) and 1321 of this title to be deposited in the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund created under section 9509 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code, see section 4304 of Pub. L. 101–380, set out as a note under section 9509 of Title 26.
Executive Documents
Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions
For provisions relating to environmental effects abroad of major Federal actions, see Ex. Ord. No. 12114, , 44 F.R. 1957, set out as a note under section 4321 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare.