Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable WatersRelease 119-73

§1477 Reasonable measures; considerations

Title 33 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - POLLUTION CASUALTIES ON THE HIGH SEAS: UNITED STATES INTERVENTION › § 1477

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Actions must match harm to the U.S. coast and do what's needed to stop it; the Secretary must consider how likely and severe the harm is, whether the action will work, and any harm it causes.

Full Legal Text

Title 33, §1477

Navigation and Navigable Waters — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Measures directed or conducted under this chapter shall be proportionate to the damage, actual or threatened, to the coastline or related interests of the United States and may not go beyond what is reasonably necessary to prevent, mitigate, or eliminate that damage.

(b)In considering whether measures are proportionate to the damage the Secretary shall, among other things, consider—

(1)the extent and probability of imminent damage if those measures are not taken;

(2)the likelihood of effectiveness of those measures; and

(3)the extent of the damage which may be caused by those measures.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

33 U.S.C. § 1477

Title 33 — Navigation and Navigable Waters

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73