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119th Congress

Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

Chapter 33A — Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction

§ 1981. Definitions

Statutory text

In this chapter:

(1)

Circular economy

The term “circular economy” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title.

(2)

Coastal shoreline community

The term “coastal shoreline community” means a city or county directly adjacent to the open ocean, major estuaries, or the Great Lakes.

(3)

EPA Administrator

The term “EPA Administrator” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title.

(4)

Indian Tribe

The term “Indian Tribe” has the meaning given that term in section 5304 of title 25.

(5)

Interagency Committee

The term “Interagency Committee” means the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee established under section 1954 of this title.

(6)

Marine debris

The 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; Convention

The terms “MARPOL”, “Annex V”, and “Convention” have the meaning given those terms under section 1901(a) of this title.

(8)

Non-Federal funds

The 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 organization

The term “nonprofit organization” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title.

(10)

Post consumer materials management

The term “post-consumer materials management” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title.

(11)

Program

The term “Program” means the Marine Debris Program established under section 1952 1 of this title.

(12)

Severe marine debris event

The 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)

State

The 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 Government

The 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 , pursuant to section 5131 of title 25.

(15)

Tribal organization

The term “Tribal organization” has the meaning given the term in section 5304 of title 25.

(16)

Under Secretary

The term “Under Secretary” has the meaning given such term in section 4201 of this title.

Footnotes

  1. 1 See References in Text note below.

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.

  1. Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act

    Pub. L. 109–449 § 131 · 120 Stat. 3333

    Enacted · 33 U.S.C. § 1981

    Pub. L. 109–449, § 131, formerly § 7, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3338

    Target inherited from the preceding amendment note.

    Source evidence

    Code source credit
    Pub. L. 109–449, § 131, formerly § 7, Dec. 22, 2006, 120 Stat. 3338

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    SEC. 7. DEFINITIONS.   In this Act: (1) Administrator.— The term “Administrator” means the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2) Interagency committee.— The term “Interagency Committee” means the Interagency Marine Debris Coordinating Committee established under section 2203 of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 (33 U.S.C. 1914). (3) United states exclusive economic zone.— The term “United States exclusive economic zone” means the zone established by Presidential Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983, including the ocean waters of the areas referred to as “eastern special areas” in article 3(1) of the Agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Maritime Boundary, signed June 1, 1990. (4) MARPOL; annex v; convention.— The terms “MARPOL”, “Annex V”, and “Convention” have the meaning given those terms under section 2(a) of the Act to Prevent Pollution from Ships (33 U.S.C. 1901(a)). (5) Navigable waters.— The term “navigable waters” means waters of the United States, including the territorial sea. (6) Territorial sea.— The term “territorial sea” means the waters of the United States referred to in Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, dated December 27, 1988. (7) Program.— The term “Program” means the Marine Debris Prevention and Removal Program established under section 3. (8) State.— The term “State” means— (A) any State of the United States that is impacted by marine debris within its seaward or Great Lakes boundaries; (B) the District of Columbia; (C) American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands; and (D) 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.

  2. Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012

    Pub. L. 112–213 § 608(1) · 126 Stat. 1540

    Substituted · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(2)

    Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(1), substituted “section 1954 of this title” for “section 1914 of this title”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (2). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(1), substituted “section 1954 of this title” for “section 1914 of this title”.

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (1) in paragraph (2), by striking “2203 of the Marine Plastic Pollution Research and Control Act of 1987 (33 U.S.C. 1914)” and inserting “5 of this Act”;

  3. Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012

    Pub. L. 112–213 § 608(2) · 126 Stat. 1540

    1. Added · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(3)

      Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(2), added par. (3)

    2. Struck · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(3)

      Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(2), struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘United States exclusive economic zone’ means the zone established by Presidential Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983, including the ocean waters of the areas referred to as ‘eastern special areas’ in article 3(1) of the Agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Maritime Boundary, signed June 1, 1990.”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (3). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(2), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘United States exclusive economic zone’ means the zone established by Presidential Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983, including the ocean waters of the areas referred to as ‘eastern special areas’ in article 3(1) of the Agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Maritime Boundary, signed June 1, 1990.”

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (2) by striking paragraph (3) and inserting the following: “(3) Marine debris.— The 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.” ;

  4. Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012

    Pub. L. 112–213 § 608(3) · 126 Stat. 1540

    1. Redesignated · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(5)

      Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(3)–(5), redesignated par. (7) as (5)

    2. Struck · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(5)

      Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(3)–(5), struck out “Prevention and Removal” before “Program”

    3. Struck · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(5)

      Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(3)–(5), struck out former par. (5). Prior to amendment, text of par. (5) read as follows: “The term ‘navigable waters’ means waters of the United States, including the territorial sea.”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (5). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(3)–(5), redesignated par. (7) as (5), struck out “Prevention and Removal” before “Program”, and struck out former par. (5). Prior to amendment, text of par. (5) read as follows: “The term ‘navigable waters’ means waters of the United States, including the territorial sea.”

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (3) by striking paragraph (5);

  5. Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012

    Pub. L. 112–213 § 608(6) · 126 Stat. 1540

    1. Added · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(6)

      Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(6), added par. (6)

    2. Struck · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(6)

      Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(6), struck out former par. (6). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘territorial sea’ means the waters of the United States referred to in Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, dated December 27, 1988.”

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (6). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(6), added par. (6) and struck out former par. (6). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘territorial sea’ means the waters of the United States referred to in Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, dated December 27, 1988.”

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (6) by striking paragraph (6) and inserting the following: “(6) Severe marine debris event.— The 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.” ; and

  6. Marine Debris Act Amendments of 2012

    Pub. L. 112–213 § 608(7) · 126 Stat. 1540

    Redesignated · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(7); 33 U.S.C. § 1981(8)

    Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(7), redesignated par. (8) as (7). Former par. (7) redesignated (5)

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pars. (7), (8). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(7), redesignated par. (8) as (7). Former par. (7) redesignated (5).

    Enacted provision · exact public law section
    (7) by redesignating paragraph (8) as paragraph (7).

  7. Pub. L. 119–65 § 5(a)(1) · 139 Stat. 1989

    1. Added · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(1)

      Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(1), (3), added par. (1)

    2. Struck · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(1)

      Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(1), (3), struck out former par. (1) which defined “Administrator” as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–65 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (1). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(1), (3), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which defined “Administrator” as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

  8. Pub. L. 119–65 § 5(a)(2) · 139 Stat. 1989

    1. Added · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(2)(7)

      Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(2), (3), added pars. (2) to (4)

    2. Redesignated · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(2)(7)

      Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(2), (3), redesignated former pars. (2) to (4) as (5) to (7), respectively. Former pars. (5) to (7) redesignated (11) to (13), respectively

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–65 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pars. (2) to (7). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(2), (3), added pars. (2) to (4) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (4) as (5) to (7), respectively. Former pars. (5) to (7) redesignated (11) to (13), respectively.

  9. Pub. L. 119–65 § 5(b)(1) · 139 Stat. 1989

    Changed · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(8)

    Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(b)(1), transferred par. (7) of section 4201 of this title to par. (8) of this section

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–65 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (8). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(b)(1), transferred par. (7) of section 4201 of this title to par. (8) of this section.

  10. Pub. L. 119–65 § 5(c) · 139 Stat. 1989

    Struck · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(8)(D)

    Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(c), struck out “(as defined in section 5304 of title 25)” after “Tribal organizations”

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–65 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (8)(D). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(c), struck out “(as defined in section 5304 of title 25)” after “Tribal organizations”.

  11. Pub. L. 119–65 § 5(a)(4) · 139 Stat. 1989

    Added · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(9); 33 U.S.C. § 1981(10)

    Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(4), added pars. (9) and (10)

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–65 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pars. (9), (10). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(4), added pars. (9) and (10).

  12. Pub. L. 119–65 § 5(a)(2) · 139 Stat. 1989

    Redesignated · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(11)(13)

    Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(2), redesignated pars. (5) to (7) as (11) to (13), respectively

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–65 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pars. (11) to (13). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(2), redesignated pars. (5) to (7) as (11) to (13), respectively.

  13. Pub. L. 119–65 § 5(a)(6) · 139 Stat. 1989

    1. Added · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(13)(B)(E)

      Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(6), added subpar. (B)

    2. Redesignated · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(13)(B)(E)

      Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(6), redesignated former subpars. (B) to (D) as (C) to (E), respectively

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–65 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Par. (13)(B) to (E). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(6), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpars. (B) to (D) as (C) to (E), respectively.

  14. Pub. L. 119–65 § 5(a)(5) · 139 Stat. 1989

    Added · 33 U.S.C. § 1981(14)(16)

    Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(5), added pars. (14) to (16)

    Unresolved: Pub. L. 119–65 was not found in the local Statutes at Large index.

    Source evidence

    Code amendment note
    Pars. (14) to (16). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(5), added pars. (14) to (16).

10 of 21 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 11 unresolved

Editorial Notes

References in Text

Section 1952 of this title, referred to in par. (11), was in the original “section 3”, and was translated as reading “section 101” of Pub. L. 109–449 to reflect the probable intent of Congress and the renumbering of section 3 as 101 by Pub. L. 119–65, § 2(a)(2).

Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 1956 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 119–65.

Amendments2012–2025 · 2 rounds

2025

Par. (1). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(1), (3), added par. (1) and struck out former par. (1) which defined “Administrator” as the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Pars. (2) to (7). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(2), (3), added pars. (2) to (4) and redesignated former pars. (2) to (4) as (5) to (7), respectively. Former pars. (5) to (7) redesignated (11) to (13), respectively.

Par. (8). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(b)(1), transferred par. (7) of section 4201 of this title to par. (8) of this section.

Par. (8)(D). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(c), struck out “(as defined in section 5304 of title 25)” after “Tribal organizations”.

Pars. (9), (10). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(4), added pars. (9) and (10).

Pars. (11) to (13). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(2), redesignated pars. (5) to (7) as (11) to (13), respectively.

Par. (13)(B) to (E). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(6), added subpar. (B) and redesignated former subpars. (B) to (D) as (C) to (E), respectively.

Pars. (14) to (16). Pub. L. 119–65, § 5(a)(5), added pars. (14) to (16).

2012

Par. (2). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(1), substituted “section 1954 of this title” for “section 1914 of this title”.

Par. (3). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(2), added par. (3) and struck out former par. (3). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘United States exclusive economic zone’ means the zone established by Presidential Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated , including the ocean waters of the areas referred to as ‘eastern special areas’ in article 3(1) of the Agreement between the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics on the Maritime Boundary, signed .”

Par. (5). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(3)–(5), redesignated par. (7) as (5), struck out “Prevention and Removal” before “Program”, and struck out former par. (5). Prior to amendment, text of par. (5) read as follows: “The term ‘navigable waters’ means waters of the United States, including the territorial sea.”

Par. (6). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(6), added par. (6) and struck out former par. (6). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘territorial sea’ means the waters of the United States referred to in Presidential Proclamation No. 5928, dated .”

Pars. (7), (8). Pub. L. 112–213, § 608(7), redesignated par. (8) as (7). Former par. (7) redesignated (5).

Credits

2006–2025 · 3 acts
  1. 2006Pub. L. 109–449, § 131, formerly § 7, , 120 Stat. 3338
  2. 2012Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 608, , 126 Stat. 1578
  3. 2025renumbered § 131 and amended Pub. L. 119–65, §§ 4(b)(1), 5(a), (b)(1), (c), , 139 Stat. 1989, 1990.
Show as published

(Pub. L. 109–449, § 131, formerly § 7, , 120 Stat. 3338; Pub. L. 112–213, title VI, § 608, , 126 Stat. 1578; renumbered § 131 and amended Pub. L. 119–65, §§ 4(b)(1), 5(a), (b)(1), (c), , 139 Stat. 1989, 1990.)

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USLM identifier /us/usc/t33/s1981