§ 1501. — Congressional declaration of policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 33USC1501]
TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER 29--DEEPWATER PORTS
Sec. 1501. Congressional declaration of policy
(a) It is declared to be the purposes of the Congress in this
chapter 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;
(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;
(5) 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 \1\ while minimizing tanker traffic and the risks
attendant thereto; and
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\1\ So in original. Probably should be capitalized.
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(6) promote oil or natural gas production on the outer
continental shelf by affording an economic and safe means of
transportation of outer continental shelf \1\ oil or natural gas to
the United States mainland.
(b) The Congress declares that nothing in this chapter shall be
construed to affect the legal status of the high seas, the superjacent
airspace, or the seabed and subsoil, including the Continental Shelf.
(Pub. L. 93-627, Sec. 2, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2126; Pub. L. 104-324,
title V, Sec. 502(b), Oct. 19, 1996, 110 Stat. 3925; Pub. L. 107-295,
title I, Sec. 106(a)(1), Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2086.)
Amendments
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).
Short Title of 1996 Amendment
Section 501 of title V of Pub. L. 104-324 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, Sec. 1, Sept. 25, 1984, 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
Section 1 of Pub. L. 93-627 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
Section 502(a) of title V of Pub. L. 104-324 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.
Environmental Effects Abroad of Major Federal Actions
For provisions relating to environmental effects abroad of major
Federal actions, see Ex. Ord. No. 12114, Jan. 4, 1979, 44 F.R. 1957, set
out as a note under section 4321 of Title 42, The Public Health and
Welfare.
