Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters
Chapter 10 — Anchorage Grounds and Harbor Regulations Generally
§ 476. Restrictions on tanker traffic in Puget Sound and adjacent waters
Statutory text
The Congress finds that—
the navigable waters of Puget Sound in the State of Washington, and the natural resources therein, are a fragile and important national asset;
Puget Sound and the shore area immediately adjacent thereto is threatened by increased domestic and international traffic of tankers carrying crude oil in bulk which increases the possibility of vessel collisions and oil spills; and
it is necessary to restrict such tanker traffic in Puget Sound in order to protect the navigable waters thereof, the natural resources therein, and the shore area immediately adjacent thereto, from environmental harm.
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after , no officer, employee, or other official of the Federal Government shall, or shall have authority to, issue, renew, grant, or otherwise approve any permit, license, or other authority for constructing, renovating, modifying, or otherwise altering a terminal, dock, or other facility in, on, or immediately adjacent to, or affecting the navigable waters of Puget Sound, or any other navigable waters in the State of Washington east of Port Angeles, which will or may result in any increase in the volume of crude oil capable of being handled at any such facility (measured as of ), other than oil to be refined for consumption in the State of Washington.
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.
Pub. L. 95–136 § 5 · 91 Stat. 1167
Enacted · 33 U.S.C. § 476
(Pub. L. 95–136, § 5, Oct. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1168.)
Source evidence
Code source credit
(Pub. L. 95–136, § 5, Oct. 18, 1977, 91 Stat. 1168.)Enacted provision · exact public law section
Sec. 5. (a) The Congress finds that— (1) the navigable waters of Puget Sound in the State of Washington, and the natural resources therein, are a fragile and important national asset; (2) Puget Sound and the shore area immediately adjacent thereto is threatened by increased domestic and international traffic of tankers carrying crude oil in bulk which increases the possibility of vessel collisions and oil spills; and (3) it is necessary to restrict such tanker traffic in Puget Sound in order to protect the navigable waters thereof, the natural resources therein, and the shore area immediately adjacent thereto, from environmental harm. (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, on and after the date of enactment of this section, no officer, employee, or other official of the Federal Government shall, or shall have authority to, issue, renew, grant, or otherwise approve any permit, license, or other authority for constructing, renovating, modifying, or otherwise altering a terminal, dock, or other facility in, on, or immediately adjacent to, or affecting the navigable waters of Puget Sound, or any other navigable waters in the State of Washington east of Port Angeles, which will or may result in any increase in the volume of crude oil capable of being handled at any such facility (measured as of the date of enactment of this section), other than oil to be refined for consumption in the State of Washington.
1 of 1 references resolved to an enrolled provision